The Sunday Crossword No 3312, Sunday 23 Jun 2024

ACROSS

1   Some artists use these small boat homes (6,4) SKETCH PADS {S}{KETCH}{PADS}

6   Somewhat eastwards, on and off (1,3) A TAD {eAsTwArDs}

9   Far-off beasts found in a Paris slum, upsetting (10) MARSUPIALS*

10 Flower from flipping digital assistant (4) IRIS<=

11 Force entertaining government to become re-elected (7,5) STAYING POWER {G} in {STAY IN POWER}

15 Spotted something that includes good tenor performer (7) DOMINGO {DOMIN{G}O}

16 Flimsy song, a metaphor for nothing (4,3) THIN AIR {THIN}{AIR}

17 One’s starting out as initially low wage recipient (7) LEARNER {Low}{EARNER}

18 Endlessly marketed daft insurance mascot? (7) MEERKAT MARKETEd*

19 Oh, even Luther converted in final moments (8,4) ELEVENTH HOUR*

23 Ill-natured help catching cold (4) ACID {A{C}ID}

24 Fail to prepare to fire cartridge with no bullet (4,1,5) DRAW A BLANK [DD]

25 Not quietly, removes skin from fish (4) EELS pEELS

26 Wildly eviscerate group holding gunpowder? (3,7) TEA SERVICE*

DOWN

1   Home match (4) SAME [DD] (Correction - SEMI [DD] - See comments)

2   Nobleman seen in rear light (4) EARL [T]

3   Brook’s features (11) COUNTENANCE [DD]

4   Informed of second loo, did you say? (5,2) PRIVY TO {~privy two}

5   Initially didactic young lyricist (aged, now)? (5) DYLAN Acrostic &lit

7   Those two torture devices – for Spooner – they belong to bygone times (10) THROWBACKS (~ both racks)

8   Soldiers run away: traitors! (6,4) DESERT RATS {DESERT}{RATS}

12 20 isn’t one – but here it is! (5,6) PRIME NUMBER (20D  is one) 

13 After period of maturity, fruit and cheese finally rot (10) ADULTERATE {ADULT ERA}{f..iT}{c...sE}

14 Everyman’s jokes? Of no significance (10) IMMATERIAL {I'M}{MATERIAL}

18 Second aggressive fellow’s punky hairdos (7) MOHAWKS {MO}{HAWKS}

20 Ether, quaint number (5) THREE*

21 Globalism overwhelming island (4) BALI [T]

22 Island where you once sat next to small king (4) SKYE {YE}<=>{S}{K}

Reference List

Small = S, Government = G, Good = G, Cold = C, Second = MO, You once = YE, King = K