A toughie but a goodie this week. A host of well-written clues helped make up for the glut of recent repeats in the grid. Overall, this was a fine Jumbo to chip away at during the day.

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 eluded you 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

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 12.9%

Across clues

1. One loudly giving address of Parisian with fancy lime car (9)

Answer: DECLAIMER (i.e. “one loudly giving address”). Solution is DE (i.e. “of Parisian”, i.e. the French for “of”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “fancy”) of LIME CAR, like so: DE-CLAIMER.

6. Bachelor pad’s key (1,4)

Answer: B FLAT (i.e. musical “key”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor” used in degree qualifications, e.g. BA, BSc etc) followed by FLAT (i.e. “pad”, property-wise). Nicely worked.

9. Participant in combat sports has time for defensive work (7)

Answer: PARAPET (i.e. a “defensive work”). Solution is PARA (i.e. “participant in combat”, short for paratrooper) followed by PE (i.e. “sports” or Physical Education) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

13. Disapprove and appeal about instruction for players (5)

Answer: TUTTI (i.e. “instruction for players” or orchestra). Solution is TUT (i.e. “disapprove”) followed by IT (i.e. attraction or “appeal”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: TUT-TI. TUTTI FRUTTI has appeared a couple of times this year, but I can’t really count those as repeats. TUTTI on its own appeared in grid 1594 in January, however, and also on odd intersecting letters, so…

14. Mess with toccata, omitting the middle G # (7)

Answer: HASHTAG (i.e. “#” across certain social media). Solution is HASH (i.e. a “mess”) followed by TA (i.e. “toccata, omitting the middle [letters]”) and G.

15. Cattle driver maybe takes the lead in festival (9)

Answer: WOODSTOCK (i.e. famous 1969 music “festival”). Solution is STOCK (i.e. “cattle”) with WOOD (i.e. “driver”, as in the golf club) placed before it or “taking the lead”, like so: WOOD-STOCK.

16. Profit from what baker might do, getting led astray (4,1,6)

Answer: MAKE A BUNDLE (i.e. “profit from”). Solution is MAKE A BUN (i.e. “what baker might do”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “astray”) of LED, like so: (MAKE-A-BUN)-DLE.

17. Game to follow spy providing bug (4,7)

Answer: MOLE CRICKET (i.e. “bug” – ugly little critter too). Solution is CRICKET (i.e. “game”) “following” MOLE (i.e. “spy” planted within an organisation).

18. Sadly about to get permeated by drip or dribble (6)

Answer: SALIVA (i.e. “dribble”). Solution is ALAS (i.e. “sadly”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or being “permeated by” IV (i.e. “drip”, short for intravenous), like so: SAL(IV)A.

19. Abandoned marsupial brought in with fur like a lion (8)

Answer: MAROONED (i.e. “abandoned”). Solution is ROO (i.e. “marsupial”, short for kangaroo) placed “in” MANED (i.e. “with fur like a lion”), like so: MA(ROO)NED.

21. Annoying person overlooking one’s distinction (6)

Answer: NUANCE (i.e. “distinction”). Solution is NUISANCE (i.e. “annoying person”) with the I’S removed (indicated by “overlooking one’s”, i.e. the Roman numeral I made possessive). NUANCED appeared in grid 1609 in April, and NUANCES appeared only last week, each time on odd intersecting letters. I’m claiming them both, so…

25. Noticed test result when cutting grass (8)

Answer: REMARKED (i.e. “noticed”). Solution is MARK (i.e. “test result”) placed in or “cutting” REED (i.e. “grass”), like so: RE(MARK)ED.

26. Temp in Conservative Party stopping working as a rule (6,8)

Answer: CASUAL LABOURER (i.e. “temp”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by LABOUR (a political “Party”) once placed in or “stopping” an anagram (indicated by “working”) of AS A RULE, like so: C-ASUAL(LABOUR)ER.

28. Play Debussy occasionally, hosting queen (5)

Answer: EQUUS (i.e. a “play” by Peter Shaffer). Solution is EUS (i.e. “Debussy occasionally”, i.e. every other letter of DEBUSSY) wrapped around or “hosting” QU (a recognised abbreviation of “queen”), like so: E(QU)US.

29. Sangfroid displayed by leader accepting hard phase (6)

Answer: PHLEGM (i.e. “sangfroid”). Solution is PM (i.e. “leader”, specifically a Prime Minister) wrapped around or “accepting” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) and LEG (a stage or “phase”), like so: P(H-LEG)M.

30. Biscuit’s trademark unknown still (6,4)

Answer: BRANDY SNAP (i.e. a very nomworthy “biscuit”). Solution is BRAND (i.e. “trademark”) followed by Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) and SNAP (a photograph or “still”).

33. One reacts to base smut furiously in new titles (6,4)

Answer: LITMUS TEST (i.e. “one reacts to base” – a base in chemistry being “a compound that reacts with an acid to form a salt, or dissolves in water forming hydroxyl ions” (Chambers). And here was me thinking litmus tests reacted to acids and alkalis. The solution can also mean an indicator of underlying attitudes, so you could make an argument for taking the meaning of “base” as read. You decide…) Solution is an anagram (indicated by “furiously”) of SMUT placed in another anagram (indicated by “new”) of TITLES, like so: LI(TMUS)TEST.

