No 14630. Tuesday 04 Nov 2025, Hypatia

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

1   They guide drivers parking in new / old Madras  (4,4) ROAD MAPS {P} in {O+MADRAS}* 

5   Say, one's less sensitive  (6) NUMBER [DD]

10 Sleep returning with excellent American wonder drug  (7) PANACEA {NAP<=}{ACE}{A}

11 Natural in cargo pants  (7) ORGANIC*

12 Get hold of tips from respected elder at Church  (5) REACH {Re...d}{El..r}{At}{CH}

13 View with beds in busy places  (9) LANDSCAPE {AND} in {PLACES}*

14 Praise Spooner's club attached to the group  (3,2,3,4) PAT ON THE BACK (~bat on the pack to pat on the back)

18 How to get to swan from a fictional character  (6,6) DOCTOR WATSON {TO+SWAN}* [RA]

21 Previous publication from Cuba excited about Peck movie's climax  (4,5) BACK ISSUE {BAC{KISS}U*}{m..iE}

23 Angry individual before judge  (5) IRATE {1}{RATE}

24 New block in toilet far back  (4,3) LONG AGO {LO{N}{GAG}O}

25 Comprehensive command in bouts chosen regularly  (7) OMNIBUS {cOmMaNd+In+BoUtS}

26 Say Sushmita's engaged to get married here  (6) SWEDEN {S{WED}EN}

27 Essentially avoid ladies fighting to get time alone  (8) ISOLATED {avOid+LADIES}* over {T}

DOWN

1   Soldiers left state  (6) REPORT {RE}{PORT}

2   Cancel drawing in a periodical  (6) ANNUAL {ANNU{A}L}

3   Drops of iced cold matcha drunk with ordinary beverage  (9) MACCHIATO {Iced+C+MATCHA}*{O}

4   Intelligent sea creatures may provide this valuable insight?  (6,2,6) PEARLS OF WISDOM [C&DD]  

6   Eggs on uthappam recipes giving extra smoothness basically  (5) URGES Acrostic

7   Arab and an Assyrian wrapping colourful headgear  (8) BANDANAS [T]

8   This once more inspects cat's door repairing crooked scratches  (8) R?C?E?K? (Addendum - RECHECKS {RECHECK+CATS DOOR}* = CRROKED SCRATCHES [CA] - See comments}

9   What vets maybe doing with pets deteriorating?  (5,2,3,4) GOING TO THE DOGS [C&DD]

15 Moving old email - not bad  (9) EMOTIONAL {O+EMAIL+NOT}* 

16 Britain wholly plugging advantages for different folks  (8) ODDBALLS {ODD{B}{ALL}S}

17 Paddle boat manoeuvring oceanic race ultimately  (3,5) ICE CANOE {OCEANIC+racE}*

19 Strategic tactic let IBM again put up stores  (6) GAMBIT [T<=]

20 The ant's head, oddly drawn  (6) TENSED {ThE+aNtS+hEaD}

22 Setter's mature appearance  (5) IMAGE {I'M}{AGE}

Reference List

Parking = P, Old = O, American = A, Church = CH, New = N, Time = T, Soldiers = RE(Royal Engineers), Cold = C, Ordinary = O, Old = O, Britain = B