A medium-strength offering this week marred by a setter playing nasty. Well, two can play at that game, chum.

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 slip, then you might find enlightenment in my Just For Fun page, where I’ve chucked together links to solutions for the past 150+ of these things. Elsewhere you can find the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once again for the kind words and help, folks, and a special hat-tip to those who have purchased my stuff in recent months. I purposely avoid the hard sell in these posts, so it’s really nice to see the sales when they ping into my inbox. Thank you. Till next time, stay safe, mask up when asked, and continue giving props to the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Sailor and solider regularly unload arthropod (9)

Answer: TARANTULA (i.e. “arthropod”, or critters with segmented bodies and the like). Solution is TAR (i.e. informal word for a “sailor”) followed by ANT (i.e. “solider”) and ULA (i.e. “regularly unload”, i.e. every other letter of UNLOAD).

6. Quiet American, sick with hatred, takes in old and timid (13)

Answer: PUSILLANIMOUS (i.e. “timid”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano”, i.e. “quiet” in musical lingo) followed by US (i.e. “American”), then ILL (i.e. “sick”) and ANIMUS (i.e. hostility or “hatred”) once wrapped around or “taking in” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: P-US-ILL-ANIM(O)US.

13. A bunch of well-read librarians wing it (2-3)

Answer: AD-LIB (i.e. “wing it”). “A bunch of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: WELL-RE(AD LIB)RARIANS.

14. Victory impresses more trendy assistant in hunt (7-2)

Answer: WHIPPER-IN (i.e. “assistant in hunt” who looks after the hounds, it says here). Solution is WIN (i.e. “victory”) wrapped around or “impressing” HIPPER (i.e. “more trendy”), like so: W(HIPPER)IN.

15. Author about to block old censor and senator finally (7)

Answer: CREATOR (i.e. “author”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) placed in or “blocking” CATO the Elder (i.e. “old censor” – he was also known as Cato the Censor) and followed by R (i.e. “senator finally”, i.e. the last letter of “senator”), like so: C(RE)ATO-R.

16. The incredible awareness at the heart of Shakespeare (12,10)

Answer: EXTRASENSORY PERCEPTION (i.e. “incredible awareness”). Clue plays on how the initials ESP can be found “at the heart of ShakESPeare”.

18. Idiots undermine bills ambassador introduced (8)

Answer: SAPHEADS (i.e. “idiots”). Solution is SAP (i.e. to “undermine”) and ADS (i.e. “bills” or advertisements) both wrapped around or “introducing” HE (i.e. “ambassador”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “His Excellency”), like so: SAP-(HE)-ADS.

20. Bizarre account involving old form of fruit (8)

Answer: COCOANUT (i.e. “form of fruit” – Chambers just about tolerates the variant spelling). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bizarre”) of ACCOUNT wrapped around or “involving” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: COC(O)ANUT.

21. A lot of sailors grasping firm bit of mast (5)

Answer: ACORN (i.e. “bit of mast” – a variant meaning of “mast” is the fruit of assorted trees, oaks included, upon which pigs feed). Solution is A and RN (i.e. “lot of sailors”, specifically the Royal Navy) wrapped around or “grasping” CO (i.e. “firm”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a “company”), like so: A-(CO)-RN.

23. Notice present then past feature in playground (6)

Answer: SEESAW (i.e. “feature in playground”). Solution is SEE (i.e. “notice” in the “present” tense) followed by SAW (i.e. “notice” in the “past” tense).

24. Wet blanket near person at end of day (6)

Answer: MISERY (i.e. a “wet blanket”). Solution is MISER (i.e. “near person” – one definition of “near” is an informal word for being stingy) followed by Y (i.e. “end of day”, i.e. the last letter of “day”).

25. Fleet Street record dance (9)

Answer: QUICKSTEP (i.e. “dance”). Solution is QUICK (i.e. “fleet”) followed by ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) and EP (i.e. “record”, specifically an Extended Play).

28. Calm down one in a key state after rioting (4,2,4)

Answer: TAKE IT EASY (i.e. “calm down”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “after rioting”) of A KEY STATE wrapped around or taking “in” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: TAKE(I)TEASY.

29. “Cicero is an orator first and foremost!” Roman cheers (4)

Answer: CIAO (i.e. “Roman cheers”, i.e. an Italian salutation or valediction. I’m guilty of signing off emails with “cheers” from time to time). “First and foremost” indicates the solution comprises the initial letters of Cicero Is An Orator.

30. Couple hold nerve withdrawing farm job (7)

Answer: TILLAGE (i.e. “farm job”). Solution is TIE (i.e. to “couple”) wrapped around or “holding” GALL (i.e. “nerve”) once reversed (indicated by “withdrawing”), like so: TI(LLAG)E.

32. This writer’s probing unfit revolutionary instruments (7)

Answer: TIMPANI (i.e. “instruments”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “this writer’s”, taken as a contraction of “this writer is” from the point of view of the setter) placed in or “probing” INAPT (i.e. “unfit”) once reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”), like so: T(I’M)PANI.

34. Flat sporting occasion curtailed (4)

Answer: EVEN (i.e. “flat”). Solution is EVENT (i.e. “sporting occasion”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “curtailed”).

35. In Arctic ground I had added corrosive chemical (6,4)

Answer: NITRIC ACID (i.e. “corrosive chemical”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ground”) of IN ARCTIC followed by I’D (a contraction of “I had”), like so: NITRICAC-I’D.

38. Large snake in garden initially gives problem with hose (9)

Answer: LADDERING (i.e. “problem with hose”, i.e. tights). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) followed by ADDER (i.e. “snake”), then IN and G (i.e. “garden initially”, i.e. the first letter of “garden”).

39. French president takes off glove for trip (6)

Answer: ERRAND (i.e. “trip”). Solution is François MITTERRAND (i.e. “French president”) with the MITT removed (indicated by “takes off glove”).

40. Small extremely clumsy article one’s used for cutting (6)

Answer: SCYTHE (i.e. “one’s used for cutting”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by CY (i.e. “extremely clumsy”, i.e. the first and last letters of “clumsy”), then THE (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the).

43. It secures victory in time that’s empty (5)

Answer: TWINE (i.e. “it secures”). Solution is WIN (i.e. “victory”) once placed “in” TE (i.e. “time that’s empty”, i.e. the word “time” with its middle letters removed), like so: T(WIN)E.

45. Is blinking big cat occasionally caught in rump? (8)

Answer: NICTATES (i.e. “is blinking” – I’ve tried, like really really hard, to twist the phrasing this way and that, but can only arrive at something ending in -ing, not -s). Solution is ICT (i.e. “big cat occasionally”, i.e. every other letter of BIG CAT) placed or “caught in” NATES (i.e. anatomical term for the buttocks or “rump”), like so: N(ICT)ATES. Clunky.

47. Ten tucked into beer with lime, say, in bar on coach (8)

Answer: AXLETREE (i.e. “bar on coach” – a new one on me, but not one I think will live long in the memory). Solution is X (i.e. Roman numeral for “ten”) placed or “tucked into” ALE (i.e. “beer”) and followed by TREE (i.e. “lime, say” – other flavours of tree are available), like so: A(X)LE-TREE. One gotten by looking up words beginning with AXLE, if I’m honest.

49. Relish standardising nosh cooked with dulse (8,6,8)

Answer: THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING (i.e. “relish” – and one so popular with Times setters it has appeared four times since I started doing these Jumbo posts. Either that or it’s the same setter each time and they’re utterly besotted with the stuff. Like, open any cupboard or drawer in their house and you’ll find nothing but jars and jars of Thousand Island dressing. Wardrobe: ditto. Box room: chock-a-block with it. Turn on the taps: Thousand Island dressing oozes out. Flush the toilet: Thousand Island dressing. Good grief, there are even jars of it stuffed into the cistern. These Times setters really, really love their Thousand Island dressing! I prefer hummus, personally). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of STANDARDISING NOSH and DULSE.

52. Antarctic explorer in India? Tell composer (7)

Answer: Gioachino ROSSINI (i.e. “Tell composer”, i.e. him wot wrote The Lone Ranger theme tune the William Tell Overture). Solution is John ROSS (i.e. “Antarctic explorer”) followed by IN and I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet).

53. Poor state university function in deficit (9)

Answer: LOUSINESS (i.e. “poor state”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) and SINE (i.e. trigonometrical “function”) both placed “in” LOSS (i.e. “deficit”), like so: LO(U-SINE)SS.

54. Collapsing out of bounds, exhausted (3,2)

Answer: ALL IN (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is FALLING (i.e. “collapsing”) with its first and last letters removed (indicated by “out of bounds”).

