A half-and-half Jumbo this week: half-easy, half-toughie, as you can probably see from the grid. Too uneven for my tastes, though some good clueing made up for it. I almost forgot to finish this post as the Senior Darts this weekend has been an absorbing watch. Good to see it on national TV now, and congratulations to Leonard Gates on becoming the Champion of Champions.

Back to the Jumbo, 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 you shrugging your shoulders then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 1.6%

Across clues

1. Belted out ditty about drink (7)

Answer: SANGRIA (i.e. “drink”). Solution is SANG (i.e. “belted out”) followed by AIR (i.e. “ditty”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: SANG-RIA.

5. Person who “liberates” a bit of Assam? (3,4)

Answer: TEA LEAF. Solution satisfies “person who ‘liberates’”, being the cockney rhyming slang for a thief, and “a bit of Assam”, being a variety of tea.

9. Returning half-sober answer on occasion (2,5)

Answer: AT TIMES (i.e. “on occasion”). Solution is SEMI-TT (i.e. “half-sober” – TT is a recognised abbreviation of “teetotal” – not quite sure how anyone can be semi-teetotal, but never mind) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) all reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: A-TT-IMES.

13. Very ill-informed GP rationing shot (3-8)

Answer: PIG-IGNORANT (i.e. “very ill-informed”). “Shot” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GP RATIONING.

14. Ruthless examination for PhD? (5,6)

Answer: THIRD DEGREE (i.e. “ruthless examination”). The remainder of the clue also playfully satisfies “PhD”, much like it did a couple of months ago when this clue last appeared. Ho hum!

15. New Year in French style for southern African native (5)

Answer: NYALA (i.e. a large antelope and “southern African native”). Solution is NY (short for “New Year”) followed by A LA (i.e. “in French style”).

16. One putting down every single English philosopher (7)

Answer: ALLAYER (i.e. “one putting down”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “every single”) followed by (A.J.) AYER (i.e. “English philosopher” – no, me neither).

17. Unobtrusive observation of Prince devotee by sleuth (4,2,3)

Answer: HALF AN EYE (i.e. “unobtrusive observation”). Solution is HAL (i.e. “Prince” – Prince Hal is a reference to Shakespeare’s portrayal of a young Henry V. Times setters generally have a soft-on for Shakespeare, so this is one worth keeping in mind if you’ve not come across it before) followed by followed by FAN (i.e. “devotee”) and EYE (i.e. “detective”, as in a private eye).

18. Sort out details, and finish off letters (3,3,2,3,5,3,2)

Answer: DOT THE IS AND CROSS THE TS. Solution satisfies “sort out details” and “finish off letters”.

23. Oddity of bachelor eschewing intemperance (8)

Answer: EERINESS (i.e. “oddity”, characteristically speaking). Solution is BEERINESS (i.e. “intemperance”) with the B removed (indicated by “bachelor eschewing…” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”).

25. Film about life and work in British Isles, initially convincing (6)

Answer: BIOPIC (i.e. “film about life”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) placed “in” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) II (i.e. “isles”, I being a recognised abbreviation of “isle”) and C (i.e. “initially convincing”, i.e. the first letter of “convincing”), like so: B-I(OP)I-C.

27. Articulate girl yearned for believer in spirits (7)

Answer: ANIMIST (i.e. “believer in spirits”). “Articulate” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of ANNIE (i.e. “girl’s” name) and MISSED (i.e. “yearned”). Not from my mouth it wouldn’t, so I’ll let the setter fend for themselves on that one.

30. Reviewed notable books in turn (5)

Answer: PIVOT (i.e. “turn”). Solution is VIP (i.e. “notable”, in this case a Very Important Person) reversed (indicated by “reviewed”, as in being looked over) and followed by OT (i.e. “books”, the Old Testament of The Bible), like so: PIV-OT.

32. A Scottish dear concealing accident, half-cut in Corsican port (7)

Answer: AJACCIO (i.e. “Corsican port”). Solution is A and JO (i.e. “Scottish dear” or one beloved, apparently an old Scots form of “joy” – again, me neither) once wrapped around or “concealing” ACCI (i.e. “accident, half-cut”), like so: A-J(ACCI)O. Regular readers will know I treat inclusions of ports in Jumbos with significant disdain. All too often they are used when a setter is too lazy to rework an awkward spot in the grid. If they aren’t willing to put in the work, then why should we? I’m glad I reached straight for my Bradford’s on this one, too – what a horror show! If you nailed this with grey matter alone then hats off to you.

33. Supervisory body recalling both pistol and round (9)

Answer: REGULATOR (i.e. “supervisory body”). Solution is LUGER (i.e. a variety of “pistol”) and ROTA (i.e. “round”) both reversed (indicated by “recalling”), like so: REGUL-ATOR. After slating the setter just now, it’s only fair to highlight a clue that is genuinely well-worked.

35. Salt introduced to processed cereals and veg (9)

Answer: CALABRESE (i.e. “veg” – also the name of my go-to pizza at Pizza Express, assuming they still do it. Top nomming). Solution is AB (i.e. “salt”, both references to sailors, in this case one of the Able-Bodied persuasion) placed in or “introduced to” an anagram (indicated by “processed”) of CEREALS, like so: CAL(AB)RESE. Another toughie. The mid-left of the grid was generally a bit of a bastard.

36. Dim male relative content to leave alligator (7)

Answer: UNCLEAR (i.e. “dim”). Solution is UNCLE (i.e. “male relative”) followed by AR (i.e. “content to leave alligator”, i.e. the word “alligator” with all its middle letters removed).

37. Soppy people ultimately shed tears (5)

Answer: DRIPS (i.e. “soppy people”). Solution is D (i.e. “ultimately shed”, i.e. the last letter of “shed”) followed by RIPS (i.e. “tears”).

38. Temporary Head of IT coming on board during semester (7)

Answer: INTERIM (i.e. “temporary”). Solution is I (i.e. “head of IT”, i.e. the first letter of “IT”) placed in or “coming on board” IN TERM (i.e. “during semester”), like so: IN-TER(I)M.

40. Tell dog to follow sappers (6)

Answer: RETAIL (i.e. “tell”, in this case “to put about, hand on by report” (Chambers, deep into the definitions)). Solution is TAIL (i.e. to “dog”) placed after or “following” RE (i.e. “sappers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army), like so: RE-TAIL.

41. Leash may wound terrier (8)

Answer: SEALYHAM (i.e. “terrier” – again, me neither. A bit of a theme this week. After doing a Google image search, I believe this is a popular breed among New Yorkers. There were loads of little white yappy things being walked about the place when She and I visited a few years ago. It was like The Stepford Dogs or something). “Wound” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LEASH MAY.

44. Impulsive peer group producing something out of nothing (11,10)

Answer: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION (i.e. “something out of nothing”, in this case “the supposed production of living organisms from non-living matter” (Chambers)). Solution also playfully satisfies “impulsive peer group”.

48. Weary workforce that upholds standards (9)

Answer: FLAGSTAFF (i.e. “that upholds standards” or flags). Solution is FLAG (i.e. “weary”, as an intransitive verb) followed by STAFF (i.e. “workforce”).

50. Dickens sold in Wick without front covers (3,4)

Answer: OLD NICK (i.e. “Dickens”, both nicknames for the Devil). “Without front covers” indicates the solution is derived by removing the first letters of SOLD IN WICK.

53. Reform in pursuit of constant faith (5)

Answer: CREDO (i.e. “faith”). Solution is REDO (i.e. “reform”) placed after or “in pursuit of” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”), like so: C-REDO.

54. Mysterious magician let out (11)

Answer: ENIGMATICAL (i.e. “mysterious”). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MAGICIAN LET.

55. Alcoholic beverage is found in her office, sadly (5,6)

Answer: IRISH COFFEE (i.e. “alcoholic beverage”). Solution is IS placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of HER OFFICE, like so: IR(IS)HCOFFEE.

56. Provide nourishment for bear (7)

Answer: SUSTAIN. Solution satisfies “provide nourishment for” and to “bear”.

