Weekend Quick Cryptic 83 - 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 and tips...

Some hints and tips:

• Despite appearances, there are is nothing missing. 
• The cardinals at 11A are points of the compass.
• In 23A you have to split "simple aerodynamics".
• 25A is a cryptic definition.
• 17D is not an anagram.
• In 19A Oliver is an English film actor.

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
1 Escape someone's clutches and drive off (4,4)
PULL AWAY – Double definition.
5 A giant is very excited (4)
AGOG – A GOG (giant), generally spoken of in combination with his fellow giant Magog.
9 One who may be happy that their career is in ruins (13)
ARCHAEOLOGIST – Cryptic definition. Ho ho!
10 Turned pale making formal statement in court (4)
PLEA – (pale)* [turned].
11 Cardinals surround ruined manor for invaders (7)
NORMANS – N and S (cardinals; points of the compass) around (manor)* [ruined].
13 Stir up trouble that's visible to the audience (6)
INCITE – Sounds like, [to the audience], IN SIGHT (visible).
15 French cheeses reportedly cause wind (6)
BREEZE – A second homophone, [reportedly], BRIES (French cheeses).
18 About an Italian region? No, an English county (7)
CUMBRIA – C (circa; about) UMBRIA (Italian region).
20 Frenchman - or Englishwoman (4)
JEAN – Double definition.
23 If it isn't this, it's simple astrodynamics (6,7)
ROCKET SCIENCE – Double definition, the first a cryptic hint.
24 Just one fish (4)
SOLE – Double definition.
25  (8)
CLUELESS – Cryptic definition!
 
Down
1 Quietly drive into small vehicle (4)
PRAM – P (piano; quietly) RAM (drive into).
2 Convenient source of drinks (non-fattening) (5)
LOCAL – LO-CAL (non-fattening).
3 Firmly insistent he's an old pop singer (7)
ADAMANT – ADAM ANT (old pop singer). Read about him here. Is 68 old?
4 The cost of a horse? (6)
AMOUNT – A MOUNT (horse).
6 Pull a face at dour expert (7)
GRIMACE – GRIM (dour) ACE (expert).
7 Decline to visit daughter (2,2,4)
GO TO SEED – GO TO SEE (visit) D (daughter).
8 Cross to back entrance (4)
DOOR – ROOD (cross) reversed [to back] -> DOOR.
12 Gets rid of policeman's clubs, perhaps?  (8)
DISCARDS – DI’S (detective inspector’s; policeman’s) CARDS (clubs, perhaps).
14 Come on Mum, I can't abide late starters being funny (7)
COMICAL – Initial letters, [starters], of Come On Mum I Can’t Abide Late.
16 Celebrate on Irish writer's broadcast (7)
REJOICE – RE (on) JOICE, sounds like JOYCE (Irish writer.
17 Maiden taken in by Uncle's madcap reversal (6)
DAMSEL – Reverse hidden [reversal] [taken in by] in UncLES MADap. Nicely deceptive. Did anyone else think it might be M (maiden) in an anagram of UNCLE?
19 Oliver's embarrassed when taking drug (4)
REED – RED (embarrassed) taking in E (drug). Read all about Oliver Reed here.
21 Shockingly inane musical (5)
ANNIE - (inane)* [shockingly].
22 Dog's breakfast served here? (4)
MESS – Double definition.