No 14574, Wednesday 27 Aug 2025, Bruno

Rangoli by Gowri

Artwork by Prasanna

By Bhargav

Solution to 13A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

6  Prosperous as salary is supplemented with fifty million (5) PALMY {PA{L}{M}Y}

7   Gangster's son bottles gangster's offensive poison (8) ALKALOID {AL}{K{AL}{O}ID}

10 Lane near river to wash pot while sailing's so ignored (7) TOWPATH {TO+WAsH+PoT}*

11 Setter with millions around globe with tax agency chasing.. that could be a set of stories (7) MEMOIRS {ME}{M}{O}{IRS}

12 Old queen of England, some say, eventually moved to ancient city (7) SEYMOUR {SOME+saY}*{UR}

13 Major heart transplant's going up (7) L?A?I?G (Addendum - LEAPING LEA(-d+p)PING - See comments) 

14 Failing defence overcome by bully.. Champion finally folding (7,4) CLOSING DOWN {C{LOSING}{D}OW}{c...oN}

19 Wanting $1000, joker ran circles regularly for glory (7) REJOICE {JOkER}*{cIrClEs}

21 Go-getter mounted horse with spur (7) TRIGGER {TRI{GG}ER}

23 Lying around, Polish queen's wearing India's version of 5D (7) BURQINI {RUB<=}{Q}{IN}I Last I from?

25 Survive in melting ice with material (7) ELASTIC {E{LAST}IC*}

26 Full-scale files arranged by Lizzie evenly (4-4) LIFE-SIZE {FILES}*{lIzZiE}

27 Mum left racks with brownies, perhaps (5) ELVES shELVES

DOWN

1   Technique to shoot bottoms in extremely sexy state (4,4) SLOW SYNC {Se{LOWS}xY}{NC}

2   Current producer of dairy goes on vacation to emerging middle eastern country (6) DYNAMO {DairY}{OMAN<=}

3   Rich girl's followed by knight in story - kind and protective (10) FATHERLIKE {FAT}{HER}{LI{K}E}

4   North Korean leader's recycling one kind of milk (4) SKIM {+s)SKIM(-'S}

5   Clothing item from orient stolen from motorcycle in India (6) BIKINI {BIKe}{IN}{I}

6   Chemical from common drug's like heroin (6) POTASH {POT}{AS}{H}

8   Problem of left bum's solved by a run (7) LUMBAGO {L}{BUM*}{A}{GO} 

9   Consumption of America over time... (5)  USAGE {US}{AGE}

13 ...found to be in lower intensity electronic device (5,5) LIGHT METER [C&DD]

15 Animal dies tripping over piece of iron with rust (7) OXIDISE {OX}{ID{Iron}SE*}

16 Cynical evangelist's sadly - often lost & isolated (8) NEGATIVE {EVANGElIsT}*

17 Bird good at brewing beer (5) GREBE {G}{BEER*}

18 Protective equipment giving support to professionals not accepted (6) BRACES {BRA}{aCES}

20 Dork at home jacket (6) JERKIN {JERK}{IN} 

22 One lost time in business for religious orders (6) IRADES {1}{tRADES}

24 Electronic assistant elevated to a Goddess (4) IRIS<=

Reference List

Fifty = L, Million = M, Gangster = AL(Capone), Offensive = O, Defence = D, $1000 = K, Horse = GG(GeeGee), Queen = Q, India = I, Mum = SH, Knight = K, Orient = E, Heroin = H, Left = L, Good = G, Accepted = A, Time = T

No 14547, Saturday 26 July 2025, Bruno

 ACROSS
6 Luxurious, soft, and green (5) PLUSH {P}{LUSH}
7 End of toe and limb caught in vehicle, that can travel fast (8) TELEGRAM {T{toE}{LEG}RAM}
10 June, Bill, and Leah partly come to English party (7) JUBILEE {JUne}{BIll}{LEah}{E}
11 Bar's subdued - one left for party (7) BANQUET {BAN}{QUiET}
12 Magazine featured John playing game (7) MAHJONG {MA{JOHN*}G}

