No 14076, Saturday 20 Jan 2024, Dr. X

ACROSS

1   Littering in street by extremely rude group (8) STREWING {ST}{RudE}{WING}

5   Second best comedian (6) SCREAM {S}{CREAM}

10 Nobleman in pub with single model (7) BARONET {BAR}{ONE}{T}

11 Usual values of fancy manors around lake (7) NORMALS {NORMA{L}S*}

12 Respite from extremely large levy on retirement (3-2) LET-UP {LargE}{PUT<=}

13 Left overwhelmed by noontime, sozzled and immobile (9) NONMOTILE {NONMOTI{L}E*}

14 Vehicle transported escort to room (5,7) MOTOR SCOOTER*

18 Dumbstruck by leaders admitting worst of blunders (4,3,5) LOST FOR WORDS {LO{WORST+OF}*RDS}

21 Propose with true love, perhaps, to captivate maiden at last (9) VOLUNTEER {TRUE+LOVE}* over {m...eN}

23 Tidy hotel in Welsh town (5) NEATH {NEAT}{H}

24 An ultra going berserk as usual (7) NATURAL*

25 Turned around to welcome European having a permanent academic post (7) TENURED {T{E}NURED*}

26 Republicans weren't accepting result (6) ANSWER [T]

27 Swerve around, taking extreme turns in sport of motorcycle racing (8) SPEEDWAY {S{DEEP<=}WAY}

DOWN

1   Refined bachelor overwhelmed by uncontrolled lust on ecstasy (6) SUBTLE {SU{B}TL*}{E}

2   Unusualness of Republican president abandoning agreement (6) RARITY {R}{pARITY}

3   Secure hoodies essentially for old fellow, giving protection from breeze (9) WINDPROOF {WIN}{hooDies}{PRO}{O}{F}

4   Rely on loony nut at sea? No way! (3,2,4,5) NOT ON YOUR NELLY*

6   Dog finds one round trinket (5) CURIO {CUR}{1}{O}

7   Spies confined by eastern comrade become extremely thin (8) EMACIATE {E}{MA{CIA}TE}

8   Problem about kinetic energy to test technique of using small arms (8) MUSKETRY {SUM<=}{KE}{TRY}

9   Where newspaper might be found close to home (2,4,8) ON ONES DOORSTEP [DD]

15 Men jump to conduct popular ceremony (9) ORDINANCE {OR}{D{IN}ANCE}

16 Adore trendy retreat in South American country (8) SLOVENIA {S{LOVE}{IN<=}A}

17 Separates as one criticises without love (8) ISOLATES {1}{S{O}LATES}

19 Hit back and fight, showing spirit (6) MARROW {RAM<=}{ROW}

20 Careless fling after drinking rum (6) SHODDY {SH{ODD}Y}

22 Daring new passion - going topless (5) NERVE {N}{vERVE}

Reference List

Street = ST, Second = s, Model = T, Lake = L, Left = L, Hotel = H, European = E, Bachelor = B, Ecstasy = E, Republican = R, President = P, Old = O, Fellow = F, Eastern = E, Men = OR, Popular = IN, New = N