No 14701, Tuesday 27 Jan 2026, KrisKross

Solution to 22D 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   Auditor's date with artificial silk - new material (8) SEALSKIN {(~see)SEA}{SILK*}{N}

5   Sharp detectives on island about to withdraw (6) ACIDIC {CID}{I} in {CA<=}

9   Sweeping done holding centre of broom (8) THOROUGH {THOR{brOom}UGH}

10 Whimper from KrisKross going through small story, missing love (6) SNIVEL {S}{No{I}VEL}

12 Trained poodle regularly acting as helper of the force (6,3) POLICE DOG {POODLE+aCtInG}*}

13 Mathematician from Spain designed rule (5) EULER {E}{RULE*}

14 See 7 Down

16 Live with a friend touring Northern Italy (7) ANIMATE {A}{N}{I}{MATE}

19 Stylish spy killing a swimmer (7) GENTEEL {aGENT}{EEL}

21 Stupid debate - "Trading money for diamonds" (4) DULL (-m+d)DULL

24 See 4 Down

25 Spooner says "Beat up sailors - they have lot of moolah!" (4,5) CASH BOXES {~bash coxes to cash boxes)

27 Idol standing with foot loose on edge of table (6) STATUE {STATUtE} (Correction - {STATUs}{t..lE} - See comments)

28 Bone initially broken in prison game (8) CRIBBAGE {C{RIB}{Br...n}AGE}

29 Cuts posts reportedly (6) STEAKS (~stakes)

30 Judges free mysterious sage from the East (8) REFEREES {FREE}*{SEER<=}

DOWN

1   Sibling has place in retreat for exercises (3-3) SIT-UPS {SI{PUT<=}S}

2   Handsome man left during a game (6) APOLLO {A}{PO{L}LO}

3   One overwhelmed by high cost becomes philosophical (5) STOIC {STO{1}C*}

4   & 24 American saw rudest drunk consuming whiskey in bar (2,3,2,5) IN GOD WE TRUST {RUDEST}* over {W} in {INGOT}

6   Relaxing at home, about to cut cake (9) CONGENIAL {CONGE{IN<=}AL}

7 &14 Reckless wicked maiden breaking into nursery (5-3-4) DEVIL-MAY-CARE  {EVIL}{M} in {DAYCARE}

8   Dieter's concern about sign - "Contains traces of linseed oil" (8) CALORIES {C}{A{Li...d}{Oil}RIES}

11 Part of India - grand city (4) AGRA [T]

15 You and I stopping for business, filled with respect (9) AWESTRUCK {A{WE}S}{TRUCK}

17 Braggarts bought sites, built houses (8) EGOTISTS {E{GOT}ISTS*}

18 Most inappropriate to touch dead snake (8) UNDULATE {UNDUe}{LATE}

20 Hair mesh (4) LOCK [DD]

21 Daughter dismissing first book's merit (7) DESERVE {D}{rESERVE}

22 Breathe once with sound (6) ?X?A?E ()

23 Idiots struggled from the beginning in test (6) ASSESS {ASSES}{St...d}

26 Anger over British sacred text (5) BIBLE {BI{B}LE}

Reference List

New = N, Island = I, About = CA, Small = S, Spain = E, Northern = N, Italy = I, Money = M, Diamonds = D, Left = L, Whiskey = W, Maiden = M, About = C, Daughter = D, British = B