No 14661, Wednesday 10 Dec 2025, Vidwan

Solution to 18D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM

ACROSS

1   Retired Arsenal striker heading out to church for nothing! (5) ZILCH {oZIL}{CH}

4   Oye Brutus! Cunning like some influencers on social media! (9) YOU TUBERS*

9   Brothel keeper covering California road in olden days (7) MACADAM {MA{CA}DAM}

10 Edible bun, possibly unbeatable! (7) EATABLE {EATABLE+BUN}=UNBEATABLE [CA]

11 Did we rant about an easterly gale? (5,4) TRADE WIND*

12 Swamp's cold, not hot after beginning of May (5) MARSH {hARSH}<=>{May}

13 Much more than full, paramour loses head, almost in nameless state! (14) OVERPOPULATION {lOVER}{POPULar}{nATION} 

17 Cunning bold liar! Royal Scot linked to crafts and administrations of works! (14) LIBRARIANSHIPS {B+LIAR}*{R}{IAN}{SHIPS}

21 Path one gets into because life's hollowed (5) AISLE {A{1}S}{LifE}

22 Boisterous duet - "Hopes for Alabama" (4,5) DEEP SOUTH*

24 Cut fruit! Cut into small cubes! Cut in harmony! (7) MELODIC {MELOn}{DICe}

25 An Italian river flowing into a sea between Greece and Anatolia, cutting Europe at the highest point (7) APOGEAN {A}{PO}{G}{E}{AN} (Correction - {Ae{PO}GEAN} - See comments)

26 Bretton Woods institution regularly led by suppression in industry! (5,4) WORLD BANK {WOR{LeD}{BAN}K}

27 South African returning a very hot kiss (5) XHOSA {A}{SO}{H}{X}<=

DOWN

1   Zee TV's some broadcast about local councils in Russia (8) ZEMSTVOS {Z+TVS+SOME}*

2   Left work at England to produce milk (7) LACTATE {L}{ACT}{AT}{E}

3   Protection carried by distinguished gentlemen (5) HEDGE [T]

4   Male King, one very softly interrupting your time of atonement (3,6) YOM KIPPUR {YO{M}{K}{1}{PP}UR}

5   Super, limitless and extremely nuanced reverse (5) UPEND {sUPEr}{Nu...eD}

6   Epitomes of many without male companions (9) ULTIMATES {mULTI}{MATES}

7   Restriction on movement! So acquires a post-graduate degree! (7) EMBARGO {E{MBA}RGO}

8   Observe itchy men regularly expressing rage (6) SEETHE {SEE}{iTcHy+mEn}

14 Ale finished as foretold (9) PORTENDED {PORT}{ENDED}

15 Miss having comfort and bit of buying/selling property and renting same thereafter! (9) LEASEBACK {L{EASE}{Bu...g}}ACK}

16 Abnormal loss of strength like in the afflicted adult (8) ASTHENIA {AS}{IN+THE}*{A}

18 Limited, lacking in hormone and not extremely rare (7) I?S?L?R (Addendum - INSULAR {INSULin}{rARe} - See comments)

19 Routine moves within the womb (2,5) IN UTERO*

20 Who may blast pile of straw? (6) HAYMOW*

22 Country house had a chapel inside (5) DACHA [T]

23 Native American promise for English male, say (5) SIOUX (~sue)  (Correction - S(-e+iou)IOUX - See comments)

Reference List

Church = CH, Hot = H, Name = N, Bold = B, Royal = R, Kiss = X, Zee = Z, Left = L, Male = M, King = K, Very soft = PP, Male = M, Adult = A