55. Enlarging vein somehow the result of using needle (4,9)

Answer: LINE ENGRAVING (i.e. “result of using needle”). “Somehow” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ENLARGING VEIN. Nicely worked.

56. Dealing online, English come across German car (1-8)

Answer: E-COMMERCE (i.e. “dealing online”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by COME once wrapped around or placed “across” MERC (i.e. “German car”, short for Mercedes), like so: E-COM(MERC)E.

Down clues

1. Crosses put up around Republican states (9)

Answer: TRAVERSES (i.e. “crosses”). Solution is SET (i.e. to “put” in place) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “around” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and AVERS (i.e. “states”), like so: T(R-AVERS)ES.

2. Bureau Trollope’s crazy daughter put in at end of week (4-3,4)

Answer: ROLL-TOP DESK (i.e. “bureau”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “crazy”) of TROLLOPE’S wrapped around or having “put in” D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) and followed by K (i.e. “end of week”, i.e. the last letter of “week”), like so: ROLLTOP(D)ES-K.

3. Old part of Africa now under boats in Aswan primarily (5)

Answer: NUBIA (i.e. “old part of Africa” along the Nile). “Primarily” indicates the solution comprises the initial letters of Now Under Boats In Aswan.

4. Peace-keepers, furious about eastern Yankee, hard to handle (8)

Answer: UNWIELDY (i.e. “hard to handle”). Solution is UN (i.e. “peace-keepers”, specifically the United Nations) followed by WILD (i.e. “furious”) once wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and followed by Y (“Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: UN-WI(E)LD-Y.

5. Surrounded by 500 in a film (6)

Answer: AMIDST (i.e. “surrounded by”). Solution is D (Roman numeral for “500”) placed “in” A and MIST (i.e. “film”), like so: A-MI(D)ST.

6. Decorate unit inspired by my notes (5,5)

Answer: PAPER MONEY (i.e. “notes”). Solution is PAPER (i.e. to “decorate”) followed by ONE (i.e. “unit”) once placed in or “inspired by” MY, like so: PAPER-M(ONE)Y.

7. My nicest port dissolved drug (12)

Answer: STREPTOMYCIN (i.e. “drug”). “Dissolved” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MY NICEST PORT. I knew strepto- from my sepia-tinged school days, so a quick shufti in Chambers got me over the line.

8. Herbicide used up in kindergarten or uni lawns (4,3)

Answer: LINU RON (i.e. a “herbicide” no longer for sale owing to its effects on wildlife. Hoo boy, where to start with this beauty? First: the compound is not listed in any dictionary I own – certainly worthy of a caution, right there. Second: the most cursory glance online reveals it’s actually one word, not two. How on earth did you figure this was a two-worder, setter? Did Chemical John get you a cheap bottle of Soviet-era Linu Яon™ down the pub one day? Definite yellow card. Third: if you find you have painted yourself into a corner and have to resort to made-to-fit bullshit solutions like this, consider reworking the grid. It’s really not that difficult. Second yellow. Back to setter school with you). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: KINDERGARTE(N OR UNI L)AWNS.

9. Old standard bearer fellow’s one on the right: we all know that? (7,7)

Answer: ANCIENT HISTORY (i.e. “we all know that” – Chambers offers this definition for the phrase: “news or gossip which, contrary to the expectations of the teller, one is already well aware of (inf, fig)“). Solution is ANCIENT (i.e. “old standard bearer”, an obsolete variant meaning of the word) followed by HIS (i.e. “fellow’s”) and TORY (i.e. “one on the right” of politics).

10. Sloth’s favourite time to eat it up (7)

Answer: INERTIA (i.e. “sloth”). Solution is IN (i.e. popular or “favourite”) followed by ERA (i.e. “time”) once wrapped around or “eating” IT once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: IN-ER(TI)A.

11. Somehow drain tooth around hole, using this treatment? (11)

Answer: ORTHODONTIA (i.e. “[tooth] …treatment”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of DRAIN TOOTH wrapped “around” O (i.e. “hole”), like so: ORTH(O)DONTIA.

12. Gershwin’s pulled up long garment (4)

Answer: SARI (i.e. “long garment”). Solution is IRA’S (i.e. “Gershwin’s” – his first name) reversed (indicated by “pulled up” – this being a down clue).

17. A thousand raised fibres and tiny diamonds found in plant (8)

Answer: KNAPWEED (i.e. “plant”). Solution is K (i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “a thousand”) followed by NAP (i.e. “raised fibres”), then WEE (i.e. “tiny”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in card games).

19. Remove European judge jailing a lot of sleuths from the south (9)

Answer: ERADICATE (i.e. “remove”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and RATE (i.e. to “judge”) wrapped around or “jailing” A and CID (i.e. “lot of sleuths”, specifically the Criminal Investigation Department of the police force) both reversed (indicated by “from the south” – this being a down clue), like so: E-RA(DIC-A)TE.

22. US poet drinks with Austrian composer (8)

Answer: Allen GINSBERG (i.e. “US poet”). Solution is GINS (i.e. “drinks”) followed by Alban BERG (i.e. “Austrian composer”).

25. Result of division not quite worked out (8)

Answer: QUOTIENT (i.e. “result of division”). “Worked out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NOT QUITE.

26. Old unit look into mountain bike (9)

Answer: KILOCYCLE (i.e. “old unit”, these days known as kilohertz). Solution is LO (i.e. “look”, as in lo and behold) placed “into” KI (i.e. “mountain”, specifically K1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) and CYCLE (i.e. “bike”), like so: KI-(LO)-CYCLE.

27. Comedian is trained by top man for ref’s job (8-6)

Answer: DECISION-MAKING (i.e. “ref’s job”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “trained”) of COMEDIAN IS followed by KING (i.e. “top man”), like so: DECISIONMA-KING.

28. The whole lot write off leaderless City (8)

Answer: TOTALITY (i.e. “the whole lot”). Solution is TOTAL (i.e. to “write off” a motor vehicle) followed by CITY with its first letter removed (indicated by “leaderless”), like so: TOTAL-ITY.

31. Ace Joss and I wrestling with equine’s indefinable quality (2,2,4,4)

Answer: JE NE SAIS QUOI (i.e. “indefinable quality”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wrestling”) of A (i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used in card games), JOSS, I and EQUINE.

33. Send up dull latest edition of paper? Poles enjoy it for 6 months (8,3)

Answer: MIDNIGHT SUN (i.e. “[north and south] poles enjoy it for 6 months”). Solution is DIM (i.e. “dull”) reversed (indicated by “send up” – this being a down clue) and followed by NIGHT SUN (i.e. playfully, the “latest edition of paper”).

36. Maybe track flier eventually (11)

Answer: CATERPILLAR. Solution satisfies “maybe track”, such as the kind you’d find on tanks, and “flier eventually”.

37. Taking Charlie to empty place for washing gear primarily (10)

Answer: FREEBASING (i.e. “taking Charlie”, an informal name for cocaine – freebasing is when you smoke the stuff). Solution is FREE (i.e. “to empty”) followed by BASIN (i.e. “place for washing”) and G (i.e. “gear primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “gear”).

41. Coming out, soldiers picked up some DNA around clubs (9)

Answer: EMERGENCE (i.e. a “coming out”). Solution is REME (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) reversed (indicated by “picked up” – this being a down clue) and followed by GENE (i.e. “some DNA”) once wrapped “around” C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games), like so: EMER-GEN(C)E.

42. Old hacks taking old drink (8)

Answer: EXPRESSO (i.e. “drink” – can be spelled with an X or an S). Solution is EX-PRESS (i.e. “old hacks” or journalists) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”).

44. Hard to find our lot in East, as it happens (7)

Answer: ELUSIVE (i.e. “hard to find”). Solution is US (i.e. “our lot”) placed “in” E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”) and LIVE (i.e. “as it happens”), like so: E-L(US)IVE.

46. What leads to some hissing when you call “garçon”? (7)

Answer: CEDILLA, the ‘z’-like tail beneath the ç of “garçon”. Clue plays on the “hissing” sound this represents in the word’s pronunciation. That’s it, I guess, unless I’ve missed something clever.

48. Attach poster before bringing in horse (6)

Answer: ADHERE (i.e. “attach”). Solution is AD (i.e. “poster” or advertisement) and ERE (poetic form of “before”) wrapped around or “bringing in” H (i.e. “horse”, both street names for heroin), like so: AD-(H)-ERE.

50. Host guru briefly collecting rupees (5)

Answer: SWARM (i.e. a “host” or lot of something). Solution is SWAMI (i.e. “guru”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “collecting” R (a recognised abbreviation of “rupees”), like so: SWA(R)M.

51. Flower in the countryside opening out (4)

Answer: URAL (i.e. a river or “flower” – think about it). Solution is RURAL (i.e. “countryside”) with its first letter removed (indicated by “opening out”).