57. Informal evening turned into regret for entourage (7)

Answer: RETINUE (i.e. “entourage”). Solution is NITE (i.e. “informal evening”, or an informal version of “night”) reversed (indicated by “turned”) and placed “into” RUE (i.e. “regret”), like so: R(ETIN)UE.

58. Loves assimilating the lines for Shakesperean role (7)

Answer: OTHELLO (i.e. “Shakespearean role”). Solution is OO (i.e. “loves” – “love” being a zero score in tennis) wrapped around or “assimilating” THE and LL (i.e. “lines” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”), like so: O(THE-LL)O.

Down clues

1. Lying on back finally makes you ache (6)

Answer: SUPINE (i.e. “lying on back”). Solution is SU (i.e. “finally makes you”, i.e. the last letter of “makes” and “you”) followed by PINE (i.e. to long for or “ache”).

2. Daughter endlessly teasing upwardly mobile miser (7)

Answer: NIGGARD (i.e. “miser”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) followed by RAGGING (i.e. “teasing”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “upwardly” – this being a down clue), like so: NIGGAR-D.

3. Without introduction, congregate to play Caribbean music (9)

Answer: REGGAETON (i.e. “Caribbean music”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to play”) of CONGRETATE once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “without introduction”).

4. Sample ultra-romantic fragrance (5)

Answer: AROMA (i.e. “fragrance”). “Sample” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ULTR(A-ROMA)NTIC.

5. Sustenance for tramps (5,3)

Answer: TRAIL MIX, “a mixture of pieces of dried fruit (e.g. bananas, dates, pineapples, apricots, etc) nuts and seeds eaten as a snack, originally by hikers” (Chambers). Clue plays on “tramps” being journeys made on foot.

6. Fittingly, apartment lay empty (5)

Answer: APTLY (i.e. “fittingly”). Solution is APT (a recognised abbreviation of “apartment”) followed by LY (i.e. “lay empty”, i.e. the word “lay” with its middle letter removed).

7. Admitted removing case of Lenten wine (7)

Answer: ENTERED (i.e. “admitted”). Solution is ENTE (i.e. “removing case of Lenten”, i.e. “Lenten” with its first and last letters removed) followed by RED (i.e. “wine”).

8. Fine, delicate wind instrument in black box (6,8)

Answer: FLIGHT RECORDER (informally known as a “black box”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils) followed by LIGHT (i.e. “delicate”) and RECORDER (i.e. “wind instrument”).

9. Ace sundial transformed area in Spanish autonomous community (9)

Answer: ANDALUSIA (i.e. “Spanish autonomous community”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” on playing cards) followed by an anagram (indicated by “transformed”) of SUNDIAL and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: A-NDALUSI-A.

10. Letter and article on former reservists (5)

Answer: THETA (i.e. eighth “letter” of the Greek alphabet). Solution is THE (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) followed by TA (i.e. “former reservists”, the Territorial Army).

11. Real men swooning over slim, wealthy film star (7,8)

Answer: MARLENE DIETRICH (i.e. “film star”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “swooning”) of REAL MEN followed by DIET (i.e. to “slim”) and RICH (i.e. “wealthy”).

12. Prescient woman getting Victor out of harsh southern sierra (7)

Answer: SEERESS (i.e. “prescient woman”). Solution is SEVERE (i.e. “harsh”) with the V removed (indicated by “getting Victor out of…” – Victor being V in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and S (“sierra” in the phonetic alphabet again), like so: SEERE-S-S.

19. Unaccompanied male carrying garden tool for personal security (7)

Answer: HOSTAGE (i.e. “tool for personal security”). Solution is STAG (i.e. “unaccompanied male”) placed in or “carrying” HOE (i.e. “garden tool”), like so: HO(STAG)E.

20. Up before the beak after a grand battle (9)

Answer: AGINCOURT (i.e. “battle”). Solution is IN COURT (i.e. “up before the beak”) placed “after” A and G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”), like so: A-G-(IN-COURT).

21. Ran off after Turpin regularly messed about (7)

Answer: TRIFLED (i.e. “messed about”). Solution is FLED (i.e. “ran off”) placed “after” TRI (i.e. “Turpin regularly”, i.e. every other letter of TURPIN), like so: TRI-FLED.

22. Well-travelled Florentine gives Puccini clothes (8)

Answer: Amerigo VESPUCCI (i.e. “well-travelled Florentine” – from whose name America was supposedly named. Interesting). “Clothes” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GI(VES PUCCI)NI.

24. Norris and I leave out rum for rebels (15)

Answer: REVOLUTIONARIES (i.e. “rebels”). “Rum” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NORRIS and I LEAVE OUT.

26. Professional writer in bar (9)

Answer: PROSCRIBE (i.e. to “bar”). Solution is PRO (short for “professional”) followed by SCRIBE (i.e. “writer”).

28. Tedious book containing intellectual’s original research (8)

Answer: TIRESOME (i.e. “tedious”). Solution is TOME (i.e. “book”) wrapped around or “containing” I (i.e. “intellectual’s original”, i.e. the first letter of “intellectual”) and RES (short for “research”, apparently), like so: T(I-RES)OME.

29. Educational functionary runs away with cake decorator (7,7)

Answer: CAREERS OFFICER (i.e. “educational functionary”). Solution is CAREERS (i.e. “runs”) followed by OFF (i.e. “away”) and ICER (i.e. “cake decorator”).

31. Simple dons produce lace and silk (7)

Answer: TABARET (i.e. “silk”, “with alternate stripes of watered and satin surface” (Chambers)). Solution is BARE (i.e. “simple”) placed in or “donning” TAT (i.e. “produce silk”), like so: TA(BARE)T.

34. Plant starts to grow elegant red blooms over time (7)

Answer: GERBERA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is GERB (i.e. “starts to grow elegant red blooms”, i.e. the first letters of “grow”, “elegant”, “red” and “blooms”) followed by ERA (i.e. “time”).

39. Explosive project in part of NYC (9)

Answer: MANHATTAN. Solution satisfies “explosive project” that produced the world’s first nuclear weapons, and “part of NYC”.

42. Left fashionable fool wearing extremely outlandish garment (9)

Answer: LOINCLOTH (i.e. “garment”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) followed by IN (i.e. “fashionable”) and CLOT (i.e. “fool”) once these have been placed in or “wearing” OH (i.e. “extremely outlandish”, i.e. the first and last letters of “outlandish”), like so: L-O(IN-CLOT)H.

43. Royal icing (8)

Answer: REGICIDE. Clue plays on “icing” being an informal reference to killing someone. Best clue of the puzzle, for my money. Don’t read too much into that.

44. Puts up with singular idiots losing diamonds (7)

Answer: SUFFERS (i.e. “puts up with”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by DUFFERS (i.e. “idiots”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “losing diamonds” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds”), like so: S-UFFERS.

45. Drew attention to combat operations moving north (7)

Answer: SPOTLIT (i.e. “drew attention to”). Solution is TILT (i.e. “combat” – Chambers offers “to charge, attack (with at; literally or figuratively)”) and OPS (short for “operations”) all reversed (indicated by “moving north” – this being a down clue), like so: SPO-TLIT.

46. Required New England Democrat to interrupt fuel supply (7)

Answer: NEEDFUL (i.e. “required”). Solution is NE (a recognised abbreviation of “New England”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) once placed in or “interrupting” an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of FUEL, like so: NE-E(D)FUL.

47. About to throw up over jacket (6)

Answer: BOLERO (i.e. “jacket”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) and LOB (i.e. “to throw”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket), like so: (BOL-ER)-O.

49. Briefly spotted extinct bird in part of Polynesia (5)

Answer: SAMOA (i.e. “part of Polynesia”). Solution is SAW (i.e. “spotted”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by MOA (i.e. “extinct bird”), like so: SA-MOA.

51. Northern European’s pronounced stoop (5)

Answer: DEIGN (i.e. “stoop”). “Pronounced” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of DANE (i.e. “Northern European”).

52. Oddly withdrawn, Warhol interrupts retired fine artist (5)

Answer: Frida KAHLO (i.e. “artist”). Solution is AHL (i.e. “oddly withdrawn, Warhol”, i.e. every other letter of WARHOL) placed in or “interrupting” OK (i.e. “fine”) once this has been reversed (indicated by “retired”), like so: K(AHL)O.