35. E.g. crawled softly back from territory that’s sodden (6)

Answer: SWAMPY (i.e. “sodden”). Solution is SWAM (i.e. “e.g. crawled” – other swimming styles are available) followed by P (i.e. “softly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) and Y (i.e. “back from territory”, i.e. the last letter of “territory”).

36. What’s retained by litigant, ignoring kind of suit (4-1)

Answer: ANTI-G (i.e. “kind of suit”, short for anti-gravity). “What’s retained by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the solution as follows: LITIG(ANT IG)NORING.

38. Hippo’s notable in east, in awfully stifling hot period (5,9)

Answer: SAINT AUGUSTINE (i.e. “Hippo’s notable” – he was also known as Augustine of Hippo). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of IN EAST IN wrapped around or “stifling” AUGUST (i.e. “hot period” …usually), like so: SAINT(AUGUST)INE. Appeared in grid 1593 in January but on that occasion it was on even intersecting letters.

40. American novelist dropping ecstasy in May (8)

Answer: HAWTHORN (i.e. “may”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation, this is may blossom, which are hawthorn flowers). Solution is Nathaniel HAWTHORNE (i.e. “American novelist”) with the E removed (indicated by “dropping ecstasy” – E being a slang term for the drug).

42. Trial for flipping sponge, heartless bloodsucker (6)

Answer: TSETSE (a “bloodsucker” fly). Solution is TEST (i.e. “trial”) reversed (indicated by “for flipping”) and followed by SE (i.e. “sponge, heartless”, i.e. the word “sponge” with all its middle letters removed), like so: TSET-SE.

43. Carts reversing around trendy building site? (8)

Answer: SHIPYARD (i.e. “building site” for ships). Solution is DRAYS (i.e. “carts”) “reversed” and wrapped “around” HIP (i.e. “trendy”), like so: S(HIP)YARD. Appeared in grid 1620 in June, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

44. I caught you in clubs, hugged by one wearing black article (6)

Answer: GOTCHA (i.e. “I caught you”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in some card games) placed in or “hugged by” GOTH (i.e. “one wearing black”) and followed by A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the), like so: GOT(C)H-A. Appeared in grid 1596 in January, but on that occasion it was on odd intersecting letters.

47. Popular cheesemonger’s wrapping cheese without mass additive (11)

Answer: INCREMENTAL (i.e. “additive”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by CR (i.e. “cheesemonger’s wrapping”, i.e. the first and last letters of “cheesemonger”) and EMMENTAL (i.e. variety of “cheese”) once one of the Ms has been removed (indicated by “without mass” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “mass”), like so: IN-CR-EMENTAL.

50. Cultivation displayed by wife during, say, quarrelling (4-7)

Answer: WINE-GROWING (i.e. “cultivation”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) followed by IN (i.e. “during”), then EG (i.e. “say”, or for example) and ROWING (i.e. “quarrelling”).

52. Small girl wearing ring getting caught, for example (9)

Answer: DISMISSAL (i.e. “caught, for example” – there are other ways of being out in ball games). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and MISS (i.e. “girl”) all placed in or “wearing” DIAL (i.e. to “ring” someone on a telephone), like so: DI(S-MISS)AL. Appeared in grid 1629 in August, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

53. Fellow Scot, one possibly found in 55 Across (7)

Answer: GENTIAN (i.e. a flower or “one possibly found in 55 Across”, the solution to which is a NOSEGAY or bouquet). Solution is GENT (i.e. “fellow”) followed by IAN (i.e. “Scot” – I never find this wordplay satisfying, but the name is of Scots origin so what can you do).

54. Confirm family home is to the west (3,2)

Answer: INK IN (i.e. “confirm”). Solution is KIN (i.e. “family”) with IN (i.e. “home”) placed “to the west” of it – this being an across clue – like so: IN-KIN.

55. Curious trousers for one firstly in bloomers (7)

Answer: NOSEGAY (i.e. a bouquet or a bunch of “bloomers”). Solution is NOSY (i.e. “curious”) wrapped around or “trousering” EG (i.e. “for one”, or for example) and A (i.e. “firstly” – think of it in terms of someone listing points in order of importance, i.e. “I’m saying such-and-such because a) blah blah blah, and b) yada yada yada”), like so: NOS(EG-A)Y.

56. Eccentric like a Seurat painting? (5)

Answer: DOTTY. Solution satisfies “eccentric” and, playfully, “like a Seurat painting”, referring to his pointillist artworks.

57. Reform can create current opposition (9)

Answer: REACTANCE (i.e. electric “current opposition”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reform”) of CAN CREATE.

Down clues

1. A bit of dope parent inhales thus at intervals (5)

Answer: DATUM (i.e. “a bit of dope” or information – the plural of datum is data). Solution is DAM (i.e. “parent” – a variant meaning of DAM is “a mother, usually of cattle, horses etc [A form of dame]” (Chambers)) wrapped around or “inhaling” TU (i.e. “thus at intervals” i.e. every other letter of THUS), like so: DA(TU)M.

2. Horse is slain by lions, say, as in rocky peaks (8,9)

Answer: CATSKILL MOUNTAINS (i.e. “peaks” in New York State). Solution is CATS KILL MOUNT (i.e. “horse is slain by lions, say”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “rocky”) of AS IN.

