1-across – Good-for-nothing person : WASTREL

8-across – Unwavering : ADAMANT

9-across – Flower seller : FLORIST

10-across – Cause to absorb water : HYDRATE

11-across – Ancient artefact : RELIC

13-across – Unrealistic : AIRYFAIRY

15-across – Being about to happen : IMMINENCE

18-across – Advantage : ASSET

21-across – Ghost : PHANTOM

22-across – Army unit : BRIGADE

23-across – Confused disturbance : TURMOIL

24-across – Affianced : ENGAGED

1-down – Thin piece, sliver : WAFER

2-down – Frown, glower : SCOWL

3-down – Rebirth : REINCARNATION

4-down – Agitated state : LATHER

5-down – Slightly deaf : HARDOFHEARING

6-down – Hunting expedition : SAFARI

7-down – Coldly determined : STEELY

12-down – Test : EXAM

14-down – Stratagem : RUSE

15-down – Attribute : IMPUTE

16-down – Scanty, inadequate : MEAGRE

17-down – Agile : NIMBLE

19-down – Colloquial speech : SLANG

20-down – General direction; fashion : TREND

1-across – Mean, frugal with money : CHEESEPARING

9-across – Structure supporting electric cables : PYLON

10-across – Division of a book : CHAPTER

11-across – Precious gem : RUBY

12-across – Ill-defined situation : GREYAREA

14-across – : ANTHEM

15-across – Code : CIPHER

18-across – Effect of over-indulgence : HANGOVER

20-across – Relating to the ear : OTIC

22-across – Leading female character : HEROINE

23-across – Purgative, emetic : ENEMA

24-across – Container preserving a drink’s temperature : THERMOSFLASK

2-down – Large flatfish : HALIBUT

3-down – Sea eagle : ERNE

4-down – Call for more : ENCORE

5-down – Detailed examination : ANALYSIS

6-down – Bury : INTER

7-down – Doctor specialising in the aged : GERIATRICIAN

8-down – Golf stroke from fairway to green : APPROACHSHOT

13-down – The pursuit of pleasure : HEDONISM

16-down – Bare-headed : HATLESS

17-down – Short break : RECESS

19-down – Tend : NURSE

21-down – Ring of bells : PEAL

1-across – Summary, synopsis : PRECIS

4-across – Long piece of : SCREED

9-across – Layer : STRATUM

10-across – Improvise, speak without notes : ADLIB

11-across – Muslim religion : ISLAM

12-across – Large out-of-control fire : INFERNO

13-across – Native of Moscow : MUSCOVITE

17-across – Authorise, officially permit : LICENSE

19-across – Devoutly religious : GODLY

21-across – Multiplied by itself three times : CUBED

22-across – Frankness : CANDOUR

23-across – Heavy petroleum : DIESEL

24-across – Stopped : CEASED

1-down – Throughout the text : PASSIM

2-down – Register, sign on : ENROL

3-down – Narrow strip of land in the sea : ISTHMUS

5-down – Seed husks; refuse : CHAFF

6-down – Make more extensive : ENLARGE

7-down – One owing money : DEBTOR

8-down – Unlimited power : OMNIPOTENCE

13-down – Morbid, gruesome : MACABRE

14-down – Unsophisticated young woman : INGENUE

15-down – Even-tempered, calm : PLACID

16-down – Cross-bred : HYBRID

18-down – Light touch or push : NUDGE

20-down – Detritus, rubbish : DROSS

1-across – Ascend; surmount : CLIMBUP

8-across – Epithet; additional title : EKENAME

9-across – Support; take the side of : ROOTFOR

10-across – Main item of dislike; particular aversion : PETHATE

11-across – Head municipal officer of a city : MAYOR

13-across – Hairstyles worn by women in the 1920s : ETONCROPS

15-across – Completely; to the end : ALLTHEWAY

18-across – More dangerous or hopeless : DIRER

21-across – Embarrassing error; crusty white bread : BLOOMER

22-across – Get a move on! : HURRYUP

23-across – Farming centre of California’s Central Valley : MODESTO

24-across – Fealty; fidelity : LOYALTY

1-down – Cannon : CAROM

2-down – Dentine; piano key : IVORY

3-down – Of seamen quartered in the forecastle : BEFORETHEMAST

4-down – By proxy : PERPRO

5-down – : KENTUCKYDERBY

6-down – Makes an attempt; takes a chance : HASAGO

7-down – Low-lying, often reclaimed lands : LEVELS

12-down – Unofficially not present; : AWOL

14-down – The —-, Irish area under English rule : PALE

15-down – Collections of photographs; records : ALBUMS

16-down – London insurance market : LLOYDS

17-down – Andy —— : WARHOL

19-down – Of the rank of a monarch; majestic : ROYAL

20-down – Recompense; settle the score : REPAY

5-across – Ordinary; sensible and practical : DOWNTOEARTH

7-across – Drift, for example; belonging to me : MINE

8-across – Joy; delight : PLEASURE

9-across – Northern Hemisphere ruminant : REDDEER

11-across – Scrub area with ericaceous plants : HEATH

13-across – Exert force; the Fourth Estate : PRESS

14-across – Shred; surviving trace : VESTIGE

16-across – Follicularly challenged! : HAIRLESS

17-across – Bluster; card game : BRAG

18-across – Comprehensively; unceremoniously : NECKANDCROP

1-down – Affectedly; sentimentally pretty : TWEE

2-down – Cork, perhaps; goalkeeper : STOPPER

3-down – Opinion or doctrine held as true : TENET

4-down – Possibility of future success; view : PROSPECT

5-down – Lower house of the Irish parliament : DAILEIREANN

6-down – Difficult to understand; complex : HARDTOGRASP

10-down – Draw attention; cause to be alarmed : DISTRACT

12-down – Disease? : SEASIDE

15-down – Asian skewer speciality : KEBAB

17-down – Large farm outbuilding : BARN