No 13571, Wednesday 01 Jun 2022, Arden

Solution to 22A 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   Country sides are noisy inside and overcast outside (6) CLOUDY {Coun{LOUD}trY}

4   Club King discarded, go away! (5,3) CLEAR OUT {C}{LEAR}{OUT}

9   Watched the Queen return by the night flight (6) REDEYE {EYED}{ER}<=

10 Leader shot right at the back — sign of impending trouble (3,5) RED ALERT {LEADER*}{RT}

12 Plant or a wild lion? Harbouring a doubt (8) ABUTILON {A}{BUT}{LION*}

13 It's a short launch — has got some capital (6) BOGOTA {BO{GOT}At}

15 One's altogether in it, perhaps (8,4) BIRTHDAY SUIT [CD]

18 Fellow scientist had standing, I dropped out as he became a monster (12) FRANKENSTEIN {F}{EINSTEIN} over {RANK}

21 One more graduate, right away begins simple life (6) AMOEBA {A}{MOrE}{BA}

22 Advice to promote mediocrity — shun a drink (8) ?E?E?A?E (Addendum BEVERAGE {BE aVERAGE} - See comments)

24 It's not even innate pride that makes one fearless (8) INTREPID {InNaTe}{PRIDE*}

25 Biased press has only questions (6) POSERS {P{O}SERS*}

26 Knockabout in Australia — it's hard and many go from east to west (8) HANDYMAN {H}{AND}{MANY<=} (Correction - {H}{AND}{(+y)YMAN(-y)} - See comments)

27 Cut it, indeed disorganised (6) EDITED {ED{IT}ED*}

DOWN

1   With a rub can produce a natural wax (8) CARNAUBA {A+RUB+CAN}{A}

2   Used to protect those who resist change (3,5) OLD GUARD {OLD}{GUARD}

3   Loot is there for all to see (8,7) DAYLIGHT ROBBERY [CD]

5   Cover point brought in — one wasn't truthful (4) LIED {LI{E}D}

6   Calibration does go wrong for a performance enhancer (8,7) ANABOLIC STEROID*

7   Exposed previous state (6) OREGON fOREGONe

8   Big man shows interest in a painter (6) TITIAN {TIT{I}AN}

11 Plea for help by girl behind those in the middle (7) HOSANNA {ANNA}<=>{tHOSe}

14 Old woman brought in and welcomed (7) USHERED {US{HER}ED}

16 Nowadays in modest surroundings but dissolute overall (8) DECADENT {DEC{AD}ENT}

17 Crazy end since one was mad (8) INCENSED*

19 Michael Jordan is, however, part European (6) DANISH [T]

20 Maybe later pick up some dumplings (3,3) WON TON NOTNOW<=

23 Climate inland is capital (4) LIMA [T]

Reference List

Club = C, Queen = ER, Fellow = F, Only = O, Hard = H, Point = E, Interest = I