3. What critic does with plug inserted into mains supply (11)

Answer: ANIMADVERTS (i.e. “what critic does”). Solution is ADVERT (i.e. “plug”) placed “into” an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of MAINS, like so: ANIM(ADVERT)S. Nicely worked. Great word too. This is what I come to Jumbos for.

4. Asian who tends to animal meat turned away (6)

Answer: MAHOUT (i.e. “Asian who tends to animal”). Solution is HAM (i.e. “meat”) reversed (indicated by “turned”) and followed by OUT (i.e. “away”), like so: MAH-OUT.

5. Remaining after revolution, praise one’s former leader (8)

Answer: RESIDUAL (i.e. “remaining”). Solution is LAUD (i.e. “praise”), I’S (i.e. “one’s”, already covered) and ER (i.e. “former leader”, specifically Elizabeth Regina). This is all then reversed (indicated by “after revolution”), like so: RE-S’I-DUAL.

6. Fruit that’s very cold round 2 Down, say (6,6)

Answer: BITTER ORANGE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is BITTER (i.e. “very cold”) followed by O (i.e. “round”) and RANGE (i.e. “2 Down, say” – the solution being an example of a mountain range).

7. Like beans and egg, mostly? Eating it is brilliant (10)

Answer: LEGUMINOUS (i.e. “like beans”). Solution is EG (i.e. “egg, mostly”, i.e. the word “egg” with its last letter removed) placed in or being “eaten” by LUMINOUS (i.e. “brilliant”), like so: L(EG)UMINOUS.

8. Drier wine’s case left closed, at first (5)

Answer: TOWEL (i.e. “drier”). Solution is WE (i.e. “wine’s case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “wine”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) both placed after or having “at first” TO (i.e. as in a door “closed” to), like so: TO-(WE-L). Appeared in grid 1582 last October, just within my threshold for recent repeats, and also on odd intersecting letters, so…

9. Racine’s plays about love under pressure offering parts in theatre (9)

Answer: PROSCENIA (i.e. “parts in theatre” – a proscenium is the front part of the stage). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “plays”) of RACINE’S wrapped “about” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis) and the whole then placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: P-(R(O)SCENIA).

10. Republican politician pens high praise in kind of tract (11)

Answer: RESPIRATORY (i.e. “kind of tract”, anatomically). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and TORY (i.e. “politician” of the Conservative Party) all wrapped around or “penning” an anagram (indicated by “high”) of PRAISE, like so: R-(ESPIRA)-TORY.

11. Place without refinement in Bordeaux costing little? (5)

Answer: PLONK. Solution satisfies to set down or “place without refinement”, and also a “Bordeaux costing little”.

12. Like second attempt to film western getting ditched (4,2)

Answer: TAKE TO (i.e. “like”). Solution is TAKE TWO (i.e. “second attempt to film”) with the W removed (indicated by “western getting ditched” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “western”).

18. Artist has no problem keeping close to major stars (10)

Answer: SURREALIST (i.e. “artist”). Solution is SURE (i.e. “no problem”, words of acceptance) wrapped around or “keeping” R (i.e. “close to major”, i.e. the last letter of “major”) and followed by A-LIST (i.e. celebrities or “stars”), like so: (SUR(R)E)-A-LIST.

20. 500 fuel containers I must leave in dumps (8)

Answer: DOLDRUMS (i.e. the “dumps”). Solution is D (i.e. “500” expressed as a Roman numeral) followed by OIL DRUMS (i.e. “fuel containers”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “I must leave…”), like so: D-(OL-DRUMS).

22. Crumbs old people put on yellow, 70-year-old dish (10,7)

Answer: CORONATION CHICKEN (i.e. “70-year-old dish”, the Queen’s coronation having taken place 70 years ago in 1953. It’ll be interesting to see if this puzzle gets republished in the annual Jumbo Cryptic book in a few years’ time, as this clue will need to be rewritten). Solution is COR (i.e. “crumbs”, both exclamations) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), then NATION (i.e. “people”) and CHICKEN (i.e. “yellow” or cowardly), like so: COR-O-NATION-CHICKEN.

23. Covers journalist knocked up showing terrible ruler (6)

Answer: DESPOT (i.e. “terrible ruler”). Solution is TOPS (i.e. “covers”) and ED (i.e. “journalist”, short for editor) all reversed (indicated by “knocked up” – this being a down clue), like so: DE-SPOT.

24. Influential material to support a leaderless country (10)

Answer: PROPAGANDA (i.e. “influential material”). Solution is PROP (i.e. “to support”) followed by A and UGANDA (i.e. “country”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “leaderless”), like so: PROP-A-GANDA.

27. Competitions including drop shots (5-3)

Answer: CLOSE-UPS (i.e. “shots” or photographs). Solution is CUPS (i.e. “competitions”) wrapped around or “including” LOSE (i.e. to “drop”), like so: C(LOSE)UPS.

31. Deny auditor’s beastly utterance has influence (6)

Answer: NAYSAY (i.e. “deny”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “auditor’s”) of NEIGH (i.e. “beastly utterance”) followed by SAY (i.e. “influence”, as in having a say in something), like so: NAY-SAY.