A medium strength offering that didn’t do too much for me. Could be there were one too many recent repeats in the grid, could be there was an overreliance on people’s names, but it was probably more your favourite internet nobody hitting holiday season and the summer FINALLY arriving!

So obviously I’m typing this indoors while watching the darts.

Anyway, 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 flummoxed then you might my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for the last 150+ of these things. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind words and help. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts and alternative takes of other solvers once the pens are stilled. Till next time, stay safe, get vaccinated – my 5G shots are now complete so I’ll soon be able to lick door handles again – and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Cricketer possibly left in ship, accompanied by valet (9)

Answer: SPORTSMAN (i.e. “cricketer possibly” – other sportspeople are available). Solution is PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak) placed “in” SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship) and followed by MAN (i.e. “valet”), like so: S(PORT)S-MAN.

6. Story originally promoting farming land (7)

Answer: PARABLE (i.e. “story”). Solution is P (i.e. “originally promoting”, i.e. the first letter of “promoting”) followed by ARABLE (i.e. “farming land”).

10. Range of knowledge inspiring a Republican woman (5)

Answer: KAREN (i.e. a “woman’s” name). Solution is KEN (i.e. “range of knowledge”) wrapped around or “inspiring” A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: K(A-R)EN.

13. Team breaking up? Very funny! (4-9)

Answer: SIDE-SPLITTING (i.e. “very funny”). When written without the hyphen the solution also satisfies “team breaking up”.

14. Peacemaking proposal NI politician associated with the Republic (9)

Answer: EIRENICON (i.e. “peacemaking proposal”). Solution is NI and CON (i.e. “politician”, specifically one of the Conservative persuasion) both placed after or “associated with” EIRE (i.e. the “republic” of Ireland), like so: EIRE-(NI-CON).

15. Wearing down staff in key area of hospital (7)

Answer: ERODENT (i.e. “wearing down”). Solution is ROD (i.e. “staff”) placed “in” between E (i.e. a musical “key”) and ENT (i.e. “area of hospital” dealing with the Ear Nose and Throat), like so: E-(ROD)-ENT.

16. Tuft of grass son thus dropped in food (7)

Answer: TUSSOCK (i.e. “tuft of grass”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) and SO (i.e. “thus”) both placed “in” TUCK (i.e. “food”), like so: TU(S-SO)CK.

17. Shout of praise from house taken by woman in South Africa (7)

Answer: HOSANNA (i.e. “shout of praise”). Solution is HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”) followed by ANN (a “woman’s” name) once placed “in” SA (a recognised abbreviation of “South Africa”), like so: HO-S(ANN)A.

18. Art involved with son’s Latin renderings (12)

Answer: TRANSLATIONS (i.e. “renderings”). “Involved” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ART and SON’S LATIN.

20. Baker’s company probing father’s attempt very well (10)

Answer: PASTRYCOOK (i.e. “baker”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) placed in or “probing” PA’S (i.e. “father’s”), TRY (i.e. “attempt”) and OK (i.e. “very well”, both forms of reluctant assent), like so: PA’S-TRY-(CO)-OK.

23. British composer showing ecstatic joy (5)

Answer: Arthur BLISS (i.e. “British composer” – pats Bradford’s). Solution also satisfies “ecstatic joy”.

24. Obscure character chaps trust at first, possessing good sense (9)

Answer: JUDGEMENT (i.e. “sense”). Solution is JUDE (i.e. “obscure character”, a reference to Thomas Hardy’s novel Jude The Obscure – pats Google), MEN (i.e. “chaps”) and T (i.e. “trust at first”, i.e. the first letter of “trust”) all wrapped around or “possessing” G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: JUD(G)E-MEN-T.

25. Humorist’s better jokes finally gaining acceptance (7)

Answer: PUNSTER (i.e. “humorist” – the word “humour” has got to be the messiest word in the entire dictionary. To U or not to U? Looking across its derivative forms, your best bet is to toss a coin. Don’t expect your spellchecker to bail you out, either). Solution is PUNTER (i.e. “better”) wrapped around or “accepting” S (i.e. “jokes finally”, i.e. the last letter of “jokes”), like so: PUN(S)TER.

26. Doctor he met in cave exploit (11)

Answer: ACHIEVEMENT (i.e. a heroic “exploit”). “Doctor” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HE MET IN CAVE.

28. Threaten to go out and push for sensational journalism (6,5)

Answer: GUTTER PRESS (i.e. “sensational journalism”). Solution is GUTTER (i.e. of a lit candle “threatening to go out”) followed by PRESS (i.e. to “push for”).

30. Musical theatre employee, one who’s made a bob or two? (11)

Answer: HAIRDRESSER (i.e. “one who’s made a bob or two”, a reference to the hairstyle). Solution is HAIR (i.e. famed hippy “musical”) followed by DRESSER (i.e. “theatre employee”).

32. Short course a choir developed in painting technique (11)

Answer: CHIAROSCURO (i.e. “painting technique”, often one produced in black and white). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “developed”) of COURSE once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”) and A CHOIR.

34. Take clothes off washerwoman abandoning US city (7)

Answer: UNDRESS (i.e. “take clothes off”). Solution is LAUNDRESS (i.e. “washerwoman”) with the LA removed (indicated by “abandoning US city”).

36. Irritate female, initially using limited amount of cotton? (9)

Answer: NEEDLEFUL (i.e. “amount of cotton”). Solution is NEEDLE (i.e. “irritate”) followed by F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) and UL (i.e. “initially using limited”, i.e. the first letters of “using” and “limited”).

38. Country briefly served by European record company (5)

Answer: INDIE (i.e. “record company”). Solution is INDIA (i.e. “country”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “briefly served”) and the remainder followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: INDI-E.

39. Flap when English scoff excessively, gulping it back (10)

Answer: EPIGLOTTIS (i.e. anatomical “flap”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by PIG (i.e. to “scoff” or eat voraciously) and LOTS (i.e. “excessively”) once wrapped around or “gulping” IT reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: E-PIG-LOT(TI)S.

41. Black rook on sign incorporating outsize Jurassic herbivore (12)

Answer: BRONTOSAURUS (i.e. “Jurassic herbivore”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess) followed by R (ditto “rook”, again in chess), then ON and TAURUS (i.e. astrological “sign”) once wrapped around or “incorporating” OS (a recognised abbreviation of “outsize”), like so: B-R-ON-T(OS)AURUS.

45. Attend police station, not having caught 1950s dropout (7)

Answer: BEATNIK (i.e. “1950s dropout”). Solution is BE AT NICK (i.e. “attend police station”) once the C has been removed (indicated by “not having caught” – C being a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games).

46. Unprincipled fellow visiting gallery (7)

Answer: GODLESS (i.e. “unprincipled” – I mean, yeah, but a little high and mighty, don’t you think? How about we fast forward 50 years and see how we describe those still observing religion…) Solution is LES (a “fellow” or bloke’s name) placed in or “visiting” GODS (i.e. an informal name for a “gallery” in a theatre), like so: GOD(LES)S.

47. Unfinished craft I found in China? (7)

Answer: PARTIAL (i.e. “unfinished”). Solution is ART (i.e. “craft”) and I both placed “in” PAL (i.e. “China” – as in the cockney rhyming slang for “mate”, a china plate. (Insert Mr Poll’s usual string of weak London stereotypes here)), like so: P(ART-I)AL.

49. Like teaching spun out in most of Italy (9)

Answer: TUITIONAL (i.e. “like teaching”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “spun”) of OUT IN and ITALY once it’s last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of”).

50. Novel Haitian metric calculator? (13)

Answer: ARITHMETICIAN (i.e. “calculator”). “Novel” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HAITIAN METRIC.

52. Move forward quickly, having energy after breather (5)

Answer: LUNGE (i.e. “move forward quickly”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) placed “after” LUNG (i.e. “breather”), like so: LUNG-E.

53. Splashed out without hesitation, securing old wind instrument (7)

Answer: SERPENT (i.e. “old wind instrument”). Solution is SPENT (i.e. “splashed out”) wrapped around or placed “without” ER (i.e. an expression of “hesitation”), like so: S(ER)PENT.

54. Come into conflict after writer produces mystic symbol (9)

Answer: PENTANGLE (i.e. “mystic symbol”). Solution is TANGLE (i.e. “come into conflict”) placed “after” PEN (i.e. “writer”), like so: PEN-TANGLE.

Down clues

1. South American with muscle finally caught wanted man (7)

Answer: SUSPECT (i.e. “wanted man”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”) followed by US (i.e. “American”), then PEC (i.e. “muscle”, short for pectoral) and T (i.e. “finally caught”, i.e. the last letter of “caught”).