13 Desiring model with a rear-end that's rounded (7) CRAVING {C{(+reaR-a}(+A-r)VING} CARVING with A and R interchanged 
14 Storm observed here & perhaps tracked - wee high, basically (7,4) WEATHER DECK {TRACKED WEE High}*

19 Arrogant, oppressing, evil, bad boy (7) VILLAIN {V{ILL}AIN}
21 America's universal friend.. at most times (7) USUALLY {US}{U}{ALLY}
23 Invoice number missing time causing protest (7) INVEIGH {INV}{EIGHt}
25 Note flying gull putting end of anchovy on victim (4,3) FALL GUY {FA}{GULL*}{anchovY} 
26 Inconvenient accommodation for Eastern queen trapped in 9D (8) STEERAGE {ST{E}{ER}AGE}
27 Unknown, operated by Unit, when reversed gives a kind of operator (5) UNARY {Y RAN U}<

DOWN
1 Part of play when mud's flung on boy, who's dancing (4,4) DUMB SHOW {MUD}*{B}{WHO'S}*
2 Avoiding AA, sot finally in allopathy treatment? That's kinda flaky... (6) PHYLLO {aLLOPatHY}*

3 Rest, perhaps - no good after that workout (10) STRENGTHEN {REST}*{NG}{THEN}
4 Hunk essentially lacking courage retreats (4) SLAB {BAlLS}<
5 California city's zoning lead outlaid every other stone (6) LAZULI {LA}{Zoning}{oUtLaId}

6 Jean often wears parents' nightwear (6) PAJAMA {PA{JeAn}MA}
8 Part of boat tips in under nautical waterline during storm (7) GUNWALE {G{Under}{Nautical}{Waterline}ALE}
9 Mount horse on end of saddle (5) STAGE {STAG}{saddlE}
13 Mark's merciful action in empty complex (10) CIRCUMFLEX {MERCIFUL}* in {CompleX}
15 Artist at Virginia sent back by immigration authorities - that's wrong (7) AVARICE {RA}{VA}< +{ICE}
16 Lightweight metalworking building went bust - was abandoned (8) KILOGRAM {MetALwORKInG}*
17 Egg-shaped ring with topless skirt (5) OVOID {O}{aVOID}
18 Limits of seismology, zoology, genealogy and heavenly alignment (6) SYZYGY {SeismologY}{ZoologY}{GenealogY}

20 The French... very discontented about sex and humour (6) LEVITY {LE}{V{IT}erY}
22 Sign of mutual exchanges? (6) UMLAUT*
24 Boss' part of the administration (4) HEAD [T]

Reference List

Soft=P, English=E, One=I, Magazine=Mag, America=US, Universal=U, Invoice=INV, Time=T, Eastern=E, Queen=ER, Unit=U, Boy=B, No Good=NG, Artist=RA, Virginia=VA, Ring=O, Sex=It.

