No 13847, Monday 24 Apr 2023, Dr. X

Solution to 11A 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   Court battle covered by extremely dedicated investigative journalist (8) WOODWARD {WOO}{De..[WAR}..eD}

5   One crawling in small jetty over delta (6) SPIDER {S}{PI{D}ER}

10 Country liquor knocked back by English character in retreat (7) NIGERIA {GIN<=}{E}{AIR<=}

11 Paper about act backing end of early norm of marrying outside a community (7) E?O?A?Y (Addendum - EXOGAMY {EX{GO<=}AM}{e..lY} - See comments))

12 Midday meal in bundle left for boy (5) LUNCH (-b+l)LUNCH

13 Fine novel with story that's indescribable (9) INEFFABLE {FINE*}{FABLE}

14 Catch rebellious lag going berserk, rioting and looting (12) BURGLARISING {RUB<=}{LAG*}{RISING}

18 Penniless and old with nobody getting evening meals (2,4,6) ON ONES UPPERS {O}{NONE}{SUPPERS}

21 Employed a terrific craftsman (9) ARTIFICER*

23 Chief wants money plant (5) ASTER mASTER

24 Adjusts fan in store (7) ORIENTS*

25 Opening erotic novel? Wasting time without doubt (7) ORIFICE {EROtIC}* over {IF}

26 Time to invite retired old director in room for discussion (6) EXEDRA {E{{EX<=}{D}RA}

27 Recovers in secrecy perhaps to conceal bit of liposuction (8) RECYCLES {RECYC{Li...n}ES*}

DOWN

1   Manipulate and sway woman for date (6) WANGLE (-d+w)WANGLE

2   Men reviewed problem in devices (6) ORGANS {OR}{SNAG<=}

3   Fight with man about ordinary service in store (9) WAREHOUSE {WAR}{HE<=}{O}USE}

4   Remarkable hit, like show with lions might be? (7,7) ROARING SUCCESS [C&DD]

6   Univ. teacher drinking alcohol heartily is tight (5) PROOF {PRO{alcOhol}F}

7   Liqueur from island in Bermuda perhaps (8) DRAMBUIE {DRAMBU{I}E*}

8   Streak on stretch outside one hotel in Essex town (8) RAYLEIGH {RAY}{LE{1}G}{H}

9   Blue pen, regular present that's broadly useful (7-7) GENERAL-PURPOSE {PEN+REGULAR}*{POSE}

15 New airline, extremely trendy actually (2,7) IN REALITY {AIRLINE}*{Tr..dY}

16 Advance to pick up associate turning drunk and insensible (8) COMATOSE {COM{A}{SOT<=}E}

17 Plot change in vector (8) CONTRIVE*

19 Beginning to argue with wife interrupting work freely (2,4) AT WILL {Ar..e}{T{W}ILL}

20 Dresses up prince with rising disdain (6) PREENS {P}{SNEER<=}

22 Showoff in erotic clothes, more sheer (5) FINER [T]

Reference List

Court = WOO, Small = S, Delta = D, English = E, Left = L, Boy = B, Old = O, Money = M, Time = T, Old = EX, Director = D, Woman = W, Date = D, Men = OR, Ordinary = O, Island = I, Stretch = LEG, Hotel = H, Associate = A, Drunk = SOT, Wife = W, Prince = P