A medium strength Jumbo and a decent accompaniment to a working weekend. 39a got on my wick, but the rest was fairly enjoyable. The long uns were proper long uns and a good chunk of the Times Jumbo bingo card got filled. (Composer? Check. Musical term? Check and check. Oxbridge nod? Check. French? Oui. German? Ja. Classics? Of course. Geography? Yup. And so on and so forth.)

Now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has picked your pockets then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Decorate missing central point – that becomes showy (6)

Answer: GARISH (i.e. “showy”). Solution is GARNISH (i.e. “decorate”) with the N or “central” letter removed.

5. With this, evidence of engagement seen in desert? (7)

Answer: ABANDON (i.e. to “desert”). When written as A BAND ON the solution also playfully satisfies “with this, evidence of engagement” – a BAND being another word for a ring.

9. Jazz fans head-to-head with very absorbing musical instruction (8)

Answer: STACCATO (i.e. “musical instruction”, in this case “with each note detached or disconnected” (Chambers)). Solution is CAT and CAT (i.e. “jazz fans” both) placed “head-to-head”, like so: TAC-CAT. This is then placed in or “absorbed by” SO (i.e. “very”), like so: S(TAC-CAT)O.

13. Particularly demanding aspect of ethics (11,10)

Answer: CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVE (i.e. “aspect of ethics”, in this case “in the ethics of Kant, the absolute unconditional command of the moral law, irrespective of every ulterior end or aim, obliging people to act responsibly” (Chambers)). Solution is CATEGORICAL (i.e. “particularly”) followed by IMPERATIVE (i.e. “demanding”).

14. Cardinal put on clothes for early period (5,3)

Answer: STONE AGE (i.e. “early period”). Solution is ONE (i.e. “cardinal” number) placed in or “clothed” by STAGE (i.e. to “put on”), like so: ST(ONE)AGE.

15. Politician in India two journalists obstructed (7)

Answer: IMPEDED (i.e. “obstructed”). Solution is MP (i.e. “politician”, specifically a Member of Parliament) placed “in” between I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet), ED and ED (i.e. “two journalists”, both short for an editor), like so: I-(MP)-ED-ED.

16. Slogger run out – Jack intercepting whack (6)

Answer: TROJAN (i.e. “slogger”, or hard-working person). Solution is RO (a recognised abbreviation of “run out” in cricket) and J (a recognised abbreviation of “Jack” used on playing cards) all placed in or “intercepting” TAN (i.e. to beat or “whack”), like so: T(RO-J)AN.

17. Endorsement given by diva in performing with alto (10)

Answer: VALIDATION (i.e. “endorsement”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “performing”) of DIVA IN and ALTO.

20. Maybe Stalin’s rule hit Castro badly, going into decline (12)

Answer: DICTATORSHIP (i.e. “maybe Stalin’s rule” –plenty of other dictators are available). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of HIT CASTRO placed “into” DIP (i.e. “decline”), like so: D(ICTATORSH)IP.

23. Society backed squeeze in political manipulation (4)

Answer: SPIN (i.e. “political manipulation”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “society”) followed by NIP (i.e. “squeeze”) once reversed (indicated by “backed”), like so: S-PIN.

24. Material possibly dangerous when used by top map-makers (8)

Answer: ASBESTOS (i.e. “material possibly dangerous”). Solution is AS (i.e. “when”) followed by BEST (i.e. “top”) and OS (i.e. “map-makers”, specifically Ordnance Survey).

26. University to put in test for learning experience (8)

Answer: TUTORIAL (i.e. “learning experience”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) and TO placed or “put in” TRIAL (i.e. “test”), like so: T(U-TO)RIAL.

29. Caste inside worshipped as god no longer restricted (12)

Answer: DECLASSIFIED (i.e. “no longer restricted”). Solution is CLASS (i.e. “caste”) placed “inside” DEIFIED (i.e. “worshipped as god”), like so: DE(CLASS)IFIED.

30. Encouraged war reporter encircling ancient hideout one duke’s abandoned (10)

Answer: EMBOLDENED (i.e. “encouraged”). Solution is EMBED (i.e. a “war reporter” given official placement within a military unit) wrapped around or “encircling” OLD (i.e. “ancient”) and DEN (i.e. “hideout”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “duke’s abandoned” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “duke”), like so: EMB(OLD-EN)ED.

32. Excellent emperor on vehicle carrying British cop to Chileans (10)

Answer: CARABINERO (i.e. “cop to Chileans”). Solution is AI (i.e. “excellent”, i.e. A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent. I really should have that stored as autotext given the number of times I keep having to type it out) and NERO (i.e. an “emperor”) both placed “on” or after CAR (i.e. “vehicle”). This is all then wrapped around or “carrying” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: CAR-(A(B)I-NERO).

34. Showing cheek perhaps accepting easy extra work (12)

Answer: MOONLIGHTING (i.e. “extra work”). Solution is MOONING (i.e. “showing cheek perhaps”, or baring one’s arse) wrapped around or “accepting” LIGHT (i.e. “easy”), like so: MOON(LIGHT)ING.

36. There’s deduction from pay with industrial action (8)

Answer: STOPPAGE. Solution satisfies “deduction from pay” and “industrial action”.

38. Suggestion from union freshly filled with purpose (8)

Answer: INNUENDO (i.e. “suggestion”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “freshly”) of UNION wrapped around or “filled with” END (i.e. intent or “purpose”), like so: INNU(END)O.

39. Writer George in Silk Road city missing an old bit of Germany (4)

Answer: SAND (i.e. “writer George” – we’ve recently had her, so to speak, making this an easier get). Solution is SAMARKAND (i.e. “Silk Road city”) with A MARK removed (indicated by “missing an old bit of Germany”, “bit” being another word for a coin). One for the Olav Bjortomts among you.

41. French governess pressurised first person entering region round Metz (12)

Answer: MADEMOISELLE (i.e. “French governess”, not just an unmarried Frenchwoman). Solution is MADE (i.e. “pressurised”) followed by I (i.e. “first person” – second person being “you” and third person being “they”) once placed in or “entering” MOSELLE (i.e. “region round Metz” in France), like so: MADE-MO(I)SELLE.

43. Zadok say: is he right, after disturbance, to seize power? (4,6)

Answer: HIGH PRIEST (i.e. “Zadok say”, appointed so by King David. To be honest, most of the other high priests that spring to mind are from horror movies). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “after disturbance”) of IS HE RIGHT wrapped around or “seizing” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: HIGH(P)RIEST.

44. Unfortunate gag we’re told (6)

Answer: WRETCH (i.e. an “unfortunate”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “we’re told”) of RETCH (i.e. to “gag”).

46. Former Conservative employer’s apologist? (7)

Answer: EXCUSER (i.e. “apologist”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former”) followed by C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) and USER (i.e. “employer”).

48. Precisely locate cask in filling tankard (8)

Answer: PINPOINT (i.e. “precisely locate”). Solution is PIN (i.e. “cask”) followed by IN once placed in or “filling” POT (i.e. “tankard”), like so: PIN-PO(IN)T.

50. Delivery usually associated with an address in southern England? (8,13)

Answer: RECEIVED PRONUNCIATION. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, my Brewers offering “a form of British English pronunciation based on educated speech in Southern England, which is generally regarded as being the most regionally neutral and is accepted as a standard”. That’s about it, unless I’m missing something devastatingly clever. The solution is sometimes abbreviated as RP, but I’m not getting much along that avenue.

51. Clasp securing tot’s protective covering (8)

Answer: CLADDING (i.e. “protective covering”). Solution is CLING (i.e. “clasp”) wrapped around or “securing” ADD (i.e. to “tot” up), like so: CL(ADD)ING.

52. Horse with info about duck being cooler underground? (7)

Answer: DUNGEON (i.e. “cooler underground” – “cooler” being a slang term for a jail). Solution DUN (i.e. a variety of “horse”) followed by GEN (i.e. “info”) once wrapped “about” O (i.e. “duck”, a zero score), like so: DUN-GE(O)N.

53. Sorrow engulfing Miles seen before knight’s tomb (6)

Answer: DOLMEN (i.e. “tomb”). Solution is DOLE (i.e. “sorrow”) wrapped around or “engulfing” M (a recognised abbreviation of “miles”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) and followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess), like so: DOL(M)E-N.

Down clues

2. Necktie Mike pinched from mum’s bed (5)

Answer: ASCOT (i.e. a flavour of “necktie”). Solution is MA’S COT (i.e. “mum’s bed”) with the M removed (indicated by “Mike pinched” – Mike being the letter M in the phonetic alphabet).

3. Planned in Hebridean island to accommodate wine lake (11)

Answer: INTENTIONAL (i.e. “planned”). Solution is IN and IONA (i.e. “Hebridean island”) wrapped around or “accommodating” TENT (i.e. a deep-red Spanish “wine”). This is all then followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: (IN-(TENT)-IONA)-L.

4. Monopolise a crowd hosting ace winter celebration? (8)

Answer: HOGMANAY (i.e. “winter celebration”). Solution is HOG (i.e. “monopolise”) and MANY (i.e. “a crowd”) once wrapped around or “hosting” A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards), like so: HOG-MAN(A)Y.

5. Enjoy view in common area with endless grassy plot (5)

Answer: AGREE (i.e. “enjoy view in common”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) followed by GREEN (i.e. “grassy plot”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: A-GREE.

6. Feature of bridge that needs care shown with maximum speed lowered (7)

Answer: AUCTION (i.e. “feature of bridge”, the card game). Solution is CAUTION (i.e. “care”) with the C (i.e. “maximum speed”, symbolic of the speed of light) moved along a couple of notches or “lowered” – this being a down clue, like so: (C)AUTION => AU(C)TION.

7. Shabby detective I went out with, necking drink (11)

Answer: DILAPIDATED (i.e. “shabby”). Solution is DI (i.e. “detective”, specifically a Detective Inspector), I and DATED (i.e. “went out with”) all wrapped around or “necking” LAP (i.e. “drink”), like so: DI-(LAP)-I-DATED.

8. Wanderer from Massachusetts bathed in green light (5)

Answer: NOMAD (i.e. “wanderer”). Solution is MA (US state abbreviation of “Massachusetts”) placed “in” NOD (i.e. go-ahead or “green light”), like so: NO(MA)D.

9. Strong drink consumed by son and daughter hastily (9)

Answer: STEADFAST (i.e. “strong”). Solution is TEA (i.e. “drink”) placed between or “consumed by” S and D (recognised abbreviations of “son” and “daughter” respectively) and followed by FAST (i.e. “hastily”), like so: S(TEA)D-FAST.

10. Order to stop at sea a container with sulphur as cargo? (5)

Answer: AVAST (i.e. “order to stop at sea”). Solution is A and VAT (i.e. “container”) once wrapped around or having “as cargo” S (chemical symbol of “sulphur”), like so: A-VA(S)T.

11. At home, nothing is to stop French sweetheart showing decorative work (11)

Answer: CHINOISERIE (i.e. “decorative work”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”), O (i.e. “nothing”) and IS all placed in or “stopping” CHERIE (i.e. “French [for] sweetheart”), like so: CH(IN-O-IS)ERIE. One remembered from its previous appearance back in the mists of time.

12. Old journeymen – those against leaving Nag’s Head? (3,4)

Answer: THE MAGI (i.e. “old journeymen”). Solution is THEM (i.e. “those”) followed by AGIN (i.e. dialectical or facetious form of “against”) once the N has been removed (indicated by “leaving Nag’s Head”, i.e. the first letter of “nag”), like so: THEM-AGI.

18. Old man recalled element, allowed for inclusion for dessert (5,4)

Answer: APPLE TART (i.e. “dessert”). Solution is PA (i.e. “old man”, both informal references to one’s father) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and followed by PART (i.e. “element”). This is all then wrapped around or “including” LET (i.e. “allowed”), like so: AP-P(LET)ART.

19. Saint removed from evil church feature in fire (7)

Answer: INSPIRE (i.e. to “fire” up). Solution is SIN (i.e. “evil”) with the S removed (indicated by “saint removed from” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “saint”, not just ST) and the remainder followed by SPIRE (i.e. “church feature”), like so: IN-SPIRE.

21. Crate containing second part needed for pot (9)

Answer: CASSEROLE (i.e. “pot”). Solution is CASE (i.e. “crate”) wrapped around or “containing” S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and followed by ROLE (i.e. “part”), like so: CAS(S)E-ROLE.

22. Science set down in working model (8)

Answer: ONTOLOGY (i.e. “the ’science’ that deals with the principles of pure being” (Chambers). One of those sciences that wears a big “I’m a science” badge pinned to their garish “I’m a science” T-shirt while insisting that they really are a science to anyone who’ll listen, preferably bursaries). Solution is LOG (i.e. to record or “set down”) placed “in” ON (i.e. “working”) and TOY (i.e. “model”), like so: ON-TO(LOG)Y.

25. Trade and oil supply interrupted by current leader (9)

Answer: EDITORIAL (i.e. “leader” or leading article in a newspaper). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of TRADE and OIL wrapped around or “interrupted by” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics), like so: ED(I)TORIAL.

27. Write number appearing within a small range (9)

Answer: APENNINES (i.e. Italian mountain “range”). Solution is PEN (i.e. to “write”) and NINE (i.e. “number”) both placed “within” A and S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: A-(PEN-NINE)-S.

28. East German Oscar frames a Turner, that’s continuously repeated (8)

Answer: OSTINATO (i.e. a musical phrase “that’s continuously repeated”). Solution is OST (i.e. “East German”, i.e. the German for “east”) and O (“Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet) all wrapped around TINA (i.e. “a Turner” – other famous Turners are available), like so: OS(TINA)T-O.

31. Cobblers pursue proctor’s attendant (7)

Answer: BULLDOG (i.e. a “proctor’s attendant” at Oxford – one of those everyday terms then). Solution is BULL (i.e. “cobblers” or tosh) followed by DOG (i.e. to “pursue”).

33. Employed as trainee, secretary sent back pennies – living cost frozen? (11)

Answer: APPRENTICED (i.e. “employed as trainee”). Solution is PA (i.e. “secretary” or Personal Assistant) reversed or “sent back”. This is then followed by P (a recognised abbreviation of pence or “pennies”), then RENT (i.e. “living cost”) and ICED (i.e. “frozen”), like so: AP-P-RENT-ICED.

34. Make whole new lesson about overture to Hebrides – that was his (11)

Answer: Felix MENDELSSOHN (i.e. “Hebrides – that was [one of] his” pieces of music). Solution is MEND (i.e. “make whole”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “new”) of LESSON once wrapped “about” H (i.e. “overture to Hebrides”, i.e. the first letter of “Hebrides” – a spot of recycling there), like so: MEND-ELSSO(H)N.

35. Reference to ailment is revolting (11)

Answer: TESTAMONIAL (i.e. “reference”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “revolting”) of TO AILMENT IS.

37. English daisy for example good seasonal item (6,3)

Answer: EASTER EGG (i.e. “seasonal item”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by ASTER (i.e. “daisy”), then E.G. (i.e. “for example”) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”).

40. European resort – watercourse rising beneath it (8)

Answer: SPANIARD (i.e. a “European”). Solution is SPA (i.e. “resort”) followed by DRAIN (i.e. “watercourse”) once reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: SPA-NIARD.

42. Dawn’s answer spoken after posh reader’s introduction (7)

Answer: AURORAL (i.e. “dawn’s” or relating to the dawn). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) and ORAL (i.e. “spoken”), once the latter has been placed “after” U (i.e. “posh”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of the upper class) and R (i.e. “reader’s introduction”, i.e. the first letter of “reader”), like so: A-(U-R)-ORAL.

43. Amply bearded king in utility vehicle he owns? (7)

Answer: HIRSUTE (i.e. “amply bearded”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “king”, specifically the Latin Rex) placed in HIS UTE (i.e. “utility vehicle he owns”), like so: HI(R)S-UTE.

45. Regularly harvested wheat in this Caribbean location (5)

Answer: HAITI (i.e. “Caribbean location”). “Regularly harvested” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of WHEAT IN THIS.

47. God, canine, Anubis finally departing (5)

Answer: CUPID (i.e. Roman “god” of love). Solution is CUSPID (i.e. “canine”) with the S removed (indicated by “Anubis finally departing”, i.e. the last letter of “Anubis”).

48. Smooth-shelled nut – tropical waterfowl dropping large one (5)

Answer: PECAN (i.e. “smooth-shelled nut”). Solution is PELICAN (i.e. “tropical waterfowl”) with the L and I removed (indicated by “dropping large one”, L being a recognised abbreviation of “large”, and I being a Roman numeral for one).

49. Special occasion other than Anglican presumably (5)

Answer: NONCE (i.e. “special occasion”). When written as NON-CE the solution also playfully satisfies “other than Anglican presumably” – CE being a recognised abbreviation of the Church of England).

Another late one, I’m afraid. It seems weekdays and Jumbos aren’t mixing very well. I can’t remember too much about this one, if I’m honest, other than waving a middle finger long and hard at 47a. That said, we’ve certainly had worse.

Now that the competition deadline has long since passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you the bum’s rush then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Dangerous reptile flusters hack regularly visiting north-east (11)

Answer: RATTLESNAKE (i.e. “dangerous reptile”). Solution is RATTLES (i.e. “flusters”) followed by AK (i.e. “hack regularly”, i.e. every other letter of HACK) once placed in or “visiting” NE (a recognised abbreviation of “north-east”), like so: RATTLES-N(AK)E.

7. Old friend talked of spirit’s shimmering effect (11)

Answer: OPALESCENCE (i.e. “shimmering effect”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by PAL (i.e. “friend”) and a homophone (indicated by “talked of”) of ESSENCE (i.e. “spirit”), like so: O-PAL-ESCENCE.

13. Last of kids shut up, being exhausted! (5)

Answer: SPENT (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is S (i.e. “last [letter] of kids”) followed by PENT (i.e. “shut up” inside).

14. Limited object the French authorise (7)

Answer: ENTITLE (i.e. “authorise”). Solution is ENTITY (i.e. an “object”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “limited”) and the remainder followed by LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the French for “the”), like so: ENTIT-LE.

15. Month a boxer initially talked about a liquid measure (9)

Answer: DECALITRE (i.e. “liquid measure” – interesting after KILOLITRE last week). Solution is DEC (i.e. “month”, short for December) followed by Muhammad ALI (i.e. “a boxer”), then T (i.e. “initially talked”, i.e. the first letter of “talked”) and RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies).

16. Interplanetary craft ultimately needs steps with it (9)

Answer: SPACESHIP (i.e. “interplanetary craft”). Solution is S (i.e. “ultimately needs”, i.e. the last letter of “needs”) followed by PACES (i.e. “steps”) and HIP (i.e. trendy or “with it”).

17. A singular type intended to dispose of a potpourri (10)

Answer: ASSORTMENT (i.e. “potpourri”). Solution is A followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”), then SORT (i.e. “type”) and MEANT (i.e. “intended”) once the A has been removed (indicated by “to dispose of a”), like so: A-S-SORT-MENT.

20. Vicious dog accompanying a Republican judge (7)

Answer: ARBITER (i.e. “judge”). Solution is BITER (i.e. “vicious dog”) placed after or “accompanying” A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: (A-R)-BITER.

22. Extremely popular breezy-sounding plain (7)

Answer: PRAIRIE (i.e. “plain”). Solution is PR (i.e. “extremely popular”, i.e. the first and last letters of “popular”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “sounding”) of AIRY (i.e. “breezy”), like so: PR-AIRIE.

24. A newlywed taking in garments at first to shorten (7)

Answer: ABRIDGE (i.e. “to shorten”). Solution is A followed by BRIDE (i.e. “newlywed”) once wrapped around or “taking in” G (i.e. “garments at first”, i.e. the first letter of “garments”), like so: A-BRID(G)E.

25. Trio mostly raving originally about sick suspense story (8)

Answer: THRILLER (i.e. “suspense story”). Solution is THREE (i.e. “trio”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by R (i.e. “raving originally”, i.e. the first letter of “raving”). This is all then wrapped “about” ILL (i.e. “sick”), like so: THR(ILL)E-R.

26. Disclose how age impaired a futile mission (4-5,5)

Answer: WILD-GOOSE CHASE (i.e. “futile mission”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “impaired”) of DISCLOSE HOW AGE.

28. Muslim’s legal expert’s everyday clothing (5)

Answer: MUFTI. Solution satisfies “Muslim’s legal expert” and “everyday clothing”.