No 14516, Friday 20 Jun 2025, Bruno

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

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

ACROSS

1   Punishment's one way to preserve without honey, essentially (6) CANING CANnING

4   America's about boys circling old city neighbourhood (6) SUBURB {US<=}{B}{UR}{B}

9   Protest to repeal privileges essentially dropped (4) STIR RIghTS<=

10 Surprised man soon crashed vehicle (10) MOONSTRUCK {M}{SOON*}{TRUCK}

11 Professional film portraying leader of Wales (6) LAWYER {LA{Wa..s}YER}

12 River running through toxic slum air is characteristic of undeveloped area (8) RURALISM {R} in PSLUM+AIR}*

13 Girl's going around Indonesian island with head therapist and healer (9) HERBALIST {HER{BALI}S}{Th...t}

15 Stuff starts in summer - takes one week (4) STOW Acrostic

16 River and harmful stream (4) RILL {R}{ILL}

17 Peacekeeper's chief detective caught in the middle of fake alcohol problem (9) CONUNDRUM {UN}{De...e} in {CON}{RUM}

21 Artist framing groin artistically on dead - a feature of 4ac? (4,4) RING ROAD {R{GROIN*}A}{D}

22 Firm just fired leader to toe the line (6) COMPLY {CO}{aMPLY}

24 Overreliance of Pence ended in trouble (10) DEPENDENCE*

25 Unpleasant feeling that distant relative, finally would be visiting (4) FEAR {F{r...vE}AR}

26 Article on medicine covered a particular topic (6) THEMED {THE}{MED}

27 Ghost with hair billowing around bone (6) WRAITH {W+HAIR}* over {T}

DOWN

1   House is away from geostatic orbits (7) COTTAGE GEOsTATiC*

2   Niece's head injured - very anxious (5) NERVY {Ni..e}{VERY*}

3   Figure of hurt lumberman - medic abandoned (7) NUMERAL LUmbERMAN*

5   Numerous ordinary men starting to come out swaggering, becoming less confident (6) UNSURE NUmERoUS*

6   Runners often get happy - that may not be connected (9) UNRELATED {rUnNeRs}{ELATED}

7   Money was returned by lumberjack's assistant (7) BUCKSAW {BUCK}{WAS<=}

8   Identical score composed about Royal lake in Germany (13) CORRESPONDING {CO{R}RES*}{POND}{IN}{G}

14 Italian boy transporting Congolese leader disappeared (9) BOLOGNESE {B}{cONGOLESE}*

16 After rain stopped early, people got out finally with clothing (7) RAIMENT {RAIn}{MEN}{ouT}

18 Dubious type of energy upper classes promoted (7) UNCLEAR (+u)UN(-u)CLEAR

19 Heartless relative remains free (7) UNLEASH {UNcLE}{ASH}

20 Nurse withheld documents - hiding recall (6) CODDLE [T<=]

23 Both genders linked by union, rejecting it is religious scholar (5) MUFTI {M}{U}{F}{IT<=}

Reference List

 Boy = B, Old city = UR, Man = M, River = R, Artist = RA, Dead = D, Firm = CO, With = W, Bone = T, Medic = MB, Royal = R, Germany = G, Upper class = U, Genders = M,F, Union = U

No 14494, Monday 26 May 2025, Bruno

Solution to 8D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

6   Spouse returned blame and then split (7) PARTNER {RAP<=}{RENT<=} Reversal indicator missing?

7   Rebellion allowed pair (7) COUPLET {COUP}{LET}

9   Our really lovely old place starts with a deck (5) ORLOP Acrostic

10 One from Guangzhou's unable to love - seen desperate (9) CANTONESE {CAN'T}{O}{SEEN*}

11 Royal assassin's first to be sent out to put someone in danger (7) IMPERIL IMPERIaL

13 Obscure way to remove top of disk (3-3) BLU-RAY {BLUR}{wAY}

15 Victor, one day, it could explode around area creating cancer causing stuff (13) RADIOACTIVITY {VICTOR+1+DAY+IT}* over {A}

