N0 13698, Monday 31 Oct 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   A despicable person consuming ecstasy and heroin in bar (8) ALEHOUSE {A}{L{E}{H}OUSE}

5   Universal drive to tackle onset of rampant surge (6) UPRUSH {U}{P{Ra...t}USH}

10 Royal shot in the arm, beheaded in bed (5) ROOST {R}{bOOST}

11 Scrap between advocate and defamer (9) BACKBITER {BACK{BIT}ER}

12 Following kiss, female removes thongs (4-5) FLIP-FLOPS {FLIP}{F}{LOPS} ( Correction - {F}{LIP}{F}{LOPS} - Ser comments)

13 Relaxed, entertained by model discreetly in retreat (5) IDLED [T<=]

14 Woman with sex appeal, most athletic in addition (6) WITHAL {W}{IT}{HALe}

15 Mean associate with bad temper is railing (7) PARAPET {PAR}{A}{PET}

18 Buzz on starting to drink liquor, commonplace (7) HUMDRUM {HUM}{Dr..k}{RUM}

20 Fellow controlling sect caught leaving city in Pakistan (6) MULTAN {M{cULT}AN}

22 Honest head of co-operative bank (5) CLEAN {Co...e}{LEAN}

24 It stabilises mood in stress or tension (9) SEROTONIN*

25 Knowledge of training routine keeps daughter fit essentially (9) ERUDITION {ROUTINE}* over {D}{fIt}

26 Chemical compound in Botox identified (5) OXIDE [T]

27 Extremely small worm in toboggan (6) S?E?G? (Addendum - SLEDGE {SmalL}{EDGE} - See comments)

28 Frozen layer in Italian sandwiches, cheese perhaps (3,5) ICE SHEET {I{CHEESE*}T}

DOWN

1   Insecure director involved in a fight (6) ADRIFT {A}{D}{RIFT}

2   Sexual excitement caused by isometric exercises (9) EROTICISM*

3   No longer in contention, having left management? (3,2,3,7) OUT OF THE RUNNING [DD]

4   Vehicle overturned, primarily spilling fuel in layer below surface (7) SUBSOIL {BUS<=}{Sp...g}{OIL}

6   Circulating pic or bulletin as promotion (6,9) PUBLIC RELATIONS* Semi&lit

7   Posh model beset by love before (5) UNTIL {U}{N{T}IL}

8   Man tried altering chromosome in genetic make-up (8) HEREDITY {HE}{TRIED*}{Y}

9   Misbehaves in Thailand, abandoning discretion on drink (4,2) ACTS UP {tACT}{SUP}

16 Open relationship keeps lover essentially unhappy (9) PLAINTIVE {PLAIN}{TI{loVer}E}

17 Passes across hotel in woods (8) THICKETS {T{H}ICKETS}

19 Weirdo in film, confining female on island (6) MISFIT {MIS{F}{I}T}

20 Insane spread of Omicron (7) MORONIC*

21 Sinister criminal is isolated in enclosure (6) INSERT SINisTER*

23 Weep as old guy drops dead (5) EXUDE {EX}{dUDE}

Reference List

Ecstacy = E, Heroin = H, Universal = U, Royal = R, Following = F, Female = F, Woman = W, Sex appeal = IT, Mean = PAR, Associate = A, Bad temper = PET, Caught = C, Daughter = D, Italian = IT, Director = D, Posh = U, Model = T, Chromosome = Y, Thailand = T, Hotel = H, Female = F, Old = EX, Dead = D