A medium strength Jumbo this week with a handful of spicy clues to liven up proceedings. A few recent repeats spoiled things a little, but overall this was a pretty good run-out.

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 you over a barrel then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 1.7%
suitable for consumption by minors under adult supervision

Across clues

1. Practical, say, and grand item for a picnic? (4-6,3)

Answer: HARD-BOILED EGG (i.e. “item for a picnic”). Solution is HARD-BOILED (i.e. “practical”) followed by EG (i.e. “say” or for example) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”).

8. Preserved fruit succeeded best after upper-class fish (9)

Answer: SUGARPLUM (i.e. “preserved fruit”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”) followed by PLUM (i.e. “best”) once placed “after” U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper-class”) and GAR (a variety of “fish”), like so: S-(U-GAR)-PLUM.

13. Regret including English verse in entertainment (5)

Answer: REVUE (i.e. “entertainment”). Solution is RUE (i.e. “regret”) wrapped around or “including” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and V (ditto “verse”), like so: R(E-V)UE.

14. Vegetable cooked, stew and pâté too (5,6)

Answer: SWEET POTATO (i.e. “vegetable”). “Cooked” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of STEW and PÂTÉ TOO.

15. Sectarian going back to Gibraltar (5)

Answer: BIGOT (i.e. “sectarian”). Solution is TO and GIB (informally short for “Gibraltar”) all reversed (indicated by “going back”), like so: BIG-OT.

16. Firm depressed about the empty fleet (9)

Answer: STEADFAST (i.e. “firm”). Solution is SAD (i.e. “depressed”) wrapped “about” TE (i.e. “the empty”, i.e. the word “the” with its middle letter missing) and followed by FAST (i.e. “fleet”), like so: S(TE)AD-FAST.

17. Long walk of trees reduced by two kilometres (4)

Answer: TREK (i.e. “long walk”). Solution is TREES with the last two letters removed (indicated by “reduced by two”) and the remainder followed by K (a recognised abbreviation of “kilometres”), like so: TRE-K.

18. Character backed in Times broadcast point-by-point (8)

Answer: SERIATIM (i.e. “point-by-point”). Solution is AIR (i.e. manner or “character”) reversed (indicated by “backed”) and placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of TIMES, like so: SE(RIA)TIM. The mechanics of the clue were fairly obvious, but this took a brute force of my Chambers to nail it.

20. Fount of some Indo-European languages (6)

Answer: ITALIC. Solution satisfies “fount” or typeface, and “of some Indo-European languages”. Chambers offers “a branch of Indo-European usually considered to comprise Oscan, Umbrian, Latin and related languages, but sometimes applied to either the Latin group or the Osco-Umbrian group alone”, if any of that helps.

21. Cook’s staple grain has to lessen – evidence daily (11,5)

Answer: GREASEPROOF PAPER (i.e. “cook’s staple”). Solution is GR (a recognised abbreviation of “grain”, I believe relating to the weight measurement) followed by EASE (i.e. “to lessen”), then PROOF (i.e. “evidence”) and PAPER (i.e. “daily”).

24. I left after a month in London mostly – one can smell it (6,3)

Answer: ALMOND OIL (i.e. “one can smell it”). Solution is I and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) both placed “after” A and M (a recognised abbreviation of “month”) once the latter has been placed “in” LONDON after its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: (A-L(M)ONDO)-I-L.

26. Woman’s horse mostly about without a warming cover (7)

Answer: EARFLAP (i.e. “warming cover”). Solution is PALFREY (i.e. “woman’s horse”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or placed “without” A, like so: E(A)RFLAP.

27. Keep mum putting horse into Japanese dish? I disappeared (5)

Answer: SHUSH (i.e. “keep mum”). Solution is H (i.e. “horse”, both slang for heroin) placed “into” SUSHI (i.e. “Japanese dish”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “I disappeared”), like so: S(H)USH-I.

29. City hospital has money given by one small company (3,9)

Answer: SAN FRANCISCO (i.e. “city”). Solution is SAN (i.e. “hospital” – san is short for a sanatorium) followed by FRANC (i.e. “money”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and CO (i.e. “company”).

31. Petitions to take in interrupting candidates (10)

Answer: ENTREATIES (i.e. “petitions”). Solution is EAT (i.e. “to take in”) placed in or “interrupting” ENTRIES (i.e. “candidates”), like so: ENTR(EAT)IES.

33. Worker in bacon factory, possibly one who walks around (10)

Answer: BACKPACKER (i.e. “one who walks around”). When written as BACK PACKER the solution playfully satisfies “worker in bacon factory, possibly” – bacon is sourced from the back (and sides) of a pig.

35. Disagreeable hour with insomnia, tossing and turning (12)

Answer: INHARMONIOUS (i.e. “disagreeable”). “Tossing and turning” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HOUR and INSOMNIA. Nicely worked.

38. Regular time for game, say (5)

Answer: EVENT (i.e. “game, say” – other flavours of event are available). Solution is EVEN (i.e. “regular”) followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

39. National day’s abolished by prime minister (7)

Answer: ISRAELI (i.e. “national”). Solution is Benjamin DISRAELI (i.e. 19th century “prime minister”) with the D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”) removed or “abolished”. After my comment in grid 1595 a couple of months ago I can only conclude that intensive research into alternative clues for ISRAELI/DISRAELI continues. Godspeed, setters. We know you’ll crack it eventually.

40. Chap from Maggot island (9)

Answer: GENTLEMAN (i.e. “chap”). Solution is GENTLE (a kind of “maggot” used as bait) followed by MAN (i.e. “island”, specifically the Isle of Man).

42. Get better small pie once again with tea, perhaps (4,4,1,3,4)

Answer: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF (i.e. “get better”). Solution is TURNOVER (i.e. “small pie”) followed by ANEW (i.e. “once again”) and LEAF (i.e. “tea, perhaps”).

44. Savoury pastry from Greek island area (6)

Answer: SAMOSA (i.e. “savoury pastry”). Solution is SAMOS (i.e. “Greek island”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

47. Tasty food doctor and men backed in eastern lands (8)

Answer: AMBROSIA (i.e. “tasty food” of the Greek gods). Solution is MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Bachelor of Medicine or Medicinae Baccalaureus) and OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “backed”). These are both then placed “in” ASIA (i.e. “eastern lands”), like so: A(MB-RO)SIA.

49. Just show decent objective (4)

Answer: FAIR. A quadruple-header, this, satisfying “just”, “show”, “decent” and “objective”.

50. At the moment doctor is in to examine blockage during cold (9)

Answer: SNOWDRIFT (i.e. “blockage during cold”). Solution is NOW (i.e. “at the moment”) and DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) both placed “in” SIFT (i.e. “to examine”), like so: S(NOW-DR)IFT.

52. Only partial certitude over measurement for solution (5)

Answer: TITRE (i.e. “measurement for (chemical) solution”). “Only partial” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “over” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: C(ERTIT)UDE.

53. Land plot held by church as a protection for horses (11)

Answer: SADDLECLOTH (i.e. “protection for horses”). Solution is SADDLE (i.e. to “land” someone with) followed by LOT (i.e. “plot” of land) once placed in or “held by” CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”), like so: SADDLE-C(LOT)H.

54. Certainly a pious creature (5)

Answer: OKAPI (i.e. “creature”, and friend of crossword setters everywhere). Solution is OK (i.e. “sure”, both forms of assent) followed by A and PI (short for “pious”).

55. Somehow never once get together again (9)

Answer: RECONVENE (i.e. “get together again”). “Somehow” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NEVER ONCE.

56. Celebration deserving wild dancing (6,7)

Answer: SILVER WEDDING (i.e. “celebration”). “Dancing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DESERVING WILD.

Down clues

1. Emperor surrendering to mother around S Honshu city (9)

Answer: HIROSHIMA (i.e. “Honshu city”). Solution is HIROHITO (Japanese “Emperor” of the 20th Century) with the TO removed (indicated by “surrendering to”) and the remainder followed by MA (i.e. “mother”). This is all then wrapped “around” S, like so: HIRO(S)HI-MA.

