No 14785, Tuesday 05 May 2026, Incognito

Solution to 26A 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

8   Cost of travel in Cardiff area (4) FARE [T]

9   Mercury obtained from Arizona hotel construction after the Spanish left (5) AZOTH {AZ}{HOTel}*

10 Extraordinary risk irritates (4) IRKS*

11 Literary king with book came to know (6) LEARNT {LEAR}{NT}

12 Rival's pop nonet composition (8) OPPONENT*

13 Deserter from Army Post Office, say (8) APOSTATE {APO}{STATE}

15 Horrible diatribe on losing inspection bungalow, in short, is a verbal attack (6) TIRADE {DiATRIbE}*

17 Traverses tomb markers (7) CROSSES [DD]

19 Arranged pack with xenon containing one tool (7) PICKAXE {PACK}*{XE} over {1}

22 Ma cuts hybrid grape (6) MUSCAT*

24 Finished after Army Service Corps climbed (8) ASCENDED {ENDED}<=>{ASC}

26 Perhaps, heel's weapon? (8) ?T?L?T?O (Addendum - STILETTO [DD] - See comments)

28 Where a group of swimmers may study? (6) SCHOOL [C&DD]

30 Ship from Karwar goes (4) ARGO [T]

31 Rub off Times emblem in the beginning (5) ERASE {ERAS}{Em...m}

32 Type of house built without using aluminium in Salem, India (4) SEMI {SalEM}{I}

DOWN

1   Uncommon in Almora region (4) RARE [T]

2   Thaws forests being chopped up after beginning of December (8) DEFROSTS {FORESTS}*<=>{De...r}

3   Rule: "No pets in apartments under renovation" (6) MANTRA {ApARTMeNts}*

4   One behind Line of Control rejected final call for military officer (7) COLONEL {ONE}<=>{LOC<=} and {calL}

5   Indian bread got from guy at the inn initially (8) CHAPATTI {CHAP}{AT}{The}{Inn}

6   Meal given by doctor around nine decomposed (6) DINNER {D{NINE*}R}

7   Hide runner at end of garden (4) SKIN {SKI}{g...eN}

14 Hidden and concealed in sniper duty (5) PERDU [T] &lit

16 Pass away, having taken 9 in custody, in Southern US (5) DIXIE {D{IX}IE}

18 Extraordinary Lent diet is allowed (8) ENTITLED*

20 Relative has toured South African city (8) KINSHASA {KIN}{HAS}*{SA}

21 Ass walks around a vessel to get fruits (7) SAPOTAS {S{A}{POT}AS*}

23 Visit part of Calcutta before part of London (4,2) CALL ON {CALc...a}{LONdon}

25 We returned with money for nut (6) CASHEW {WE<=}<=>{CASH}

27 Conservative's attempt to consume egg (4) TORY {T{O}RY}

29 Units of Resistance from Head Office rejected manuscript (4) OHMS {HO<=}{MS}

Reference List

The in Spanish = EL, Book = NT(New Testament), Line of Control = LOC, Manuscript = MS

No 14784, Monday 04 May 2026, Incognito

Solution to 24D 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   Without being bidden, captured male removed face covering (8) UNMASKED {UNASKED} over {M}

5   Cheops managed for long periods (6) EPOCHS*

10 Confused vets with head of terrier in small screen (2,3) TV SET {VETS}*{Te...r}

11 Poem covering composition of Reagan's drink (9) ORANGEADE {O{REAGAN*}DE}

12 Repeated broadcasts from insurer unsavoury (6) RERUNS [T]

13 Wrongly say, "Putts and remains in the same place" (5,3) STAYS PUT*

15 Implements used to make stool (5) TOOLS* Semi&lit

17 Leave the decision to Penny, for example (4,1,4) TOSS A COIN [CD]

19 Excited deer circled around small water body and gave a reaction (9) RESPONDED {RE{S}{POND}ED*}

20 Shake firkin to some extent and drink (5) KEFIR [T]

21 Cone jet is modified to contain current discharge (8) EJECTION* {CONE+JET} over {I}

23 Paths in space created by bistro reconstruction (6) ORBITS*

27 Will, perhaps, try American ward (9) TESTAMENT {TEST}{AM}{ENT}

28 Extraterrestrial Neil Armstrong initially sent back (5) ALIEN {NEIL}{Ar...g}<=

29 Upshot from Ulster revolution (6) RESULT*

30 Professionals who give oral exams (8) DENTISTS [CD]

DOWN

1   Say, "Abject" (5) UTTER [DD]

2   Sum up, "Hot chambers for fungi" (9) MUSHROOMS {SUM<=}{H}{ROOMS}

3   Soft material from South Africa placed in front of container (5) SATIN {SA}{TIN}

4   Musk-melons hiding his name? (4) ELON [HIPS]

6   Kids love this swine accepting money (5,4) PIGGY BANK [CD]

7   Charlie gets light fixture (5) CLAMP {C}{LAMP}

8   For example, honey, ewes enter haphazardly (9) SWEETENER*

9   Whispered remark after group of actors get dropped (4,5) CAST ASIDE {ASIDE}<=>{CAST}

14 Card game Kurd poets played (4,5) STUD POKER*

15 Persecutor and soldiers trapped between a couple of mountains (9) TORMENTOR {TOR}{MEN}{TOR}

16 Deficit from brief decline (9) SHORTFALL {SHORT}{FALL}

18 Restricted film is oft horrible (3-6) OFF-LIMITS*

22 Makes it easy when seaplanes fly without plan (5) EASES SEAplanES*

24 Reprimand star consuming egg at sea (5) R?A?T (Addendum - {R{O}AST*} - See comments)

25 Drowns ship carrying writing material (5) SINKS {S{INK}S}

26 Eye problem from dusty environment (4) STYE [T]

Reference List

Male = M, Small = S, Current = I, American = AM, Hot = H, Charlie = C, Ship = SS