No 14665, Monday 15 Dec 2025, Gridzilla

Solution to 5D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered by a non-regular/novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM

ACROSS

1   Feeling a bit satisfied after extremely short flight (6) STAIRS {AIR}{Sa...d}<=>{ShorT}

4   A short time to have lunch out (4,2) BEAT IT {B{EAT}IT}

8   Taking spoiled salami, one ultimately gets some discomfort (7) MALAISE {SALAMI}*{E}

9   Henry delivered hash or heroin in metal container? (4,3) IRON ORE {OR+hEROIN}*

11 Visiting hot adult site, Mark gets aroused (10) STIMULATED {ADULT+SITE+M}*

12 Small drink, say, for skipper (4) SAIL {S}{(~ale)AIL}

13 Worm on top of sunflower plant (5) SEDGE {EDGE}<=>{Su...r}

14 "Australia: The best place" - A Netflix feature (8) AUTOPLAY {AU}{TOP}{LAY}

16 John sat playing on account of these sets of cards (8) CANASTAS {CAN}{SAT*}{AS}

18 Cryptic clue about primarily nice relative (5) UNCLE {U{Nice}CLE*}

20 Went in haste, covering head (4) PEED sPEED

21 Radiohead's first hit single's unusually creepy (10) SLITHERING {Ra...d+HIT+SINGLE}*

23 Order servant to check room (7) CHAMBER {CHA{MBE}R}

24 Right away, rations drinks (7) POTIONS POrTIONS

25 Portion of crab soup in ceramic cups (6) PINCER [T]

26 Catches fish with outdated lures? (6) ANGLES dANGLES

DOWN

1   Taking public transport around is clever (5) SMART<=

2   Feared gangster's carrying a gun (7) ALARMED {AL}{ARMED}

3   New 'Listerine Strong' (9) RESILIENT*

5   In the East End, the masses misbehaved (5) E?R?D ()

6   No set exercises? (5,2) TONES UP {NO+SET}* [RA]

7   Result: After losing opener, entire team's out! (9) TERMINATE {eNTIRE+TEAM}*

10 Vessel with crew on board starts to head into port (9) STEAMSHIP {S{TEAM}S}{Head}{Into}{Port}

13 A UFO with small steps? Cool! (9) SPACESHIP {S}{PACES}{HIP}

15 Land in Amsterdam perhaps, says Spooner (5,4) TOUCH DOWN (~dutch town to touchdown)

17 A sign board above shows where to find a six-pack (7) ABDOMEN {A}{OMEN}<=>{BD}

19 Cheerful guy is always laughing basically (7) CORDIAL {CORD}{Is}{Al...s}{La...g}

21 Incident is investigated, as per report (5) SCENE (~seen)

22 Near-perfect ratings possibly worsening after partial review? (5) NINES [HIPS<=]

Reference List

Henry = H, Mark = M, Small = S, Australia = AU, Order = MBE, Servant = CHAR, Right = R, Date = D, Gangster = AL, Cool = HIP, Board = BD, Guy = CORD

Special, Sunday 14 Dec 2025, Neyartha (R)

Three answers per commenter till 1 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Starred clues have a common theme.

Enjoy.