The Sunday Crossword No 3261, Sunday 02 Jul 2023

ACROSS

1   Sometimes undergoing metamorphosis, as in cocoon (2,8) ON OCCASION*

6   The writer, Conservative, suppressing surprised expression, knocked back strong tea (4) CHAI {I}{AH}{C}<=

9   One making unauthorised withdrawal: restriction on a thousand nicker? (4,6) BANK ROBBER {BAN}{K}{ROBBER}

10 Reversal of drug's discontinuance (4) STOP<=

11 The career of a successful lion tamer? (7,5) ROARING TRADE [C&DD]

15 Perhaps Jones, in a state? (7) INDIANA [DD]

16 Books showing plants (7) ANNUALS [DD]

17 Window fitted in colossal attic extension (7) LATTICE [T]

19 Between times, present nothing in addition (7) THERETO {T}{HERE}{T}{O}

20 Support Finland with AI CIA supply (9,3) FINANCIAL AID {FINLAND+AI+CIA}*

23 Covering some potato planters (4) ATOP [T]

24 Superior men preen; it's revolting (3-7) PRE-EMINENT {MEN+PREEN+IT}*

25 Cockney provides warmth and grub (4) EATS (~ 'eats)

26 Season in South Australia to worry a pet (7,3) SAUSAGE DOG {S}{AU{SAGE}S}{DOG}

DOWN

1   Gold, beauteous, hollow pieces of regalia (4) ORBS {OR}{Be...uS}

2   Has possession of topless flowing garments (4) OWNS gOWNS

3   Gut the BBC? (11) CORPORATION [DD]

4   Southern European peninsula, or most of Northern Asia? (7) SIBERIA {S}{IBERIA}

5   I will wander around with a canoe in Melanesia, Micronesia, etc (7) OCEANIA {I+A+CANOE}*

7   Strike files, ordered lists of numbers (3,7) HIT PARADES {HIT}{PARADES}

8   Everyman's getting media attention, anticipating item with charge: a sensation (10) IMPRESSION {I'M}{PRESS}{ION}

12 Preparing meat having prepared ingredients (11) TENDERISING*

13 Menu showing 'Ball of Fire' needing slight adjustment (4,2,4) BILL OF FARE {B(-a=i)ILL OF F(-i+a)ARE}

14 What's a striker doing? 'I got United transferred' (7,3) EDITING OUT*

18 Elected republic in the region East Africa, primarily? (7) ERITREA Acrostic &lit

19 Cultivators' levers (7) TILLERS [DD]

21 Vocally abandon tournament player (4) SEED (~cede)

22 Small game: deer? (4) STAG {S}{TAG}

Reference List

Conservative = C, Thousand = K, Time = T, South = S, Australia = AU, Gold = OR, Southern = S, Small = S