Lorraine: Straight forward again this week apart from 8 down (Obregon), I could not find any reference to this artist in any books I own so had to get Nick to google it for me. I had the answer but needed to confirm it.
Legend to solution comments:
* = anagram.
< = word reversed.
| Across | |||
| 1. | SPAR | SPAR(e) | |
| 4. | ALTISSIMO | I + (MISS)< in ALTO | |
| 9. | FLIGHT RECORDER | F + LIGHT + RECORDER | |
| 11. | ON THE BOIL | BO in (HOT LINE)* | |
| 12. | SNAG | S + NAG | |
| 14. | SET PLAY | SET + PLAY | |
| 16. | CRIMSON | RIMS in CON | |
| 17. | LEANDER | N in LEADER | |
| 18. | RELEASE | RE + LEASE | |
| 20. | APEX | APE + X | |
| 21. | LION TAMER | CD | |
| 24. | HAVE A ROVING EYE | CD | |
| 25. | DISCOVERY | DISCO + VERY | |
| 26. | WARM | W + ARM | |
| Down | |||
| 2. | PILOT | I in PLOT | |
| 3. | RAGGED LADY | CD | |
| 4. | ANTHONY TROLLOPE | (HORNY TALE NO PLOT)* | |
| 5,6. | THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP | (YOUTH POLITICS HEROD + S)* | |
| 7. | INDONESIA | ONES in INDIA | |
| 8. | OBREGON | B in OREGON | |
| 10. | BOSS | DD | |
| 13. | LINLITHGOW | (IN LOW LIGHT)* | |
| 15. | TEA LEAVES | TEAL + EAVES | |
| 17. | LOATHED | THE in LOAD | |
| 19. | EARN | EAR + N | |
| 22. | MAYOR | MAYO + R | |
| 23. | FARO | FAR + O | |
Thanks The Trafites. I hadn’t heard of OBREGON either. Odd how an otherwise pleasant and, as you say, straightforward puzzle includes such an obscure solution.