2. Fussy former desire to tour Arab country (3-8)

Answer: OLD-WOMANISH (i.e. “fussy”). Solution is OLD (i.e. “former”) followed by WISH (i.e. “desire”) once wrapped around or “touring” OMAN (i.e. “Arab country”), like so: OLD-W(OMAN)ISH.

3. Discrimination shown by third of visitors in gallery (5)

Answer: TASTE (i.e. “discrimination”). Solution is S (i.e. “third [letter] of visitors”) placed “in” TATE (i.e. a “gallery”), like so: TA(S)TE.

4. End up arresting large Italian, leader of inept volunteer force (7)

Answer: MILITIA (i.e. “volunteer force”). Solution is AIM (i.e. “end”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “arresting”) L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), IT (ditto “Italian”) and I (i.e. “leader of inept”, i.e. the first letter of “inept”), like so: MI(L-IT-I)A.

5. Head teachers once (3)

Answer: NUT. Solution satisfies “head” and “teachers once”, a reference to the National Union of Teachers.

6. Space in US prepared for showjumping competition (9)

Answer: PUISSANCE (i.e. “showjumping competition” – a new one on me). “Prepared” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SPACE IN US.

7. African river rises, engulfing centre of exposed area (6)

Answer: REGION (i.e. “area”). Solution is NIGER (i.e. “African river”) reversed (indicated by “rises” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “engulfing” O (i.e. “centre [letter] of exposed”), like so: REGI(O)N.

8. New staff biker at fantasy film (9,2,8)

Answer: BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S (i.e. “film”). “New” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of STAFF BIKER AT FANTASY.

9. Aural range and musical discrimination’s cool! (7)

Answer: EARSHOT (i.e. “aural range”). Solution is EAR’S (i.e. “musical discrimination’s”) followed by HOT (i.e. “cool”, both taken to mean something popular).

10. Norfolk town girl supporting college (5,4)

Answer: KING’S LYNN (i.e. “Norfolk town”). Solution is LYNN (i.e. “girl’s” name) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – KINGS (i.e. a “college” at Cambridge).

11. Case regarding scam over in compound? (11)

Answer: RECONNOITRE (i.e. to “case” a location). Solution is RE (i.e. “regarding” – think email replies) followed by CON (i.e. “scam”) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) once placed “in” NITRE (i.e. “compound”), like so: RE-CON-N(O)ITRE.

12. Woman receiving judge, a martial art expert (5)

Answer: NINJA (i.e. “martial art expert” and frequent visitor to these Jumbos). Solution is NINA (i.e. a “woman’s” name) wrapped around or “receiving” J (a recognised abbreviation of “judge”), like so: NIN(J)A.

16. He, perhaps, is a fraction superior to a boy? Strange! (5,6,8)

Answer: THIRD PERSON SINGULAR (i.e. “he, perhaps” – I being first person; you being second person and he/she being third person singular). Solution is THIRD (i.e. “a fraction”, or 1/3) followed by PER SON (i.e. “to a boy”) and SINGULAR (i.e. “strange”). I guess “superior” indicates THIRD is placed above PERSON, being a down clue.

19. Temporarily debar second writer in south of France (7)

Answer: SUSPEND (i.e. “temporarily debar”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and PEN (i.e. “writer”) both placed “in” SUD (i.e. “south of France”, i.e. the word “south” in French), like so: SU(S-PEN)D.

21. Clumsy northern set broke part of pavement (9)

Answer: KERBSTONE (i.e. “part of pavement”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “clumsy”) of N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and SET BROKE.

22. Be extremely lacking in courage at first, like some old Celts (6)

Answer: BELGIC (i.e. “like some old Celts” – pats Bradford’s again. Life’s too short to fart around with made-to-fit solutions). Solution is BE followed by LG (i.e. “extremely lacking”, i.e. the first and last letters of “lacking”) and IC (i.e. “in courage at first”, i.e. the initial letters of “in” and “courage”).

23. Accommodation for outriggers primarily in city on river (9)

Answer: BOATHOUSE (i.e. “accommodation”). Solution is O (i.e. “outriggers primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “outriggers”) placed “in” BATH (i.e. “city”) and OUSE (i.e. a “river”).

24. Barracks limiting exercise? That’s a surprise! (7)

Answer: JEEPERS! (i.e. “that’s a surprise”). Solution is JEERS (i.e. “barracks”) wrapped around or “limiting” PE (i.e. “exercise”), like so: JEE(PE)RS.

25. Like some serous membranes – more than one, we hear (7)

Answer: PLEURAL (i.e. “like some serous membranes” – serous is a mixture of serum and pus. Lovely!) “We hear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of PLURAL (i.e. “more than one”).

27. Landscape painter and woodworker (6)

Answer: TURNER. Solution satisfies “landscape painter” – specifically Joseph TURNER – he did some cracking seascapes too – and “woodworker”, specifically a lathe operator.

29. Stone basin initially considered fashionable in Tuscan city (7)

Answer: PISCINA (i.e. “stone basin”). Solution is C (i.e. “initially considered”, i.e. the first letter of “considered”) and IN (i.e. “fashionable”) both placed “in” PISA (i.e. “Tuscan city”), like so: PIS(C-IN)A.

31. Unexpected aid on air in digesting new group of languages (4-7)

Answer: INDO-IRANIAN (i.e. “group of languages”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unexpected”) of AID ON AIR IN wrapped around or “digesting” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: I(N)DOIRANIAN.

33. Damaging articles on subterranean activity (11)

Answer: UNDERMINING (i.e. “damaging”). Solution is UN and DER (i.e. “articles”, specifically words like a, an or the – this time we’re dealing with their French and German equivalents) followed by MINING (i.e. “subterranean activity”).

35. Wild rose, say, by can in country road (9)

Answer: EGLANTINE (i.e. “wild rose”). Solution is EG (i.e. “say” or for example) followed by TIN (i.e. “can”) once placed “in” LANE (i.e. “country road”), like so: EG-LAN(TIN)E. One gotten from a shufti in Chambers for words beginning with “eg”, if I’m honest.

37. Petty thief in Lima introducing fire raiser on radio? (9)

Answer: LARCENIST (i.e. “petty thief”). Solution is L (“Lima” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by a homophone (indicated by “on radio”) of ARSONIST (i.e. “fire raiser”), like so: L-ARCENIST.

40. Income cheers men at the top (7)

Answer: TAKINGS (i.e. “income”). Solution is TA (i.e. “cheers”, both informal expressions of thanks) followed by KINGS (i.e. “men at the top”).

42. Melodious phrase finally assimilated by parentless child (7)

Answer: ORPHEAN (i.e. “melodious” – in Greek myth, Orpheus was a musician who could move inanimate objects with his playing). Solution is E (i.e. “phrase finally”, i.e. the last letter of “phrase”) placed in or “assimilated by” ORPHAN (i.e. “parentless child”), like so: ORPH(E)AN.

43. Peaceful situation for Hamlet’s rest? (7)

Answer: SILENCE (i.e. “peaceful situation”). The remainder of the clue references Hamlet’s last words in the play: “the rest is silence”.

44. Imagine fish at bottom of lake (6)

Answer: IDEATE (i.e. “imagine”). Solution is IDE (i.e. “fish”, also spelled id) followed by AT and E (i.e. “bottom of lake”, i.e. the last letter of “lake”, being part of a down clue).

45. Chewed leaf Henry removed from nonconformist chapel (5)

Answer: BETEL (i.e. “chewed leaf”). Solution is BETHEL (i.e. “nonconformist chapel”) with the H removed (indicated by “Henry removed from” – H is a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement).

48. Side dish served in Agra, it appears (5)

Answer: RAITA (i.e. “side dish” popular with setters, given how often it appears here). “Served in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: AG(RA IT A)PPEARS.

51. Trendy joint (3)

Answer: HIP. Solution satisfies “trendy” and “joint”.

A toughie this week and, barring a couple of scrappy clues, a really good one with lots of well crafted clues to chew on and slow but steady progress throughout.

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 trampled your toes then you might find some relief in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for the last 150+ of these things. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks once more for the kind words and help. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once they’ve put down their pens. Till next time, stay safe, mask up, get vaccinated and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Broadcaster cut unserviceable operating area (6)

Answer: RADIUS (i.e. “operating area” – a fairly loose take on an already loose definition of the word: “a distance from a centre, conceived as limiting an area or range” (Chambers). Hmm. Not keen.) Solution is RADIO (i.e. “broadcaster”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “cut”) and the remainder followed by US (a recognised abbreviation of “unserviceable”), like so: RADI-US.

5. Head across pond east – better fish all round (4,3)

Answer: CAPE COD (i.e. “head across pond”, a head or cape is a geographical feature, and Cape Cod is found in the US, often referred to as being “across the pond”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”) with CAP (i.e. to “better” something) and COD (i.e. “fish”) placed “all round” it, like so: CAP-(E)-COD.

