No 14751, Thursday 26 Mar 2026, Arden

Artwork by Prasanna

Solution to 16D 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   Port deck is exposed in general (6) RECIFE {R{dECk}IFE}

4   Can start with current location - pitch tents here (8) CAMPSITE {Can}{AMP}{SITE}

9   Sleep disorder? Break open and get into a self-help group (6) APNOEA {OPEN}* in {AA}

10 Laxative leaves Peter in a dizzy (8) APERIENT*

12 Hector at Hector the divine ruler (8) THEOCRAT*

13 South African wants a revolution (6) TSWANA*

15 Amusing to hear them - millions for charity, a prop is placed inside (12) MALAPROPISMS {M}{AL{A}{PROP}{IS}MS}

18 I need coastal police for suspension of hostilities (2-10)  DE-ESCALATION*

21 Bring the wagon back - that is tough (6) YARDIE {DRAY<=}{IE}

22 Fishermen had enormous catch of fish (8) MENHADEN [T]

24 Go pack a banian - it's a poor imitation (8) TRAVESTY {TR{A}{VEST}Y}

25 Review arts - takes a second for the tissue that forms the structure of an organ (6) STROMA {A{MO}RTS}<=

26 Memorial in place - not a phase (8) CENOTAPH [T]

27 Second copy - no work for the harvester (6) SCYTHE {S}{CopY}{THE}

DOWN

1   Live, let Marie go crazy (4-4) REAL-TIME*

2   Becomes hard when half the opposition party's on short leash, perhaps (8) CONGEALS {CONGress}{LEASh*}

3   Macron perhaps makes a Parisian, say, to keep quiet (6,9) FRENCH PRESIDENT {FRENCH RESIDENT} over {P}

5   Guarding a sherpa's place while climbing mountains (4) ALPS [T<=]

6    Part of the nervous system providing caring support to a soldier (15) PARASYMPATHETIC {SYMPATHETIC}<=>{PARA}

7   Melt ice cap to help you throw up (6) IPECAC*

8   Catch associate's brief rise (6) ENTRAP PARTNEr<=

11 Ring us - intend to drink and make merry (7) CAROUSE {CAR{O}{US}E}

14 Keep in deficit - a delay accepted (7) CITADEL [T]

16 Spooner may object to the entertainer right at the very end (8) ?I?D?O?T ()

17 Somehow unite, protect political group and overwhelm (8) INUNDATE {INU{NDA}TE*}

19 Systematic changes, losing seat as if by magic (6) MYSTIC {SYsteMaTIC}*

20 Police raid, no rule (6) ORDAIN*

23 Tread softly - take enough precautions first of all (4) STEP Acrostic

Reference List

Million = M, Second = MO, Second = S, Quiet = P, Tend = CARE

No 14750, Wednesday 25 Mar 2026, Arden

Solution to 25D 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   Army man's struggle for country (7) MYANMAR*

5   The famous four live least bothered (7) BEATLES {BE}{LEAST*}

9   Big man Brown drinking vermouth (5) TITAN {T{IT}AN}

10 Fancy hat priced so low (4,5) DIRT CHEAP* Semi&lit

11 Practising initially with one book daily (9) OBSERVANT {One}{B}{SERVANT}

12 Maybe Christopher's missing others on the mountain (5) REEVE {RE}{EVErest}

13 Made it back off a bit and fastened (4) TIED [T<=]

15 Japanese gambling on a breach in a river (8) PACHINKO {P{A}{CHINK}O}

18 Check time in the heart of the ship (8)  CORVETTE {COR{VET}{T}E}

19 Appropriate score (4) NICK [DD]

22 Mercury transits symbol of female passivity and is hurrying off (5) HYING {H{YIN}G}

24 Type of fish on the rocky seashores (3,6) SEA HORSES*

26 Corporations's intent to make a list (9) WAISTLINE {A+LIST}* in {WINE} What is 'corporations's'?

27 I had returned to old state (5) IDAHO {I}{HAD<=}{O}

28 Sister's travel counters (7) RESISTS*

29 Another thing that is meant to be a retirement cover (7) NIGHTIE {THING*}{IE}

DOWN

1   Could be remote visitor from the heavens (6) METEOR*

2   Sits awkwardly in a fancy American car making highest pitch (9) ALTISSIMO {A}{L{SITS*}IMO}

3   More detailed coverage of one in a villa (5) MANOR {M{AN}ORe}

4   Welcome sign of a communist reprimand (3,6) RED CARPET {RED}{CARPET}

5   Live on time - it could be felt (5) BERET {BE}{RE}{T}

6   Instrument with electric cable, no one to set up (9) ACCORDION {AC}{CORD}{NO 1<=}

7   Some allege ill-treatment, rise against the sovereign (5) LIEGE [T<=]

8   Excellent sandwiches - pay first for an evening meal (6) SUPPER {SUP{Pay}ER}

14 Female star billionaire strays (9) DIVAGATES {DIVA}{GATES}

16 Special screen with current input at regular intervals for a medical procedure (9) CAESAREAN {C{A}ES{A}RE{A}N*}

17 Gives up on pastry - that should give an impetus (4,5) KICK START {KICKS}{TART}

20 Service without sin - how to stop barrage? (6) SHOWER {S{HOW}ERvice}

21 Cash or easy payment option to acquire land (6) ASHORE [T]

23 One competes with climbers (5) IVIES {1}{VIES}

24 Avoids Dutch chicken on board (5) SKIPS {S{KIP}S}

25 Outstanding split opinion (5) O?I?G (Addendum - OWING {O}{WING} - See comments)

Reference List

Vermouth = IT, Book = B, On = RE, Time = T, Tent = WINE, Old = O, Current = A, On board = SS, Pinion = WING