19 Black ship's water tank (6) BOILER {B}{OILER}

20 Jealous of blended vino - English and American bottles (7) ENVIOUS {E}{VINO*}{US}

23 Journey to ends of capital in submarine for performance venue (5,4) STRIP CLUB {S{TRIP}{Ca...aL}UB}

24 Love to go in for a rough style (5) VOGUE V(-a=0)OGUE

26 Stockpile of unopened jam (7) RESERVE pRESERVE

27 Loose relative loses foot to snake (7) UNCLASP {UNCL(-e+asp)ASP}

DOWN

1   Test of morals? (4) ORAL [T]

2   Killer is up around new gym, at the centre of library (6) SNIPER {I{N}S<=}{PE}{libRary}

3   Lots of adult rock's contrived (9) TRUCKLOAD*

4   Often young violas lacking strings essentially are transported from former Serbia? (8) YUGOSLAV {YoUnG}{ViOLAS}*

5   Entire bird's anatomic heart is at medium speed (10) ALLEGRETTO {ALL}{EGRET}{anaTOmic}

6   Earnings for climbing into mine (6) PROFIT {P{FOR<=}IT}

7   Drawbacks of having no interest in stars (4) CONS iCONS

8   Make clothes colourful, even, and mostly positive (3-3) T?E-?Y? (Addendum - TIE-DYE {TIED}{YEs} - See comments)

12 Delay in revoking Artificial Intelligence paper - rebel gets lift (10) PLAGIARISE {LAG} in {AI}{P}<= and {RISE}

14 Metal's tasty on the outside, surprisingly bitter in the middle (9) YTTERBIUM {Y{BITTER*}UM}

16 Amateur experiment exploded, setter escaped (8) INEXPERT EXPERImeNT*

17 A boy - one taking drugs is an offender (6) ABUSER {A}{B}{USER}

18 Middle-East General, softly dozing (6) ASLEEP {eASt}{LEE}{P}

21 Musical direction: 5, 4... 1 (6) VIVACE {V}{IV}{ACE}

22 Gel rubbed on bottom of knee gives happiness (4) GLEE {GEL*}{kneE}

25 Prod animal with end of rod, squeezing top of tail (4) GOAD GOA(-t+d)D

Reference List

Area = A, Black = B, English = E, New = N, Gym = PE, Interest = I, Paper = P, Boy = B, Softly = P

No 14471, Tuesday 29 Apr 2025, Bruno

Solution to 8A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Broadcast breakfast soap opera (6) SERIAL (~cereal)

4   Girl's admitting - was playing with rope (6) HAWSER {H{SAW*}ER}

8   Half-black West-facing skid row apartment (7) ?A?T?A? (Addendum - RATTRAP  {PART}{TAR}<= See comments)   

9   Foundation boarded hastily (7) ROADBED*

11 Slow to criticise shop in front (10) DELIBERATE {BERATE}<=>{DELI}

12 Cycling path with style (4) ELAN (+e)ELAN(-e)

13 Often suppressing secret need for drama (5) SCENE {SeCrEt+NeEd}

14 Creative and developmentally disabled, initially unsure, transforming into master finally (8) ARTISTIC A(-u+r)RTISTIC

16 Musical composition from follower starting to thrill continent (8) FANTASIA {FAN}{Th...l}{ASIA}

18 Fat specimen lacking structure basically (5) AMPLE sAMPLE

20 Grab drink recipe (4) TEAR {TEA}{R}

21 Clothes-maker makes a mess with braid (10) SEAMSTRESS {A+MESS}*{TRESS}

23 Setter's laid-back about suggestion of colonoscopy check-up (7) MEDICAL {ME}{LA{Co...y}ID<=}

24 Top team invited to mother's luncheon, at first (7) MAXIMAL {MA{XI}MA}{Lu..h}

25 Study of disease eliminated main cause - accepted alternative, finally (6) SURVEY {ScURV{a...vE}Y}

26 Develop ability to chew and bite etherified piece (6) TEETHE [T]

DOWN

1   Piece of glass finally dropped off at Eastern division (5) SHARE {SHARd}{E}

2   I learnt skipping rope (7) RATLINE*

3   Knowledge of a battle tingling most of senses (9) AWARENESS {A}{WAR}{SENSEs}*

5   In heaven, a cow's not popular (5) ABOVE {A}{BOVinE}

6   Dirty sand and weeds, essentially brought on board causing misery (7) SADNESS {SAND*}{weEds}{SS}

7   Review of expert surprisingly - missing point on chemical (2-7) RE-EXAMINE {EXpERt}*{AMINE}

10 What's sometimes seen on the head of God and Mahatmas - endlessly spreading (6,3) PANAMA HAT {PAN}{MAHATMAs}*

13 Quiet amateur at gym - smaller and lacking form (9) SHAPELESS {SH}{A}{PE}{LESS}

15 Tesla managed by Starlink head's dead - put this in other languages too... (9) TRANSLATE {T}{RAN}*{St...k}{LATE}

17 Dog's not very energetic at first - retriever, maybe? (7) TERRIER RETRIEveR*

19 Last person losing switch is character facing trial (7) PERSIST {PERSon}{IS}{Tr..l}

21 Takes wheels to move? (5) SKATE*

22 Lowest member of underworld gets to the top with nuance (5) SHADE (+s)SHADE(-s)

Reference List

Recipe = R, Team = XI, Eastern = E, Popular = IN, On nboard = Ship = SS, Point = PT, Quiet = SH, Amateur = A, gym = PE. Tesla = T, Very = V, Switch = ON

