8-across – Bit of drink to convey threat to Aussie,supposedly : DROPBEAR

9-across – Glimpse gold-plated seat missing rear : APERCU

10-across – See 24 : SWAN

11-across – Son unenthusiastic about hospital call when he should be studying? : SCHOOLTERM

12-across – Very,very good occupying tavern,but to no effect : INVAIN

14-across – Interplay of tide and dune not checked : UNEDITED

15-across – Draw US lawyer to right law : ATTRACT

17-across – Conservative guy,not too bright,seen around Republican festival : CHRIMBO

20-across – Trick sign containing Government name : COGNOMEN

22-across – Rector intervening in University accommodation protest? : UNREST

23-across – Nuns and monks initially among the very best groups of motorists? : CARMELITES

24-across – Trumpeter’s accessories provided by pale relative of trumpeter? : MUTE

25-across – What Admiral’s found in hold? : NELSON

26-across – Good for France,back under governance – such as the aristocracy? : ENNOBLED

1-down – Fishing accessory,crude,left covered by overturned canvas : TRAWLNET

2-down – Tournament going ahead,accommodating training during 11? : OPEN

3-down – Common sense in scripture lessons supported by a disciple : REASON

4-down – Classic musician’s musical work twice interrupted by King and ambassador : ORPHEUS

5-down – Comment about a new central heating that uses very small components : NANOTECH

6-down – Information provided in Rhineland city for ‘improver’ of community : GENTRIFIER

7-down – Gain account with regret : ACCRUE

13-down – Someone skilled in the field – and margins too,possibly : AGRONOMIST

16-down – Understand policy about introduction of military service : COMPLINE

18-down – Desperately in love,French are excessive in sexual activity : BESOTTED

19-down – Second article all but elsewhere : ANOTHER

21-down – Sanctioned ‘natter’ to turn up in dictionary : OKAYED

22-down – Bear’s second to enter water : URSINE

24-down – Way of working ascribed to American musician : MOBY

1-across – Rust on a tank,if not reversible farm machinery : ROTAVATOR

6-across – Honey and last drop of milk poured over Middle Eastern dish : KEBAB

9-across – Those who’ll believe anything that’s soon beyond question : QANON

10-across – Function apparently of Romans to break Bohemian : TOGAPARTY

11-across – Bird hearing sound of cat on the internet? : EMU

12-across – Explain possible indication of inventor at work? : SHEDLIGHTON

14-across – Your cups spilling beer then : THEREBY

15-across – A builder of nest behind barrier,firm : ADAMANT

16-across – Player mightily confused,one snookered : SOLOIST

19-across – Arrangement of lines where circle meets square : TIERING

22-across – Could I be on stylish river vessel – to see African natives? : HIPPOPOTAMI

23-across – So,fragile thing ultimately requiring a massage? : EGO

24-across – Tenor learning technique in holiday destination : LANZAROTE

26-across – Sparkle back in vogue,glittering dresses : GLEAM

27-across – Large Australian bouncer,I say! : ROOMY

28-across – Order number checked by fine inspector in the end : EYESRIGHT

1-down – Proposal,that offered by Picasso during siesta : REQUEST

2-down – Brother’s style in fashion without a doubt : TONSURE

3-down – Damaged piece,world half lost,half lost : VENUSDEMILO

4-down – Unsteady – like a calculator? : TOTTERY

5-down – Tackle skin on rare type of melon : REGALIA

6-down – Confinement to bunk,I presume? : KIP

7-down – Milliner turned up where cap missing,bishop needing one on top? : BIRETTA

8-down – Speculation about article that is kind of fitting? : BAYONET

13-down – Musician performing concert tours was dancing wildly – one getting down and dirty? : GRAVEDIGGER

16-down – Academic mark cut by half,or less initially : SCHOLAR

17-down – Blanche Neige et Les Sept Nains in battle? : LEPANTO

18-down – Music genre wife introduced to child and I : TWOTONE

19-down – Flier: ruse seen essentially where unknown number posted? : TRAPEZE

20-down – Two at bottom of Pacific,diver,having surfaced,leaves : ICEBERG

21-down – Small device,inventor’s best friend on audio? : GROMMET

25-down – Some tea in caddy,the latest bits : ANY

1-across – Furniture ultimately not fit for the task : TABLE

4-across – Best sources of general revision before each exam : GREATEST

8-across – Drunk escaping the bar for some downtime : BREATHINGSPACE

10-across – Stuff leaking from small sack : SPILLAGE

11-across – Quick pasta sauce containing last bit of pepper : PRESTO

12-across – Stickers have sides removed : ADHESIVES

15-across – Drifts west after following the shoreline at first : WAFTS

17-across – I broadcast using code : INDIA

18-across – New term describing trademark artist : REMBRANDT

19-across – No storage unit had food : NOSHED

21-across – Shrub in one area on cultivated plot : GARDENIA

24-across – Advantageous transformation – feature of AI? : CAPITALISATION

25-across – Put off expert rascal : PROROGUE

26-across – Mob surrounding old,nasty king : HEROD

1-down – Underground sites of TV channels : TUBESTATIONS

2-down – Flawed Lib Dems he transformed : BLEMISHED

3-down – Praise one-time tax cut : EXTOL

4-down – Examining some farrago in government : GOINGOVER

5-down – Monster rising up thus : ERGO

6-down – Excellent place people often store underwear? : TOPDRAWER

7-down – Belts and items of footwear : SOCKS

9-down – Instructed not to do business internally? : HOUSETRAINED

13-down – Increasingly grand position beset by utter anarchy at its core : STATELIER

