Across:
8 Mysterious (= anagram indicator) cleric (cleric = CIRCLE) from Ring (CIRCLE),
9 Play (drama = DRA-MA-) about legend (‘leg’ end = -G-) from Oxford (-O-) is taking direction (north = -N) (DRAGOMAN) from an Eastern interpreter (DRAGOMAN),
10 Spike’s (spikes = PEGS) with Aaron from parsonage (‘Aaron from ‘parsonage’ = psge = PEGS),
11 Guide (LEADER-) is a crafty type (-SHIP) (LEADERSHIP) providing direction in company (LEADERSHIP),
12 Express disapproval (boo = B-OO) about a (-A-) doctor (-MB-) (BAMBOO) offering grass (BAMBOO),
14 What’s the present status of one (STANDING) losing the head (s) on ocean liner (‘sand’ without ‘s’ = -AND-) consumed by scam? (ST-ING) (STANDING),
15 Ends up where one started (COMES FULL CIRCLE) at school (-S) after (= position indicator) approach (COME-) from 24 across (‘full’ = FULL) and 8 across (‘circle’ = CIRCLE) (COMES FULL CIRCLE),
18 Most of (t) the encounter (‘meet’ without ‘t’ = MEE-) with Sting (sting = -TINGS) playing (= anagram indicator) (MEETINGS) sessions (MEETINGS),
20 First person (ELDEST) from Leeds (Leeds = ELDES-) playing (= anagram indicator) the lead (‘the’ lead = -T) (ELDEST),
22 Father (PAR-ENT) admits taking post (mail) up (= reversal indicator) (mail = -LIAM-) (PARLIAMENT) in the house (PARLIAMENT),
24 Had enough (FULL) of wonderful looking characters inside (‘wonderful looking’ characters inside = ful l = FULL),
25 Sorts men (sorts men = MONSTERS) out (= anagram indicator) from the fiends (MONSTERS),
26 So far removed from flavoursome (‘so far’ removed from ‘flavoursome’ = lvoume = VOLUME) bulk (VOLUME).
Down:
1 Shows pictures (CINEMA) of mine (mine = -INEM-) engineer (= anagram indicator) in California (C-A) (CINEMA),
2 No pretence in centrepieces (no ‘pretence’ in ‘centrepieces’ = cies = ICES) of summer treats (ICES),
3 Trades in (trades-in = SELLS OFF) hawks (SELLS) with posh bloke (toff) needs no introduction (t) (‘toff’ without ‘t’ = OFF) (SELLS OFF),
4 Thought (IDEA) that came from some outside agency (that came from some “outside agency” = ide a = IDEA),
5 Tons from Sacramento (‘tons’ from ‘Sacramento’ = acrame = CAMERA) employed by director (CAMERA),
6 Contemplated (CONSIDERED) by fraud (CON-) squad (-SIDE-) meeting colourful type (-RED) (CONSIDERED),
7 A trail (a trail = RATI-AL) runs (= anagram indicator) around Ring (-O-) to a point (north = -N-) (RATIONAL) or sound (RATIONAL),
13 As a result of running late (BREATHLESS), take a moment (take a BREATH-) and not more (-LESS) (BREATHLESS),
14 Auctions off (SELLS) coverings from level crossings (‘coverings’ from ‘level crossings’ = lelss = SELLS),
16 Has your number (OPERATOR) as a local chancer (local ‘chancer’ = OPERATOR),
17 Make (CREAT-E) over for (‘for’ = ‘four’ = -IV-) broadcast (= homophone indicator) (CREATIVE) by imaginative type (CREATIVE),
19 Northern (N-) person who could be picky (-EATER) (NEATER) is more into The Order (NEATER),
21 Stewed (= anagram indicator) lemons? (lemons = SOLEMN) That’s serious! (SOLEMN),
23 Is not demanding (is EASY) a piece of cake (EASY),
24 Put in order (FILE) for fish meal without mash (‘fish meal’ without ‘mash’ = fiel = FILE).