No 14601, Monday 29 Sep 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 23A 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   Turn round and bash terribly pompous officials (4-4) POOH-BAHS {HOOP<=}{BASH*}

5   Start to see reel about Catholic parchment (6) SCROLL {See}{ROLL} over {C}

10 Like a salad and meat after eating good oriental starter of tofu (7) VEGETAL {VE{G}{E}{Tofu}AL}

11 Mistake in printed matter by English cad overwhelmed by drink (7) ERRATUM {E}{R{RAT}UM}

12 Enjoyable to host essentially sweet relative (5) NIECE {NI{swEet}CE}

13 Discharge an inmate, cured after receiving oxygen (9) EMANATION {AN+INMATE}* over {O}

14 Where rejected songs are not to be made public (3,3,6) OFF THE RECORD [DD]

18 Really fanatic, a cult went berserk (2,6,4) IN ACTUAL FACT*

21 Model cheats around, inviting ultimately hot male for a five-day affair (4,5) TEST MATCH {T}{ES{hoT}{M}ATCH*}

23 Eccentric person going topless, say (5) U?T?R () 

24 Rushed to enter, dressed to a T in Italian city (7) TARANTO {RAN} in {TO+A+T}*

25 Desires to screen tape about divine beings (7) DEITIES {D{TIE<=}IES}

26 Sailor embarrassed about delay (6) RETARD {RE{TAR}D}

27 Worries as associate advances to check rebellious misdemeanour (8) AGONISES {A}{GO{SIN<=}ES}

DOWN

1   Dance floor accommodates about ninety at launch (6) PAVANE {PAV{Ab..t}{Ni...y}E}

2   Carelessly ignores, disregards nationalist parties (6) ORGIES IGnORES*

3   Dairy product's perfect with bit of fondue in club (9) BUTTERFAT {B{UTTER}{Fo...e}AT}

4   Smug head of Hachette irritated author in hotel (6-4-4) HOLIER-THAN-THOU {Ha...e}{AUTHOR+IN+HOTEL}*

6   Caught rebellious character outside posh papal court (5) CURIA {C}{AIR<=} over {U}

7   Men deceive to steal most fine TV camera tube (8) ORTHICON {OR}{CON} over {THIn}

8   Foolishly made one large drink (8) LEMONADE {MADE+ONE+L}*

9   Warning sign bothered a few frightfully on return journey (6,2,3,3) BEWARE OF THE DOG {BOTHERED+A+FEW}*{GO<=}

15 Old criminal ensnaring most opulent leader of industry in bar (9) EXCLUSION {EX}{CON} over {LUSh}{In...y}

16 Tyrant's atrocious act finally incited riot (8) DICTATOR {ACT+i...eD+RIOT}*

17 Language of extraordinary saints captivating king and queen (8) SANSKRIT {SANS{K}{R}IT*}

19 Groups in retreat holding stylish beer mugs (6) STEINS {SETS<=} over {IN}

20 Checks hazards after onset of fire (6) FRISKS {RISKS}<=>{Fire}

22 Inferior ham in ordinary sandwiches (5) MINOR [T]

Reference List

Catholic = C, Good = G, Oriental = E, English = E, Model = T, Male = M, Associate = A, Nationalist = N, Caught = C, Posh = U, Men = OR, Large = L, Old = EX, King = K, Queen = R(Regina)