32. Travelled through Turkey on vacation? Repeated assessment of sight (6-6)

Answer: TWENTY-TWENTY (i.e. “assessment of sight”). Solution is WENT (i.e. “travelled”) placed in or “through” TY (i.e. “Turkey on vacation”, i.e. the word “Turkey” with all its middle letters removed). This is then “repeated”, like so: T(WENT)Y-T(WENT)Y.

34. Liberating tune composed before musical cycle (11)

Answer: UNTETHERING (i.e. “liberating”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “composed”) of TUNE followed by THE RING (i.e. “musical cycle” of Richard Wagner), like so: UNTE-(THE-RING).

36. Maybe worker getting raise, engaging record collector (11)

Answer: ANTHOLOGIST (i.e. “collector”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “maybe worker” – other varieties of ant are available) followed by HOIST (i.e. “raise”) once wrapped around or “engaging” LOG (i.e. “record”), like so: ANT-HO(LOG)IST.

37. Snub inspiring drug experience? It offers illumination (5,5)

Answer: STRIP LIGHT (i.e. “it offers illumination”). Solution is SLIGHT (i.e. “snub”) wrapped around or “inspiring” TRIP (i.e. “drug experience”), like so: S(TRIP)LIGHT.

39. Husband gets jacket from laundry in an idle manner (9)

Answer: USELESSLY (i.e. “in an idle manner”). Solution is USE LESS (i.e. “husband”, a meaning of which can be “to manage with economy” (Chambers)) followed by LY (i.e. “jacket from laundry”, i.e. the first and last letters of “laundry”). A very, very good clue.

41. Marches in vanguard? That is right (8)

Answer: FRONTIER (i.e. “marches”, a variant meaning of “march” is a boundary). Solution is FRONT (i.e. “vanguard”) followed by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, short for the Latin id est) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

45. Where fox may be, beneath large tree (6)

Answer: LINDEN (i.e. “tree”). Solution is IN DEN (i.e. “where fox may be”) placed after or “beneath” – this being a down clue – L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: L-(IN-DEN). One nailed solely from the wordplay.

46. Answer female, say, on radio programme (6)

Answer: AGENDA (i.e. “programme”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) followed by a homophone (indicated by “on radio”) of GENDER (i.e. “female, say”), like so: A-GENDA.

48. Learner of German must grasp these bags (5)

Answer: CASES. Solution satisfies “learner of German must grasp these”, grammatically speaking, the four cases being nominative, accusative, dative and genitive – and also satisfies “bags”. Appeared in grid 1638 only a few weeks ago, and also on odd intersecting letters, so…

49. Maybe like a bathroom light, after it’s knocked over (5)

Answer: TILED (i.e. “maybe like a bathroom”). Solution is LED (i.e. “light”, specifically a Light Emitting Diode) placed “after” IT once it has been “knocked over”, like so: TI-LED. Appeared in grid 1627 in July, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

51. Vincent or Kelly, say, drinking current contents of bottle (5)

Answer: GENIE (i.e. “contents of bottle”). Solution is GENE (i.e. “Vincent or Kelly, say”, the former being an American singer, the latter being an American actor and dancer) wrapped around or “drinking” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics), like so: GEN(I)E.

A relatively straightforward Jumbo for a soggy Saturday afternoon. I don’t mind that. (The Jumbo, not the soggy afternoon.) Shame there were a few too many repeats, but I think we’ve established now that these are par for the course. A good number of well-written clues made up for it.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you the slip then you might find 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

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 11.7%

Across clues

1. Fanatical skipper in a cap and hat cavorting with sailor (7,4)

Answer: CAPTAIN AHAB (i.e. “fanatical skipper” of Herman Melville’s novel Moby Dick). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cavorting”) of IN A CAP and HAT followed by AB (i.e. “sailor” of Able-Bodied rank), like so: CAPTAINAH-AB.

7. What makes the daily grind when pausing the daily grind? (6,5)

Answer: COFFEE BREAK. Clue plays on COFFEE “grinders” and the solution being a “pause” or BREAK in a working day or “daily grind”. You get the idea.

13. Secretary passes translation around (8,9)

Answer: PERSONAL ASSISTANT (i.e. “secretary”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “around”) of PASSES TRANSLATION.

14. Relative temperature finally seen in November frost (5)

Answer: NIECE (i.e. “relative”). Solution is E (i.e. “temperature finally”, i.e. the last letter of “temperature”) placed “in” N (“November” in the phonetic alphabet) and ICE (i.e. “frost”), like so: N-I(E)CE. Appeared in grid 1590 back in December, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

15. Alternatively, a revolutionary alternative to spinach (6)

Answer: ORACHE (i.e. “alternative to spinach”). Solution is OR (i.e. “alternatively”) followed by A and CHE Guevara (i.e. “revolutionary”).

16. Change parts of shell (8)

Answer: SHRAPNEL. Solution satisfies a slang word for pocket “change” and “parts of [ammunition] shell”.

17. Picture Thrace, fed by this canal transporting water (7)

Answer: URETHRA (i.e. anatomical “canal transporting water”). “Fed by this” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PICT(URE THRA)CE.

