No 13336, Thursday 26 Aug 2021, Karaoke

Solution to 17A 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   Doctor Dolittle trimming edges of durable fabric (6) TILLOT dOLITTLe* Tillot is a bag and not a fabric?

5   Spooner’s group ridicules Lucifer’s case (8) MATCHBOX (~batch mocks)

9   Persistent objections about physicist (8) STUBBORN {BUTS<=}{BORN}

10 Plastic surgeons go off with caretakers (6) NURSES SURgEoNS*

11 Elusive smart soldier hides in exotic blanket after killing knight (10) INTANGIBLE {IN} aith {GI} in {BLANkET}*

12 Crazy setters leave Greenlanders (4) NUTS iNUiTS

13 Lay to rest — take top off in time (5) INTER wINTER

14 Capture trophy in opening Olympic competitions at Italy finally (6) OCCUPY {Ol...c}{Co...s}{CUP}{i..lY}

17 Perhaps the sycophant’s catch phrase (6) ?E?S?R (Addendum - YESSIR [CD] - See comments)

19 Bank staff may not give you this on brief strike (5) TOKEN [C&DD]

22 Scrap left by associate in dispute — false cases dismissed (4) IOTA AssOcIaTe*

24 Universal Studios initially leaves on special expedition to make humorous story (5,5) COMIC STRIP {COsMIC}{S}{TRIP}

25 Nut heard to conceal bad breath (6) CACHOU (~cashew) Definition seems incomplete

26 Battalions at sea liquidated Taleban extremists on vessel (8) SAILBOAT BAtTALIOnS*

27 Deal with volunteers about extraterrestrial feud (8) VENDETTA {VEND}{TA} over {ET}

28 They are fictional from the records revealed by soldiers (6) APEMEN {tAPEs}{MEN}

DOWN

2   Look after fashionable design (6) INTEND {TEND}<=>{IN}

3   Occasionally “laid bare” sign at quiet places (9) LIBRARIES {LaId+BaRe}{ARIES}

4   It is believed husband is in testing time (7) THOUGHT {T{H}OUGH}{T}

5   Fare for the consumption of hotel guests at small court (7) MINIBAR {MINI}{BAR}

6   Say cheese cycling fruit (7) TANGELO (t)TANGELO(-t)

7   Leading actress reportedly shot one bird (5) HERON (~ heroin)

8   Commands public works (8) OVERTOPS {OVERT}{OPS}

15 He is experienced to go after rooks and thieves primarily (9) CONSTABLE {ABLE}<=>{CONS}{Th...s} Semi&lit

16 Nomad moved around shelter for drink (8) LEMONADE {LE{NOMAD*}E} 'around' or 'in' shelter?

18 What a winning contestant in poll does not like to narrate? (7) RECOUNT [DD]

19 Problematic asthma, a big fuss in India! (7) TAMASHA*

20 Spirit from borders of Kampuchea carried by neighbour (7) KACHINA {Ka...eA}{CHINA}

21 Five-dollar bill on drink brings the end (6) FINALE {FIN}{ALE}

23 Insect anticipated problem first and camouflaged (5) APHID {An...d}{Pr...m}{HID}

Reference List

Knight = K, Special = S, Volunteers = TA, Husband = H, Time = T, Five-dollar bill = FIN