Solving time, 16 mins
* = anagram < = reversed
ACROSS
1 B(L)OG
3 AP PETITE pa<
8 DE C ODES ed<
10 (win)TER MINI
11 SUNDAY LUNCH (Lucy had nuns)*
14 (b)ARMY barmy less B = British
15 STA (LING)R A D
16 CREDENTIAL (client read)*
18 SPA M m = maiden (cricket)
20 ELEPHANTINE (Plane in the E)*
23 CORDIAL Double definition
24 RA(D) ICLE (Claire)*
25 ROAD SIGN (so daring)*
26 PYRE Hidden & lit, I guess
DOWN
1 BACK NUMBER ref numb
2 O R (D) EAL
4 PATENT LEATHER (the tale parent)*
5 EAR THEN
6 I SIS
7 ER IN Clue splits at in/part Poetic name for Ireland
8 D.I.’S PATCH
9 SALUTE THE FLAG stars and stripes
12 CROP CIRCLE
13 A DAM (B.ED.) E Novel by George Eliot Dame Iris Murdoch, also a writer
17 ENEMIES (I see men)*
19 ONE-DAY (a doyen)*
21 SCAR scarce less CE (Church of England)
22 ARE A are (100 sq metres) and its abbreviation a