A medium strength offering this week. While I like my Jumbos to keep me camped in my reference books – and this was certainly one of them – this one wasn’t entirely satisfying. Perhaps it was a little too scruffy here and there, perhaps there were one too many repeats or one too many exotic clues shoehorned in to fill an awkward space. Whatever it was, it didn’t really grab me, despite some good clueing.

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 has grown bored of hiding under your bed and is now ensconced in your shower, silently judging all who use the toilet, then you might find my Just For Fun page of help, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks as ever for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of fellow solvers once they’ve set down their pens. Till next time, stay safe out there, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Choose a poor sounding instrument (7)

Answer: PICCOLO (i.e. “instrument”). “Sounding” indicates the solution comprises homophones of PICK (i.e. “choose”), A and LOW (i.e. “poor”).

5. Understanding silly mix-up about hubby on vacation (8)

Answer: SYMPATHY (i.e. “understanding”). “On vacation” indicates the solution is derived by taking all the middle letters from the words SILLY MIX-UP ABOUT HUBBY.

9. Protecting side of ditch holding last of large and small fish (6)

Answer: ESCARP (i.e. “protecting side of ditch” against a rampart, supposedly). Solution is E (i.e. “last [letter] of large”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and CARP (i.e. “fish”).

13. Mariner that’s experienced abominable deed as drifting (4-6,6)

Answer: ABLE-BODIED SEAMAN (i.e. “mariner that’s experienced”). “Drifting” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ABOMINABLE DEED AS.

14. Foil container for food (6)

Answer: HAMPER. Solution satisfies to “foil” and “container for food”.

16. Pit dog against prey regularly (8)

Answer: COLLIERY (i.e. “pit”). Solution is COLLIE (i.e. “dog”) followed by RY (i.e. “prey regularly”, i.e. every other letter of PREY).

17. Girl wanting one to get in close (4)

Answer: ENID (i.e. “girl’s” name). Solution is END (i.e. to finish or “close”) wrapped around or “getting in” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: EN(I)D.

18. Physicist discovered in small lake something repelling water? (9)

Answer: TARPAULIN (i.e. “something repelling water”). Solution is Wolfgang PAULI (i.e. “physicist”) placed or “discovered in” TARN (i.e. “small lake”), like so: TAR(PAULI)N. Made a hell of a lot easier by pretty much the same clue appearing last month. Seems like The Times is cracking out their Marconi GridFill 4000^TM again to autopopulate the grids.

20. What rank is there for chief Greek commander? (8)

Answer: TAXIARCH (i.e. “Greek commander” – a taxis was a division of an ancient Greek army). Wow, I nearly made that sound like I knew what I was talking about. Pfff! No chance. Bradford’s to the rescue, as per usual. The clue was just too flimsy and tenuous for my idiot brain, particularly given only the even letters of the word to work with. Anyway, TAXIs of the sit-in-the-back-and-hope-the-driver-doesn’t-speak-to-you variety congregate at “ranks”, while “chief” gets you ARCH.

21. Wizard new city love affair with rand (11)

Answer: NECROMANCER (i.e. “wizard”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by EC (i.e. “city” – basically the City of London’s postcode area. Yeah, I know: London, London, London, but the national press is pretty much all London-centric so what can the 90% of us living outside of the M25 do? Petition setters to also adopt DH for Durham, NR for Norfolk and so on? Don’t give them ideas!), then ROMANCE (i.e. “love affair”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “rand”, South Africa’s currency).

24. Rosy glow is divine in developing sunrise (9)

Answer: RUDDINESS (i.e. “rosy glow”). Solution is DD (i.e. “divine”, specifically a Doctor of Divinity or Divinitatis Doctor we’ve seen a few times recently in Jumbos) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “developing”) of SUNRISE, like so: RU(DD)INESS.

25. Aware of work to finish trapping flock of pheasants (4-4)

Answer: OPEN-EYED (i.e. “aware”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) followed by END (i.e. “to finish”) once wrapped around or “trapping” EYE (i.e. “a flock of pheasants” – a new one on me), like so: OP-EN(EYE)D.

26. Force to discard diamonds (4)

Answer: BIND (i.e. “force” or “to impose an obligation on” (Chambers)). Solution is BIN (i.e. “to discard”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in card games).

29. Notice she’ll fancy device to keep washing up (11)

Answer: CLOTHESLINE (i.e. “device to keep washing up” – I’d have had this as two separate words. As a single word this is a wrestling move. Scruffy.) “Fancy” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NOTICE SHE’LL.

31. Game and slightly drunken signs of affection (11)

Answer: TIDDLYWINKS (i.e. “game”). Solution is TIDDLY (i.e. “slightly drunken”) followed by WINKS (i.e. “signs of affection”).

33. Place with space shows flat with central hall, having set back at front? (11)

Answer: PLANETARIUM (i.e. “place with space shows”). Solution is PLANE (i.e. “flat”) followed by ATRIUM (i.e. “central hall”) once its T (i.e. “set back”, i.e. the last letter of “set”) has been moved to the “front”, like so: PLANE-A(T)RIUM => PLANE-(T)ARIUM.

36. No profligate equality between Leicester, say, and Elizabeth I (11)

Answer: CHEESEPARER (i.e. “no profligate”, or miser). Another win for my Bradford’s. I’d honestly lost interest by this point. Solution is PAR (i.e. “equality”) placed “between” CHEESE (i.e. “Leicester, say”) and ER (i.e. “Elizabeth I”, or Elizabeth Regina), like so: CHEESE-(PAR)-ER.

38. Dry when eating a rook pie (4)

Answer: TART (i.e. “pie”). Solution is TT (i.e. “dry”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of teetotal) wrapped around or “eating” A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess), like so: T(A-R)T.

39. Small arboreal creature of tailless rodent class (8)

Answer: MARMOSET (i.e. “small arboreal creature”). Solution is MARMOT (i.e. “rodent”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “tailless”) and the remainder followed by SET (i.e. “class”), like so: MARMO-SET. Strange that the answer for 15d would appear in the clue. Again, scruffy.

41. Game bird related to the dodo (9)

Answer: SOLITAIRE. Solution satisfies “game” and “bird related to the dodo”, apparently a gigantic flightless pigeon that has been extinct since the 18th century. For all my assorted gripes with this week’s puzzle, this was a genuinely interesting clue.

44. What helps small company’s host record it for broadcast, one’s assumed (11)

Answer: MICROCREDIT (i.e. “what helps small company”, apparently small business loans to those with little or no income). Solution is MC (i.e. “host” or Master of Ceremonies) wrapped around I (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one’s assumed”), followed by an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of RECORD IT, like so: M(I)C-ROCREDIT. I’d like to think at this stage of my life that I knew my way around the financial pages, following with interest stories such as NatWest’s disgraceful and outright predatory handling of small businesses in the aftermath of the 2008 credit crunch – no, really, I rock – but I can honestly say I’d never heard of this term until today. Not as interesting as SOLITAIRE, though, sadly.

45. Material for arms has not satisfied in coat of girl (8)

Answer: GUNMETAL (i.e. “material for arms”). Solution is UNMET (i.e. “not satisfied”) placed “in coat of” GAL (i.e. “girl”), like so: G(UNMET)AL. Spend too long wondering where the hell the A fitted into this one? Yup. Me too.

48. Cool in a way – with English habitual response (9)

Answer: APATHETIC (i.e. “cool”). Solution is A followed by PATH (i.e. “way”), then E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and TIC (i.e. “habitual response”).

49. What’s replaced our ultimately unreliable currency (4)

Answer: EURO (i.e. “currency”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “what’s replaced”) of OUR and E (i.e. “ultimately unreliable”, i.e. the last letter of “unreliable”).

50. Pasture’s fit and available for rent (8)

Answer: LEASABLE (i.e. “available for rent”). Solution is LEA’S (i.e. “pasture’s”) followed by ABLE (i.e. “fit”).

52. Obtain what can make a tattoo at college (4,2)

Answer: DRUM UP (i.e. “obtain”). Solution is DRUM (i.e. “what can make a tattoo”) followed by UP (i.e. “at college” – quite often pops up in Jumbos).

53. Uncle sins with novices badly showing lack of resolution (16)

Answer: INCONCLUSIVENESS (i.e. “lack of resolution”). “Badly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of UNCLE SINS and NOVICES.

54. One calling for substitute horse in race (6)

Answer: RINGER. Solution satisfies “one calling” and “substitute horse in race”, usually a superior one surreptitiously swapped in to help dastardly types clean up at the bookies.

