1 across: Everest finishing here? Sure! (5)
I’m starting things off by proclaiming this &lit as gold: Everest finishing here? Sure! = t here I bet = Tibet = Everest finishing here? Sure!
2 down: Old British celebs George and Peter made hotcakes? (11)
Classic: Old British celebs George and Peter = Best Sellers = bestsellers = made hotcakes?
9 across: Broadcast yarns as tutorial?!
Another excellent &lit, and one of DA’s best anagrams (also a good example of why the interrobang needs to come back): broadcast yarns as tutorial?! = Australian Story = broadcast yarns as tutorial?!
11 across: Hint for clue, say, failing setter’s negative backlash? (7)
Fantastic: say, failing setter’s negative backlack = say sin my no backlash = synonym = hint.
23 down: Woods burning bright? (5)
Blake and DA combining forces: burning bright? = tiger = Woods.
8 down: Irregularity of a boil on gum pronounced (9)
Excellent aural clue that seems a deliberate reference to Blake’s tiger burning bright: a boil on gum pronounced = a simmer on tree pronounced = a symme try = asymmetry = irregularity.
16 down: Barely hold up a distress call, misplacing lifebuoy in sea? (8)
Interesting use of lifebuoy to make the sentence meaning flow: barely hold up a distress call, misplacing lifebuoy = barely grasp up a sos misplacing o = sarg a sso = Sargasso = sea.
14 down: The majority in Test Cricket side organised amphibious challenge (9)
Only DA can hide cryptics instructions so well: the majority in Test Cricket side organised = th in trial on (a reference to the on side in cricket) = tria th l on = triathlon = amphibious challenge.
12 down: Medical specialist now pain-free said another? (11)
Two ologists in the one clue: now pain-free said another? = now – ow said urologist = n eurologist = neurologist = medical specialist.
24 across: Buildings flaunting their age inclined to get this? (8, 7)
Excellent sentence meaning: flaunting their age inclined to get this? = heritage listing = buildings.