No 14650, Thursday 27 Nov 2025, Dr. X

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   Model married hot, hep bisexual (13) HERMAPHRODITE*

8   Fine hotel in spot alongside river (5) S?E?R ()

9   Features trains leaving France for capital of Turkey (9) QUALITIES QUALI(-f+t)TIES

11 Facing a very difficult situation, miner exits frantically (2,8) IN EXTREMIS*

12 Japanese seasoning picked up by mom is outstanding (4) MISO [T]

14 Fine white linen of maiden in taxi, most expensive (7) CAMBRIC {CA{M}B}{RICh}

16 Relaxing with slim girl after drinking a bit of wine (7) THAWING {TH{A}{Wine}IN}{G}

17 Company reviewed suggestion to incorporate department making jam (7) OCCLUDE {CO<=}{CLU{D}E}

19 Copper and gold discovered at large Mexican city (7) CUAUTLA {CU}{AU}{AT+L}*

21 Hunter nearly snares sea-eagle (4) ERNE [T]

22 Arrives outside bar with ultimately glamorous beauty (10) COMELINESS {COME{LINE}S}{g...uS}

25 Prince left serious after bad attack (9) OFFENSIVE {pENSIVE}<=>{OFF}

26 Rise up to welcome many Muslim rulers (5) EMIRS {E{M}IRS*}

27 Enters into a dispute with member wanting difficulty in puzzles (7,6) CROSSES SWORDS {CROSS{mESS}WORDS}

DOWN

2   English batter may be excellent at first glance (7) EYEBEAM {E}{MAY+BE+Ex...t}*

3   Quiet about demagogue beginning to impose ban (10) MORATORIUM {M{ORATOR}{Im...e}UM}

4   Put out pastry to entertain queen (5) PIQUE {PI{QU}E}

5   One probing cartel is remarkably level-headed (9) REALISTIC {1} in {CARTEL+IS}*

6   Kill Mafia boss outside institute (2,2) DO IN {DO{I}N}

7   Model in retreat cuddling bisexual lady on island in capital city (7) TBILISI {SIT<=} over {BI}{L} on {I}

8 & 20 Be on the verge of breaking a law, like reckless yachtsman might do? (4,5,2,3,4) SAIL CLOSE TO THE WIND [DD]

10 They are seen in bars, straying on vacation, picking up attractive girls (4,7) SHOT GLASSES {St..nG} over {HOT}{LASSES}

13 Murderer outside pub reverses vehicle finally, runs over Chilean police officer (10) CARABINERO {CA{BAR<=}IN}{v...lE}{R}{O}

15 Nice to be tipsy, drinking Old Monk (9) COENOBITE {NICE+TO+BE}* over {O}

18 Talk about origin of indigenous tree (7) CONIFER {CON{In...s}FER}

20 See 8 Down 

23 Former partners introducing company's top managers briefly (5) EXECS {EXE{Co...y}S}

24 Opening of academy by rising star (4) ANUS {A}{SUN<=}

Reference List

France = F, Maiden = M, Girl = G, Department = D, Large = L, Prince = P, Many = M, Member = M, English = E, Queen = QU, Bisexual = BI, Lady = L, Island = I, Runs = R, Over = O, Old = O

No 14649, Wednesday 26 Nov 2025, Dr. X

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

1   Mean American in charge, ultimately vindictive (8) INDICATE {INDIC{A}T}{v...tE}

5   Short programme on detectives is cool (6) PLACID {PLAn}{CID}

10 Dog found in Japan perhaps (7) BASENJI {BASE}{IN+J}*

11 Treated mumps after posh lady in retreat makes single payment of money (4,3) LUMP SUM {MUMPS}*<=>{U}{L}<=

12 Pancake left in receptacle on island (5) BLINI {B{L}IN}{I}

13 Sucking up whiskey in fine retro bar with old group (9) K?W?O?I?G (Addendum - KOWTOWING - {OK<=}{W}{T}{O}{WING} - See comments)

14 & 21 Sudden attack of wild irrationality that's caused by standing upside down (1,4,2,5,2,3,4) A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD [C&DD]

