Across:
8 Give one’s word (ASSURE) to answer (A-) Old Bob (‘old bob’ = shilling = -S-) – satisfied? (-SURE) (ASSURE),
9 The Spectator (LOOKER-ON) or The Observer (LOOKER-ON),
10 Turkish native (KURD) in 2 down (curd) on the radio (= homophone indicator) (‘curd’ = ‘KURD’),
11 One of those working online (ROPE WALKER) is the chancer from The Wire? (ROPE WALKER),
12 Rail transport (tram = TRA-M-) taking in university (-U-) and academy (-A) (TRAUMA) arrives at a shocking time (TRAUMA),
14 The latest trend (fashionable = IN-) – brief (r) romantic (‘tender’ without ‘r’ = - TENDE-) date (-D) (INTENDED) with fiancée (INTENDED),
15 Irish Catholic religious institution (CHURCH OF IRELAND) preaching to the Anglicans here? (CHURCH OF IRELAND),
18 Calamity (DISASTER) and Diana’s (DIs = DIS-) anxious (= anagram indicator) tears (tears = -ASTER) (DISASTER),
20 Presumably, he expects to find you well (locate ground water/well = DOWSER) and he’ll bring you to the watering hole (DOWSER),
22 You can get this if you really try (OBTAINABLE) to secure (OBTAINA-) a (-A-) barrister (-BL-) from England (-E) (OBTAINABLE),
24 Close to 15 across similarly (close/end to ‘Church of Ireland’ similarly = EIRE) in this land of ours (EIRE),
25 Single (ONE) passenger ship, for example (LINER) (ONE-LINER), is delivered as a joke? (ONE-LINER),
26 Faith (CHURCH) in opening 15 across (opening ‘Church of Ireland’ = CHURCH).
Down:
1 One (I-) small (-S-) court figure (-SUER) (ISSUER) has a weekly commitment to readership (ISSUER),
2 Asian (Kurd) state (= homophone indicator) (‘Kurd’ = ‘CURD’) producing head of cauliflower (CURD),
3 Get to (RE-ACH) cover short business-like (professional = -PRO-) (REPROACH) lecture (lecture/reprimand = REPROACH),
4 Ends prolific traditional alumni gossip (ends ‘prolifiC traditionaL alumnI gossiP’ = CLIP) in magazine? (CLIP found in the magazine of a gun),
5 The man upstairs (= GOD-) gets insight (-WIT) (GODWIT) from a long-legged bird (GODWIT),
6 A suspicion (FEELING) this is despicable (LOW) (FEELING LOW) in Down (down/sad = FEELING LOW),
7 There’s no regatta in Orange Free State (no ‘regatta’ in ‘Orange Free State’ = onfreese = FORESEEN) as predicted (FORESEEN),
13 A French (‘a’ French = UN-) bread Lea (bread Lea) made (= anagram indicator) (bread Lea = -READABLE) (UNREADABLE) from recipe, for example, that she couldn’t make head nor tail of (UNREADABLE),
14 Work out (INFER) for certain, actor is missing (‘for certain’ without ‘actor’ = ferin = INFER),
16 Put on television (-AIR-) from bar (-BAN-) in high definition (HD = H-D) (HAIRBAND) or is that over the top? (HAIRBAND),
17 Rosé, fish (rose fish = RED PERCH) for Communist (RED) and Pole? (pole/post = PERCH) (RED PERCH),
19 Temporary dwelling (tent = TEN-T) accommodating a (-A-) new (-N-) (TENANT) occupant (TENANT),
21 Fortify (ENRICH) tea from Catherine (‘tea’ from ‘Catherine’ = chrine = ENRICH),
23 Little stint, for example (BIRD), with one of those in 24 down, similarly (BIRD is similar to one of the ‘emus’),
24 Those who don’t fly (EMUS) a fair amount of (half of) them (them) (half of ‘thEM’ = EM-) going to America (-US) (EMUS).