No 14733, Thursday 05 Mar 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 16D 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   Humorist and married assistant in retreat, cheating around (8) COMEDIAN {CO{M}{AIDE<=}N}

5   Quarrel about American beginning to raise tax (6) TARIFF {T{A}{Ra..e}IFF}

10 Shoot gangsta finally behind pub in Caribbean island (7) BARBUDA {BUD}{g...tA}<=>{BAR}

11 Arrive in market to get hold of vase (4,3) TURN OUT {T{URN}OUT}

12 Member, upset after trustee's last electronic message (1-4) E-MAIL {M}{AIL}<=>{t...eE}

13 Developing nice grin perhaps to capture hearts (9) ENRICHING {NICE+GRIN}* over {H}

14 One seen at racecourse painting popular horse during ceremony (8,4) STARTING GATE {ST{ART}{IN}{GG}ATE}

18 What person might do in cold weather to show keen satisfaction (3,4,5) RUB ONES HANDS [DD]

21 Immorality of English rogue enthralled by joint and cocaine on vacation (9) DECADENCE {D{E}{CAD}EN}{Co...nE}

23 Obstructive problem in part of small intestine, nearly ending in peritonitis (5) ILEUS {ILEUm}{p...iS} Semi&lit

24 Crowd heartily entertained by genius playing type of rock (7) IGNEOUS {IGNE{crOwd}US*}

25 Crack cocaine - extremely repulsive bad habit (7) CREVICE {C}{Re...vE}{VICE}

26 Gemstone in store, mostly a little topaz (6) GARNET {GARNEr}{To..z}

27 Despise rogue having love affairs (8) EPISODES {EPIS{O}DES*}

DOWN

1   Australian pal caught thief right away (6) COBBER {C}{rOBBER}

2   Being ethical, admits fault finally (6) MORTAL {MOR{f..lT}AL}

3   Misleads essentially in uncertainty, playing only two cards of a suit (9) DOUBLETON {DOUB{misLEads}T}{ON}

4   Incompetence of masseur in the spa, extremely clumsy (14) AMATEURISHNESS {MASSEUR+IN+THE+SpA}*

6   A posh valuable, mostly of gold (5) AURIC {A}{U}{RICh}

7   Comic in Cairo, ultimately satirical and wry (8) IRONICAL {IN+CAIRO}*{s...aL}

8   Overweight guide, terribly exhausted (8) FATIGUED {FAT}{GUIDE*}

9   Trump is beginning to argue at once, making fuss about trivial matter (5,2,1,6) STORM IN A TEACUP {TRUMP+IS+Ar..e+AT+ONCE}*

15 Singles romping, having party in retreat? Goodness! (9) GODLINESS {G{DO<=}LINESS*}

16 Resenting misuse of drug and drink by girl (8) ?R?D?I?G (Addendum - GRUDGING {DRUG*}{GIN}{G} - See comments)

17 Old boy on screen, turning more indecent (8) OBSECNER {OB}{SCREEN*}

19 Crew in department checking VCR button (6) REWIND [T]

20 They question fool grabbing king and queen (6) ASKERS {AS{K}{ER}S}

22 Decided to acquire manufacturer's latest unmanned aerial vehicle (5) DRONE {D{m...eR}ONE}

Reference List

Married = M, Member = M, Hearts = H, Popular = IN, Horse = GG, English = E, Cocaine = C, Caught = C, Posh = U, Party = DO, Girl = G, Old Boy = OB, King = K, Queen = ER