Across:
8 After hours cuts tofu (‘after hours’ cuts ‘tofu’ = aerhrs = RASHER) and piece of bacon (RASHER),
9 Article (THE-) or (-OR-) central piece (central ‘piEce’ = -E-) from manuscript (-MS) (THEOREMS) or proofs (THEOREMS),
10 The Gathering (CROP) in The Acropolis (in ‘the aCROPolis’ = CROP),
11 Starlet and (starlet and) fan (= anagram indicator) (starlet and = TRANSLATED) exchanged words, in a manner of speaking (TRANSLATED),
12 Shannon (River Shannon = FLOWER) Lee? (River Lee = FLOWER),
14 Sounds of young people (POP MUSIC) from revolutionary (= reverse indicator) communist party (CP = P- -C) getting to grips with current (-I-) on some (some) state (= homophone indicator) (‘some’ = ‘sum’ = MUS-) river (River Po = -OP) (POP MUSIC),
15 The jury is bound to be highly influenced by this (DAMNING EVIDENCE) cursing (DAMNING) heard in the court (EVIDENCE) (DAMNING EVIDENCE),
18 Unstable (= anagram indicator) ash tree (ash tree = -HEATRES) behind (= position indicator) square (T- square) (THEATRES) providing work for type of surgeons (THEATRES),
20 Heartless (e) spy (see) (‘see’ without ‘e’ = SE-) – Sam (-SAM-) Spade – the ultimate (‘spadE’ the ultimate = -E) (SESAME) type capable of opening doors (Open SESAME),
22 Beg (BE G-) judge (-RATE-) mostly (l) satisfied (full) (mostly ‘full’ = -FUL) (BE GRATEFUL) to show appreciation (BE GRATEFUL),
24 Tramp (WALK) knocks back (= reverse indicator) the bar (law = WAL-) cocktail (‘cocK’ tail = -K) (WALK),
25 Unprincipled (DECADENT) period of time (DECADE-) before (= position indicator) good books (New Testament = -NT) (DECADENT),
26 State (NATION) of natural selection extremes (‘NATural selectION’ extremes = NATION).
Down:
1 Watch (PATROL) pâté (pate) and roll (roll) – neither is finished? (e + l) (‘pâté’ and ‘rolL’ without ‘e’ and ‘l’ = PAT+ ROL) (PATROL),
2 Birch (WHIP) or ash tree removed from weather ship (‘ash tree’ removed from ‘weather ship’ = WHIP),
3 Herbert (Herbert) Rock (= anagram indicator) (Herbert = BRETHRE-) is not the first (‘Not’ the first = -N) (BRETHREN) of the older brothers (BRETHREN),
4 Retiring (= reverse indicator) assistant editor hides (‘assistANT Editor’ hides = ante = ETNA) in a hot spot (ETNA),
5 Frames (SETS UP) groups (SETS) connected to a fair amount of (half of) the coup (half of the ‘coUP’ = UP) (SETS UP),
6 Those club officials (TREASURERS) initially treating (initially ‘Treating’ = T-) backs (backs/ends = rears = -REA-RS) over confident? (-SURE-) (TREASURERS),
7 Can’t remember (AMNESIAC) academicians dropping acid (‘academicians’ dropping ‘acid’ = aemcians = AMNESIAC)
13 Took off (WENT) with sailor (Able-Bodied seaman = AB-) and, by the way (-ROAD) (WENT ABROAD), holidayed overseas (WENT ABROAD),
14 Strips off (PEELS) with swimmers (-EELS) behind (= position indicator) port (P-) (PEELS),
16 A success story (ACHIEVER) for First Lady (-EVE-) falling into rocking (= anagram indicator) chair (chair = ACHI-R) (ACHIEVER),
17 It’s rude (INSOLENT) not having gone out (IN-) with Bellow (sob) briefly (b) (‘sob’ without ‘b’ = -SO-) for fast time (-LENT) (INSOLENT),
19 Rank (ROTTEN) of local villain (rotter) briefly (r) (‘rotter’ without ‘r’ = ROTTE-) taking Napoleon’s capital (‘Napoleons’ capital = -N) (ROTTEN),
21 1,000 (M-) to let (-ALLOW) (MALLOW) in Cork? (MALLOW),
23 Some characters in upsetting (= reverse indicator) metafiction (some characters in upsetting ‘mETAFiction’ = etaf = FATE) with Lady Luck (FATE),
24 Denies leaving West Indies (‘denies’ leaving ‘West Indies’ = wtis = WITS) with comics (WITS).