14-down – Briefly outline a certain,pronounced issue : SUMMARISE

16-down – One who likes embracing popular moneymaker? : FINANCIER

20-down – Flight from Bari,at sunset,heading north : STAIR

22-down – The end of poverty right away : DEATH

23-down – Was a rat seen in Los Angeles? : SANG

1-across – Good person traces lost dogs : STRAYS

5-across – Cloud having rain,at first becoming cold in 25 : CIRCUS

8-across – Juliet and relative returned boxing boot to tosser : JUGGLER

9-across – Steal a pet? Entertaining for 24 perhaps : ACROBAT

11-across – Convertible roof coming free on Tesla,or missing – this leads to a penalty : MOTORINGOFFENCE

12-across – Bear’s going back half-heartedly for rat : SHOP

13-across – Author’s one with a large mother,boring and insignificant : IMMATERIAL

17-across – Nervous Stephen at the back of bridal suite : THEPLANETS

18-across – Sound meringue cakes : RING

20-across – Troubled America worsened for Oscar and Emmy? : AWARDCEREMONIES

23-across – Returning squeeze,partner embraces swinger : TRAPEZE

24-across – Glass corporation dim rejecting advance : TUMBLER

25-across – Large sweater that protects entertainer against the elements : BIGTOP

26-across – Chicken,half a dozen having pronounced tail : COCCYX

2-down – 9 might use this firm with painter maybe : TIGHTROPE

3-down – Pull left in a trap : ALLURE

4-down – Stumped by agent protecting Reagan,a tough guy : STRONGMAN

5-down – Catholic said to be upset getting something that’s smoked : CLARO

6-down – One artist,judge and journalist saving noble : RAREFIED

7-down – City,old one,facing sanction : URBAN

8-down – A master just assassinated king : JAMESSTUART

10-down – Priest perhaps and others lie and go adrift : THEOLOGISER

14-down – Sterling represents gold,credit’s mostly limiting at a later date : AUTHENTIC

15-down – Primarily enjoying success with one friend : INITIALLY

16-down – Happiest day,good boy is in Nice housing : GLADDEST

19-down – Universal Cinemas : COSMIC

21-down – Who made bows and manufactured arrows targeting inexperienced beginners? : AMATI

22-down – Admire articulate author in residence : EYEUP

8-across – Series of worsening events of course at the Winter Olympics? : SLIPPERY

9-across – See 8 : SLOPE

10-across – Knitting pattern,if real,is embroidered! : FAIR

11-across – Folly,given comparatively close shave before race? : BALDERDASH

12-across – Owner of head and tail in pig,if vulgar : COPPER

14-across – Given outstanding,outstanding! : BESTOWED

16-across – Argument’s beginning with auteur Paul in a row : ATATIME

18-across – Take on other role that’s put in agreement : PLAYACT

21-across – Threatening conditions in Malta,it being stormy behind you : ULTIMATA

23-across – Genial at first,half of relations cranky : GRUMPY

24-across – Monster with rubber legs? : STAGGERING

26-across – Newspaper after proof losing heart,eww! : PFFT

27-across – What water did at 0C,0F wrong? : FROZE

28-across – Free soul,one misbehaving and ending in prison : UNLOOSEN

1-down – Remove muscle pierced by spike : CLEAROUT

2-down – Box blows up : SPAR

3-down – Fellow plonker : MEMBER

4-down – A book tucked inside silly novel student references : SYLLABI

5-down – See 10 Across : ISLE

6-down – Healthy way to go! : GOODFORYOU

7-down – Elusive monster surfacing in lake is sensed : NESSIE

13-down – Where two kids might meet,love can end in schmaltz,consumed by sentimentality : PETTINGZOO

15-down – Warmer note : SOL

17-down – Old bird in watery trench shaking tail : MOA

19-down – Taste drink : CUPOFTEA

20-down – <i>nth</i><span> saying: ‘Let me think!’</span> : MAXIMUM

22-down – Excused,Marquis de Lafayette,par example? : LETOFF

23-down – Casanova in old vehicle,roof off VW : GIGOLO

25-down – Vessel someone with a needle hasn’t opened : EWER

26-down – Paid fellow,academic : PROF