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22 (across) was a new word to me and the theme helped.

Nearly there! But still can’t get a handle on
3, 6, 7, 25 or 20D, despite earlier comments.
Any hints welcome

Hi barry
3 two letter word for cheers up, then anagram
6 put a W in a place to keep cash to give a military order
7 definition "character"
25 see earlier hints
20 definition "make popular", then a charade

Hi Chris

I had a break to get the washing in and cook dinner with my husband (he had fallen asleep). Then I filled in the last four whilst eating the dinner. I'm not sure why I found it so hard. Making the mistake with 1d had a lot to do with it. And new words at 17d, 22ac, 15d and 19d.

I still can't parse 3d, but I think that is because I spell the word with an O, not an E. And I don't like the answer for cheers up. I can't parse the first four words of 23ac either and I take issue with the first word of 18ac being a theme word. It is a garment, not a 10ac.

I hope next week is easier.

I thought that about 18 too, roof, but, to my surprise, I found it in Chambers as a thematic. (I don't think it's a garment without an S on the end, anyway.)

23 is quite straightforward, except for the thematic. Put R(egina) in a word for a sort of pat, then add lady's coat on the end.

Thanks, Chris. Very helpful.

And thanks, Picaroon

Hi roof and rogissimo
I deliberately omitted "man" because I thought it might be:
a) a bit of a spoiler 😉and
b) politically incorrect 😇

Late as ever, but finished it without your help, kind people. FOI 11a (oddly, several of you struggled with it), LOI 14d, and I can't parse it beyond first word =definition, "re" for fighters as in Royal Engineers, then ... ? Could someone elucidate?

The theme was very clever and fun (husband solved 10a pretty early, I already had 11a and perhaps 13a, so could see what was meant).

I confess I had to resort to the "crossword solver" to get 14, 17, 19, and 25.

14d doesn't involve the Royal Engineers. It's a type of grass around a "fighter's".