The Sunday Crossword No 3305, Sunday 05 May 2024

ACROSS

1   ... deductions processed? (10) DISCOUNTED* &lit

6   Quiet commercial for fish (4) SHAD {SH}{AD}

9   Try facial hair, leading to sorrows (10) HEARTACHES {HEAR}{TACHES}

10 Insect which, when knocked back, leaves aftertaste (4) GNAT<=

11 Startled Finance with memo describing Director: that's a little novel (2,4,3,3) OF MICE AND MEN {FINANCE+MEMO}* over {D}

15 Wreathes unopened, rearranged for source of wood (3,4) ASH TREE wREATHES*

16 Flirtatious: like a pleasing crossword clue? (7) TEASING [DD]

17 Alert! Debt changing hands two out of three times (3,4) ALL EARS {A(-rr+ll)LLEARS}

19 Recorded match on the radio, leading to ... beef? (3,4) RED MEAT (~ read meet)

20 Get some scoff there, Cordelia – with no one knowing (3,3,6) OFF THE RECORD [T]

23 Buffoon's regularly seen 'ETs' vehicles' (4) UFOS bUfFoOnS

24 Absent-minded father of the bride might be this shocked (10) SPEECHLESS [C&DD]

25 Add powder. Remove powder (4) DUST [DD]

26 Pop perhaps wanting a bit of waffle (6,4) WEASEL WORD [CD/GK]

DOWN

1   Author often adjacent to Rice? (4) DAHL [CD] (from Rice and Dal)

2   Rise, being angry (audibly) (4) SOAR (~sore)

3   Rebuilt hut, barefoot and panting (3,2,6) OUT OF BREATH*

4   Normally involving: capers; olives (if stoned); eggs – primarily? (7) NICOISE Acrostic &lit

5   Perhaps lead with a small amount (7) ELEMENT [DD]

7   Patriarch and ma identified, in some measure, source of help (10) HANDMAIDEN [T]

8   Fruit coming at last, it seems, for romantic evenings (4,6) DATE NIGHTS {DATE}{NIGH}{iT}{s..mS}

12 Tattered, leathern and characteristic of bygone era (11) NEANDERTHAL*

13 Cold gâteau spread on a roll (10) CATALOGUED*

14 Healthy eating, eg fried onion rings and donuts, did you say? (5,5) WHOLE FOODS (~ hole foods)

18 Collapse, having lost heart after second misgiving (7) SCRUPLE {CRUmPLE}<=>{S}

19 Rows – in a predecessor of tennis? (7) RACKETS [DD]

21 Fictional Captain seeing augury ascending (4) NEMO<=

22 'Cast-off folksy Everyman' – Editor (4) USED {US}{ED}

Reference List

Quiet = SH, Director = D, Second = S