2. I arrive to be treated in coastal resort area (7)

Answer: RIVIERA (i.e. “coastal resort area”). “To be treated” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I ARRIVE.

3. Bureau initially study wife with secret source of family income (11)

Answer: BREADWINNER (i.e. “source of family income”). Solution is B (i.e. “bureau initially”, i.e. the first letter of “bureau”) followed by READ (i.e. “study”), then W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) and INNER (i.e. “secret”).

4. Popular and well-known form if insect (6)

Answer: INSTAR (i.e. “form of insect” between moult and moult (Chambers) – I’m still none the wiser). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by STAR (i.e. “well-known”, as in a star turn).

5. Elite exam for type of college in the US (9)

Answer: ELECTORAL (i.e. “type of college in the US”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “elite”) followed by ORAL (i.e. “exam”).

6. Where to seek property, position in life and power (6,6)

Answer: ESTATE AGENCY (i.e. “where to seek property”). Solution is ESTATE (i.e. rank or “position in life”) followed by AGENCY (i.e. instrumentality, operation or “power”).

7. Unwelcome character of slime on outside of stale fish egg (10)

Answer: GOOSEBERRY (i.e. “unwelcome character”). Solution is GOO (i.e. “slime”) followed by SE (i.e. “outside of slate”, i.e. the first and last letters of “slate”), then BERRY (i.e. “fish egg” – a new one on me, this is “a lobster’s or crayfish’s egg” (Chambers)).

8. Thoroughly water small tree (4)

Answer: SOAK (i.e. “thoroughly water”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by OAK (i.e. “tree”).

9. Key? Really like remark about role for car locker (5,11)

Answer: GLOVE COMPARTMENT (i.e. “car locker”, or, rather, a locker found in a car’s dashboard). Solution is G (i.e. musical “key”) followed by LOVE (i.e. “really like”), then COMMENT (i.e. “remark”) once placed “about” PART (i.e. “role”), like so: G-LOVE-COM(PART)MENT.

10. Some headline-grabbing religious leader (5)

Answer: RABBI (i.e. “religious leader”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: HEADLINE-G(RABBI)NG.

11. Look suddenly pleased to start smoking (5,2)

Answer: LIGHT UP. Solution satisfies “look suddenly pleased” and “start smoking”.

12. Swap round rooms with shipmate for a change (13)

Answer: METAMORPHOSIS (i.e. “a change”). “Swap round” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ROOMS and SHIPMATE.

19. Land in kraals is redistributed (3,5)

Answer: SRI LANKA (i.e. “land” or country). “Is redistributed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN KRAALS.

22. Brief infatuation with a Turkish officer (5)

Answer: PASHA (i.e. “Turkish officer”). Solution is PASH (i.e. “brief infatuation”, i.e. an informal abbreviation of “passion”) followed by A. A recent repeat, like ISRAELI/DISRAELI, making this a much easier get.

23. Link one old solider with children and vital support system (10,6)

Answer: CONNECTIVE TISSUE (i.e. “vital support system”). Solution is CONNECT (i.e. “link”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then VET (i.e. “old soldier”, short for veteran) and ISSUE (i.e. “children”).

25. Seeing glass has blemish around company name when held up (7)

Answer: MONOCLE (i.e. “seeing glass”). Solution is MOLE (i.e. “blemish”) wrapped “around” CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) and N (ditto “name”) once these have been reversed (indicated by “held up” – this being a down clue), like so: MO(N-OC)LE.

28. Regular follower of tango (7)

Answer: UNIFORM (i.e. “regular”). The rest of the clue plays on the phonetic alphabet, where “Tango” for T is “followed” by UNIFORM for U.

29. Topic for debate likely to be affected by business (7,6)

Answer: SUBJECT MATTER (i.e. “topic for debate”). Solution is SUBJECT to (i.e. “likely to be affected by”) followed by MATTER (i.e. “business”).

30. Neapolitan, perhaps, in charge of European elite (3,5)

Answer: ICE CREAM (i.e. “Neapolitan, perhaps”). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “In charge”) followed by E (ditto “European”) and CREAM (i.e. “elite”).

32. Organised call in a trice concerning attitude of militant atheist? (12)

Answer: ANTICLERICAL (i.e. “concerning attitude of militant atheist”). “Organised” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CALL IN A TRICE.

34. Courtyard just right for the occasion with current circle (5)

Answer: PATIO (i.e. “courtyard”). Solution is PAT (i.e. “just right for the occasion”) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and O (i.e. “circle”).

36. Greek character left country unoccupied and without legal force (4,3,4)

Answer: NULL AND VOID (i.e. “without legal force”). Solution is NU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), then LAND (i.e. “country”) and VOID (i.e. “unoccupied”).

37. A new rebel’s meddled with sources of power (10)

Answer: RENEWABLES (i.e. “sources of power”). “Meddled with” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A NEW REBEL’S.

40. Good young men with character could make prime minister (9)

Answer: William GLADSTONE (i.e. 19th century “prime minister”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by LADS (i.e. “young men”) and TONE (i.e. “character”).

41. New reason for lightning rods just avoided catastrophe (4,5)

Answer: NEAR THING (i.e. “just avoided catastrophe”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by EARTHING (i.e. “reason for lightning rods”).

43. Plunder old heart from mortician making up stiff (7)

Answer: ROBOTIC (i.e. “stiff”). Solution is ROB (i.e. “plunder”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), then TIC (i.e. “heart from mortician”, i.e. the middle letters of “mortician”).

45. What gets sheets folded at first shortly before friend appears (7)

Answer: ORIGAMI (i.e. “what gets sheets folded”). Solution is ORIG (a recognised abbreviation of “originally”, i.e. “at first shortly”) followed by AMI (i.e. “friend”, from the French so you know what that means…)

46. Food over with for restaurant diner not turning up (2-4)

Answer: NO-SHOW (i.e. “diner not turning-up”). Solution is NOSH (i.e. “food”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”).

48. Ulysses chronicler’s no judge and unknown in the main (5)

Answer: OCEAN (i.e. “the main” or the sea). Solution is JOYCEAN (i.e. “Ulysses chronicler’s”, i.e. of James JOYCE) with the J removed (indicated by “no judge” – J being a recognised abbreviation of “judge”) and the Y also removed (indicated by “no…unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns), like so: (J)O(Y)CEAN => OCEAN.

51. Unoccupied island, mined finally for sulphur (4)

Answer: IDLE (i.e. “unoccupied”). Solution is ISLE (i.e. “island”) with the D (i.e. “mined finally”, i.e. the last letter of “mined”) swapped “for” S (chemical element of “sulphur”), like so: I(S)LE => I(D)LE.

A toughie this week. I’d have probably been less forgiving had I wrote this up yesterday. In the (mercifully warmer) light of day, this wasn’t too bad. Except for GRAPPELLI. He can still do one.

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 screaming habdabs then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and 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

FBV (French-By-Volume): 3.2%

Across clues

1. Most swimming in the sea is something infernal (9)

Answer: BRIMSTONE (i.e. “something infernal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “swimming”) of MOST placed “in” BRINE (i.e. “the sea”), like so: BRI(MSTO)NE.

6. Likely to don French priest collar (7)

Answer: CAPTURE (i.e. to “collar”). Solution is APT (i.e. “likely” – Stephen King makes frequent use of the phrase “apt to” in his work; perhaps this was what led to him being outed as Richard Bachman all those years ago) placed in or “donning” CURÉ (i.e. “French priest”), like so: C(APT)URÉ. An early showing of the French this week.

10. Picked up lolly in store (5)

Answer: CACHE (i.e. “store”). “Picked up” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of CASH (i.e. “lolly”, slang thereof).

13. Champ is defeated, punched by one with a cataract (8,5)

Answer: VICTORIA FALLS (i.e. “cataract” – its chief definition in Chambers is a waterfall). Solution is VICTOR (i.e. “champ”) and FALLS (i.e. “is defeated”) wrapped around or “punched by” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and A, like so: VICTOR-(I-A)-FALLS.

