4089 Vive la Différence by Kevin

New setter Kevin gave us an in-house theme celebrating the 1000th crossword in the Times Listener series which began on March 23, 1991. Clashing letters had to be resolved by entering a letter that is the difference between the across and down letters, using A = 1, B = 2, etc.  Doing this gave an X formed by the word TIMES twice and a 3 spelling the word LISTENER. The last crossword in the Listener magazine was no. 3089. The title referred to the method of resolving the clashes as well as the difference between 3089 and 4089.  X³ is ten cubed is 1000

Across
3 Trustee adjusted short trying time for court session period (11, two words)
TRINITY TERM TR + Anagram TRYIN(g) + TIME
11 Prince going over valuable resource location in Punjab (6)
LAHORE HAL reversed + ORE
13 Militant republicans critically examine role of cathedral's head (9)
PROVOSTRY PROVOS + TRY
15 Rugby team losing ball with change of direction, misleading pack? (4)
LIES LIONS less O changing N to E
16 Burn stopped by your spray (7)
SYRINGE SINGE containing YR
17 Knocked back punch with beer following spicy dish (6)
TAMALE MAT reversed + ALE
19 Not prepared to join government in expensive train link (8)
DRAW-GEAR RAW + G (government) in DEAR
21 Scattered thin, ray could become extinct water creature (7)
RHYTINA Anagram THIN RAY
23 Critically discriminating people aiming to reduce noise with pick-up for Dame Kiri (6)
NASUTE NAS (Noise Abatement Society) + UTE
25 Diamonds used for first time in aim to impress (6)
INDENT D for T in INTENT
26 One stirring melting-pot as mob riot's beginning (7)
RABBLER RABBLE + R(iot)
27 International soprano arrives in light confusion (8)
DISARRAY I (international) + S (soprano) + ARR in DAY
29 Bible's binding, long abandoned, got stuck back (6)
AKEDAH AKE + HAD reversed
31 Frustrating weakness (giving away article for nothing) (7)
FOILING FAILING swapping A for O
33 Complication from slip with drug (4)
NODE NOD + E (ecstasy)
34 I make reckless crossings, bobbing weakly in vessel (9)
JAYWALKER
35 Endeavour returned conserving last of her energy for a cutter (6)
KREESE (he)R in SEEK reversed + E
36 Waving stirrup cup's less socially acceptable, masking Earl's elevated character (11)
SUPERSCRIPT E (earl) in Anagram STIRRUP  CUP’S less U (socially acceptable)
 
Down
1 Marijuana raised and cropped in mountain pastures (4)
ALPS SPLA(y) reversed
2 By noon, Kirov has sacked one of its old dancers (11)
BARYSHKINOV Anagram BY N (noon) KIROV HAS
3 Spread round butt makes one prickly (7)
THORNED HORN in TED
4 Note Northern Echo supports press source of crude material (8)
IRONMINE IRON (press) + MI + N (northern) + E (echo)
5 Reciprocal dealings are cancelled when certain tariff changes (12)
INTERTRAFFIC Anagram CERTAIN TARIFF
6 Scottish football fans forgetting three stragglers in small van (7)
TARTANA TARTAN A(rmy)
7 Deity turning up in Rigveda, maybe (4)
YAMA Hidden reversed
8 Digital protection requiring so long to load megabytes (10)
THUMB-STALL MB in THUS + TALL
9 Pick piece on board up before ending in checkmate (5)
ELITE TILE reversed + (checkmat)E
10 Dried up mud covers ledge in church (8)
MISERERE SERE in MIRE
12 Quince consumed by Department head, sell-by date having passed (11)
BELATEDNESS BEL + ATE + D (departmebt) + NESS (head)
14 Asians bid to entertain film celebrities (10)
VIETNAMESE ET (the film) + NAMES in VIE
18 Tabloid publicity fury upset group of stars (8)
ERIDANUS SUN + AD + IRE all reversed
20 Mounting trouble interrupts cigar rolling, which provides capital for island (8)
CAGLIARI AIL reversed in Anagram CIGAR
22 The French abandoning one circuit after another for those established long ago in Britain (7)
NORMANS NOR (circuit) + LEMANS less LE
24 Up north, foolish brat's about to have no job there (7)
GLAIKET LAIK in GET
28 Glamorise drink with extra constituent (5, two words)
SEX UP EX in SUP
30 Just about to advance conflict (4)
AJAR A + JAR
32 Became dull with passing year (4)
GREW GREY changing Y (year) to W (with)