55. Note about large number sick in a number of ships (8)

Answer: FLOTILLA (i.e. “a number of ships”). Solution is FA (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa notation, or doh-ray-me) wrapped “about” LOT (i.e. “large number”) and ILL (i.e. “sick”), like so: F(LOT-ILL)A.

56. Making arrangement to train as skilled worker (7)

Answer: ARTISAN (i.e. “skilled worker”). “Making arrangement to” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TRAIN AS.

Down clues

1. Fish in a particular locality around island (6)

Answer: PLAICE (i.e. “fish”). Solution is PLACE (i.e. “particular locality”) wrapped “around” I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: PLA(I)CE.

2. Colonel duly banning uniform with reserve (6)

Answer: COLDLY (i.e. “with reserve”). Solution is COL (a recognised abbreviation of “colonel”) followed by DULY once the U has been removed (indicated by “banning uniform” – U being “uniform” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: COL-DLY.

3. A big bolt I deployed for parts not to be removed (9)

Answer: OBBLIGATI (i.e. “parts not to be removed” in a musical piece). “Deployed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A BIG BOLT I.

4. Organisation’s instructions about policies (11)

Answer: ORDERLINESS (i.e. “organisation”). Solution is ORDERS (i.e. “instructions”) wrapped “about” LINES (i.e. “policies”), like so: ORDER(LINES)S.

5. Expensive losing tons in leak (4 – not 6 as printed in the paper. Scruffy!)

Answer: SEEP (i.e. “leak”). Solution is STEEP (i.e. “expensive”) with the T removed (indicated by “losing tons” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “tons”).

6. Notes insect run in dream – not a social one (11)

Answer: MISANTHROPE (i.e. “not a social one”). Solution is MIS (i.e. “notes”, again in the sol-fa notation – can be spelled me or mi) followed by ANT (i.e. “insect”), then R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) once placed “in” HOPE (i.e. “dream”), like so: MIS-ANT-H(R)OPE.

7. Marooning a group over crew beginning to thieve (11)

Answer: ABANDONMENT (i.e. “marooning”). Solution is A followed by BAND (i.e. “group”), then ON (i.e. “over”), then MEN (i.e. “crew”) and T (i.e. “beginning [letter] to thieve”).

8. Try short facial hair in despair (9)

Answer: HEARTACHE (i.e. “despair”). Solution is HEAR (i.e. “try” in court) followed by TACHE (i.e. “short facial hair”, i.e. shortened form of the word “moustache”).

10. Making rapid progress with a route following river (8)

Answer: SOARAWAY (i.e. “making rapid progress”). Solution is A and WAY (i.e. “route”) both placed after or “following” SOAR (i.e. “river” in Leicestershire – another win for the Bradford’s), like so: SOAR-(A-WAY).

11. Dismay with a red wine unfinished on bar the American way? (11,5)

Answer: APPALACHIAN TRAIL (i.e. “American way” or route). Solution APPAL (i.e. “dismay”) followed by A, then CHIANTI (i.e. “red wine”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “unfinished”), then RAIL (i.e. “bar”), like so: APPAL-A-CHIANT-RAIL.

12. Associate parish divided up (7)

Answer: PARTNER (i.e. “associate”). Solution is PAR (a recognised abbreviation of “parish”) followed by RENT (i.e. torn or “divided”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: PAR-TNER.

15. Of trees, not all are of a post-glacial period (8)

Answer: ARBOREAL (i.e. “of trees”). Solution is ARE with its last letter removed (indicated by “not all…”) and the remainder followed by BOREAL (i.e. “of a post-glacial period” – hardly what you would call common knowledge, but made a little easier to deduce if you’d already solved 39a).

19. Tonic, sir? Mixed hors d’oeuvres? (8)

Answer: CROSTINI (i.e. “hors d’oeuvres”, specifically “small pieces of toasted or fried bread with a savoury topping” (Chambers)). “Mixed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TONIC SIR. Wordplay was obvious, but took a little brute-forcing of the anagram to nail.

22. Attempt snooker shot that’s completely impracticable (8)

Answer: CRACKPOT (i.e. “completely impracticable”). Solution is CRACK (i.e. an “attempt”) followed by POT (i.e. “snooker shot”).

23. Music hall – a bygone vessel for lyric verse (3,2,1,7,3)

Answer: ODE ON A GRECIAN URN (i.e. “lyric verse” by John Keats). Solution is ODEON (i.e. “music hall”) followed by A, then GRECIAN (i.e. “bygone”) and URN (i.e. “vessel”). One remembered from its last appearance, making for a much easier get. Interestingly this solution is placed in the exact same place of the exact same grid layout as that puzzle. I guess the office GridFill 4000^TM has only half a dozen solutions it can comfortably fit there before tying itself in knots.

27. Warranted daughter retiring without resistance (8)

Answer: DESERVED (i.e. “warranted”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) followed by RESERVED (i.e. “retiring”) once its first R has been removed (indicated by “without resistance” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “resistance”), like so: D-ESERVED.

28. Fool swallowing whiskey substitute (4)

Answer: SWAP (i.e. to “substitute”). Solution is SAP (i.e. “fool”) wrapped around or “swallowing” W (i.e. “whiskey” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: S(W)AP.

30. Pay attention to male editor (4)

Answer: HEED (i.e. “pay attention to”). Solution is HE (i.e. “male”) followed by ED (shortened form of “editor”).

32. Fertiliser that’s put on salad plants? (8)

Answer: DRESSING. Solution satisfies “fertiliser” and “that’s put on salad plants”. Vital that one doesn’t get the two mixed up, I feel.

34. Briskness of Alabama river in metropolis (8)

Answer: ALACRITY (i.e. “briskness”). Solution is ALA (recognised abbreviation of “Alabama”) followed by CITY (i.e. “metropolis”) once wrapped around or having “in” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: ALA-C(R)ITY.

35. Lose an opportunity with girl with fur during the tango (4,3,4)

Answer: MISS THE BOAT (i.e. “lose an opportunity”). Solution is MISS (i.e. “girl”) followed by BOA (i.e. “fur” worn round the neck) once placed in or “during” THE and T (“tango” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: MISS-THE-(BOA)-T.

36. Definite about court case involving separated self and Charlie (11)

Answer: CATEGORICAL (i.e. “definite”). Solution is CA (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by TRIAL (i.e. “court case”) once wrapped around or “involving separately” both EGO (i.e. “self”) and C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: CA-T(EGO)RI(C)AL.

37. Collecting tray, for instance, during a hymn (5,6)

Answer: SALVE REGINA (i.e. “hymn” that doesn’t appear in any of my reference books so far as I can see. Just goes to show how many of them there are, really, especially considering most hymns are mere variations of “Oh God and those connected to Him; you’re great, thanks for existence and all that; we’re not worthy; Amen”. The sheer number of them makes me wonder whether they were all spawned from some annual Eurovision Hymn Contest centuries ago, presumably with the Church of England finishing last every year). Solution is SALVER (i.e. “collecting tray”) followed by EG (i.e. “for instance” or for example), then IN (i.e. “during”) and A.

40. Award includes decoration mostly for healing (9)

Answer: MEDICINAL (i.e. “healing”). Solution is MEDAL (i.e. “award”) wrapped around or “including” ICING (i.e. cake “decoration”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: MED(ICIN)AL.

42. Passing trains running extended new timetable at first (9)

Answer: TRANSIENT (i.e. “passing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “running”) of TRAINS followed by ENT (i.e. “extended new timetable at first”, i.e. the first letters of “extended”, “new” and “timetable”), like so: TRANSI-ENT.

43. Put out about hog running wild in kennel (8)

Answer: DOGHOUSE (i.e. “kennel”). Solution is DOUSE (i.e. “put out” a fire) wrapped “about” an anagram (indicated by “running wild”) of HOG, like so: D(OGH)OUSE.

44. Miserable and visibly embarrassed over wind (7)

Answer: MEANDER (i.e. to “wind”). Solution is MEAN (i.e. “miserable”) followed by RED (i.e. “visibly embarrassed”) once reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: MEAN-DER.

46. A couple of bishops with letter for convent’s head (6)

Answer: ABBESS (i.e. “convent’s head”). Solution is A followed by B and B (each a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess), then ESS (i.e. “letter”, specifically the letter S).

47. Admiral seen in hold? (6)

Answer: NELSON. Solution satisfies “Admiral” Horatio Nelson, and a “hold” in wrestling.

