The Sunday Crossword No 3278, Sunday 29 Oct 2023

ACROSS

1   Dealt with spade: ditch reconstructed (10) DISPATCHED*

6   Ninnies kicked back in pampering places (4) SPAS<=

9   Musicians given some potent rum Peter supplied (10) TRUMPETERS [T]

10 Cuts of wagyu steak, at the outset? (4) COWS Acrostic &lit

11 I came clean: Hi, implausibly, I'm in movies (7,5) MICHAEL CAINE*

15 Tennis champ against footballers (7) EVERTON {EVERT}{ON}

16 Moderates fits of rage (7) TEMPERS [DD]

17 Starts to eat, taking in starters of assorted seeds and nuts (7) CASHEWS {C{As...d}{Se..s}HEWS}

19 Less bronzed: only short time in Italian resort (7) PALERMO {PALER}{MO}

20 Jazz singer's support: vain, not half forgetful type (12) SCATTERBRAIN {SCATTER}{BRA}{vaIN}

23 Advance slowly (steal, but not quietly) (4) INCH pINCH

24 Queen tucked in to drink, becoming free (10) LIBERATION {LIB{ER}ATION}

25 Message in school sent round (4) NOTE<=

26 Highly amused, as you may be following an accident (2,8) IN STITCHES [DD]

DOWN

1   Meeting poet with no name (4) DATE DAnTE

2   Ignore rampaging Huns (4) SHUN*

3   Choosing a time to meet (11) APPOINTMENT [DD]

4   Become fashionable, understand? (5,2) CATCH ON [DD]

5   Attention on home: it's serious (7) EARNEST {EAR}{NEST}

7   Free port is arranged for ruthless investors (10) PROFITEERS*

8   Awfully supine sons, 'hanging' (10) SUSPENSION*

12 One with grievance reverses direction, becoming agreeable (11) COMPLAISANT COMPLAI(-n+s)SANT

13 Section of band performing Supersonic (10) PERCUSSION*

14 Pet tapir's acne treated (7,3) PERSIAN CAT*

18 National loser biannually taking part (7) SERBIAN [T]

19 Faultless – and kind of tense? (7) PERFECT [DD]

21 Announced search for person of faith (4) SIKH (~seek)

22 Everyman's banknotes no longer valid (4) ONES [DD]

Reference List

Short time = MO, Quietly = P, Queen = ER, Name = N