Across:
8 Fix (= anagram indicator) fault (fault = A-TFUL) around resistance (-R-) (ARTFUL) – that’s clever (ARTFUL),
9 Apricot (apricot = OP-RATIC) cocktail (= anagram indicator) poured over last bit of cheese (last of ‘cheesE’ = -E-) (OPERATIC) is extravagantly theatrical (OPERATIC),
10 Details (INFO) apparent in floodplain forecast (apparent in ‘floodplaIN FOrecast’ = INFO),
11 Company men (MILITIA-) contact worker (-MAN) (MILITIAMAN), a fighter raised by civilian population (MILITIAMAN),
12 Close (shut) most of (most of ‘shut’ = SHU-) the paper (Financial Times = -FT-) with one (-I) (SHUFTI) quick look (SHUFTI),
14 It’s a dour (it’s a dour = AUDITORS) adaptation (= anagram indicator) for those listening in (AUDITORS),
15 Official overseas visitor (FOREIGN MINISTER) is not familiar (FOREIGN) with 25 across (‘minister’ = MINISTER) (FOREIGN MINISTER),
18 Emergency care (FIRST AID) for Irishmen (Irish ‘men’ = ‘fir’ = FIR-) initially traumatised (initially ‘Traumatised’ = -T-) in Egyptian port (Port Said = -S- AID) (FIRST AID),
20 Victor (V-) English (-E-) from Takeaway (take away/less) turns up (= reversal indicator) (less = -SSEL) (VESSEL) carrying the fish (VESSEL),
22 Docile pair (docile pair) working (= anagram indicator) (docile pair = PERIODICAL) for magazine (PERIODICAL),
24 Opens 13 down (opens ‘free spirit’ = FREE) and is now at liberty (FREE),
25 Merits in (merits in = MINISTER) novel (= anagram indicator) produced by mass producer? (MINISTER),
26 Enthusiasm (SPIRIT) for what’s at the end of 13 down (end of ‘free spirit’ = SPIRIT).
Down:
1 Jimmy (WRENCH) has no ties to Winchester (has no ‘ties’ to ‘Winchester’ = wncher = WRENCH),
2 Take clothes off after school (take ‘clothes’ off ‘after school’ = afro = AFRO) over one’s head? (AFRO),
3 Getting higher (CLIMBING) by shooting up (CLIMBING),
4 Look smart removing marks (‘look smart’ removing ‘marks’ = loot = TOOL) with piece of kit (TOOL),
5 Intense discussion (HEATED discussion) put on the back burner perhaps (HEATED),
6 Musicians (RAP ARTISTS) in Knock (knock = RAP) working in the studio (ARTISTS) (RAP ARTISTS),
7 Detectives (detectives = DIs = DIS-) work out (-AGREE) (DISAGREE) how to cross Swords (cross swords = DISAGREE),
13 Sounds like drink is on the house (FREE SPIRIT) for one of the independents (FREE SPIRIT),
14 Artist (RA) turns up (= reversal indicator) (RA = AR-) on Mediterranean (-MED) (ARMED) equipped (ARMED),
16 Orchestral leader (‘Orchestral’ leader = O-) not on tape (-LIVE) is required by The Cars (OIL) (OLIVE OIL) – and that’s coming from The Press in Italy (OLIVE OIL),
17 Rare (NOVEL-) award at university (First = 1ST = -IST) (NOVELIST) for Joyce (NOVELIST),
19 Checks the balancing on (AUDITS) German cars (AUDI-S) around square (-T-square) (AUDITS),
21 Cover of The Observer: (EYELID covers eye) “England (E-) to yield (yield) erratically (= anagram indicator) (yield = -YELID)” (EYELID),
23 The joker (CARD) from No 10 (CARD),
24 Mark (exam mark = FAIR) and Cliona from California (‘Cliona’ from ‘California’ = afri = FAIR).