51. Subtle quality of girl going topless (4)

Answer: AURA (i.e. “subtle quality”). Solution is LAURA (i.e. “girl’s” name) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “going topless”).

A relatively straightforward one this week, spiced up with a handful of tough clues and a healthy dose of well-worked ones. A good ‘un, then.

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, having last week taken to hiding under your bed, now trumpets the very moment you fall asleep then you might find my Just For Page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the buggers. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the kind words and feedback. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once they’ve put down their pens. Till next time, stay safe out there, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Official agreement to accompany law (7)

Answer: COMPACT (i.e. “official agreement”). Solution is COMP (i.e. “to accompany” musically) followed by ACT (i.e. “law”).

5. Shore warning, perhaps about century’s future claim (8)

Answer: PROPHECY (i.e. “future claim”). Solution is PROP (i.e. to “shore” up) followed by HEY! (i.e. a “warning”) once wrapped “about” C (a recognised abbreviation of “century”), like so: PROP-HE(C)Y.

9. Pacific protester’s not all shouting and histrionic (6)

Answer: Mahatma GANDHI (i.e. peaceful or “pacific protester”). “Not all” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SHOUTIN(G AND HI)STRIONICS. Nicely worked.

13. Discord in note splits bronze bell’s sound (16)

Answer: MISUNDERSTANDING (i.e. “discord”). Solution is MI (i.e. musical “note” in the doh-ray-mi style) followed by SUNDERS (i.e. “splits”), then TAN (i.e. “bronze”) and DING (i.e. “bell’s sound”).

14. Glasses containing potassium in tiny amounts (6)

Answer: SPECKS (i.e. “tiny amounts”). Solution is SPECS (i.e. “glasses” or spectacles) wrapped around or “containing” K (chemical symbol of “potassium”), like so: SPEC(K)S.

16. Definitely having no end of petulance? (5)

Answer: SURLY (i.e. “petulance”). Solution is SURELY (i.e. “definitely”) with the E removed (indicated by “having no end of petulance”, i.e. the last letter of “petulance”). Nice bit of recycling there.

17. I’m bored hearing of dry grass and weed (5-2)

Answer: HEIGH-HO (i.e. “I’m bored” or an expression of weariness). “Hearing of” indicates homophones. Solution comprises homophones of HAY (i.e. “dry grass”) and HOE (i.e. to “weed”).

18. Stiff, high-quality polythene, maybe hiding leads (9)

Answer: INELASTIC (i.e. “stiff”). Solution is FINE (i.e. “high-quality”) and PLASTIC (i.e. “polythene, maybe” – other plastics are available) each with their initial letters removed (indicated by “hiding leads”), like so: INE-LASTIC.

19. My complexion’s purplish around half-hidden cheek (9)

Answer: IMPUDENCE (i.e. “cheek”). Solution is I’M PUCE (i.e. “my complexion’s purplish”) wrapped “around” DEN (i.e. “half-hidden”, i.e. the last half of the word “hidden”), like so: I’M-PU(DEN)CE.

21. Gas bothered baby (7)

Answer: NEONATE (i.e. “baby”). Solution is NEON (i.e. “gas”) followed by ATE (i.e. “bothered” or worried, as in “what’s eating you?”).

22. City shop selling special meat including horse (5)

Answer: DELHI (i.e. “city”). Solution is DELI (i.e. “shop selling special meat”) wrapped around or “including” H (i.e. “horse”, both street names for “heroin”), like so: DEL(H)I.

23. Shade and air conditioning, plainly in regular use at the front (5)

Answer: LILAC (i.e. colour or “shade”). Solution is AC (a recognised abbreviation of “air conditioning”) with LIL (i.e. “plainly in regular use”, i.e. every other letter of PLAINLY) placed “at the front”, like so: LIL-AC.

25. Country home’s secure life, but not if keeping video system back (9)

Answer: NASHVILLE (i.e. “country home”, or the home of country music, y’all). Solution is NAIL (i.e. to “secure”) and LE (i.e. “life, but not if”, i.e. the word LIFE with the IF removed) all wrapped around or “keeping” VHS (i.e. “video system”) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: NA(SHV)IL-LE.

27. Men win nothing in classic feminist book (7)

Answer: ORLANDO (i.e. “classic feminist book” by Virginia Woolf). Solution is OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) followed by LAND (i.e. to “win”) and O (i.e. “nothing”). Nicely done.

29. Scottish novelist welcomes review of outstanding graft (9)

Answer: SPADEWORK (i.e. “graft”). Solution is Muriel SPARK (i.e. “Scottish novelist”) wrapped around or “welcoming” OWED (i.e. “outstanding”) once reversed (indicated by “review of”, as in a look back over), like so: SPA(DEWO)RK.

31. Happier times left people equable, somehow forgetting pressure (2,5,6)

Answer: LA BELLE EPOQUE (i.e. “happier times”, apparently ended by World War I). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), PEOPLE and EQUABLE once one of the Ps has been removed (indicated by “forgetting pressure” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”). I often roll my eyes when setters shoehorn foreign phrases into grids, but at least this was an interesting one.

34. Set in views produced from colourful yarn (4-2-3-4)

Answer: DYED-IN-THE-WOOL (i.e. “set in views”). Solution also playfully satisfies “colourful yarn”.

35. Second Pimm’s you mixed for classic drinking party (9)

Answer: SYMPOSIUM (i.e. “drinking party”, historically speaking (hence “classic”)). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “mixed”) of S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”), PIMM’S and YOU. Another nicely worked clue.

37. Be forward, moving almost half to the middle or top (7)

Answer: SUPREME (i.e. “top”). Solution is PRESUME (i.e. “be forward”) with the PRE (i.e. “almost half”, specifically the first half of the word) “moved…to the middle”, like so: (PRE)SUME => SU(PRE)ME.

39. Put right and put down, ace took public transport (9)

Answer: DISABUSED (i.e. corrected or “put right”). Solution is DIS (i.e. “put down” or disrespect) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards), then BUSED (i.e. “took public transport”).

42. Bigwig missing the opening, too (5)

Answer: SWELL (i.e. “bigwig”, apparently both slang words for a member of the governing class. I could think of a few more). Solution is AS WELL (i.e. “too”) with the first letter removed or “missing the opening”.

43. River out of place in trivial talk – but not in Stirling (5)

Answer: FORTH (i.e. “river” that runs through “Stirling”). Solution is FROTH (i.e. “trivial talk”) with the R (a recognised abbreviation of “river) “out of place”, like so: F(R)OTH => FO(R)TH.

45. Mundane truth without content breaking too soon (7)

Answer: EARTHLY (i.e. “mundane”). Solution is TH (i.e. “truth without content”, i.e. the word “truth” with its middle letters removed) placed in or “breaking” EARLY (i.e. “too soon”), like so: EAR(TH)LY.

47. Engineer in European carmaker retracted protective gear (4,5)

Answer: OVEN GLOVE (i.e. “protective gear”). Solution is ENG (a recognised abbreviation of “engineer”) placed “in” E (ditto “European”) and VOLVO (i.e. “carmaker”) once reversed (indicated by “retracted”), like so: OV(ENG)LOV-E.

49. Trades are pending in endless glut (9)

Answer: EXCHANGES (i.e. “trades”). Solution is HANG (i.e. “are pending”) once placed “in” EXCESS (i.e. “glut”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: EXC(HANG)ES.

50. Divine poetry’s always to follow regarding woodland creature (3,4)

Answer: RED DEER (i.e. “woodland creature”). Solution is DD (i.e. “divine”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Divinitatis Doctor or Doctor of Divinity we’ve seen a few times in Jumbos) followed by E’ER (i.e. “poetry’s always”, i.e. poetic form of “ever”) all placed after or “following” RE (i.e. “regarding” – think email replies), like so: RE-(DD-E’ER).

52. After drama, approves cosy spots (5)

Answer: NOOKS (i.e. “cosy spots”). Solution is NO (i.e. Japanese “drama”, also spelled noh) followed by OKS (i.e. “approves”).

54. In centre of stye, it’s sore and easily irritated (6)

Answer: TOUCHY (i.e. “easily irritated”). Solution is TY (i.e. “centre of stye”, i.e. the middle letters of “stye”) with OUCH (i.e. “it’s sore”!) placed “in” it, like so: T(OUCH)Y. Getting the TY was easy enough, but good grief it took forever to twig OUCH. Sometimes I just don’t see ‘em.