29. Unusually nasty adverse mark for use of language (6)

Answer: SYNTAX (i.e. “use of language”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unusually”) of NASTY followed by X (i.e. a cross or “adverse mark”), like so: SYNTA-X.

30. Hardy character’s suitor carrying light by day (10)

Answer: WOODLANDER (i.e. “Hardy character”, referring to Thomas Hardy’s novel The Woodlanders). Solution is WOOER (i.e. “suitor”) wrapped around or “carrying” LAND (i.e. to “light” upon) once first placed after or “by” D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”), like so: WOO(D-LAND)ER.

33. Silver-haired poet picked up top journalist (10)

Answer: GREYHEADED (i.e. “silver-haired”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “picked up”) of Thomas GRAY (i.e. 18th century English “poet”) followed by HEAD (i.e. “top”) and ED (i.e. “journalist”, short for editor), like so: GREY-HEAD-ED.

35. Reduce size of quiet skating venue (6)

Answer: SHRINK (i.e. “reduce size of”). Solution is SH (i.e. “quiet”) followed by RINK (i.e. “skating venue”).

37. Book miners one found outside a hotel (5)

Answer: NAHUM (i.e. “book” of the Old Testament of The Bible). Solution is NUM (i.e. “miners”, specifically the National Union of Miners) wrapped around or placed “outside” of A and H (i.e. “hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: N(A-H)UM.

39. Scallywag taking photograph of one applying lash? (14)

Answer: WHIPPERSNAPPER (i.e. “scallywag”). When written as WHIPPER SNAPPER the solution also playfully satisfies someone “taking photograph of one applying lash”.

41. Clear first of plants I culled ineptly (8)

Answer: PELLUCID (i.e. perfectly “clear”). Solution is P (i.e. “first [letter] of plants”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “ineptly”) of I CULLED, like so: P-ELLUCID.

44. Obstruction set back lead communications satellite (7)

Answer: TELSTAR (i.e. “communications satellite”). Solution is LET (i.e. archaic word for “obstruction” we’ve seen a couple of times now in Jumbos) reversed (indicated by “set back”) and followed by STAR (i.e. “lead” actor, say), like so: TEL-STAR.

45. Heavyweight introducing a posh car cover (7)

Answer: TONNEAU (i.e. detachable “car cover” protecting the rear seats of an open-top car). Solution is TONNE (i.e. “heavyweight”) followed by A and U (i.e. “posh”, a recognised abbreviation of the upper classes).

46. Giant, one primarily attending a fairy queen (7)

Answer: TITANIA (i.e. “a fairy queen” of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream). Solution is TITAN (i.e. “giant”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and A (i.e. “primarily attending”, i.e. the first letter of “attending”).

47. A risk-free time to gather over a woman’s bitter resin (10)

Answer: ASAFOETIDA (i.e. a foul-smelling “bitter resin” apparently used in Indian cooking. And here was me thinking Indian food was rather tasty!) Solution is A, SAFE (i.e. “risk-free”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) all wrapped around or “gathering” O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket). This is all then followed by IDA (i.e. a “woman’s” name), like so: (A-SAF(O)E-T)-IDA. I can almost sense the setter regretting putting this one in the grid the moment they realised they had to write a clue for it. I mean, just look at the phrasing. What a garbled mess. What does any of it mean? It almost made me wish for an anagram. (Almost.) It smacks of a clue that has been rewritten and revised again and again, panel-beaten and eventually shoehorned into some semblance of English. All that effort spent for me to simply open up my Bradford’s, find the solution and say to myself, “what a load of made-to-fit shite”. I hope you felt it was worth it, setter!

49. Fails with extreme difficulty: a nasty shock! (9)

Answer: BOMBSHELL (i.e. “a nasty shock”). Solution is BOMBS (i.e. “fails”) followed by HELL (i.e. “extreme difficulty”).

53. Dancer in male crew carrying flag (6,3)

Answer: MORRIS MAN (i.e. “dancer”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) and MAN (i.e. to “crew” a ship) all wrapped around or “carrying” ORRIS (i.e. “flag”, one of its variant definitions being an iris), like so: M-(ORRIS)-MAN.

54. Tearjerker holding sanctimonious view (7)

Answer: OPINION (i.e. “view”). Solution is ONION (i.e. “tearjerker”, or at least if you cut into one) wrapped around or “holding” PI (i.e. “sanctimonious”, short for pious), like so: O(PI)NION. Fun fact: if you still have the Saturday Review supplement to hand for Jumbo 1667 you can turn back a page and see this solution in the exact same place in the grid as it was back in Jumbo 1664. And with virtually the same clue too. Coincidence? Maybe. (Looks disdainfully to the camera.)

55. Source of beam installed in Agricola’s era (5)

Answer: LASER (i.e. “source of beam”). “Installed in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: AGRICO(LA’S ER)A.

56. Chap tucking into fleshy fruit is primarily manifesting piggishness (11)

Answer: GOURMANDISM (i.e. “piggishness”). Solution is MAN (i.e. “chap”) placed or “tucked into” GOURD (i.e. “fleshy fruit”) and followed by IS, then M (i.e. “primarily manifesting”, i.e. the first letter of “manifesting”), like so: GOUR(MAN)D-IS-M.

57. Police force info mother receives right by Canadian lake (11)

Answer: GENDARMERIE (i.e. “police force” in French France, the ones that don’t eff about). Solution is GEN (i.e. “info”) followed by DAM (i.e. “mother” – we’ve seen this in a few Jumbos now, a variant meaning of DAM is “a mother, usually of cattle, horses, etc” (Chambers)) once wrapped around or “receiving” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”). This is all then followed by ERIE (i.e. “Canadian lake”, one of the Great ones), like so: GEN-DA(R)M-ERIE.

Down clues

1. Defiant chap entering further exam (9)

Answer: RESISTANT (i.e. “defiant”). Solution is STAN (i.e. “chap’s” name) placed in or “entering” RESIT (i.e. “further exam”), like so: RESI(STAN)T.

2. European citizen making cuts in opera? (3,6,2,7)

Answer: THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (i.e. “opera” by Gioachino Rossini). Solution also satisfies the rest of the clue, given BARBERs administer hair “cuts” and SEVILLE being a Spanish or “European” city.

3. Turner’s device Henry invested in tardily (5)

Answer: LATHE (i.e. “turner’s device”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a measurement of inductance) placed or “invested in” LATE (i.e. “tardily”), like so: LAT(H)E.

4. He’s pressed hard, surprisingly, to find an animal minder (11)

Answer: SHEPHERDESS (i.e. “animal minder”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of HE’S PRESSED and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils).

5. Rival church leader’s hint in article? Not at all (8)

Answer: ANTIPOPE (i.e. “rival church leader” – over to Chambers again: “a pontiff set up in opposition to one asserted to be canonically chosen, e.g. one of those who resided at Avignon in the 13C and 14C”). Solution is TIP (i.e. “hint”) placed “in” between A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) and NOPE (i.e. “not at all”), like so: A-N(TIP)OPE.

6. Additional time welcomed by girl left outside union (12)

Answer: EXTRAMARITAL (i.e. “outside union”, taking “union” to mean a marriage). Solution is EXTRA (i.e. “additional”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) once the latter has been placed in or “welcomed by” MARIA (i.e. “girl’s” name). This is all then followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), like so: EXTRA-MARI(T)A-L.

7. Walk across street, supporting deliveries on cycle, perhaps? (10)

Answer: OVERSTRIDE (i.e. “walk across”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – OVER (i.e. a series of “deliveries” in cricket). This is all then followed by RIDE (i.e. “cycle, perhaps” – other rides are available. Scooters, mainly, in Norwich. Loads of the buggers), like so: (OVER-ST)-RIDE.

8. Tree some vandal deracinated (5)

Answer: ALDER (i.e. “tree”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: VAND(AL DER)ACINATED.

9. Soldier in outskirts of Epsom, overtaken and surrounded (11)

Answer: ENCOMPASSED (i.e. “surrounded”). Solution is NCO (i.e. “solider”, specifically a Non-Commissioned Officer) placed “in” EM (i.e. “outskirts of Epsom”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Epsom”). This is all then followed by PASSED (i.e. “overtaken”), like so: E(NCO)M-PASSED.

10. Dry clinic oddly shaped like a tube (9)

Answer: CYLINDRIC (i.e. “shaped like a tube”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddly”) of DRY CLINIC.

11. Memo causing upset to college (4)

Answer: NOTE (i.e. “memo”). Solution is ETON (i.e. “college”) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue).

12. Seamstress beheaded in jug? (4)

Answer: EWER (i.e. “jug”). Solution is SEWER (i.e. “seamstress”) with its first letter removed (indicated by “beheaded”).

18. Old king’s turbulent son faced sword there (6,3,9)

Answer: EDWARD THE CONFESSOR (i.e. “old king” of England). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “turbulent”) of SON FACED SWORD THERE.

19. Cable English member absorbed in public vehicle (8)

Answer: TELEGRAM (i.e. “cable”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and LEG (i.e. “member” or extremity) both placed or “absorbed in” TRAM (i.e. “public vehicle”), like so: T(E-LEG)RAM.

21. Fairly lofty Tudor composer overcoming height (7)

Answer: TALLISH (i.e. “fairly lofty”). Solution is Thomas TALLIS (i.e. “Tudor composer”) followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “height”).

23. Cheap informal English comedian entertaining small number (8)

Answer: ECONOMIC (i.e. “cheap”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English” again) followed by COMIC (i.e. “comedian”) once wrapped around or “entertaining” NO (i.e. “small number”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “number”), like so: E-CO(NO)MIC.

27. Hospital doctor principally employing this form of communication (8)

Answer: INTERNET (i.e. “form of communication”). Solution is INTERN (i.e. “hospital doctor”) followed by E and T (i.e. “principally employing this”, i.e. the first letters of “employing” and “this”).

28. Note gun covering Tyler’s power unit (8)

Answer: MEGAWATT (i.e. “power unit”). Solution is ME (i.e. “note” of the sol-fa scale) followed by GAT (slang for a “gun”) once wrapped around or “covering” WAT (i.e. “Tyler”, leader of the Peasant’s Revolt in 1381. Spoiler alert: it didn’t end well for him), like so: ME-GA(WAT)T.

31. Ring and cancel film (7)

Answer: ANNULET (i.e. “ring”). Solution is ANNUL (i.e. “cancel”) followed by ET (i.e. “film”, specifically ET: The Extra-Terrestrial).

32. Stingy governor in church, economical about energy (12)

Answer: CHEESEPARING (i.e. “stingy”). Solution is HE (i.e. “governor”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of His Excellency if obsequiousness is your thing) placed “in” CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England) and followed by SPARING (i.e. “economical”) once this itself has been wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: C(HE)E-S(E)PARING. Another recent repeat.

34. Broadcast by artisans dismissing first of such personnel (11)

Answer: AIRCRAFTMEN (i.e. military “personnel”). Solution is AIR (i.e. to “broadcast”) followed by CRAFTSMEN (i.e. “artisans”) once the S (i.e. “first [letter] of such”) has been removed or “dismissed”, like so: AIR-CRAFTMEN.

36. Urge to take Liberal inside preserved Arab area (11)

Answer: KLEPTOMANIA (i.e. “urge to take”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) placed “inside” KEPT (i.e. “preserved”) and followed by OMANI (i.e. an “Arab”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: K(L)EPT-OMANI-A.

38. Like some aquatic animals oddly imposing for one I ignored (10)

Answer: SPONGIFORM (i.e. “like some aquatic animals”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddly”) of IMPOSING FOR once “one I” has been removed or “ignored”.

40. Reactive element is a must, somehow, under river (9)

Answer: POTASSIUM (i.e. “reactive element”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of IS A MUST placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – PO (i.e. a “river” in Italy), like so: PO-TASSIUM.

42. Girl with capacity to contain anger over mischief (9)

Answer: DIABLERIE (i.e. “mischief”). Solution is DI (i.e. “girl’s” name) followed by ABLE (i.e. “capability”) once wrapped around or “containing” IRE (i.e. “anger”) once reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: DI-ABL(ERI)E.

43. Copper – married man from Kendal, say (8)

Answer: CUMBRIAN (i.e. “from Kendal, say”). Solution is CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “married”) and BRIAN (i.e. “man’s” name).

48. Boredom initially encompassing Greek character in part of UK (5)

Answer: ENNUI (i.e. “boredom”). Solution is E (i.e. “initially encompassing”) followed by NU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet) once placed “in” NI (i.e. “part of UK”, specifically Northern Ireland), like so: E-N(NU)I.

50. Sergeant major swigging beer in US state capital (5)

Answer: SALEM (i.e. “US state capital” of Massachusetts). Solution is SM (a recognised abbreviation of “sergeant major”) wrapped around or “swigging” ALE (i.e. “beer”), like so: S(ALE)M.

51. Polluted atmosphere originally stifling cat (4)

Answer: SMOG (i.e. “polluted atmosphere”). Solution is S (i.e. “originally stifling”, i.e. the first letter of “stifling”) followed by MOG (slang for a “cat”).

52. Trickster chucks out daughter, one married in Bonn, perhaps (4)

Answer: FRAU (i.e. “one married in Bonn, perhaps”, i.e. the German for “wife”). Solution is FRAUD (i.e. “trickster”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “chucks out daughter” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).

A medium strength Jumbo for Bank Holiday Monday with only a handful of annoying made-to-fit stuff to contend with. A decent enough outing, all told.

Now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you a spanking then my Just For Fun page might be of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things. Then again, you might just like that kind of thing. There’s no judgement here.

Thanks again for your comments and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Sweets go astray, what’s more, that one’s sent in vain (5,6)

Answer: FOOL’S ERRAND (i.e. “that one’s sent in vain”). Solution is FOOLS (i.e. “sweets” or desserts) followed by ERR (i.e. “go astray”) and AND (i.e. “what’s more”).

7. Fuel, in the main hers, not for working large stoves (5,3,3)

Answer: NORTH SEA GAS (i.e. “fuel, in the main” – the main being another word for the high sea). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “for working”) of HERS NOT followed by AGAS (i.e. “large stoves”), like so: NORTHSE-AGAS.

13. Female forger unusually taken with Old Etonian’s old blazer (5,4,2,6)

Answer: GREAT FIRE OF LONDON (i.e. “old blazer” of 1666, in keeping with the Jumbo number this week). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unusually”) of F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), FORGER and OLD ETONIAN.

14. Roman emperor’s wife initially letting one through (5)

Answer: LIVIA (i.e. “Roman emperor’s wife”, specifically that of Augustus). Solution is L (i.e. “initially letting”, i.e. the first letter of “letting”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then VIA (i.e. “through”).

15. Element of poster perhaps one’s cutting off the wall (6)

Answer: RADIUM (i.e. chemical “element”). Solution is AD (i.e. “poster”, short for advertisement) an I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) both placed in or “cutting” RUM (i.e. strange or “off the wall”), like so: R(AD-I)UM.

16. Declining privilege afforded exclusive patient, maybe, after day (8)

Answer: DOWNWARD (i.e. “declining”). Solution is OWN WARD (i.e. a “privilege afforded exclusive patient, maybe”) placed “after” D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”), like so: D-(OWN-WARD).

17. Betrayal of cause by Egypt’s far right (7)

Answer: TREASON (i.e. “betrayal”). Solution is REASON (i.e. “cause”) placed after or “by” T (i.e. “Egypt’s far right”, i.e. the last letter of “Egypt”), like so: T-REASON.

19. Men taking a long time after pub to get home (9)

Answer: ORPHANAGE (i.e. a “home”). Solution is OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) followed by AN AGE (i.e. “a long time”) once it has first been placed “after” PH (i.e. “pub”, specifically a Public House), like so: OR-((PH)-AN-AGE).

21. They’re far from the main sanctions to follow call for peace (8)

Answer: SHALLOWS (i.e. “they’re far from the main” – again, the main being the high sea). Solution is ALLOWS (i.e. “sanctions”) placed after or “following” SH (i.e. “call for peace” and quiet), like so: SH-ALLOWS.

23. Prophet very old woman recalled (4)

Answer: AMOS (i.e. Biblical “prophet”). Solution is SO (i.e. “very”) and MA (i.e. “old woman”, both slang for one’s mother) all reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: AM-OS.

25. Slight forgotten gladly by recipient ultimately (5)

Answer: FAINT (i.e. “slight”). Solution is FAIN (i.e. “gladly” – the “forgotten” bit seems an indicator that FAIN is an archaic word) followed by T (i.e. “recipient ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “recipient”).

27. Light fruit that contains extra energy for run (6)

Answer: CHEERY (i.e. “light”). Solution is CHERRY (i.e. “fruit”) with the first R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in some ball games) swapped “for” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: CHE(R)RY => CHE(E)RY.

28. Article – no good – by hack, Polish language speaker (10)

Answer: ANGLOPHONE (i.e. “language speaker”). Solution is A (i.e. “article”, an article being a word like a, an or the) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “no”), then G (ditto “good”), then LOP (i.e. “hack”) and HONE (i.e. “polish”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation).

30. Most deprived youth returned clutching passes (8)

Answer: NEEDIEST (i.e. “most deprived”). Solution is TEEN (i.e. “youth”) reversed (indicated by “returned”) and wrapped around or “clutching” DIES (i.e. “passes” away), like so: NEE(DIES)T.

31. Judge’s long clothes adapted by English educational establishment (2,5,7)

Answer: ST JOHN’S COLLEGE (i.e. “educational establishment”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “adapted”) of J’S (a recognised abbreviation of “judge” made possessive) and LONG CLOTHES followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: STJOHNSCOLLEG-E.

34. Part where two players can pack a punch? (9,5)

Answer: PANTOMIME HORSE. The clue plays on how “two players” or actors are used to play the “part”, and how a “punch” is a type of HORSE, sometimes called a Suffolk punch. You get the idea.

35. To avoid risk, appropriate one’s back should be well protected! (8)

Answer: HEDGEHOG (i.e. “one’s back should be well protected”). Solution is HEDGE (i.e. “to avoid risk”) followed by HOG (i.e. to “appropriate”).

38. Habit of French writer to disavow absorbing chapter (10)

Answer: DEPENDENCY (i.e. “habit”). Solution is DE (i.e. “of French”, i.e. the French for “of”) followed by PEN (i.e. “writer”) and DENY (i.e. “to disavow”) once wrapped around or “absorbing” C (a recognised abbreviation of “chapter”), like so: DE-PEN-DEN(C)Y.

40. Charlie may leave after knocking back drink (6)

Answer: COGNAC (i.e. “drink”). Solution is C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by CAN GO (i.e. “may leave”) once reversed (indicated by “after knocking back”), like so: C-(OG-NAC).

41. Dominant part in final phase (5)

Answer: ALPHA (i.e. “dominant”). “Part” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: FIN(AL PHA)SE.

43. Climber of mountains to live on one? That’s wrong? (4)

Answer: IBEX (i.e. “climber of mountains”, in this case a mountain goat). Solution is BE (i.e. “to live”) placed “on” or after I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again) and followed by X (i.e. “that’s wrong”), like so: (I-(BE))-X.

44. City lad caught in a tangle of feet (8)

Answer: DACTYLIC (i.e. “of feet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in a tangle”) of CITY LAD and C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in some ball games).

45. Unable perhaps to wriggle out of medical department getting rebuked (9)

Answer: ENTRAPPED (i.e. “unable to wriggle out of”). Solution is ENT (i.e. “medical department”, in this case Ear, Nose and Throat) followed by RAPPED (i.e. “rebuked”).

48. Where one might stick out leg, moving around quietly (7)

Answer: GLUEPOT (i.e. “where one might stick”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “moving”) of OUT LEG wrapped “around” P (i.e. “quietly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo), like so: GLUE(P)OT.

49. Way of working crank that has blokes entering tomb? (8)

Answer: MONUMENT (i.e. “tomb”). Solution is MO (i.e. “way of working”, or Modus Operandi) followed by NUT (i.e. “crank” or eccentric) once wrapped around or being “entered” by MEN (i.e. “blokes”), like so: MO-NU(MEN)T.

50. Lass’s note found by small bottle, unfinished (6)

Answer: SOPHIA (i.e. “lass’s” name). Solution is SO (i.e. musical “note” in the sol-fa scale, can also be spelled SOL or SOH) followed by PHIAL (i.e. “small bottle”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “unfinished”), like so: SO-PHIA.

