No 14836, Friday 03 Jul 2026, Crossant

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.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

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

ACROSS

1   Weak Queen refused to fast after start of summer (6) SICKLY {quICKLY}<=>{Su...r}

4   Warning boy to leave nasty, immoral habit (6) ADVICE {bAD}{VICE}

8   Mounting covert police operation to nab foreigner (7) SETTING {S{ET}TING}

9   Delighted when entering sanctuary in outskirts of Palakkad (7) PLEASED {LE{AS}E} in {Pa...aD}

11 Nicely go around flashing a new Tesla (10) PLEASANTLY {PL{A+N+TESLA}*Y}

12 Bird starting late gets worm? (4) INCH fINCH

13 Further education lags in that respect (5) THERE [T]

14 U.S. never bothered about India and the world (8) UNIVERSE {US+NEVER}* over {I}

16 Maybe Vasco da Gama from Portugal learning routes in the beginning (8) EXPLORER {EX}{P}{LORE}{Ro...s}

18 Military vehicles and tense, faceless rows of soldiers (5) TANKS {T}{rANKS}

20 Follow hooligan cycling around entrance of estate (4) OBEY {(-y)OB(+y)Y} over {Es...e}

21 In fact, session at home is fixed (10) DETERMINED {DE{TERM}{IN}ED}

23 Boy working hard without accomplishment ultimately gets extremely angry (7) BOILING {B}{tOILING}

24 What bowlers do when de Villiers bats - won't have slip mostly (7) DELIVER {DE+VillLIERs}*

25 Makes pens out of unhealthy styrene primarily (6) STYLES STYLusES

26 About to exit central building, understood? (6) LEARNT cENTRAL*

DOWN

1   Is finally all right? Great. (5) SWELL {iS}{WELL}

2   Bit of cream soup (no piece of potato) and cheese maybe (7) COTTAGE {Cr..m}{pOTTAGE}

3   Listen, leaders of national eminence lost and are angry (4,2,3) LEND AN EAR {Na...l+Em...e+Lost+AND+ARE}*

5   Lloyd botched an easy catch (5) DOLLY*

6   Judge one with a drink in Middle East (7) IMAGINE {1}{M{A}{GIN}E}

7   Implements tariffs restricting export revenues in the beginning (9) EXERCISES {EX{Ex...t}{Re...s}CISES}

10 Say most regressive, senseless last words perhaps (2,2,5) ET TU BRUTE {UTTEr<=}{BRUTE}

13 Revolutionary took best, essentially Marxist reading material (9) TEXTBOOKS* {TOOK+BEST+marXist}*

15 Check and re-enter if wrong (9) INTERFERE*

17 King and Queen maybe switching sides and allegiance (7) LOYALTY (-r+l)LOYALTY

19 More curious about India becoming rowdier (7) NOISIER {NO{I}SIER}

21 Slow person needs backing from time to time (5) DENSE {pErSoN+nEeDs}<=

22 Equalise at the end of tight game (5) EVENT {EVEN}{t..hT}

Reference List

Queen = QU, Boy = B, Foreigner = ET, New = N, India = I, Portugal = P, Tense = T, About = C, Sides = R,L

No 14809, Tuesday 02 Jun 2026, Crossant

Solution to 8A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

8   Better place found in search occasionally backfires (6) ?A?I?O  (Addendum - CASINO {fOuNd+In+SeArCh}<= - See comments)