9. Tools this waster fecklessly holds the wrong way (8)

Answer: FRETSAWS (i.e. “tools”). “Holds” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “the wrong way” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: THI(S WASTER F)ECKLESSLY.

13. Be widely involved with filling in index? The reverse? (4,1,6,2,5,3)

Answer: HAVE A FINGER IN EVERY PIE (i.e. “be widely involved with”). Clue plays on index fingers and pie fillings. Not a classic.

14. Man’s setting off as he pursues girl (5,3)

Answer: IRISH SEA (i.e. Isle of “Man’s setting”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “off”) of AS HE placed after or “pursuing” IRIS (i.e. a “girl’s” name), like so: IRIS-HSEA.

15. Philosopher to talk up article carrying little weight (7)

Answer: Baruch SPINOZA (i.e. “philosopher”). Solution is SPIN (i.e. “to talk up”) and A (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the) wrapped around or “carrying” OZ (i.e. “little weight”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of an “ounce”), like so: SPIN-(OZ)-A. Straight to Bradford’s for this one, it won’t surprise you to learn. There have been as many philosophers throughout history as those who have read them.

16. Discontinued your following something corny and crude (6)

Answer: EARTHY (i.e. “crude”). Solution is THY (i.e. “discontinued your”, i.e. a ye olde form of “your”) placed after or “following” EAR (i.e. “something corny”, as in an ear of corn), like so: EAR-THY.

17. Feature otherwise put out endlessly? Not true! (10)

Answer: TRAITOROUS (i.e. “not true”, presumably to a cause. Another loose one, for me). Solution is TRAIT (i.e. “feature”) followed by OR (i.e. “otherwise”) and OUST (i.e. “put out”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endlessly”), like so: TRAIT-OR-OUS.

20. Compulsion’s growing ultimately to broadcast celebrity feature (6,6)

Answer: GOSSIP COLUMN (i.e. “celebrity feature”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to broadcast”) of COMPULSION’S and G (i.e. “growing ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “growing”).

23. Six go for the French test (4)

Answer: VIVA (i.e. an oral “test”). Solution is VI (i.e. Roman numerals for “six”) followed by VA (i.e. “go for the French”, i.e. the French for “go”).

24. Refuse to handle – leading to trouble for dumps (5,3)

Answer: BLACK DOG (i.e. “dumps”, both descriptive of low spirits). Solution is BLACK (i.e. to boycott, ban or “refuse to handle”) followed by DOG (i.e. “to trouble” someone).

26. Fish face being devoured by rats in east End (8)

Answer: EELPOUTS (i.e. “fish”). Solution is POUT (i.e. a “face” or facial expression) placed in or “devoured by” HEELS (i.e. “rats”, cads, bounders and other such Terry Thomas characters) once the H has been removed (indicated by “east End”, as in ‘ow all ‘em cockneys are forever droppin’ their bleedin’ aitches, inney, grubby urchins the lot of ‘em, gawblessem, guvnah and so forth), like so: EEL(POUT)S.

29. Leaves unresolved job for decorator (12)

Answer: PAPERHANGING (i.e. “job for decorator”). Solution is PAPER (i.e. “leaves” of a book, for example) followed by HANGING (i.e. “unresolved”). Nicely worked.

30. Bloomer when at least three detectives prematurely ended ambush? (10)

Answer: ASPIDISTRA (i.e. “bloomer”). Solution is AS (i.e. “when”) followed by PI and DIS (i.e. “at least three detectives”, specifically a Private Investigator and some Detective Inspectors), then TRAP (i.e. “ambush”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “prematurely ended”), like so: AS-PI-DIS-TRA. Another nicely worked clue.

32. Motor part that needs wound daily (4,6)

Answer: WING MIRROR (i.e. “motor [car] part”). Solution is WING (i.e. to “wound”) followed by MIRROR (i.e. “daily” newspaper). Another good ‘un!

34. Blood group O? (6,6)

Answer: FAMILY CIRCLE. Clue plays on a few things, such as “blood” being another word for FAMILY (as in the phrase “blood is thicker than water”) and “group” being another word for a CIRCLE of people. The character O also represents a CIRCLE. You get the idea. Another one I rather liked once I twigged it.

36. Obsessed with old goal – a form of torture (3-5)

Answer: ONE-TRACK (i.e. “obsessed”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by NET (i.e. “goal” in a number of ball games) and RACK (i.e. “a form of torture”).

38. What’s at the heart of propaganda, Leninist, he composed (8)

Answer: Niccolò PAGANINI (i.e. “he composed”). “What’s at the heart of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the middle letters of proPAGAnda and LeNINIst. One I got without running to Bradford’s, though the wordplay was fairly obvious.

39. Cold joint and a little potato (4)

Answer: CHIP (i.e. “a little potato”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”) followed by HIP (i.e. “joint”). This took way longer to nail than it ought to have done. Sometimes I just don’t see ‘em.

41. Excitedly greet learned old author’s salutation (6,6)

Answer: GENTLE READER (i.e. a general “old author’s salutation” found in assorted prefaces). “Excitedly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GREED LEARNED.

43. Suffer soreness, having caught illness: good thing you can drive (5,5)

Answer: BEACH BUGGY (i.e. “thing you can drive”). Solution is BE ACHY (i.e. “suffer soreness”) wrapped around or “catching” BUG (i.e. “illness”) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: BE-ACH(BUG-G)Y.

44. Wine requirement has not exactly sunk in (6)

Answer: MUSCAT (i.e. “wine”). Solution is MUST (i.e. a “requirement”) wrapped around or “having” CA (i.e. “not exactly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”), like so: MUS(CA)T.

46. Secretly backing America, others on the fringes in support (3,4)

Answer: SUB ROSA (i.e. “secretly” – the rose was once a symbol of secrecy, it says here; the Latin SUB ROSA translates as “under the rose”, hence “secretly”). Solution is US (i.e. “America”) reversed (indicated by “backing”) and followed by OS (i.e. “others on the fringes”, i.e. the first and last letters of “others”) once placed “in” BRA (i.e. “support”), like so: SU-BR(OS)A.

48. House police hold in native settlement (8)

Answer: HOMETOWN (i.e. “native settlement”). Solution is HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”) followed by MET (i.e. “police”, short for the London Metropolitan Police) and OWN (i.e. “hold”)

50. A moment of extreme agitation in Leicester? (3,6,2,1,5,4)

Answer: TWO SHAKES OF A LAMB’S TAIL (i.e. “a moment”). Clue plays on SHAKING being a form of “extreme agitation”, and “Leicester” being a breed of sheep. That’s about it, unless I’ve missed something clever.

51. Headless corpse has finally cut down children’s writer’s hero (8)

Answer: ODYSSEUS (i.e. “hero” of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey). Solution is BODY (i.e. “corpse”) with its first letter removed (indicated by “headless”) and the remainder followed by S (i.e. “has finally”, i.e. the last letter of “has”) and Dr SEUSS (i.e. “children’s writer”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut down”), like so: ODY-S-SEUS.

52. Jack in Tyne and Wear metro, perhaps, arriving at factory (7)

Answer: CANNERY (i.e. a kind of “factory”). Solution is CAN (i.e. to “jack in”) followed by NE (i.e. “Tyne and Wear”, located in the North East of England) and RY (i.e. “metro, perhaps”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of a railway). Another nicely worked clue.

53. Steal what player booked for dissent gave back? (6)

Answer: PILFER (i.e. “steal”). When the solution is reversed (indicated by “back”) and written as REF LIP, it also satisfies “what player booked for dissent gave”.

Down clues

2. With minor injuries, men are unable to stand (5)

Answer: ABHOR (i.e. “unable to stand”). Solution is ABH (i.e. “with minor injuries” or Actual Bodily Harm) followed by OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army).

3. Wearing top I keep in school study (11)

Answer: INVESTIGATE (i.e. “study”). Solution is IN VEST (i.e. “wearing top”) followed by I and GATE (i.e. to “keep in school” as a punishment).

4. It’s the same vaccination method, still (8)

Answer: SNAPSHOT (i.e. a “still” or photograph). Solution is SNAP (i.e. “it’s the same”) followed by SHOT (i.e. “vaccination method” – three days till my 5G implant is complete, all being well!)

5. Friend’s twentieth anniversary (5)

Answer: CHINA. Solution satisfies “friend”, i.e. the cockney rhyming slang “china plate” for “mate”, and a traditional “twentieth [wedding] anniversary” gift. Apparently the modern-day equivalent for a twentieth anniversary is platinum. “Piss” and “off” spring to mind!

