No 14258, Tuesday 20 Aug 2024, Dr. X

Solution to 22D 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   Excellent not to urinate as much after drinking beer finally (8) PEERLESS {PEE LESS} over {beeR}

5   Having emptied cask, drunkards returned for supplies (6) STOCKS {CasK} in {SOTS<=}

10 Bit of rash in spot giving itch (7) PRICKLE {P{Rash}ICKLE}

11 Wants a fancy manicure of the digits (7) NUMERIC MaNICURE*

12 Really craving to obtain brand of spandex (5) LYCRA [T]

13 Want to cuddle - remove your clothes and suit (9) PINSTRIPE {PIN{STRIP}E}

14 Try drinking a peg of rum as variation in routine (6,2,4) CHANGE OF PACE {CHAN{A+PEG+OF}*CE}

18 Try a futile remedy initially to treat medical condition (5,7) HEART FAILURE {HEAR}{A+FUTILE+Re...y}*

21 Aim to entertain one boy with good liturgical chant (9) PLAINSONG {PLA{1}N}{SON}{G}

23 Pawn captured by a genius quickly (5) APACE {A}{P}{ACE}

24 Slight loss of fat finally with popular hormone (7) INSULIN {INSULt}{IN}

25 Rescue from trouble in time (4,3) BAIL OUT {B{AIL}OUT}

26 Starting to get drizzly and unclear (6) GRAINY {Get}{RAINY}

27 Blue-eyed boy receives hundred on viva relating to the chest (8) PECTORAL {PE{C}T}{ORAL}

DOWN

1   Pimple is whitish, having endless discharge (6) PAPULE {PA{PUs}LE}

2   Show in Venice, fantastic (6) EVINCE*

3   Doctor hikes a lot eagerly (4,1,4) LIKE A SHOT*

4   Swirl outside shelter, tripping on a drug, engaging in sex promiscuously (8,6) SLEEPING AROUND  {S{LEE}PIN}{ON+A+DRUG}*

6   Entice maiden in favourite retro bar (5) TEMPT {P{M}ET<=}{T}

7   Cold day in Agra - perhaps wear this? (8) CARDIGAN {C+D+IN+AGRA}* Semi&lit

8   Warns about keeping ecstasy and cocaine concealed (8) SECRETED {DETERS<=} over {E}{C}

9   Enigmatic nationalist in assembly, suitable to win polls essentially (14) UNINTELLIGIBLE {UNI{N}T}{EL{poLls}IGIBLE}

15 Purist's advice to shopper (9) FORMALIST {FORM A LIST}

16 Huge group hosting dance party at launch (8) WHOPPING {W{HOP}{Pa..y}ING}

17 Country's revolutionary plan to install atomic plants (8) MALAYSIA {AIM<=} over {A}{LAYS}

19 Spirit with nutty flavour, not strong (6) VALOUR fLAVOUR*

20 Merry fellow, not very chaste (6) FESTAL  {F}{vESTAL}

22 New lecturer wearing that synthetic fabric (5) N?L?N (Addendum - NYLON {N}{Y{L}ON} - See comments)

Reference List

Good = G, Pawn = P, Hundred = C, Shelter = LEE< Maiden = M, Bar = T, Cold = C, Day = D, Ecstacy = E, Cocaine = C, Nationalist = N, Atomic = A, Strong = F, Fellow = F, Very = V, New = N, Lecturer = L