19. Unbiased, the setter’s quite keen (9)

Answer: IMPARTIAL (i.e. “unbiased”). When written as I’M PARTIAL the solution also satisfies “the setter’s quite keen” from the point of view of the setter. Appeared in grid 1599 in February, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

21. Plain speaking in French we hear: “Everything OK?” “No” (8)

Answer: SAVANNAH (i.e. a “plain”). “We hear” indicates the solution comprises homophones of ÇA VA (i.e. “in French…: ‘Everything OK?’”) and NAH (i.e. “no”), like so: SAVA-NNAH

23. Weep when moving new joint in the leg (4)

Answer: KNEE (i.e. “joint in the leg”). Solution is KEEN (i.e. “weep”) with the N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) “moved” like so: KEE(N) => K(N)EE.

25. Inuit boat unaffected by rolling over (5)

Answer: KAYAK (i.e. “Inuit boat”). “Unaffected by rolling over” plays on how the solution is a palindrome.

27. Walking over northern base (2,4)

Answer: ON FOOT (i.e. “walking”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) and FOOT (i.e. the “base” of something).

28. Shabby treatment given to rather bad European (10)

Answer: THREADBARE (i.e. “shabby”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “treatment given to”) of RATHER BAD followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: THREADBAR-E.

30. Ring laced around roughly 25mm piece of meat (4,4)

Answer: LOIN CHOP (i.e. “piece of meat”). Solution is LOOP (i.e. “ring”) wrapped “around” INCH (i.e. “roughly 25mm”), like so: LO(INCH)OP.

31. Blond fop in Soho converted an important man of the cloth (6,2,6)

Answer: BISHOP OF LONDON (i.e. “an important man of the cloth”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “converted”) of BLOND FOP IN SOHO.

34. Turkey might need this as currency bear runs riot (9,5)

Answer: CRANBERRY SAUCE (i.e. “turkey might need this”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “runs riot”) of AS CURRENCY BEAR.

35. Tease and tear into joint of beef (3-5)

Answer: RIB-ROAST (i.e. “joint of beef”). Solution is RIB (i.e. “tease”) followed by ROAST (i.e. “tear into”).

38. Christmas greetings message sent round that hurts playwright (4,6)

Answer: NOEL COWARD (i.e. “playwright”). Solution is NOEL (i.e. “Christmas”) and CARD (i.e. “greetings message”) wrapped “round” OW (i.e. “that hurts”), like so: NOEL-C(OW)ARD.

40. Crone hiding topper oddly where topper might be found (6)

Answer: HATPEG (i.e. “where topper might be found”). Solution is HAG (i.e. “crone”) wrapped around or “hiding” TPE (i.e. “topper oddly”, i.e. every other letter of TOPPER), like so: HA(TPE)G.

41. German with initially really enormous joint (5)

Answer: MITRE (i.e. a “joint” forming a right-angle using two pieces cut at a 45° angle). Solution is MIT (i.e. “German with”, i.e. the German for “with”) followed by R and E (i.e. “initially really enormous”, i.e. the first letters of “really” and “enormous”).

43. United featured in rubbish, heavy defeat (4)

Answer: ROUT (i.e. “heavy defeat”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “united”) placed or “featured in” ROT (i.e. “rubbish”), like so: RO(U)T.

44. Retired celebrity entertains Russian in the capital (8)

Answer: BRUSSELS (i.e. “capital” of Belgium). Solution is SLEB (slang for a “celebrity”) reversed (indicated by “retired”) and wrapped around or “entertaining” RUSS (a recognised abbreviation of “Russian”), like so B(RUSS)ELS.

45. One millimetre units of measurement the Spanish ultimately employ hugely (9)

Answer: IMMENSELY (i.e. “hugely”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by MM (a recognised abbreviation of “millimetre”), then ENS (i.e. “units of measurement” – an EN is a space half the width of an ‘m’ character used in printing), then EL (i.e. “the Spanish”, i.e. the Spanish for “the”) and Y (i.e. “ultimately employ”, i.e. the last letter of “employ”). IMMENSE appeared in grid 1595 back in January, also on odd intersecting letters. I’m claiming it, so…

48. Greek character trips the light fantastic, daughter dropping subtle hints (7)

Answer: NUANCES (i.e. “subtle hints”). Solution is NU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by DANCES (i.e. “trips the light fantastic”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “daughter dropping” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”), like so: NU-ANCES. NUANCED appeared in grid 1609 back in April, also on odd intersecting letters. Again, I’m claiming it, so…

49. Always fitted in coach the cheapest berths (8)

Answer: STEERAGE (i.e. “the cheapest berths”). Solution is E’ER (poetic form of “always”) placed “in” STAGE (i.e. “coach”), like so: ST(E’ER)AGE.

50. Key universal party once ready for Lisbon? (6)

Answer: ESCUDO (i.e. “once ready for Lisbon”, i.e. the former currency of Portugal – “ready” being a slang word for money). Solution is ESC (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for Escape) followed by U (i.e. “universal” in film certification) and DO (i.e. “party”).

53. Jones the architect’s blue after losing diamonds (5)

Answer: INIGO (i.e. “Jones the architect”). Solution is INDIGO (i.e. “blue”) with the D removed (indicated by “after losing diamonds”, D being a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in some card games).