No 14450, Friday 04 Apr 2025, Bruno

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

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

ACROSS

1   Put down a seed in humid ground - it dutifully starts popping out (10) DEHUMANISE {A+SEED+IN+HUMid}*

6   Powder's no good for skin (4) RIND gRIND

9   Girl running after Princess', causing shame (10) DISGRACING {G}{RACING}<=>{DIS}

10 Boil leek evenly to release bitterness (4) BILE {BoIl+LeEk}

12 Yuppie's starting to show-off borrowed item with passion (6,6) SLOANE RANGER {Sh...f}{LOANER}{ANGER}

15 Nothing green lay vacant out in the open (7) OVERTLY {O}{VERT}{LaY}

16 Brownian motion of small molecule releasing energy - it comes wrapped in a shell (7) MOLLUSC {S+MOLeCULe}*

17 Genre of music little heavy with rhythm, mainly and snap (7) BRITPOP {B{Rh...m}IT}{POP}

19 Raids find desi currency, not pound... lots! (7) INROADS {INR}{lOADS} 

20 Corruption at police department reviewed by head of security in totalitarian government (12) DICTATORSHIP {ROT}{AT}{CID}<= {Se...y}{HIP}

23 Bird - one often blips (4) IBIS {1}{BlIpS}

24 Medicine to walk sexily results in intimate conversation (6,4) PILLOW TALK {PILL}{TO+WALK}*

25 Lady's a joke, in retrospect (4) GAGA {A}{GAG}<=

26 Nobleman now suffers, having controlled, yet not essentially annexed seat of power (6,4) COUNTY TOWN {COUNT}{NOW*} over {YeT}

DOWN

1   Father mainly occupied with woodwork (4) DADO {DAD}{Oc...d}

2   Buddha's philosophy contains a catch (4) HASP [T]

3   MyTailor: medieval drama? (8,4) MORALITY PLAY {MY+TAILOR}* [RA]

4   Honey producer caught next to houses with a bit of yoghurt (7) NECTARY {NE{CT}AR}{Yo...t}

5   Ray's pastry junction, according to Spooner (7) SUNBEAM (~bun seam to sunbeam)

7   Setter's doctor cures aging & loss of energy with an unhealthy sweet (5,5) ICING SUGAR {I}{CUReS+AGING}*

8   Established rules expected to be followed by expert at tax (3,7) DUE PROCESS {DUE}{PRO}{CESS}

11 Fickle liberal starting to complain about a scheme for mountain transport (5,7) CABLE RAILWAY {LIBERAL+Co...n}* over {A} and {WAY}

13 Grim order - female soldiers should go up front (10) FORBIDDING {BIDDING}<=>{F}{OR}

14 After online rejection, desperate to be attractive (10)  BEWITCHING {WEB<=}{ITCHING}

18 Condition for travel permit - mostly nothing (7) PROVISO {PRO}{VISa}{O}

19 Great deal of abuse and crime releases bit of stress hormone (7) INSULIN {INSULt}{sIN}

21 Famous computer circuit has glowing light (4) HALO {HAL}{O}

22 Hide at hint of spouse's family (4) SKIN {Sp...e}{KIN}

Reference List

Good = G, Girl = G, Princess = DI, Green = VERT, Small = S, Energy = E, In = HIP, Desi currency = INR, Pound = L, Caught = CT, Female = F, Soldiers = OR

No 14449, Thursday 03 Mar 2025, Bruno

Solution to 12A 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Plain old man turned out to be architect (6) PARENT {PA}{RENT} (Correction - {apPARENT}* - See comments)

4   Rich girl's 1ac (6) FATHER {FAT}{HER} 

8   General desperate to blow up (7) ENLARGE*

9   Son, ABCD's complex - run away! (7) ABSCOND*

11 Fine account on record counter (10) ACCEPTABLE {ACC}{EP}{TABLE}

12 Son of Adam and Eve's a girl three-fifths (4) A?E? (Addendum - ABEL {A}{BELle}

13 Quietly struggling... dear 4ac (5) PADRE {P}{DEAR*}

14 Man's desire to get group to return knives (8) MACHETES {M}{ACHE}{SET<=}

16 European with gold, escaped (8) ANDORRAN {AND}{OR}{RAN}

18 Metal support systems' frame (5) BRASS {BRA}{Sy...mS}

20 4ac informally explodes! (4) POPS [DD]

