No 13458, Thursday 20 Jan 2022, Dr. X

Solution to 27A 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   Kind son taken in by sponges and wimps (8) MILKSOPS {M{ILK}{S}OPS}

5   Cabins with bags filled with heroin (6) SHACKS {S{H}ACKS}

10 Chance to check equipment in warship (7) FRIGATE {F{RIG}ATE}

11 Lies about receiving small sum of money, mostly as commission (7) LICENSE {LI{CENt}SE*}

12 Use specialist to eliminate president (5) EXERT EXpERT

13 Criminal outside bar meets man getting dope (9) BLOCKHEAD {B{LOCK}{HE}AD}

14 Disfigurement perhaps left permanently in bacterial disease (7,5) SCARLET FEVER {SCAR}{LEFT*}{EVER}

18 Running fast is exercise giving pleasure (12) SATISFACTION {FAST+IS}*{ACTION} 

21 Hot exotic dancer in bar (9) HINDRANCE {H}{DANCER+IN}*

23 Vacation from endless work (5) LEAVE {LEAVEn}

24 Sumo is tense, drinking water (7) MOISTEN [T]

25 Hissing from oxygen canister in corner (7) HOOTING {HO{O}{TIN}G}

26 Pirates, heartily cheerful after capturing grand merchant ship (6) ARGOSY {pirAtes}{R{G}OSY}

27 Ebullient copper nailed by spirited punch (8) ?P?E?C?T (Addendum - UPPERCUT {UP}{PER{CU}T} - See comments)

DOWN

1   Spoiled by money, female enters silly feud (6) MUFFED {M}{UF{F}ED*}

2   Partner needs a bit of Viagra to have sex, causing delay (6) LOITER LO(-v+it)ITER

3   Gladiator in fight cuts vigorously, crushing head of adversary (9) SPARTACUS {SPAR{T{Ad...y}CUS*}

4   Agonising to keep solving algebra, agreeing to a lesser punishment (4,10) PLEA BARGAINING {P{ALGEBRA*}AINING}

6   Slash over E is diacritical mark (5) HACEK {HAC{E}K} 

7   Maintain firm resolution to stay sober primarily (8) CONSERVE {CO}{N{So..r}ERVE}

8   They pay out money, manipulating press to secure objective (8) SPENDERS {SP{END}ERS*}

9   Where merchandise might be displayed in a disorganised state (3,4,3,4) ALL OVER THE SHOP [DD]

15 Unattached fellow, very uplifted by love, enthralled by miss (9) FOOTLOOSE {F}{TOO<=}{LO{O}SE}

16 It primarily leads to myocardial infarction, embodied by terrible aches (8) ISCHEMIA {It}{SCHE{My...l}{In...n}A*} &lit

17 Model basking outside is gorgeous (8) STUNNING {S{T}UNNING}

19 American goes berserk without hesitation in‘Psycho’ (6) MANIAC AMerICAN*

20 Hot moment after wife removed top (6) HEIGHT {H}{wEIGHT}

22 Somewhat clever at escaping taxes (5) RATES [T]

Reference List

Son = S, Heroin = H, President = P, Hot = H, Grand = G, Female = F, Sex = IT, Fellow = F, Model = T, Wife = W