The Sunday Crossword No 3295, Sunday 25 Feb 2024

ACROSS

1   Producing a lot of fear? Very much (10) DREADFULLY {DREAD}{FULLY}

6   Milky duck, mate? (4) OPAL {O}{PAL}

9   Around forest, finally decomposing, socks that'll feed plants (6,4) GARDEN HOSE {ARDEN} in {d...nG}{HOSE}

10 Time flying saucer returned to give us something to eat (4) TOFU {T}{UFO<=}

12 Incognisant – unsettled – backing (11) SANCTIONING*

15 Long time back, Everyman's included as potential success (7) NOMINEE {EON<=} over {MINE}

16 I'm surprised seeing Frenchman with salad, as a rule (4,3) OHMS LAW {OH}{M}{SLAW}

17 How you may draw back, wanting time: mistakenly (2,5) IN ERROR {IN tERROR}

19 Is the writer tucking into fish somewhere on the Med? (7) TUNISIA {TUN{IS}{I}A}

20 Blow a fuse, as you did with News of the World, Mr. Murdoch? (4,4,3) LOSE ONES RAG [C&DD]

23 Seabird or two, as we can hear (4) ERNE (~ earn (2D))

24 Hot Priest, we're told, achieved a noisy mode of transport (10) HELICOPTER {H}{ELI}{(~copped a)COPTER}

25 Soft, incredibly lustrous kimono at the outset? (4) SILK Acrostic &lit

26 Who shouted 'Eureka!' and screamed 'Hi!' running around? (10) ARCHIMEDES*

DOWN

1   Appreciates accommodation (4) DIGS [DD]

2   Gross dollop of Béarnaise (4) EARN [T]

3   Part of salad board in actor's space (8,4) DRESSING ROOM {DRESSING}{ROOM}

4   Get mad? Aunt rethinks anger at heart (7) UNHINGE {aUNt}{retHInks}{aNGEr}

5   Monarchy taking part in raffle: so thoughtful! (7) LESOTHO [T]

7   Academic reimagined islets – to no avail (10) PROFITLESS {PROF}{ISLETS*}

8   Raw, one careens with luge and sweats, perhaps (10) LOUNGEWEAR {RAW+ONE+LUGE}*

11 Terrible scene, woven on goddam weaving device (4,3,5) DOOM AND GLOOM {ON+GODDAM}*{LOOM}

13 Cricketers botched friendlies (10) INFIELDERS*

14 Aloof crossword setter's public image, ultimately: awful (10) IMPERSONAL {I'M PERSONA}{a...uL}

18 Hoofed mammals travelled to this place in East London (3,4) ROE DEER (~ rode 'ere)

19 Language used when specifying a kind of bath (7) TURKISH [DD]

21 Nail that may be put to use in stable (4) STUD [DD]

22 Most of cheek in undergarments (4) BRAS BRASs

Reference List

Time = T, Frenchman = M, Hot = H