9   Public gallery bombing kills girl, leader of youth to blame (8) CULPABLE {PUBliCgALLEry}*

10 What Vaibhav Sooryvanshi does is crazy (4) BATS [DD]

11 Letting in contaminated crude? No, no (10) ADMITTANCE ConTAMINATED*

12 That person gets a place at outskirts of Alps mountain range (9) HIMALAYAS {HIM}{A}{LAY}{AlpS}

14 Lecherous man, drunk, strays endlessly (5) SATYR STRAYs*

16 Finally confirming the rumour from source (4) GERM [Tail acrosic]

18 Reason criminal isn't brought in primarily (5) ALIBI {AL}{Isnt}{Br...t}{In} Semi&lit

19 Priest to work with European religious leader (4) POPE {P}{OP}{E}

21 Inability to coordinate movements of a transport vehicle for auditor (5) ATAXY {A}{(~taxi)TAXY}

23 Hospital in America getting business extremely regularly (9) INFIRMARY {IN}{FIRM}{A}{Re...lY}

26 About one cold heartless nurse melting, showing expression of sympathy (10) CONDOLENCE {C}{ON{COLD+NursE}*E}

28 Money anyway eventually becomes insignificant (4) TINY {TIN}{a...aY}

29 U.S. state beginning to lose goodwill, in trouble (8) CALAMITY {CA}{Lose}{AMITY}

30 Badly injured, Jack goes off devastated (6) RUINED INjURED*

DOWN

1   A date in Paris ending in love and bliss (8) PARADISE {PAR{A}{D}IS}{lovE}

2   Bit of sleep that is savoured throughout afternoon primarily (6) SIESTA {Sl..p}{IE}{Sa...d}{Th...t}{Af...n} &lit

3   Get upset with travel restrictions limiting all new arrivals basically (2,7) GO BANANAS {GO}{BAN{All}{New}{Ar...s}S}

4   Cheat lying about computers (4) SCAM<=

5   Reprimand son coming after scheduled time (5) SLATE {S}{LATE}

6   The French woman seducing men accepts a tip from leading light (4,4) LAVA LAMP {LA}{V{A}{Le...g}AMP}

7   Bold cover of Playboy amasses fortune (6) PLUCKY {Play{LUCK}boY}

13 Agree nearly everyone at home drinks? Good (5) ALIGN {ALl}{I{G}N}

15 People from Osaka maybe adopting one Japanese form of Buddhism, right? (9) CITIZENRY {CIT{1}{ZEN}{R}Y}

17 Gab could be both a gift and a curse perhaps (5,3) MIXED BAG {GAB}* [RA]

20 Was mother torn between father and elder daughter at first? (8) PARENTED {PA}{RENT}{El...r}{Da...r}

22 Norse God with hatchet cut trunk (6) THORAX {THOR}{AXe}

24 Revolutionary Marxist state's leader is off grid (6) MATRIX MARXIsT*

25 Flat in quiet, narrow street by the sound of it (5) PLAIN {P}{(~lane)LAIN}

27 Bill isn't passed when they have it (4) NAYS [CD]

Reference List

Criminal = AL(Capone), Priest = P, Work = OP, European = E, About = C, Money = TIN, Jack = J, Date = D, Son = S, The in French = LA, aAt home = IN< Good = G, Right = R, Quiet = P

No 14779, Tuesday 28 Apr 2026, Crossant

Solution to 17D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Want runs in the end (6) DEARTH {DEA{R}TH}

