No 14626, Thursday 30 Oct 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 19D 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   Police officer arrests primarily unscrupulous locksmith? (8) COIFFEUR {OFFICER}* over {Un...s}

5   Old type of firework essentially ignited in fine end to jazz concert (6) FIZGIG {F}{ignIted}{jazZ}{GIG}

10 Slapped Greek character pinching geisha's butt in Japanese city (7) HITACHI {HIT}{CHI} over {g...hA}

11 Support partner in a lawful manner (7) LEGALLY {LEG}{ALLY}

12 Bag filled with money behind a little unusual shrub (5) SUMAC {SAC} over {M}<=>{Un...l}

13 Silly piglet ate sheet at front of book (5,4) TITLE PAGE*

14 Sexual intercourse is a thrill with honey going wild (4,2,3,3) ROLL IN THE HAY {A+THRILL+HONEY}*

18 What might interest a gemcutter in worthy person lacking manners (5,7) ROUGH DIAMOND [DD]

21 Rum in cola after consuming dope - that's delightful (9) CONGENIAL {IN+COLA}* over {GEN}

23 Rubbish outside university on East avenue (5) ROUTE {RO{U}T}{E}

24 Be victorious in border, going west to capture rebellious state (7) PREVAIL {LIP<=} over {AVER<=}

25 Starts to eat economically in seedy diner, becoming more impoverished (7) NEEDIER {N{Eat}{Ec...y}DIER*}

26 One examining source of teratogenic chemical compound (6) TESTER {Te...c}{ESTER}

27 Reviewed report about terrible heat in prison block (5,3) DEATH ROW {WORD<=} over {HEAT}*

DOWN

1   Salmon and special starter of tuna for one sharing emcee duties (2-4) CO-HOST {COHO}{S}{Tuna}

2   Leaking extremely abhorrent secret eventually (2,4) IN TIME INTIMatE

3   One found in bathroom with fine dope in excellent hotel (9) FACECLOTH {F}{CLOT} in {ACE}{H}

4   One in bulletin lying nervously in an incomprehensible manner (14) UNINTELLIGIBLY {1} in {BULLETIN+LYING}*

6   Fire spreading! Leave houses (5) INGLE [T]

7   Giants in trouble retreated, crushed by barbarians (8) GOLIATHS {GO{AIL<=}THS}

8   Clergy reformed extremely youthful radical (8) GLYCERYL {CLERGY*}{Yo...uL}

9   Old men in pub at ground catching glimpse of lovely, fair-haired lady (8,6) PLATINUM BLONDE {OLD+MEN+IN+PUB+AT}* over {Lo...y}

15 Most ravenous tigers vigorously chasing barbarian (9) HUNGRIEST {TIGERS}*<=>{HUN}

16 Couple of drugs for weirdo (8) CRACKPOT {CRACK}{POT}

17 Entering fancy bar, getting a drink (8) GUINNESS {GU{INN}ESS}

19 Invalid in Peru becoming more feeble (6) ?U?I?R (Addendum - PUNIER* - See comments)

20 Tongue in hot English stew (6) HEBREW {H}{E}{BREW}

22 Maternal relative in US assembly after son's deported (5) ENATE sENATE

Reference List

Fine = F, Concert = GIG, Money = M, Dope = GEN, University = U, East = E, Special = S, Hotel = H, Hot = H, English = E, Son = S