The Sunday Crossword No 3261, Sunday 02 Jul 2023

ACROSS

1   Sometimes undergoing metamorphosis, as in cocoon (2,8) ON OCCASION*

6   The writer, Conservative, suppressing surprised expression, knocked back strong tea (4) CHAI {I}{AH}{C}<=

9   One making unauthorised withdrawal: restriction on a thousand nicker? (4,6) BANK ROBBER {BAN}{K}{ROBBER}

10 Reversal of drug's discontinuance (4) STOP<=

11 The career of a successful lion tamer? (7,5) ROARING TRADE [C&DD]

15 Perhaps Jones, in a state? (7) INDIANA [DD]

16 Books showing plants (7) ANNUALS [DD]

17 Window fitted in colossal attic extension (7) LATTICE [T]

19 Between times, present nothing in addition (7) THERETO {T}{HERE}{T}{O}

20 Support Finland with AI CIA supply (9,3) FINANCIAL AID {FINLAND+AI+CIA}*

23 Covering some potato planters (4) ATOP [T]

24 Superior men preen; it's revolting (3-7) PRE-EMINENT {MEN+PREEN+IT}*

25 Cockney provides warmth and grub (4) EATS (~ 'eats)

26 Season in South Australia to worry a pet (7,3) SAUSAGE DOG {S}{AU{SAGE}S}{DOG}

DOWN

1   Gold, beauteous, hollow pieces of regalia (4) ORBS {OR}{Be...uS}

2   Has possession of topless flowing garments (4) OWNS gOWNS

3   Gut the BBC? (11) CORPORATION [DD]

4   Southern European peninsula, or most of Northern Asia? (7) SIBERIA {S}{IBERIA}

5   I will wander around with a canoe in Melanesia, Micronesia, etc (7) OCEANIA {I+A+CANOE}*

7   Strike files, ordered lists of numbers (3,7) HIT PARADES {HIT}{PARADES}

8   Everyman's getting media attention, anticipating item with charge: a sensation (10) IMPRESSION {I'M}{PRESS}{ION}

12 Preparing meat having prepared ingredients (11) TENDERISING*

13 Menu showing 'Ball of Fire' needing slight adjustment (4,2,4) BILL OF FARE {B(-a=i)ILL OF F(-i+a)ARE}

14 What's a striker doing? 'I got United transferred' (7,3) EDITING OUT*

18 Elected republic in the region East Africa, primarily? (7) ERITREA Acrostic &lit

19 Cultivators' levers (7) TILLERS [DD]

21 Vocally abandon tournament player (4) SEED (~cede)

22 Small game: deer? (4) STAG {S}{TAG}

Reference List

Conservative = C, Thousand = K, Time = T, South = S, Australia = AU, Gold = OR, Southern = S, Small = S

No 13906, Saturday 01 Jul 2023, Arden

ACROSS

1   Start getting caught, that's very rare (6) SCARCE {SCAR{C}E}

4   Authority rests only with a soldier (8) COMMANDO {COMMAND}{O}

9   Mention shortly, perhaps it's not late (2,4) ON TIME MENTIOn*

10 Transport portal (8) ENTRANCE [DD]

12 Propound by writing on something very tiny (8) POSITRON {POSIT}{R}{ON}

13 Country cricket team, income varies (6) MEXICO {XI} in {COME}*

15 Perhaps flash me pet! (6,6) GORDON SETTER {GORDON}{SETTER}

18 I am determined to take day off and shift before noon... (4,8) ANTE MERIDIEM {I+AM+DETERMINEd}*

21 ...a day rolls past as one settles in (6) ADAPTS {A}{D}{PAST*}

22 Tablet to block this thing in the blood (8) PLATELET {PLATE}{LET}

24 Vessel earlier found around church (8) SCHOONER {S{CH}OONER}

25 Starts falling in line, music industry counts on movies (6) FILMIC Acrostic

26 Cops land in trouble during such bad weather (4,4) COLD SNAP*

27 Forbid such primitive structure in the country (6) BHUTAN {B{HUT}AN}

DOWN

1   Ban on worker? Yes, ban (8) STOPPAGE {STOP}{PAGE}

2   Ability or right to sit up through a trial (8) ARTISTRY {A}{R}{SIT<=}{TRY}

3   Manifestation of intimacy - so not leading to better relationships among countries (6,2,7) COMITY OF NATIONS*

5   Make noise like an animal - it's allowed outside home (4) OINK {O{IN}K}

6   I'm doubtful about her credential as an Hollywood actress (7,8) MARLENE DIETRICH {IM+HER+CREDENTIAL}*

7   Trade union accepts top company representative (6) NUNCIO {NUN{Co...y}IO*}

8   Regularly poaches many a wild animal (6) OCELOT {pOaChEs}{LOT}

11 Those with two hands maybe holding arms (7) HOLSTER {THOSE+L+R}*

14 Say extremely lousy, completely (7) UTTERLY {UTTER}{LousY}

16 Relish old malt whisky with Ambassador (8) DIPLOMAT {DIP}{O+MALT}*

17 Maybe happiness caught in this sign (8) EMOTICON {EMOTI{C}ON} Semi&lit

19 First piggy back on cycle, it's a long distance (6) PARSEC {Pi..y}{ARSE}{C} 

20 Both sides have to long for her (6) RACHEL {R}{ACHE}{L}

23 Star valley (4) VEGA [DD] Not sure of second definition Link updated, see comments 

Reference List

Caught = C, Only = O, Writing = R, Day = D, Church = CH, Right = R, Home = IN, Hands = L,R, Old = O, Cycle = C, Sides = L,R