Across
1 Dear Dandelion , unusual Victorian novel (6,7)
8 ‘Well ... well ...’; that’s indifferent (2-2)
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9 Irascibility shown by US solider eating steak on headland (10)
10 Stick commercial in this place (6)
11 Unveiling – not very excitedly – some pasta (8)
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12 Sucks it up again, uneasily sore with barbs (9)
14 Heaven’s, they say, a Scottish island (4)
15 Fire axe (4)
16 Fat ... warrior at heart ... criminal; a little celebrated in this country? (5,4)
20 Writer not beginning to describe capture in game (8)
21 Heartless orc in long book, not present-day (2,4)
23 Exhibitions, ones that impart finer vision (10)
24 Recalled Michelangelo mixing a little spot of pigment (4)
25 Small dog. Brown, perhaps. Conked out in French mountain (6,7)
Down
1 Risky opening with backgammon piece (2-2-3)
2 Not a soul with energy after midday (2,3)
3 Artist’s joy (mostly) rising about cobalt (2,5)
4 As a product of Smith and Wesson might be? (6-9)
5 Regret sports lesson, having torn around (6)
6 Granny gets food, eating trout for starters somewhere in Massachusetts (9)
7 Cab seen, unusually: it’s a scarcity (7)
13 Invest in figurative painter that might come from Tamworth (4,5)
15 Struggled with piano replacing Latin quintet in bands (7)
17 Scratching head, prejudiced craftsman (7)
18 On location for filming, ‘attended’ fictional court (7)
19 Primarily, something African fauna adjudge ‘really irritating’? (6)
22 Oddly claim ‘Hero’s a small role’ (5)