Across:
8 Father (parish priest = -PP-) restricted by drink (A-LE-) takes temperature (-T) (APPLET), with computer application (APPLET),
9 Smooth-talking (ELOQUENT) English (E-)? That bunch (that -LO-T) covering Queen (queen) missed the last performance! (the last ‘performance’ = e) (‘queen’ without ‘e” = -QUEN) (ELOQUENT),
10 The Spanish (the = -EL-) in Connecticut (C-T) (CELT) visited here a long time ago (CELT),
11 Release (FREE-) old soldier (-LANCER) (FREELANCER) not on general staff (FREELANCER),
12 Detective (D-I) admits sorting out (= anagram indicator) help (help = -ELPH-) (DELPHI) in old informant’s home? (DELPHI oracle),
14 He prepares the magazine (GUNSMITH) with pieces (GUNS-) on American university (Massachusetts Institute of Technology = -MIT-) hospital (-H) (GUNSMITH),
15 Exciting (ELECTRIC) skinny type (-LANK-) in gamble (B-ET) (ELECTRIC BLANKET) will certainly provide cover for one’s retirement when the heat’s on (ELECTRIC BLANKET),
18 Coping (MAKING DO) with board member (chessboard member = -KING-) in senseless (MA-D-) order (-O) (MAKING DO),
20 Unanimously drops union (‘unanimously’ drops ‘union’ = amusly = ASYLUM) with immunity (ASYLUM),
22 Damning evidence (SMOKING GUN) of dirty air (smog) almost (g) (‘smog’ without ‘g’ = SMO-) in The Palace (-KING) – the work of 14 across (GUN is the work of ‘gunsmith) (SMOKING GUN),
24 Advertise leaving out tired (‘advertise’ leaving out ‘tired’ = avse = VASE) jar of flowers (VASE),
25 Overwhelm (INUNDATE) fashionable (IN-) Ulster (-U-) Nationalist (-N-) at rendezvous (-DATE) (INUNDATE),
26 Starts over (RESETS) in Spain (-E-) consumed by rest (rest = RES-T-) cure (= anagram indicator) at top sanatorium (top ‘sanatorium’ = -S) (RESETS).
Down:
1 A round heavy-set figure (SPHERE) has sheep (sheep = SPHE-E) roaming around (= anagram indicator) top of ridge (top of ‘ridge’ = -R-) (SPHERE),
2 It’s even (FLAT) covered up by hyperinflation (covered up by ‘hyperinflation’ = FLAT),
3 Suffer it (suffer it = STUFFIER) travelling (= anagram indicator) in a less ventilated type (STUFFIER),
4 Credited with removing DIRT? (‘credited’ with removing ‘dirt’ = ceed = CEDE) I’ll give you that! (CEDE),
5 Great (G-) old (-O-) lawyer (Bachelor of Law = -BL-) at home (-IN) (GOBLIN) is used to doing a bit of devilling perhaps (GOBLIN),
6 The proceeds of risible bread-maker? (FUNNY MONEY) Anyone rolling out their own dough will get this! (FUNNY MONEY),
7 Put someone off their stroke (UNSETTLE) with a foreign (a = UN-) remedy (-SETTLE) (UNSETTLE),
13 Gets a bite lying on the grass (PICNICKING) with a royal garden party host? (the PICNIC KING),
14 Turns up (= reversal indicator) all right (ok = -KO), caught (-C-), for example (e.g. = GE-), (GECKO) with that low life and doesn’t even blink! (GECKO),
16 Star actor (LEAD) to go on location for The Seven Dwarfs (they worked in a MINE) (LEAD MINE) provided Heavy Metal is removed from it (heavy metal/lead is removed from LEAD MINE),
17 Students (LEARNERS) of Left (L-) working for a living (-EARNERS) (LEARNERS),
19 Rewrote (= anagram indicator) linage (linage = GENIAL) to be sociable (GENIAL),
21 Causes consternation (UPSETS) for university (U-) with unfamiliar (= anagram indicator) pests (pests = -PSETS) (UPSETS),
23 Immersed in developing Leningrad (immersed in “developing Leningrad” = GLEN) valley (GLEN),
24 Bit of improvisation (bit of ‘improvisation’ = VISA) for getting into the country (VISA).