Across:
8 Where one may paint a picture (STUDIO) of where someone is living (STUDIO),
9 Produced (= anagram indicator) denim cap (denim cap = PANDEMIC) that could be a killer if it goes global (PANDEMIC),
10 Needles mates (PINS and needles) to take out of snake pit (‘take’ out of ‘snake pit’ = snpi = PINS),
11 Favourite (PET-) gets short acting part (‘role’ = -ROL) in 24 down (‘pump’ = PUMP) (PETROL PUMP) and in Garage (PETROL PUMP),
12 Great aunts failed to get gran (‘great aunts’ failed to get ‘gran’ = etauts = STATUE) a garden gnome (STATUE),
14 Produces large amount (PUMPS OUT) of 14 down (‘pumps’ = PUMPS) on holiday (OUT) (PUMPS OUT),
15 Keeps an eye on finance, for one (CABINET MINISTER), for what carpenter put together (CABINET) in the church (MINISTER) (CABINET MINISTER),
18 Criminal (= anagram indicator) move on (move on = VENOMO-) America (-US) (VENOMOUS) is toxic (VENOMOUS),
20 British leader (‘British’ leader = B-) gets nothing (-O-) wrong (-X-) in (-IN-) Government? (-G) (BOXING) In Ring it’s seen as an opportunity to throw a few digs! (BOXING),
22 Ladies (madams) losing the head (m) (‘madams’ without ‘m’ = adams = ADAM’S) with cider producer (APPLE) (ADAM’S APPLE) brings a lump to one’s throat (ADAM’S APPLE),
24 Church leader (POPE) is innocent – one of 13 (13 popes called Innocent = POPE),
25 Research best way to press a suit perhaps (STUDY LAW) – is that how you’d learn to handle yourself in bar room? (STUDY LAW),
26 A sign (Aries = AR-IES) about 1,000 (-M-) (ARMIES) military forces (ARMIES).
Down:
1 It’s uncompromising (STRICT) and dark coming off dirt tracks (‘dark’ coming off ‘dirt tracks’ = irttcs = STRICT),
2 Count’s (counts = ADDS) men leave demands (‘men’ leave ‘demands’ = dads = ADDS),
3 Finish (COMPLETE) play (compete = COMP-ETE) about leading light (leading ‘light’ = -L-) (COMPLETE),
4 Content in newspapers potentially (content in ‘newspapers potentially’ = SPOT) is a blemish on one’s character (SPOT),
5 Blow the whistle (INFORM) on firm (on firm = INFORM) arrangement (= anagram indicator),
6 Steps in tax (steps in tax = TEN PAST SIX) collection (= anagram indicator) in 1810? (18.10pm = TEN PAST SIX),
7 Bird (TIT-) with a type of pad (-MOUSE pad) (TITMOUSE) is a common tweeter (TITMOUSE),
13 Man of the cloth (TAILOR-) heard (= homophone indicator) housekeeper (‘maid’ = ‘made’ = -MADE) (TAILOR-MADE) is perfectly suited (TAILOR-MADE),
14 Local looks for information (PUMPS) from 24 down (‘pump’ = PUMP-) at school (-S) (PUMPS),
16 One cadet (one cadet = ANECDOTE) fishing (= anagram indicator) for something from storyteller (ANECDOTE),
17 Frenchman (Monsieur = -M-) in Lebanon (Lebanon = NOBLE-AN) working (= anagram indicator) (NOBLEMAN) for The Count (NOBLEMAN),
19 A source of wisdom (ORACLE) covered up by advisor? A cleaner! (covered up by ‘advisor A cleaner’ = ORACLE),
21 Propensity to remove toys (‘propensity’ to remove ‘toys’ = prpeni = NIPPER) from the little fellow (NIPPER),
23 The weakest man on The Board (PAWN) in hock locally (PAWN),
24 Backing (= reversal indicator) up (up = PU-) British politician (-MP) (PUMP) – the one on his bike! (PUMP).