No 14908, Saturday 26 Sep 2026, Dr. X

 ACROSS
1 Reflect on boyfriend chasing married university lecturer (4,4) MULL OVER {LOVER}<=>{M}{U}{L}
5 Make a date with model at souk (3,3) ASK OUT*
10 Small case in retreat filled with Ecstasy and drugs (5) DOPES {S POD}< around E
11 Body of clergy members finished discourse (9) PASTORATE {PAST}{ORATE}
12 Spot around canal near institute, very alluring (9) SEDUCTIVE {SE{DUCT}{I}{V}E}
13 Style of Greek architecture in department, old and largely magnificent (5) DORIC {D}{O}{RICh}

14 Paid for cast in commercial (6) ATONED {A{TONE}D}
15 Member feared vile slanderer (7) DEFAMER {M FEARED}*
18 Figures essentially checked by remarkably adroit financial examiner (7) AUDITOR {figUres} in {ADROIT*}
20 Mother captivated by chronicle about Tantric scriptures (6) AGAMAS {MA} in {SAGA<}
22 Greek muse in chamber at Olympia (5) ERATO [T]

24 Very gifted young man won Derby easily, enthralling onlookers at centre (3,6) BOY WONDER {WON DERBY}* around {onloOkers}
25 Drives a vintage sedan, primarily extraordinary (9) NAVIGATES {A VINTAGE Sedan}*
26 Garish cap worn by upper-class Republican (5) LURID {L{U}{R}ID}
27 Recognise South American musical instrument (6) SALUTE {SA}{LUTE}
28 Ignore uproar after head of company is confined (6-2) CLOSED-IN {LOSE}{DIN}<=>{Company}

DOWN
1 Grotesque dame having primarily ugly crown of snakes (6) MEDUSA {DAME}* around {Ugly}{Snakes} & Lit

2 Youth consuming a little pot on island with girlfriend is stoned (9) LAPIDATED {LA{Pot}{I}{DATE}D}
3 After reconsideration, start to check fraud by director nevertheless (2,6,7) ON SECOND THOUGHT ONSET around {CON}{D}{THOUGH}
4 English prince chasing maiden restrained and evacuated (7) EMPTIED {E}{P<=>M}{TIED}
6 Impending danger of floods! Cowers anxiously over embankment (5,2,8) SWORD OF DAMOCLES {FLOODS COWERS}* over DAM

7 Broadcasting soon - AI related films (2-3) ON-AIR [T]
8 See 17 (4,4)
9 Go up with first-class cast winning Oscar at centre (6) ASCEND {A}{S{osCar}END}
16 Strayed in despicable act after drinking a little rum (9) MEANDERED {MEAN}{DE{Rum}ED}
17 Give a foot massage perhaps to cause one to feel exquisite pleasure (Continued in 8 Down) (4,4,4,4) MAKE ONE'S TOES CURL [CD & D]
19 Reduction in tax saves close to one billion (6) REBATE {R{onE}{B}ATE}
20 Fool picking up extremely bonny Australian lady - it's unfathomable (7) ABYSSAL {A{BonnY}SS}{A}{L}
21 English poet in alcohol-free retreat (6) DRYDEN {DRY}{DEN}

23 Hammered nail over very heavy iron block (5) ANVIL {NAIL*} over V

REFERENCE LIST

Married=M, University=U, Lecturer=L, Small=S, Ecstasy=E, Institute=I, Very=V, Department=D, Old=O, Member=M, Upper-class=U, Republican=R, South American=SA, Island=I, Director=D, English=E, Prince=P, Maiden=M, First-Class=A, Billion=B, Australian=A, Lady=L.