No 14446, Monday 31 Mar 2025, Dr. X

EID MUBARAK

Artwork by Prasanna

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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Muddled novelist urged to become eloquent (6-7) SILVER-TONGUED*

8   Grandma's pickle contains savoury jelly (5) ASPIC [T]

9   Nationalistic film about a tense rebellion (9) PATRIOTIC {P{A}{T}{RIOT}IC}

11 Versatile cricketer's ordeal - run out after crossing fifty (3-7) ALL-ROUNDER {ORDEAL+RUN}* over {L}

12 European drunkard consuming cocaine (4) SCOT {S{C}OT}

14 Group beginning to sell pastries outside English college (7) SPECIES {Sell}{P{E}{C}IES}

16 European maiden and prince misbehave around old ruler (7) EMPEROR {E}{M}{P}{ER{O}R}

17 Hairy Republican in fancy hotel suite (7) HIRSUTE {R} in {H+SUITE}*

19 Good detective endlessly following Mafia boss in Chinese county (7) DONGTAI {G}{TAIl}<=>{DON}

21 Ghetto in endless decline (4) SLUM SLUMp 

22 & 5 What competent carpenter will do to state the truth exactly (3,3,4,2,3,4) HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD [DD]

25 A place of vice and immorality in extremely obscure compound (9) ADENOSINE {A}{DEN}{Obs{SIN}curE}

26 Desire portrait featuring rebellious cowboy (5) ROPER [T<=]

27 Extra lithe guys attempt to conquer peak of Annapurna (13) SUPPLEMENTARY {SUPPLE}{MEN}{T{An...a}RY}

DOWN

2   Urge brat to exercise! Gaining pounds (7) I?P?L?E (Addendum - IMPULSE {IMP}{{U{L}SE} - See comments)

3   Successful opening of concert with virtuoso performing over island (10) VICTORIOUS {Co...t+VIRTUOSO}* over {I}

4   Revolutionary Irish writer becoming mellow (5) RIPEN {IR}<= {PEN}

5   See 22 Across

6   Gun-wielding leader of insurgents in carriage (4) GAIT {GA{In...t}T}

7   Charmer in lodge entertaining chicks heartily (7) ENTICER {ENT{chICks}ER}

8   Loss of sensation in a peasant, he is strangely losing power (11) ANAESTHESIA {A+pEASANT+HE+IS}*

10 Provide support and grub (11) CATERPILLAR {CATER}{PILLAR}

13 Creep cavorting with steno? Private matter that's known to many (4,6) OPEN SECRET {CREEP+STENO}*

15 Doctor is tireless, working to save patient at centre (9) STERILISE {TIRELESS}* over }{patIent}

18 Character stealing posh, gold pile of coins (7) ROULEAU {RO{U}LE}{AU}

20 Hiker runs, bitten by monkey (7) TRAMPER {T{R}AMPER}

23 Tree collapsed outside hotel at that place (5) THERE {T{H}ERE*}

24 Move back to South African village (4) DORP<=

Reference List

Tense = T, Fifty = L, Cocaine = C, English = E, College = C, European = E, Maiden =[ M, Prince = P, Old = O, Hotel = H, Good = G, Pounds = L, Island = I, Power = P, Posh = U, Runs = R, Irish = Ir