No 14649, Wednesday 26 Nov 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 13A 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   Mean American in charge, ultimately vindictive (8) INDICATE {INDIC{A}T}{v...tE}

5   Short programme on detectives is cool (6) PLACID {PLAn}{CID}

10 Dog found in Japan perhaps (7) BASENJI {BASE}{IN+J}*

11 Treated mumps after posh lady in retreat makes single payment of money (4,3) LUMP SUM {MUMPS}*<=>{U}{L}<=

12 Pancake left in receptacle on island (5) BLINI {B{L}IN}{I}

13 Sucking up whiskey in fine retro bar with old group (9) K?W?O?I?G (Addendum - KOWTOWING - {OK<=}{W}{T}{O}{WING} - See comments)

14 & 21 Sudden attack of wild irrationality that's caused by standing upside down (1,4,2,5,2,3,4) A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD [C&DD]

18 Stupid, new president crushed by court action (6-6) WOODEN-HEADED {N}{HEAD} in {WOO}{DEED}

21 See 14 Across

23 Small anchor close to thick line (5) KEDGE {t..cK}{EDGE}

24 Disaster after husband starts to eat narcotic plant that's poisonous (7) HENBANE {BANE}<=>{H}{Eat}{Na...c}

25 Men start to analyse British politician's rhetoric (7) ORATORY {OR}{An...e}{TORY}

26 Exhausted and miserable, having lost pep (6) SAPPED {SA{PEP*}D}

27 A little error by princess on programme can be corrected (8) EDITABLE {Er...r}{DI}{TABLE}

DOWN

1   Drink in magnificent bar inside big emporium at launch (6) IMBIBE Acrostic

2   Desire to obtain mule and African mammal (6) DASSIE {D{ASS}IE}

3   Awfully egocentric model dismissed caretaker (9) CONCIERGE {EGOCENtRIC}*

4   Bumpkin in his estate, very boisterous and friendly (5,2,7) THICK AS THIEVES {HICK} in {HIS+ESTATE+V}* 

6   Member beginning to observe West Indian dance (5) LIMBO {LIMB}{Ob...e}

7   Very strong criminal holding a whip (4-4) CAST-IRON {C{A}{STIR}ON}

8   Dig some dirt at premiere about heroes (8) DEMIGODS {DIG+SOME+Dirt}*

9   Be unsure and bend to check letter at the top on both the taps (4,3,3,4) BLOW HOT AND COLD {B{Le...r}OW}{HOT AND COLD}

15 Busy baker quickly making morning meal (9) BREAKFAST {BAKER}*{FAST}

16 Jumps with eagerness after wife cuts cake in retreat (8) TWITCHES {ITCHES}<=>{SE{W}T<=}

17 Weaken, overwhelmed by drink frequently (6,2) SOFTEN UP {S{OFTEN}UP}

19 Drops at the edges inside a sphere accumulate on surface (6) ADSORB {A}{{DropS}{ORB}

20 Enter text again and your password at first to enter network (6) RETYPE {RET{Your}{Pa...d}E}

22 Pick up some apparel at emporium (5) ELATE [T]

Reference List

American = A, Japan = J, Posh = U, Lady = L, Left = L, Island = I, Whiskey = W, Bar = T, Old = O, New = N, Husband = H, Men = OR, Princess = DI, Model = T, Very = V, Wife = W