6. Stars stick with a controversial old law (7)

Answer: PEGASUS (i.e. a constellation or “stars”). Solution is PEG (i.e. “stick”) followed by A and SUS (i.e. “controversial old law” – over to Chambers: sus or suss laws were “laws allowing a person to be arrested on suspicion of having committed a crime”. A new one on me. Interesting.)

7. Herbie for one was furious about one blunder a best friend spotted (8,3)

Answer: CARRIAGE DOG, another name for a Dalmatian or “best friend spotted”. Another new one on me. Solution is CAR (i.e. “Herbie for one” – other sentient motor vehicles are available) followed by RAGED (i.e. “was furious”) once wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then OG (i.e. “blunder”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of an “own goal”), like so: CAR-R(I)AGED-OG.

8. Casually pass dark horse with raised leg (5)

Answer: DUNNO (i.e. “casually pass”, i.e. a casual form of saying “I don’t know”). Solution is DUN (i.e. a “dark horse”, or horse of dun colour) followed by ON (i.e. “leg” side in cricket) once reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue) like so: DUN-NO.

9. Smaller sport fund initially one has in reserve (4-1-4)

Answer: FIVE-A-SIDE (i.e. “smaller sport”, relative to a full-size football team of eleven). Solution is F (i.e. “fund initially”, i.e. the first letter of “fund”) followed by I’VE (a contraction of I have, or “one has”) and ASIDE (i.e. “in reserve”).

10. Remote spot Yankee’s found in going to N Ireland (5)

Answer: EYRIE (i.e. “remote spot”). Solution is Y (i.e. “Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet) placed “in” EIRE (i.e. “Ireland”) once reversed (indicated by “N”, a recognised abbreviation of “northern” – this being a down clue), like so: E(Y)RIE.

11. Disparate bits in use – plus four to spare (11)

Answer: SUPERFLUOUS (i.e. “spare”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disparate bits in”) of USE PLUS FOUR.

12. Welsh borough’s auditor’s being their… (7)

Answer: WREXHAM (i.e. “Welsh borough”). “Auditor” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophone’s of WRECKS ‘EM (i.e. “being their…undoing” from 18d).

18. …undoing, going with mounting resistance (9)

Answer: RUINATION (i.e. “undoing”). Solution is URINATION (i.e. “going”) with the R shifted along one (indicated by “mounting resistance” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “resistance” and this being a down clue), like so: U(R)INATION => (R)UINATION. This one took a sleep, a shower and a few meals besides before I finally twigged it. Very nicely played.

19. Surfer enjoying a cruise? (7)

Answer: ONLINER (i.e. “surfer” – look, it’s in the dictionary, but I agree with you: who, outside of the 19th century, has ever referred to someone online as an “onliner”? Probably the same people who refer to mechanics as “garagists”). When written as ON LINER the solution also satisfies “enjoying a cruise”.

21. Large gas main interfered with new naval transmitter (9)

Answer: SIGNALMAN (i.e. “naval transmitter”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “interfered with”) of L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), GAS MAIN and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”).

22. Sparkling wine reserved to have with dip (4,4)

Answer: COLD DUCK (i.e. “sparkling wine”, specifically a half-n’-half drink of champagne and burgundy. Sounds like something I’d find in a P.G. Wodehouse novel). Solution is COLD (i.e. “reserved” in nature) followed by DUCK (i.e. “dip”).

25. “Rebuked for holding bishop up” Echo tweeted (9)

Answer: CHIRRUPED (i.e. “tweeted”). Solution is CHID (i.e. “rebuked”) wrapped around or “holding” RR (i.e. “bishop”, specifically a Right Reverend), UP and E (“echo” in the phonetic alphabet – ignore the misleading capitalisation), like so: CHI(RR-UP-E)D.

27. Object to nurse running water, getting you worked up (9)

Answer: THRILLING (i.e. “getting you worked up”). Solution is THING (i.e. “object”) wrapped around or “nursing” RILL (i.e. a small stream or “running water”), like so: TH(RILL)ING.

28. Mushroom to eat: keep mum two as a starter (8)

Answer: SHIITAKE (i.e. “mushroom”). Solution is TAKE (i.e. “to eat”) with SH (i.e. shush or “keep mum”) and II (i.e. “two” in Roman numerals) placed before it or “as a starter”, like so: (SH-II)-TAKE.

31. Milk needing Spanish approval for one’s porridge abroad (7)

Answer: POLENTA (i.e. “porridge abroad”). Solution is PINTA (i.e. an informal word for a pint of “milk”) with the I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) swapped “for” OLE (i.e. “Spanish [word of] approval”), like so: P(I)NTA => P(OLE)NTA.

33. Make start on this puzzle? Without time to explain (3,2,6)

Answer: GET IT ACROSS (i.e. “to explain”). Solution is GET I ACROSS (i.e. “make start on this puzzle” – the I being 1 as a Roman numeral) wrapped around or placed “without” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: GET-I(T)-ACROSS.

34. One mocked judge, no longer on world body (6,2,3)

Answer: FIGURE OF FUN (i.e. “one mocked”). Solution is FIGURE (i.e. to “judge”) followed by OFF (i.e. “no longer on”) and UN (i.e. “world body”, specifically the United Nations).

35. Court proceedings in which race question all but resolved (11)

Answer: RACQUETBALL (i.e. “court proceedings”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “resolved”) of RACE, Q (a recognised abbreviation of “question”) and ALL BUT. Very nicely played. Probably my favourite clue of the puzzle.

37. Board ship, clutching regular selection of tackier souvenirs (9)

Answer: KEEPSAKES (i.e. “souvenirs”). Solution is KEEP (i.e. “board” or rent money) followed by SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship) once wrapped around or “clutching” AKE (i.e. “regular selection of tackier”, i.e. every other letter of TACKIER), like so: KEEP-S(AKE)S. Another good ‘un.

40. Matter raised after hitch gets approval (6,2)

Answer: THUMBS UP (i.e. “approval”). The remainder of the clue, and probably the whole clue in question, seem to play on the act of hitchhiking, in which one would stick out a thumb to oncoming drivers to flag them down for a lift. A bit of a guess, really, as I wouldn’t know. I’ve never really had the jaw muscles for hitchhiking.
[EDIT: Thanks to Louise in the comments for a better take on this one. Solution is PUS (i.e. biological “matter”) reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue) and placed “after” THUMB (i.e. to “hitch” a ride), like so: THUMB-SUP. Cheers, Louise! – LP]

42. Deer, put in strange setting, broke out (7)

Answer: ERUPTED (i.e. “broke out”). “In strange setting” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DEER PUT.

43. Letters felt to be poorly received by Scottish bank (7)

Answer: BRAILLE (i.e. raised “letters” on a page or surface so that the blind may read them). Solution is ILL (i.e. “to be poorly”) placed in or “received by” BRAE (i.e. “Scottish bank”), like so: BRA(ILL)E. Another excellent clue.
[EDIT: A quick edit to mention the solution better satisfies “letters felt” than just “letters” – LP]

45. Busy with pulling up weed in lake (5)

Answer: TAHOE (i.e. “lake” between California and Nevada). Solution is AT (i.e. “busy with”) reversed (indicated by “pulling up” – this being a down clue) and followed by HOE (i.e. to “weed”), like so: TA-HOE.

47. Simple precis, abridged, shows up (5)

Answer: BASIC (i.e. “simple”). “Shows” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue, like so: PRE(CIS AB)RIDGED.

48. Exaggerated negative impact when wife is absent (5)

Answer: HAMMY (i.e. “exaggerated”). Solution is WHAMMY (i.e. “negative impact”) with the W removed (indicated by “when wife is absent” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “wife”).

49. Wit not contained in speech (5)

Answer: Oscar WILDE (i.e. “wit”). “In speech” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of WILD (i.e. “not contained”).

This week’s musical accompaniment saw an airing for my Electrochoonage playlist, where I’ve plonked a selection of the synthwave stuff I’ve liked over the last couple of years. After that I thought I’d explore some of Uppermost’s work, having recently come across his magnificent album closer, Uprising. The album itself, Perseverance, is a fine listen throughout with a chillout vibe I’ll definitely want to return to, but hot damn that closer! Imagine the kind of punishing beats you’d find in an old school Chemical Brothers track, fused with a soaring loop reminiscent of Daft Punk’s Da Funk and fleshed out with Rob Dougan’s Clubbed To Death. It’s an absolute monster. Check out the video below with one simple instruction: play it LOUD!

Also: come on England and all that! Laters, – LP

For the most part a medium strength offering that was spoiled by a couple too many exotic solutions. I’m rarely keen on uneven puzzles like these, as they often smack of a setter struggling to fill the grid. Onto the next one, I guess.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo is giving you night sweats then my Just For Fun page might be a help, listing solutions to the last 150+ of these things. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the help and kind words, folks. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers when the dust settles. Till next time, stay safe, mask up (for the next fortnight, anyway), get vaccinated and keep supporting the NHS and key workers everywhere.

