No 13642, Tuesday 23 Aug 2022, Dr. X

Solution to 1A 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   Conceited youngsters cribbing about extremely strenuous exercises (5-3) P?E?S-?P? (Addendum - PRESS-UPS {P{RE}{St...uS}UPS} - See comments)  

5   Careful as most stumble over carpet (6) FRUGAL {F{RUG}ALl}

10 Briefly wave old military cap (5) SHAKO {SHAKe}{O}

11 Securing stick to tackle creep (9) CLINCHING {CL{INCH}ING}

12 Extremely distressed by where luggage might be found in train (2,3,4) ON THE RACK [DD]

13 Gem in a new set (5) ANGEL {A}{N}{GEL}

14 Aperitif for every retired professor (6) PERNOD {PER}{DON<=}

15 Reckless motorist turning hard around circle — move back! (7) ROADHOG {R{O}ADH*}{GO<=}

18 Wild, upper class celebrity cuddling model on date (7) UNTAMED {U}{N{T}AME}{D}

20 Pictures of reactionary guys secured by spies (6) CINEMA {CI{MEN<=}A}

22 Energetic person inspiring fine employee who runs errands (5) GOFER {GO{F}ER}

24 Urges models to stay slim for guaranteed success (4,5) SURE THING {SURE{THIN}G*}

25 Lots raging about a defeat finally (4,2,3) LAST OF ALL {L{A}STO*}{FALL}

26 Fire individual ignoring leader (5) INGLE sINGLE

27 Most immense woman diets desperately (6) WIDEST {W}{DIETS*}

28 Prepares to master intimate activities requiring great skills (4,4) FINE ARTS {FI{NEAR}TS}

DOWN

1   Chap is told to conceal gun (6) PISTOL [T]

2   Maiden in fancy canteen starting to take order (9) ENACTMENT {ENACT{M}EN*}{Take}

3   Groom finally found in dark room with sirens, appalling deception (5,3,7) SMOKE AND MIRRORS {g..oM} in {DARK+ROOM+SIRENS}*

4   Caught sharply after quiet over for a duck (7) POCHARD {C}{HARD}<=>{P}{O}

6   Expert hired by newspaper intimates about rush to meet deadline (4,7,4) RACE AGAINST TIME {R{ACE}AG}{INTIMATES*}

7   Performing with percussion instrument around lunchtime (5) GOING {GO{1}NG}

8   English girl in lounge on ecstasy, 18 perhaps (5,3) LEGAL AGE {L{E}{GAL}AG}{E}

9   Can king and queen fool around? (6) TINKER {TIN}{K}{ER}

16 Want to get hold of doctor, one that's exceptional (9) HUMDINGER {HU{MD}{1}NGER}

17 Catastrophe involving a gun going off in house (8) BUNGALOW {B{A+GUN}*LOW}

19 Miserable year for student resulting in distress (6) DISMAY DISMA(-l+y)Y

20 Italian musician playing cello to entertain royal on island (7) CORELLI {CO{R}ELL*}{I}

21 Birds in trees, flying around a little garden (6) EGRETS {E{Ga...n}RETS*}

23 A little silly feud resolved, getting married (5) FUSED {Si..y+FEUD}*

Reference List

Old = O, New = N, Upper class = U, Model = T, Date = D, Fine = F, Woman = W, Maiden = M, Caught = C, Quiet = P, Over = O, Newspaper = RAG, Lunchtime = 1(PM), English = E, Ecstasy = E, King = K, Queen = ER, Year = Y, Student = L, Royal = R, Island = I