No 13546, Tuesday 03 May 2022, Dr. X

Solution to 25A 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   Use sexier moves to enthrall college sweetheart (8) EXERCISE {EXER{C}IS*}{swEet}

5   Ignores urges to consume heroin finally (6) SPURNS {SPUR{h...iN}S}

10 Deception to get hold of complete genetic sequence (5) CODON {CO{DO}N}

11 Centre ordered — maintain distance, showing restraint (9) RETICENCE {RET{ICE}NCE*}

12 Force returns to investigate about trouble in European city (9) MARSEILLE {RAM<=}{SE{ILL}E}

13 Posh woman in retro joint is not married (5) UNWED {U}{DE{W}N<=}

14 Fixed grimace in onset of rabid seizure (6) RICTUS {Ra..d}{ICTUS}

15 Frank in South African province, going round ancient city (7) NATURAL{NAT{UR}AL}

18 Stories of stars acting out after consuming dope (7) LEGENDS {LEa{GEN}DS}

20 Somehow stayed sober (6) STEADY*

22 High-ranking Turk’s infatuation with America (5) PASHA {PASH}{A}

24 Bill steals fancy earring, gets indicted (9) ARRAIGNED {A{EARRING*}D}

25 Bomb went off outside court — ultimately shocked (9) A?T?U?D?D (Addendum - ASTOUNDED {A}{S{c..rT}OUNDED} - See comments)

26 Creep with cold sore on left side of lip (5) CRAWL {C}{RAW}{Lip}

27 Score with woman enthralled by wine at end of party (6) TWENTY {T{W}ENT}{p..tY}

28 Confined goon smuggling kit with ecstasy (8) CLOSETED {CLO{SET}{E}D}

DOWN

1   Some green campaigners settle in tents (6) ENCAMP [T]

2   Authorising to stop endless revelry involving immorality (9) ENDORSING {END}{OR{SIN}Gy}

3   Get in and naughtily discuss about grown-up who’s willing to have sex (10,5) CONSENTING ADULT {CONS{GET+IN+AND}*ULT}

4   Stumped by twists and turns (7) STROLLS {ST}{ROLLS}

6   Recover from shock and take care of shattered glass (4,2,3,6) PICK UP THE PIECES [DD]

7   Rejuvenate in serene woods (5) RENEW [T]

8   Scheming to trap mysterious revolutionary on island quickly (8) SPEEDILY {S{DEEP<=}{I}LY}

9   Newts swimming across river dispersed (6) STREWN {ST{R}EWN*}

16 Sacked revolting director, stark-naked in rave (9) REDUNDANT {D}{NUDE}<= in {RANT}

17 Jumbo plane he repaired on top of tarmac (8) ELEPHANT {PLANE+HE}*{Ta...c}

19 Taste of nougat in cool drink (6) SHANDY {SHA{No...t}DY}

20 Rustled up a pastry (7) STRUDEL*

21 Cutting power, rowed at sea (6) ADDLED pADDLED

23 Learn about bug’s short bristles (5) SETAE {SE{TAp}E} 

Reference List

College = C, Posh = U, Woman = W, Acting = A, America = A, Bill = AD, Cold = C, Wine = TENT, Ecstasy = E, Stumped = ST, Island = I, River = R, Director = D, Power = P