53. Satellite’s antenna for broadcast, not seen (5)

Answer: ARIEL (i.e. “satellite”, specifically one of Uranus’s moons). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “broadcast”, further qualified by “not seen”) of AERIAL (i.e. “antenna”).

54. All will be lucky as normal, handling trouble with reduced pot (5,3,3,3,3)

Answer: EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY (i.e. “all will be lucky”). Solution is EVERYDAY (i.e. “normal”) wrapped around or “handling” DOG (i.e. to “trouble”) and HASHISH (i.e. “pot” or marijuana) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”), like so: EVERY(DOG-HASHIS)DAY.

55. The Speaker’s indeed backing one – supporting vote for justice? (3,3,2,3)

Answer: EYE FOR AN EYE (i.e. “justice”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “the speaker’s” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation) of AYE (i.e. “indeed”) followed by FOR (i.e. “backing” or in favour of) and AN AYE (i.e. a “supporting vote”).

56. Drink with naval officer: remain seated with one in theory (11)

Answer: SUPPOSITION (i.e. “theory”). Solution is SUP (i.e. “drink”) followed by PO (i.e. “naval officer”, in this case a Petty Officer) and SIT ON (i.e. “remain seated”) once wrapped around or having “in” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again, again), like so: SUP-PO-SIT-(I)-ON.

Down clues

1. Fine to stop topless sister’s statue becoming something ridiculed (6,2,3)

Answer: FIGURE OF FUN (i.e. “something ridiculed”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils) placed in or “stopping” FIGURE OF NUN (i.e. “sister’s statue”) one the first letter of NUN has been removed (indicated by “topless”), like so: FIGURE-OF-(F)-UN.

2. Mineral supplement with endless highland spirit (5)

Answer: OREAD (i.e. “highland spirit”, more a mountain spirit than a Scottish one it seems). Solution is ORE (i.e. “mineral”) followed by ADD (i.e. “supplement with”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: ORE-AD. Made. To. Fit.

3. Fruit tree posed problem in need of answer (7)

Answer: SATSUMA (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is SAT (i.e. “posed”) followed by SUM (i.e. mathematical “problem”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A).

4. Loss of home game is depressing (4)

Answer: RUIN (i.e. “loss”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) placed after or under RU (i.e. “game”), this being a down clue, like so: RU-IN. “Depressing” here describes the wordplay, taken to mean “to cause to sink” (Chambers).

5. Exercising meant more endurance in the end, and a measure of puff (10)

Answer: ANEMOMETER (i.e. “a measure of puff” or wind gauge). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “exercising”) of MEANT MORE and E (i.e. “endurance in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “endurance”).

6. Windows outage? (14)

Answer: DEFENESTRATION. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being the act of throwing someone “out” of a “window”.

7. Turning up in Galata, no end of new arrivals (8)

Answer: NEONATAL (i.e. “of new arrivals” or newborns). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “turning” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: GA(LATA NO EN)D.

8. Carried out overhaul of left-wing papers? (5)

Answer: REDID (i.e. “carried out overhaul”). Solution is RED (i.e. “left-wing”) followed by ID (i.e. identity “papers”).

9. Pass our people large cloth (9)

Answer: HANDTOWEL (i.e. “cloth”). Solution is HAND TO (i.e. “pass”) followed by WE (i.e. “our people”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”).

10. Girl wanting story recalled evening of poetry (6)

Answer: EILEEN (i.e. “girl’s” name). Solution is LIE (i.e. “story”) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) followed by E’EN (i.e. “evening of poetry”, a contraction of even), like so: EIL-E’EN.

11. Wind up with a star ranking? (4,7,3,3)

Answer: GIVE SOMEONE THE PIP (i.e. “wind up” or annoy). The rest of the clue plays on PIPs being “stars” denoting military “ranking”.

12. Occasion in January or November in part’s cut short (2,6,3)

Answer: ST AGNES’S EVE (i.e. “occasion in January”, specifically the 20th, when, “according to tradition, having performed certain rites, one may dream of the person that will be one’s husband or wife” (Chambers)). Solution is N (“November” in the phonetic alphabet) placed “in” STAGE’S (i.e. “part’s”) and followed by SEVER (i.e. “cut”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: STAG(N)E’S-SEVE.

18. Bloomers made by drug agent: ones that can be viewed both ways (8)

Answer: NARCISSI (i.e. flowers or “bloomers”). Solution is NARC (i.e. “drug agent”) followed by IS (i.e. “ones”, the one replaced by – surprise, surprise – its Roman numeral equivalent again, again, again, again) both forward and backwards (indicated by “that can be viewed both ways”), like so: NARC-IS-SI.

20. I induce DJ to run with prepared work (5,3,9)

Answer: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (i.e. “work” or novel by Jane Austen). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to run”) of I INDUCE DJ and PREPARED.

22. Refusing to ignore last month’s ruling? (6)

Answer: LINING (i.e. “ruling” of lines on a paper). Solution is DECLINING (i.e. “refusing”) with the DEC removed (indicated by “ignoring last month” – DEC being short for December).

24. Written argument for holding game in a private area (8)

Answer: APOLOGIA (i.e. “written argument”, defence or vindication). Solution is POLO (i.e. “game”) placed “in” A, GI (i.e. “private” or US soldier) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: A-(POLO)-GI-A.

26. Treasurer in charge of old sailors’ hats (8)

Answer: TRICORNS (i.e. “hats”). Solution is TR (a recognised abbreviation of “treasurer”) followed by IC (ditto “in charge”), then O (ditto ditto “old”) and RN’S (i.e. “sailors”, specifically the Royal Navy, made possessive).

29. Put up with TV regulator facing battle in Parliament (5,2,7)

Answer: HOUSE OF COMMONS (i.e. “Parliament”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “put up”) followed by OFCOM (i.e. “TV regulator”) and MONS (i.e. “battle” of the First World War).

32. Crops boasted about over time in America (4,4)

Answer: CREW CUTS (i.e. haircuts or “crops”). Solution is CREW (i.e. “boasted” or crowed) followed by C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”), then T (ditto “time”) once placed “in” US (i.e. “America”), like so: CREW-C-U(T)S.

33. Cook keeps trying not to offend old trendy (6)

Answer: HEPCAT (i.e. “old trendy”). Solution is HEAT (i.e. “cook”) wrapped around or “keeping” PC (i.e. “trying not to offend”, or Political Correctness), like so: HE(PC)AT.

34. Landed up in gaol, originally for disturbing city street (7,4)

Answer: PUDDING LANE (i.e. “street”, in keeping with the 1666 theme, being where the Great Fire of London was believed to have started). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “for disturbing”) of LANDED UP IN and G (i.e. “gaol, originally”, i.e. the first letter of “gaol”).

36. Piano to discard? That causes huge depression (5,6)

Answer: GRAND CANYON (i.e. “huge depression”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. “piano”) followed by CAN (i.e. “to discard”) and YON (i.e. “that” over there).

37. A certain type of post to bury, and poles with it (10)

Answer: INTERNSHIP (i.e. “a certain type of post”). Solution is INTER (i.e. “to bury”) followed by N and S (i.e. “poles”, recognised abbreviations of “north” and “south” respectively), then HIP (i.e. “with it” or trendy).

39. Rash to have abandoned first popular song? (9)

Answer: EXANTHEMA (i.e. “rash” or skin eruption). When written as EX-ANTHEM A the clue tortuously satisfies “to have abandoned first popular song”, the next one presumably being ANTHEM B.

42. Huge volume on duke misused key, valuable source (8)

Answer: KLONDYKE (i.e. “valuable source”). Solution is KL (i.e. “huge volume”, short for a kilolitre) followed by ON, then D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) and an anagram (indicated by “misused”) of KEY, like so: KL-ON-D-YKE.

46. Boys painted nude or in a skirt (7)

Answer: AMORINI (i.e. “boys painted nude”, specifically cherubs). Solution is OR placed “in” A and MINI (i.e. “skirt”), like so: A-M(OR)INI.

47. Launch programme with a vote, getting zero support (6)

Answer: APOLLO (i.e. NASA “launch programme”). Solution is A followed by POLL (i.e. “vote”) and O (i.e. “zero”). “Support” just means O is placed at the end, propping up the rest – this being a down clue.

49. Female got up in the morning the day before (5)

Answer: MAEVE (i.e. “female” name – a secondary mini-theme this week, it seems). Solution is AM (i.e. “in the morning”) reversed (indicated by “got up” – this being a down clue) and followed by EVE (i.e. “the day before”), like so: MA-EVE.

51. Pilgrim, and their personal struggle if cycling? (5)

Answer: HADJI (i.e. Muslim “pilgrim”). Solution is JIHAD (i.e. “their personal struggle”, from the Arabic for “struggle”) with the letters “cycled” a couple of times, like so: JIHAD => IHADJ => HADJI.

52. Lower half of floor disappearing is concerning (2,2)

Answer: AS TO (i.e. “concerning”). Solution is ASTONISH (i.e. to “floor”) with the “lower half … disappearing”.

A toughie this week, but only because the setter relied too much on obscure trash throughout to get the job done. All valid, certainly, but interest for me evaporated shortly after the halfway point, so this week’s post has largely been written to keep the run going. A pity as some of the clueing was top notch.

Now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has put you in thumbscrews then you might find some relief in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your comments and patience. I’ll be along presently with the next one.

LP

Across clues

1. Gave funds due after death (7)

Answer: ENDOWED (i.e. “gave funds”). Solution is OWED (i.e. “due”) placed “after” END (i.e. “death”), like so: END-OWED. Simple, but nicely worked.

5. Matter about buffs showing self-assertive behaviour (9)

Answer: PUSHINESS (i.e. “self-assertive behaviour”). Solution is PUS (i.e. “matter”) wrapped “about” SHINES (i.e. “buffs”), like so: PU(SHINES)S.

10. Old and regularly unsteady (4)

Answer: USED (i.e. “old”). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of UNSTEADY.

14. Sabotage drink mixed for sports activity (13)

Answer: SKATEBOARDING (i.e. “sports activity”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “mixed”) of SABOTAGE DRINK.

15. Friend grabbing horse to annoy marsupial (9)

Answer: PHALANGER (i.e. “marsupial”, probably not one to get into a staring contest with). Solution is PAL (i.e. “friend”) wrapped around or “grabbing” H (i.e. “horse”, both slang terms for heroin) and followed by ANGER (i.e. “to annoy”), like so: P(H)AL-ANGER.

16. Who’ll study DNA of cat found next to one burial chamber (10)

Answer: GENETICIST (i.e. “who’ll study DNA”). Solution is GENET (i.e. a gimpy-looking “cat”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and CIST (i.e. a basic “burial chamber” formed of stone slabs).

17. Chartreuse drunk with round can be risky (11)

Answer: TREACHEROUS (i.e. “risky”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of CHARTREUSE and O (i.e. “round”). Another well-worked clue.

18. Dictator is human, no saint (5)

Answer: Juan PERÓN (i.e. Argentinian “dictator”). Solution is PERSON (i.e. “human”) with the S removed (indicated by “no saint”, S being a recognised abbreviation of “saint”, not just ST).

19. It’s old Piglet running around in a flap (10)

Answer: EPIGLOTTIS (i.e. anatomical “flap”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “running around”) of IT’S, O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and PIGLET.

21. Capital provided by lender, Saudi, perhaps (unlimited) (6)

Answer: ANKARA (i.e. “capital” of Turkey). Solution is BANK (i.e. “lender”) and ARAB (i.e. “Saudi, perhaps”), joined together and with the first and last letters removed (indicated by “unlimited”), like so: ANK-ARA.

23. Scotland’s odd about case for players (9)

Answer: ORCHESTRA (i.e. “players”). Solution is ORRA (i.e. “Scotland’s odd” – interesting seeing this only a couple of weeks after UNCO, another Scots word for odd) wrapped “about” CHEST (i.e. “case”), like so: OR(CHEST)RA.

25. Own up to hiding millions in part of mine (5)

Answer: ADMIT (i.e. “own up to”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “millions”) placed “in” ADIT (i.e. “part of mine”, specifically its opening – it was about this point in the puzzle I lost all patience and decided to sack the rest of it off), like so: AD(M)IT.

26. Keen to make out in popular nightclub (3,4)

Answer: HOT SPOT (i.e. “popular nightclub”). Solution is HOT (i.e. “keen”) followed by SPOT (i.e. “to make out” or see).

28. Angel perhaps trapping Devil, which might provide relief (13)

Answer: BACKSCRATCHER (i.e. “which might provide relief”). Solution is BACKER (i.e. “angel” in a financial sense) wrapped around or “trapping” SCRATCH (a nickname for the “Devil”), like so: BACK(SCRATCH)ER.

31. Agreed to change society for tons raising no objection? (9)

Answer: CONTENTED (i.e. “raising no objection”). Solution is CONSENTED (i.e. “agreed”) with the S (a recognised abbreviation of “society”) swapped “for” T (ditto “tons”), like so: CON(S)ENTED => CON(T)ENTED.

33. What can be used to conceal cigarette smell by doctor (5,4)

Answer: SMOKE BOMB (i.e. “what can be used to conceal”). Solution is SMOKE (i.e. slang for “cigarette”) followed by BO (i.e. “smell”, or Body Odour) and MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Bachelor of Medicine or Medicinae Baccalaureus).

35. A feature of Jamaica to regularly squander heaps on a large scale? (4,9)

Answer: BLUE MOUNTAINS (i.e. “a feature of Jamaica”). I’m going to assume that there has been a cock-up here and that “regularly” ought to have been the homophone indicator “reportedly”. The solution would then be a homophone of BLEW MOUNTAINS, which would then satisfy the latter half of the clue. Ish. Ideally you’d have some past tense in there, which makes me suspect I’m missing something astoundingly clever. If they have made another Henry Halls of another tough Jumbo, though, then I’ve got a right old rant set aside for a future post.

37. Approve of sellers, not very European (7)

Answer: ENDORSE (i.e. “approve of”). Solution is VENDORS (i.e. “sellers”) with the V removed (indicated by “not very” – V being a recognised abbreviation of “very”) and the remainder followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: ENDORS-E.

38. Work with convulsive twitch of the eye (5)

Answer: OPTIC (i.e. “of the eye”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) followed by TIC (i.e. “convulsive twitch”).

40. Company supply outside idiot dealing with knowledge acquisition (9)

Answer: COGNITIVE (i.e. “dealing with knowledge acquisition”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) followed by GIVE (i.e. “supply”) once wrapped “outside” of NIT (i.e. “idiot”), like so: CO-G(NIT)IVE.

42. Female pointer to produce litter (6)

Answer: FARROW (i.e. a “litter” of pigs). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) followed by ARROW (i.e. “pointer”).

44. Fed up with mousetrap, perhaps, remove (7,3)

Answer: CHEESED OFF (i.e. “fed up”). Solution is CHEESE (i.e. “mousetrap, perhaps” – other varieties are available; mousetrap tends to describe any inferior cheese) followed by DOFF (i.e. “remove”, e.g. one’s cap).

46. Egyptian’s spirit stated to be broken (5)

Answer: KAPUT (i.e. “broken”). Solution is KA (i.e. “Egyptian spirit”, specifically one’s soul) followed by PUT (i.e. “stated”).

48. Not secret, MP being involved in dispute (11)

Answer: CONTRETEMPS (i.e. “dispute”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “being involved”) of NOT SECRET MP.

50. Who’ll do a lot to deliver domestic energy? (10)

Answer: POWERHOUSE (i.e. “who’ll do a lot”). When written as POWER HOUSE the solution also playfully satisfies “to deliver domestic energy”.

52. Backing prison to hold Arab narcissist (9)

Answer: EGOMANIAC (i.e. “narcissist”). Solution is CAGE (i.e. “prison”) reversed (indicated by “backing”) and wrapped around or “holding” OMANI (i.e. “Arab”), like so: EG(OMANI)AC.

53. The responsibility of tiny ones is far from past (2,2,3,6)

Answer: UP TO THE MINUTE (i.e. “far from past”). The solution also playfully satisfies “the responsibility of tiny ones”.

54. Red wine’s having great effect, knocking out petty officer (4)

Answer: TENT (i.e. Spanish “red wine” we’ve seen a few times in Jumbos). Solution is POTENT (i.e. “having great effect”) with the PO removed (indicated by “knocking out petty officer”, PO being a recognised abbreviation of “petty officer”).

55. Communication system that’s great help when working (9)

Answer: TELEGRAPH (i.e. “communication system”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “when working”) of GREAT HELP. Another good clue.

56. Road split by a grand little plant (7)

Answer: RAGWEED (i.e. “plant”). Solution is RD (a recognised abbreviation of “road”) wrapped around or “split by” A, G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”) and WEE (i.e. “little”), like so: R(A-G-WEE)D.

Down clues

1. Smallest, not large bearing (4)

Answer: EAST (i.e. “bearing”). Solution is LEAST (i.e. “smallest”) with the L removed (indicated by “not large”, L being a recognised abbreviation of “large”).

2. Awful matricide is completely opposed (9)

Answer: DIAMETRIC (i.e. “completely opposed”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of MATRICIDE.

3. Book big attraction all the same for the foolish? (5,6,4,2,5)

Answer: WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD (i.e. “book” by E.M. Forster). The remainder of the clue plays on a quote from Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism (1711) from which the title is taken: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. There’s probably more to it beyond that, but I can’t be arsed digging much further.

4. Novice upset to be nipped by device for cutting rock (7)

Answer: DIORITE (i.e. “rock” – this was another solution that confirmed this week’s Jumbo wasn’t worth the effort. I’m quite content getting to this stage in my life without knowing every kind of rock or mineral in existence). Solution is TIRO (i.e. “novice”) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue – and placed in or “nipped by” DIE (i.e. “device for cutting”), like so: DI(ORIT)E.

5. Parking truck, one long part of the operation? (11)

Answer: PARTICIPANT (i.e. “part of the operation”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage) followed by ARTIC (i.e. “truck”, short for articulated), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and PANT (i.e. to yearn for or “long”).

6. Suspicion of serious error with steering gear reported (9)

Answer: SCINTILLA (i.e. a trace or “suspicion of”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “reported”) of SIN (i.e. “serious error”) and TILLER (i.e. “steering gear” on a boat).

7. Valuable brick home acquired (5)

Answer: INGOT (i.e. “valuable brick”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) followed by GOT (i.e. “acquired”).

8. Wrote up hemistiches in part avoiding strong words (11)

Answer: EUPHEMISTIC (i.e. “avoiding strong words”). “In part” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: WROT(E UP HEMISTIC)HES. A few weeks ago a setter managed to hide MAHATMA GANDHI in a clue. It’s as if this week’s setter saw that and said: “Hold my beer”. Seriously, though, hemistiches? Wow. Someone’s flexing.

9. Thoroughly explore musical ability in school (6)

Answer: SEARCH (i.e. “thoroughly explore”). Solution is EAR (i.e. “musical ability”) placed “in” SCH (a recognised abbreviation of “school”), like so: S(EAR)CH.

11. Notice ring – right on a married woman (7)

Answer: SIGNORA (i.e. Italian “married woman”). Solution is SIGN (i.e. “notice”) followed by O (i.e. “ring”), then R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) and A.

12. Partly refurbished arms TA’d test in place (9)

Answer: DARMSTADT (i.e. “place”, specifically the fiftieth largest city in Germany – it was just as well the wordplay made this easy to spot otherwise I’d have properly kicked off. Again). “Partly” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: REFURBISHE(D ARMS TA’D T)EST.

13. Be wrong working mine having no Thatcher OK? (4,7,5,6)

Answer: HAVE ANOTHER THINK COMING (i.e. “be wrong”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of MINE HAVING NO THATCHER OK.

18. The Sun reported charge on public transport (7)

Answer: PHOEBUS (i.e. “The Sun”, removing the misleading capitalisation, this is another name for Apollo, the Greek sun god). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reported”) of FEE (i.e. “charge”) followed by BUS (i.e. “transport”).

20. Buffalo in river area for all to see (7)

Answer: TAMARAU (i.e. “buffalo”. If you wanted to know just how desperate this week’s setter was to impress then this solution would give you a good idea, being “a small wild buffalo native to Mindoro in the Philippines” (Chambers). Pffffff, jog on). Solution is TAMAR (i.e. English “river” forming much of the border between Devon and Cornwall) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) and U (i.e. “for all to see”, being a U film certificate).

