Complete
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1 9 11 15 17 21 25 2 12 3 13 20 24 26 4 18 5 16 19 14 8 10 22 6 23 7
  1. 1a Makes an abrupt and total reversal of policy (4-5)
  2. 8a Eat like a rodent (4)
  3. 9a Hard grey-white metal, Zr, used in nuclear reactors (9)
  4. 10a A French father (4)
  5. 13a Useful (5)
  6. 15a Top order batsman (6)
  7. 16a Limber (6)
  8. 17a Light-sensitive area at the back of the eyeball (6)
  9. 19a Measured amount of medicine taken at any one time (6)
  10. 20a Colourless, odourless inert gas, Ar, used in some electric lights (5)
  11. 21a That's gross! (4)
  12. 24a Shoreline bird (9)
  13. 25a Discourteous (4)
  14. 26a The basics! (4,5)
  15. 2d Private retreat to go to when wanting to get away from others (4)
  16. 3d Eat like a bird (4)
  17. 4d Progressing sequentially (6)
  18. 5d UK money (6)
  19. 6d Make (something) seem less important than it is (9)
  20. 7d Sugar substitute (9)
  21. 11d Open area surrounded by buildings (9)
  22. 12d Chemical used to kill insects (9)
  23. 13d Plant-based hair dye (5)
  24. 14d Canadian territory, home to the Klondike gold rush of 1897-99 (5)
  25. 18d Secrets — cards in a tarot pack (6)
  26. 19d Draw aimlessly (6)
  27. 22d Store for grain (4)
  28. 23d Autry or Hackman? (4)