No 13848, Tuesday 25 Apr 2023, Dr. X

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   Completely in love, he and she dare to rebel (4,4,5) HEAD OVER HEELS {LOVE+HE+SHE+DARE}*

8   College girl in tutorial (5) CLASS {C}{LASS}

9   Batsman finally given run out - it's disheartening (9) UNNERVING {b...aN+GIVEN+RUN}*

11 Alert as yorker might land here? (2,4,4) ON ONES TOES [DD]

12 Check trunk (4) STEM [DD}

14 Urea is manufactured on a large landmass (7) EURASIA {UREA+IS}*{A}

16 Outrage over extremely risqué outfit (7) APPAREL {APPA{Ri..uE}L}

17 Shabby articles having plain upholstery fabric (7) TABARET {TA{BARE}T}

19 See director and siren cavorting outside club (7) DISCERN {D}{IS{C}ERN*}

21 Making a comeback, star gaily entertains Indian city (4) AGRA [T<=]

22 Criminal found outside bar, caught (10) ?O?T?A?T?D (Addendum - CONTRACTED - {CON}{TRAC{T}ED} - See comments)

25 Managing director returns to tour spacious and secluded place producing milk (5,4) DAIRY FARM {MD}<= over {AIRY}{FAR}

26 Start to inspect number on container of ancient Peruvian people (5) INCAN {In...t}{N}{CAN}

27 Enthralled by drink? Yeah! Let's go berserk, to put it mildly (2,3,3,5) TO SAY THE LEAST {YEAH+LETS}* in {TOAST}

DOWN

2   Be sorry about stealing retired old chap's charm (7) ENAMOUR {RUE<=} over {O}{MAN}<=

3   Place providing drugs from small stalls found in journal (10) DISPENSARY {DI{S}{PENS}ARY}

4   Brag in front of vain relative (5) VAUNT {Vain}{AUNT}

5   Rushed closer to big antelope in grazing territory (9) RANGELAND {RAN}{biG}{ELAND}

6   Most ancient nobleman (4) EARL EARLy 

7   At sea, sit with reel and spear for catching fish (7) LEISTER {SIT+REEL}*

8   Chat mischievously to enthral miss, then get near (5,2,4) CLOSE AT HAND {C{LOSE}ATH*}{AND}

10 Information about a maiden with flashy jewellery and diamonds in casino (8,3) GAMBLING DEN {GEN} over {A}{M}{BLING}{D}

13 Abandon principles in a job and start to swindle, breaking a commitment (10) APOSTATISE {A}{POST}{A}{TI{Sw...e}E}

15 One travelling to Saturn? (9) ASTRONAUT {A}{TO+SATURN}* &lit 

18 Mexican dish in spread, served up with starter of taco in Brazilian city (7) BURRITO {RUB<=}{RI{Taco}O}

20 Seduces in secret, slyly runs away (7) ENTICES {IN+SECrET}*

23 Republican lost composure in American city (5) TEMPE TEMPEr

24 Dreamy naturalist provides shelter to bird (4) MYNA [T]

Reference List

College = C, Shabby articles = TAT, Director = D, Club = C, Criminal = CON, Bar = T, Number = N, Drink = TOAST, Old = O, Small = S, Information = GEN, Maiden = M, Diamonds = D, One = A, Runs = R, Republican = R