22. Fabric sun hat turned out no good (8)

Answer: SHANTUNG (i.e. a rough Chinese silken cloth or “fabric” – in case TAMARAU didn’t convince you just then). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “turned out”) of SUN HAT followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “no”) and G (ditto “good”).

24. Money taken by shop for pastry (8)

Answer: TURNOVER. Solution satisfies “money taken by shop” and “pastry”.

27. Old diva wanting bread but no tea (5)

Answer: Adelina PATTI (i.e. “old diva”, an 19th century Italian soprano – no, me neither. See TAMARAU and SHANTUNG for my enthusiasm here). Solution is CHAPATTI (i.e. “bread”) with the CHA removed (indicated by “but no tea”).

29. Clubs – noisy and dim (5)

Answer: CLOUD (i.e. to “dim”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games) followed by LOUD (i.e. “noisy”).

30. Regular patron of some in cast (7)

Answer: HABITUÉ (i.e. “regular patron”, from the French. As with TAMARAU, SHANT… look, you get the idea. Good grief). Solution is A BIT (i.e. “some”) placed “in” HUE (i.e. tint or “cast”), like so: H(A-BIT)UE.

32. Give up on eating small sweet (7)

Answer: DESSERT (i.e. “sweet”). Solution is DESERT (i.e. “give up on”) wrapped around or “eating” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: DE(S)SERT.

34. Like action of yeast in French loaf with mineral left right out (11)

Answer: BIOCHEMICAL (i.e. “like action of yeast”). Solution is BRIOCHE (i.e. “French loaf”), MICA (i.e. “mineral”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) with the R removed (indicated by “right out” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: BIOCHE-MICA-L.

36. Computer’s hex device (11)

Answer: MICROSWITCH (i.e. “device”). Solution is MICRO’S (i.e. “computer’s”) followed by WITCH (i.e. a “hex”).

37. In effect one is organised and methodical (9)

Answer: EFFICIENT (i.e. “methodical”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “organised”) of IN EFFECT and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”).

39. A pectoral fashioned for monarch (9)

Answer: CLEOPATRA (i.e. ancient Egyptian “monarch”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fashioned”) of A PECTORAL.

41. One million letters are with university for a swindle (9)

Answer: IMPOSTURE (i.e. “a swindle”). Solution I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “million”), then POST (i.e. “letters”), then ‘RE (a contraction of “are”) once first placed after or “with” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: I-M-POST-U-‘RE.

43. In a poor state, narrowly losing at cricket? (3,4)

Answer: RUN DOWN. Solution satisfies “in a poor state”, and, playfully, “narrowly losing at cricket”.

45. Refrain initially featuring our Rupert and Pooh? (7)

Answer: FORBEAR (i.e. “refrain” from). Solution is FOR (i.e. “initially featuring our Rupert”, i.e. the first letters of “featuring”, “our”, “Rupert”) followed by BEAR (i.e. Winnie the “Pooh”).

47. Reduced manoeuvre in street is hard (6)

Answer: STRICT (i.e. “hard”). Solution is TRICK (i.e. “manoeuvre”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “restricted”) and the remainder placed “in” ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”), like so: S(TRIC)T.

49. Tons in solar radiation get initially attacked by a wasp (5)

Answer: STUNG (i.e. “attacked by a wasp”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “tons”) placed “in” SUN (i.e. “solar radiation”) and followed by G (i.e. “get initially”, i.e. the first letter of “get”), like so: S(T)UN-G.

51. Ordinary black curtains (4)

Answer: BEND (i.e. an “ordinary” in heraldry: a BEND is “a parallel band crossing a shield diagonally from top left to bottom right”, while an “ordinary” is “one of a class of armorial charges, figures of simple or geometric form, conventional in character” (both Chambers)). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess) followed by END (i.e. “curtains” or death).

Another medium strength Jumbo this week – well, except for UNSEEN. That was a swine. A decent enough Jumbo otherwise.

Now the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo snaffled all your hot cross buns then you might find solace in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your comments and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. See one store adopted by reliable person? Not entirely (9)

Answer: BISHOPRIC (i.e. diocese or “see”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and SHOP (i.e. “store”) both placed in or “adopted by” BRICK (i.e. “reliable person”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “not entirely”), like so: B(I-SHOP)RIC.

6. One’s always travelling never off the rails (5)

Answer: NOMAD (i.e. “one’s always travelling”). Solution is NO (i.e. “never”) followed by MAD (i.e. “off the rails”).

9. Harsh, being number one, but missing top spot at Glastonbury? (7)

Answer: VICIOUS (i.e. “harsh”). Solution is VICTORIOUS (i.e. “being number one”) with the TOR removed (indicated by “missing top spot at Glastonbury”, referring to Glastonbury Tor rather than the Glastonbury Festival). Nicely done.

13. High note to draw out, cut short by piano (5)

Answer: BLEEP (i.e. “high note”). Solution is BLEED (i.e. “to draw out”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “cut short”) and the remainder followed by P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo), like so: BLEE-P.

14. Dancing in mask with new family member (7)

Answer: KINSMAN (i.e. “family member”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of IN MASK followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: KINSMA-N.

15. Regarding money, any price is wrong to secure uniform (9)

Answer: PECUNIARY (i.e. “regarding money”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “is wrong”) of ANY PRICE wrapped around or “securing” U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: PEC(U)NIARY.

16. English friend welcoming priest travelling in New York (6,5)

Answer: EMPIRE STATE (i.e. “New York”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and MATE (i.e. “friend”) wrapped around or “welcoming” an anagram (indicated by “travelling”) of PRIEST, like so: E-M(PIREST)ATE.

17. Crumbling Art Deco villa not right for the good life (2,5,4)

Answer: LA DOLCE VITA (i.e. “the good life”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “crumbling”) of ART DECO VILLA once the R has been removed (indicated by “not right” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

18. Result is God not being considered (3,3)

Answer: PAN OUT (i.e. “result”). Solution is PAN (i.e. Greek “God” of the wild) followed by OUT (i.e. “not being considered”).

19. Information provided by corporation blocked by old employee (8)

Answer: FACTOTUM (i.e. “employee”, specifically “a person employed to do all kinds of work for another” (Chambers)). Solution is FACT (i.e. “information”) and TUM (i.e. “corporation” – catnip for Times setters, an archaic variant meaning of “corporation” is a pot belly) all wrapped around or “blocked by” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: FACT-(O)-TUM.

21. King knocked out by shock? No electricity in this state (6)

Answer: OUTAGE (i.e. “no electricity in this state”). Solution is OUTRAGE (i.e. “shock”) with the R removed (indicated by “king knocked out by…” – R being a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Rex).

25. Make enquiries about cheerful and favoured form of entertainment (8)

Answer: PUPPETRY (i.e. “form of entertainment”). Solution is PRY (i.e. “make enquiries”) wrapped “about” UP (i.e. “cheerful”) and PET (i.e. “favoured”), like so: P(UP-PET)RY.

26. Argumentative type was back, unhappy about interrupting election (6,8)

Answer: DEVIL’S ADVOCATE (i.e. “argumentative type”). Solution is LIVED (i.e. “was”) reversed (indicated by “back”) and followed by SAD (i.e. “unhappy”), then VOTE (i.e. “election”) once wrapped around or “interrupted” by CA (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”), like so: DEVIL-SAD-VO(CA)TE.

28. Get better as much medicine’s taken? Not initially (5)

Answer: RALLY (i.e. “get better”). Solution is ORALLY (i.e. “as much medicine’s taken”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “not initially”).

29. Pay for one to claim ace held by both sides (6)

Answer: SALARY (i.e. “pay”). Solution is SAY (i.e. “for one” or for example) wrapped around or “claiming” A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards) once first placed between or “held by” L and R (i.e. “both sides”, left and right respectively), like so: SA(L(A)R)Y.

30. Instrument study sure to leave answer to the end (10)

Answer: CONCERTINA (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is CON (i.e. an archaic word for “study”) followed by CERTAIN (i.e. “sure”) once the A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) has been moved or “left to the end”, like so: CON-CERT(A)IN => CON-CERTIN(A).

33. Sailor hugging copper after copper is in hospital for a spell (5,5)

Answer: HOCUS POCUS (i.e. “a spell”). Solution is OS (i.e. “sailor”, specifically an Ordinary Seaman) wrapped around or “hugging” CU (chemical symbol of “copper”). This is then placed “after” CU (“copper”, again) once it has been put in HOSP (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” – I’m guessing there’s a dictionary out there that supports this, but it’s not in my Chambers, Oxford, Collins Concise or Bradford’s), like so: HO(CU)SP-O(CU)S.

35. A city, not on for importing source of macadamia nut (6)

Answer: ALMOND (i.e. “nut”). Solution is A followed by LONDON (i.e. a “city”) once the ON has been removed (indicated by “not on”). This is all then wrapped around or “importing” M (i.e. “source of macadamia”, i.e. the first letter of “macadamia”), like so: A-L(M)OND.

36. Poet’s line included in course (5)

Answer: Sylvia PLATH (i.e. “poet”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) placed “in” PATH (i.e. “course”), like so: P(L)ATH.

38. Dumbing down Formula One in singular suggestion (14)

Answer: SIMPLIFICATION (i.e. “dumbing down”). Solution is FI (i.e. “Formula One”, i.e. F1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent – given the prevalence of A1 becoming AI in cryptic clues, it’s surprising it’s taken this long for someone to do the same with F1) placed “in” S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) and IMPLICATION (i.e. “suggestion”), like so: S-IMPLI(FI)CATION.

40. Animated about strong desire, mostly indirect (8)

Answer: ALLUSIVE (i.e. “indirect” reference). Solution is ALIVE (i.e. “animated”) wrapped “about” LUST (i.e. “strong desire”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: AL(LUS)IVE.

42. Value penning note in French, describing testing translation? (6)

Answer: UNSEEN (i.e. “describing testing translation” – frankly this was an awful hint to the solution. I guess it’s playing on the distinction between interpretation and translation, but still). Solution is USE (i.e. “value”) wrapped around or “penning” N (a recognised abbreviation of “note”) and followed by EN (i.e. “in French”, i.e. the French for “in”), like so: U(N)SE-EN.

43. Elegant trimmed fillet presented with character (8)

Answer: DEBONAIR (i.e. “elegant”). Solution is DEBONE (i.e. “fillet”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “trimmed”) and the remainder followed by AIR (i.e. “character”), like so: DEBON-AIR.

44. My arrangement for strings and brass instrument (6)

Answer: CORNET (i.e. “brass instrument”). Solution is COR (i.e. “my”, both exclamations) followed by NET (i.e. “arrangement for strings”). Another nicely worked clue.

47. Trumpet’s first sound is false (11)

Answer: TREASONABLE (i.e. being deceptive or “false”). Solution is T (i.e. “trumpet’s first” letter) followed by REASONABLE (i.e. “sound”).

50. Half of them show too little appreciation perhaps for major report (11)

Answer: THUNDERCLAP (i.e. “major report”, or loud bang). Solution is TH (i.e. the first “half of them”) followed by UNDERCLAP (i.e. “show too little appreciation perhaps”, playfully speaking).

52. Suggestion to leave dodgy bar? Heads off without much analysis (9)

Answer: INTUITIVE (i.e. “without much analysis”). Solution is HINT (i.e. “suggestion”), QUIT (i.e. “to leave”) and DIVE (i.e. “dodgy bar”) all with their first letters removed or “heads off”, like so: INT-UIT-IVE.

53. View irrational figure tucking into vegetable (7)

Answer: OPINION (i.e. “view”). Solution is PI (i.e. “irrational figure” or an irrational number in maths) placed “into” ONION (i.e. “vegetable”), like so: O(PI)NION.

54. Change in time unconvincing (5)

Answer: TWEAK (i.e. “change”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by WEAK (i.e. “unconvincing”).

55. Maybe master logging to fill unfinished part of school year (7)

Answer: TEACHER (i.e. “maybe master” – female teachers are also available). Solution is ACHE (i.e. “longing”) placed in or “filling” TERM (i.e. “part of school year”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “unfinished”), like so: TE(ACHE)R.

56. Woollen garment: button it along with wig (5)

Answer: SHRUG (i.e. “woollen garment”). Solution is SH (i.e. “button it” or shut up) followed by RUG (slang for a “wig”).

57. Gym equipment? Cut and run without hesitation (9)

Answer: EXERCISER (i.e. “gym equipment”). Solution is EXCISE (i.e. “cut”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) all wrapped around or placed “without” ER (i.e. “hesitation”), like so: EX(ER)CISE-R.

Down clues

1. Bitter comments about book or collection of books (5)

Answer: BIBLE (i.e. “collection of books”). Solution is BILE (i.e. “bitter comments”) wrapped “about” B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”), like so: BI(B)LE.

2. Be out complaining wildly about latest in restrictive spend control (8,9)

Answer: SLEEPING POLICEMAN (i.e. “restrictive speed control”). Solution is SLEEP (i.e. “be out”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of COMPLAINING once placed “about” E (i.e. “latest in restrictive”, i.e. the last letter of “restrictive”), like so: SLEEP-INGPOLIC(E)MAN.

3. Work with corporation perhaps engaging a Parisienne at the right moment (11)

Answer: OPPORTUNELY (i.e. “at the right moment”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) followed by PORTLY (i.e. “with corporation perhaps” – see earlier comment in 19a) wrapped around or “engaging” UNE (i.e. “a Parisienne”, i.e. the female form of “a” in French), like so: OP-PORT(UNE)LY.

4. Dissolute youngster mostly covered by spots (6)

Answer: RAKISH (i.e. “dissolute”). Solution is KID (i.e. “youngster”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder placed in or “covered by” RASH (i.e. “spots”), like so: RA(KI)SH.

5. Bright red stuff beginning to cover area in pubs (8)

Answer: CINNABAR (i.e. “bright red stuff”). Solution is C (i.e. “beginning [letter] to cover”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) once first placed “in” between INN and BAR (both “pubs”), like so: C-(INN-(A)-BAR).

6. Studying figures of miners, nearly all allocated place round track (6,6)

Answer: NUMBER THEORY (i.e. “studying figures”). Solution is NUM (i.e. “miners”, specifically the National Union of Miners) followed by BERTHED (i.e. “allocated place”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “nearly”). This is all then followed by O (i.e. “round”) and RY (i.e. “track”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a “railway”), like so: NUM-BERTHE-O-RY.

7. Massive sign of drunkenness after moonlit wandering (10)

Answer: MONOLITHIC (i.e. “massive”). Solution is HIC (i.e. “sign of drunkenness”, the sound of a hiccup) placed “after” an anagram (indicated by “wandering”) of MOONLIT, like so: MONOLIT-HIC.

8. Fooled, jilted, not married (5)

Answer: DUPED (i.e. “fooled”). Solution is DUMPED (i.e. “jilted”) with the M removed (indicated by “not married” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “married”).

9. Sound producer hard to ignore? Hard to avoid several notes (5,4)

Answer: VOCAL CORD (i.e. “sound producer”). Solution is VOCAL (i.e. “hard to ignore”) followed by CHORD (i.e. “several notes”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “hard to avoid…” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils).

10. One off to see Musicians Union over failure, after note’s missed (11)

Answer: CONCERTGOER (i.e. “one off to see musicians”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is CONCERT (i.e. “union”, as in the phrase “in concert with…”) followed by GONER (i.e. “failure”) once the N has been removed (indicated by “after note’s missed” – N being a recognised abbreviation of “note”), like so: CONCERT-GOER.

11. Satisfactory opening in Africa? Very good for African mammal (5)

Answer: OKAPI (i.e. “African mammal”, friend to crossword setters everywhere). Solution is OK (i.e. “satisfactory”) followed by A (i.e. “opening [letter] in Africa”), then PI (i.e. “very good”, short for pious).

12. Kentucky brought in block for historic NASA mission (6)

Answer: SKYLAB (i.e. “historic NASA mission”). Solution is KY (i.e. US state abbreviation for “Kentucky”) placed or “brought in” to SLAB (i.e. “block”), like so: S(KY)LAB.

18. Documentary investigation stage includes brief illuminating moment (5,5)

Answer: PAPER CHASE (i.e. “documentary investigation”). Solution is PHASE (i.e. “stage”) wrapped around or “including” APERCU (i.e. “illuminating moment”, one I knew, weirdly) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “brief”), like so: P(APERC)HASE.

20. Ancient creature’s small commotion when captured by bloke (8)

Answer: MASTODON (i.e. “ancient creature”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and TO-DO (i.e. “commotion”) all placed in or “captured by” MAN (i.e. “bloke”), like so: MA(S-TO-DO)N.

22. Way of manipulating light, possibly tantalising a lover (13,4)

Answer: GRAVITATIONAL LENS (i.e. “way of manipulating light”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “possibly”) of TANTALISING A LOVER.

23. Peasant uprising caught on old wall painting (6)

Answer: FRESCO (i.e. “wall painting”). Solution is SERF (i.e. “peasant”) reversed (indicated by “uprising” – this being a down clue) and followed by C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: FRES-C-O.

24. Troops failing to engage? (10)

Answer: DETACHMENT. Solution satisfies “troops” and, playfully, the state of having “failed to engage” someone.

27. Impatiently moved revised clue on probing first draft initially (8)

Answer: FLOUNCED (i.e. “impatiently moved”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “revised”) of CLUE ON placed in between or “probing” F and D (i.e. “first draft initially”, i.e. the first letters of “first” and “draft”), like so: F-LOUNCE-D.

31. Spoil fake allotment, though nothing’s nicked? (6)

Answer: CODDLE (i.e. “spoil”). Solution is COD (i.e. “fake”) followed by DOLE (i.e. “allotment”) once the O has been removed (indicated by “nothing’s nicked”), like so: COD-DLE.

32. Without compromise, quietly fleeing, being wan with love (3-2-7)

Answer: ALL-OR-NOTHING (i.e. “without compromise”). Solution is PALLOR (i.e. “being wan”) with the P removed (indicated by “quietly fleeing”, P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano”, already discussed). This is then followed by NOTHING (i.e. “love”, or a zero score in tennis), like so: ALLOR-NOTHING.

34. Metalworker displaying pirate’s legend, we hear (11)

Answer: SILVERSMITH (i.e. “metalworker”). Solution is SILVER’S (i.e. “pirate’s”, specifically Long John SILVER from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island) followed by a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of MYTH (i.e. “legend”), like so: SILVER’S-MITH.

36. Icy world – Arctic winds – run by wealthy people? (11)

Answer: PLUTOCRATIC (i.e. “run by wealthy people”). Solution is PLUTO (i.e. “icy world” in our solar system) followed by an anagram (indicated by “winds”) of ARCTIC, like so: PLUTO-CRATIC.

37. A horse without covering bolted wildly – only now turn to this? (6,4)

Answer: STABLE DOOR (i.e. “only now turn to this”, within the context of the clue, this is a reference to the phrase “closing the stable door after the horse has bolted”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of A, HORSE once its first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “without covering”) and BOLTED.

39. Funding expert popular, welcomed by hobbyist (9)

Answer: FINANCIER (i.e. “funding expert”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) placed in or “welcomed by” FANCIER (i.e. “hobbyist”), like so: F(IN)ANCIER.

41. Below fruit, wee statuette (8)

Answer: FIGURINE (i.e. “statuette”). Solution is FIG (i.e. “fruit”) followed by URINE (i.e. “wee”).

45. Hard stone receiving instant cut (6)

Answer: STRICT (i.e. “hard”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “stone” weight) wrapped around or “receiving” TRICE (i.e. “instant”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: S(TRIC)T.

46. Retreats within borders of one European city (6)

Answer: ODENSE (i.e. “European city”, Denmark’s third largest city). Solution is DENS (i.e. lairs or “retreats”) placed “within” O and E (i.e. “borders of one”, i.e. the first and last letters of “one”), like so: O(DENS)E. A very pretty place, it seems. Also: Made. To. Fit.

48. Special edition’s text, rather reduced (5)

Answer: EXTRA (i.e. “special edition”). “Reduced” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: T(EXT RA)THER.

49. Officially approve billions? Not so much (5)

Answer: BLESS (i.e. “officially approve”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “billions”) followed by LESS (i.e. “not so much”).

51. Satisfactory in a card game (5)

Answer: POKER (i.e. “card game”). Solution is OK (i.e. “satisfactory”) placed “in” PER (i.e. “a”, as in phrases such as “five pounds a pop”), like so: P(OK)ER.