14. Backtracking Liverpool player admits slipping, whence shot comes (9)

Answer: DERRINGER (i.e. a variety of pistol, i.e. “whence shot comes”). Solution is RED (i.e. “Liverpool player”) reversed (indicated by “backtracking”) and wrapped around or “admitting” ERRING (i.e. “slipping”), like so: D(ERRING)ER.

15. Fast worker in post office put on uniform (2-5)

Answer: UP-TEMPO (i.e. “fast”). Solution is TEMP (i.e. “worker”) placed “in” PO (a recognised abbreviation of “post office”). This is all then placed “on” or after U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: U-(P(TEMP)O)

16. Someone jumping in African river, as some say (7)

Answer: VAULTER (i.e. “someone jumping”). “As some say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of VOLTA (i.e. “African river”).

17. Shell of iron present where van is (2,5)

Answer: IN FRONT (i.e. “where van is” – “van” being a shortened form of “vanguard”). Solution is IN (i.e. “shell of iron”, i.e. the first and last letters of “iron”) followed by FRONT (i.e. to “present”, e.g. a TV show).

18. All there is on guys brought in to make fertiliser (6,6)

Answer: COMPOS MENTIS (i.e. sane or “all there”). Solution is IS placed “on” or after MEN (i.e. “guys”) once this has been “brought in” COMPOST (i.e. “to make fertiliser”), like so: COMPOS(MEN)T-IS.

20. Holding run, instigate competition – it’s refreshing for an equestrian (7,3)

Answer: STIRRUP CUP (i.e. “it’s refreshing for an equestrian” – Chambers offers: “a drink taken on horseback on departing”). Solution is STIR UP (i.e. “instigate”) placed around or “holding” R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) and followed by CUP (i.e. “competition”), like so: (STIR-(R)-UP)-CUP.

23. Car brand, not Rover or Sierra? (5)

Answer: RANGE (i.e. “sierra” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is RANGE ROVER (i.e. “car brand”) once the ROVER has been removed (indicated by “not Rover”).

24. Maybe Winter’s Tale’s opening by mediocre poet (9)

Answer: TRIMESTER (i.e. an academic term of three months, i.e. “maybe winter” – again, ignoring the formatting of the text). Solution is T (i.e. “tale’s opening”, i.e. the first letter of “tale”) followed by RIMESTER (i.e. “mediocre poet” – RIME is an archaic spelling of RHYME).

25. Forbidding learner to hold article of bone (7)

Answer: STERNAL (i.e. ” of bone”, specifically the sternum). Solution is STERN (i.e. “forbidding”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”, e.g. on L-plates) wrapped around or “holding” A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the), like so: STERN-(A)-L.

26. Refused to pay fare, working with boss at Times? (11)

Answer: DISHONOURED (i.e. “refused to pay”). Solution is DISH (i.e. food or “fare”) followed by ON (i.e. “working”) and OUR ED (i.e. “boss at Times”, from the point of view of the setter, ED being a shortened form of “editor”).

28. Carrying on again after pressure, showing arrogance (11)

Answer: PRESUMPTION (i.e. “arrogance”). Solution is RESUMPTION (i.e. “carrying on again”) placed “after” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: P-RESUMPTION.

30. Where fuel’s kept in US state around old sink (4,7)

Answer: COAL SCUTTLE (i.e. “where fuel’s kept”). Solution is CAL (i.e. “US state”, short for California) wrapped “around” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and followed by SCUTTLE (i.e. to “sink” a ship), like so: C(O)AL-SCUTTLE.

32. E.g. blogger rebuked about initially losing face in campaign (6,5)

Answer: POSTER CHILD (i.e. “face in campaign”). Solution is POSTER (i.e. “e.g. blogger”) followed by CHID (i.e. “rebuked”) once wrapped “about” L (i.e. “initially losing”, i.e. the first letter of “losing”), like so: POSTER-CHI(L)D.

34. Distance is maintained in hotels of a very bad nature (7)

Answer: HELLISH (i.e. “of a very bad nature”). Solution is ELL (i.e. “distance”, “a varying measure of length originally taken from the arm” (Chambers)) and IS placed in or “maintained in” H and H (i.e. “hotels” – H is “hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: H-(ELL-IS)-H.

36. Green car bagged by this person in kind of trade (1-8)

Answer: E-COMMERCE (i.e. “kind of trade”). Solution is ECO (i.e. “green”) followed by MERC (i.e. “car” brand, short for Mercedes) once placed in or “bagged by” ME (i.e. “this person”, from the point of view of the setter), like so: ECO-M(MERC)E.

38. Pose by American location (5)

Answer: SITUS (i.e. “location”). Solution is SIT (i.e. “pose”) followed by US (i.e. “American”).

39. Crawling about before game of cards (2,3,5)

Answer: ON ALL FOURS (i.e. “crawling”). Solution is ON (i.e. regarding or “about”) followed by ALL FOURS (i.e. a “game of cards”).

41. Inherit income? Saving pounds, start to work (4,4,4)

Answer: COME INTO PLAY (i.e. “start to work”). Solution is COME INTO (i.e. “inherit”) followed by PAY (i.e. “income”) once wrapped around or “saving” L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” of weight, after the Latin libra), like so: COME-INTO-(P(L)AY).

45. Urge service on vacation, chopping wood (7)

Answer: BESEECH (i.e. “urge”). Solution is SE (i.e. “service on vacation”, i.e. the word “service” with all its middle letters removed) placed in or “chopping” BEECH (i.e. “wood”), like so: BE(SE)ECH.

46. Extra small advantage, bagging game when returning (7)

Answer: SURPLUS (i.e. “extra”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and PLUS (i.e. “advantage”) all wrapped around or “bagging” RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) once reversed (indicated by “when returning”), like so: S-(UR)-PLUS.

47. Running track with area later being examined (2,5)

Answer: ON TRIAL (i.e. “being examined” in court). Solution is ON (i.e. “running”) followed by TRAIL (i.e. “track”) once the A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) has been knocked back a notch or placed “later”, like so: ON-TR(A)IL => ON-TRI(A)L.

49. Good vocalist almost has trouble around violinist (9)

Answer: Stéphane GRAPPELLI (i.e. jazz “violinist” – no, me neither). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by RAPPER (i.e. “vocalist”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), then ILL (i.e. “trouble”) once reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: G-RAPPE-LLI. The guy was French, so you know what that means…

50. Cult leader intoxicated media around strange site (4,9)

Answer: HIGH PRIESTESS (i.e. “cult leader”). Solution is HIGH (i.e. “intoxicated”) followed by PRESS (i.e. “media”) once wrapped “around” an anagram (indicated by “strange”) of SITE, like so: HIGH-PR(IEST)ESS.

52. Reportedly diaphanous coat is removed when people do this (5)

Answer: SHEAR (i.e. sheep’s “coat is removed when people do this”). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of SHEER (i.e. “diaphanous”).

53. Boost the FBI in a case of underachievement (7)

Answer: AUGMENT (i.e. “boost”). Solution is G-MEN (slang for “the FBI”) once placed “in” A and UT (i.e. “case of underachievement”, i.e. the first and last letters of “underachievement”), like so: A-U(G-MEN)T.

54. Idiot without skill by northern Scottish town (9)

Answer: DUMBARTON (i.e. “Scottish town”). Solution is DUMBO (i.e. “idiot”) wrapped around or placed “without” ART (i.e. “skill”) and followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), like so: DUMB(ART)O-N.

Down clues

1. Camp writer penning verse, jocular at intervals (7)

Answer: BIVOUAC (i.e. a makeshift “camp”). Solution is BIC (i.e. brand of pen or “writer”) wrapped around or “penning” V (a recognised abbreviation of “verse”) and OUA (i.e. “jocular at intervals”, i.e. every other letter of JOCULAR), like so: BI(V-OUA)C.

2. Spurs, at home, perhaps change defending pair (11)

Answer: INCITEMENTS (i.e. “spurs”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by CENTS (i.e. coinage or “change”) wrapped around or “defending” ITEM (i.e. “pair”), like so: IN-C(ITEM)ENTS.

3. Leader of military goes off mounting attack (5)

Answer: STORM (i.e. “attack”). Solution is M (i.e. “leader of military”, i.e. the first letter of “military”) and ROTS (i.e. “goes off”) all reversed (indicated by “mounting” – this being a down clue), like so: STOR-M.