54. Ace dad full of energy copies nan sporting a badge of honour (1,7,2,4,3)

Answer: A FEATHER IN ONE’S CAP (i.e. “a badge of honour”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” on playing cards) followed by FATHER (i.e. “dad”) once wrapped around or being “full of” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”). This is then followed by an anagram (indicated by “sporting”) of COPIES NAN, like so: A-F(E)ATHER-INONESCAP.

55. Near Egypt, he messed with technique using DNA (4,7)

Answer: GENE THERAPY (i.e. “technique using DNA”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “messed with”) of NEAR EGYPT HE.

56. Harsh, upper-class rubbish old Republican to whom we say “Bless you!” (11)

Answer: STERNUTATOR (i.e. “to whom we say ‘Bless you!’” – sternutation is the act of sneezing). Solution is STERN (i.e. “harsh”) followed by U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper-class”), then TAT (i.e. “rubbish”), then O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and R (ditto “Republican”).

Down clues

1. Alloy trophy in locker bent out of shape (11)

Answer: CUPRONICKEL (i.e. “alloy”). Solution is CUP (i.e. “trophy”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “bent out of shape”) of IN LOCKER, like so: CUP-RONICKEL.

2. Run into dad and mum somewhere in Emilia Romagna (5)

Answer: PARMA (i.e. “somewhere in Emilia Romagna”, a region of northern Italy). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) placed “into” or between PA and MA (i.e. “dad and mum”), like so: PA-(R)-MA.

3. A different answer – different woman (7)

Answer: ANOTHER (i.e. “a different”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) followed by NOT HER (i.e. “different woman”).

4. Tidy amount initially put in after tax deducted (4)

Answer: NEAT (i.e. “tidy”). Solution is A (i.e. “amount initially”, i.e. the first letter of “amount”) placed “in” NET (i.e. “after tax deducted”, sometimes also spelled nett), like so: NE(A)T.

5. Former PM with scar a literary hero? (10)

Answer: HEATHCLIFF (i.e. “literary hero” of Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights). Solution is Edward HEATH (i.e. “former PM”) followed by CLIFF (i.e. “scar” geographically speaking).

6. Poor Somali husband with yen for a vacation? Hardly! (7,7)

Answer: BUSMAN’S HOLIDAY (i.e. “a vacation? Hardly” – the solution is a holiday spent doing pretty much the same thing as one would do at work. Quite surprised to find Chambers not listing this one). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “poor”) of SOMALI HUSBAND followed by Y (a recognised abbreviation of “yen”, the Japanese currency), like so: BUSMANSHOLIDA-Y.

7. Ladies’ man Staunton occasionally opening the bubbly (8)

Answer: CASANOVA (i.e. “ladies man”). Solution is SANO (i.e. “Staunton occasionally”, i.e. every other letter of STAUNTON) placed in or “opening” CAVA (i.e. a bottle of “bubbly”), like so: CA(SANO)VA. Appeared in grid 1607 in April, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

8. Weak leaders of firm regret adding inexperienced labour (5)

Answer: FRAIL (i.e. “weak”). “Leaders of” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Firm Regret Adding Inexperienced Labour.

9. Train that’s caught by Rouen tour agent (9)

Answer: ENTOURAGE (i.e. “train” or retinue). “That’s caught by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ROU(EN TOUR AGE)NT. Appeared in grid 1611 in April, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

10. British soldier maybe starts to enjoy romantic badinage (6)

Answer: BANTER (i.e. “badinage”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) followed by ANT (i.e. “soldier maybe”, other flavours of ant are available), then E and R (i.e. “starts to enjoy romantic”, i.e. the first letters of “enjoy” and “romantic”).

11. Station jumbo beach construction with no roof (8,3,6)

Answer: ELEPHANT AND CASTLE (i.e. train “station” in South London). Solution is ELEPHANT (i.e. “jumbo”) followed by SANDCASTLE (i.e. “beach construction”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “with no roof”), like so: ELEPHANT-ANDCASTLE.

12. Watch over fortified tower – middle of storm coming in shortly (4,2,3,2)

Answer: KEEP AN EYE ON (i.e. “watch over”). Solution is KEEP (i.e. “fortified tower”) followed by EYE (i.e. “middle of storm”) once placed “in” ANON (i.e. “shortly”), like so: KEEP-AN(EYE)ON.

18. Two-tone pen knocking out note of grief (8)

Answer: BICOLOUR (i.e. “two-tone”). Solution is BIC (i.e. “pen”) followed by DOLOUR (i.e. “grief”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “knocking out note of” – “note” being taken to be a musical note), like so: BIC-OLOUR.

20. Quiet energy used in this training briefly? (8,9)

Answer: PHYSICAL EDUCATION (i.e. “training”). The clue plays on a recognised abbreviation of the solution, PE, comprising abbreviations or “brief” forms of “quiet” (P being “piano” in musical lingo) and E (“energy”).

22. Only Crosby, presumably, lacking prospects (2-4)

Answer: NO-HOPE (i.e. “lacking prospects”). Solution also playfully satisfies “only Crosby, presumably”, a nod to the various semi-musical comedies that starred Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.

24. Descriptive character Victor deleted from film cassette (8)

Answer: IDEOGRAM (i.e. “descriptive character”). Solution is VIDEOGRAM (i.e. “film cassette”) once the V has been removed (indicated by “Victor deleted from” – “Victor” being V in the phonetic alphabet).

