No 14707, Tuesday 03 Feb 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 20D 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   Crude barbarian penning naughty poems (8) HOMESPUN {H{POEMS*}UN}

5   Censured batter in ground (6) BLAMED {B{LAM}ED}

10 Fine expert cracking case is humourless (2-5) PO-FACED {PO{F}{ACE}D}

11 Crushes married priest breaking commandments (7) RUMPLES {RU{M}{P}LES}

12 Recollected Omani girl's name (5) NAOMI*

13 Finally, nuclear radiation is lessening (9) REMISSION {n...aR}{EMISSION}

14 Dine after one and pick up model in retro bar instantly (2,1,9) IN A HEARTBEAT {EAT}<=>{1} and {HEAR}{T} in {BAN<=}

18 Problem caused by conservative politician in shaky coalition (12) COMPLICATION {C}{O{MP}LICATION*}

21 Opener rocks, cracking century on primarily rough English wicket (9) CORKSCREW {ROCKS}*{C}{Ro..h}{E}{W}

23 & 4 Conceal instruction to one cleaning room (5,5,3,6) SWEEP UNDER THE CARPET [DD]

24 Border caught by More in Oval (7) ELLIPSE {EL{LIP}SE}

25 Leaders of Russia and USA meeting in the countryside (7) RURALLY {Ru...a}{Usa}{RALLY}

26 One captivated by a tsar's fancy crowns (6) TIARAS {T{1}ARAS*}

27 Dominated by wife sadly - he's miserable (4,4) HELD SWAY {W+SADLY+HE}*

DOWN

1   Promoting extremely hearty girl captivating press (6) HYPING {He..tY}{G} over {PIN}

2   Difficult to catch ultimately slippery fellow? Nonsense! (2,4) MY FOOT {M{s...rY}{F}OOT}

3   Separate at once! Lady is promiscuous (9) SECTIONAL {AT+ONCE+L+IS}*

4   See 23 Across

6   Enthralled by liqueurs on vacation, rogue totters (5) LIMPS {Liqu{IMP}eurS}

7   Lifted rubbish outside bar in Asian country (8) MALDIVES {SLAM<=} over {DIVE}

8   Separate from husband going astray inside hut (8) DISUNITE {INSIDE+hUT}*

9   On the contrary, tiff in bedroom fast turned into an even more unpleasant situation (4,3,2,5) FROM BAD TO WORSE {ROW<=} in {BEDROOM+FAST}*

15 Model excited about extremely remarkable stole (9) TROUSERED {T}{ROUSE{Re...lE}D}

16 Ungainly techies consuming cocaine to become cooler (3,5) ICE CHEST {TECHIES}* over {C}

17 Essentially, mumps and rubella shot provides protection (8) UMBRELLA {muMps+RUBELLA}*

19 Mature maiden for fine chap (6) MELLOW (+m-f)MELLOW

20 Devious snoop enters nimbly (6) ?P?Y?Y (Addendum - SPRYLY {S{PRY}LY} - See comments)

22 Chose piano having a reddish-brown colour (5) SEPIA [T]

Reference List

Fine = F, Married = M, Priest = P, Model = T, Conservative = C, Century = C, English = E, Wicket = W, Wife = W, Girl = G, Fellow = F, Lady = L, Bar = DIVE, Husband = H, Cocaine = C, Maiden = M