4. Fairly elliptic poet left unfinished by schoolchildren (7)

Answer: OVIFORM (i.e. “fairly elliptic”). Solution is OVID (i.e. Roman “poet”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “left unfinished”) and the remainder followed by FORM (i.e. “schoolchildren”), like so: OVI-FORM.

5. Fabulous figure in German football team? (3)

Answer: ELF (i.e. “fabulous figure”, or thing found in fable). The remainder of the clue plays on ELF being “German” for eleven, the number of players in a “football team”.

6. Area of confinement for all to see, for dieters getting fat (9)

Answer: CELLULITE (i.e. “fat”). Solution is CELL (i.e. “area of confinement”) followed by U (i.e. the film certificate, Universal, classifying a film “for all to see”) and LITE (i.e. low in calories, i.e. “for dieters”).

7. Read on about a quiet speaker of Asian language (6)

Answer: PASHTO (i.e. “speaker of Asian language”, specifically “an official language of Afghanistan, also spoken in parts of Pakistan” (Chambers)). Solution is PTO (i.e. “read on”, short for Please Turn Over, informing readers a text continues over the page) wrapped “about” A and SH (i.e. “quiet”), like so: P(A-SH)TO. One nailed from the wordplay alone, if I’m honest.

8. About to attack course, eating dishes, asks for too little? (5,8,6)

Answer: UNDER STARTER’S ORDERS (i.e. “about to attack [race] course”). Solution is UNDER-ORDERS (i.e. “asks for too little”) wrapped around or “eating” STARTERS (i.e. “dishes”).

9. Prior is one hearing untruth, right? (7)

Answer: EARLIER (i.e. “prior”). Solution is EAR (i.e. “one hearing”) followed by LIE (i.e. “untruth”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

10. Stylist and I cutting a lot of drink consumption (9)

Answer: COIFFEUSE (i.e. hair “stylist”). Solution is I placed in or “cutting” COFFEE (i.e. “drink”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “a lot of…”), and USE (i.e. “consumption”), like so: CO(I)FFE-USE.

11. Discerning folk go on scenic meanders round Thailand’s capital (11)

Answer: COGNOSCENTI (i.e. “discerning folk”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “meanders”) of GO ON SCENIC wrapped “round” T (i.e. “Thailand’s capital” letter), like so: COGNOSCEN(T)I.

12. One wading in water gets knocked over (5)

Answer: EGRET (i.e. a heron, or “one wading”). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “knocked over” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: WA(TER GE)TS.

16. Season with this very trendy feather on clothing (11,8)

Answer: VINAIGRETTE DRESSING (i.e. “season with this”). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) followed by IN (i.e. “trendy”), then AIGRETTE (i.e. “feather”, or egret’s plume – interesting usage so soon after 12d) and DRESSING (i.e. “clothing”). A very similar clue appeared in grid 1432, but that was nearly three years ago. Even a picky sod like me can’t grumble too much about that.

19. Heavy responsibility to save deposit up (7)

Answer: ONEROUS (i.e. “heavy”). Solution is ONUS (i.e. “responsibility”) wrapped around or “saving” ORE (i.e. “deposit”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: ON(ERO)US.

21. I agree to break barriers in poetry (9)

Answer: PALINODES (i.e. “poetry”, apparently ones that retract something expressed in a previous work. Must have happened a lot for it to warrant its own name in the dictionary. Never trust a poet, it seems). Solution is I and NOD (i.e. “agree”) both placed in or “breaking” PALES (i.e. “barriers” – a variant meaning of PALE is “anything that encloses or fences in” (Chambers)), like so: PAL(I-NOD)ES.

22. Maybe Judy’s losing heart, needing flipping raise! (4,2)

Answer: STEP UP (i.e. “raise”). Solution is PUPPET’S (i.e. “maybe Judy’s”, referring to Punch and Judy shows) with the middle letter removed (indicated by “losing heart”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “flipping”).

23. Diced chard I twice cook, tossing out OK salad vegetable (9)

Answer: RADICCHIO (i.e. “salad vegetable”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “diced”) of CHARD, I and I (i.e. “I twice”), and COOK once the OK has been removed (indicated by “tossing out OK”).

24. Receiving award, move more than is sensible (3,4)

Answer: TOO MUCH (i.e. “more than is sensible”). Solution is OM (i.e. “award”, specifically the Order of Merit) placed in or “received” by TOUCH (i.e. evoke emotion or “move”), like so: TO(OM)UCH.

25. They use manoeuvres for what you get after retiring (7)

Answer: SHUTEYE (i.e. “what you get after retiring” or going to sleep). “Manoeuvres” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THEY USE.

27. Traveller going north, full of energy and spirit (6)

Answer: DAEMON (i.e. “spirit”). Solution is NOMAD (i.e. “traveller”) reversed (indicated by “going north” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or being “full of” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: DA(E)MON.

29. Idiot stopping shot, ball that’s top drawer (7)

Answer: Pablo PICASSO (i.e. “top drawer” – a matter of opinion). Solution is ASS (i.e. “idiot”) placed in or “stopping” PIC (i.e. photograph or “shot”) and O (i.e. “ball”, as in the shape of the letter O), like so: PIC-(ASS)-O.

31. No sooner keeping off drugs in post-rehabilitation condition (1,5,5)

Answer: A CLEAN SLATE (i.e. “post-rehabilitation condition”). Solution is AS LATE (i.e. “no sooner” – probably better read as “no sooner than/as late as”) wrapped around or “keeping” CLEAN (i.e. “off drugs”), like so: A(CLEAN)S-LATE.

33. Savvy, impoverished duke getting replaced by count (11)

Answer: INTELLIGENT (i.e. “savvy”). Solution is INDIGENT (i.e. “impoverished”) with the D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) swapped for or “replaced by” TELL (i.e. to “count” or effect in a meaningful way), like so: IN(D)IGENT => IN(TELL)IGENT.

35. Character flaw I’m going to tone down (3,6)

Answer: ILL TEMPER (i.e. “character flaw”). Solution is I’LL (i.e. “I’m going to” – a contraction of I WILL) followed by TEMPER (i.e. “to tone down”).

37. According to Spooner fool could get a second job (9)

Answer: MOONLIGHT (i.e. “get a second job”). Solution is a “Spoonerism” of LOON (i.e. “fool”) and MIGHT (i.e. “could”).

40. Tragic figure in work by essayist captivating hearts (7)

Answer: OPHELIA (i.e. “tragic figure” in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) and ELIA (i.e. “essayist”, pseudonym of Charles Lamb. Again, me neither) all wrapped around or “captivating” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hearts” used in card games), like so: OP-(H)-ELIA. One for the culture vultures.

42. I heard you will get into mob, in criminal element (7)

Answer: NIOBIUM (i.e. chemical “element”). Solution is I and U, a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of “you”), both placed in an anagram (indicated by “criminal”) of MOB IN, like so: NIOB(I-U)M.

43. Old president still wrong, probed by Liberal (7)

Answer: Boris YELTSIN (i.e. “old president” of Russia). Solution is YET (i.e. “still”) and SIN (i.e. “wrong”) once wrapped around or “probed by” L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: YE(L)T-SIN.

44. Boy knowing Irene superficially? (6)

Answer: ARCHIE (i.e. “boy’s” name). Solution is ARCH (i.e. shrewd or “knowing”) followed by IE (i.e. “Irene superficially”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Irene”).

45. Not Real’s coach admitting defensive blunder (5)

Answer: BOGUS (i.e. “not real”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is BUS (i.e. “coach”) wrapped around or “admitting” OG (i.e. “defensive blunder”, or Own Goal), like so: B(OG)US.

48. Primarily operatic cast performing this? (5)

Answer: TOSCA (i.e. “this” within the context of the clue, specifically an opera by Giacomo Puccini). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “performing”) of O (i.e. “primarily operatic”, i.e. the first letter of “operatic”) and CAST.

51. I must leave music player in school (3)

Answer: POD (i.e. “school” of fish, usually whales). Solution is IPOD (i.e. “music player” – ask your parents, kids) with the I removed (indicated by “I must leave…”).