55. Round trip’s constant touring via manic scrambling (16)

Answer: CIRCUMNAVIGATION (i.e. “round trip”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “scrambling”) of C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”) and TOURING VIA MANIC.

56. Dull, humourless organ stops (6)

Answer: DREARY (i.e. “dull”). Solution is DRY (i.e. “humourless”) wrapped around or “stopped” by EAR (i.e. “organ”), like so: DR(EAR)Y.

57. Spilt oil sadly is treacherous (8)

Answer: DISLOYAL (i.e. “treacherous”). “Spilt” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of OIL SADLY.

58. One needing sanctuary from match official and United man (7)

Answer: REFUGEE (i.e. “one needing sanctuary”). Solution is REF (i.e. “match official”, short for referee) followed by U (a recognised abbreviation of “United”) and GEE (i.e. “man”, both expressions of surprise).

Down clues

1. Food arrives on slates, say, black on the inside (11)

Answer: COMESTIBLES (i.e. “food”). Solution is COMES (i.e. “arrives”) followed by TILES (i.e. “slates, say”) once wrapped around or having “on the inside” B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess), like so: COMES-TI(B)LES.

2. I’m keen on saving time away from man’s address (5)

Answer: MISER (i.e. “I’m keen on saving”). Solution is MISTER (i.e. “man’s address”) with the T removed (indicated by “time away from…” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

3. Anodyne wavering was vexing (7)

Answer: ANNOYED (i.e. “was vexing”). “Wavering” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ANODYNE.

4. Slim people conclude frequently split lip is what may lead to something worse (3,4,3,2,3,5)

Answer: THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE (i.e. “what may lead to something worse”). Solution is THE THIN (i.e. “slim people”) followed by END (i.e. “conclude”), then OFT (i.e. “frequently”), then HEW (i.e. “split”) and EDGE (i.e. “lip”).

5. Aggressive ambition is conspicuous in the matter (9)

Answer: PUSHINESS (i.e. “aggressive ambition”). Solution is SHINES (i.e. “is conspicuous”) placed “in” PUS (i.e. “matter”), like so: PU(SHINES)S.

6. Some from a ghost town in Tyrone (5)

Answer: OMAGH (i.e. “town in Tyrone”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: FR(OM A GH)OST.

7. Fast boat’s extremely heavy devourer of fuel (9)

Answer: HYDROFOIL (i.e. “fast boat”). Solution is HY and DR (i.e. “extremely heavy devourer”, i.e. the first and last letters of “heavy” and “devourer”) followed by OF, then OIL (i.e. “fuel”). Nicely worked.

8. Wine shop has metal container in place with miraculous wine production (7)

Answer: CANTINA (i.e. “wine shop”). Solution is TIN (i.e. “metal container”) placed “in” CANA (i.e. “place with miraculous wine production”, a reference to the Marriage at Cana at which Christ turned water into wine), like so: CAN(TIN)A.

10. Cheer answer with very faint praise (7)

Answer: APPLAUD (i.e. “cheer”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) followed by PP (i.e. “very faint”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of pianissimo used in musical lingo) and LAUD (i.e. “praise”).

11. Heat and cold spoiled new combination of events (9)

Answer: DECATHLON (i.e. “combination of events”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “combination” – more recycling “spoiled”) of HEAT and COLD, followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: DECATHLO-N.
[EDIT: Thanks to Chris in the comments for repairing this one. I’d missed “spoiled” as the anagram indicator. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

12. Belonging to extreme group, I have to eat alternatively: only invertebrates for me! (11)

Answer: INSECTIVORE (i.e. “only invertebrates for me!”). Solution is IN SECT (i.e. “belonging to extreme group”) followed by I’VE (a contraction of “I have”) once wrapped around or “eating” OR (i.e. “alternatively”), like so: IN-SECT-I’V(OR)E.

15. Crafty explanation of time-saving (5,3,1,4,7)

Answer: HERE’S ONE I MADE EARLIER. Clue plays on a phrase used by Blue Peter presenters when “crafting” some item, for example a Large Hadron Collider made with papier-mâché, cereal boxes and empty washing-up bottles, handily skipping over to a ready-made version in order to “save time” waiting for the glue to dry. Of course, in these eco-conscious times we should be recycling all these things, so kids now have to make do constructing the International Space Station out of old paint cans, bits of leftover carpet and claggy hair fished out of the plughole.

20. Turned up, holding son, dead beat (7)

Answer: PULSATE (i.e. “beat”). Solution is UP reversed (indicated by “turned”) followed by LATE (i.e. “dead”) once wrapped around or “holding” S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”), like so: PU-L(S)ATE.

21. New look for writer of musicals (7)

Answer: Ivor NOVELLO (i.e. “writer of musicals”). Solution is NOVEL (i.e. “new”) followed by LO (i.e. “look”, as in lo and behold).

24. Last in line for end of lab worker’s shift (7)

Answer: CHEMISE (i.e. “shift”). Solution is CHEMIST (i.e. “lab worker”) with the last letter or “end” swapped “for” E (i.e. “last in line”, i.e. the last letter of “line”), like so: CHEMIS(T) => CHEMIS(E).

26. With iron-hard casing, this wicked genie would be a bit frail (5)

Answer: EBLIS (i.e. “wicked genie”, or, as Chambers has it: “a Muslim name for the devil”). The solution, when wrapped in or “cased” with FE (chemical symbol of “iron”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard”), like so: FE-(EBLIS)-H, gets you a word meaning “a bit frail”. One nailed solely through the wordplay.

28. Hacks besetting suitable computers (7)

Answer: LAPTOPS (i.e. “computers”). Solution is LOPS (i.e. “hacks”) wrapped around or “besetting” APT (i.e. “suitable”), like so: L(APT)OPS. Another good ‘un.

30. Press call for auditor (5)

Answer: KNEAD (i.e. “press”). “For auditor” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of NEED (i.e. “call”, as in “was there any call for that?”).

32. Semi-bold in bulging front page (7)

Answer: BELLBOY (i.e. “page”). Solution is BO (i.e. “semi-bold”, specifically the first half of “bold”) placed “in” BELLY (i.e. “bulging front”), like so: BELL(BO)Y.

33. I agree S American capital must import French art (5,2)

Answer: QUITE SO (i.e. “I agree”). Solution is QUITO (i.e. “S American capital”, specifically that of Ecuador) wrapped around or “importing” ES (i.e. “French art” – we’ve seen this a few times in Jumbos now; “art” is taken as an old form of “are”, the French of which is “es”), like so: QUIT(ES)O.

34. Alienated duke has an artificial manner (11)

Answer: DISAFFECTED (i.e. “alienated”). When written as D IS AFFECTED the solution also satisfies “duke has an artificial manner”, taking D as a recognised abbreviation of “duke”.

36. Doctor cans a female for misdeed in office (11)

Answer: MALFEASANCE (i.e. “misdeed in office”). “Doctor” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CANS A FEMALE.

38. Secretary with career, involving small building’s canopy (9)

Answer: PARACHUTE (i.e. “canopy”). Solution is PA (i.e. “secretary” or Personal Assistant) followed by RACE (i.e. to “career” about the place) once wrapped around or “involving” HUT (i.e. “small building”), like so: PA-RAC(HUT)E.

40. Share clip that’s tossed round (9)

Answer: SPHERICAL (i.e. “round”). “That’s tossed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SHARE CLIP.

41. Block street mostly lacking bidirectional traffic lines (9)

Answer: STONEWALL (i.e. to “block”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) followed by ONE-WAY (i.e. “lacking bidirectional traffic”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), then L and L (i.e. “lines” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”), like so: ST-ONE-WA-LL.

44. Perhaps one putting away knife, having cut small shrub (7)

Answer: HEATHER (i.e. “shrub”). Solution is SHEATHER (i.e. “one putting away knife”; “perhaps” is an admission you’re not exactly going to see this derivative form of “sheathe” in the dictionary) with the S removed (indicated by “having cut small” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “small”).

46. Second violinist’s bow preparation carries opening of intermezzo for composer (7)

Answer: Gioachino ROSSINI (i.e. “composer”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) placed in or “carried” by ROSIN (i.e. “violinist’s bow preparation” – over to Chambers: “a resin … for preparing the bows used to play stringed musical instruments”) and followed by I (i.e. “opening of intermezzo”, i.e. the first letter of “intermezzo”), like so: RO(S)SIN-I.

