No 12653, Saturday 15 Jun 2019, Dr. X

Across

1. Skeleton over small mound! Go ballistic (4,4,5) BLOW ONES STACK {B{LOW} ONES} {STACK}
8. One in bathroom is somewhat blotto, we learn (5) TOWEL (T)
9. Leaves listeners enthralled by hit (6,3) CLEARS OUT {CL{EARS} OUT}
11. Stunning bird approaches old chaps entertained by lap dance (10) PHENOMENAL {PAL*} around {HEN}{O}{MEN}
12. Best to take pawn for knight (4) PICK {(+P-n)ICK}
14. Italian violinist’s heart problem returns (7) CORELLI {CORE}{ILL<=}
16. Scrap in bar over a little remark (7) EXCERPT {EXCE{Remark}PT}
17. Almost killed, receiving knock in fight (7) SCUFFLE {S{CUFF}LEw}
19. All are high on ecstasy and drink (4,3) REAL ALE {ALL+ARE*}{E}
21. Wicket lost in fine game played by children (1-3) I-SPY {wISPY}
22. Move to arrest atheist essentially spreading disinformation (10) PROPAGANDA  {PRO{PAGAN}D}{spreAding}
25. Clumsy girl! Don’t be in such a rush? (9) GRACELESS {G}{RACE LESS}
26. Lives to bring charges against heirs (5) ISSUE {IS}{SUE}
27. Be in a very precarious state with illogical instruction to executioner? (4,2,1,6) HANG BY A THREAD (D&CD)

Down

2. Cheap attire that’s essential for climbing hills (3,4) LOW GEAR {LOW}{GEAR}
3. Gangster troubling folk captured by partner in pursuit (4,2,4) WALK OF LIFE {W{AL}{FOLK*}IFE}
4. Good to keep husband in place (5) NICHE {NIC{H}E}
5. Cry when boyfriend gets overwhelmed by strain (4,1,4) SHED A TEAR {SHE{D A TE}AR}
6. Weary couple taking a bit of rest (4) TIRE {TI{Rest}E}
7. Staff is more congenial after receiving a little raise (7) CROSIER {C{Raise}OSIER}
8. What actors dislike in print – bad acting reviews ultimately (11) TYPECASTING {TYPE}{ACTING+reviewS*}
10. Be the most outrageous man in attack! Keep battling to remove President (4,3,4) TAKE THE CAKE {HE} in {ATTACK+KEEp*}
13. English girls lost over cliff getting more dishevelled (10) SCRAGGLIER {E+GIRLS} over { CRAG}
15. Intoxication from one tiny beer! Strange (9) INEBRIETY {I}{TINY+BEER*}
18. Ebullient friend hugging son accepted in Scandinavian University (7) UPPSALA {UP}{P{S}AL}{A}
20. Partly reviewed data is on gait in sensory disorder (7)  AGNOSIA {T<=}
23. Very upset in Gulf state (5) POSIT{P{SO<=}IT}
24. Request to catch glimpse of renowned Austrian composer (4) BERG {BE{Renowned}G|

GRID