26. An inducement to retaliate? (8)

Answer: KICKBACK (i.e. “an inducement”). When written as KICK BACK the solution also satisfies “retaliate”.

29. Sensational stories about sailor brothers turning over car parts (5,9)

Answer: SHOCK ABSORBERS (i.e. “car parts”). Solution is SHOCKERS (i.e. “sensational stories”) wrapped “about” AB (i.e. “sailor”, Able-Bodied again) and BROS (a recognised abbreviation of “brothers”) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “turning over”), like so: SHOCK(AB-SORB)ERS.

32. Perhaps coconut shy is a legitimate target (4,4)

Answer: FAIR GAME. Solution satisfies “perhaps coconut shy” – other fairground games are available – and “legitimate target”.

33. Founder of Persian Empire assuming power in Mediterranean island (6)

Answer: CYPRUS (i.e. “Mediterranean island”). Solution is CYRUS The Great (i.e. “founder of Persian Empire”) wrapped around or “assuming” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: CY(P)RUS.

34. Challenging Tory acting as nominal leader (11)

Answer: CONFRONTING (i.e. “challenging”). Solution is CON (i.e. “Tory”, short for Conservative) followed by FRONTING (i.e. “acting as nominal leader”).

36. Young trendy getting two very different hats from Spooner? (11)

Answer: TEENYBOPPER (i.e. “young trendy”). Solution is a “Spoonerism” of BEENY and TOPPER (i.e. “two very different hats”).

37. Rising temp spreading, which is to be expected after winter (10)

Answer: SPRINGTIME (i.e. “which is to be expected after winter”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “spreading”) of RISING TEMP.

39. Cop wreaks havoc in an area of the office? (9)

Answer: WORKSPACE (i.e. “an area of the office”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “havoc”) of COP WREAKS.

42. Paltry sum of cash in bank of late (8)

Answer: RECENTLY (i.e. “of late”). Solution is CENT (i.e. “paltry sum of cash”) placed “in” RELY (i.e. to “bank” on something), like so: RE(CENT)LY.

46. Beginning noon climb (7)

Answer: NASCENT (i.e. “beginning”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “noon”) followed by ASCENT (i.e. “climb”).

47. Challenge the bill for climate control? (6)

Answer: ACCOST (i.e. “challenge”). When written as AC COST the solution also playfully satisfies “the bill for climate control”, AC being a recognised abbreviation of “air conditioning”. Appeared in grid 1611 in April, also on even intersecting letters, so…

49. Ancient realm where the Queen made a noted arrival (5)

Answer: SHEBA (i.e. “ancient realm”). The rest of the clue plays on George Frideric Handel’s famous piece of music Arrival Of The Queen Of Sheba, referred to here as a “noted arrival”.

51. Sober, presumably, like a rough diamond? (5)

Answer: UNCUT (i.e. “like a rough diamond”). The solution also playfully satisfies “sober, presumably”, after the phrase “half-cut” or being drunk.

52. Old capital elevating noble knight (4)

Answer: BONN (i.e. “old capital”, specifically of the former East [EDIT: Sorry, had a brain-fart. This should be “West”. Thanks to Ned in the comments for correcting this. – LP] Germany). Solution is NOB (slangy shortened form of “noble”) reversed (indicated by “elevating” – this being a down clue) and followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess”), like so: BON-N.

For the most part this was a medium-strength Jumbo for me. I would hesitate calling it a toughie as it’s too easy for a setter to rely on exotic solutions to artificially increase a Jumbo’s difficulty, and there were a couple too many oddballs here. Still, at least there was a healthy dollop of well-written clues to enjoy.

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 given you night-sweats then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 10%

Across clues

1. Delightful sight in club’s centre? (5,4)

Answer: SWEET SPOT (i.e. “in [golf] club’s centre”). Solution is SWEET (i.e. “delightful”) followed by SPOT (i.e. to notice or “sight”).

6. View gold for Clementine’s father? (10)

Answer: PROSPECTOR (i.e. “Clementine’s father”, from the American folk song Oh, My Darling Clementine, after the lyric: In a cavern, in a cavern, excavating for a mine, dwelt a miner forty-niner and his daughter, Clementine). Solution is PROSPECT (i.e. “view”) followed by OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry). PROSPECTOR appeared in grid 1623 back in July but on even intersecting letters.

12. Article concealed by players before a game (7)

Answer: CANASTA (i.e. “game”). Solution is AN (i.e. “article”, a word like a, an or the) placed in or “concealed by” CAST (i.e. “players”) and followed by A, like so: C(AN)AST-A.

13. Finish sign by trail: all detailed to show distance? (9)

Answer: KILOMETRE (i.e. “distance”). Solution is KILL (i.e. “finish”), OMEN (i.e. “sign”) and TREK (i.e. “trail”) each with their final letters removed (indicated by “all detailed”, perhaps better read as de-tailed), like so: KIL-OME-TRE.

14. Racket of number one seed snapped in middle (5)

Answer: NOISE (i.e. “racket”). Solution is NO (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and SE (i.e. “seed snapped in the middle”, i.e. the first half of the word “seed”).

