Great fun – favourites were 12ac, 3dn and 19dn. Was on the lookout for a theme but couldn’t spot one. Thanks, Brummie.
| Across | ||
| 1 | RIFLEMAN | Flier abandoned by fellow flier (8) |
| =a RIFLEMAN bird [wiki]. (Flier)* by MAN=”fellow” | ||
| 5 | THAMES | Feature of London breaks: bagging husband! (6) |
| TAMES=”breaks”, around H[usband] | ||
| 9 | MARACAS | Instruments responsible for a calcium-filled world (7) |
| A plus CA[lcium] in MARS=”world” | ||
| 10 | DELIRIA | Shop with retro atmosphere excited states (7) |
| DELI=”Shop”, with a reversal/”retro” of AIR=”atmosphere” | ||
| 11 | SHAWM | Width covered by mock instrument (5) |
| =a predecessor of the oboe. W[idth] inside SHAM=”mock” | ||
| 12 | LIGHTSHIP | Prepares to smoke joint, as a warning to seamen (9) |
| =a ship that acts like a lighthouse. LIGHTS=”Prepares to smoke”, plus HIP=”joint” | ||
| 13 | BATTLEGROUND | “Culloden”, revolving turntable dog? (12) |
| Culloden was a battleground [wiki]. (turntable dog)* | ||
| 17 | CHEESEPARING | Mean to be cutting down dairy produce (12) |
| “Mean” as in stingy, after the practise of keeping parings of cheese rind | ||
| 20 | RIGOLETTO | City welcomes attempt to hire theatre entrance for opera (9) |
| =opera by Verdi. RIO=”City” around GO=”attempt” plus LET=”hire” plus T[heatre] | ||
| 22 | ROPEY | Lasso-like? Yes, cowboy-style with gold backing (5) |
| YEP=”Yes, cowboy-style”, plus OR=”gold”; all reversed/”backing” | ||
| 23 | HARWICH | Port flushed air WC in two hours (7) |
| =a port in Essex. (air WC)* in H[our] H[our] | ||
| 24 | YOUNGER | Say name backward, restricted by one’s being less mature (7) |
| E.G.=”Say” plus N[ame], all reversed/”backward”; inside YOUR=”one’s” | ||
| 25 | REWRAP | Soldiers finish filming and provide cover again (6) |
| R[oyal] E[ngineers]=”Soldiers”, plus WRAP=”finish filming” | ||
| 26 | DEADHEAD | Useless chap, tidy up the flower bed! (8) |
| =an ineffective person; =remove withered heads of flowers to encourage new growth | ||
| Down | ||
| 1 | REMISS | Wayward, sleepy feature endures, given sun (6) |
| R[apid] E[ye] M[ovement]=”sleepy feature”, plus IS=”endures”, plus S[un] | ||
| 2 | FORMAT | Style of pro wrestling requirement? (6) |
| FOR=”pro”, plus MAT=”wrestling requirement” | ||
| 3 | ENCOMPASS | Cover of only half useful navigational aid? (9) |
| E[ast] N[orth] COMPASS might =”only half useful navigational aid” | ||
| 4 | ABSOLUTE PITCH | A gift that hits just the right note (8,5) |
| cryptic definition | ||
| 6 | HELOT | Ancient slave, male, with parcel (5) |
| =a Spartan slave. HE=”male” plus LOT=”parcel” | ||
| 7 | MIRTHFUL | Hurt film, awfully jolly (8) |
| (Hurt film)* | ||
| 8 | STAMPEDE | Zapped steed absorbs a certain quantity of electricity charge (8) |
| (steed)* around AMP=”a certain quantity of electricity” | ||
| 10 | DAGUERREOTYPE | Photo of partygoer dancing with due energy (13) |
| (partygoer due e[nergy])* | ||
| 14 | RUNAROUND | Small car that’s given by evasive person (9) |
| double definition | ||
| 15 | SCORCHER | Composer with chart entry devoid of skill — it’s hot! (8) |
| SCORER=”Composer”, with CH[art] inside but devoid of “skill” or art | ||
| 16 | HEDGEROW | Question about rampant greed that divides the land? (8) |
| HOW?=”Question”, around (greed)* | ||
| 18 | APOGEE | Primate admitting self-elevation is the highest point (6) |
| APE=”Primate”, around an upward reversal of EGO=”self-elevation” | ||
| 19 | HYBRID | Cross borne by worthy bridegroom (6) |
| Hidden inside [wort]HY BRID[egroom] | ||
| 21 | LAIKA | Possibly heard as a Russian dog (5) |
| =the first animal to orbit the earth [wiki]. Homophone of ‘like a’=”as a” | ||
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