4   After headers of Cristiano Ronaldo, supporters start going crazy (8) CRACKERS {Cr...o}{Ro...o}{bACKERS}

9   Did without common parking for hotel (6) SPARED S(-h+p)PARED

10 Mumbai Indians celebrity, reportedly aggrieved, eventually moved (8) MIGRATED {MI}{(~great)GRATE}{a...eD}

12 Stink from bit of rotten, unopened vegetable (4) REEK {Ro...n}{lEEK}

13 Initially unacceptable terms also accommodated in complete reversal (10) SOMERSAULT {Un...e+TERMS+ALSO}*

15 Convey to American leader and escalate a crisis (5,2,1,4) BRING TO A HEAD {BRING}{TO}{A}{HEAD}

18 Instruction before young member of family takes foreign trip (12) PRESCRIPTION {PRE}{SCION} over {TRIP}*

21 Keeps returning to dock around Ukrainian port (10) SEVASTOPOL {SAVES}{TO}{LOP<=}

22 Nag about missing half of practice (4) CARP PRACtice<=

24 Associates with criminal types (8) CONSORTS {CON}{SORTS}

25 Eggs in bird cage, nearly hundred in the beginning (6) CAVIAR {AVIARy}<=>{C}

26 Banks maybe refusing loans, primarily pinching American customers (3,5) END USERS {lEND{US}ERS}

27 Insists on letting out front part of roadside property (6) ASSETS ASSErTS

DOWN

1   Give details of small rudimentary dwelling engulfed by river (8) DESCRIBE {DE{S}{CRIB}E}

2   He's learned something that has no practical value (8) ACADEMIC [DD]

3   Openings for trained, reliable, electrical engineers in plant (4) TREE Acrostic

5   One way to get more space in the attic - make a lot of noise (5,3,4) RAISE THE ROOF [DD]

6   Cheats and complains about suffering hard times in the end (4,6) CARD SHARPS {CARPS} over {HARD+t..eS}*

7   Consumes drug and drink after a bit of temptation (4,2) EATS UP {E} and {SUP}<=>{A}{Te...n}

8   Dignified boy staying away from heated debates (6) SEDATE DEbATES*

11 Vehicle perhaps comes to outskirts of Raipur too (5,7) MOTOR SCOOTER {COMES+TO+Ra..uR+TOO}*

14 Rage so often produces violent people (10) AGGRESSORS {RAGE+SO}* [Letter Bank]

16 Agree on disposal of files implicating popular American (8) FINALISE {FILES}* over {IN}{A}

17 Produces fire and smoke basically (8) ?N?P?R?S ()

19 Korean rapper, revolutionary soul (6) PSYCHE {PSY}{CHE}

20 Balanced playing eleven - left out MSD finally (6) EVENED {ElEVEN}*{msD}

23 Girl failing to finish drink (4) LASS LASSi

Reference List

Runs = R, Parking = P, Hotel = H, American = A, Hundred = C, American = US, Small = S, Drug = E, Boy = B, Left = L

No 14749, Tuesday 24 Mar 2026, Crossant

Solution to 20D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

8   Dream about getting money, love, bit of sunshine and drink (6) MIMOSA {AIM<=} over {M}{O}{Su...e}A

9   Guys practised after Australian Open (8) AMENABLE {MEN}{ABLE}<=>{A}

10 Backstage issue? (4) EMIT<=

11 Toppers of the English League may have lost lead perhaps (5,5) HEAVY METAL {The+En...h+Le...e+MAY+HAVE}*

12 Essentially stuffy, air conditioned, vacant lobby (9) PRIMARILY {PRIM}{AIR*}{LobbY}

14 Roll Back Support - Amazon's bestseller basically (5) BAGEL {LEG}{Am...n}{Be...r}<=

16 Initially trekked around 50 kilometres say (4) TALK {Tr...d}{Ar...d}{L}{K}

18 Model appears without clothes daily (5) PAPER aPPEARs*

19 Somewhat lucky I visited European city (4) KYIV [T]

21 Money returned around beginning of previous month (5) APRIL {LIR{Pr...s}A<]

23 Came across poem about a virtual world (9) METAVERSE {MET}{VERSE} over {A}

26 One sees ad about earning money in Asian region (4,6) EAST INDIES {1+SEES+AD}* over {TIN}

28 Reduce high speed (4) CLIP [DD]

29 Indian ascetic, for example, assuming new name on a small island (8) SANNYASI {SA{N}{N}Y}{S}{I}

30 One about to enter a far-off land (6) AFRICA {1}{C} in {A+FAR}*

DOWN

1   Drink with a bit of rum - Mai Tai perhaps (3,5) TIA MARIA {A+Rum+MAI+TAI}*

2   Saw boy standing behind (6) BOTTOM {MOTTO}{B}<=

3   Spooner's emergency officers getting coffee and cocoa perhaps (4,5) CASH CROPS (crash cops to cash crops)

4   Indian tribal leaving island returns once more (4) NAGA AGAiN<=

5   Yankee largely happy in African country (5) KENYA YANKEe*

6   Dance - it's easy (8) CAKEWALK [DD]

7   Say difficulty swallowing morsel eventually comes up in later years (3,3) OLD AGE {EG}{AD{m...eL}O}<=

13 Vacant space behind leg slip (5) LAPSE {APSE}<=>{L}

15 Largest English Academy sporting official Government stamp (5,4) GREAT SEAL {LARGEST+E+A}*

17 King and knight leaving without queen for recreational activity perhaps (8) KNITTING {K}{N}{quITTING}

20 Talent's not obvious, needs discerning insight to begin with (8) I?S?I?C? {Addendum - INSTINCT INdiSTINCT - See comments)

22 Alcaraz ditches car, cycles in extremely populous public squares in Spain (6) PLAZAS {(-a)LcarAZ(+a)A} in {Po...uS}

24 Fiery McEnroe blowing his top once again (6) ENCORE mCENROE*

25 Popular place for decorative work (5) INLAY {IN}{LAY}

27 Plant inspectors review industrial safety primarily (4) IRIS Acrostic

Reference List

Money = M, Australian = A, 50 = L, Kilometres = K, Money = TIN, New = N, Name = N, Small = S, Island = I, About = C, Boy = B, Leg = L, English = E, Academy = A, King = K, Knight = N, Queen = QU, Popular = IN

