No 14823, Thursday 18 Jun 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 3D 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Say plainly what one thinks of boy stealing top and denims slyly (5,4,4) SPEAK ONES MIND {S{PEAK}ON}{DENIMS*}

8   Vitality in bedroom, phenomenal (5) OOMPH [T]

9   In addition to iodine, uranium found in unusual chemical element (9) RUTHENIUM {THEN}{I}{U} in {RUM}

11 Speculating in article on crypto finally going up (10) THEORISING {THE}{c...tO}{RISING}

12 Roll with bit of cheese and cream (4) COIL {Ch...e}{OIL}

14 Quickly controls anger, being most dispassionate (7) FAIREST {FA{IRE}ST}

16 Vaguely stealthy, consuming ecstasy behind toilet (7) LOOSELY {S{E}LY}<=>{LOO}

17 Policeman's suggestion to catch international head of criminals (7) OFFICER {OFF{I}{Cr...s}ER}

19 Really skilful ball, trapping Australia's opener on hundred (2,5) DE FACTO {DEFT}{0} over {Au...a}{C}

21 A little kid painting small motor-racing vehicle (4) KART {Kid}{ART}

22 Bar-hopped in Peru on vacation and fought outside clubs (3-7) PUB-CRAWLED {PerU}{B{C}RAWLED}

25 Checking lump in body (9) THWARTING {TH{WART}ING}

26 India's top star in retreat getting close to hottie is engaged (2,3) IN USE {In...s}{SUN<=}{h...iE}

27 High-strung European overwhelmed by myalgic problem and high blood sugar in US (13) HYPERGLYCEMIA {HYPER}{GLYC{E}MIA*}

DOWN

2   Show that is about Italy's archaeological site (7) POMPEII {POMP}{IE<=}{I}

3   Hate blunder in retrospect, taken in by rogue on beach (10) A?H?R?E?C?  (Addendum - ABHORRENCE {ERR<=} in {ON+BEACH}* - See comments)

4   Root's run out, taken aback by abrupt leap (5) ORRIS {RO<=}{RISe}

5   Twisted knee after a little tumble in finale (9) ENTANGLED {ANGLE}<=>{Tu...e} in [END}

6   Patient beginning to moan with cry of fright (4) MEEK {Moan}{EEK}

7   Smelly moose in compound (7) NOISOME*

8   Where thief might take wallet, being without money (3,2,6) OUT OF POCKET [DD]

10 Awfully comely doll captivating daughter's baby (11) MOLLYCODDLE {COMELY+DOLL} over {D}

13 Wild animal mauled emir at compound (10) WOLFRAMITE {WOLF}{EMIR+AT}*

15 Distressing nonsense about code-breaker (9) TORTURING {ROT<=}{TURING}

18 Dreamy fellow beginning to attract women in a flash (7) FARAWAY {F} with {At...t}{W} in {A}{RAY}

20 Contact medicos at centre about copper getting kidney stones (7) CALCULI {CAL{CU}L}{medIcos}

23 Secretive Academy Award-winning actor concealing name (5) CAGEY CAGnEY

24 Real crazy brute killing bishop (4) TRUE bRUTE*

Reference List

Unusual = RUM, Ecstasy = E, Toilet = LOO, International = I, Hundred = C, Clubs = C, European = E, Italy = I, Run out = RO, Daughtr = D, Fellow = F, Women = W, Name = N, Bishop = B