A medium strength Jumbo that was okay in the main, with some nicely disguised wordplay dotted throughout. It got a little overly mechanical in places if my word count is any judge, but that’s probably more a bother for me than anyone else!

Now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has pittled on your plants then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Being a huge Reading fan, playing Alboin, aim big before the end (11)

Answer: BIBLIOMANIA (i.e. “being a huge reading fan” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of ALBION AIM and BIG once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “before the end”).

7. Paper follows translated articles on our planet (5,3,3)

Answer: UNDER THE SUN (i.e. “on our planet”). Solution is THE SUN (i.e. UK “[news]paper”) placed after or “following” UN and DER (i.e. “translated articles”, specifically the French for “a” and the German for “the” – an article being a word like a, an or the), like so: (UN-DER)-THE-SUN.

13. Spreads sandwiches along with famous courses here (2,7)

Answer: ST ANDREWS (i.e. “famous [golf] courses here”). Solution is STREWS (i.e. “spreads”) wrapped around or “sandwiching” AND (i.e. “along with”), like so: ST(AND)REWS.

14. Outliers in terribly irrational state – it’s unsurprising (7)

Answer: TYPICAL (i.e. “it’s unsurprising”). Solution is TY (i.e. “outliers in terribly”, i.e. the first and last letters of “terribly”) followed by PI (i.e. an “irrational” number in maths) and CAL (i.e. US “state”, short for California).

15. Show distress and hesitation like a judge? (5)

Answer: SOBER (i.e. “like a judge”). Solution is SOB (i.e. “show distress”) followed by ER (i.e. “hesitation”).

16. Cultural agency in Scotland’s odd about French art (6)

Answer: UNESCO (i.e. “cultural agency”). Solution is UNCO (i.e. “Scotland’s [word for] odd”) wrapped “about” ES (i.e. “French art”, in this case the French for “are” – usually we’d see some ye olde indicator when “art” gets used like this), like so: UN(ES)CO.

17. Chilled old writer nearly put on coach out of India (8)

Answer: TRANQUIL (i.e. “chilled”). Solution is QUILL (i.e. “old writer”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “nearly”) and the remainder placed after or “on” TRAIN (i.e. “coach”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “out of India” – India being I in the phonetic alphabet), like so: TRAN-QUIL.

18. Cold Parisian’s here by Scottish river (7)

Answer: ICINESS (i.e. “cold”). Solution is ICI (i.e. “Parisian’s here”, i.e. the French for “here” – blimey, we’re not even a quarter of the way into this puzzle and we’ve already had three French words being used. It’s almost enough to warrant bringing back the Holy Grail meme) followed by NESS (i.e. a “Scottish river”).

20. Happy to tour in case of annual holiday, with flying fare from Europe (11,9)

Answer: CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (i.e. “fare from Europe”). Solution is CONTENT (i.e. “happy”) wrapped around or “touring” IN, and then followed by AL (i.e. “case of annual”, i.e. the first and last letters of “annual”), BREAK (i.e. “holiday”) and FAST (i.e. “flying”), like so: CONT(IN)ENT-AL-BREAK-FAST.

23. Capital firm keeping tax returns for powerful Roman (7)

Answer: OCTAVIA (i.e. “powerful Roman” – take your pick between the Elder and the Younger). Solution is AI (i.e. “capital”, both expressions of something excellent, in this case A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) and CO (i.e. “firm”, short for company) all wrapped around or “keeping” VAT (i.e. “tax”, in this case Value Added Tax). This is all then reversed (indicated by “returns”), like so: OC-(TAV)-IA.

24. Foot in pool in Durham, say (7)

Answer: SPONDEE (i.e. a “foot” in prosody, one comprising two long syllables). Solution is POND (i.e. “pool”) placed in SEE (i.e. “Durham, say” – other dioceses are available), like so: S(POND)EE. We’ve seen our fair share of prosodical terms in Jumbos lately, haven’t we? On this occasion it’s probably a coincidence, but I do like the idea of a Times setter moonlighting as a frustrated poet. The type who agonises for days over a single line, rewriting it over and over until the words lose all meaning, eventually giving up and placing another load of scribble in the desk drawer. Hang in there, Swinburne. You’ll show them. Eventually. Maybe.

26. Strip joint that’s seedy welcomes record by Queen (7)

Answer: DEPRIVE (i.e. to remove or “strip”). Solution is DIVE (i.e. a bar or “joint that’s seedy”) wrapped around EP (i.e. “record”, in this case an Extended Play) and R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina), like so: D(EP-R)IVE.

28. Place to hide Arab’s money from the east (4)

Answer: LAIR (i.e. “place to hide”). Solution is RIAL (i.e. “Arab’s money”) reversed (indicated by “from the east”, this being an across clue).

29. Opponent of Orthodox Church receives Mass, shut off from the world (8)

Answer: HERMETIC (i.e. “shut off from the world”). Solution is HERETIC (i.e. “opponent of Orthodox Church”) wrapped around or “receiving” M (a recognised abbreviation of “mass”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: HER(M)ETIC.

32. Leopard’s tail, one possibly spotted in parts, maybe (9)

Answer: DIVISIBLE (i.e. “in parts, maybe”). Solution is D (i.e. “leopard’s tail”, i.e. the last letter of “leopard”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and VISIBLE (i.e. “spotted”).

35. Permit naïve Republican to get taken in by rotter (5,4)

Answer: GREEN CARD (i.e. “permit”). Solution is GREEN (i.e. “naïve”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) once placed or “taken in by” CAD (i.e. “rotter”), like so: GREEN-CA(R)D.

36. English boy screening short film about sharp decline (8)

Answer: NOSEDIVE (i.e. “sharp decline”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and SON (i.e. “boy”) all wrapped around or “screening” VIDEO (i.e. “film”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: NOS-(EDIV)-E.

37. Fan of fascism’s extreme characters in part of UK (4)

Answer: NAZI (i.e. “fan of fascism”). Solution is A and Z (i.e. “extreme characters”, i.e. the first and last letters of the alphabet) both placed “in” NI (i.e. “part of UK”, specifically Northern Ireland), like so: N(AZ)I.

39. Beginning with covers of Nirvana track (7)

Answer: NASCENT (i.e. “beginning”). Solution is NA (i.e. “covers of Nirvana”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Nirvana”) followed by SCENT (i.e. “track”).

41. Cheers up person having somewhat reduced meals (7)

Answer: SUPPERS (i.e. “meals”). “Somewhat reduced” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CHEER(S UP PERS)ON.

44. Hide murders cracked by Sherlock at last (7)

Answer: DOESKIN (i.e. “hide”). Solution is DOES IN (i.e. “murders”) wrapped around or “cracked by” K (i.e. “Sherlock at last”, i.e. the last letter of “Sherlock”), like so: DOES-(K)-IN.

45. Might one enjoy Labour MP turning on left with shout that’s wild? (7,3,10)

Answer: GLUTTON FOR PUNISHMENT (i.e. “might one enjoy labour” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s wild”) of MP TURNING ON LEFT and SHOUT.

49. Dip into alcohol suitable to be consumed (2,5)

Answer: AL DENTE (i.e. “suitable to be consumed” – much too vague, setter. The solution means “firm to the bite” (Chambers), which isn’t even in the same county, never mind ballpark). Solution is DENT (i.e. “dip”) placed “into” ALE (i.e. “alcohol”), like so: AL(DENT)E.

50. In the US, female fashion shows seen here (8)

Answer: BROADWAY (i.e. “shows seen here”). Solution is BROAD (i.e. “in the US, female”, derogatorily. That’s nice, setter) followed by WAY (i.e. method or “fashion”).

51. Come back among aircrew, snappily heading west (6)

Answer: ANSWER (i.e. a retort, rejoinder or “come back”). “Among” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “heading west” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being an across clue – like so: AIRC(REW SNA)PPILY.

53. Nerdy American girl coming out holding The Times (5)

Answer: DWEEB (i.e. “nerdy American” – coo, is that the sharpening of pitchforks I can hear with all these Americanisms?) Solution is DEB (i.e. “girl coming out”, short for debutante) wrapped around or “holding” WE (i.e. “The Times”, from the point of view of the setter), like so: D(WE)EB.

54. Football club leaving a learner in charge? This may be fatal (7)

Answer: ARSENIC (i.e. “this may be fatal”). Solution is ARSENAL (i.e. English “football club”) with the last A and L removed (indicated by “leaving a learner” – L being a recognised abbreviation of learner, e.g. on L-plates) and the remainder followed by IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”), like so: ARSEN-IC.

55. Score roughly with header from youth – net’s broken (9)

Answer: TWENTYISH (i.e. a “score roughly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “broken”) of WITH, Y (i.e. “header from youth”, i.e. the first letter of “youth”) and NET’S.

56. Periodically debated introducing strict limit in African province (7,4)

Answer: EASTERN CAPE (i.e. “African province”). Solution is EAE (i.e. “periodically debated”, i.e. every other letter of DEBATED) wrapped around or “introducing” STERN (i.e. “strict”) and CAP (i.e. “limit”), like so: EA(STERN-CAP)E.

57. Support cryptic setters in minor ways (4,7)

Answer: BACK STREETS (i.e. “minor ways”). Solution is BACK (i.e. to “support”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “cryptic”) of SETTERS.

Down clues

1. Barney reversing express vehicle at first (4-2)

Answer: BUST-UP (i.e. “barney”). Solution is PUT (i.e. to “express”) “reversed” and placed after or having “at first” BUS (i.e. “vehicle”), like so: BUS-TUP.

2. Feeble argument about Thin Lizzy covers being very bad (15)

Answer: BLAMEWORTHINESS (i.e. “being very bad”). Solution is LAME (i.e. “feeble”) and ROW (i.e. “argument”) reversed (indicated by “about”). These, along with THIN, are then all placed in or “covered” by BESS (i.e. “Lizzy”, both shortened forms of Elizabeth), like so: B(LAME-WOR-THIN)ESS. Very cool, setter. All is forgiven.

3. Asian language group cheers up the writer’s mood (10)

Answer: INDICATIVE (i.e. “mood”). Solution is INDIC (i.e. “Asian language group”) followed by TA (i.e. “cheers”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), then I’VE (i.e. “the writer’s”, a contraction of “the writer has”, from the point of view of the setter), like so: INDIC-AT-I’VE.

4. Gathering police must conserve energy (4)

Answer: MEET (i.e. a “gathering”). Solution is MET (i.e. “police”, short for the London Metropolitan Police) wrapped around or “conserving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: M(E)ET.

5. Unconditional reason why orchestra can’t perform? (2-7)

Answer: NO-STRINGS (i.e. “unconditional”). When written as NO STRINGS the solution also playfully satisfies “reason why orchestra can’t perform”.

6. Insect queen turned part of its head? (7)

Answer: ANTENNA (i.e. “part of [ant’s] head”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “insect”) followed by ANNE (i.e. English “queen” of old) once reversed (indicated by “turned”), like so: ANT-ENNA.

7. University teacher admitting new choice is not fully explored (9)

Answer: UNPLUMBED (i.e. “not fully explored”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) and BED (i.e. “teacher”, in this case a BEd or Bachelor of Education) all wrapped around or “admitting” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and PLUM (i.e. “choice”), like so: U-(N-PLUM)-BED.

8. Like a peer around mostly boring houses (5)

Answer: DUCAL (i.e. “like a peer”). Solution is CA (i.e. “around”, in this case short for circa) placed in or “housed” by DULL (i.e. “boring”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: DU(CA)L.

9. Tucking into bread with sweet topping, king had a merry time (9)

Answer: ROLLICKED (i.e. “had a merry time”). Solution is ROLL (i.e. “bread”) and ICED (i.e. “sweet topping”) wrapped around or having “tucked in” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess), like so: ROLL-IC(K)ED.

10. I appal hosts, dancing with son in ill-advised ball (8,4)

Answer: HOSPITAL PASS (i.e. “ill-advised ball”, i.e. a pass in football that’ll likely put a teammate in hospital if they went for it). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dancing”) of I APPAL HOSTS followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”), like so: HOSPITALPAS-S.

11. Theme of chapter probing sea and air transport (7)

Answer: SUBJECT (i.e. “theme”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “chapter”) placed in or “probing” SUB (i.e. “sea transport”) and JET (i.e. “air transport”), like so: SUB-JE(C)T.

12. German scientist’s cosy home around Rhein’s banks (6)

Answer: Walther NERNST (i.e. “German scientist” – no, me neither). Solution is NEST (i.e. “cosy home”) wrapped “around” RN (i.e. “Rhein’s banks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Rhein”), like so: NE(RN)ST.

19. Excluding the public during rise of computer age (2,6)

Answer: IN CAMERA (i.e. “excluding the public”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) followed by Apple MAC (i.e. “computer”) once reversed (indicated by “rise of…” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by ERA (i.e. “age”), like so: IN-CAM-ERA.

21. Made better, stopped nursing tiring complaint (7)

Answer: EMENDED (i.e. “made better”). Solution is ENDED (i.e. “stopped”) wrapped around or “nursing” M.E. (i.e. “tiring complaint”), like so: E(ME)NDED.

22. Change look of navy flag, suppressing centrepiece (8)

Answer: REDESIGN (i.e. “change look of”). Solution is RED ENSIGN (i.e. “navy flag”) with the “centrepiece” or middle letter, N, removed or “suppressed”, like so: RED-ESIGN.

23. Kind of ring, jewellery worn by soldier (8)

Answer: OBLIGING (i.e. “kind”). Solution is O (i.e. “ring”) and BLING (i.e. “jewellery”) wrapped around or “worn by” GI (i.e. US “soldier”), like so: O-BLI(GI)NG.

25. After work, can get involved (3,2)

Answer: OPT IN (i.e. “get involved”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) followed by TIN (i.e. “can”).

27. Written ruling over opponents in board game (2,5,3,5)

Answer: IN BLACK AND WHITE (i.e. “written”). Solution is IN (i.e. elected or “ruling”) followed by BLACK AND WHITE (i.e. “opponents in board game”, specifically chess).

30. House in France occupied by Democrat president (7)

Answer: James MADISON (i.e. 4th US “president”). Solution is MAISON (i.e. “house in France”, i.e. the French for “house”) wrapped around or “occupying” D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”), like so: MA(D)ISON.

31. Speaker’s shy in class (5)

Answer: CASTE (i.e. “class”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “speaker’s”) of CAST (i.e. to throw or “shy”).

33. See classical quartet that is more brilliant than the others (8)

Answer: VIVIDEST (i.e. “more brilliant than the others”). Solution is V (i.e. “see”, short for the Latin vide) followed by IV (i.e. “classical quartet”, i.e. four expressed in Roman numerals) and ID EST (i.e. “that is”, again in Latin. ID EST is where you get “i.e.” from).

34. Like an ace French figure on heartless DJ’s device (12)

Answer: UNRETURNABLE (i.e. “like an ace” in tennis). Solution is UN (i.e. “French figure”, in this case the French for the number 1) followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and TURNTABLE (i.e. “DJ’s device”) once its middle letter has been removed (indicated by “heartless”), like so: UN-RE-TURNABLE.

38. Scary creature in the main running through sewer (3,7)

Answer: SEA MONSTER (i.e. “scary creature in the main” – the main being another word for the high sea). Solution is ON (i.e. “running” or operational) placed in or “through” SEAMSTER (i.e. “sewer”, i.e. one who sews), like so: SEAM(ON)STER.

40. Group of lawyers stopping money in place for levies (5,4)

Answer: TITHE BARN (i.e. “place for levies”). Solution is THE BAR (i.e. “group of lawyers”) placed in or “stopping” TIN (slang for “money”), like so: TI(THE-BAR)N.

42. Anglicans following e.g. him or me, say (9)

Answer: PRONOUNCE (i.e. “say”). Solution is CE (i.e. “Anglicans”, specifically the Church of England) placed after or “following” PRONOUN (i.e. “e.g. him or me”), like so: PRONOUN-CE.

43. After error in speech, dodge dealing with grammar (9)

Answer: SYNTACTIC (i.e. “dealing with grammar”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “in speech”) of SIN (i.e. “error”) followed by TACTIC (i.e. a trick, ruse, stratagem, or “dodge”), like so: SYN-TACTIC.

45. Flipping bounder right to leave garment, possibly Nike (7)

Answer: GODDESS (i.e. “possibly Nike” – other Greek goddesses are available). Solution is DOG (i.e. cad or “bounder”) reversed (indicated by “flipping”) and followed by DRESS (i.e. “garment”) once the R has been removed (indicated by “right to leave” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: GOD-DESS.

46. Drugs sent north in lead vehicle in Asia (7)

Answer: PEDICAB (i.e. “vehicle in Asia”, basically a trike with a covered backseat attached). Solution is ACID and E (i.e. “drugs”, the latter a slang name for ecstasy) all reversed (indicated by “sent north” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” PB (chemical symbol of “lead”), like so: P(E-DICA)B.

47. Manage northern oilfield, finally drilling well (6)

Answer: HANDLE (i.e. “manage”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and D (i.e. “oilfield, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “oilfield”) both placed in or “drilling” HALE (i.e. “well” or healthy), like so: HA(N-D)LE.

48. Lingerie items donned by Royal composer (6)

Answer: Johannes BRAHMS (i.e. “composer”). Solution is BRAS (i.e. “lingerie items”) wrapped around or being “donned by” HM (i.e. “Royal”, His or Her Majesty), like so: BRA(HM)S.

50. Maybe Iraqi, going around south, turns up here? (5)

Answer: BASRA (i.e. “here”, in the context of the clue – in this case a city in Iraq). Solution is ARAB (i.e. “maybe Iraqi” – other Arabs are available) wrapped “around” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “turns up” – this being a down clue), like so: BA(S)RA.

52. Not as large, empty vessel (4)

Answer: LESS (i.e. “not as” much). Solution is LE (i.e. “large, empty”, i.e. the word “large” with all its middle letters removed) followed by SS (i.e. “vessel”, a recognised abbreviation of a steamship).

Tsk. Late again. Oh well. If you haven’t already consigned this Jumbo to the cat litter tray, I suppose making it a genuine stinker, then you’ll find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If you have drawn a blank against a recent Jumbo then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks for the kind comments and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. One used to hang out with actor, English, in block (7,3)

Answer: CLOTHES PEG (i.e. “one used to hang [clothes] out with”). Solution is THESP (i.e. “actor”, short for thespian) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) both placed “in” CLOG (i.e. “block”), like so: CLO(THESP-E)G.

6. Type answer by hand primarily: some often do (4,1,5,2)

Answer: MAKE A HABIT OF (i.e. “often do”). Solution is MAKE (i.e. “type”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A), then H (i.e. “hand primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “hand”) and A BIT OF (i.e. “some”).

14. Meaning of clue missing first and last bit (9)

Answer: INTENDING (i.e. “meaning”). Solution is HINT (i.e. “clue”) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “missing first”) and the remainder followed by ENDING (i.e. “last bit”), like so: INT-ENDING.

15. Rock and a sharp double bend beyond summit (5)

Answer: TOPAZ (i.e. semi-precious “rock”). Solution is A and Z (i.e. letter shaped like a “sharp double bend”) both placed after or “beyond” TOP (i.e. “summit”), like so: TOP-(A-Z).

16. Cooking sausage perhaps of unknown length, stopping the one who’d measure it? (7)

Answer: SIZZLER (i.e. “cooking sausage perhaps” – other sizzling meat products are available). Solution is Z (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “length”) both placed in or “stopping” SIZER (i.e. “one who’d measure”), like so: SIZ(Z-L)ER.

17. One large in legend, still current in reduced form (10,7)

Answer: ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN (i.e. “one large in legend”). The remainder of the clue plays on the cryptid’s alternative name, the much “reduced” in length YETI, which can be expressed as YET (i.e. “still”) and I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics).

18. One clinging to another’s audible echo in part (5)

Answer: LEECH (i.e. “one clinging to another”). “In part” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: AUDIB(LE ECH)O.

19. Title ultimately associated with this country, way back (7)

Answer: DUKEDOM (i.e. “title”). Solution is D (i.e. “ultimately associated”, i.e. the last letter of “associated”) followed by UK (i.e. “this country” – The Times being a British newspaper) and MODE (i.e. “way” or method) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: D-UK-EDOM.

21. Crime fast overwhelming Ireland (6)

Answer: PIRACY (i.e. “crime”). Solution is PACY (i.e. “fast”) wrapped around or “overwhelming” IR (a recognised abbreviation of “Ireland”), like so: P(IR)ACY.