48. Signal raised to gather together with wizard (7)

Answer: GANDALF (i.e. “wizard” in JRR Tolkien’s books). Solution is FLAG (i.e. “signal”) reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “gathering” AND (i.e. “together with”), like so: G(AND)ALF.

51. Squat resembling a rubbish tip? (5)

Answer: DUMPY. Solution satisfies “squat” and, playfully, “resembling a rubbish tip”.

53. Unsettled score for the opponents limits victory (5)

Answer: OWING (i.e. “unsettled”). Solution is OG (i.e. “score for the opponents”, or an Own Goal) wrapped around or “limiting” WIN (i.e. “victory”), like so: O(WIN)G.

Another medium strength puzzle this week, peppered with a decent helping of well-worked clues and the kind of steady progression I like. Except for BESS. That was a proper swine.

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 taken to hiding under your bed, forcing you to climb up a ladder each night just to get some sleep, then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the buggers. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks again for the kind words and feedback. It’s always interesting to hear how other solvers fared once the dust settles. Till next time, stay safe out there, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. One has Bond smashing luge into pieces (9)

Answer: SUPERGLUE (i.e. “one has bond” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is SUPER (i.e. “smashing”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “into pieces”) of LUGE, like so: SUPER-GLUE.

6. Appeal forces landowner to regenerate location in Essex (7,6)

Answer: SAFFRON WALDEN (i.e. “location in Essex”). Solution is SA (i.e. “appeal”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Sex Appeal you see more in cryptic crosswords than in real life) followed by F and F (i.e. “forces” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”), then an anagram (indicated by “to regenerate”) of LANDOWNER, like so: SA-FF-RONWALDEN.

13. Dramatist in one book Sterne regularly shunned (5)

Answer: Henrik IBSEN (i.e. “dramatist”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) then SEN (i.e. “Sterne regularly shunned”, i.e. every other letter of STERNE).

14. Turn up with ace band feeling triumphant (4-1-4)

Answer: COCK-A-HOOP (i.e. “feeling triumphant”). Solution is COCK (i.e. “turn up”, as in cocking an ear) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards) and HOOP (i.e. “band”).

15. Vehicle is heap – pity me having to leave (7)

Answer: RICKSHA (i.e. “vehicle”, a variant spelling of rickshaw). Solution is RICK (i.e. “heap”) followed by SHAME (i.e. “pity”) once the ME has been removed (indicated by “me having to leave”), like so: RICK-SHA.

16. Photograph enrages sheik when developed – it’s really small (4-4,2,1,11)

Answer: KNEE-HIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER (i.e. “it’s really small”). “When developed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PHOTOGRAPH ENRAGES SHEIK. An easier get due to it being a recentish repeat.

18. Feats from retired airmen one moved along (8)

Answer: EXPLOITS (i.e. “feats”). Solution is EX-PILOTS (i.e. “retired airmen”) with the I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) “moved along”, like so: EX-P(I)LOTS => EX-PLO(I)TS.

20. Boatman who has secret watch with silver lining (8)

Answer: VOYAGEUR (i.e. “boatman”). Solution is VOYEUR (i.e. “who has secret watch”) wrapped around or “lined” with AG (chemical symbol of “silver”), like so: VOY(AG)EUR. One nailed solely from the wordplay.

21. Rabbit meat paste right to be eaten (5)

Answer: PRATE (i.e. to “rabbit” or talk a lot). Solution is PATE (i.e. “meat paste”) wrapped around or “eating” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: P(R)ATE.

23. Daughter seen with runner in club (6)

Answer: DRIVER (i.e. a golf “club”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) followed by RIVER (i.e. “runner”, as in how a river runs).

24. Excellent returns by accounts in plant (6)

Answer: ACACIA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is AI (i.e. “excellent”, i.e. A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) reversed (indicated by “returns”) and placed after or “by” AC and AC (i.e. “accounts”, AC being a recognised abbreviation of “account”), like so: (AC-AC)-IA.

25. One dancing graduate touring Ireland in its entirety? (9)

Answer: BALLERINA (i.e. “one dancing”). Solution is BA (i.e. “graduate”, specifically a Bachelor of Arts) wrapped around or “touring” ALL ERIN (i.e. “Ireland in its entirety”), like so: B(ALL-ERIN)A.

28. Inseparable Bury ladies – five not married (10)

Answer: INTERWOVEN (i.e. “inseparable”). Solution is INTER (i.e. “bury” – ignore the misleading capitalisation) followed by WOMEN (i.e. “ladies”) once the M (a recognised abbreviation of “married”) has been swapped for V (i.e. “[Roman numeral] five”), like so: INTER-WO(M)EN => INTER-WO(V)EN.

29. Lizzy in addition wants fish chucked out (4)

Answer: BESS (i.e. “Lizzy”, both shortened forms of Elizabeth). Solution is BESIDES (i.e. “in addition”) with the IDE removed (indicated by “fish chucked out”).

30. Skirt appearing in G&S finds justification (7)

Answer: GROUNDS (i.e. “justification”). Solution is ROUND (i.e. to avoid or “skirt”) placed “in” between G and S, like so: G(ROUND)S.

32. Bouncy castle melting when current passed through (7)

Answer: ELASTIC (i.e. “bouncy” – a bit of a stretch, if you’ll forgive the pun). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “melting”) of CASTLE wrapped around or having “passed through” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics), like so: ELAST(I)C.

34. Conservative newspaper makes rough projection (4)

Answer: CRAG (i.e. “rough projection”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by RAG (slang for a “newspaper”).

35. Spinner uses heavy atmosphere against one in the middle (10)

Answer: CENTRIFUGE (i.e. “spinner”). Solution is FUG (i.e. “heavy atmosphere”) placed after or “against” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), and all placed “in” CENTRE (i.e. “the middle”), like so: CENTR(I-FUG)E.

38. Band’s regular engagement in leader’s office, but no piano (9)

Answer: RESIDENCY (i.e. “band’s regular engagement”). Solution is PRESIDENCY (i.e. “leader’s office”) with the P removed (indicated by “but no piano” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo).

39. Maybe Chesterfield group should meet golfing supporter (6)

Answer: SETTEE (i.e. “maybe Chesterfield”). Solution is SET (i.e. “group”) followed by TEE (i.e. “golfing supporter”).

40. Unqualified one must abandon English course (6)

Answer: ENTRÉE (i.e. dinner “course”). Solution is ENTIRE (i.e. “unqualified”) with the I removed (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one must abandon”) and the remainder followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: ENTRE-E.

43. Ship loads drink that’s brought back strength (5)

Answer: ASSET (i.e. “strength”). Solution is SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”) placed in or “loading” TEA (i.e. “drink”) once reversed (indicated by “that’s brought back”), like so: A(SS)ET.

45. Cat chasing dog seizes old clothing item (8)

Answer: TAILCOAT (i.e. “clothing item”). Solution is CAT placed after or “chasing” TAIL (i.e. to “dog”) and wrapped around or “seizing” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: TAIL-C(O)AT.

47. Slip on mountain pass and fall down (8)

Answer: COLLAPSE (i.e. “fall down”). Solution is LAPSE (i.e. “slip”) placed “on” or after COL (i.e. “mountain pass” – one we’ve seen a few times in Jumbos), like so: COL-LAPSE.

49. Computer thought certificate illegal twice in requiring regulation (10,12)

Answer: ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE (i.e. “computer thought”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “requiring regulation”) of CERTIFICATE ILLEGAL and IN IN (i.e. “twice in”).

52. Turning dark and damp around South American region (7)

Answer: MIDWEST (i.e. “American region”). Solution is DIM (i.e. “dark”) reversed (indicated by “turning”) and followed by WET (i.e. “damp”) once wrapped “around” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”), like so: MID-WE(S)T.

53. I’m obliged to exercise caution, handling large knives etc (9)

Answer: TABLEWARE (i.e. “knives etc”). Solution is TA (i.e. “I’m obliged”, both forms of expressing thanks) followed by BEWARE (i.e. “exercise caution”) once wrapped around or “handling” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: TA-B(L)EWARE.

54. Build up initially appalling service (5)

Answer: AMASS (i.e. “build up”). Solution is A (i.e. “initially appalling”, i.e. the first letter of “appalling”) followed by MASS (i.e. religious “service”).

55. Valuable box certain to be found among the crates at sea (8,5)

Answer: TREASURE CHEST (i.e. “valuable box”). Solution is SURE (i.e. “certain”) placed in or “found among” an anagram (indicated by “at sea”) of THE CRATES, like so: TREA(SURE)CHEST.

