The Sunday Crossword No 3268, Sunday 20 Aug 2023

ACROSS

1   Three-piece band's tenor moved to rear: he'll make you laugh (4) RIOT (-t)RIO(+t)T

3   Causing problems for English nationalist, audibly furious (10) ENSNARLING {E}{N}{SNARLING}

9   Ruminant finding grass in retreat (4) DEER<=

10 Music with loud singer: Mercury? (5,5) HEAVY METAL [DD]  &lit

11 Part of factory being refitted means bill? Yes (8,4) ASSEMBLY LINE*

15 Strongly urges for drinks (7) PRESSES [DD]

16 Alan's beginning to get increasingly wide. Nothing's consumed? That's increasingly wise (7) ASTUTER {Alan}{SToUTER}

17 Pet, a little tiny creepy-crawly? Odd (7) TANTRUM {Tiny}{ANT}{RUM}

19 At repose, tucked into fold? For sure (7) PLAINLY {P{LAIN}LY}

20 A square number, tripled: might you get help with this? (4,4,4) NINE NINE NINE (3 squared thrice - 999)

23 According to Spooner, Jones 'n' Winslet describe the game (10) COMMENTATE (~ tom n kate to commentate)

24 Money's in the post, did you say? (4) CENT (~sent)

25 Regurgitated roast grubs in French city (10) STRASBOURG*

26 Employs house-sitter? Not entirely (4) USES [T]

DOWN

1   Communist severely criticises VIPs' treatment (3,7) RED CARPETS {RED}{CARPETS}

2   Managing some Adorno verse (Ein Gedicht) (10) OVERSEEING [T]

4   LED seen flickering, causes annoyance (7) NEEDLES*

5   Short month taken by Fitzgerald for short story (7) NOVELLA {NOV}{ELLA}

6   Expostulate and hold protest march? Leading Democrat ousted by Republican (11) REMONSTRATE (-d+r)REMONSTRATE

7   Greek character one thanks, getting round in (4) IOTA {1}{O}{TA}

8   Primarily glamorous and lavish affair? (4) GALA Acrostic &lit

12 In 'less is more', wasting zero, displaying this? (11) MISERLINESS {IN+LESS+IS+MoRE}* Semi&lit

13 At 12, good to become King? That reeks! (10) STINKINESS STIN(-g+k)KINESS

14 Box in fights in S American port (4,6) FRAY BENTOS {FRA{BENTO}YS}

18 Great musician's ear, most refined (7) MAESTRO*

19 Constable, maybe one keeping boat secure (7) PAINTER [DD]

21 Chills dry drop of Italian when laid up (4) ICES {SEC}{It...n}<=

22 Stuck in hesitant utterance, Everyman's held up monarch? (4) EMIR {E{I'M<=}R}

Reference List

Tenor = T, English = E, Nationalist = N, Democrat = D, Republican = R, Thanks = TA, Good = G, King = K, Italian = I