22. Being messed about with hurt aged relative (8)

Answer: DAUGHTER (i.e. “relative”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “being messed about with”) of HURT AGED.

24. Safari, for example, where you see giraffe? (7)

Answer: BROWSER (i.e. “Safari, for example” – other web browsers are available). Solution also satisfies “giraffe”, to BROWSE taken to mean feeding on plant shoots, leaves etc.

26. Find fault with exercises: not drinking “just in case” a big mistake? (8)

Answer: PETTIFOG (i.e. “find fault with”). Solution is PE (i.e. “exercises”, specifically Physical Education) followed by TT (i.e. “not drinking”, being a recognised abbreviation of teetotal), then IF (i.e. “just in case”) and OG (i.e. “a big mistake”, specifically an Own Goal).

27. In recession, banks attempt sort of economic policy (4-2)

Answer: STOP-GO (i.e. “sort of economic policy” alternately discouraging and encouraging forward movement). Solution is POTS (i.e. “banks”, both reserves of cash) reversed (indicated by “in recession”) and followed by GO (i.e. an “attempt”).

30. Very hard to admire politician turning holy, somehow (4,5-2)

Answer: LIKE BILLY-OH (i.e. “very hard”). Solution is LIKE (i.e. “admire”) followed by LIB (i.e. “politician”, specifically a Liberal) once reversed (indicated by “turning”). This is all then followed by an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of HOLY, like so: LIKE-BIL-LYOH.

32. Fresh water source that is employed in country pursuits? (5-6)

Answer: GREEN-WELLIE (i.e. “employed in country pursuits”, I suppose, though I thought it was more a description of the rah-rah-rah-jolly-hockey-sticks lot than the actual green wellingtons they’d wear). Solution is GREEN (i.e. “fresh”) followed by WELL (i.e. “water source”) and IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, short for the Latin id est).

33. Those receiving orders etc from The Times to accept no tip (7,4)

Answer: HONOURS LIST (i.e. “those receiving orders etc”, e.g. the Order of Merit. Other gongs are available). Solution is HOURS i.e. “times”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) wrapped around or “accepting” ON and followed by TIP (i.e. to “list”, say, at sea), like so: H(ON)OURS-LIST.

35. Does work for another grammar school, entertaining crowd with ceremony (11)

Answer: GHOSTWRITES (i.e. “does work for another”). Solution is GS (a recognised abbreviation of “grammar school”) wrapped around or “entertaining” HOST (i.e. a “crowd”), W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and RITE (i.e. “ceremony”), like so: G(HOST-W-RITE)S.

37. Female bishop, visiting for a month (6)

Answer: SHEBAT (i.e. the fifth Jewish “month”. No, me neither). Solution is SHE (i.e. “female”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess) and AT (i.e. “visiting”).

38. Sweetener applied to tongue mostly useless (8)

Answer: BUNGLING (i.e. “useless”). Solution is BUNG (i.e. “sweetener” or bribe) followed by LINGO (i.e. “tongue” or dialect) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: BUNG-LING.

39. Do this – and attempt to maintain routine’s backfiring? (7)

Answer: DISTURB (i.e. “do this”, I guess. I suspect the solution is supposed to satisfy the clue as a whole, which would be fine if it wasn’t a garbled mess. One I’m filing under “try-hard”). Solution is BID (i.e. “attempt”) wrapped around or “maintaining” RUT’S (i.e. “routine’s”) and the whole reversed (indicated by “backfiring”), like so: DI(S’TUR)B.

42. New function, outwardly the same, linked? (2,6)

Answer: IN TANDEM (i.e. “linked”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and TAN (i.e. trigonometric “function”, short for tangent) both placed in or having “outwardly” IDEM (i.e. “the same” in Latin, inevitably), like so: I(N-TAN)DEM.

44. Policeman’s case for arresting corporal (2,4)

Answer: PC PLOD (i.e. slang for a “policeman”). Solution is POD (i.e. seed “case”) wrapped around or “arresting” CPL (a recognised abbreviation of “corporal”), like so: P(CPL)OD.

46. What can hasten the appearance of a spare tyre? (7)

Answer: BLOWOUT. Clue plays on two meanings of the solution, being a sudden burst tyre and also a lavish feast, in the latter case a “spare tyre” is taken to mean a roll of fat around the waist.

48. Clay, later black, one’s used to build defence (5)

Answer: ALIBI (i.e. legal “defence”). Solution is Muhammad ALI (i.e. Cassius “Clay, later”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”).

49. Advice to claim payback without losing it (4,3,3,3,4)

Answer: DON’T GET MAD GET EVEN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but that’s about it unless I’m missing something clever. A rather underwhelming clue otherwise.

51. Sit on completed story (7)

Answer: OVERLIE (i.e. “sit on”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “completed”) followed by LIE (i.e. “story” or fabrication).

52. With no more to give back: nothing, note (3-2)

Answer: ALL-IN (i.e. exhausted or “with no more to give”). Solution is NIL (i.e. “nothing”) and LA (i.e. “note” of the sol-fa scale) all reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: AL-LIN.

53. Female caught sliprail after collapsing (9)

Answer: PRISCILLA (i.e. “female’s” name). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “after collapsing”) of C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) and SLIPRAIL.

54. Cooler? One might be now about farm vehicles! (9,3)

Answer: EXTRACTOR FAN (i.e. “cooler”). When written as EX-TRACTOR FAN the solution playfully satisfies the clue as a whole.

55. As one’s missing coat, winter did sound harsh (10)

Answer: INTEGRATED (i.e. “as one”). Solution is WINTER with the first and last letters removed (indicated by “missing coat”) and the remainder followed by GRATED (i.e. “did sound harsh”), like so: INTE-GRATED.

Down clues

1. Brothers: one did for the other an Alice band, bizarrely (4,3,4)

Answer: CAIN AND ABEL (i.e. “brothers: one did for the other”, biblically speaking). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bizarrely”) of AN ALICE BAND.

2. Concluding notes, some tortuously written up (5)

Answer: OUTRO (i.e. “concluding notes” of a musical piece). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “written up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: T(ORTUO)SLY.

3. Husband regularly penned ribaldry as rhetorical device (9)

Answer: HENDIADYS (i.e. “rhetorical device” – over to Chambers: “a rhetorical figure in which a notion, normally expressible by an adjective and a noun, is expressed by two nouns joined by and or another conjunction, as clad in cloth and green for clad in green cloth“. Filler, then). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) followed by ENDIADY (i.e. “regularly penned ribaldry as”, i.e. every other letter of PENNED and RIBALDRY AS), like so: H-ENDIADYS.

4. One gripped by panic beneath singular part of windmill (4,3)

Answer: SAIL ARM (i.e. “part of windmill”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “gripped by” ALARM (i.e. “panic”). This is all then placed after or “beneath” – this being a down clue – S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”), like so: S-(A(I)LARM).

5. Urge to go crazy and drink (3,4)

Answer: EGG FLIP (i.e. “drink”). Solution is EGG (i.e. “urge”) followed by FLIP (i.e. “to go crazy”).

7. Coming up with sanction – and feeling bad (11)

Answer: APPROACHING (i.e. “coming up”). Solution is APPRO (i.e. “sanction”, short for approve) followed by ACHING (i.e. “feeling bad”).

8. City with confusing arrangement of paths for cycling gets complaint (6)

Answer: ECZEMA (i.e. skin “complaint”). Solution is EC (i.e. “city”, a valid but now rather tiresome reference to the City of London’s postcode area) followed by MAZE (i.e. “confusing arrangement of paths”) once the letters have been “cycled” a couple of times, like so: EC-MAZE => EC-EMAZ => EC-ZEMA.

9. Dwelling uselessly on health resorts, one raised cries of approval (8)

Answer: HOSANNAS (i.e. “cries of approval”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “dwelling”) with the USE removed (indicated by “uselessly”) and the remainder followed by SAN twice (i.e. “health resorts”, short for sanitorium), the latter reversed (indicated by “one raised” – this being a down clue), like so: HO-SAN-NAS.

10. Toy coming to life with kick, a long time after (4,9)

Answer: BUZZ LIGHTYEAR (i.e. a “toy”, whether as a character in the Toy Story films or as a toy in its own right). I doubt the setter is mistaking a LIGHTYEAR for “a long time” (it’s a distance of just under 6 trillion miles) so I’m guessing that the solution is LIGHT (i.e. lively or “coming to life”) placed “with” or after BUZZ (i.e. “kick”). This is all then followed by YEAR (i.e. “a long time”), like so: (BUZZ-LIGHT)-YEAR.

11. Most unlikely to try being entirely inclusive? (7)

Answer: TALLEST (i.e. “most unlikely”). Solution is TEST (i.e. “to try”) wrapped around or “including” ALL (i.e. “entirely”), like so: T(ALL)EST.

12. Too jolly lot? There’s uproar about that (11)

Answer: FURTHERMORE (i.e. “too”). Solution is THE RM (i.e. “jolly lot”, jollies being a nickname for the Royal Marines) placed in or having “about” it FURORE (i.e. “uproar”), like so: FUR(THE-RM)ORE.

13. A touch short, heave with some difficulty (2,1,7)

Answer: AT A STRETCH (i.e. “with some difficulty”). Solution is A followed by TASTE (i.e. “touch”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”). This is all then followed by RETCH (i.e. “heave”), like so: A-TAST-RETCH.

20. Criticise and moan, picking up the last bent pins (5-4)

Answer: KNOCK-KNEE (i.e. “bent pins”, pins being a slang term for legs). Solution is KNOCK (i.e. “criticise”) followed by KEEN (i.e. to “moan”) once its “last” letter has been “picked up” a couple of notches – this being a down clue – like so: KNOCK-KEE(N) => KNOCK-K(N)EE.

23. A number of romantic novels go astray (4,4)

Answer: LOVE SONG (i.e. “a number of romantic”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “go astray”) of NOVELS GO.

25. Touching one’s left hand restricts pleasure (6)

Answer: RELISH (i.e. “pleasure”). Solution is RE (i.e. “touching” on or regarding – think email replies) followed by I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) once placed in or “restricted” by LH (a recognised abbreviation of “left hand”), like so: RE-L(I’S)H.

26. Hissing sound that’s alarming we hear build (8)

Answer: PHYSIQUE (i.e. “build”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “we hear”) of FIZZ (i.e. “hissing sound”) and EEK! (i.e. “that’s alarming”).

28. Party council, endlessly courteous, turned problem round (9)

Answer: POLITBURO (i.e. “party council”). Solution is POLITE (i.e. “courteous”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder followed by RUB (i.e. friction or “problem”) once reversed (indicated by “turned”). This is all then followed by O (i.e. “round”), like so: POLIT-BUR-O.

29. City’s rival solvers entitled to be heard (6)

Answer: UNITED (i.e. Manchester “City’s rivals”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “to be heard”) of YOU (i.e. “solvers”, from the point of view of the setter) and KNIGHTED (i.e. “entitled”).

31. I go in carelessly with valuable plant (13)

Answer: BOUGAINVILLEA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “carelessly”) of I GO IN and VALUABLE. Ugh. Exotic anagrams.

33. Light work made of royal revolution once previously (3,8)

Answer: HMS PINAFORE (i.e. “light work”, specifically a comic opera by Gilbert & Sullivan). Solution is HM (i.e. “royal”) followed by SPIN (i.e. “revolution”) and AFORE (i.e. “once previously”)

34. After climbing, you catch smoke on mountain above a city abroad (11)

Answer: TEGUCIGALPA (i.e. “city abroad”, specifically the capital of Honduras). Solution is U (i.e. “you” abbreviated, e.g. in textspeak) and GET (i.e. “catch”) all reversed (indicated by “after climbing” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by CIG (i.e. “smoke”), then ALP (i.e. “mountain”) and A, like so: (TEG-U)-CIG-ALP-A. Hey, at least it wasn’t anagrammed.

35. Cutter is craft for holding group in (10)

Answer: GUILLOTINE (i.e. “cutter”). Solution is GUILE (i.e. “craft” or cunning) wrapped around or “holding” LOT (i.e. “group”) and IN, like so: GUIL(LOT-IN)E.

36. Edits leader in Times, with article way below par (11)

Answer: SUBSTANDARD (i.e. “below par”). Solution is SUBS (i.e. “edits”) followed by T (i.e. “leader in Times”, i.e. the first letter of “Times”), then AND (i.e. “with”), then A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) then RD (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “road”).

40. Vehicle that’s swift and small left permanent mark (6,3)

Answer: SPORTS CAR (i.e. “vehicle that’s swift”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak) and SCAR (i.e. “permanent mark”).

41. Pendulum clock component that’s exactly round (8)

Answer: DEADBEAT (i.e. “pendulum clock component”. Chambers doesn’t quite agree, listing this as a hyphenated and more qualified DEAD-BEAT ESCARPMENT, being “a clock escarpment in which there is no recoil to the escape wheel”. Whatever the hell any of that means. I genuinely laughed when I found how obscure this was. I mean, how many of us maintain clocks enough to know this one? Good grief. The clue is neatly worked, I’ll grant you, but it didn’t stop me saying “jog on, setter”. Well, perhaps not those exact words…) Solution is DEAD (i.e. “exactly”, e.g. a time of ten seconds dead) followed by BEAT (i.e. a policeman’s “round”).

43. Go up to plug explosive old weapon (7)

Answer: TRIDENT (i.e. “old weapon”). Solution is RIDE (i.e. “go up”, as in a skirt riding up) placed in or “plugging” TNT (i.e. “explosive”), like so: T(RIDE)NT.

45. Page replacing second, third or sixth in addenda, awfully hard to read (7)

Answer: DEADPAN (i.e. “hard to read”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of ADDENDA once one of the Ps has been replaced by a D (indicated by “page replacing second, third or sixth [letter] in addenda”).

46. Broadcast rock after reflecting greatly (3,4)

Answer: BIG TIME (i.e. “greatly”). Solution is EMIT (i.e. “broadcast”) and GIB (i.e. “rock”, short for Gibraltar) all reversed (indicated by “after reflecting”).

47. Not just, in fact not even a pretty face? (6)

Answer: UNFAIR. Solution satisfies “not just” and, playfully, “not … a pretty face”.

50. Uncultivated land lord’s kept in check (5)

Answer: VELDT (i.e. “uncultivated land”). Solution is LD (a recognised abbreviation of “lord”) placed or “kept in” VET (i.e. to screen or “check”), like so: VE(LD)T.

Whoops! Unlike my real-life alter-ego, you could say I’ve got a little behind here. The one good thing about delaying these Jumbo solutions is that I get my Saturdays back, but it does place demands on the rest of my week as a result. Sometimes, things are going to slip.

Anyway, now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has left you scratching your head then you might have nits. If that’s not the case, however, and you’re actually just a little stuck then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your patience and comments. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Boorish idiot on councillor’s case (5)

Answer: CRASS (i.e. “boorish”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “idiot”) placed “on” or after CR (i.e. “councillor’s case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “councillor”), like so: CR-ASS.

4. Obvious formality puts off adult trainee (10)

Answer: APPRENTICE (i.e. “trainee”). Solution is APPARENT (i.e. “obvious”) and ICE (i.e. “formality”) with one of the As removed (indicated by “puts off adult”, an old film certification requiring children under 14 to be accompanied by an adult, which was largely superseded by PG), like so: APPRENT-ICE.

9. They bring together British experts (6)

Answer: BRACES (i.e. “they bring together”). Solution is BR (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) and ACES (i.e. “experts”).

14. Confiscate sought after object stolen by witness (9)

Answer: SEQUESTER (i.e. “confiscate”). Solution is QUEST (i.e. “sought after object”) placed in or “stolen by” SEER (i.e. “witness”), like so: SE(QUEST)ER.

15. English doctor runs into trouble, heading off source of shame? (13)

Answer: EMBARRASSMENT (i.e. “shame”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MB (i.e. “doctor”, a Bachelor of Medicine or Medicinae Baccalaureus) and HARRASSMENT (i.e. “trouble”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: E-MB-ARRASSMENT.

16. Letter’s mostly impressive elegance, having no heart (7)

Answer: EPISTLE (i.e. “letter”). Solution is EPIC (i.e. “impressive”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by STYLE (i.e. “elegance”) once its middle letter has been removed (indicated by “having no heart”), like so: EPI-STLE.

17. Is work this writer’s returned disrupting whole discussion? (9)

Answer: SYMPOSIUM (i.e. “discussion”). Solution is IS, OP (i.e. “work”, a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) and MY (i.e. “this writer’s”, or something belonging to the setter) all reversed (indicated by “returned”) and placed in or “disrupting” SUM (i.e. “whole”), like so: S(YM-PO-SI)UM.

18. Monarch’s rule is unfamiliar except for Republican’s predecessors (5)

Answer: REIGN (i.e. “monarch’s rule”). Solution is FOREIGN (i.e. “unfamiliar”) with the FO removed (indicated by “except for Republican’s predecessors” – I believe this is referring to the word “for” in the clue, specifically the letters ‘FO’ of the word that precede ‘R’ (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”). If it turns out this refers to something else then I’ll update the post).

19. Fresh fruit filled with sugar’s beginning process involving press (4,10)

Answer: NEWS CONFERENCE (i.e. “process involving press”). Solution is NEW (i.e. “fresh”) and CONFERENCE (i.e. “fruit”, specifically a variety of pear) all wrapped around or “filled with” S (i.e. “sugar’s beginning” letter), like so: NEW-(S)-CONFERENCE.

22. ID provided by returning sentry? (7)

Answer: NAMETAG (i.e. “ID”). Solution is GATEMAN (i.e. “sentry”) reversed or “returned”. The riddly question mark isn’t really necessary as GATEMAN is a recognised word.

25. Novel written that is containing new twist (10)

Answer: INTERTWINE (i.e. “twist”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of WRITTEN followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”!) once wrapped around or “containing” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: INTERTW-I(N)E.

27. Song drunk lady sung with elan (4,4,4)

Answer: AULD LANG SYNE (i.e. “song”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of LADY SUNG and ELAN.

30. Who might produce monumental work featuring mother and child? (5)

Answer: MASON (i.e. “who might produce monumental work”). Solution is MA (i.e. informal word for “mother”) followed by SON (i.e. “child”).

31. Loutish Australian arrived spreading much fondness (8)

Answer: LARRIKIN (i.e. “loutish Australian” – a new one on me, but then I’m not Australian). Solution is ARR (a recognised abbreviation of “arrived” used, say, on timetables) placed on or “spreading” LIKING (i.e. “fondness”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “much”), like so: L(ARR)IKIN.

32. Emphasised the effect of final courses being returned (8)

Answer: STRESSED (i.e. “emphasised the effect of”). Solution is DESSERTS (i.e. “final courses”) reversed (indicated by “returned”). Seen it before.

35. Particular detail diminished sci-fi epic in some way (8)

Answer: SPECIFIC (i.e. “particular”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in some way”) of SCI-FI once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “diminished”) and EPIC.

36. Sinister people on the march wanting power (8)

Answer: MENACING (i.e. “sinister”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “people”) followed by PACING (i.e. “on the march”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “wanting power” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: MEN-ACING.

37. Time to worry persistently about distinctive accent (5)

Answer: TWANG (i.e. “distinctive accent”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by GNAW (i.e. “to worry persistently”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: T-WANG.

39. Conservative government’s first, for example, to stop helping assembly (12)

Answer: CONGREGATION (i.e. “assembly”). Solution is CON (short for “Conservative”) followed by G (i.e. “government’s first” letter) and EG (i.e. “for example”) once placed in or “stopping” RATION (i.e. portion or “helping”), like so: CON-G-R(EG)ATION.

41. Purchased too much public housing for branch (10)

Answer: OVERBOUGHT (i.e. “purchased too much”). Solution is OVERT (i.e. “public”) wrapped around or “housing” BOUGH (i.e. “branch”), like so: OVER(BOUGH)T.

43. Hot sauce and beans regularly wrapped in pancake (7)

Answer: TABASCO (i.e. “hot sauce”). Solution is BAS (i.e. “beans regularly”, i.e. every other letter of BEANS) placed or “wrapped in” TACO (i.e. “pancake”), like so: TA(BAS)CO.

45. Coolness and spirit belonging to object (8,2,4)

Answer: PRESENCE OF MIND (i.e. “coolness”). Solution is MIND (i.e. “spirit”) being OF or “belonging to” PRESENCE (i.e. a material thing or “object”). You get the idea.

