No 13304, Tuesday 20 Jul 2021, Dr. X

Solution to 21D 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.

ACROSS

1   Freshly made chips are heavenly (8) SERAPHIC*

5   Pastry, not zero-calorie perhaps (6) ECLAIR CALoRIE*

10 Shoot around excellent city in Middle East (5) DUBAI {BUD<=}{A1}

11 Relieve sozzled valet, one overwhelmed by drink (9) ALLEVIATE {AL{VALET+1}*E}

12 Clasp wheel to conduct fantastic feat by end of rally (6,3) SAFETY PIN {S{FEAT*}{r..lY}PIN}

13 Problem near hilum at centre of the kidneys (5) RENAL {NEAR}*{hiLum}

14 On the contrary, prepared most exceptional lunch (6) TIFFIN {FIT<=}{FINe}

15 Give boy practical type of experience (5-2) HANDS-ON {HAND}{SON}

18 Pour gin out for exclusive circle (7) INGROUP*

20 Proceeded to prosecute in conclusion (6) ENSUED {EN{SUE}D}

22 Hard criminal kills fellow consequently (5) HENCE (-f+h)HENCE

24 Revolting associate facing sack over consuming heroin and crack (9) ABHORRENT {A}{RO{H}B<=}{RENT}

25 Polar explorer managed to tackle small problem around southern base (9) RASMUSSEN {RA{S}{SUM<=}{S}{E}N}

26 Slap face of country bumpkin (5) CLOUT {Co...y}{LOUT}

27 Love THCC, say, taking new shape (6) OBLONG {0}{BLO{N}G} Are people visitors fed up with the old sahpe :-)

28 Girl pays attention and shines (8) GLISTENS {G}{LISTENS}

DOWN

1   Cruel person from Mossad is terrifying (6) SADIST [T]

2   Snubbing drug addict in band (9) REBUFFING {R{E}{BUFF}ING}

3   Discovered one footprint beside container in decisive moment (5,2,2,6) POINT OF NO RETURN {ONE+FOOTPRINT}*{URN}

4   Worried by snake, one entering hotel (2,1,4) IN A SPIN {IN{ASP}{1}N}

6   What artist recording another’s songs might do to conceal evidence? (5,4,6) COVER ONES TRACKS [DD]

7   A drink around middle of day? Another time (5) AGAIN {A}{G{dAy}IN}

8   Group visiting isle served wine (8) RIESLING {R{ISLE*}ING}

9   Bird going around lake is duck (6) FLINCH {F{L}INCH}

16 One in the dock with girl found dead in warehouse (9) STEVEDORE {ST{EVE}{D}ORE}

17 Sensation! Celebrity invites model to date (8) HITHERTO {HIT}{HER{T}O}

19 Honour president by increase in salary (6) PRAISE {P}{RAISE}

20 Elizabeth, an oldster consuming alcohol (7) ETHANOL [T]

21 Communicates with leading performer, briefly reviewing scene (6) ?T?T?S (Addendum - STATES {STAr}{SET<=} - See comments)

23 Stentorian as always, somewhat twangy (5) NASAL [T]

Reference List

Hard = H, Fellow = F, Associate = A, Heroin = H, Small = S, Southern = S, Base = E, Love = 0, New = N, Girl = G, Drug = E, Lake = L, Dead = D, Model = T, President = P