A relatively straightforward one this week. I often like the easier Jumbos but this one didn’t too much for me. The number of times I found words or the same kinds of wordplay being repeated later in the puzzle started to grate after a while. I appreciate the composition of a solution is often dictated by how the eventual clue scans, but I doubt this excuses three appearances by the Royal Engineers this week. Come on, there are dozens of ways you can get the letters RE.

Anyway, as ever 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 you jiggered then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 5%

Across clues

1. Desire a name for this US passenger vehicle? (9)

Answer: STREETCAR (i.e. “US passenger vehicle”). The first part of the clue riffs on Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire.

6. Two crooks accept fine, having share in major fire (13)

Answer: CONFLAGRATION (i.e. “major fire”). Solution is CON and LAG (i.e. “two crooks”, slang words thereof) wrapped around or “accepting” F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”, used in grading pencils) and followed by RATION (i.e. “share”), like so: (CON-(F)-LAG)-RATION.

13. Originally only such types inhabited an old Italian town (5)

Answer: OSTIA (i.e. “old Italian town”). “Originally” indicates the solution comprises the initial letters of “Only”, “Such”, “Types”, “Inhabited” and “An”. Made. To. Fit.

14. Recall soldiers about to appear in film (11)

Answer: REMEMBRANCE (i.e. “recall”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) once “appearing in” MEMBRANE (i.e. “film”), like so: RE-MEMBRAN(C)E.

15. Expanse of water no container crosses easily to begin with (5)

Answer: OCEAN (i.e. “expanse of water”). Solution is O (i.e. “no” or nothing) and CAN (i.e. “container”) wrapped around or “crossing” E (i.e. “easily to begin with”, i.e. the first letter of “easily”), like so: O-C(E)AN.

16. Sadly it’s not a fine instrumental work (11)

Answer: SINFONIETTA (i.e. “instrumental work”). “Sadly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IT’S NOT A FINE.

17. Slimming down of care covering upper-class area (11)

Answer: ATTENUATION (i.e. “slimming down”). Solution is ATTENTION (i.e. “care”) wrapped around or “covering” U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper class”) and A (ditto “area”), like so: ATTEN(U-A)TION.

18. Army corps loner crazy to enlist again (2-5)

Answer: RE-ENROL (i.e. “enlist again”). Solution is RE (i.e. “army corps” – our Royal Engineers again) followed by an anagram (indicated by “crazy”) of LONER.

20. Raging fury surrounding sons, I imbue with national character (7)

Answer: RUSSIFY (i.e. “imbue with national character”, specifically that of Russia). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “raging”) of FURY wrapped around or “surrounding” S and S (both a recognised abbreviation of “son”) and I, like so: RU(SS-I)FY.

21. House thus accommodating NCO briefly by island (7)

Answer: SCORPIO (i.e. “house” – signs of the zodiac are sometimes referred to as houses). Solution is SO (i.e. “thus”) wrapped around or “accommodating” CORP (i.e. “NCO” or non-commissioned officer, in this case a shortened form of corporal) and I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: S(CORP-I)O.

23. Be restless, employing briefs to protect workers, perhaps? (4,4,2,4,5)

Answer: HAVE ANTS IN ONE’S PANTS (i.e. “be restless”). The remainder of the clue plays on “briefs” being another word for PANTS, and “worker” ANTS. You get the idea.

27. Declaim regularly, being a priest (3)

Answer: ELI (i.e. a high “priest” of ancient Israel in the Book of Samuel, and a friend of crossword setters across the land). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of DECLAIM.

28. Retired sick in flat, lacking colour (6)

Answer: PALLID (i.e. “lacking colour”). Solution is ILL (i.e. “sick”) reversed (indicated by “retired”) and placed “in” PAD (i.e. “flat” or apartment), like so: PA(LLI)D.

29. Weapons found in vessel carrying fruit (6)

Answer: SPEARS (i.e. “weapons”). Solution is SS (i.e. “vessel”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”) once wrapped around or “carrying” PEAR (i.e. “fruit”), like so: S(PEAR)S.

31. Showing opposition, boy enters further exam (9)

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

34. State’s stories connect with first of many French kings (9)

Answer: LOUISIANA (i.e. US “state”). Solution is ANA (i.e. “stories”, being “a collection of someone’s table talk or of gossip, literary anecdotes or possessions” (Chambers). Another pet word of setters) placed “with” or after LOUIS I (i.e. “first of many French kings”), like so: (LOUIS-I)-ANA.

35. Rich confection in City refuge (6)

Answer: ÉCLAIR (i.e. “rich confection”). Solution is EC (i.e. “City” of London’s postcode area, short for East Central. I’ve always considered this wordplay weak. Why aren’t other postcode areas used in this way? What marks EC for special treatment?) followed by LAIR (i.e. “refuge”).

36. Greet head of school with a plucked stringed instrument (6)

Answer: SALUTE (i.e. “greet”). Solution is S (i.e. “head of school”, i.e. the first letter of “school”) followed by A and LUTE (i.e. “plucked stringed instrument”).

39. Note about key supporter on course (3)

Answer: TEE (i.e. “supporter on [golf] course”). Solution is TE (i.e. musical “note” in sol-fa notation) wrapped “about” E (i.e. musical “key”), like so: T(E)E.

40. Get the point exactly, as woodworkers aim to do? (3,3,4,2,3,4)

Answer: HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. Solution satisfies “get the point exactly” and “as woodworkers aim to do”.

42. Exposed star at golf, bested in performance? (7)

Answer: OUTSUNG (i.e. “bested in performance”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “exposed”) followed by SUN (i.e. “star”) and G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet).

43. Fugitive from justice gets free at last, crossing headland (7)

Answer: ESCAPEE (i.e. “fugitive”). Solution is ESE (i.e. “justice gets free at last”, i.e. the last letters of “justice”, “gets” and “free”) wrapped around or “crossing” CAPE (i.e. “headland”), like so: ES(CAPE)E.

45. Muscle and energy shown by parish priest (7)

Answer: ERECTOR (i.e. “muscle”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) followed by RECTOR (i.e. “parish priest”).

47. Repetitious old German cavalryman backing Peron (11)

Answer: REITERATIVE (i.e. “repetitious”). Solution is REITER (i.e. “old German cavalryman” – no, me neither, but Chambers supports it) followed by EVITA (nickname of Eva “Peron”) once reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: REITER-ATIVE.

49. Dispelling of doubt regarding life cover (11)

Answer: REASSURANCE (i.e. “dispelling of doubt”). Solution is RE (i.e. “regarding” – think email replies) followed by ASSURANCE (i.e. “life cover”).

51. It beats peas and beans and the like (5)

Answer: PULSE. Solution satisfies “it beats” (does a pulse beat, though? I would argue a pulse is the beat itself than the thing producing it) and “peas and beans and the like”.

52. Male traveller on water carrying a German from this point on (11)

Answer: HEREINAFTER (i.e. “from this point on”). Solution is HE (i.e. “male”) followed by RAFTER (i.e. “traveller on water”) once wrapped around or “carrying” EIN (i.e. “a German”, i.e. the German for “a”), like so: HE-R(EIN)AFTER.

53. Possibly active over stopping corruption (5)

Answer: VOICE (i.e. “possibly active”, referring to active voice in the dry and joyless world of grammar. An example of active voice would be “the boy kicked the ball”, while its passive voice equivalent would be “the ball was kicked by the boy”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) placed in or “stopping” VICE (i.e. “corruption”), like so: V(O)ICE.

54. Very long-lasting trees in map men distributed (13)

Answer: SEMIPERMANENT (i.e. “very long-lasting”). “Distributed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TREES IN MAP MEN.

55. Absolutely authority to go on fell (9)

Answer: DOWNRIGHT (i.e. “absolutely”). Solution is RIGHT (i.e. “authority”) placed “on” or after DOWN (i.e. “fell”), like so: DOWN-RIGHT.

Down clues

1. Support offspring catching plane at first, or seagoing vessel (11)

Answer: SPONSORSHIP (i.e. “support”). Solution is SONS (i.e. “offspring”) wrapped around or “catching” P (i.e. “plane at first”, i.e. the first letter of “plane”) and followed by OR, then SHIP (i.e. “seagoing vessel”), like so: S(P)ONS-OR-SHIP.