56. Philosopher and some things to mark his birthday? (9)

Answer: Rene DESCARTES (i.e. French “philosopher”). When written as DES CARTES the solution satisfies “some things to mark his birthday”, specifically “cards” in French. Nicely done.

Down clues

1. Close result – disastrous conclusion (6,3)

Answer: STICKY END (i.e. “disastrous conclusion”). Solution is STICKY (i.e. humid or “close”) followed by END (i.e. “result”).

2. Online contributor on beer absorbing a creative product (6,5)

Answer: POSTER PAINT (i.e. “creative product”). Solution is POSTER (i.e. “online contributor”) followed by PINT (i.e. “beer”) once wrapped around or “absorbing” A, like so: POSTER P(A)INT.

3. Academician and Knight Companion arriving at farm (5)

Answer: RANCH (i.e. “farm”). Solution is RA (i.e. “academician”, specifically a Royal Academician) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess) and CH (i.e. “companion”, specifically a Companion of Honour).

4. Opening yard by church good for carrying in deceased (8)

Answer: LYCHGATE (i.e. “opening” specifically “a roofed churchyard gate” (Chambers)). Solution is Y (a recognised abbreviation of “yard”), CH (ditto “church”) and G (ditto ditto “good”) all placed “in” LATE (i.e. “deceased”), like so: L(Y-CH-G)ATE.

5. Thrill having caught the thing in Devon river (6)

Answer: EXCITE (i.e. “thrill”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in ball games) and IT (i.e. “the thing”) both placed “in” EXE (i.e. “Devon river”), like so: EX(C-IT)E.

6. Stigma – a mark that hurt blustery old coward (10)

Answer: SCARAMOUCH (i.e. “blustery old coward”). Solution is SCAR (i.e. “stigma”) followed by A, then M (a recognised abbreviation of “mark”, the former German currency) and OUCH! (i.e. “that hurt”).

7. One supervising Sellers in Goon realm, far gone (5,7)

Answer: FLOOR MANAGER (i.e. “one supervising sellers” in a department store – ignore the misleading capitalisation). “Gone” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GOON REALM FAR.

8. East German comes in ready to make swift reply (7)

Answer: RIPOSTE (i.e. “swift reply”). Solution is OST (i.e. “east German”, i.e. the German for “east”) placed “in” RIPE (i.e. “ready”), like so: RIP(OST)E.

9. Celestial phenomenon stars follow and not sailors? (8,6)

Answer: NORTHERN LIGHTS (i.e. “celestial phenomenon”). Solution is LIGHTS (i.e. “stars”) placed after or “following” NOR (i.e. “and not”) and THE RN (i.e. “sailors”, specifically the Royal Navy”), like so: (NOR-THE-RN)-LIGHTS.

10. Firm accessing a large population provides drink (7)

Answer: ALCOPOP (i.e. “drink”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) placed in or “accessing” A, L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and POP (ditto “population”), like so: A-L-(CO)-POP.

11. Man facing surgery has nothing to lose in hopeless state (11)

Answer: DESPERATION (i.e. “hopeless state”). Solution is DES (i.e. a “man’s” name) followed by OPERATION (i.e. “surgery”) once the first O has been removed (indicated by “has nothing to lose”), like so: DES-PERATION.

12. Accessible content of online article (4)

Answer: NEAR (i.e. “accessible”). “Content of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ONLI(NE AR)TICLE.

17. See tailless canine hero, one revered as god (8)

Answer: Haile SELASSIE (i.e. “one revered as god” by Rastafarians). Solution is SE (i.e. “see tailless”, i.e. the word “see” with its last letter removed) and the remainder followed by LASSIE (i.e. “canine hero”). I was more of a Littlest Hobo fan.

19. Ended unreliable trade given excessive merit (9)

Answer: OVERRATED (i.e. “given excessive merit”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “ended”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “unreliable”) of TRADE, like so: OVER-RATED.

22. Shrill native Americans getting through school year (8)

Answer: SCREECHY (i.e. “shrill”). Solution is CREE (i.e. “native Americans”) placed in or “getting through” SCH (a recognised abbreviation of “school”) and Y (ditto “year”), like so: S(CREE)CH-Y.

25. Top banana regarded as not looking straight (4-4)

Answer: BOSS-EYED (i.e. “not looking straight”). Solution is BOSS (i.e. the “top banana” of an organisation) followed by EYED (i.e. “regarded”).

26. Schmaltzy book about Scottish island on loch (9)

Answer: EMOTIONAL (i.e. “schmaltzy”). Solution is TOME (i.e. “book”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and followed by IONA (i.e. “Scottish island”), then L (a recognised abbreviation of “loch”), like so: EMOT-IONA-L.

27. Wild thing preferring squash to snakebite? (3,11)

Answer: BOA CONSTRICTOR (i.e. “wild thing”). Clue plays on how the snake crushes or “squashes” the life from its prey rather than kill through a “snake bite”. Nicely done.

28. This writer cries out on radio for scoop’s content (3,5)

Answer: ICE CREAM (i.e. “scoop’s content”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “on radio”) of I SCREAM (i.e. “this writer cries out”, from the point of view of the setter).

31. About to exploit star concerned with controversial issue (5,7)

Answer: CAUSE CELEBRE (i.e. “controversial issue”). Solution is CA (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by USE (i.e. “to exploit”), then CELEB (i.e. “star”, short for celebrity) and RE (i.e. “concerned with” – think email replies).

33. Evaluate short game – beginners find this difficult (5,6)

Answer: ASSES BRIDGE (i.e. “beginners find this difficult” – over to Chambers: “the fifth proposition in the first book of Euclid’s Elements of geometry, as being for some an impassable barrier to further progress”). Solution is ASSESS (i.e. “evaluate”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder followed by BRIDGE (i.e. card “game”). I’ll admit I only got this after looking up asses… oh, stop it now, don’t be common, etc.

36. Incorrigible author stops cracking rune article appearing in Times (11)

Answer: UNREPENTANT (i.e. “incorrigible”). Solution is PEN (i.e. to “author”) placed between or “stopping” an anagram (indicated by “cracking”) of RUNE and AN (i.e. “article”, i.e. a word like a, an or the) once this latter has been placed “in” T and T (i.e. “times” – ignore the misleading capitalisation, T is a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: UNRE-(PEN)-T(AN)T.

37. People in dishonour finding success after effort? (10)

Answer: ATTAINMENT (i.e. “success after effort”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “people”) placed “in” ATTAINT (i.e. to “dishonour”), like so: ATTAIN(MEN)T.

41. Snack’s good chance for tucking into pickled eels (9)

Answer: ELEVENSES (i.e. “snack”). Solution is EVENS (i.e. “good chance”) placed or “tucked into” an anagram (indicated by “pickled”) of EELS, like so: EL(EVENS)ES.

42. Officer circling over headland finds detachment (8)

Answer: COOLNESS (i.e. “detachment”). Solution is COL (i.e. “officer”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “colonel”) wrapped around or “circling” O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and followed by NESS (i.e. “headland”), like so: C(O)OL-NESS.

44. Second case of pistols for arms contractor? (7)

Answer: TRICEPS (i.e. muscle or “arms contractor”). Solution is TRICE (i.e. “second”, both brief moments of time) followed by PS (i.e. “case of pistols”, i.e. the first and last letters of “pistols”).

46. Ridiculous old woman having to abandon native (7)

Answer: IDIOTIC (i.e. “ridiculous”). Solution is IDIOMATIC (i.e. “native”) with MA removed (indicated by “old woman having to abandon…”).

48. Hawk-headed god restrained outside produces trumpet (6)

Answer: HERALD (i.e. “trumpet”). Solution is RA (i.e. “hawk-headed god”) placed in or having “outside” HELD (i.e. “restrained”), like so: HE(RA)LD.

50. Country bringing Chinese people into Georgia (5)

Answer: GHANA (i.e. “country”). Solution is HAN (i.e. “Chinese people”) placed “into” GA (US state abbreviation of “Georgia”), like so: G(HAN)A.

51. Salacious material that has stomachs turning (4)

Answer: SMUT (i.e. “salacious material”). Solution is TUMS (i.e. “stomachs”) reversed (indicated by “turning”).