21 4acs from rich parts while travelling around America (10) PATRIARCHS {RICH+PARTS}* over {A}

23 Odd business... really? In Delhi? (7) BIZARRE {BIZ}{ARRE}

24 Fictional character - a boy with no papers from the East (7) ALADDIN {A}{LAD} and {N}{ID}<= 

25 Team seen in hotel, eventually (6) ELEVEN [T]

26 Heavy-set boy doggy often chased away (6) STODGY {SeT+bOy+DoGgY}

DOWN

1   Fear of 4ac's mostly good (5) PANIC {PA}{NICe}

2   Right direction to go close to death? Back! (4-3) REAR-END {R}{nEAR}{END}

3   Thing about fatigue - it helps us sleep better (9) NIGHTWEAR {THING*}{WEAR}

5   A leisurely walk - bet clears head (5) AMBLE gAMBLE

6   Man took care to fence town's large area (7) HECTARE {HE}{C{T}ARE}

7   RRR movie's ending needs to be shot with professional artists (9) RENDERERS {RRR+m..iE+NEEDS}*

10 Hate to relax? Take up chant at home... (9) ABOMINATE {ABATE} over {OM}{IN}

13 4ac's on time - rushed to catch my first play (9) PANTOMIME {PA}{ON+TIME}*over {My}

15 One way to travel from California to South American city over heart of Caribbean and the French Territory (9) CABRIOLET {CA}{c..iBb..n}{RIO}{LE}{T}

17 Unaccompanied man enthralled by person acting? (7) ONSTAGE {ON{STAG}E}

19 Article woven without interest became worn down (7) ABRADED {A}{BRAiDED}

21 4ac often crushed with process (5) PARSE {PA}{cRuShEd}

22 Chewbacca-like magical being starting to howl for touch of 4ac (5) HAIRY {Howl}{AIRY} (Correction - {(-f+h)HAIRY} - See comments)

Reference List

Old man = PA, Record = EP, Quietly = P, Man = M, Support = BRA, America = A, Business = BIZ, No = N, Papers = ID, Right = R, Town = T, The in French = LE, Territory = T

No 14422, Monday 03 Mar 2025, Bruno

Solution to 13D 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 solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Isolation of person and family trapped in liberal societies (10) LONELINESS {L}{ONE}{LINES}{S}

6   One's inclined to bring people up (4) RAMP [CD]

9   Downloads a bad smelly specimen (10) SANDALWOOD*

10 Open, switch hands, and run (4) FLEE F(-r+l)REE

12 Suspect witness aims to get sweetheart arrested - they need to be separated right away! (7,5) SIAMESE TWINS {WITNESS+AIMS}* over {swEet}

15 Husband and girl (French one) with a weapon (7) HANDGUN {H}{AND}{G}{UN}

16 Time wasted in depression almost always more difficult (7) ROUGHER {tROUGH}{'ER}

17 Dance record followed by one hundred thousand (7) ROLLICK {ROLL}{1}{C}{K}

19 Novice gridmaker cycles those in white squares (7) LETTERS {L}{(-s)ETTER(+s)S}

20 Slower than the best... it's secret? (3,3,6) OFF THE RECORD [DD]

23 Unacceptable to return, after hemming, posh coat (4) DAUB {B{U}AD<=}

24 Turn child on bed - else turning can result in haemorrhages (10) NOSEBLEEDS {SON<=}{BED+ELSE}*

25 Residual force yanks top off (4) REST wREST

26 Belatedly sad - after son's time of expiry (4-2,4) SELL-BY DATE {BELATEDLY}*<=>{S}

DOWN

1   Green and red, not blue (4) LUSH bLUSH

2   Time of day devoid of love and energy - not a bit (4) NONE {NOoN}{E}

3   Famous person - angel - hid guilt somehow, not for all to see (7,5) LEADING LIGHT {ANGEL+HID+GuILT}* 

4   Southern people follow contemporary TV personalities (7) NEWSMEN {S}{MEN}<=>{NEW}

5   Finance partners joining trail (7) SPONSOR {NS} in {SPOOR}

7   Politician finally boards a large boat for an extended period of work (3-7) ALL-NIGHTER {A}{L}{L{p...aN}IGHTER}

8   Force media Union to resist (10) PRESSURISE {PRESS}{U}{RISE}

11 Beginning to crumble, when surrounded by support, you finally fight back systematically (12) STRUCTURALLY {STRU{Cr...e}T}{yoU}{RALLY}

