Weekend Quick Cryptic 72 - Solution

My fellow TimesforTheTimes contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Saturday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's Phil's turn. 

You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.

Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.

Hints...

Some hints and tips:

• The broadcaster at 12A is not terrestrial.
• The antelope at 14A is more commonly found in Asia.
• The toy at 2D is stretchy and bouncy and can go down stairs unaided after being led down the first step.
• 13D is a bit clever. You can probably biff it with the crossers, but can you parse it?

And click on this label to get the solution.

Solution and explanation of the answers...

Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc,  {deletions} and [] other indicators.

 

Across
3 Act poorly - in "The Lion King"? (3)
CAT – (act)* [poorly].
8 Greek character initially dedicates early life to Athens (5)
DELTA – First letters, [initially], of Dedicates Early Life To Athens.
9 Don Hall surprisingly the source of 1D (7)
HOLLAND – (Don Hall)* [surprisingly]. Where EDAM cheese (1D) comes from.
10 Chap times fellow islander (7)
MANXMAN – MAN (chap) X (times) MAN (fellow).
11 Country that's cold we're told (5)
CHILE – Sounds like, [we’re told], CHILLY (cold).
12 Broadcaster's dog seen in space station (6)
SKYLAB – SKY (broadcaster) LAB (Labrador; dog).
14 Antelope found regularly in Inuit log cabin (6)
NILGAI – Alternate letters, [found regularly in], of iNuIt LoG cAbIn.
15 Drug I ingested after medical procedure (6)
OPIATE – OP (medical procedure) I ATE (ingested).
17 Light gin cocktail I tasted eagerly at first (6)
IGNITE – (gin)* [cocktail]  I and first letters of Tasted Eagerly [at first].
20 Light opera's part for heavy drinker (5)
TOPER – Hidden in [part] LighT OPERa.
21 Got away from opponents dressed like Batman (7)
ESCAPED – E S (opponents at bridge) CAPED (dressed like Batman).
24 Not used like the pound in your pocket (7)
UNSPENT – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint.
25 Irritates police informers (5)
NARKS – Double definition.
26 Heart? Oddly it may be worn on one's head (3)
HAT – Odd letters, [oddly], of HeArT.
 
Down
1 Made up dairy produce (4)
EDAM – (made)* [up].
2 Seductive toy (6)
SLINKY – Double definition.
3 Quiet, reticent person has a change of heart (4)
CALM – CLAM (reticent person) swapping middle letters, [change of heart] -> CALM.
4 Consider spare man on board (5)
THINK – THIN (spare) K (King; man on chessboard).
5 Placing an embargo on shoe polish (8)
BLACKING – Double definition.
6 Assessing sailor (6)
RATING – Double definition.
7 Something used to mend smashed vase I'd helped enamel originally (8)
ADHESIVE – [smashed] (vase I’d h{elped} e{namel) [originally])*.
12 Penalties for dodgy footwear supplier we're told (5-3)
SHOOT OUT – Sounds like [we’re told] SHOE TOUT (dodgy footwear supplier).
13 One hears you can be found here in the early evening (5,3)
AFTER TEA – Sounds like, [one hears], U (you)… (can be found here) AFTER, T sounds like TEA. Nice one Phil.
16 Force one maiden to sit (6)
IMPOSE – I (one) M (maiden) POSE (sit).
18 Meaning "I am on the left" (6)
IMPORT – I’M (I am) PORT (the left, at sea).
19 Hitler almost destroyed Edinburgh's port (5)
LEITH – (Hitle{r} [almost])* [destroyed]
22 Money reportedly despatched (4)
CENT – A third “sounds like” clue…. sounds like SENT (despatched) [reportedly].
23 Be in a hurry to frustrate hopes (4)
DASH – Double definition.