No 14186, Tuesday 28 May 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 1A 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   Soft drink with essence of fruit flavour for masses (8) P?P?L?C? (Addendum - POPULACE {POP}{U}{LACE} - See comments)   

5   Check boy having intestinal colic at first, giving digestive remedy shortly (6) BICARB {B{In...l}{C...c}AR}{B}  

10 High on rum, cuddling single female in flat (7) UNIFORM {ON+RUM}* over {1}{F} 

11 Elderly person is retd, so worried about bills essentially (7) OLDSTER {RETD+SO}* over {biLls}  

12 Rushes with courage to save son (5) GUSTS {GU{S}TS}  

13 Doctor loves nurse? Not new for us, personally (9) OURSELVES {LOVES+nURSE}*  

14 Essentially managing company in a muddled manner (12) INCOHERENTLY {IN{CO}HERENTLY}  

18 Article about old bumpy secluded road (12) THOROUGHFARE {TH{O}{ROUGH}{FAR}E} 

21 Strange case of colic in enteric disorder (9) ECCENTRIC {ColiC} in {ENTERIC}* 

23 Metal girder in hotel yard discarded, may be defective (1-4) H-BEAM {H}{MAy+BE}* 

24 Canadian cop leapt on time to catch thugs at centre (7) MOUNTIE {ON+TIME}* over {thUgs} 

25 Nailed criminal smuggling cocaine to European country (7) ICELAND {I{C}ELAND*} 

26 Apply over back of knee joint (6) REEFER {RE{kneE}FER} 

27 Feel at home, getting century in session (8) INSTINCT {IN}{STIN{C}T} 

DOWN

1   Hype about new electronic drive (6) PLUNGE {PLU{N}G}{E} 

2   Receiving religious instruction, troublesome person becomes man of God (6) PRIEST {P{RI}EST} 

3   Checks toilet close to studio having bad stink (5,4) LOOKS INTO {LOO}{STINK*}{s...iO} 

4   Anxious groom romanced nervously at first? That's usual (6,2,6) COMMON OR GARDEN {GROOM+ROMANCED+Ne...y}*

6   Saving a little cash, motivate to invest (5) INDUE INDUcE  

7   Move air-conditioned container secured by chain (8) ACTIVATE {AC}{TI{VAT}E} 

8   Panoramic train rides through pass (5-3) BIRDS EYE {B{RIDES*}YE}

9   Plan educational programme for stuntmen? (6,2,6) COURSE OF ACTION [DD] 

15 Most raunchy actress at premiere in tight tee shirt (9) EARTHIEST {Ac...s} in {TEE+SHIRT}* 

16 Flag in ship over river (8)  STREAMER {ST{R}EAMER} 

17 Infer fraud with evidence implicating director (8) CONCLUDE {CON}{CLU{D}E} 

19 Arrest Greek character involved in row (6) DETAIN {D{ETA}IN} 

20 In the middle of a haze after consuming a little dope (6) AMIDST {A}{M{Dope}IST} 

22 Reviewed sample of inert inorganic compound (5) NITRE [T<=] 

Reference List

Boy = B, Female = f, Son = S, New = N, Company = CO, Old = O, Hotel = H, Yard = Y, Cocaine = C, Hype = PLUG, Electronic = E, Religious instruction = RI, Toilet = LOO, Pass = BYE, River = R, Director = D