Across
Ancient state in Malta served well by old knight (7)
Big contract to fill hole in light (7)
Universal actors Wilder and Pryor hard to abandon (7)
Increased the standing of idiot in university education (7)
Actor with task to move round stand (9)
In the morning giant regularly twisted head of insect? (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
AM (abbreviation for Latin ante meridiem = before noon = in the morning) + alternate letters (regularly) of G [i] A [n] T , all reversed (twisted). A guess-and-check because I’d never heard of it. Wikipedia says it’s a part of a segmented animal, for example an insect, where a number of segments are grouped together to form a functional part such as its head or abdomen. I’ll be surprised if I ever need to know that in future.
Revolutionary screen showing Umpire's call (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
PUT ON (screen, as a verb = to show a film), reversed (revolutionary). An umpire’s call in tennis, declaring that the ball bounced twice before being hit and was therefore out of play.
I never initially like grandma getting tense and resentful (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I + initial letter of N [ever] + DIG (slang for like, as a verb = approve of) + NAN (grandma) + T (abbreviation for tense).
Late news: small crush detains head of Transport (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
S (abbreviation for small) + OPPRESS (crush = to rule people harshly), containing (. . . detains) the first letter (head) of T [ransport].
Policeman nearly ran to get dried coconut (5)
Repeatedly thanks Russia's leader in Turkic language (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
TA (slang for thank you) twice (repeatedly), then the leading letter of R [ussia]. A Turkic language spoken in various regions of eastern Europe.
Indoctrinate rude hosts in Washington (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BRASH (loud and inconsiderate = rude) containing (. . . hosts) IN + WA (abbreviation for the US state of Washington).
Back issues of Linux User magazine belong primarily in the past (7)
Rebuke cruel and extremely terse cook (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Anagram (. . . cook, as a verb) of CRUEL + end letters (extremes) of T [ers] E . Lecture, as a verb = slang for criticise harshly = rebuke.
Colonist interrupts fellow in college regarding old Italian poet (7)
I'm upset tolerant outlook lacking King's English (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
WO [k] EISM (awareness of social injustice = tolerant outlook, though it’s generally used as a derogatory term) without the K (abbreviation for king, in chess or playing cards), then E (abbreviation for English). Archaic phrase expressing unhappiness.
Down
Dismissive analysis of jewel on the counter that shows explosive power (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
NOT A GEM (perhaps a declaration that a supposed gemstone is not genuine = dismissive analysis of jewel), reversed (on the counter). Short for “megaton TNT equivalent” = a measure of explosive power equivalent to the detonation of 1 million tons of TNT.
Conservative diplomacy leads to communication (7)
Dared to clean round back of radiator (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
DUST (as a verb = to remove dust from surfaces = to clean) around the last letter (back) of [radiato] R . Archaic past tense of the verb “to dare” = dared.
Bananas aren't nice fruit (9)
Composer's good fortune (5)
Get racist drunk as planned (9)
Island opposed to firearms briefly gets support of America (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
ANTI-GU [n] (opposed to firearms) without the last letter (briefly), with A (abbreviation for America) after it (below, in a down clue = supporting it). Caribbean island.
Show swimming group project (7)
Printed material reported remuneration model for clothing based on usage? (9)
Make unholy sexy man stand (9)
Paid up and relaxed (7)
Despot to manage clothing empire (7)
Strip for a paltry amount of money (7)
Long jumper perhaps allowed to enter running heat (7)
Peak and nadir of Stephen Fry? (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
BROW (peak = the top of a hill) + last letter (bottom, in a down clue = nadir) of [stephe] N . Brown, as a verb = to cook food at a high temperature (for example by frying) to create a brown colour on the surface.
Iridescent material found in northern Israeli city (5)
Type letters or click words in the clue