A medium-strength puzzle this week, and one with a mixed bag of clues. Some were very nicely constructed, while others got right up my nose. Can’t have it all, I guess.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If you’ve found a recent Jumbo spent the entirety of lockdown secretly downloading eyewatering amounts of elephant porn through your Wi-Fi connection then 1) consider changing your Wi-Fi password, and 2) you might find comfort in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the pesky buggers. Elsewhere there are the usual ancient book reviews and a story of mine.

Thanks for the kind words and feedback, folks. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once they’ve put down their pens. I’d have posted this a number of hours ago had I not become absorbed in the inaugural World Seniors Darts Championship. It’s been a fascinating (if glitchy) watch so far with several old favourites from the BDO and PDC playing. The semi-finals and final are on tomorrow (well, later on today now I suppose) on BBC iPlayer or BT Sport. The previous sessions are also on iPlayer, but you’ll have to go searching for them. Here’s hoping it returns again next year. Anyway, till next time, stay safe out there, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Not as many contracts for navigator in the past (6)

Answer: Abel Janszoon TASMAN (i.e. “navigator in the past”). “Contracts” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: NO(T AS MAN)Y. Straight to Bradford’s the moment I saw “navigator in the past” as this was obviously going to be one of those solutions solely there to plug an awkward space. Setters waste no time deploying crap like this when put into a tight spot, so why should we?

4. Newly baked buns close to Weihnachten: a German institution! (10)

Answer: BUNDESBANK (i.e. “a German institution”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “newly”) of BAKED BUNS and N (i.e. “close to Weihnachten”, i.e. the last letter of Weihnachten).

10. Symbol of bear seen by millions (5)

Answer: TOTEM (i.e. “symbol”). Solution is TOTE (i.e. to carry or “bear”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “millions”).

14. Girl clips rail exercising (9)

Answer: PRISCILLA (i.e. a “girl’s” name). “Exercising” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CLIPS RAIL.

15. A number of just people excluded from company? (4,3,6)

Answer: ONLY THE LONELY (i.e. “a number” by Roy Orbison). Solution is ONLY (i.e. “just”) followed by THE LONELY (i.e. “people excluded from company”).

16. Want to take in film with female: a recent catch? (3,4)

Answer: WET FISH (i.e. “a recent catch”, as opposed to frozen or dried fish). Solution is WISH (i.e. “want”) wrapped around or “taking in” ET (i.e. “film”, specifically ET: The Extra Terrestrial) and F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”), like so: W(ET-F)ISH.

17. Port to progress slowly with age (7)

Answer: INCHEON (i.e. a “port” of South Korea). Solution is INCH (i.e. “to progress slowly”) followed by EON (i.e. “age”). Again to Bradford’s for pretty much the same reason as 1a. Who cares how easy the parsing is? If you see “port” in a clue, you have my permission to be a big cheating bastard like me. Bradford’s alone lists 900 of them. Are you going to sit there and learn them all? For a crossword? Really? No, of course not. Treat it like the lazy cop-out it is, cheat and move on.

18. One making mistake: he’s put his foot in it? (7)

Answer: SLIPPER. Solution satisfies “one making mistake” – playfully, hence the riddly question mark – and “he’s put his foot in it”.

19. With passion, elected representative repeated lines of poetry (1,8,1,8)

Answer: I REMEMBER I REMEMBER (i.e. “lines of poetry” by Thomas Hood). Solution is IRE (i.e. “passion”) and MEMBER (i.e. “elected representative”) “repeated”.

21. From a piece of furniture, article’s removed (2,2)

Answer: AS OF (i.e. “from”). Solution is A followed by SOFA (i.e. “piece of furniture”) once the A has been removed (indicated by “article’s removed”, an article is a word like a, an or the), like so: A-SOF.

24. Pass out from worry (5)

Answer: EXEAT (i.e. a “pass” or “formal leave of absence, especially for a student to be out of college for more than one night” (Chambers)). Solution is EX (i.e. Latin for “out from”) followed by EAT (i.e. “worry”, as in “what’s eating you?”). Not one I’m familiar with, not being of that bracket, but nicely worked all the same.

26. Leaves here couple on golf course for picking up? (3,5)

Answer: TEA CADDY (i.e. “leaves here”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “for picking up”) of TEE and CADDIE (i.e. “couple on golf course”), despite CADDY being an acceptable variant spelling of the latter.

27. Grey exterior to tower that is becoming darker (8)

Answer: GLOOMIER (i.e. “darker”). Solution is GR (a recognised abbreviation of “grey”) wrapped around or being “exterior to” LOOM (i.e. “to tower”) and IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. …um… i.e.!), like so: G(LOOM-IE)R.

29. Prayer leader embracing wife with an expression of disbelief (2,1,8)

Answer: I’M A DUTCHMAN (i.e. “expression of disbelief”). Solution is IMAM (i.e. “prayer leader”) wrapped around or “embracing” DUTCH (i.e. “wife” – supposedly cockney rhyming slang after the Duchess of Fife) and followed by AN, like so: IMA(DUTCH)M-AN.

30. Boss, after row, one getting on with staff (4,7)

Answer: LINE MANAGER (i.e. “boss”). Solution is LINE (i.e. “row”) followed by AGER (i.e. “one getting on”) once placed “on” or after MAN (i.e. to “staff” an operation), like so: LINE-(MAN-AGER).

32. Reporters of contests involving sailors and boxer (11)

Answer: JOURNALISTS (i.e. “reporters”). Solution is JOUSTS (i.e. “contests”) wrapped around or “involving” RN (i.e. “sailors”, specifically the Royal Navy) and Muhammad ALI (i.e. “boxer”), like so: JOU(RN-ALI)STS.

35. What spectacularly sparks love affair and also large splits (5,6)

Answer: ROMAN CANDLE (i.e. “what spectacularly sparks”). Solution is ROMANCE (i.e. “love affair”) wrapped around or “split” by AND (i.e. “also”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: ROMANC(AND-L)E. Nicely worked.

37. Where US driver pulls in – and remains in pole position (4,4)

Answer: REST STOP (i.e. “where US driver pulls in”). Solution is RESTS (i.e. “remains”) followed by TOP (i.e. “in pole position”).

39. Sword that is needed by impressionist, to cut (8)

Answer: SCIMITAR (i.e. “sword”). Solution is SC (i.e. “that is”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin scilicet) followed by IMITATOR (i.e. “impressionist”) once the “TO” has been “cut”, like so: SC-IMITAR.

40. Note is the writer’s – mostly the writer’s (5)

Answer: MINIM (i.e. musical “note”). Solution is MINE (i.e. “the writer’s” from the point of view of the setter) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by I’M (i.e. “the writer’s”, again from the point of view of the setter – this time a contraction of I AM), like so: MIN-I’M.

43. You must not assume this at the outset (4)

Answer: DON’T (i.e. “you must not”). Solution is DON (i.e. “assume”) followed by T (i.e. “this at the outset”, i.e. the first letter of “this”).

44. Rage, and split with the Foundation, as McCarthy did? (3,4,5,3,3)

Answer: SEE REDS UNDER THE BED (i.e. “as McCarthy did”, specifically Senator Joseph McCarthy, who had an unhealthy obsession for alleged communists in 1950s America. Thank goodness we’ll never see such craziness again in US politics. (Looks to camera)). Solution is SEE RED (i.e. “rage”) followed by SUNDER (i.e. “split”), then THE and BED (i.e. “foundation” – ignore the misleading capitalisation).

47. Host outside departs in vain for key (6,1)

Answer: MIDDLE C (i.e. musical “key”). Solution is MC (i.e. “host” or Master of Ceremonies) wrapped “outside” of D (a recognised abbreviation of “departs” used on timetables) once it as been placed “in” IDLE (i.e. “vain” – one of its lesser used meanings), like so: M(ID(D)LE)C.

48. Stole or cape to wear if held out (7)

Answer: FILCHED (i.e. “stole”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cape”, the geographic feature) placed in or “wearing” an anagram (indicated by “out”) of IF HELD, like so: FIL(C)HED.

50. City of Prague I fancy (7)

Answer: PERUGIA (i.e. Italian “city”). “Fancy” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PRAGUE I.

51. Proposal for an evening out? (3,2,8)

Answer: LAW OF AVERAGES – over to Chambers for the official word: “popularly, a proposition stating that the mean of a situation is maintained by the averaging of its extremes”, so a flattening or “evening out”. Very nicely done.

52. Difficulty at end of term making entrance (9)

Answer: SPELLBIND (i.e. “entrance”). Solution is BIND (i.e. “difficulty”) placed after or “at end of” SPELL (i.e. “term”).

