Across:
8 Lock-up (COMMIT) local Marxist (commie) briefly (e) (‘commie’ without ‘e’ = COMMI-) for starting trouble (starting ‘Trouble’ = -T) (COMMIT),
9 Excessively praised (ADULATED) leading actor (leading ‘Actor’ = -A-) in grown up (ADUL-T-) movie – the last (‘moviE’ the last = -E-) by director (-D) (ADULATED),
10 Don’t lock (OPEN) a jar? (‘a jar’ = ‘ajar’ = OPEN),
11 Store (-KEEP-) in compartment (locker = LOCK-ER) (LOCK-KEEPER) for waterways worker (LOCK-KEEPER),
12 You hear this again and again (MANTRA) – no pets in apartments (no ‘pets’ in ‘apartments’ = aartmn = MANTRA),
14 Cover up in a protective way (LAMINATE) Ali meant (Ali meant) trouble (= anagram indicator) (Ali meant = LAMINATE),
15 Remembers (COMMITS TO MEMORY) 8 across (‘commit’ = COMMIT-) from the odd sitcom (the odd ‘SiTcOm’ = S TO) and 21 down (‘memory’ = MEMORY) (COMMITS TO MEMORY),
18 Natter from curtain lecture (‘natter’ from ‘curtain lecture’ = curilecu = CURLICUE) produces a Gothic twist on design (CURLICUE),
20 Makes sense to dismiss Ken’s (‘makes sense’ to dismiss ‘Kens’ = massee = SESAME) opening remark? (open SESAME),
22 Pick up (RECUPERATE) judge (judge/ rate = R-ATE) taking in community (European Community = -EC-) that’s great (super) starting off (s) (‘super’ without ‘s’ = -UPER-) (RECUPERATE),
24 Frozen (NUMB) turnover (= reversal indicator) initially made (initially ‘Made’ = -M-) in type of bakery (bun = NU-B) (NUMB),
25 A (A-) firm (-CO-) getting unusual extreme (‘Unusual’ extreme = -U-), endless (k) criticism (stick) (‘stick’ without ‘k’ = -STIC) (ACOUSTIC) from Hearing (ACOUSTIC),
26 Recalls (= reverse indicator) Oriental (Eastern = -E) drink (rum = -MUR-) with writer (ed = DE-) (DEMURE) that’s modest and shy (DEMURE).
Down:
1 Local criminal (hood) isn’t finished (d) (‘hood’ without ‘d’ = HOO-) putting pressure (-P-) on American city (-LA) (HOOPLA) producing unnecessary fuss (HOOPLA),
2 The writing on the wall (OMEN) even for Norm Keane (even for ‘nOrM kEaNe’ = OMEN),
3 Spring into life (STA-RT) over new (= anagram indicator) law (law = -LWA-) (STALWART) produced by hardworking individual (STALWART),
4 Soft mineral (TALC) concealed by exotic latecomer (concealed by ‘exotiC LATecomer’ = clat) in roundabout way (= reverse indicator) (clat = TALC),
5 It doesn’t make sense (BUNKUM) this is somewhere to put one’s head down (BUNK-) ahead of university (ahead of ‘University’ = -U-) final exam (final ‘exaM’ = -M) (BUNKUM),
6 Local sang (NAMED NAMES) for 24 down (‘name’ = NAME-) on first night (first ‘Night’ = N-) surrounded by ladies of the knight (dames = -D -AMES)? (NAMED NAMES),
7 Ward (-ER) is following (= position indicator) a Bandon (‘a Bandon’ = ‘abandon’ = DESERT-) (DESERTER) front-runner? (DESERTER from the front/ front runner),
13 Racket (TUMULT-) found on centre court (centre ‘coUrt’ = -U-) in France where (French ‘where’ = ou = -OU-) school (-S) (TUMULTUOUS) has its ups and downs (TUMULTUOUS),
14 Drink (LATTE) consumed by Michael Attenborough (consumed by ‘michaeL ATTEnborough’ = LATTE),
16 Ugly (= anagram indicator) coup (coup = OPU-C-) takes in the French (‘the’ French = -LE-) Nationalist (-N-) going to Spain (-E) (OPULENCE) with great wealth (OPULENCE),
17 A number of errors (MISDEEDS) produced by teacher (MIS-S) getting to grips with legal document (-DEED-) (MISDEEDS),
19 Produce (CREATE) from the borders of Creole State (from the borders of ‘CREole stATE’ = CREATE),
21 Souvenir (MEMORY) of couple of leaders from Medieval Movement (couple of leaders/two first letters from ‘MEdieval MOvement’ = MEMO-) around Roman Deity (around ‘Roman DeitY’ = -RY) (MEMORY),
23 American (A -) finishes major public search (finishes ‘majoR publiC searcH’ = -RCH) (ARCH) on foot (ARCH),
24 Handle (NAME) employee savings plan set up (= reverse indicator) by the banks (‘EMployee savings plAN’ by the banks = eman = NAME).