No 14936, Friday 30 Oct 2026, Dr. X

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

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PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

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Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Screams hysterically about a murder (8) MASSACRE {M{A}SSACRE*}

5   Associate works out after gaining weight every time (6) ALWAYS {A}{LAYS} over {W}

10 Cavort with European after consuming cocaine (5) DANCE {DAN{C}E}

11 Marshal protects a witness (9) SPECTATOR*

12 Crazy men entering a dangerous Indian city (9) MORADABAD {M{OR}AD}{A}{BAD}

13 US-Canada defence org. destroyed a drone leaving base (5) NORAD {DRONe}*

14 Rubbish heap outside fine flat at entrance (6) PIFFLE {PI{F}{Flat}LE}

15 Recital at opening with medley of flutes is soothing (7) RESTFUL {Re...l}{FLUTES*}

18 One way or another, escort entertains old male on vacation (7) SOMEHOW {S{O}{MalE}HOW}

20 Former US president's overture to Epstein in tabloid article (6) REAGAN {R{E}AG}{AN}

22 Starts to holler about vile oppressor causing mayhem (5) HAVOC Acrostic

24 The best thing on menu - our rolls (6,3) NUMERO UNO* 

25 One captivated by perfect maiden (9) UNMARRIED {UNMARR{1}ED}

26 Nervous novice lacks confidence, primarily sheepish (5) OVINE NOVIcE*

27 Robust model eating special pork meatloaf (6) HASLET {HA{S}LE}{T}

28 Come to rest after hosting large shindig at centre from dusk till dawn (3-5) ALL-NIGHT {AL{L}{shiNdig}IGHT}

DOWN

1   Monsieur's wife is nuts about me (6) MADAME {MAD}{A}{ME}

2   Fantastic singers receiving close to twenty million for working together (9) SYNERGISM {S{t...tY}NERGIS*}{M}

3   Where paunchy person's belt buckle might be better than average (5,2,3,5) AHEAD OF THE CURVE [DD]

4   Upset about blood relation being ridiculous (7) RISIBLE {RI{SIB}LE}

6   Start to dance in the raw, loosen up! (3,4,4,4) LET ONES HAIR DOWN {Dance+IN+THE+RAW+LOOSEN}* Semi&lit

7   Concerning some daft errors (5) AFTER [T]

8   Sit astride seat, holding sides of tusker (8) STRADDLE {S{Tu..eR}ADDLE}

9   Ogle after drinking whiskey on date, becoming more lascivious (6) LEWDER {LE{W}{D}ER}

16 Presenting extremely fine American code-breaker (9) FEATURING {FinE}{A}{TURING}

17 Like a small hotel acquired by firm (2,6) AS THOUGH {A}{S}{T{H}OUGH}

19 Improvise with cleverness to enthral stylish girl (4,2) WING IT {W{IN}{G}IT}

20 Modify social media clip about member's retro party (7) REMODEL {RE{M}{DO<=}EL}

21 Secret desire to have a little romp (6) COVERT {COVE{Romp}ET}

23 Repairs anatomical vessel to save military policeman (5) VAMPS {VA{MP}S}

Reference List

Associate = A, Weight = W, Cocaine = C, Men = OR, Base = E, Fine = F, Old = O, Special = S, Large = L, Million = M, Whiskey = W, Date = D, American = A, Small = S, Hotel = H, Stylish = IN, Girl = G, Member = M, Military policeman = MP