No 13699, Tuesday 01 Nov 2022, Hypatia

Solution to 22D 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   Spooner's present behind back door of delivery truck (4,4) LIFT GATE (~gift late to lift gate)

5   Swimmer wears Speedo initially at sea (6) WRASSE {WEARS+Sp...o}*

10 Brainy Indian's first exotic rice dish (7) BIRYANI {BRAINY+In...n}*

11 Transport organ (7) VEHICLE [DD]

12 Essence of poppadum - a mild, distinct flavour (5) UMAMI [T]

13 Elon's tips (nothing outrageous) for becoming generous (9) ENNOBLING {EloN}{NO}{BLING}

14 Avoids modelling before easy targets (7,5) SITTING DUCKS {DUCKS}<=>{SITTING}

18 Dad's rant for excellence (4,8) HIGH STANDARD {DADS+RANT}* [RA]

21 Resistance from naughty child touching electronic ball (9) IMPEDANCE {IMP}{E}{DANCE}

23 Supply vehicle stopped by flat tyre at rear (5) CATER {CA{flaT}{tyrE}}R}

24 Boy and girl entertained by a new Disney movie (7) ALADDIN {A}{LAD}{DI}{N}

25 Small company near one old sign (7) SCORPIO {S}{CORP}{1}{O}

26 Taxes the French bonds (6) DUTIES {DU}{TIES} DU in French is 'from'?

27 State of equilibrium? Anyhow it's say, very boring (8) ISOSTASY {ITS+SAY}* over {SO}

DOWN

1   Work of Harry or Balu (6) LABOUR*

2   Section of roof or matching structure (6) FORMAT [T]

3   Group of seals delights (9) GRATIFIES {G}{RATIFIES}

4   Teaching kids to go inside? (6-8) TOILET-TRAINING [CD]

6   "About a Boy" includes Hugh's first therapy (5) REHAB {RE}{Hugh}{A}{B}

7   Short cuts lost without carbon copy at home (8) SUCCINCT {CUTS}* over {CC}{IN}

8   Introduction to English novel genres inspiring one to perk up (8) ENERGISE {En...h}{NERG{1}SE*}

9   Stressed out losing time after ironing gowns (7,7)  EVENING DRESSES {StRESSED}*<=>{EVENING}

15 Board members out of Patna procrastinated terribly (9) DIRECTORS  pROCRaStInaTED*

16 Country dog biting husband too (8) THAILAND {T{H}AIL}{AND}

17 Encourage putting time around plot for vegetable (8) EGGPLANT {EGG} with {T}<=>{PLAN}

19 Regularly picked up troops in an ideal location (6) UTOPIA {Up+TrOoPs+In+An}

20 Turn weak in drudgery, exhausted and sagging (6) DROOPY {POOR}<= in {Dr,,,rY}

22 Steer clear of displacement in cybercurrency, briefly (5) D?D?E (Addendum - DODGE {DO{D}GE} - See comments)

Reference List

Electronic = E, Girl = DI, New = N, Small = S, Old = O, Very = SO, Group = G, About = RE, Boy = B, Carbon copy = CC, at home = IN, Time = T, Husband = H, Time = T