The Sunday Crossword No 3297, Sunday 10 Mar 2024

ACROSS

1   Brings in reductions – in confusion (10) INTRODUCES*

6   Characters in the picture Gladiator, for example (4) EPIC [T]

9   They're accompanied by country music and silence, bizarrely (4,6) LINE DANCES*

10 Woman, one looking unchanged in the mirror (4) ANNA <=>

11 Defend vessel in contest (12) CHAMPIONSHIP {CHAMPION}{SHIP}

15 Brought together, in a church service, English and Dutch (7) AMASSED {A}{MASS}{E}{D}

16 Looking vacant, initially giving affected wave, His Majesty (7) GAWKING {Gi...g}{Af...d}{Wave}{KING}

17 Flies to Niagara, taking in country (7) ESTONIA [T]

19 Lead putting energy into public relations? Give up! (7) PRECEDE {PR}{E}{CEDE}

20 Side on border; America in charge; take the consequences (4,3,5) FACE THE MUSIC {FACET}{HEM}{US}{IC}

23 Three learners maintaining university is quiet (4) LULL {L{U}LL}

24 Sloshing space, Asian? (7,3) CASPIAN SEA* Semi&lit

25 Give life to Lord (4) SIRE [DD]

26 This makes a button do its work? That's sad (10) DEPRESSING [DD]

DOWN

1   Everyman will start to specify afflictions (4) ILLS {I'LL}{Sp...y}

2   Skipping intro, make-up of rock music's smallest section? (4) NOTE aTONE* (Addendum - TONE aTONE - See comments)

3   A joke that's been told often? Told ten such, sadly (3,8) OLD CHESTNUT*

4   Not identified, curiously mundane ... (7) UNNAMED*

5   ... getting flat later in the day (7) EVENING [DD]

7   Comedian's necessity: drink on the job, son (5,5) PUNCH LINES {PUNCH}{LINE}{S}

8   Reportedly fake aches? Here's some drinks! (10) CHAMPAGNES (~sham pains)

12 Six men we can corrupt; they're Americans (3,8) NEW MEXICANS*

13 Fats Waller altered natural features (10) WATERFALLS*

14 Choosy, wanting item (10) PARTICULAR [DD]

18 Not especially impressive batting statistic (7) AVERAGE [DD]

19 One choosing to be more generously proportioned? (7) PLUMPER [C&DD]

21 Ace! It's flipping fizzy wine! (4) ASTI {A}{ITS<=}

22 Primarily, ferocious animal's nasty gnasher? (4) FANG Acrostic &lit

Reference List

English = E, Dutch = D, Energy = E, Public relations = PR, Learner = L, Son = S, Ace = A