Across:
8 Turns up (= reverse indicator) Rafa’s (Rafas = SAFAR-) initial insight (initial ‘Insight’ = -I) (SAFARI) is attractive to holidaymakers following game (SAFARI),
9 Spy in disguise (cover) dropping the head (c) (‘cover’ without ‘c’ = OVER-) on Panorama (-VIEW) (OVERVIEW), in summary (OVERVIEW),
10 Cable (WIRE) going around winter tyre (going around ‘WInter tyRE’ = WIRE),
11 Freak (HIT THE ROOF) produces Number One (HIT) for tenor (T-) with hoofer (hoofer) dancing (= anagram indicator) (hoofer = -HE ROOF) (HIT THE ROOF),
12 At the end of the year (December = DEC-), worker (-ANT) (DECANT) gets transfer (DECANT),
14 Do better than The Sun (OUTSHINE) or upstage The Star? (OUTSHINE),
15 Without getting involved, sympathises with the party (sympathises with political party’s aims, but doesn’t join up = FELLOW TRAVELLER) guy (FELLOW) taking Rover (rover = TRAVELLER) (FELLOW TRAVELLER),
18 Divert attention (UPSTAGED) from poor (= anagram indicator) dupe (dupe = UP-ED) welcoming the men without the women (-STAG-) (UPSTAGED),
20 Half of (half of) Tube (half of ‘TUbe’ = TU-) take a quick glance at (-SCAN) (TUSCAN) Italian (TUSCAN),
22 Boss (= anagram indicator) not hostile (not hostile = HONEST TOIL) to just work (just/fair work = HONEST TOIL),
24 The one-piece swimsuits all open (‘The One Piece Swimsuits’ all open = TOPS) like parts of the bikini (TOPS),
25 Unruly (RESTLESS) in Lounge (lounge/loll = REST-) and Takeaway (-LESS) (RESTLESS),
26 It’s not easy (TRYING) doing all one can (TRYING).
Down:
1 Butchers (= anagram indicator) veal is (veal is = VALISE) what you want if you’re taking a journey (VALISE),
2 Goes around Paris, France (goes around ‘PAris, FranCE’ = PACE), in March (PACE),
3 Shifts (shifts = FISH ST-) preparing (= anagram indicator) starters of escargots, whiting (starters of ‘Escargots Whiting’ = -EW) (FISH STEW) and bouillabaisse (FISH STEW),
4 Pole vaulters take no pleasure (‘pole vaulters’ take no ‘pleasure’ = ovlt = VOLT) in the sudden quick jump? (VOLT),
5 Cinematographer’s editing out of campaigner (‘cinematographers’ editing out of ‘campaigner’ = tohers = RESHOT) – would the director have done this making a scene again? (RESHOT),
6 Finished (OVER-) work (-W-) on high (-H-) trees (-ELMS) (OVERWHELMS) in swamps (OVERWHELMS),
7 A Bandon (abandon = RENOUNCE) hermit (loner) heading off (l) (‘loner’ without ‘l’ = oner = RENO-) back (= reverse indicator) to a French (a = -UN-) church (Church of England = -CE) (RENOUNCE),
13 Cher’s (Cher’s) on the radio (= homophone indicator) (‘Chers’ = ‘shares’ = ALLOTMENTS) getting her fair share of awards perhaps (ALLOTMENTS),
14 Let out a warning (roared), losing the head (r) (‘roared’ without ‘r’ = OARED) and had a row (OARED),
16 Has a job (EMPLOYEE) to use (EMPLOY-) lots of drugs (E+E = -EE) (EMPLOYEE),
17 The Verve (VITALITY), in spirit? (VITALITY),
19 Gatecrasher misses races (‘gatecrasher’ misses ‘races’ = gather = GATHER) and rally (GATHER),
21 A (A-) large (-L-) tree (-PINE) (ALPINE) or a small plant on a mountainside (ALPINE),
23 Put out (OUST) by discount store releasing doctrines (‘discount store’ releasing ‘doctrines’ = suto = OUST),
24 Upbeat leaving beauty spot (‘upbeat’ leaving ‘beauty spot’ = ysot = TOYS) popular with number of children (TOYS).