No 14822, Wednesday 17 Jun 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 7D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Primarily sexy mate turned on bar girl immediately (4-4) SLAP-BANG {Sexy}{PAL<=}{BAN}{G}

5   Smuggles exotic snakes (6) SNEAKS*

10 & 6 What diligent geologists will do to make every possible effort (5,2,5,8) LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED [C&DD]

11 Extorts a definite promise from foolish son-in-law stifling daughter (5,4) NAILS DOWN {SON IN LAW}* over {D}

12 Impression made by English nationalist ranting about Government (9) ENGRAVING {E}{N}{RAVING} over {G}

13 Young bird of duck, beginning to leap into water (5) OWLET {0}{W{Leap}ET}

14 Whispers of women going astray, enthralled by dope (6) ASIDES {AS{wIDE}S}

15 Rat is over top of rusted grille (7) TRELLIS {T{Ru...d}ELL}{IS}

18 Hamper in cabin, extremely large (7) SHACKLE {SHACK}{LargE}

20 Dog at home stops crook (6) CANINE {CAN{IN}E}

22 Start to examine decay over back of leg in fungal disease (5) ERGOT {Ex...e}{R{leG}OT}

24 Drug that arouses remarkable lust, mating endlessly (9) STIMULANT {LUST+MATINg}*

25 What may cause quivering lips to meet, expressing first sign of passion? (9) MISTLETOE {LIpS+TO+MEET}* Semi&lit

26 Overwhelmed by tackling a nasty parasitic disease of livestock (5) NGANA [T]

27 Director went up after drinking whiskey to sleep (6) DROWSE {D}{RO{W}SE}

28 Be able to lazily captivate date in a forthright manner (8) CANDIDLY {CAN}{IDLY} over {D}

DOWN

1   Collect rupees over large tray (6) SALVER {SA{L}VER}

2   Swilling ales again for relief of pain (9) ANALGESIA* 

3   American in wild bender lets loose after take-off for fun (4,3,8) BEER AND SKITTLES {A} in {BENDER}* with {LETS}*<=>{SKIT}

4   Sister thus returned to welcome hundred and one papal ambassadors (7) NUNCIOS {NUN}{SO<=} over {CI}

6   See 10 Across

7   Key left behind a parcel in retreat (5) A?O?L ()

8   Clean seats in compound outside institute (8) SANITISE {SEATS+IN}* over {I}

9   Gifted extraordinary toy (6) FIDGET*

16 Help design a hotel in property (4,1,4) LEND A HAND {END}{A}{H} in {LAND}

17 Admirable seed easily wins match, making a comeback (8) ESTEEMED {SEED}* over {MEET<=}

19 Phoney arrested by officers at Zurich (6) ERSATZ [T]

20 Fancy songstress captivating one million admirers at premiere (7) CHIMERA {CH{1}{M}ER}{At}

21 Regular boyfriend in filthy place, cuddling topless escort (6) STEADY {ST{lEAD}Y}

23 Relish breeze on top of observatory (5) GUSTO {GUST}{Ob...y}

Reference List

Girl = G, Daughter = D, English = E, Nationalist, Government = G, Women = W, Director = D, Whiskey = W, Date = D, Large = L, Hundrea and one = CI, Institute = I, Hotel = H, Million = M

No 14821, Tuesday 16 Jun 20266, Dr. X

Solution to 24 A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only 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   Fail to impress female? Totally overweight after gaining pounds (4,4) FALL FLAT {F}{ALL}{F{L}AT}

5   Save share certificate to receive money (6) SCRIMP {SCRI{M}P}

10 Resume painting after break (7) RESTART {ART}<=>{REST}

11 Special talent of performer behind revolutionary special effects (1,6) X FACTOR {ACTOR}<=>{FX<=} 

12 Personnel in academy checking nuclear physics device (5) LINAC [T]

13 Consuming drink, sailor played cards (9) ORIGINALS {ORI{GIN}ALS*}

14 Position providing a clear view of singer at ground entertaining team (8,4) RINGSIDE SEAT {SINGER+AT}* over {SIDE} Semi&lit

18 Most innocent groups broken by swindler primarily getting control of finances (5,7) PURSE STRINGS {PUR{Sw...r}EST}{RINGS}

21 One at the helm of small steamer moving close to lagoon (9) STEERSMAN {S}{STEAMER*}{l...oN}

23 Old lady having constant fatigue, finally better (5) EXCEL {EX}{C}{f...uE}{L}

24 Popular detective inspector penning book about foremost of criminals (7) D?M?T?C (Addendum - DEMOTIC {D{TOME<=}I}{Cr...s} - See comments)

25 Tell about liaison with model giving satisfaction (7) SATIETY {SA{TIE}{T}Y}

26 Criminal cut fellow's part of outer ear (6) CONCHA {CON}{CHAp}

27 Bind together granite rocks containing sulphur (8) ASTRINGE {A{S}TRINGE*}

DOWN

1   In spite of slump, acquires gold (3,3) FOR ALL {F{OR}ALL}

2   Missing error in journal (6) LOSING {LO{SIN}G}

3   Husband lives in European country? Right (9) FRANCHISE {FRANC{H}{IS}E}

4   Ability to tolerate unpleasant things is a result of doing sit-ups? (1,6,7) A STRONG STOMACH [DD]

6   Raccoon-like animal in bed, biting a kid at centre (5) COATI {CO{A}T}{kId}

7   Endlessly nattering about private communications system (8) INTRANET NATTERINg*

8   Hanger-on in usual spot, drinking alcohol at premiere (8) PARASITE {PAR}{Al...l}{SITE}

9   Show-offs, both in sixties, romping around island (14) EXHIBITIONISTS {BOTH IN SIXTIES} over {I}

15 One seen in kitchen, say, above good British diner (9) EGG BEATER {EGG}{G}{B}{EATER}

16 Picaresque novel is copied (8) EPISODIC*

17 American economist fired reckless fellow (8) FRIEDMAN {FIRED*}{MAN}

19 Observed stealing crown in disguise (6) SCREEN {S{CR}EEN}

20 Twisted ankle, crossing ultimately slippery compound (6) ALKYNE {ALK{s...rY}NE*}

22 Mechanical device stolen by robber at chalet (5) RATCH [T]

Reference List

Female = F, Pounds = L, Money = M, Special effects = FX, Small = S, Old = EX, Lady = L, Constant = C, Model = T, Husband = H, Island = I, Good = G, British = B, Crown = CR