This crossword No. 26684 clues and answers were published on Wed 23 Sep 2015 and the puzzle can be visited by following The Guardian Cryptic Crossword No. 26684 link.
All Across Clues and Answers:
1-across – Start to be better than anyone at crossword compiling? : OUTSET
5-across – Pain and deprivation for optimistic character : PANGLOSS
9-across – Picked up criminal with second name that’s Brown : CINNAMON
10-across – Strip when taking off top in resort, a Gallic fashion : RUNWAY
11-across – Something seen in Aldi to dismay leading Tories : CHILLCABINET
13-across – Almost stand up or sit down on this : REAR
14-across – Conceding close to century, fellow’s out playing cricket : YIELDING
17-across – Giant insects besetting Henry : BEHEMOTH
18-across – Crikey! King’s in anorak : GEEK
20-across – Unable to continue racy bedroom chats : HORSDECOMBAT
23-across – Daddy gets girl a fine coat : PATINA
24-across – Single to be excited about having dated : OBSOLETE
25-across – Deposit money in extremely safe organisation managing estates : SEDIMENT
26-across – Pick up birds outside of Exeter, heading west : RESUME
All Down Clues and Answers:
2-down – Where to study time in detail : UNIT
3-down – Wave from Victor in easy position : SINECURVE
4-down – Bird, male goose, losing weight : TOMTIT
5-down – Teutons play amazingly, suppressing laugh when England generally loses? : PENALTYSHOOTOUT
6-down – Reports managed to raise tax : NARRATES
7-down – Organ shown by one Indian’s loincloth : LUNGI
8-down – Where City workers look for sex and hire models : SHAREINDEX
12-down – Cherry, green grass and earth? Go for another look : REDECORATE
15-down – Figures inspiring fighter is something to get the pulse racing : DIGITALIS
16-down – What journalists offer is done in pen : COVERAGE
19-down – Cruel person rating one on horse, perhaps : ABUSER
21-down – Like some films? Loudly express despair with heads of film industry : SCIFI
22-down – Stay in south, returning satisfied : STEM
This crossword has in total 27 where 14 are across and 13 are down.