2: Little weight spoils head honcho in sophisticated secondary institute (7,6)

9: Now Elton heard California's big one (3)

10: A rag in question (2,5)

11: Runner or dramatist in play (13)

12: Fabulous setting for Biblical character: American state (9)

14: Rare fish goes around and around (5)

15: Good Republican source of life-giving system for short-handed office workers (5)

18: Grant authority to gaucho, finally, packing whip for farm animals (9)

22: Asian river ordeal; it's upset manufacturer (13)

24: Knot a rope in the great out-of-doors (4-3)

25: Uninitiated stoop to finish (3)

26: Something good made by mini drink packer! (6,7)

1: Get sick chasing a grand lady's maid (7)

2: Good eater has more gut upsets (7)

3: Agrees that a course should be forwarded to the primary school (7)

4: Aquatic plant providing a variety of materials (5,4)

5: Grow, taking head of iceberg to show again (5)

6: Yeller eats two steak bones as Elly May's pet (7)

7: Watch, say (7)

8: Left out cheese for parasites (7)

13: Bird and man going different ways (9)

15: Mug returns to 100 degrees, causing an ulcer. (7)

16: Distinct identity based in circumstance (7)

17: Duck turning up initially looking like a Walt Disney animated goose (7)

19: Dirt caught in footwear (7)

20: British actor in Rocky VII role (7)

21: 8-down Its the exception to everything else in the dish tub (7,4)

23: Get rid of Bush (5)