The Sunday Crossword No 3250, Sunday 16 Apr 2023

ACROSS

1   Commitment that may be shown by author at the start (10) DEDICATION [DD]

6   Newts somewhat bereft, sadly (4) EFTS [T]

9   Tradespersons related fables about hair? (10) LOCKSMITHS (~locks myths)

10 Blessed ecclesiast, divine educator primarily? (4) BEDE Acrostic &lit

12 Author's representation of corrupt males (6,6) MARCEL PROUST*

15 Run, with good reason, heading off forcefully (7) ROUNDLY {R}{sOUNDLY}

16 Somewhere on the Rhône, American wanting six starters of grits and nachos receiving disagreeable response (7) AVIGNON {A}{VI}{Gr..s}{NO}{Na...s}

17 Honey, perhaps, that one may give to boxer (3,4) PET NAME [C&DD]

19 Crow, lazy sort, leaving island: one's slow to move (7) DAWDLER {DAW}{iDLER}

20 Bizarrely, our tree sloth is to be in control (4,3,5) RULE THE ROOST*

23 Where to drink in Nova Scotia (4) INNS {IN}{NS}

24 Flower arrangement of lupin with heads of marguerite daisy, English iris and hollyhock (10) DELPHINIUM  {LUPIN+Ma...e+Da..y+En...h+Iris+Ho...k}*

25 Shop regularly; shop in the centre where Carnaby St.'s found (4) SOHO {ShOp}{sHOp}

26 Bachelor with fair feature to smarten up – because he's this (10) BRIDEGROOM {B}{RIDE}{GROOM} Semi&lit

DOWN

1   I ordered up hams, cheeses etc (4) DELI {I}{LED}<=

2   Lay out 52 cards (4) DECK [DD]

3   Darts star cut out pastries (7,5) CUSTARD TARTS*

4   Easy to spook with tail of newt, cackling and casting spells? (7) TWITCHY {newT}{WITCHY}

5   Catastrophe. Liaison. She's part of both? (7) OPHELIA [T]

7   Haunt deserted library many a time (10) FREQUENTLY {FREQUENT}{Li...rY}

8   We see rent's adjusted, suggesting bribery (10)  SWEETENERS*

11 Means of making people believe lingerie not ready to wear? (12) BRAINWASHING {BRA IN WASHING}

13 Characteristics? They're sometimes detached (10) PROPERTIES [DD]

14 Having stopped work to eat bananas (3,2,5) OUT TO LUNCH [DD]

18 In the auditorium, Everyman becomes tedious, displaying spectacles etc (7) EYEWEAR {(~I)EYE}{WEAR}

19 Doctor's operation on pedestrian that's fallen (7) DROPPED {DR}{OP}{PED}

21 Flooring – as nothing, twice, is recalled (4) LINO {0}{NIL}<= 

22 This person is seen around opening of mosque? (4) IMAM {I AM} over {Mo...e} Semi&lit

Reference List

Run = R, American = A, Island = I, Bachelor = B, Operation = OP, Pedestrian = PED