No 14466, Wednesday 23 Apr 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 19A 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   Day touring exotic Spain is so cool (13) DISPASSIONATE {D{SPAIN+IS+SO}*ATE}

8   Expression used figuratively by tense guy (5) TROPE {T}{ROPE}

9   Irresponsible rogue insulting new tenor (9) IMPRUDENT {IMP}{RUDE}{N}{T}

11 The best part of less hair - no knots! (5,5) LIONS SHARE*

12 Lovely new diamonds (4) NICE {N}{ICE}

14 Devious minister expressing surprise at inauguration is acting (7) INTERIM MINIsTER*

16 One retaliating with fury to tackle extremes of vice (7) AVENGER {A{VicE}NGER}

17 Adult club entertaining women on vacation (5-2) GROWN-UP {GRO{WomeN}UP}

19 Interject as wasted hosts argue (5,2) T?R?W ?N ()

21 Possum energetically turns to catch birds (4) EMUS [T<=]

22 Buffet in canteen beside lake for 100th anniversary (10) CENTENNIAL {IN+CANTEEN}*{L}

25 Hurt by curtailment of rapprochement across border (9) DETRIMENT {DET{RIM}ENTe}

26 Leers as lady goes wild (5) OGLES {L+GOES}*

27 Theft a lot know about is subject of considerable gossip (4,2,3,4) TALK OF THE TOWN*

DOWN

2/10   What person pressing clothes will do to resolve all minor difficulties (4,3,3,8) IRON OUT THE WRINKLES [DD]

3   Giving sexual satisfaction to naughty ladies on vacation in Prague (10) PLEASURING {La..eS+IN+PRAGUE}*

4   Son craving to become smart (5) SWISH {S}{WISH}

5   Single guy drinking wine with model is distinguished (9) IMPORTANT {1}{M}{PORT}{AN}{T} (Correction - {1}{M{PORT}AN}{T} - See comments)

6   Good sense of rising star winning Oscar (4) NOUS {SU{O}N<=}

7   Join stylish girl touring large Chinese city (7) TIELING {TIE}{IN}{G} Over {L}

8   Nut on television halted a broadcast about ruler (7,4) TALKING HEAD {HALTED+A}* over {KING}

10 See 2

13 Supporting fight to crush each cartel (7,3) BEARING OUT {B{EA}{RING}OUT}

15 Shimmering pale flame is national symbol of Canada (5,4) MAPLE LEAF*

18 Cactus flourishing in a pot outside university (7) OPUNTIA {IN+A+POT}* over {U}

20 Woman upset and miserable getting painful infection of finger (7) WHITLOW {W}{HIT}{LOW}

23 Jerk abandoning wife and little one (5) TITCH TwITCH

24 Founder abducted by rebels in Kenya (4) SINK [T]

Reference List

Tense = T, Guy = ROPE, New = N, Tenor = T, Lake = L, Lady = L, Son = S, Guy = MAN, Model = T, Stylish = IN, Girl = G, Large = L, Each = EA, University = U, Woman = W, Wife = W