No 14763, Thursday 09 Apr 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 21A 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   Began to sing in lorry, enthralled by drink (6,2) STRUCK UP {S{TRUCK}UP}

5   Prepare for major housing amendment (6) REFORM [T]

10 Guide in rough terrain (7) TRAINER*

11 Pep up in final, making a comeback after catch (7) HEARTEN {NET<=}<=>{HEAR}

12 A little lamp in back row's illuminated again (5) RELIT {Lamp} in {TIER<=}

13 Racing with caution on essentially dangerous circuit (9) CAREERING {CARE}{d..gEr..s}{RING}

14 What bats will do to remain united (4,8) HANG TOGETHER [C&DD]

18 Emphatic about criminal being unstable (12) INCONSISTENT {IN{CON}SISTENT}

21 Disastrous match! Coming to grips with primarily shocking collapse (9) D?S?E?A?R () 

23 Rude lady breaks heart, goes round with model (5) BLUNT {NU{L}B<=}{T}

24 Kind of stop without electronic tollgate perhaps (7) GLOTTAL TOLLGATe*

25 Small amount of dope after a little meth in endless party (7) SMIDGEN {GEN}<=>{S{Meth}IDe}

26 British sailors in foreign isle, extremely matey (6) LIMEYS {ISLE+MateY}*

27 Despicable boy advanced to ensnare good girl (8) BEGGARLY {B}{E{G}{G}ARLY}

DOWN

1   Lampoon American involved in agitation on base (6) SATIRE {S{A}TIR}{E}

2   Truly perk up after consuming ecstasy (6) REALLY {R{E}ALLY}

3   Pressurise with rooks on column (9) CONSTRAIN {CONS}{TRAIN}

4   Unidentifiable bag in enclosure, suspicious (14) UNRECOGNISABLE*

6   Remove saree naughtily (5) ERASE*

7   Completely unacceptable massage by houseguest on vacation (8) OUTRIGHT {OUT}{RIG}{Ho...sT}

8   Cribs about primarily arrogant administrators (8) MANAGERS {MAN{Ar...t}GERS}

9   Secures fantastic sandwiches, tart and bit of tiramisu for dessert (9,5) CHARLOTTE RUSSE {SECURES}* over {HARLOT}{Ti...u}

15 Honouring Lennon with big bust (9) ENNOBLING {LENNON+BIG}*

16 Did 'Lungi Dance' in Indian city (8) DINDIGUL*

17 Blizzard in sector, I'm worried (3,5) ICE STORM*

19 Need enormous runs to win final of competition (6) HUNGER {HUGE}{R} over {c...oN}

20 Error to retain tenor, extremely grumpy and mean (6) STINGY {S{T}IN}{GrumpY}

22 Contestant wanting special watch (5) ENTRY sENTRY

Reference List

Drink = SUP, Final = NET, Criminal = CON, Lady = L, Model = T, Dope = GEN, Boy = B, Good = G, Girl = G, American = A, Base = E, Ecstasy = E, Rooks = CONS, Runs = R, Tenor = T, Special = S

No 14762, Wednesday 08 Apr 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 20D 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   Pen pal is upset about American leader's bluntness (5,8) PLAIN SPEAKING {PEN+PAL+IS}* over {A} and {KING}

8   Calls topless escorts (5) RINGS bRINGS

9   Miss Japan picked up by champion in American club (9) BLACKJACK {LACK}{J} in {BACK}

11 Old-fashioned person, one giving spinal anaesthesia? (4,6) BACK NUMBER [C&DD]

12 Expert checking teen's latest skin condition (4) ACNE {AC{teeN}E}

14 Unknown tramp in base beginning to eat mushroom (7) EXPLODE {X}{PLOD} in {E}{Eat}

16 Emblem over sides of simple historical torch (7) CRESSET {CRES{Si..lE}T}

17 Write about old jerk showing favouritism (7) NEPOTIC {PEN<=}{O}{TIC}

19 Holy place in Muscat renovated around end of Ramadan (7) SANCTUM {MUSCAT}* over {r...aN} 

21 Mongrel beginning to bite, getting muzzle (4) CURB {CUR}{Bite}

22 Guests on island primarily getting loose motion (10) SUGGESTION {GUESTS+ON+I+Ge...g}*

25 Researcher analysed onset of cancer in testis (9) SCIENTIST {Ca...r+IN+TESTIS}*

26 American associate touring most prosperous city in Chile (5) ARICA {A}{A} over {RICh}

27 Raged at elderly doc outside hospital in a callous manner (4-9) COLD-HEARTEDLY {AT+ELDERLY+DOC}* over {H}

DOWN

2   Fancy place has new, special camera accessory (4,3) LENS CAP {PLACE}* over {N}S}

3   Complete details of a nudist streaking at opening on ground (3,3,4) INS AND OUTS {A+NUDIST+St...g+ON}*

4   Oily secretion from small whitehead essentially on butt (5) SEBUM {S}{w..tEh..d}{BUM}

5   Disappears from scene, vigorously cutting guard in retreat (9) EVANESCES {SCENE}* in {SAVE<=}

6   Xhaka, Kane welcoming former Brazilian footballer (4) KAKA [T]

7   Suggestions by star about tackling bad acne (7) NUANCES {SUN<=} over {ACNE*}

8   Turns head to stare as masseur kisses amorously (11) RUBBERNECKS {RUBBER}{NECKS}

10 Urge to steal opal, take money in jars (11) KLEPTOMANIA {OPAL+TAKE+M+IN}*

13 Serves gin cocktail, hosting a preview of art exhibition (10) VERNISSAGE {SERVES+GIN}* over {A}

15 Old cryptic clue is very elegant (9) EXCLUSIVE {EX}{CLUE+IS+V}*

18 Colonnade in dock essentially built by company (7) PORTICO {PORT}{buIlt}{CO}

20 Minor in contest, having endless energy (7) T?I?I?L (Addendum - TRIVIAL {TRI{VIm}AL} - see comments)

23 Reptile in bog at Oregon (5) GATOR [T]

24 Set up banquet in American city (4) ENID <=

Reference List

American = A, Japan = J, Unknown = X, Base = E, Old = O, Jerk = TIC, Island = I, Associate = A, Hospital = H, New = N, Special = S, Money = M