No 14852, Wednesday 22 Jul 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 11A 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   Portly chap, almost bare, dancing in stag do (8,5) BACHELOR PARTY {PORTLY+CHAP+BARe}*

8   Blast outside southern centre (5) BOSOM {BO{S}OM}

9   Rupee rose finally with high deficit fixed (9) RECTIFIED {R}{rosE}{DEFICIT}*

11 Security in the near future in local trains (10) C?L?A?E?A? 

12 Record very revolutionary epic poem (4) EPOS {EP}{SO<=}

14 Asked deputy about arresting star (7) PLEADED {DEP<=}{ over {LEAD}

16 German rogue loses billion to become bankrupt (2,5) GO UNDER {G}{bOUNDER} 

17 Derisive racist raving about immigrants principally (7)  SATIRIC {SAT{Im...s}RIC*}

19 Feeling overwhelmed by loose motions (7) EMOTION [T]

21 Article about bovine animal's round part of nerve cell (4) AXON {A{OX<=}N}

22 Point on principle of uncertainty in obscure abstract (10) CONCEPTUAL {PT}{Un...y} in {CONCEAL}

25 Politician relaxes, lazily cuddling models (9) EXEMPLARS {MP} in {RELAXES}*

26 Leading man enthralled by American associate on date (5) AHEAD {A}{HE}{A}{D}

27 Make sexual advances in penthouse to very hot male inside (3,3,5,2) PUT THE MOVES ON {PENTHOUSE+TO+V}* over {M}

DOWN

2   Sailor loves rum! That's clear (7) ABSOLVE {AB}{LOVES}*

3   Launch of humorous, modern-day novel is definitely successful (4,3,3) HOME AND DRY {Hu...s}{MODERN+DAY}*

4   Enormous convict crushes jailor's toe on base (5) LARGE {LA{j...oR}G}{E}

5   Runs, developing elegant, primarily curvaceous figure (9) RECTANGLE {R}{ELEGANT+C}*

6   Like starters of assorted kebabs in nightclub (4) AKIN Acrostic

7   Stumbled in bar, extremely drunk (7) TRIPPED {T}{RIPPED}

8   Help attendant smuggling dope in the rectum (4,7) BACK PASSAGE {BACK}{{P{ASS}AGE}

10 Blunder resulting in debacle at premiere, director's annoyed (11) DISGRUNTLED {RESULTING}* in {De...e}{D}

13 Inappropriate, as tenant not paying rent might soon be? (3,2,5) OUT OF PLACE [DD]

15 Dressed to a T, co-ed hugs Rector giving highest university degree (9) DOCTORATE {TO+A+T+CO+ED}* over {R}

18 American philosopher's article about origin of universe captivating men (7) THOREAU {THE}{A}{Un...e} over {OR}

20 Routine changes before birth (2,5) IN UTERO*

23 Plastic is completely choking fish (5) CISCO [T]

24 Discharge from small scar (4) SPIT {S}{PIT}

Reference List

Southern = S, Rupee = R, Record = EP(Extended Play), Deputy = DEP, German = G, Billion = B, Point = PT, American = A, Associate = A, Date = D, Very = V, Male = M, Sailor = AB, Base = E, Runs = R, Bar = T, Director = D, Rector = R, About = A, Small = S