LP

Across clues

1. Abandoned like person in tree escaping flood? (4,3,3)

Answer: HIGH AND DRY. Solution satisfies “abandoned” and “like person in tree escaping flood”.

6. Trade modest? This could make you stop (7,5)

Answer: TRAFFIC LIGHT (i.e. “this could make you stop”). Solution is TRAFFIC (i.e. “trade” or goods transported along a route) followed by LIGHT (i.e. “modest”).

14. Lords call, forgetting it matters (9)

Answer: VISCOUNTS (i.e. “lords”). Solution is VISIT (i.e. “call”) with the IT removed (indicated by “forgetting it”) and the remainder followed by COUNTS (i.e. “matters”), like so: VIS-COUNTS.

15. One hurrying about to get vehicle reversing (5)

Answer: RACER (i.e. “one hurrying”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) and CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) all “reversed”, like so: RAC-ER.

16. Tot tucked into Eastern meat dish having no yen for fruit (7)

Answer: SATSUMA (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is SUM (i.e. to “tot” up) placed or “tucked into” SATAY (i.e. “Eastern meat dish”) once the Y has been removed (indicated by “having no yen” – Y being a recognised abbreviation of the Japanese currency), like so: SAT(SUM)A.

17. Missing letters (8,9)

Answer: ABSENTEE LANDLORDS (i.e. “letters” who live away from their properties). Clue plays on “missing” being another word for ABSENTEE.

18. Problems bringing horse aboard ship (5)

Answer: SNAGS (i.e. “problems”). Solution is NAG (i.e. “horse”) placed in or “aboard” SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: S(NAG)S.

19. Diplomacy is restricting Conservative plans (7)

Answer: TACTICS (i.e. “plans”). Solution is TACT (i.e. “diplomacy”) followed by IS once wrapped around or “restricting” C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”), like so: TACT-I(C)S.

21. Daughter in the role of the female who is in a hurry? (6)

Answer: DASHER (i.e. “who is in a hurry”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) followed by AS HER (i.e. “in the role of the female”).

22. Foreign girl working in a store (8)

Answer: SENORITA (i.e. “foreign girl”). “Working” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN A STORE.

24. Record kept by good Parisian coming to a city in Italy (7)

Answer: BOLOGNA (i.e. “city in Italy”). Solution is LOG (i.e. “record”) placed in or “kept by” BON (i.e. “good Parisian”, i.e. the French for “good”) and followed by A, like so: BO(LOG)N-A.

26. Offer applause, then mouth “rubbish!” (8)

Answer: CLAPTRAP (i.e. “rubbish”). Solution is CLAP (i.e. “offer applause”) followed by TRAP (i.e. a slang word for “mouth”). Pretty much the same clue appeared a couple of months ago in puzzle 1497, which is a little disappointing.

27. Get angry about very loud activity at card table? (6)

Answer: RIFFLE (i.e. “activity at card table” – over to Chambers: “to shuffle by allowing the corner of a card from one part of the pack to fall alternately with that of a card in the other”). Solution is RILE (i.e. “get angry”) wrapped “about” FF (i.e. “very loud”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of fortissimo used in musical lingo), like so: RI(FF)LE.

30. What insistent disputant wants? Amen! (3,4,4)

Answer: THE LAST WORD. Solution satisfies “what insistent disputant wants” and “amen”.

32. Crucially influential period in America’s capital in the Depression (11)

Answer: DETERMINANT (i.e. “crucially influential”). Solution is TERM (i.e. “period”) IN and A (i.e. “America’s capital”, i.e. the first letter of “America”) all placed “in” DENT (i.e. “depression”), like so: DE(TERM-IN-A)NT.

33. The French girl, kind-hearted, providing money (5,6)

Answer: LEGAL TENDER (i.e. “money”). Solution is LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the masculine form of “the” in French) followed by GAL (i.e. “girl”) and TENDER (i.e. “kind-hearted”).

35. Professional in finance, fellow with silver, invested in what looks like a winner (4,7)

Answer: BANK MANAGER (i.e. “professional in finance”). Solution is MAN (i.e. “fellow”) and AG (chemical symbol of “silver”) both placed or “invested in” BANKER (i.e. “what looks like a winner”), like so: BANK(MAN-AG)ER.

37. Game needing energy – boy doesn’t give up (4,2)

Answer: GOES ON (i.e. “doesn’t give up”). Solution is GO (i.e. “game”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) and SON (i.e. “boy”).

38. People looking to buy something? Time for hard plugs maybe (8)

Answer: STOPPERS (i.e. “plugs”). Solution is SHOPPERS (i.e. “people looking to buy something”) with the H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard”) swapped “for” T (ditto “time”), like so: S(H)OPPERS => S(T)OPPERS.

39. Brief month left – try to make a protest maybe? (7)

Answer: DECLAIM (i.e. “protest”). Solution is DEC (i.e. “brief month”, specifically an abbreviation of December) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and AIM (i.e. “try to”).

42. One unpleasant woman backing revolution, not saying much (8)

Answer: TACITURN (i.e. “not saying much”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and CAT (i.e. “unpleasant woman”) both reversed (indicated by “backing”) and followed by TURN (i.e. “revolution”), like so: (TAC-I)-TURN.

44. Feature of progressive female seen as fearsome (6)

Answer: OGRESS (i.e. “female seen as fearsome”). “Feature of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PR(OGRESS)IVE.

46. Blessing I found in Oxford RAF location (7)

Answer: BENISON (i.e. “blessing”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” BENSON (i.e. “Oxford RAF location” – some everyday knowledge right there), like so: BEN(I)SON. A nod to my Bradford’s here.

48. Pike ultimately bound to get away (5)

Answer: ELOPE (i.e. “get away”). Solution is E (i.e. “pike ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “pike”) followed by LOPE (i.e. “bound”).

49. Exploiting something, being top earner? Nothing suitable (6,3,4,2,2)

Answer: MAKING THE MOST OF IT (i.e. “exploiting something”). Solution is MAKING THE MOST (i.e. “being top earner”) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”) and FIT (i.e. “suitable”).

51. Indian sage, one with new order (7)

Answer: GOANESE (i.e. “Indian”, specifically one from Goa). “With new order” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SAGE ONE.

52. Saw maiden forming an attachment with German guy? (5)

Answer: MOTTO (i.e. “saw” or saying). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “maiden” used in cricket) followed by OTTO (i.e. “German guy[‘s name]”).

53. First person among new leaders is a female (9)

Answer: ESMERELDA (i.e. “female”, basically a woman’s name). Solution is ME (i.e. I or the “first person”) placed in or “among” an anagram (indicated by “new”) of LEADERS, like so: ES(ME)RELDA. Variants of the name, ESMIRELDA and ESMERALDA, also fit the intersecting letters but I think a stronger case is made for ESMERELDA. Not the best grid awareness from the setter IMLTHO.

54. Heaven as specified aim of the proverbial chicken? (3,5,4)

Answer: THE OTHER SIDE. Solution satisfies “heaven” and “specified aim of the proverbial chicken”, as in the old joke “Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side”.

55. Look at oneself, seeing bad points, etc, with anger finally admitted (10)

Answer: INTROSPECT (i.e. “look at oneself”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of POINTS ETC wrapped around or “admitting” R (i.e. “anger finally”, i.e. the last letter of “anger”), like so: INT(R)OSPECT.

Down clues

1. Try approach with murderous intent? (4,1,4,2)

Answer: HAVE A STAB AT. Solution satisfies “try” and “approach with murderous intent”.

2. Sudden winds coming in August sometimes (5)

Answer: GUSTS (i.e. “sudden winds”). “Coming in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: AU(GUST S)OMETIMES.

3. A background support is coming (9)

Answer: AMOUNTING (i.e. “coming” – one meaning of amount is “to come in meaning or substance (with ‘to’)” (Chambers). A bit naughty to leave the “to” out of the clue, but then the clue perhaps wouldn’t have scanned as well). Solution is A followed by MOUNTING (i.e. “background support” for, say, an artwork).

4. Fellows accommodating indispensable animals (7)

Answer: DONKEYS (i.e. “animals”). Solution is DONS (i.e. “fellows”) wrapped around or “accommodating” KEY (i.e. “indispensable”), like so: DON(KEY)S.

5. What old shoes may be – disposed of in charity shop, we hear? (7)

Answer: RESOLED (i.e. “what old shoes may be”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of RESOLD (i.e. “disposed of in charity shop”).