2. Train rifle finally on can in Parisian street (7)

Answer: RETINUE (i.e. a “train”). Solution is E (i.e. “rifle finally”, i.e. the last letter of “rifle”) and TIN (i.e. “can”) both placed “in” RUE (i.e. “Parisian street”), like so: R(E-TIN)UE.

3. In Homer a towering source of inspiration (5)

Answer: ERATO (i.e. “source of inspiration”, being one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: HOM(ER A TO)WERING.

4. Friendliness men face in heavily-populated area (10)

Answer: CORDIALITY (i.e. “friendliness”). Solution is OR (i.e. “men”, soldiers again, in this case the Other Ranks of the British Army) and DIAL (i.e. “face”) both placed “in” CITY (i.e. “heavily-populated area”), like so: C(OR-DIAL)ITY.

5. More distant army transport mentioned by reporter (7)

Answer: REMOTER (i.e. “more distant”). Solution is RE (i.e. “army”, again our Royal Engineers) followed by a homophone (indicated by “mentioned by reporter”) of MOTOR (i.e. “transport”), like so: RE-MOTER.

6. Sympathetic fellow ship’s officer digesting sacred choral work (13)

Answer: COMPASSIONATE (i.e. “sympathetic”). Solution is CO- (i.e. prefix denoting “fellow”) and MATE (i.e. “ship’s officer”) wrapped around or “digesting” PASSION (i.e. “sacred choral work” upon the suffering and death of Christ), like so: CO-M(PASSION)ATE.

7. Foolishly credulous about Republican defector’s story (9)

Answer: NARRATIVE (i.e. “story”). Solution is NAÏVE (i.e. “foolishly credulous”) wrapped “about” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and RAT (i.e. “defector”), like so: NA(R-RAT)IVE.

8. Extended Great Hall’s entrance in outskirts of large city (7)

Answer: LENGTHY (i.e. “extended”). Solution is GT (a recognised abbreviation of “great”) and H (i.e. “hall’s entrance”, i.e. the first letter of “hall”) once placed “in” LE (i.e. “outskirts of large”, i.e. the first and last letters of “large”) and NY (i.e. “city”, this time New York), like so: LE-N(GT-H)Y.

9. She’s sneering, after trashing moderate environmentalism (12)

Answer: GREENISHNESS (i.e. “moderate environmentalism”). “After trashing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SHE’S SNEERING.

10. Atypical American city woman going north over America (9)

Answer: ANOMALOUS (i.e. “atypical”). Solution is LA (i.e. “American city”, Los Angeles) and MONA (i.e. “woman’s” name) all reversed (indicated by “going north” – this being a down clue – and followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over”, already covered) and US (i.e. “America”), like so: (ANOM-AL)-O-US.

11. Body of rebels once set up in London financial centre (5)

Answer: ICENI (i.e. “body of rebels once”, being Boudicca’s tribe that rebelled against the Romans). Solution is IN followed by ECI (i.e. “London financial centre”, being the EC postcode area again, this time followed by I, representing 1) all reversed (indicated by “set up” – again, this being a down clue) like so: ICE-NI.

12. Independent type, socially unacceptable, is not in, unfortunately (11)

Answer: NONUNIONIST (i.e. “independent type”). Solution is NON-U (i.e. “socially unacceptable”, at least to the upper classes – the abbreviation of which, covered earlier, is U) followed by an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of IS NOT IN, like so: NON-U-NOINIST.

19. Ways to accommodate current European group’s transport managers (7)

Answer: ROADIES (i.e. “group’s transport managers”). Solution is ROADS (i.e. “ways”) wrapped around or “accommodating” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: ROAD(I-E)S.

22. Early animal domesticator brought up in unsullied surroundings (9)

Answer: PREMATURE (i.e. “early”). Solution is TAMER (i.e. “animal domesticator”) reversed (indicated by “brought up” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” PURE (i.e. “unsullied”), like so: P(REMAT)URE.

24. Book by family member inspiring very English dish (3-2-4)

Answer: VOL-AU-VENT (i.e. “dish”). Solution is VOL (i.e. “book”, short for “volume”) followed by AUNT (i.e. “family member”) once wrapped around or “inspiring” V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) and E (ditto “English”), like so: VOL-AU(V-E)NT.

25. Charge one politician apiece (7)

Answer: IMPEACH (i.e. “charge”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by MP (i.e. “politician” or Member of Parliament) and EACH (i.e. “apiece”).

26. Left in charge of old colonnade (7)

Answer: PORTICO (i.e. “colonnade”). Solution is PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak) followed by IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”) and O (ditto “old”).

30. Pompous member gripped by rest of Latin translation (4-9)

Answer: SELF-IMPORTANT (i.e. “pompous”). Solution is MP (i.e. “member” of Parliament… again) placed in or “gripped by” an anagram (indicated by “translation”) of REST OF LATIN, like so: SELF-I(MP)ORTANT.

32. Cat requires quarters, going round some time after midnight (7)

Answer: SIAMESE (i.e. “cat”). Solution is S, E, S and E (i.e. all “quarters” of the compass, being abbreviations of south and east repeated) “going round” I AM (i.e. “some time after midnight”, being 1 in the morning – I being 1’s Roman numeral equivalent), like so: S(I-AM)ESE.

33. Mapmaker’s vehicle cameraman abandoned by quiet house (12)

Answer: CARTOGRAPHER (i.e. “mapmaker”). Solution is CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) followed by PHOTOGRAPHER (i.e. “cameraman”) once the P and HO have been removed (indicated by “abandoned by quiet house”, P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or quiet in musical lingo and HO being a recognised abbreviation of “house”), like so: CAR-TOGRAPHER.

34. Slip mixed up with Hogarth prints (11)

Answer: LITHOGRAPHS (i.e. “prints”). “Mixed up” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SLIP and HOGARTH.

37. Support given to offending motorists (11)

Answer: ENDORSEMENT. Solution satisfies “support” and a punishment “given to offending motorists”, being points recorded against a driving licence.

38. Amphibious mammal, the sort we disturbed crossing river (5,5)

Answer: OTTER SHREW (i.e. “amphibious mammal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disturbed”) of THE SORT WE wrapped around or “crossing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: OTTE(R)SHREW.

40. Run home, initially having citadel south of river (9)

Answer: HOUSEKEEP (i.e. “run home”). Solution is H (i.e. “initially having”, i.e. the first letter of “having”) and KEEP (i.e. “citadel”) once placed after or “south of” – this being a down clue – OUSE (i.e. a “river”), like so: H-(OUSE)-KEEP.

41. Pinch 27’s key to coat with metal (9)

Answer: NICKELISE (i.e. “coat with metal”). Solution is NICK (i.e. “pinch”) followed by ELI’S (the solution to “27” across made possessive) and E (i.e. musical “key”).

43. African country’s anger over truncated celebration (7)

Answer: ERITREA (i.e. “African country”). Solution is IRE (i.e. “anger”) reversed (indicated by “over”) and followed by TREAT (i.e. “celebration” – not a connection I’d immediately make but my Bradford’s backs it up) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “truncated”), like so: ERI-TREA.

44. Lofty key journalist supporting old flame (7)

Answer: EXALTED (i.e. “lofty”). Solution is ALT (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard) and ED (i.e. “journalist”, in this case a shortened form of “editor”) both placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – EX (i.e. “old flame”), like so: EX-(ALT-ED).

46. Getting browned off working on hide (7)

Answer: TANNING. Solution satisfies “getting browned off” and “working on hide”.

48. Pole, note, inspired by this writer’s religion (5)

Answer: ISLAM (i.e. “religion”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of south, one of the “poles”) and LA (i.e. another “note” of the sol-fa scale) both placed in or “inspired by” I’M (a contraction of I AM, i.e. “this writer’s” from the point of view of the setter), like so: I(S-LA)’M.

50. Wanderer’s tour finally finished (5)

Answer: ROVER (i.e. “wanderer”). Solution is R (i.e. “tour finally”, i.e. the last letter of “tour”) followed by OVER (i.e. “finished”).