18 Stupid, new president crushed by court action (6-6) WOODEN-HEADED {N}{HEAD} in {WOO}{DEED}

21 See 14 Across

23 Small anchor close to thick line (5) KEDGE {t..cK}{EDGE}

24 Disaster after husband starts to eat narcotic plant that's poisonous (7) HENBANE {BANE}<=>{H}{Eat}{Na...c}

25 Men start to analyse British politician's rhetoric (7) ORATORY {OR}{An...e}{TORY}

26 Exhausted and miserable, having lost pep (6) SAPPED {SA{PEP*}D}

27 A little error by princess on programme can be corrected (8) EDITABLE {Er...r}{DI}{TABLE}

DOWN

1   Drink in magnificent bar inside big emporium at launch (6) IMBIBE Acrostic

2   Desire to obtain mule and African mammal (6) DASSIE {D{ASS}IE}

3   Awfully egocentric model dismissed caretaker (9) CONCIERGE {EGOCENtRIC}*

4   Bumpkin in his estate, very boisterous and friendly (5,2,7) THICK AS THIEVES {HICK} in {HIS+ESTATE+V}* 

6   Member beginning to observe West Indian dance (5) LIMBO {LIMB}{Ob...e}

7   Very strong criminal holding a whip (4-4) CAST-IRON {C{A}{STIR}ON}

8   Dig some dirt at premiere about heroes (8) DEMIGODS {DIG+SOME+Dirt}*

9   Be unsure and bend to check letter at the top on both the taps (4,3,3,4) BLOW HOT AND COLD {B{Le...r}OW}{HOT AND COLD}

15 Busy baker quickly making morning meal (9) BREAKFAST {BAKER}*{FAST}

16 Jumps with eagerness after wife cuts cake in retreat (8) TWITCHES {ITCHES}<=>{SE{W}T<=}

17 Weaken, overwhelmed by drink frequently (6,2) SOFTEN UP {S{OFTEN}UP}

19 Drops at the edges inside a sphere accumulate on surface (6) ADSORB {A}{{DropS}{ORB}

20 Enter text again and your password at first to enter network (6) RETYPE {RET{Your}{Pa...d}E}

22 Pick up some apparel at emporium (5) ELATE [T]

Reference List

American = A, Japan = J, Posh = U, Lady = L, Left = L, Island = I, Whiskey = W, Bar = T, Old = O, New = N, Husband = H, Men = OR, Princess = DI, Model = T, Very = V, Wife = W

No 14648, Tuesday 25 Nov 2025, Dr. X

Solution to 9A 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   Rebellious men stabbed during poll - a shocking way to die? (13) ELECTROCUTION {ELECT{OR<=}{CUT}ION} 

8   Watery discharge from her gum wound, not good (5) RHEUM {HER+gUM}*

9   Cash, ring and gem at centre stolen by outlaws (9) B?N?N?T?S (Addendum - BANKNOTES  {BAN{KNOT}{gEm}S} - See comments)

11 Dynamic English icon taking lecture relating to revival of traditional style (10) NEOCLASSIC {E+ICON}* over {CLASS}

12 Test about scientifically classified groups (4) TAXA {TAX}{A}

14 Mixed gin with Italian vermouth - extremely elated and lit (7) IGNITED {GIN*}{IT}{El..eD}

16 Liqueur in party, most dry (7) CAMPARI {CAMP}{ARId}

17 American author delights at launch in store (7) GARDNER {GAR{De...s}NER}

19 Contemptible person bit guard, dashed out of university (7) DIRTBAG {BIT+GuARD}*

21 Strange Scottish swindle, billions stolen (4) UNCO bUNCO

22 Frugal person beginning to examine deception by old cheapskate (10) ECONOMISER {Ex...e}{CON}{O}{MISER}

25 Trooper is running back (9) POSTERIOR*

26 & 8D What pole vaulter will do to get lost (4,1,7,4) TAKE A RUNNING JUMP [DD]

27 Model at Ankara, she is extremely skinny (2,4,2,1,4) AS THIN AS A RAKE*

DOWN

2   Recline, swilling old wine (3,4) LIE DOWN*

3   Fighting about ultimately controversial ending (10) COMPLETING {COMP{c...aL}ETING}

4   Finally expose bro's bad habits (5) ROBES {e...sE+BROS}*

5   Completely sure of fraud and wrongdoing involving new director (9) CONVINCED {CON}{VI{N}CE}{D}

6   Fan reviewed Adele's latest song (4) TUNE {NUT<=}{a...lE}

7   Characters in most ravaged Czech city (7) OSTRAVA [T]

8   See 26 Across 

10 Major having a drink with girl on base, a military assembly point (7,4) STAGING AREA {ST{A}{GIN}{G}AR}{E}{A}

13 Atrium refurbished after receiving proper approval (10) IMPRIMATUR {ATRIUM}* over {PRIM}

15 Government's disastrous measure isolates America (9) DIRECTION {DIRE}{aCTION}

18 Gives a different part to versatile actress (7) RECASTS*

20 Boy hikes around Cambodia's capital (7) BISHKEK {B}{HIKES*}{K}

23 Nasal passages in baboon are slender (5) NARES [T]

24 Engage in game show (4) MESH [T]

Reference List

Men = OR, Good = G, English = E, About = A, Italian vermouth = IT, University = U, Billions = B, Old = O, New = N, Director = D, Girl = G, Base = E, America = A