13 Fast food owner's on vacation - daughter's quicker to cover (5-5) ?H?R?-O?D?R (Addendum - SHORT-ORDER {SHORT{OwneR}{D}ER - See comments}

14 Crawling, falls on our ground (2,3,5) ON ALL FOURS*

18 Amateur artist with nothing, captured by kings, gets threats essentially, provides entertainment (7) KARAOKE {K}{A}{RA}{O}{K}{thrEats}

19 Milky yoghurt initially spurned by prowling alleycat (7) LACTEAL ALLEyCAT*

21 Fluid from ears, oozing (4) SERA*

22 One surrounded by water often dissolves (4) ISLE dIsSoLvEs

Reference List

Liberal = L, Societies = S, Husband = H, Girl = G, One in French = UN, Time = T, Hundred = C, Thousand = K, Novice = L, Posh = U, Son = S, Blue = B, Energy = E, For all to see = U, Amateur = A, Artist = RA, King = K

No 14345, Monday 02 Dec 2024, Bruno

Solution to 23A 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   Hat with bit of fur sticking in was abandoned (6) BEREFT {BERE{Fur}T}

4   Soy dish temperature's what again? (6) TEMPEH {TEMP}{EH}

8   Bachelor (American) can be seen following Sunday school's concert band member (4,3) BASS SAX {BA}{AX} over {SS'S}

9   Sadly, I have almost given up playing vibraphonic instrument (7) PIBCORN vIBRaPhONiC* 

11 Corrupt teen agreed to be rehabilitated (10) DEGENERATE*

12 Instrument of boozer often lost (4) OBOE {Of+BoOzEr}

13 Others following Prince that's brightly coloured (5) PETAL {ET AL}<=>{P}

14 Guy at party arrived following lady - one with strings attached (8) MANDOLIN {MAN}{DO} with {IN}<=>{L}

16 Loose and relaxed fun - reading out back (8) UNFASTEN {FUN*}{ASTErN} Loose or Loosen?

18 Woman taken in by bogus instrument (5) SHAWM {SHA{W}M}

20 Keen - starting to sound out instrument (4) HARP sHARP

21 If ever coat gets crumpled, yell (10) VOCIFERATE*

23 Hospital department's clipped roster holding small order for dispenser (7) ?E?O?O? 

24 University choir's lead hiding in cabin playing instrument (7) BUCCINA {U}{Ch..r} in {CABIN}*

25 Light extract from Byron on fatalism (6) NONFAT [T]

26 Break from tax after refinance got voided (6) RECESS {CESS}<=>{Re...cE}

DOWN

1   Find fault with boring book at the beginning (5) BLAME{LAME}<=>{B}

2   Pressure European Community to join others with tact (7) RESPECT {RES{P}{EC}T}

3   Instrument's standard energy outlet? (9) FLAGEOLET {FLAG}{E}{O}{LET}

5   Throw out cloth - multiple times thrown out (5) EXILE tEXtILE

6   Instrument’s picture: clipped at the end (7) PICCOLO {PIC}{COLOn}

7   Music maker - softly yet surprisingly dismissed immunotherapy treatment (9) HARMONIUM IMMUNOtHeRApy

10 What gives depth to music - hard power and sonic modulation (9) HARMONICS {H}{ARM}{SONIC*}

13 Holding beer, gasp working with an instrument (9) PANTALEON {ALE} in {PANT}{ON}

15 Roman Catholic leaders banned playing fluorescent instrument (4,5) NOSE FLUTE FLUOrEScENT*

17 Mountain goat's weapon can be an instrument (7) ALPHORN {ALP}{HORN}

19 Gold leaf found in grain chamber (7) AURICLE {AU}{RIC{L}E}

21 Unpopular instrument - a musical instrument? (5) VIOLA {VIOL}{A}

22 Instrument to take humidity out of beachwear (5) TONGS ThONGS

Reference List

Bachelor = B, American = E, Sunday = S, School = S, Prince = P, Party = DO, Lady = L, Reading = R, Woman = W, University = U, Book = B, Pressure = P, Energy = E, Out = O, Time = T, Softly = P, Hard = H, Leaf = L, Humidity = H