7. Called to mind being embarrassed about evensong’s opening prayer (11)

Answer: RECOLLECTED (i.e. “called to mind”). Solution is RED (i.e. “being embarrassed”) wrapped “about” E (i.e. “evensong’s opening”, i.e. the first letter of “evensong”) and COLLECT (i.e. “prayer” – once more to Chambers: “a short prayer, specific to the liturgies of the Western Church, consisting of one sentence, conveying one main petition”), like so: R(E-COLLECT)ED.

8. Coat with valuable material is craze (6)

Answer: FURORE (i.e. “craze”). Solution is FUR (i.e. “coat”) followed by ORE (i.e. “valuable material”).

9. At home, female family member is one who won’t give way (8)

Answer: INSISTER (i.e. “one who won’t give way”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by SISTER (i.e. “female family member”).

10. I sit up on stool – alternative configuration for meditation? (5,8)

Answer: LOTUS POSITION (i.e. “configuration for meditation”). “Alternative configuration” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I SIT UP ON STOOL.

11. Fish and fleshy fruit French friend’s obtained for start of dinner (7)

Answer: GOURAMI (i.e. “fish”). Solution is GOURD (i.e. “fleshy fruit”) with the D (i.e. “start of dinner”, i.e. the first letter of “dinner”) swapped “for” AMI (i.e. “French friend”, i.e. the French for “friend”), like so: GOUR(D) => GOUR(AMI). One gotten from the wordplay, if I’m honest.

12. One leaving school unwanted books, easy to read? (11)

Answer: TRANSPARENT (i.e. “easy to read”). Solution is TRAIN (i.e. “school”) with the I removed (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one leaving”) and the remainder followed by SPARE (i.e. “unwanted”) and NT (i.e. “books”, specifically the New Testament of The Bible), like so: TRAN-SPARE-NT.

13. Wonderful batting partnership – view it from here? (10)

Answer: GRANDSTAND (i.e. “view [batting partnership] from here”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. “wonderful”) followed by STAND (i.e. “batting partnership” in cricket).

20. Fellow army officer getting about three miles further south (9)

Answer: COLLEAGUE (i.e. “fellow” or someone on the same team). Solution is COL (i.e. “army officer”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “colonel”) followed by LEAGUE (i.e. “about three miles”). The “further south” bit relates to this being a down clue, requiring solvers place LEAGUE after or beneath COL.

23. Warren maybe in seaside location (8)

Answer: HASTINGS. Solution satisfies “Warren maybe” – Warren Hastings was a Governor-General of India during the 18th century – and “seaside location”, referring to the town of Hastings in East Sussex.

25. Something “flowery” in which wild animal conceals head (6)

Answer: ANTHER (i.e. “something ‘flowery’”, specifically a part of the stamen of a flower that produces pollen – another of those everyday words forever dropped into conversations. It’s maddening, really. Try to talk about the weather and all you get is “anther this” and “anther that”. Engage someone in the etiquette of queuing and it quickly dissolves into a discussion about anthers. Always bloody anthers! Anthers! Anthers!! Anthers!!! When will we ever talk about house prices again?) Solution is PANTHER (i.e. “wild animal”) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “conceals head”). If you used a crossword solver to nail this one, you weren’t alone.

26. Certain animals in endless routine task – information held in computer? (8)

Answer: CHORDATA (i.e. “certain animals”, specifically “a phylum of the animal kingdom, including the vertebrates and protochordates, animals possessing a notochord at some stage of their development” (Chambers). And what happens when you finally exhaust someone of their knowledge and opinions of anthers? They turn to sodding chordates! “Isn’t it a wonder of nature?” they’ll say, and that’s it, they’re off on chordates for an hour and a half. I swear it’s like we’re a nation of David Bleedin’ Attenboroughs. When will we ever talk about the flawless execution and brilliant success/abject failure and economic Armageddon/nope that’s it there’s absolutely nothing in-between, that is Brexit?) Solution is CHORE (i.e. “routine task”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endless”) and the remainder followed by DATA (i.e. “information held in computer”), like so: CHOR-DATA. One gotten from the wordplay and a shufti in Chambers.

28. RAF signal confusingly given in a mixture of languages (9)

Answer: FRANGLAIS (i.e. “a mixture of languages” – hands up who likes hybrid words such as this? Hmm. Let’s try “ginormous.” How about now? Okay, a few less hands there. How about “chillax”? Ah, nobody. I thought as much). “Confusingly given” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RAF SIGNAL.

29. Proper journalist should get put in the picture (6)

Answer: PRIMED (i.e. “put in the picture” – to prime can mean to coach or inform someone). Solution is PRIM (i.e. “proper”) followed by ED (i.e. “journalist”, a shortened form of “editor”).

31. Everyone supporting the old Greek city lost ultimately, bringing the most desirable outcome (3,3,3,4)

Answer: ALL FOR THE BEST (i.e. “the most desirable outcome”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “everyone”) followed by FOR (i.e. “supporting”), then THEBES (i.e. “old Greek city”) and T (i.e. “lost ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “lost”).

33. Land and stop to be heard, becoming frivolous (11)

Answer: LIGHTWEIGHT (i.e. “frivolous”). Solution is LIGHT (i.e. to “land”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “to be heard”) of WAIT (i.e. “stop”), like so: LIGHT-WEIGHT.

34. Agent opposing a former gang member being given new ID in book? (11)

Answer: REPAGINATED (i.e. “given new ID in book”, referring to page numbers). Solution is REP (i.e. “agent”) followed by AGIN (i.e. “opposing”), then A and TED (i.e. “former gang member”, referring to Teddy Boys).

35. Extra reading for one filling empty seat? (2-8)

Answer: BY-ELECTION (i.e. “one filling empty seat”). Solution is BYE (i.e. an “extra” run awarded in cricket for errors committed by the bowling side) followed by LECTION (i.e. “reading”). Topical, given the recent by-election in Batley and Spen.

36. One admonishes soldiers on battle site having rushed into middle of battle (11)

Answer: REMONSTRANT (i.e. “one admonishes”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by MONS (i.e. First World War “battle site” in Belgium) and RAN (i.e. “having rushed”) once placed “into” TT (i.e. “middle [letters] of baTTle”), like so: RE-MONS-T(RAN)T.

40. Bands with recent music horrible – forget ‘em! (9)

Answer: CINCTURES (i.e. girdles, belts or “bands”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “horrible”) of RECENT MUSIC once the E and M have been removed (indicated by “forget ‘em”). Wordplay was fairly obvious but needed a brute force of my Chambers to nail.

41. Significant performance, very good, that’s included rapid sort of movement before (8)

Answer: PREMIERE (i.e. “significant performance”). Solution is PI (i.e. “very good”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “pious”) wrapped around or “including” REM (i.e. “rapid sort of movement”, specifically the Rapid Eye Movement that takes place during sleep) and followed by ERE (i.e. poetic form of “before”), like so: P(REM)I-ERE.

43. Test said to lie within revolutionary piece of church music (7)

Answer: CHORALE (i.e. “piece of church music”). Solution is ORAL (i.e. “test said” or spoken examination) placed or “lying within” CHE Guevara (i.e. “revolutionary”), like so: CH(ORAL)E.

45. Ambassador and bishop getting observed outside drinking establishment (7)

Answer: SHEBEEN (i.e. illicit “drinking establishment”). Solution is HE (i.e. “ambassador”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of His Excellency) and B (a recognised abbreviation of “bishop”) with SEEN (i.e. “observed”) placed “outside” of them, like so: S(HE-B)EEN. One I knew thanks to a trunk novel I put together a (long) while ago. Ah, the days.

46. Possibly Amelia’s mistake (7)

Answer: BLOOMER. Solution satisfies “possibly Amelia” – referring to Amelia Bloomer, a women’s rights campaigner after whom the undergarments were nicknamed – and “mistake”.

47. Is sparing politician to visit runners (6)

Answer: SKIMPS (i.e. “is sparing”). Solution is MP (i.e. “politician”, specifically a Member of Parliament) placed in or “visiting” SKIS (i.e. “runners”), like so: SKI(MP)S.

50. Phoney female heading a London school (5)

Answer: FALSE (i.e. “phoney”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) followed by A and LSE (i.e. “London school”, specifically the London School of Economics).

A wee bit of music was had in the gaps afforded between the Euros and the England v Sri Lanka ODI courtesy of Gaspard Augé, one half of French dance act Justice. If you’ve been enjoying the opening titles of the BBC’s coverage of the Euros then you might be interested to find the theme tune on his debut solo album, Escapades. (Seek ye Force majeure.) While the album isn’t as tight as Justice’s best work, it’s still a solid listen that doesn’t outstay its welcome. And if you aren’t familiar with Justice, then check out this fun video from their debut album. How many logos can you recognise? Laters, – LP