No 14491, Thursday 22 May 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 25A 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   Masseur wants a little extra charge, being licensed (6-7) RUBBER-STAMPED {RUBBER}{STAMPEDe}

8   Lad cuddling a lady in parlour (5) SALON {S{A}{L}ON}

9   Anxiety about lap dancing in unsupported type of bra (9) STRAPLESS{STR{LAP*}ESS}

11 Why dopehead is anxious, in a state of disorder (3,2,5) OUT OF JOINT [DD]

12 Picked up white bucket (4) PAIL (~pale)

14 Chalet built over island is decent (7) ETHICAL {ETH{I}CAL*}

16 Defeat president in charge (7) OUTPLAY {OUT{P}LAY}

17 Training to use gun? No good being shaky (7) TENUOUS {TO+USE+gUN}*

19 Mite that is causing disease of sheep (7) SCRAPIE {SCRAP}{IE}

21 Scoundrel on ecstasy and speed (4) RATE {RAT}{E}

22 Cunning siren acts artfully to ensnare fellow (10) CRAFTINESS {SIREN+ACTS}* over {F}

25 One providing guarantee is notorious, breaks promise endlessly (9) W?R?A?T?R 

26 Model grabbed by thug survived (3,2) GOT ON {GO{T}ON}

27 American damsel is drinking endlessly around afternoon (13) MISSISSIPPIAN {MISS}{IS}{SIPPI{A}Ng}

DOWN

2   Open bar in fancy launch (7) UNLATCH {UNLA{T}CH*} 

3   Promoter's complaint about new performer (10) BENEFACTOR {BE{N}EF}{ACTOR}

4   Former US soldier saves American actress (5) RUSSO [T]

5   Absolute turn-on as hubby finally goes wild (9) TYRANNOUS {TURN+ON+AS+h..bY}*

6   Despair and shock with onset of epidemic (4) MOPE {MOP}{Ep...c}

7   Scrutinise youth's face bitten by insect in retreat completely (7) EYEBALL {BE{Yo..h}E<=}{ALL}

8   Short distance from other small towns perhaps (6,5) STONES THROW {OTHER+S+TOWNS}*

10 Period of frivolous news lacking weight? I'll say so! (5,6) SILLY SEASON {NEwS+ILL+SAY+SO}*

13 Group enthralled by US trip, extraordinarily exciting (8,2) STIRRING UP {RING} in {US+TRIP}*

15 Young woman bored by dull religious ceremony (4,5) LAST RITES {LAS{TRITE}S}

18 One captivated by tenor performing on island in Brazilian city (7) NITEROI {N{1}TERO*}{I}

20 Blue parcel contains guitarist's latest tools for plucking strings (7) PLECTRA {PLEC{g...sT}RA*}

23 Offer millions to engage Italian physicist (5) FERMI [T]

24 Holy Communion in Christmas season (4) MASS [T]

Reference List

Lady = L, Island = I, President = P, Good = G, Ecstasy = E, Fellow = F, Model = T, Afternoon = A, Bar = T, New = N, Shock (of hair) = MOP, Small = S, Weight = W