No 14721, Thursday 19 Feb 2026, Crossant

Solution to 14A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Walk outside the French castle (6) PALACE {PA{LA}CE}

4   About security devices - they could have alarms (6) CLOCKS {C}{LOCKS}

8   Aunt just cut call in the middle - that's strange (7) UNUSUAL {aUNt}{jUSt}{cUt}{cALl} 'That's' is superfluous

9   Fuel nearly explodes in service stations (7) GARAGES {GAs}{RAGES}

11 Students of "Holy Cross Bangalore" basically adapted right away (10) SCHOOLBOYS {HOLY+CrOSS+B}*  One 'O' less in the fodder

12 Fine couple, husband doing duty for wife (4) THIN T(+h-w)HIN

13 Snails may be seen regularly lying around in hollow (5) BASIN {sNaIlS+mAy+Be}<=

14 Compulsory stop checking for police vans essentially (8) E?F?R?E? (Addendum - ENFORCED {EN{FOR}{poliCE vans}D} - See comments)

16 Most delighted with taste of puff pastry filling. Hats off! (8) HAPPIEST {Puff}{PIE} in {HATS}*

18 Checks rules for auditor (5) REINS (~reigns)

20 Receives good education through school primarily (4) GETS Acrostic

21 Data? It's repeatedly cast out (10) STATISTICS {ITS+ITS+CAST}* Letter Bank Fodder should be together See comments 

23 Typical Donald nonsense basically rejected by Greenland angrily (7) GENERAL {GREENLAnd}*

24 Right, Arsenal perhaps missing good athletes (7) RUNNERS {R}{gUNNERS}

25 Extremely silly to stop practice (6) SYSTEM {SillY}{STEM}

26 Youngsters eventually enjoy retro bars (6) LEVERS {y...rS}{REVEL}<=

DOWN

1   Captain missing at ground causing alarm (5) PANIC CaPtAIN*

2   Reportedly reduces exercises (7) LESSONS (~lessens)

3   Tax restructuring restricts sellers essentially (9) CHALLENGE {CHA{seLLErs}NGE} 

5   Esophageal reflux regularly increases (5) LEAPS {eSoPhAgEaL}<=

6   American actress and singer has got talent, right? (7) CHARTER {CH{ART}ER}

7   Remarkable types of rodents climbing up inside small cages (9) SPECIMENS {S}{P{MICE<=}ENS}

10 Aspiring model wearing red A-line top (9) POTENTIAL {T} in {A+LINE+TOP}* 

13 Couple rents jewellery (9) BRACELETS {BRACE}{LETS}

15 Equipment's defective? If unused from the beginning - return (9) FURNITURE {IF+Un...d+RETURN}*

17 Signs of protests erupting, rejecting leader of Teheran (7) POSTERS PROtESTS*

19 Great batting future perhaps (7) INTENSE {IN}{TENSE}

21 Start with 1 Down? (5) SCARE [DD]

22 Maybe King and Queen scared about losing empire finally (5) CARDS SCAReD*

Reference List

The in French = LA, About = C, Right = R, Husband = H, Wife = W, Right = R, Good = G, Small = S, Model = T, Batting = IN

No 14692, Thursday 15 Jan 2026, Crossant

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 1A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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   Father cycling in race - it's not hard (6) F?O?P? (Addendum FLOPPY {(-p)OP(+p)P} in {FLY} - See comments)

4   University boys arrested by centre, causing uproar (6) HUBBUB {H{U}{BB}UB}

8   Coffee maker is behind counter, try Americano to start with (7) BARISTA {IS}<=>{BAR} with {Try}{Am...o}

9   Generally American partner controls resources centrally (7) USUALLY {US}{ALLY} over {r..oUr..s}

11 Picked up writing material at the same place (10) STATIONARY (~stationery)

12 Slowly move part of foot (4) INCH [DD]

13 "It's dangerous", he sums up (5) ADDER [DD]