48. Harangue half-cut voters (5)

Answer: ORATE (i.e. to “harangue”). Solution is ELECTORATE (i.e. “voters”) with the first “half cut”.

49. Awfully banal choir missing a description of breathtaking passage? (9)

Answer: BRONCHIAL (i.e. “description of breathtaking passage”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of BANAL CHOIR.

51. Extreme means of amplifying vocal controversy (7)

Answer: POLEMIC (i.e. “controversy”). Solution is POLE (i.e. geographical “extreme”) followed by MIC (i.e. “means of amplifying vocal”, short for a microphone).

53. What can prise open the tightest of locks? (4-5,4)

Answer: FINE-TOOTH COMB. Clue plays on “locks” being another word for hair. Would a fine-tooth comb do the job though? I don’t have tight curly hair (very much the opposite) so can’t really answer. Seems unlikely though.

54. Take cover from some of sun’s heat henceforth (9)

Answer: UNSHEATHE (i.e. “take cover from”). “Some of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: S(UN’S HEAT HE)NCEFORTH. Nicely done.

55. Temptation grips king, queen and lady-in-waiting? (6)

Answer: LURKER (i.e. “lady-in-waiting”, playing more on someone lying in wait than anyone in a royal household). Solution is LURE (i.e. “temptation”) wrapped around or “gripping” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess) and followed by R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina), like so: LUR(K)E-R.

56. Advanced position demonstrated by leader of game? (10)

Answer: BRIDGEHEAD (i.e. “advanced position” on a ship). When written as BRIDGE HEAD the solution also playfully satisfies “leader of [card] game”.

57. I’m surprised piercing sound is boring (2-3)

Answer: HO-HUM (i.e. “boring”). Solution is OH (i.e. “I’m surprised”) placed in or “piercing” HUM (i.e. “sound”), like so: H(OH)UM.

Down clues

1. Partners in deal following money and source of oil (6)

Answer: CASHEW (i.e. a “source of oil”). Solution is E and W (i.e. “partners in deal”, specifically east and west in a game of bridge) placed after or “following” CASH (i.e. “money”), like so: CASH-E-W.

2. Gained experience that takes time to be appreciated (8,5)

Answer: ACQUIRED TASTE (i.e. “that takes time to be appreciated”). Solution is ACQUIRED (i.e. “gained”) followed by TASTE (i.e. an “experience” of something).

3. Process to extract metal emitted noxious fumes? (5)

Answer: SMELT. Solution satisfies “process to extract metal” and, playfully, “emitted noxious fumes”, for the Johnny Fartpants among you.

4. Innovative style disrupted trade with company (3,4)

Answer: ART DECO (i.e. “innovative style”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disrupted”) of TRADE followed by CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”), like so: ARTDE-CO.

5. Legal ways in sabotaged troop’s attempt to guard Slough (5,2,5)

Answer: PORTS OF ENTRY (i.e. “legal ways in”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sabotaged”) of TROOP’S and TRY (i.e. “attempt”) all wrapped around or “guarding” FEN (i.e. a marsh or “slough”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: PORTSO-(FEN)-TRY.

6. Sin tempted woman upset about way of working henceforth (8)

Answer: EVERMORE (i.e. “henceforth”). Solution is ERR (i.e. to “sin”) and EVE (i.e. “tempted woman”) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “about” MO (i.e. “way of working”, short for Modus Operandi), like so: EVE-R(MO)RE.

7. Cheers show disapproval of what is unacceptable (5)

Answer: TABOO (i.e. “what is unacceptable”). Solution is TA (i.e. “cheers”) followed by BOO (i.e. “show disapproval”).

8. Elements of a recording requiring adjustment? (10)

Answer: CORRIGENDA. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being “corrections to be made in a book” (Chambers) and is also an anagram (indicated by “requiring adjustment”) of A RECORDING. Usually I’d have a big moan about exotic solutions being clued up as anagrams, but at least on this occasion the solution was interesting.

10. Platform game set in storm at sea (7)

Answer: ROSTRUM (i.e. “platform”). Solution is RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “at sea”) of STORM, like so: ROST(RU)M.

11. Subject that brings people together? (9)

Answer: CHEMISTRY. Solution satisfies school “subject” and “that brings people together”.

12. Made a contribution to protest material (5)

Answer: SATIN (i.e. “material”). When written as SAT-IN the solution also satisfies “made a contribution to protest”.

13. Carnivorous animal is confused with a giant marten (9,5)

Answer: TASMANIAN TIGER (i.e. “carnivorous animal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of IS and A GIANT MARTEN.

20. Dog that’s been fed one more resilient (9)

Answer: SPRINGIER (i.e. “more resilient”). Solution is SPRINGER (i.e. “dog”) wrapped around or having “been fed” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: SPRING(I)ER.

21. Reportedly bad state of ratings? (8)

Answer: NAUTICAL (i.e. “of ratings” – one definition of “rating” is a class of seaman). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of NAUGHTY (i.e. “bad”) followed by CAL (i.e. US “state”, short for California), like so: NAUTI-CAL.

23. Editor plugging dull, essential elements for enthusiastic consumer (6,4)

Answer: GREEDY GUTS (i.e. “enthusiastic consumer”). Solution is ED (short for “editor”) placed in or “plugging” GREY (i.e. “dull”) and followed by GUTS (i.e. “essential elements”), like so: GRE(ED)Y-GUTS.

24. Hipster from country once potential partner for Queen (7,3)

Answer: SIAMESE CAT (i.e. “potential partner for Queen” – a queen being a female cat). Solution also satisfies “hipster from country once”, referring to Siam, the former name of Thailand.

26. Capital gains reduced protection for member (10,4)

Answer: WELLINGTON BOOT (i.e. “protection for member” – a member sometimes refers to an arm or leg). Solution is WELLINGTON (i.e. “capital” of New Zealand) followed by BOOTS (i.e. “gains” – a variant meaning of “boot” is profit) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”).

28. For all to see, established in union member’s accommodation (5,4)

Answer: GUEST ROOM (i.e. “accommodation”). Solution is U (i.e. “for all to see”, i.e. the film certificate “universal”) and EST (a recognised abbreviation of “established”) both placed “in” GROOM (i.e. “union member”, taking a union to be a wedding), like so: G(U-EST)ROOM.

29. Boring book about religious education occupying lives (8)

Answer: TIRESOME (i.e. “boring”). Solution is TOME (i.e. “book”) wrapped “about” RE (a recognised abbreviation of “religious education”) once this has first been placed in or “occupying” IS (i.e. “lives”), like so: T(I(RE)S)OME.

33. Bitter dispute caused by raising line in small fishing competition (8,5)

Answer: SLANGING MATCH (i.e. “bitter dispute”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), ANGLING (i.e. “fishing”) and MATCH (i.e. “competition”) once the L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) has been moved back a couple of notches or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: S-ANG(L)ING-MATCH => S-(L)ANGING-MATCH.

34. 56 lines Lucretius translated in The Art of Forestry (12)

Answer: SILVICULTURE (i.e. “the art of forestry” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is LVI (i.e. “56” expressed in Roman numerals) placed in or “lining” an anagram (indicated by “translated”) of LUCRETIUS, like so: SI(LVI)CULTURE.

38. Woman often seen as wicked sulks about choke holds (10)

Answer: STEPMOTHER (i.e. “woman often seen as wicked” in fairy tales). Solution is PET (i.e. “sulk”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and placed in or “held” by SMOTHER (i.e. “choke”), like so: S(TEP)MOTHER.

40. Presumably someone who wouldn’t bash your head in is hardly a problem (2-7)

Answer: NO-BRAINER. Solution satisfies “hardly a problem” and, playfully, “presumably someone who wouldn’t bash your head in”.

42. Trustworthy cover from reinsurance likely (8)

Answer: RELIABLE (i.e. “trustworthy”). Solution is RE (i.e. “cover from reinsurance”, i.e. the first and last letters of “reinsurance”) followed by LIABLE (i.e. “likely”).

44. Staff spirit changing around characters known for political correctness (7)

Answer: SCEPTRE (i.e. “staff”). Solution is SPECTRE (i.e. “spirit”) with the P and C swapped around (indicated by “changing around characters known for political correctness”), like so: S(P)E(C)TRE => S(C)E(P)TRE.

46. Not in favour of baseless stance adopted by newspaper article (7)

Answer: OPPOSED (i.e. “not in favour of”). Solution is POSE (i.e. “stance”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “baseless”) and the remainder placed in or “adopted by” OP-ED (i.e. “newspaper article”), like so: OP-(POS)-ED.

47. Cry about being caught in sting (6)

Answer: SCREAM (i.e. “cry”). Solution RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) placed or “caught in” SCAM (i.e. “sting”), like so: SC(RE)AM.

48. Waste removed from almost everything (5)

Answer: OFFAL (i.e. “waste removed”). Solution is OFF (i.e. “from”) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: OFF-AL.

50. Sound produced by one string or several (5)

Answer: CHORD. Solution is a homophone (indicated by “sound produced by”) of CORD (i.e. “string”). The solution also satisfies “sound produced by several” strings. Nicely worked.

52. Scoundrel lying about securing Charlie for sucker (5)

Answer: LEECH (i.e. “sucker”). Solution is HEEL (i.e. “scoundrel”) reversed (indicated by “lying about”) and wrapped around or “securing” C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: LEE(C)H.

A medium strength Jumbo this week with a decent number of inventive clues. Not a bad little timewaster, all told.

Now that the competition deadline has passed, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has pulled your pants down then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your comments and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Reverse carriage and damage wall (7)

Answer: RAMPART (i.e. defensive “wall”). Solution is TRAP (i.e. “carriage”, as in a pony and trap) and MAR (i.e. “damage”) all “reversed”, like so: RAM-PART.

5. Saw guide with German about to fight (5,3)

Answer: MITRE BOX (i.e. “saw guide” – over to Chambers: “a box with narrow slots to guide a saw when cutting a mitre”). Solution is MIT (i.e. “with German”, i.e. the German for “with”) followed by RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) and BOX (i.e. “to fight”).

9. Singular characteristic difficulty (6)

Answer: STRAIT (i.e. “difficulty”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by TRAIT (i.e. “characteristic”).

13. Naïve and weak Tory responsible for visibly distressed male? (3,6,3,4)

Answer: WET BEHIND THE EARS (i.e. “naïve”). Solution is WET (i.e. moderate or “weak Tory”) followed by BEHIND (i.e. being “responsible” for an outcome), then HE placed in TEARS (hinted at by “visibly distressed male”), like so: WET-BEHIND-T(HE)EARS.

14. Plot is reconstructed for this part of Henry V (6)

Answer: PISTOL (i.e. “part of Henry V”, specifically a character who appears in not only this but a handful of other Billy Shakespeare plays). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reconstructed”) of PLOT IS. One for the luvvies.

16. A couple of such fliers can be downloaded from Internet (8)

Answer: SEABIRDS (i.e. “fliers”). The rest of the clue plays on how TERN (one such seabird) can be found in or “downloaded from” IN(TERN)ET.

17. Stout one’s included in arbitrary order (4)

Answer: FIAT (i.e. “arbitrary order” – over to Chambers again: “a short order or warrant of a judge for making out or allowing processes, letters, patent, etc”. Busywork, then). Solution is FAT (i.e. “stout”) wrapped around or “including” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: F(I)AT.

18. Easily win a fight in pedestrian appearance (9)

Answer: WALKABOUT (i.e. a “pedestrian appearance”, say, by a royal). Solution is WALK (i.e. “easily win”) followed by A, then BOUT (i.e. “fight”).

20. Like voices raised in argument after brief tumble (8)

Answer: FALSETTO (i.e. “like voices raised”). Solution is SET TO (i.e. “argument”) placed “after” FALL (i.e. “tumble”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “brief”), like so: FAL-(SET-TO). Nicely disguised.

21. Time to stop bad behaviour characteristic of French academicians (11)

Answer: IMMORTALITY (i.e. “characteristic of French academicians” – the Académie Française comprises forty members, collectively known as “the immortals”. Of course I looked it up). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in or “stopping” IMMORALITY (i.e. “bad behaviour”), like so: IMMOR(T)ALITY.

24. Give more details after English dog appears to speak (9)

Answer: ELABORATE (i.e. “give more details”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by LAB (i.e. “dog”, short for labrador) and ORATE (i.e. “to speak”).

25. Behaving badly about power in revolutionary movement (8)

Answer: SPINNING (i.e. “revolutionary movement”). Solution is SINNING (i.e. “behaving badly”) wrapped “about” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: S(P)INNING.

26. Crawl one of those babies does produce (4)

Answer: FAWN (i.e. to “crawl” or toady). The remainder of the clue plays on how a FAWN is also a young or “baby” deer. That’s about it, I guess.

29. In cruel way, call demanding attention traps innocent learner (11)

Answer: HEARTLESSLY (i.e. “in a cruel way”). Solution is HEY (i.e. “call demanding attention”) wrapped around or “trapping” ARTLESS (i.e. “innocent”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner” on L-plates), like so: HE(ARTLESS-L)Y.

31. Awful thing one encountered in swamp, truly awful (11)

Answer: NIGHTMARISH (i.e. “truly awful”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of THING followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) once placed “in” MARSH (i.e. “swamp”), like so: NIGHT-MAR(I)SH.

33. Conversely, copies out what led to first dismissal (8,3)

Answer: ORIGINAL SIN (i.e. “what led to first dismissal”, referring to Eve getting booted out of the Garden of Eden in The Bible). Solution comprises the opposites (indicated by “conversely”) of COPIES and OUT, i.e. ORIGINALS and IN.

36. Should, for example, state almost everything (11)

Answer: CONDITIONAL (i.e. “should, for example” – another example being “if”). Solution is CONDITION (i.e. “state” of something) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: CONDITION-AL.

38. Draw conclusions from Laurence Olivier portraying Othello so (4)

Answer: ERGO (i.e. “so”). “Draw conclusions from” indicates the solution is derived from the last letters of “LaurencE OlivieR portrayinG OthellO“.

39. Slam, beat badly (8)

Answer: LAMBASTE (i.e. “slam” – the solution can be spelled with or without an E, though with an E the only roasting it conjures up is that of juicy, tender meat. Nom, nom, nom). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of SLAM BEAT. Nice bit of recycling there.

41. Combinations of sayings oddly selected about articles referenced (9)

Answer: SYNTHESES (i.e. “combinations”). Solution is SYNS (i.e. “sayings oddly selected”, i.e. every other letter of SAYINGS) wrapped “about” THESE (i.e. “articles referenced”), like so: SYN(THESE)S.

44. Partners securing success with arrest for nonviolent kind of crime? (5-6)

Answer: WHITE-COLLAR (i.e. “nonviolent kind of crime”). Solution is W and E (i.e. “partners” in a game of bridge, being East and West) wrapped around or “securing” HIT (i.e. “success”). This is all followed by COLLAR (i.e. “arrest”), like so: W(HIT)E-COLLAR.

45. Cooked rice came for dessert (3,5)

Answer: ICE CREAM (i.e. “dessert”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of RICE CAME.

48. How one sees things in struggle with head (9)

Answer: VIEWPOINT (i.e. “how one sees things”). Solution is VIE (i.e. “struggle”) followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and POINT (i.e. “head”).

49. Attending promotion, recalled information (4)

Answer: DATA (i.e. “information”). Solution is AT (i.e. “attending”) and AD (i.e. “promotion”, short for advertisement) all reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: DA-TA.

50. Create diversion from Land’s End, with vehicles heading West in it (8)

Answer: DISTRACT (i.e. “create diversion”). Solution is D (i.e. “Land’s End”, i.e. the last letter of “Land”) followed by IT once CARTS (i.e. “vehicles”) has been reversed (indicated by “heading West” – this being an across clue) and placed “in” it, like so: D-I(STRAC)T.

52. Routine that’s central to spirituality (6)

Answer: RITUAL (i.e. “routine”). “That’s central to” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SPI(RITUAL)ITY.

53. Part of annual event in which some stand and face the music (9,7)

Answer: PROMENADE CONCERT (i.e. “in which some stand and face the music”). “Part of annual event” likely refers to the BBC Proms.

54. Shed less light on rescue vessel in study (6)

Answer: DARKEN (i.e. “shed less light on”). Solution is ARK (i.e. Biblical “rescue vessel”) placed “in” DEN (i.e. “study”), like so: D(ARK)EN.

55. Disturbed by result, becoming windy (8)

Answer: BLUSTERY (i.e. “windy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disturbed”) of BY RESULT.

56. Full of fight after goal in final part of match (7)

Answer: ENDGAME (i.e. “final part of match”). Solution is GAME (i.e. “full of fight”) placed “after” END (i.e. “goal”), like so: END-GAME.

Down clues

1. Red or green in the extreme (6)

Answer: RAWEST. Solution satisfies the clue has a whole, being “red in the extreme” (referring to meat) and “green in the extreme” (referring to experience).

2. Laid up most of season, left and returned (6)

Answer: MUTUAL (i.e. “returned”). Solution AUTUMN (i.e. “season”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “most of…”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “laid up” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), like so: MUTUA-L.

3. On camera, broadcast about one kind of coffee (9)

Answer: AMERICANO (i.e. “kind of coffee”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of ON CAMERA wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: AMER(I)CANO.

4. Common people in one way contained by the government (5,6)

Answer: THIRD ESTATE (i.e. “common people”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) and RD (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “road”) all placed in or “contained by” THE STATE (i.e. “the government”), like so: TH(I-RD)E-STATE.

5. Kind of skirt from part of France (4)

Answer: MIDI. Solution satisfies “kind of skirt” and the southern “part of France”.

6. Musical great has tea put out – covered by television channel (11)

Answer: Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (i.e. “musical great”). Solution is CHAI (i.e. “tea”) and KO (i.e. “put out” or render unconscious, short for “knock out”) both placed in or “covered by” TV (short for “television”). This is all then followed by SKY (i.e. UK satellite “channel”, several hundred of them nowadays), like so: T(CHAI-KO)V-SKY.

7. Expert on current issues amended nice article (11)

Answer: ELECTRICIAN (i.e. “expert on [electrical] current issues”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “amended”) of NICE ARTICLE.

8. Females with pulling power in shell company? (9)

Answer: OARSWOMEN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “shell” to be “a type of light racing boat” (Chambers).

10. Smart kind of knitwear for boat (8)

Answer: TRIMARAN (i.e. a “boat” with three hulls). Solution is TRIM (i.e. “smart”) followed by ARAN (i.e. “kind of knitwear”, a pattern originating from the Aran Islands).

11. Dictatorial approach that I confused with our heresy (16)

Answer: AUTHORITARIANISM (i.e. “dictatorial approach”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of THAT I and OUR followed by ARIANISM (i.e. “heresy”, specifically “the heretical doctrine of Arius, that Christ was not consubstantial with God the Father, but only the first and highest of all finite beings” (Chambers)), like so: AUTHORIT-ARIANISM.

12. Author revised lots in play (7)

Answer: Leo TOLSTOY (i.e. “author”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “revised”) of LOTS placed “in” TOY (i.e. “play”), like so: TO(LSTO)Y.

15. Restructured recital around new instrument (8)

Answer: CLARINET (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “restructured”) of RECITAL wrapped “around” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: CLARI(N)ET.

19. Disbelieving people present during robberies (8)

Answer: ATHEISTS (i.e. “disbelieving people”). When written as AT HEISTS the solution also satisfies “present during robberies”. Seen it before.

22. Remove power from shirker shielding the drunk (8)

Answer: DETHRONE (i.e. “remove power from”). Solution is DRONE (i.e. “shirker”) wrapped around an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of THE, like so: D(ETH)RONE.

23. Boss I had upset with university head following older fellow? (8,8)

Answer: MANGING DIRECTOR (i.e. “boss”). Solution is I’D (a contraction of “I had”) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by RECTOR (i.e. “university head”). This is all then placed after or “following” MAN AGING (i.e. “older fellow”), like so: MAN-AGING-(D’I-RECTOR).

27. Totally unprincipled type in part of UK greeting problem for crew (8)

Answer: NIHILIST (i.e. “totally unprincipled type”). Solution is NI (i.e. “part of UK”, specifically Northern Ireland) followed by HI (i.e. “greeting”) and LIST (i.e. “problem for [ship’s] crew”).

28. Garment necessarily trimmed more on the left than right (4)

Answer: SARI (i.e. “garment”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the solution is hidden in NECES(SARI)LY if the word has been “trimmed more on the left than right”.

