Across
Mock exam that is opened by retired teacher (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SAT (abbreviation for Standard Assessment Task = exam taken in UK primary schools) + IE (i.e. = abbreviation for Latin id est = that is), containing (opened by) SIR (formal address to a male teacher) reversed (retired).
Grub includes starter of vegetables in batter (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Starting letter of V [egetables] in LARA (Brian Lara, West Indian cricketer: in his day he was probably called a batsman, but “batter” is now the approved term).
Choose the best tool to open lock (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Quadruple definition! To select one of a range of options; the best among multiple items, as in “the pick of the crop”; a tool (also called a pickaxe) for breaking up soil and dislodging rocks; or to use tools other than the intended key to break open a lock.
Strange bug confused American agent (10)
Shellfish or half a long kipper? (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Half of [rip van] WINKLE : the title character of a novel by Washington Irving about a man who drinks something dubious and falls asleep for 20 years = a long sleeper. Kip = slang for sleep.
Britain reflected in Austen novel is most civilised (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BR (abbreviation for Britain or British) reversed (reflected), in an anagram (novel = new) of AUSTEN .
Suggs finally leaving Madness for senseless remark (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
IN [s] ANITY (madness) without the S which is the final character of [sugg]S. For the surface, Suggs is the nickname of the lead singer in the band Madness (1970s onwards).
Cartoonist in America wearing fancy dress (2,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
US (United States of America) contained in (wearing) an anagram (fancy) of DRESS . US writer of children’s cartoon books ( The Cat in the Hat , Green Eggs and Ham , How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and many more), real name Theodor Seuss Geisel.
Characteristic of old Grecian and yes, so cryptic! (8)
Opening of Ulysses inspired by identical line in another book (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Opening letter of U [lysses] contained in (inspired by = breathed in by) SAME (identical) + L (abbreviation for line). Old Testament book: originally a single book, but early Greek and Latin translations divided it into two (1 Samuel and 2 Samuel), and the division survives in most modern Bibles.
Case of unusual Dickensian family following pop singer (4,6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Outer letters (case) of U [nusua] L + WELLER (surname of a father and son in Charles Dickens’s novel The Pickwick Papers ), after PA (Pop = colloquial terms for father). Singer with The Jam , then The Style Council , then later a solo musician.
See 17 Down
Christmas movie recalled number ones from Eminem and Taylor Swift (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ELF (2003 Christmas film starring Will Ferrell) reversed (recalled), then the first letters (number ones) of E [minem] + T [aylor]. As in “fleet of foot” = quick.
Gold rush essentially limiting blow for empire builder (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
AU (Au = chemical symbol for gold, from Latin aurum ) + middle letters (essentially) from [r] US [h], containing (limiting) GUST (a gust of wind = blow, as a noun). The first Roman emperor, also known as Octavian; the name was also used as a title for later emperors.
Down
Nixon was one to think endlessly about spies (8)
Alien departing from gate in Scottish airport (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
WICK [et] (a small gate or door for pedestrian access, especially within or alongside a larger entrance for vehicles) without ET (Crosswordland’s favourite alien, from the Spielberg film). Airport in the far north of mainland Scotland.
Jack on fire delivering memorable tune (6)
Evil in house cast out (7)
Stick-up in Istanbul casbah (4)
Pen end of sentence (6,4)
Press photographers capturing queen (6)
American writer's most important piece on you (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
KING (the most important piece on a chessboard, although not the most powerful) + SOLVER (you, solving this puzzle). US writer Barbara Kingsolver; her novel Demon Copperhead won the Pulitzer Prize in 2023.
Seaman tipped over Ronaldinho's header to make save (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
AB (abbreviation for able-bodied seaman) reversed (tipped over = upside down in a down clue), then the first letter (header) of R [onaldinho]. These two footballers did indeed play against each other in international matches. As in “all bar one” = save = except for.
26a
(and 26 Across) Ambassador absorbed by finale in Port Vale's old ground (3,4)
Spend hour gripped by very popular show (5,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
H (abbreviation for hour), contained in (gripped by) SELL-OUT (an event where all available tickets are sold = very popular show). Shell out = to pay, especially when the price is considered to be high.
Discover incomplete part of the family tree (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
UNCL [e] (part of the family) without the last letter (incomplete), then OAK (a tree).
Stars fighting inside furniture shop (6)
Son concocted great Italian liqueur (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
S (abbreviation for son) + anagram (concocted) of GREAT .
Part of great skua's diet? (4)
Mark Wood supporting principle of Duckworth-Lewis (4)
Type letters or click words in the clue