Cryptic crossword No 1,052

Hilariously I rushed this out within a few hours of starting it, quite unnecessarily, as I managed to get the date of a topical clue wrong by a day 🙃 so basically: (a) it will make slightly more sense if you do it tomorrow (Friday), and (b) I apologise in advance for any quibbles and will make rolling repairs as needed. This is one of those times I belatedly remember the best crossword setting advice I ever got: "Check everything, especially the things you're sure about!" 😂

Thanks Jaspa, that was good fun. A had a good chuckle at your comment (I'd not noticed the date coming up at all tbh) - well spotted before anyone got to it however! I liked what you did with the acrosses here, oddly satisfying to have things broken up consistently like you have. I particularly liked 5a/7a (fun surface), 9a/10a (smooth), 23a/24a (nice assembly), 14d (neat), 17d (neat) and 20d (neat) - good stuff :)

A fun quiptic. Even the Guardian had a misspelled answer a few days ago and had to change the clue to fit. I wondered briefly if 15a would be a kitten.