Across:
1. Sentence about march going around islands to find exotic flyer (4 2 8)
9. He extols hype about 11 (7)
10. Start to broadcast performance you took in (7)
11. Reluctantly ask increasingly severe employer initially for this? (5)
12. Spidery hairdo can blow about (9)
13. Speak to wayward teen with cider (9)
14. Skinflint gets one shilling return on money initially (5)
15. Funny worker may be in charge (5)
17. Diligent couples follow one around university behind idiot (9)
20. In two seconds step in high-flying vehicle (9)
22. Walk to begin delivery is increased (5)
23. Difficult, when topless, to get into pubs’ inner workings (7)
24. Some of rival’s orangeade for loser (4-3)
25. Worried as supine verses have ability to convince (14)
Down:
1. Co-operation of bishop and quiet craftsman carrying one on to boat (14)
2. Down-to-earth person retails fresh order (7)
3. Doctor bit escort during childbirth! (9)
4. Carrying vessels to get older drink first... (7)
5. ...Leer stupidly about one with the French drink (4 3)
6. Abandon long after the start of December (5)
7. Four divisions of young sailors? (7)
8. Non-working inhabitants acquire power to get dollar bills (4 10)
14. Hurried and sadly mashed tea! (4 5)
16. Apprentice may be someone who gets on board? (7)
17. Communication problems with continent after first power hiatus begins (7)
18. New parson gets one to provide singers (7)
19. Good supporter is about right taking one in to large plant (3 4)
21. Makes listeners accept new beginning (5)
Solution:
BIRDOFPARADISE=
I=E=B=O=E=I=E=D
PRAISER=ACTUATE
A=L=T=T=L=C=S=A
RAISE=ARACHNOID
T=S=T=G=L===N=P
INTERCEDE=MISER
S===I=====A===E
ANTIC=ASSIDUOUS
N=R===P=O=E=A=I
SPACESHIP=HIKED
H=I=A=A=R=A=T=E
INNARDS=ALSORAN
P=E=N=I=N=T=E=T
=PERSUASIVENESS
Name: Puzzle 478
Author: by Steve Townsend

Annos-Across:
1. BIRD (= Sentence) OF (= about) PARAD [IS (= islands)] E (= march)
9. P (RAISE) R (= hype)  11 = 11 across
10. ACTUATE (homophone ACT YOU ATE)
11. R(eluctantly) A(sk) I(ncreasingly) S(evere) E(mployer
12. ARACHNOID (anag hairdo can)(anagrind = blow about)
13. INTERCEDE (anag teen cider)(anagrind = wayward)
14. M(oney) I (= one) S(hilling) ER (= RE reversed)
15. ANT (= worker) IC (= in charge)
17. ASS (= idiot) I (= one) DUO [U(niversity)] S (= couples)
20. S(econd) PACE (= step) S(econd) HIP (= in)
22. HIKE (= Walk) D(elivery)
23. INN [(h)ARD = Difficult, when topless) S (= pubs)
24. Hidden in wordplay
25. PERSUASIVENESS (anag as supine verses)(anagrind = Worried)
Annos-Down:
1. B(ishop) I (= one) P (= quiet) ARTISAN (= craftsman) SHIP (= boat)
2. REALIST (anag retails)(anagrind = fresh order)
3. OBSTETRIC (anag bit escort)(anagrind = Doctor)
4. PORT (= drink) AGE (= get older)
5. RE [A (= one) LA (= the French) LE (anag Leer)(anagrind = stupidly)
6. D(ecember) ITCH (= long)
7. Double Def
8. DEAD (= Non-working) P(ower) RESIDENTS (= inhabitants)
14. MADE HASTE (anag mashed tea)(anagrind = sadly)
16. Double Def
17. A (= first) P(ower) H(iatus) ASIA (= continent)
18. SOPRAN (anag parson)(anagrind = New) I (= one)
19. O [A (= one)] K (= Good) T [R(ight)] EE (= supporter)
21. EAR [N(ew)] S (= listeners)
Defs-Across:
1. exotic flyer
9. He extols
10. Start
11. this?
12. Spidery
13. Speak
14. Skinflint
15. Funny
17. Diligent
20. high-flying vehicle
22. increased
23. inner workings
24. loser
25. ability to convince
Defs-Down:
1. Co-operation
2. Down-to-earth person
3. during childbirth
4. Carrying vessels
5. drink
6. Abandon
7. Four divisions
7. young sailors?
8. dollar bills
14. Hurried
16. Apprentice
16. someone who gets on board?
17. Communication problems
18. singers
19. large plant
21. Makes