30. Change of heart for beginner in crowd, supposedly (4)

Answer: TRIO (i.e. “crowd, supposedly”, after the phrase “two’s company, three’s a crowd”). Solution is TIRO (i.e. “beginner”) with the middle two letters switched, or having a “change of heart”.

32. Bad person that’s good? Awfully strange (8)

Answer: GANGSTER (i.e. “bad person”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of STRANGE, like so: G-ANGSTER.

34. A Western team turned up trouble in part of Asia (8)

Answer: ANATOLIA (i.e. “part of Asia”, also known as Asia Minor). Solution is A followed by NATO (i.e. “Western team”, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and AIL (i.e. “trouble”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “turned up” – this being a down clue), like so: A-NATO-LIA.

35. Prophet holding crazy skills the wrong way in mind (11)

Answer: NOSTRADAMUS (i.e. “prophet”). Solution is MAD (i.e. “crazy”) and ARTS (i.e. “skills”) all reversed (indicated by “the wrong way”) and placed “in” NOUS (i.e. “mind”), like so: NO(STRA-DAM)US.

36. Peaceful kind of life one can never have (11)

Answer: COEXISTENCE (i.e. “peaceful kind of life”). The rest of the clue plays on how the solution requires at least two parties.

37. Part of target set in board for exclusive group (5,6)

Answer: INNER CIRCLE. Solution satisfies “part of target set in board” and “exclusive group”.

40. Both left and right, at historical time, covered by draft law (9)

Answer: BILATERAL (i.e. “both left and right”, politically). Solution is AT and ERA (i.e. “historical time”) both placed in or “covered by” BILL (i.e. “draft law”), like so: BIL(AT-ERA)L.

42. Be told by nurse about drug that’s given boost (9)

Answer: HEARTENED (i.e. “given boost”). Solution is HEAR (i.e. “be told”) followed by TEND (i.e. to “nurse”) once wrapped “about” E (slang name for the “drug” ecstasy), like so: HEAR-TEN(E)D.

43. Quickly look up drink in personal aide-memoire (8)

Answer: KEEPSAKE (i.e. “personal aide-memoire”). Solution is PEEK (i.e. “quickly look”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by SAKE (i.e. Japanese “drink”), like so: KEEP-SAKE.

44. Hesitated to get married outside state (7)

Answer: WAVERED (i.e. “hesitated”). Solution is WED (i.e. “get married”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of AVER (i.e. to “state”), like so: W(AVER)ED.

46. Means of producing pictures appeared before recognized artist (6)

Answer: CAMERA (i.e. “means of producing pictures”). Solution is CAME (i.e. “appeared”) followed by RA (i.e. “recognised artist”, specifically a Royal Academician).

47. Figure in law passed, apart from third time (6)

Answer: STATUE (i.e. “figure”). Solution is STATUTE (i.e. “law passed”) with the third T removed (indicated by “apart from third time” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

51. It’s not stress-free, being avant-garde (4)

Answer: EDGY. Solution satisfies “it’s not stress-free” and “avant-garde”.

I hope you brought your Lonely Planet for this week’s Jumbo! It wasn’t long before we were all sailing over the ADRIATIC SEA on the AFTERDECK, visiting CORFU, AMERICA, PUERTO RICO and the THIRD WORLD in the company of YEMENIs, TUAREGs, AFRIKANERs, SHINTOISTs, ANTIGUANs and other ISLANDERS, perhaps speaking a little conversational VEDIC along the way. It was quite an itinerary. Even Henry HUDSON would have been knackered after that little lot. No wonder he got LOST IN TRANSIT.

Anyway, now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you a kick in the naughty bits then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for your comments and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Reason items not delivered: batch outside St Trinians misplaced (4,2,7)

Answer: LOST IN TRANSIT (i.e. “reason items not delivered”). Solution is LOT (i.e. “batch”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of an anagram (indicated by “misplaced”) of ST TRINIANS, like so: LO(STINTRANSI)T.

8. Magistrate at party good for cut-throat competition (3-3-3)

Answer: DOG-EAT-DOG (i.e. “cut-throat competition”). Solution is DOGE (i.e. “magistrate”, specifically “formerly the title of the chief magistrate in republican Venice and Genoa” (Chambers)) followed by AT, then DO (i.e. “party”) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”).

13. Almost failing to save edition in early Sanskrit (5)

Answer: VEDIC (i.e. “early Sanskrit” language of the Vedas). Solution is VICE (i.e. a “failing”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder wrapped around or “saving” ED (short for “edition”), like so: V(ED)IC. Made. To. Fit.

14. Mediterranean drink? It’s a cider brewed in sober group (8,3)

Answer: ADRIATIC SEA (i.e. “Mediterranean drink”, taking “drink” to be slang for a sea). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “brewed”) of IT’S A CIDER placed “in” AA (i.e. “sober group”, specifically Alcoholics Anonymous), like so: A(DRIATICSE)A.

15. Ancient instrument rotated on black stone (5)

Answer: BERYL (i.e. a “stone”). Solution is LYRE (i.e. “ancient instrument”) reversed (indicated by “rotated”) and placed “on” or after B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess), like so: B-ERYL.

16. Craft surface as tribute to Garland? (9)

Answer: AFTERDECK (i.e. seagoing “craft surface”). Solution is AFTER (i.e. in imitation of, or “tribute”) followed by DECK (i.e. “to garland”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation”).

17. Champ, caught, fell (4)

Answer: CHEW (i.e. to “champ” at the bit, say). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in some ball games) followed by HEW (i.e. to “fell” with a cutting instrument).

18. Stick with commercial as far as this (6,2)

Answer: ADHERE TO (i.e. “stick”). Solution is AD (i.e. “commercial”, short for advertisement) followed by HERETO (i.e. “as far as this”).

20. Honour claimed by barbarian navigator (6)

Answer: Henry HUDSON (i.e. 17th century “navigator”). Solution is DSO (i.e. “honour”, in this case the Distinguished Service Order) placed in or “claimed by” HUN (i.e. “barbarian”), like so: HU(DSO)N.

21. Maths discipline altering ridiculously thick-skinned copper? (8,8)

Answer: INTEGRAL CALCULUS (i.e. “maths discipline”, and the precise moment I lost all interest in studying maths. It didn’t help that nobody could explain the point of calculus back then. Not a single practical application. Fast forward to 2024 and, thanks to the internet, we have all of mankind’s knowledge at our fingertips. One quick search online, for example, and I found that calculus has all sorts of useful applications, from calculating the materials needed to build “The Wall”, to “retrieving Crooked Hillary’s emails” and triangulating the exact location of some mysterious thing called an “Antifa”. And, get this, apparently the origins of calculus can be traced back to Donald Trump’s book The Art of the Deal, way before Loser Isaac Newton went and stole all his ideas. I had no idea. Thanks, internet!) Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ridiculously”) of ALTERING followed by CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) once placed in CALLUS (i.e. “thick skin”, also doubling as a containment indicator), like so: INTERGRAL-CAL(CU)LUS.

24. Head coach ignored first piece of cake (2-7)

Answer: NO-BRAINER (i.e. “piece of cake”). Solution is NOB (i.e. “head”, informally) followed by TRAINER (i.e. “coach”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “ignored first”), like so: NOB-RAINER. I am totally channelling Beavis and Butt-Head right now. Uh-huh-huh-huh! He said “nob rainer”.

26. Boorish type about to follow retiring giant (7)

Answer: GOLIATH (i.e. Biblical “giant”). Solution is HOG (i.e. “boorish type”) wrapped “about” TAIL (i.e. “to follow”) and the whole then reversed (indicated by “retiring”), like so: GO(LIAT)H.

27. Returning uniform and dress king leaves Greek territory (5)

Answer: CORFU (i.e. “Greek territory”). Solution is U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by FROCK (i.e. “dress”) once the K has been removed (indicated by “king leaves…” – K being a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: CORF-U.

29. Italian artist heard inside calls for language scientists (12)

Answer: PHONETICIANS (i.e. “language scientists”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of TITIAN (i.e. “Italian artist”) placed “inside” of PHONES (i.e. “calls”), like so: PHONE(TICIAN)S.

31. Reversing up hill man circles round island (6,4)

Answer: PUERTO RICO (i.e. “island”). Solution is UP “reversed” and followed by TOR (i.e. “hill”) once first placed in or having “circling” around it ERIC (i.e. “man’s” name). This is all then followed by O (i.e. “round”), like so: PU-ER(TOR)IC-O.

33. Doctor back in with Lord Batty in Global South (5,5)

Answer: THIRD WORLD (i.e. “Global South”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) reversed (indicated by “back”) and placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “batty”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) of WITH LORD, like so: THI(RD)WORLD.

35. Middleman from Bury, behold, ignored other ranks (12)

Answer: INTERLOCUTOR (i.e. “middleman”). Solution is INTER (i.e. to “bury”, again ignoring the misleading capitalisation) followed by LO (i.e. “behold”, as in lo and behold), then CUT (i.e. “ignored”) and OR (a recognised abbreviation of the “Other Ranks” of the British Army).

38. Impatience ultimately observed in pleasant relative (5)

Answer: NIECE (i.e. “relative”). Solution is E (i.e. “impatience ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “impatience”) placed “in” NICE (i.e. “pleasant”), like so: NI(E)CE. Turns out Mystic Poll was right! Spooky!

39. Means to admit when one’s business is going down the drain (7)

Answer: MANHOLE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given manhole covers grant access to sewers.

40. Mr S O’Casey worked for US plane company? (9)

Answer: SYCAMORES (i.e. “US plane company”, in this case referring to American sycamore trees. A plane is “any tree of the genus Platanus” (Chambers). “Company”, meanwhile, just means a group of like things). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “worked”) of MR S O’CASEY.

42. Limited number in pub act in haste, madly consuming ecstasy (5,11)

Answer: LOCAL ANAESTHETIC (i.e. “limited number”, as in something that numbs). Solution is LOCAL (i.e. “pub”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “madly”) of ACT IN HASTE wrapped around or “consuming” E (slang for the drug “ecstasy”), like so: LOCAL-ANA(E)STHETIC.

44. Write a volume in furious activity – that brings ruin! (6)

Answer: RAVAGE (i.e. “ruin”). Solution is A and V (a recognised abbreviation of “volume”) both placed “in” a RAGE (i.e. “furious activity”), like so: R(A-V)AGE.

47. West Indian perhaps opposing Second Amendment pens article (8)

Answer: ANTIGUAN (i.e. “West Indian perhaps”). Solution is ANTI-GUN (i.e. “opposing Second Amendment” of the US constitution) wrapped around or “penning” A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the), like so: ANTI-G(U)AN.

49. Like good brandy that’s found in drainage ditch? (4)

Answer: AGED (i.e. “like good brandy”). “Found in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: DRAIN(AGE D)ITCH.

50. Queen with message for Alice featured in explosive adaptation? (9)

Answer: TREATMENT (i.e. “adaptation”, e.g. of a script). Solution is R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina) and EAT ME (i.e. “message for Alice”, referring to the note attached to a cake in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) all placed “in” TNT (i.e. “explosive”), like so: T(R-EAT-ME)NT.

52. Yank in paradise, not initially expelled (5)

Answer: HEAVE (i.e. “yank”). Solution is HEAVEN (i.e. “paradise”) with the N (i.e. “not initially”, or the first letter of “not”) removed or “expelled”.

53. At home, deep in thought about former partner’s budget (11)

Answer: INEXPENSIVE (i.e. “budget”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) and PENSIVE (i.e. “deep in thought”) all wrapped “about” EX (i.e. “former partner”), like so: IN-(EX)-PENSIVE.

54. Dunce, the writer had nothing invested in it (5)

Answer: IDIOT (i.e. “dunce”). Solution is I’D (i.e. “the writer had” from the point of view of the setter; a contraction of I HAD) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”) once placed or “invested in” IT, like so: I’D-I(O)T.

55. Highly regarded sappers, closely examined, in shed (9)

Answer: RESPECTED (i.e. “highly regarded”). Solution is RE (i.e. “sappers”, informal name of the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by INSPECTED (i.e. “closely examined”) once the IN has been removed or “shed”, like so: RE-SPECTED.

56. Shocking killer’s one featured in emotionally charged daily (8,5)

Answer: ELECTRIC CHAIR (i.e. “shocking killer”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” ELECTRIC (i.e. “emotionally charged”) and CHAR (i.e. “daily”, both referring to a domestic cleaner), like so: ELECTRIC-CHA(I)R.

Down clues

1. Sea monster having patriarch and prophet beheaded (9)

Answer: LEVIATHAN (i.e. “sea monster”). Solution is LEVI (i.e. Biblical “patriarch”) followed by NATHAN (i.e. Biblical “prophet”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “beheaded”), like so: LEVI-ATHAN.

2. On chair, taken round Land’s End, given diazepam? (7)

Answer: SEDATED (i.e. “given diazepam”). Solution is SEATED (i.e. “on chair”) wrapped “round” D (i.e. “Land’s End”, i.e. the last letter of “land”), like so: SE(D)ATED.

3. Old rocker’s initial parts in my head for mix (11)

Answer: INCORPORATE (i.e. “mix”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and R (i.e. “rocker’s initial” letter) both placed in or “parting” IN, COR (i.e. “my” – both exclamations) and PATE (i.e. “head”), like so: IN-COR-P(O-R)ATE.

4. North African in Egypt once stuffing sheep (6)

Answer: TUAREG (i.e. “North African”, or “nomadic Berber of the Sahara” (Chambers)). Solution is UAR (i.e. “Egypt once”, specifically the United Arab Republic) placed in or “stuffing” TEG (i.e. a “sheep” in its second year), like so: T(UAR)EG.

5. Freak rain storms, one having Dutch origins (9)

Answer: AFRIKANER (i.e. “one having Dutch origins”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “storms”) of FREAK RAIN.

6. Internet Explorer? (6,6)

Answer: SEARCH ENGINE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taken as a means to “explore” the “internet” (or at least the nicer parts of it). The web browser, Internet Explorer, meanwhile, has been defunct for nearly two years now. If you’re still using it, then, to be blunt, don’t.

7. Giants of literature and fantasy going head to head in paper? (6,4)

Answer: TOILET ROLL (i.e. “paper”). Solution is ELIOT (i.e. “giants of literature”, referring to George Eliot and T.S. Eliot) and TROLL (i.e. “giant…of fantasy”) placed “head-to-head”, like so: TOILE-TROLL. Very nicely worked. Best clue of the puzzle.

8. This for example – from Denmark, not Northern Ireland (4)

Answer: DASH (i.e. “this for example –”, specifically the “–”). Solution is DANISH (i.e. “from Denmark”) with the NI removed (indicated by “not Northern Ireland”, NI being a recognised abbreviation of thereof).

9. Striker smashing mug filled with pop (11,5)

Answer: GRANDFATHER CLOCK (i.e. “striker”, as in “the clock struck twelve”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. excellent or “smashing”) and CLOCK (i.e. “mug”, both slang words for a face) all wrapped around or “filled with” FATHER (i.e. “pop”, slang thereof).

10. Perhaps take constitutional risk, ousting leader (5)

Answer: AMBLE (i.e. “perhaps take constitutional” or a walk). Solution is GAMBLE (i.e. “risk”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “ousting leader”).

11. Bishop engaged in single combat with Liberal naturalist (7)

Answer: Gerald DURRELL (i.e. “naturalist”, author of My Family and Other Animals). Solution is RR (i.e. “bishop”, short for Right Reverend) placed “in” DUEL (i.e. “single combat”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: DU(RR)EL-L.

12. Comedian necessarily suspended delivering such dark material? (7,6)

Answer: GALLOWS HUMOUR (i.e. “dark [comedic] material”). Clue plays on how people are hung or “suspended” from GALLOWS. You get the idea.

19. Suit certain to delight (8)

Answer: PLEASURE (i.e. “to delight”). Solution is PLEA (i.e. “[law]suit”) followed by SURE (i.e. “certain”).

22. Producer of beans approximately doubled with embargo’s end (5)

Answer: CACAO (i.e. “producer of beans”). Solution is CA and CA (i.e. “approximately doubled”, CA being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by O (i.e. “embargo’s end”, i.e. the last letter of “embargo”).

23. Punished servant – not in lime green (16)

Answer: ENVIRONMENTALIST (i.e. “green”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “punished”) of SERVANT NOT IN LIME.

25. New union member’s restraining order for dull individual (7)

Answer: BROMIDE (i.e. “dull individual” – a new one on me). Solution is BRIDE (i.e. “new union member”, taking “union” to mean a marriage) wrapped around or “restraining” OM (i.e. “order”, specifically an Order of Merit), like so: BR(OM)IDE.

28. Martini at last included in list for party (7)

Answer: ROISTER (i.e. “party”). Solution is I (i.e. “Martini at last”, i.e. the last letter of “Martini”) placed or “included in” ROSTER (i.e. “list”), like so: RO(I)STER.

29. Obvious agitation about English material that’s shellacked (6,7)

Answer: PATENT LEATHER (i.e. “that’s shellacked”). Solution is PATENT (i.e. “obvious”) and LATHER (i.e. “agitation”) all wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: PATENT-L(E)ATHER.

30. Man’s man for example is on spacecraft (8)

Answer: ISLANDER (i.e. “Man’s man for example” – other inhabitants of the Isle of Man are available). Solution is IS placed “on” or followed by LANDER (i.e. “spacecraft”).

32. Standing alone at home of French writer, cold, in valley (12)

Answer: INDEPENDENCE (i.e. “standing alone”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by DE (i.e. “of French”, i.e. the French for “of”), then PEN (i.e. “writer”) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”) once first placed “in” DENE (i.e. a small “valley”), like so: IN-DE-PEN-DEN(C)E.

34. Rest attention where blue reflected by lake (5)

Answer: DWELL (i.e. “rest attention”, as in to dwell upon). Solution is LEWD (i.e. “blue”) reversed (indicated by “reflected”) and followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: DWEL-L.

36. Brief one’s held in Washington area for digital recording (7,4)

Answer: COMPACT DISC (i.e. “digital recording”). Solution is COMPACT (i.e. “brief”) followed by I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) once placed “in” DC (District of Colombia, or “Washington area”, referring to the US capital), like so: COMPACT-D(I’S)C.

37. Dish having price occasionally served by the house? (7,3)

Answer: COTTAGE PIE (i.e. “dish”). Solution is PIE (i.e. “price occasionally”, i.e. every other letter of PRICE) placed after or “by” COTTAGE (i.e. “house”).

40. This is not bad for devout Japanese (9)

Answer: SHINTOIST (i.e. “devout Japanese”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of THIS IS NOT.

41. One viewing Mark Murphy’s broadcast (9)

Answer: SPECTATOR (i.e. “one viewing”). Ignoring the misleading capitalisation, the solution comprises homophones (indicated by “broadcast”) of SPECK (i.e. a “mark”) and TATER (i.e. “murphy”, both slang words for a potato), like so: SPEC-TATOR.

43. Girl coming below slashed pirate’s arm (7)

Answer: CUTLASS (i.e. “pirate’s arm” or weapon). Solution is LASS (i.e. “girl”) placed after or “below” – this being a down clue – CUT (i.e. “slashed”), like so: CUT-LASS.

45. Uncle Sam’s revolutionary mother on the heath (7)

Answer: AMERICA (i.e. “Uncle Sam”, informal name thereof). Solution is MA (short form of “mother”) reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”) followed by ERICA (i.e. “heath”, which can be “barren open country” and also “any shrub of genus Erica” (both Chambers)), like so: AM-ERICA.

46. Timeless Himalayan creature devouring people from Sanaa? (6)

Answer: YEMENI (i.e. “from Sanaa”). Solution is YETI (i.e. “Himalayan creature”) with the T removed (indicated by “timeless” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and the remainder wrapped around or “devouring” MEN (i.e. “people”), like so: YE(MEN)I.

48. Diver one about to escape shipping hazard from the south (5)

Answer: GREBE (i.e. “diver” bird). Solution is ICEBERG (i.e. “shipping hazard”) with the I and C removed (indicated by “one about to escape” – I being the Roman numeral one, C being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “from the south” – this being a down clue).

51. Character standing leaves to exercise joint (4)

Answer: WELD (i.e. “joint” – weld can be a noun as well as a verb). Solution is WIELD (i.e. “to exercise”, e.g. a right) once the I has been removed (indicated by “character standing leaves…”, I being an upright letter).