1-across – US novelist – bent chin jokes : JOHNSTEINBECK

8-across – Brand : SEAR

9-across – Pre-Christmas task? : WRAPPING

10-across – Not BC : ANNODOMINI

12-across – Tenant : LESSEE

14-across – Strict disciplinarian : RAMROD

15-across – Pregnant woman : MOTHERTOBE

19-across – Most memorably exciting moment : HIGHSPOT

20-across – Gripe : BEEF

21-across – 1939 film – Australian magician? : THEWIZARDOFOZ

2-down – Evergreen shrub – reloaned : OLEANDER

3-down – Drug dealer : NARCO

4-down – It’s used to pull : TOWROPE

5-down – Japanese porcelain : IMARI

6-down – Religious ceremony : BAPTISM

7-down – Head or nose : CONK

11-down – Mexican hat : SOMBRERO

13-down – One way or another : SOMEHOW

14-down – Come in again : REENTER

16-down – Precious stone : TOPAZ

17-down – Forbidden : TABOO

18-down – Significance – ___ ball or helmet : PITH

1-across – Family member – type of clock : GRANDFATHER

9-across – NOT LIKE THIS : LOWERCASE

10-across – Black and white bird : PIE

11-across – Russian spirit : VODKA

13-across – Dead skin at edge of nails : CUTICLE

14-across – Variety of apple : RUSSET

15-across – Item used by mountaineers to cut footholds : ICEAXE

18-across – ___ cushion : WHOOPEE

20-across – Game of numbers : LOTTO

21-across – Bath ___ University : SPA

22-across – Sly leaver : SEVERALLY

24-across – Prehistoric reptile – protect lady : PTERODACTYL

2-down – Bitterly cold : RAW

3-down – Give a running commentary on : NARRATE

4-down – Complete failure : FIASCO

5-down – English river : TRENT

6-down – Waiting for something : EXPECTANT

7-down – Dickens novel : OLIVERTWIST

8-down – Be in full agreement : SEEEYETOEYE

12-down – Lacking in harmony : DISSONANT

16-down – Relating to heat : CALORIC

17-down – Having burning desire : FERVID

19-down – Puzzling question : POSER

23-down – Supposed straight line between landscape features : LEY

1-across – Thoughtless selfish motorist : ROADHOG

8-across – At once I : ACONITE

9-across – Withdraw : RETRACT

10-across – Parliamentary record : HANSARD

11-across – Italian cured pork fat : LARDO

13-across – Consummate : VERITABLE

15-across – Ability to put up with something : TOLERANCE

18-across – Drink – with Rosie ? : CIDER

21-across – Flat elevated tract of land : PLATEAU

22-across – Chimney site : ROOFTOP

23-across – Kneecap : PATELLA

24-across – With great enthusiasm : LIKEMAD

1-down – Relating to the countryside : RURAL

2-down – Essential oil : ATTAR

3-down – Completely in love – somersault : HEADOVERHEELS

4-down – Draw threads through cloth to pleat : GATHER

5-down – Lasting through day and night : ROUNDTHECLOCK

6-down – Raising agent : BICARB

7-down – Annoy – gramophone part : NEEDLE

12-down – To be played with the bow : ARCO

14-down – Fast Olympic toboggan : LUGE

15-down – Amounts added to return to original level : TOPUPS

16-down – Propped-up shed : LEANTO

17-down – Relating to bodily bundles of fibre : NEURAL

19-down – Piece of information more often referred to in the plural : DATUM

20-down – ___ eye movement : RAPID

1-across – Huffy electricity producers? : WINDFARMS

8-across – Bones – Greek mountain : OSSA

9-across – Figurine : STATUETTE

10-across – Fruit – NZ bird : KIWI

13-across – Red pigment used as hair dye : HENNA

15-across – Hard glossy coating : ENAMEL

16-across – Forge : SMITHY

17-across – Long high-backed bench – Yorkshire town : SETTLE

19-across – Coin – pig or fowl? : GUINEA

20-across – Happen : OCCUR

21-across – Fool – what twoo follows at night? : TWIT

24-across – Water-smacking dive : BELLYFLOP

25-across – Cornish Project : EDEN

26-across – What a fairy swaps for cash : BABYTOOTH

2-down – Enthusiastic about : INTO

3-down – Show excessive love : DOTE

4-down – Qualification : ALEVEL

5-down – Service of morning prayer : MATINS

6-down – Aide : ASSISTANT

7-down – Chap dedicated to his wife and children : FAMILYMAN

11-down – Socially prominent glamorous traveller : JETSETTER

12-down – Like some warblers and flycatchers : FANTAILED

13-down – UK magazine since 1988 : HELLO

14-down – Loved one : AMOUR

18-down – Skin condition : ECZEMA

19-down – Culpable : GUILTY

22-down – Hairstyle : AFRO

23-down – Part of a poem or a sewing machine : FOOT

1-across – Carrot or parsnip,e.g. : ROOTVEGETABLE

8-across – Mythical bird : ROC

9-across – Auditory perception : LISTENING

10-across – Informer – piglet : SQUEALER

11-across – Ancient Scandinavian book : EDDA

13-across – Raised for discussion : MOOTED

14-across – Fry,kiss or toast? : FRENCH

16-across – Cheese-making town northeast of Amsterdam : EDAM

17-across – Capable of errors : FALLIBLE

20-across – Sporting competition : TRIATHLON

21-across – Blade : OAR

22-across – Trading place : OPENAIRMARKET

1-down – Some ferries : ROROS

2-down – Top of a tale : ONCEUPONATIME

3-down – Inhabitant of small community : VILLAGER

4-down – Set of principles – absolute truth ? : GOSPEL

5-down – Three in cards or dice : TREY

6-down – Unit of construction : BUILDINGBLOCK

7-down – It’s used to brush pastry : EGGWASH

12-down – Asian country : SRILANKA

13-down – Distinguished musician : MAESTRO

15-down – US writer – poster : MAILER

18-down – White heron : EGRET

19-down – Sicilian hotspot : ETNA