Across:
8 Motoring group (Automobile Association = AA= A-A) welcomes great (-G-) finish (-END-) (AGENDA) – it’s what you get from the programme (AGENDA),
9 Where in France (French ‘where’ = OU-) local drunk (tight = -T-IGHT) swallows the last of the beer (last of the ‘beeR’ = -R-) (OUTRIGHT) completely and utterly (OUTRIGHT),
10 Doubtless, louts removed (‘doubtless’, ‘louts’ removed/without ‘louts’ = dbes = BEDS) from nightspots? (BEDS),
11 Plans (STRATAGEMS) for Rats (Rats) reforming (= anagram indicator) (Rats = STRA-) and opens for The Animals (opens for ‘The Animals’ = -TA-) and The Stones (-GEMS) (STRATAGEMS),
12 Puts own stamp on (ADAPTS) fresh (= anagram indicator) pasta (pasta = A-APTS) including starter of dumplings (starter of ‘Dumplings’ = -D-) (ADAPTS),
14 Rogue (-CAD-) involved in lawsuits (cases = CAS-ES) (CASCADES) goes down (CASCADES),
15 Whistling in the galley (kettle whistling/boiling in the galley kitchen = LETTING OFF STEAM) is releasing the tension (LETTING OFF STEAM),
18 Pulse (BEAN) links a number of cases (BAGS) (BEAN BAGS) in the home encouraging people to lie about them (BEAN BAGS),
20 Tiptoes away from metropolitans (‘tiptoes’ away from ‘metropolitans’ = mrolan = NORMAL) as is commonplace (NORMAL),
22 One of those in a team of kickers perhaps (CHORUS GIRL) creates a song and dance (CHORUS GIRL),
24 Stand up before someone tips (‘Stand Up Before Someone’ tips = SUBS) those held in reserve (SUBS),
25 A shed I’ve (a shed I’ve) built (= anagram indicator) (a shed I’ve = ADHESIVE) with stuff that sticks (ADHESIVE),
26 In 15 across, finishing (in ‘letting off steam’ finishing = STEAM-) school (-S) (STEAMS) for cooks, in a way (STEAMS).
Down:
1 Top lawyer (Attorney General = AG-) to study (read) state (= homophone indicator) (‘read’ = ‘reed’ = -REED) (AGREED) deal! (deal! = AGREED),
2 Characters amidst gallant supporters (characters amidst ‘gallANT Supporters’ = ants = ANTS) from The Hill (ANTS),
3 Chooses not to accept (PASSES ON) old hat (passé = PASSE-) from relative (son = -S ON) (PASSES ON),
4 Take flight (SOAR) in Genoa leaving no-go areas (‘Genoa’ leaving ‘no-go areas’ = oras = SOAR),
5 Position (STATUS) limits state apparatus (limits ‘STAte apparaTUS’ = STATUS),
6 Guru (-MASTER) behind (= position indicator) wedding band (RING-) (RINGMASTER) works with clowns (RINGMASTER),
7 Reach, aim (reach aim), hit (= anagram indicator) (reach aim = CHIMAERA) hopefully, but that’s impossible to achieve? (CHIMAERA),
13 Final (= position indicator) directive (ORDER) from Russian leader (Putin = PUT IN) (PUT IN ORDER) sent to The Abbey? (sent to the abbey = PUT IN ORDER),
14 Loses enthusiasm (COOLS) for schoolmaster removing hamster (‘schoolmaster’ removing ‘hamster’ = scool = COOLS),
16 Spies (EYES-) on the Greek Underworld (Hades) briefly (s) (‘Hades’ without ‘s’ = -HADE) (EYESHADE) by protecting the viewers? (EYESHADE),
17 If Stalin (if Stalin = FINALIST) somehow (= anagram indicator) avoided losing out after The Trials (FINALIST),
19 Rush (rush/attack = ASSAIL) or Knock? (knock = ASSAIL),
21 Records (ALBUMS) those worthless types (-BUMS) behind gangster (Al Capone = AL-) (ALBUMS),
23 Upsetting (= reverse indicator) part of Prime Time’s (part of ‘priME TImes’ = meti = ITEM) bit of news (ITEM),
24 Attempts to dismiss Matt (‘attempts’ to dismiss ‘Matt’ = epts = STEP), as part of the process (a ‘step’ as part of the process = STEP).