No 14568, Wednesday 20 Aug 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 21A 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 & 23 What Imelda Marcos was constantly looking to buy is quite a different matter (7,4,2,5) ANOTHER PAIR OF SHOES [C&DD]

8   Tart, one containing large mushroom caps (5) PILEI {PI{L}E}{1}

9   Does away with leader of rebels involved in abominable sabotage (9) ABROGATES {AB{Re...s}OGATES*}

11 Withdrawal of statement by tense Republican, overwhelmed by backlash (10) RETRACTION {RE{T}{R}ACTION}

12 Friend eating starter of egg roll (4) PEAL {P{Egg}AL}

14 Entice models, getting hold of ultimately sleek fashion accessory (7) NECKTIE {NEC{s..eK}TIE*}

16 Sort this mess, discard old tops (1-6) T-SHIRTS {THIS*}{RoTS} (Correction {SoRT+THIS}* )

17 Performed with rebellious jerk enthralled by grass (7) RECITED {RE{TIC<=}ED}

19 Toothed dog at entrance leapt at teen (7) DENTATE {Dog}{AT+TEEN}*

21 Crook in hotel. excited after stealing money (4) H?M? 

22 Punishes son accepting dare in high spirits (10) FRISKINESS {FINES}{S} over {RISK}

25 Thai cop is beating nut (9) PISTACHIO*

26 British-American poet in a posh retreat (5) AUDEN {A}{U}{DEN}

27 Face financial ruin as extraordinary horse is stolen (4,4,5) LOSE ONES SHIRT*

DOWN

2   Nothing relating to ear or relating to tongue of African people (7) NILOTIC {NIL}{OTIC}

3   Tired after hosting function, one involving three groups (10) TRIPARTITE {TRI{PART}{1}TE}

4   Old American model outside club is perfect (5) EXACT {EX}{A}{T} over {C}

5   Alleged duper operated around harbour (9) PURPORTED {PUR{PORT}ED*}

6   His essentially deceitful move crushes Desdemona finally (4) IAGO {hIs}{GO} over {d...nA} &lit (Correction - {d..eIt..l}{GO} over {d...nA} Semi&lit}

7   Last longer than foremost of athletes in precarious western route (7) OUTWEAR {At...s} in {W+ROUTE}*

8   Ultimately, liaison with a hot stripper wrecked marriage (11) PARTNERSHIP {l...oN+A+H+STRIPPER}*

10 A large espresso around noon for shop assistant (11) SALESPERSON {A+L+ESPRESSO}*{N}

13 Give something to smoke outside hotel in Indian city (10) CHANDIGARH {C{HAND}IGAR}{H}

15 Slyly drop in when wife's away - it will provide a rush (9) ENDORPHIN {DROP+IN+wHEN}*

18 Regains consciousness in cot, smashed after drinking some rum (5,2) COMES TO {COT}* over {SOME*}

20 Editor beginning to annoy fellows backing socialist (7) AMENDER {An..y}{MEN}{RED<=}

23 See 1 Across

24 Kiss-cam at event catches couple (4) MATE [T]

Reference List

Large = L, Tense = T, Republican = R, Old = O, Son = S, Posh = U, American = A, Model = T, Club = C, Western = W, Hot = H, Noon = N, Hotel = H, Wife = W