14 Play favourite track entertaining everybody right in the beginning (5,3) PETER PAN {PET}{PAN} over {Ev...y}{Ri..t}

16 Entertaining cricket from both sides, one over to go (8) FUNCTION {FUN}{Cr...eT}{1{ON}

18 Doctor, tea or coffee? (5) MOCHA {MO}{CHA}

20 Fellow with topless model seeking excitement (4) FAST {F}{cAST}

21 Captivated by overtures from unknown, pretty looking blondes perhaps (10) SPELLBOUND{Un...n+Pr...y+Lo...g}+BLONDES}*}

23 Is fit after suspicion of damaged hamstring (7) DISABLE {IS}{ABLE}<=>{Da...d}

24 Romantic morning at Gold Valley finally (7) AMATORY {AM}{AT}{OR}{v...eY}

25 Miss Hermoine will eventually back Harry (6) NEEDLE {NEED} with {h...nE}{wilL}<=

26 Associate member of embassy lacking etiquette from the beginning (6) ATTACH ATTACHe

DOWN

1   Spread quickly, spread by influencers essentially (5) FEAST {F{i...uEn...s}AST}

2   Trial version put up covers one technical topic initially missed (7) OMITTED {DEMO<=} over {1}{Te...l}{To..c}

3   Vessel to serve bit of rice with Indian stew (9) POTPOURRI {POT}{POUR}{Rice}{I}

5   Retract comment supporting French article (5) UNSAY {SAY}<=>{UN}

6   Bizarre plastic container for coals (7) BRAZIER*

7   Accountant from the East enters party with a very American hat (9) BALACLAVA {BAL{CA<=}L}{A}{V}{A}

10 Saw what he used ?! (9) CARPENTER [CD/GK]

13 A time to switch sides to get praise (9) ADULATION {A}{DU(-r+l)LATION}

15 It's up to management executives basically to check period for completion of task (4,5) TIME LIMIT {{IT<=}{Ma...t}{Ex...s}{LIMIT}

17 Bedtime? Time for cheese perhaps (7) COTTAGE {COT}{T}{AGE}

19 Leaving extremely scenic Costa Rica - fantastic country (7) CROATIA {COsTA+RIcA}*

21 Shrub in Dallas with top pruned badly (5) SALAL dALLAS*

22 Neither partner conceding at that point (5) NORTH {NOR}{THat}

Reference List

University = U, Boy = B, Fellow = F, Gold = OR, Indian = I, French article = UN,  Very = V, Time = T, AGE

No 14666, Tuesday 16 Dec 2025, Crossant

Solution to 5D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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

8   City's popular event primarily for Chinese martial art (6) TAIPEI TAI(-ch+PE}PEI

9   Novel about a girl in love (8) ORIGINAL {A+GIRL+IN+O}*

10 Tailender finally dismissed, that's a comprehensive defeat (4) ROUT {t...eR}{OUT}

11 Behind bars post essentially nasty criminal activities (6,4) INSIDE JOBS {INSIDE}{JOB}{naSty}

12 Outline of America's stupid tariff (9) ADUMBRATE {A}{DUMB}{RATE}

14 Restless in Seattle perhaps, about to leave without child (5) ITCHY {cIT{CH}Y}

16 Resource for training module? (9,6) REFRESHER COURSE [CD]

19 Not a method of flushing out unknown adversary (5) ENEMY {ENEMa}{Y}

21 Notes about technocrats needing finances from the centre (9) CROTCHETS TECHnOCRaTS*

24 Careful - online criminals ensnaring old men in cybercrime basically (10) ECONOMICAL {E}{CON}{AL} over {Old}{Men}{In}{Cy...e}AL 