No 14318, Wednesday 30 Oct 2025, Bruno

Solution to 13D 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.

This must be a first for THC with so many live characters in the Grid.

ACROSS

1   Shock as cat's found behind western edge of jungle (6) JOUNCE {OUNCE}<=>{Ju...e}

4   Music media incurring waste's finished (6) CLOSED {C{LOSE}D}

8   Most of vacation with group was cut into parts (7) TRISECT {TRIp}{SECT}

9   Actor with indecent mouth according to Spooner (4,3) JUDE LAW (~lewd jaw to jude law)

11 I avert disaster in metropolis with imagination (10) CREATIVITY {C{I+AVERT}*ITY}

12 Smooth function ends early (4) EVEN EVENt

13 Coffee drink - top layer replaced with some milk's flat (5) MATTE (-l+m)MATTE

14 Actor's diary with sensational entry vandalised after party (5,3) DORIS DAY {DIARY+Se...l}*<=>{DO}

16 Actor, a hard worker, blocked by cruel cast (5,3) BRUCE LEE {B{CRUEL*}EE}

18 Profit and loss expert's office (5) PLACE {P}{L}{ACE}

20 Artist turned away sportsperson and actor (4) CHER arCHER

21 Revolutionary very often has to appear in church with actor (5,5) CHEVY CHASE {CHE}{V}Y{C{HAS}E} Y from?

23 African country's new friend in France has limited influence (7) NAMIBIA {N}{AMI}{BIAs}

24 Germany's eccentric actor (3,4) MEG RYAN*

25 Director's viewpoint's excellent! (3,3) ANG LEE {ANGLE}{E}

26 Reputation of America - immediately needs to be promoted (6) STATUS {US}<=>{STAT}

DOWN

1   One of twelve jogger's jacket seen around gunroom, oddly cut (5) JUROR {Jo..eR} over {gUnRoOm}

2   University President starting to socialise with sour and unpleasant person (7) UPSTART {U}{P}{So...e}{TART}

3   City in Kerala, starts to educate all labourers - becomes "red" (9) COCHINEAL {COCHIN}{Ed...e}{All}{La...s}

5   Terrible, mostly noisy, extremely stinky (5) LOUSY {LOUd}{St..kY}

6   Resurgent posse reestablished to capture witch (7) SEERESS [T<=]

7   One becoming part of European network's English actor (5,4) DIANE LANE {D{1}ANE}{LAN}{E}

10 Actor playing devil - in Singapore on vacation (3,6) VIN DIESEL {DEVIL+IN+Si...rE}*

13 Spanish beach - centre of antihuman articles and drug (9) M?R?H?A?A (Addendum -  MARIHUANA {MAR}{antIHUman}{AN}{A} - See comments) 

15 Review of Copyright on yoghurt wrapping showing people resulting in compensation (9) REPAYMENT {APE}{R}<={Yog{MEN}hurT

17 Old city in British Columbia set up in green building material (7) CURBING {C{UR}B<=}{IN}{G}

19 Having great desire at heart, first to take top off (7) ATHIRST {AT}{H}{fIRST}

21 Credit to setter's intelligence ultimately's an offence (5) CRIME {CR}{I'M}{i...cE}

22 Foundation of strong bridge, propped up, breaks (5) SNAPS<=

Reference List

Music media = CD, Party = DO, Profit and Loss = P&L, Artist = RA, Very = V, Church = CE, New = N, Friend in French = AMI, Excellent = E, Immediately = STAT, University = U, President = P, English = E, Spanish beach = MAR, Copy = APE, Right = R, Old City = UR, Green = G, Heart = H