53. Case of Arneis for one to try (5)

Answer: ASSAY (i.e. to test or “try”). Solution is AS (i.e. “case of Arneis”, i.e. the first and last letter of “Arneis”) followed by SAY (i.e. for example or “for one”).

54. Ill-disposed to prisoner being taken in again (10)

Answer: RESORPTION (i.e. “taken in again”). “Ill-disposed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TO PRISONER.

55. Rubber of bridge players put in unusual on reflection (6)

Answer: ERASER (i.e. “rubber”). Solution is S and E (i.e. “bridge players”, specifically recognised abbreviations of south and east) “put in” RARE (i.e. “unusual”) once reversed (indicated by “on reflection”), like so: ERA(SE)R.

Down clues

1. Work in office perhaps, kind laid on with ceremony (9)

Answer: TYPEWRITE (i.e. “work in office perhaps”). Solution is TYPE (i.e. “kind”) followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and RITE (i.e. “ceremony”).

2. Remote country doctors alienate NHS (5,6)

Answer: SAINT HELENA (i.e. “remote country”). “Doctors” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ALIENATES NHS.

3. Ace writer gets credit (7)

Answer: ASCRIBE (i.e. to “credit”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards) followed by SCRIBE (i.e. “writer”).

5. Taste something in rum amiss (5)

Answer: UMAMI (i.e. a sense of “taste”). “Something in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: R(UM AMI)SS. One I remembered from an age-old episode of QI, to be honest.

6. What’s released from flies that’s sweet, leading to death, mostly (4,7)

Answer: DROP CURTAIN (i.e. “what’s released from flies” – one definition of “flies” is “the large space above the proscenium in a theatre, from which the scenes, etc are controlled” (Chambers)). Solution is DROP (i.e. a “sweet”) followed by CURTAINS (i.e. “death”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”).

7. Pirate left to cross sea with a lesser prize? (6,5)

Answer: SILVER MEDAL (i.e. “lesser prize”). I’m not going to tangle myself up in the clunky parsing here. Solution basically comprises Long John SILVER (i.e. “pirate”), MED (i.e. “sea”, specifically the Mediterranean), A and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”).

8. Too many beginning to unilaterally agitate for independence (8)

Answer: AUTONOMY (i.e. “independence”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “agitate”) of TOO MANY and U (i.e. “beginning [letter] to unilaterally”).

9. Seek new, unusual lines for organ part (4-5)

Answer: KNEE-SWELL (i.e. “organ part”, of the musical instrument variety). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unusual”) of SEEK NEW followed by L and L (i.e. “lines” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”), like so: KNEESWE-LL.

10. Cheap brace, a metal mouthpiece (3-3)

Answer: TWO-BIT (i.e. “cheap”). Solution is TWO (i.e. a “brace”) followed by BIT (i.e. “a metal mouthpiece” for, say, horses).

11. Unlawful attendance in lycée’s very short-lived (11)

Answer: TRESPASSING (i.e. “unlawful attendance”). Solution is TRES (i.e. “in lycée’s very”, basically the French for “very”) followed by PASSING (i.e. “short-lived”).

12. Dignitary dressing right (5)

Answer: MAYOR (i.e. “dignitary”). Solution is MAYO (i.e. “dressing”, specifically mayonnaise) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

13. What order’s observed in abbey (or almost) (12)

Answer: ALPHABETICAL. Clue plays on how the letters of “abbey” and “almost” are in alphabetical order.

20. Back in need of nurse – and doctor on the way (8)

Answer: REARMOST (i.e. “back”). Solution is REAR (i.e. to “nurse”) followed by MO (i.e. “doctor” or Medical Officer) and ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”).

22. Wood producer not oddly seen off in retort ever (3,4)

Answer: FIR TREE (i.e. “wood producer”). “Not oddly seen” indicates we want only the even letters of OFF IN RETORT EVER.

23. Method of delivery of bullet with gun (5-3)

Answer: ROUND-ARM (i.e. “method of delivery” of a ball). Solution is ROUND (i.e. “bullet”) followed by ARM (i.e. “gun”).

25. Being tense when instructed to speak out by Head (8)

Answer: TAUTNESS (i.e. “being tense”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to speak”) of TAUGHT (i.e. “instructed”) followed by NESS (i.e. “head”, geographical features – ignore the misleading capitalisation), like so: TAUT-NESS.

28. A button on the end, one coupled with zip? (8)

Answer: ANIMATED (i.e. “with zip”). Solution is A followed by N (i.e. “button on the end”, i.e. the last letter of “button”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and MATED (i.e. “coupled”).

29. Used to hold jack so unable to play? (7)

Answer: INJURED (i.e. “unable to play” sports). Solution is INURED (i.e. “used to”) wrapped around or “holding” J (a recognised abbreviation of “jack” used on playing cards), like so: IN(J)URED.

31. Joel was one awfully hard prep monitor! (5,7)

Answer: MINOR PROPHET (i.e. “Joel was one” – I bet it didn’t say that on his business card. I bet it said “BIG ASS PROPHET” in gold lettering or something). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) and PREP MONITOR.

33. At college hospital, doctor has varying fortunes (3,3,5)

Answer: UPS AND DOWNS (i.e. “varying fortunes”). Solution is UP (i.e. “at college”) followed by SAN (i.e. “hospital”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a sanatorium) and OWNS (i.e. “has”).

34. American stunner to perform in hit record with Queen (11)

Answer: SOCKDOLOGER (i.e. “American stunner”, specifically old US slang for a hard or decisive blow. Not a word I’ve come across, but then I haven’t read a whole lot of Twain and his ilk. Great word, though). Solution is DO (i.e. “to perform”) placed “in” between SOCK (i.e. “hit”) and LOG (i.e. “record”), and followed by ER (i.e. “queen”, specifically Elizabeth Regina), like so: (SOCK-(DO)-LOG)-ER

35. After drink, our Henry needs a rest, they say (6,3,2)

Answer: RUMOUR HAS IT (i.e. “they say”). Solution is RUM (i.e. “drink”) followed by OUR, then H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement that’s been like catnip for setters this last year), then A and SIT (i.e. “rest”).

36. Guides began to manoeuvre vehicles on beach (4,7)

Answer: DUNE BUGGIES (i.e. “vehicles on beach”). “To manoeuvre” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GUIDES BEGAN.

38. A dozen balls to hold in clubs in Bury (9)

Answer: OVERCOVER (i.e. “bury” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is OVER and OVER (i.e. two overs or “a dozen balls” in cricket) wrapped around or “holding” C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games), like so: OVER-(C)-OVER.

41. Brummie maybe in dark turning up with lighter? (9)

Answer: MIDLANDER (i.e. “Brummie maybe”). Solution is DIM (i.e. “in dark”) reversed (indicated by “turning up” – this being a down clue) and followed by LANDER (i.e. “lighter”, both vessels), like so: MID-LANDER.

42. As we used to say, you favour writing, music, sculpture etc (3,5)

Answer: ART FORMS (i.e. “music, sculpture etc”). When written as ART FOR MS the solution satisfies “as we used to say, you favour writing”. MS is a recognised abbreviation of “manuscript”, while ART is a ye olde form of “are” that’s getting to be as overused in these Jumbos as “Henry”.

45. Irish sportsperson eclipsing fourth-rate track athlete (7)

Answer: HURDLER (i.e. “track athlete”). Solution is HURLER (i.e. “Irish sportsman”) wrapped around or “eclipsing” D (i.e. “fourth-rate”, i.e. a D grade), like so: HUR(D)LER.

46. Having a nap on top of yardarm is mistake (6)

Answer: FLUFFY (i.e. “having a nap” or downy covering). Solution is FLUFF (i.e. “mistake”, as in fluffing one’s lines) placed “on” or before Y (i.e. “top of yardarm”, i.e. the first letter of “yardarm”).

47. Old singer, close to stardom, rising up to it (5)

Answer: Dame Nellie MELBA (i.e. “old singer”). Solution is M (i.e. “close to stardom”, i.e. the last letter of “stardom”) followed by ABLE (i.e. “up to it”) once reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: M-ELBA. An easier get after I somehow remembered her from her last appearance, back in grid 1488. I wonder if remembering stuff like this is why I can never remember anyone’s birthday.

49. Lively music, remarkably taken from Revelation (5)

Answer: DISCO (i.e. “lively music”). Solution is DISCOVERY (i.e. “revelation” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation) once the VERY has been removed (indicated by “remarkably taken from…”).