No 14793, Thursday 14 May 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 8A 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   Bans pesticide, nasty stuff (4,3,6) BITS AND PIECES*

8   Dim lights entirely at first in pub (5) B?E?R ()

9   Dribbling with energy in east European arena (9) SLAVERING {E} in {SLAV}{RING}

11 Be very surprised by awful heat on set around afternoon (3,4,3) EAT ONES HAT {HEAT+ON+SET}* over {A}

12 Beat culprit stealing bags in retreat (4) STIR [T<=]

14 Father is captivated by a master's art movement (7) DADAISM {DAD}{A}{IS}{M}

16 Kitchen item with good sieve (7) GRIDDLE {G}{RIDDLE}

17 American chap is badly affected by a language disorder (7) APHASIC {A+CHAP+IS}*

19 Overwhelmed by drink, member has terribly serious accident (5-2) SMASH-UP {S{M}{HAS*}UP}

21 Trouble after king's murder (4) KILL {ILL}<=>{K}

22 Hero in rave turned intoxicated (10) ADVENTURER*

25 Repaired terminal's railway tracks (9) TRAMLINES*

26 Extremely unruly fool interrupting concert (5) UNITY {Unr{NIT}ulY}

27 Clear-cut kind of film (5-3-5) BLACK-AND-WHITE [DD]

DOWN

2   Thought creatively and edited a novel (7) IDEATED*

3   Most resilient secret agents collaring gang leader in tunnel (10) SPRINGIEST {SP{RING}IES}{Tu...l}

4   Bags filled with special egg holders (5) NESTS {NE{S}TS}

5   Girl transported by plane has broken bones (9) PHALANGES {G} in {PLANE+HAS}*

6   Wife entertained by show about sheep (4) EWES {SE{W}E<=}

7   Victory secured by deceit, rogue's expelled (7) EVICTED {E{V}ICTED*}

8   Stabbed with rake, ripping the stomach (11) BREADBASKET {STABBED+RAKE}*

10 Start to roll joint with member in merry social event held on lawn (6,5) GARDEN PARTY {Roll}{DEN}{PART} in {GAY}

13 One inspired by macho stud's unusual knack of making money (5,5) MIDAS TOUCH {1} in {MACHO+STUD}*

15 Revolutionary plan to catch brilliant Mafia boss in European region (9) MACEDONIA {AIM<=} over {ACE}{DON}

18 Ancient chamber containing large bag (7) HOLDALL {H{OLD}ALL}

20 Musician in Paris, playing in hotel bar (7) HARPIST {H}{PARIS*}{T}

23 Take a sedative to stay relaxed (5) EASED [T]

24 Starts to beat leader of cocaine cartel (4) BLOC Acrostic

Reference List

Energy = E, Afternoon = A, Master = M, Good = G, Member = M, King = K, Special = S, Girl = G, Wife = W, Victory = V, Hotel = H, Bar = T

No 14792, Wednesday 13 May 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 17A 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   American throttled by armed culprit violently - it could result in death penalty (7,6) CAPITAL MURDER {A} in {ARMED+CULPRIT}*

8   Brief, sporadic fights (5) SPARS SPARSe 

9   Falls down badly, loses consciousness primarily after consuming drink (9) COLLAPSES {LOSES+Co...s}* over {LAP}

11 Revives tipsy marines with tea (10) REANIMATES {MARINES+TEA}*

12 Fun in Gujarat's first sanctuary (4) GLEE {Gu...t}{LEE}

14 Support copper beginning to berate beastly youngster (4,3) BEAR CUB {BEAR}{CU}{Be...e}

16 Gasp about diamond's size (7) BREADTH {BREA{D}TH}

17 Finest century, extremely impressive in final (7) L?C?E?T (Addendum - LACIEST  {LA{C}Im...vE}ST} - See comments)

19 Involve head of radiology in treatment of emboli (7) EMBROIL {EMB{Ra...y}OIL*}

21 A little malfunction in opening umbrella (4) GAMP {GA{Ma...n}P}

22 Moving injured girl at once (10) RELOCATING*

25 Remove coach after losing one game (9) TRANSPORT {TRAiN}{SPORT}

26 Lyric poet in neighbourhood is terrific (5) ODIST [T]

27 Forbid foolish attendant picking up dope for transient visitor (4,2,7) BIRD OF PASSAGE {FORBID}*{P{ASS}AGE}

DOWN

2   A Tibetan monk embracing a bishop in American state (7) ALABAMA {A}{L{A}{B}AMA}

3   How patient after surgery might be laughing uncontrollably (2,8) IN STITCHES [DD]

4   Cocaine found in a car travelling to capital city (5) ACCRA {C} in {A+CAR}*

5   Supple batter turned and smashed ball over English umpire's foot (9) MALLEABLE {LAM<=}{L{E}ABL*}{u...rE}

6   Stern parent (4) REAR [DD]

7   Stored fodder in citadel is nearly over (7) ENSILED [T<=]

8   Flasher in spot, without pants or belt (6,5) STROBE LIGHT {S{OR+BELT}*IGHT}

10 Find out and be incensed by drunk husband chasing girl inside (3,3,5) SEE THE LIGHT {SEETHE}{LI{H}<=>{G}T}

13 Like a film with some new rumba moves (10) MEMBRANOUS {SOME+N+RUMBA}*

15 Gambler turned richer (6,3) BETTER OFF {BETTER}{OFF}

18 Musical instruments in church mass on island in Asia (7) CEMBALI {CE}{M}{BALI}

20 Thinking of love and longing (7) OPINING {0}{PINING}

23 Nearly all going topless on island near a port city of ancient Rome (5) OSTIA {mOST}{I}{A}

24 Exercised in shade, Sun's coming up (4) USED [T<=]

Reference List

American = A, Diamond = D, Century = C, Bishop = B, Cocaine = C, English = E, Husband = H, Girl = G, New = N, Church = CE, Mass = M, Island = I