No 13999, Thursday 19 Oct 2023, Dr. X

Solution to 2D 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.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Excited about a hotel on new German motorway (8) AUTOBAHN {ABOUT*}{A}{H}{N}

5   Confined to bed with tumour, wanting money to receive assistance (4,2) LAID UP {L{AID}UmP}

10 Obscure criminal ring largely smuggling ecstasy (7) CONCEAL {CON}{CA{E}Ll}

11 Quits business finally, stifled by rules (7) RESIGNS {RE{b...eS}IGNS}

12 Hunt and shoot (5) STALK [DD]

13 Newspaper article about journalists getting persecuted (9) OPPRESSED {OP{PRESS}ED}

14 Croons with verve, excited about current remake of song (5,7) COVER VERSION {CROONS+VERVE}* over {I}

18 Spirited exchange of views resulting from that endless nude shot in film (3,3,6) CUT AND THRUST {THAT+NUDe}* in {CRUST}

21 Confronting unionist perfectly to secure advantages (2,7) UP AGAINST {U}{PA{GAINS}T}

23 Tropical shrub leaving one delirious, insane (5) SENNA iNSANE*

24 Dandy clothes with hair ribbon (7) BANDEAU {B{AND}EAU}

25 One finding iodine and traces of deuterium isotope in strange chemical element (7) IRIDIUM {1}{R{I}{De...m}{Is...e}UM}

26 Ridicule communist backing immature concept (6) DERIDE {RED<=}{IDEa}

27 Consuming ecstasy, violent behaviour by excited teenagers for example (3,5) AGE GROUP {AG{E}GRO}{UP}

DOWN

1   Approach in treatment of cases having first sign of Covid-19 (6) ACCESS {AC{Co...9}ESS*}

2   Soldier's helmet is so cool to wear (3,3) T?N ?A? 

3   Analysis of potassium in food by individual (9) BREAKDOWN {BREA{K}D}{OWN}

4   On the loose with gun, rampaging around department! Remain silent (4,4,6) HOLD ONES TONGUE {ON+THE+LOOSE+GUN}* over {D}

6   Path of Ahimsa is legendary (5) AISLE [T]

7   Love taste of espresso, most strong after-dinner drink (8) DIGESTIF {DIG}{Es...o}{STIFf}

8   Writer having a miserable afternoon in American city (8) PASADENA {P{A}{SAD}EN}{A}

9   Stop what one is doing, like a butterfingered person might? (4,10) DROP EVERYTHING [C&DD]

15 Confronting tigress in compound (9) RESISTING*

16 Cleansed by special cold massage on couch (8) SCRUBBED{S}{C}{RUB}{BED}

17 Briefly back to install shower screen (8) STRAINER {ST{RAIN}ERn}

19 Doing poorly after onset of ischaemia, becoming blue (6) INDIGO {DOING}*<=>{Is...a}

20 Become animated in contest! Removing top, jump around (4,2) WARM UP {WAR}{jUMP}*

22 Leading man in a commercial (5) AHEAD {A}{HE}{AD}

Reference List

Hotel = H, New = N, Money = M, Ecstasy = E, Current = I, Unionist = U, Department = D, Special = S, Cold = C, Commercial = AD