| ACROSS | ||
| 1 | ESCAPE | Start to sleep in sort of peace then leak (6) Start to sleep = S inside anagram of PEACE |
| 4 | PLACID | Head of clan wearing tartan unruffled (6) Head of clan = C inside PLAID ("tartan") |
| 8 | TRELLIS | Tillers working to provide support in the garden (7) Anagram of TILLERS |
| 9 | POPCORN | There is nothing politically correct in erotica: it's indulged in by many moviegoers (7) nothing = O, politically correct = PC inside PORN ("erotica") |
| 10 | DENTISTRY | Sent dirty letters, medical attention regularly recommended (9) Anagram of SENT DIRTY |
| 12 | ODDS | Chances of overdose emptied out doctors (4) overdose = OD, emptied out doctors = DS |
| 13 | DELHI | A slice of strudel Hindus might sell for capital (5) Hidden word |
| 14 | TOP-HEAVY | The leading villain is unstable (3-5) Double definition |
| 16 | ALL CLEAR | Signal that the danger is over in call out to mad king (3,5) Anagram of CALL + LEAR ("mad king") |
| 18 | ANGEL | Darling brings article on hair mousse (5) article = AN, hair mousse = GEL |
| 20 | AVER | Swear and rave incoherently (4) Anagram of RAVE |
| 21 | REDUNDANT | Laid off work and turned mad (9) Anagram of AND TURNED |
| 23 | BROADLY | Loosely or badly astray (7) Anagram of OR BADLY |
| 24 | TIPSTER | Racecourse advisor does time with queer-looking priest (7) time = T + anagram of PRIEST |
| 25 | DRENCH | Computer enthusiast goes back to church in swamp (6) Computer enthusiast = NERD, reversed + church = CH |
| 26 | REUSED | Rebel leader with tailored suede is employed again (6) Rebel leader = R + anagram of SUEDE |
| DOWN | ||
| 1 | EARED | Like wheat a deer chewed (5) Anagram of A DEER |
| 2 | COLONEL | Officer makes mark in sentencing the Spanish (7) mark in sentencing = COLON, the Spanish = EL |
| 3 | PRIMITIVE | Crude yet dainty with it, I have brief following (9) dainty = PRIM with I + I have brief = IVE |
| 5 | LOONY | Only crazy about the first of October but then really bonkers (5) Anagram of ONLY including ("about") first of October = O |
| 6 | CYCLONE | Ride around on a typhoon (7) Ride = CYCLE |
| 7 | DAREDEVIL | Hothead made bold with wickedness (9) made bold = DARED, wickesness = EVIL |
| 11 | TUTORED | Instructed the little pharaoh then rode off (7) the little pharaoh = TUT + anagram of RODE |
| 13 | DELIVERED | Saved, having had a major organ removed? (9) Double definition |
| 15 | PLAINTIVE | Melancholy? Invite pal around (9) Anagram of INVITE PAL |
| 17 | CARTAGE | Hauling painting into prison? (7) painting = ART, prison = CAGE |
| 19 | GLASSES | German girls produce spectacles (7) German = g, girls = LASSES |
| 21 | RELIC | Souvenir from North Shore licenced restaurant (5) Hidden word |
| 22 | TREND | Be inclined to admit rightwing leader: that's the bandwagon (5) Be inclined = TEND, rightwing leader = R |
