No 14600, Saturday 27 September 2025, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Blunder serving meat - a sin essentially in this? (13) VEGETARIANISM {SERVING MEAT A sIn}* SEMI &LIT
8 Groove with extremely smart character in retreat (5) STRIA {SmarT}{AIR<}
9 Unusual desire to consume very strong crack (9) DIFFERENT {DI{FF}E}{RENT}
11 Anagram indicator 'zany' at the end in wordbook (10) DICTIONARY {INDICATOR}*{zanY}

12 & 27 Prepare to work hard and expose superior members? (4,2,4,7) ROLL UP ONE'S SLEEVES [D&CD]
14 Device helping one to leave jet - core's damaged (7) EJECTOR*
16 Start to applaud musical group playing in desert (7) ABANDON {Applaud}{BAND}{ON}
17 Abandon reactionary party permanently (3,4) FOR GOOD {FORGO}{DO<}
19 Shows European nationalist involved in immoralities (7) EVINCES {E}{VI{N}CES}
21 Came to check about securing shelter for animals (4) COTE [T<]

22 Completely fantastic raga, new work to be performed with increasing slowness (10) ALLARGANDO {ALL}{RAGA*}{N}{DO}
25 Decided to secure brown bag finally for an additional fee (9) SURCHARGE {SUR{CHAR}{baG}E}
26 One welcoming a member of an Eastern Catholic church (5) UNIAT {UNI{A}T}
27 See 12 Across

DOWN
2 Painful complaint of English amateur beginning to hobble in contest (7) EARACHE {E}{A}{RAC{Hobble}E}
3 Gauntness of poor old inmate probed by spies (10) EMACIATION {O+INMATE}* over {CIA}
4 Accessory of American mafia boss stealing diamonds (3-2) ADD-ON {A}{D{D}ON}
5 Fire a unit arousing anger (9) INFURIATE*
6 New volume released for Christmas (4) NOEL {NOvEL}

7 Drug abused by those wanting a heavenly body (7) STEROID {aSTEROID}
8 Unintended consequences of silicon and iron reviewed in deficiencies (4,7) SIDE EFFECTS {SI}{DE{FE<}FECTS}
10 One searching for skilled people in Trinidad and Tobago to fence new consulate (6,5) TALENT SCOUT {T T} over {CONSULATE}*

13 Checking American stars overwhelmed by knocking back liquor and ecstasy (6,4) MAKING SURE {A}{KINGS} in {RUM<} then E
15 Warnings of great danger with Liberal arrested, beaten up (3,6) RED ALERTS {L ARRESTED}*
18 Right to arrest a revolting character in filthy place (7) RATTRAP {R{A}T}{PART<}
20 Lock up criminal? All right (7) CONFINE {CON}{FINE}
23 Screening very rare larvae of a region (5) AREAL {LARvAE}*
24 Feature in each investigation (4) CHIN [T]

REFERENCE LIST

Very Strong=FF, European=E, Nationalist=N, New=N, English=E, Amateur=A, Old=O, Spies=CIA, American=A, Diamonds=D, Volume=V, Silicone=Si, IRON=Fe, Trinidad and Tobago=TT, Ecstasy=E, Liberal=L, Right=RT, Very=V.