26 Nothing is obvious in the beginning perhaps (4) ZERO Anno not clear (Addendum - 0b...s - See comments)

27 Accept role and participate (4,4) TAKE PART {TAKE}{PART}

28 Country's right to occupy? Certainly not. (6) NORWAY {R} in {NO WAY}

DOWN

1   Boat transporting old injured pet (8) CANOODLE {CANO{OLD*}E}

2   Something expressed orally? (6) SPUTUM [CD]

3   Confusion about one new, fancy, red outfit (9) MINIDRESS {M{1}{N}I{RED*}SS} Wordplay doesn't work. See comments.

4   Chuck Norris agrees to act, at last making a comeback (4) TOSS [Tail acrostic<=]

5   Nervous in a city like Chicago perhaps (5) ?I?D? (Addendum - WINDY [DD] - See comments)

6   One female leaving Fuji entertained by just extravagant martial art (3-5) JIU-JITSU {1}{fUJI} in {JUST}*

7   Money to get boy a castle in North Africa (6) CASBAH {CAS{B}{A}H}

13 What belonged to them finally went to the next in line (5) THEIR {wenT}{HEIR}

15 Expert tensely working to disconnect lead from strapped explosive material (9) ACETYLENE {ACE}{TENsELY}*

17 Note - America is exiting. What's left? (8) REMINDER REMaINDER

18 Weekend stay duration cut by half unfortunately (8) SATURDAY {STAY+DURAtion}*

20 Money mostly kept back by sailor for drink (6) NECTAR {CENt<=}{TAR}

22 Difficult to control an unknown danger (6)  HAZARD {H{A}{Z}ARD}{

23 Mark's wearing brown coat (5) SMEAR {S{M}EAR}

25 Name of place is mentioned (4) CITE (~site)

Reference List

Chinese = CH, Child = CH, Unknown = Y, Online = E, Criminals = CON,AL, Right = R, New = N, Female = F, Boy = B, America = A, Sailor = TAR, Unknown = Z, Mark = M

No 14637, Wednesday 12 Nov 2025, Crossant

Welcome to our new setter CROSSANT. Bouquets and Brickbats welcome.

Solution to 22D 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   Boy initially refused to have toast (5) BROWN {B}{Re...d}{OWN}

7   No afterthought perhaps about getting a listening device (8) EARPHONE {PERHAps}*{ONE}

10 Stay in America, invest outside (7) SUSPEND {S{US}PEND}

11 Imagine Queen perhaps jamming, performing live (7) BELIEVE {BE{LIVE*}E}

12 What supervisors do about some trainees revolting (7) OVERSEE [T<=]

13 English women crowding section near church entrance (7) BEWITCH {B{E}{W}IT}{CH}

14 The way a criminal behaves in "Don" - stylish, essentially great acting (11) DISHONESTLY {DON+STYLISH+grEat}*

19 Story about victory - yes, saving a tree (4,3) LIVE OAK {LI{V}E}{O{A}K}

21 Make the negatives visible to bring out potential (7) DEVELOP [C&DD]

23 Songs and dances stopped by angry devotees initially (7) BALLADS {BALL{An..y}{De...s}S}

25 Repair shop again? (7) RESTORE {RE}{STORE}

26 This one thinks cold beer's bad. Odd. (8) CEREBRUM {C}{BEER}*{RUM}

27 Tubby's not been seen regularly (5) OBESE {nOt+BeEn+SeEn}

DOWN

1   God, he has drunk a large amount of alcohol (8) HOGSHEAD*

2   Sent back hostel night-watchmen guarding entrances (6) INLETS [T<=]

3   Embroidery that is done by an acupuncturist? (10) NEEDLEWORK [DD]

4   Good, clean food (4) GRUB {G}{RUB}

5   One new group for cricket perhaps (6) INSECT {1}{N}{SECT}

6   Give Cream of Wheat to begin with (6) BESTOW {BEST}{Of}{Wh..t}

8   Fool waving white flag endlessly (4-3)  HALF-WIT {WHITe+FLAg}*

9   Husband seen in eatery in city (5) DELHI {DEL{H}I}

13 A small fragment of food could provide a clue (10) BREADCRUMB [C&DD] 

15 Time to keep gold in warehouse (7) STORAGE {ST{OR}AGE}

16 Cry aloud getting more depressed, more sickly-looking (8) YELLOWER {(~yell)YEL}{LOWER}

17 Bail one out with this? (5) ALIBI {BAIL+1}* Semi&lit

18 Set openers of Sunrisers playing at this point (6) SPHERE {Su...s}{Pl...g}{HERE}

20 So, without right detaining everyone in Kashmir perhaps (6) VALLEY {V{ALL}ErY}

22 Perception: Not in favour of plan (6) V?S?O? (Addendum - VISION proVISION - See comments)

24 Certainly, he argues back regularly (4) SURE {hE+aRgUeS}<=

Reference List

Boy = B, Afterthought = PS, Queen perhaps = BEE, English = E, Women = W, Church = CH, Victory = V, Again = RE, Cold = C, Good = G, New = N, Husband = H, Right = R