16. Produce result of love? (7,5)

Answer: PASSION FRUIT (i.e. food or “produce”). The rest of the clue plays on PASSION being another word for “love” and FRUIT being another word for “result”, e.g. the fruits of one’s labours.

17. Does anything but order beer for trading event (6,4)

Answer: JUMBLE SALE (i.e. “trading event”). Solution is JUMBLES (i.e. “does anything but order”) followed by ALE (i.e. “beer”).

19. Guns, large supply, packed by huntress, do they offer protection? (8,6)

Answer: GUARDIAN ANGELS (i.e. “they offer protection”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of GUNS LARGE wrapped around or being “packed by” DIANA (i.e. “huntress”, specifically the Roman goddess of the hunt), like so: GUAR(DIANA)NGELS.

22. Norwegian fish needs British wine, not European (8)

Answer: BRISLING (i.e. “Norwegian fish”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) followed by RIESLING (i.e. a “wine”) once its E has been removed (indicated by “not European” – E being a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: B-RISLING. One nailed from the wordplay alone.

24. Two answers given about unknown meadow plant (6)

Answer: AZALEA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is A and A (i.e. both “answers”, A being a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) wrapped “about” Z (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) and followed by LEA (i.e. “meadow”), like so: A(Z)A-LEA.

25. Embellished pieces from officer with deserter in our area (10)

Answer: COLORATURA (i.e. “embellished pieces” of music – over to Chambers: “embellished vocal passages including runs, trills, etc”). Solution is COL (i.e. “officer”, short for Colonel) followed by RAT (i.e. “deserter”) once placed “in” OUR and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: COL-O(RAT)UR-A. Musical terms as solutions are often ho-hum to me, but musical terms when all the intersecting letters are vowels? Spare me…

26. Yellowish-orange Republican in line for missile launch (5)

Answer: OCHRE (i.e. “yellowish-orange”). Solution as R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) placed “in” OCHE (i.e. “line for missile launch” in a game of darts), like so: OCH(R)E. Rather a fun clue, I thought, though let’s hope it’s not prophetic.

29. Scot seen here and there in Beausaint (4)

Answer: EUAN (i.e. “Scot”, or a Scotsman’s name. For musical terms as solutions, see also forenames). “Seen here and there in…” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of BEAUSAINT.

30. Westminster denizen’s game up? One jerk to be put inside (8)

Answer: POLITICO (i.e. “Westminster denizen”). Solution is POLO (i.e. “game” – not sure where “up” fits into this, though) wrapped around or having “inside” of it I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) and TIC (i.e. “jerk”), like so: POL(I-TIC)O.
[EDIT – Thanks to Mick in the comments for fleshing this out. One definition of “up” is being on horseback, which fits in with the whole polo thing. Cheers, Mick! – LP]

32. Feeling that causes great excitement (9)

Answer: SENSATION. Solution satisfies “feeling” and “that causes great excitement”.

34. Serve drink after drug fix, not gallons, in fragrant mixture (9)

Answer: POTPOURRI (i.e. “fragrant mixture”). Solution is POUR (i.e. “serve drink”) placed “after” POT (i.e. “drug”, slang for marijuana) and followed by RIG (i.e. manipulate or “fix”) once the G has been removed (indicated by “not gallons” – G being a recognised abbreviation of “gallons”), like so: POT-(POUR)-RI.

35. Rogue charged, in a dock having left hospital (8)

Answer: ABERRANT (i.e. “rogue”). Solution is RAN (i.e. “charged”) placed “in” A and BERTH (i.e. “dock”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “having left hospital”, H being a recognised abbreviation of “hospital”), like so: A-BER(RAN)T.

36. Indifferent over after spinner on song initially (2-2)

Answer: SO-SO (i.e. “indifferent”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) placed “after” SOS (i.e. “spinner on song initially”, i.e. the first letters of SPINNER ON SONG), like so: SOS-O.

39. Sailor Yates at the margins marks depth (5)

Answer: ABYSM (i.e. “depth”). Solution is AB (i.e. “sailor” of Able Bodied rank) followed by YS (i.e. “Yates at the margins”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Yates”) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “marks”, the former German currency).

40. Subdue popular Greek goddess at later stage in play? (10)

Answer: INACTIVATE (i.e. “subdue”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by ATE (i.e. “Greek goddess” of mischief) once placed “at” or after ACT IV (i.e. “later stage of play”), like so: IN-(ACT-IV)-ATE.

42. Party repelled masses in vote (6)

Answer: BALLOT (i.e. “vote”). Solution is LAB (i.e. “party”, short for the Labour Party) reversed (indicated by “repelled”) and followed by LOT (i.e. “masses”), like so: BAL-LOT.

44. House representative’s brilliant crime netting grand (4,4)

Answer: STAR SIGN (i.e. “house representative” – “house” can mean a sign of the zodiac). Solution is STAR (i.e. “brilliant”) followed by SIN (i.e. “crime”) once wrapped around or “netting” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand” or £1,000), like so: STAR-SI(G)N.

46. Salt needed – I could dish more out (6,8)

Answer: SODIUM CHLORIDE (i.e. “salt”). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I COULD DISH MORE.

48. You are stopping boyfriend about to divulge secrets: that’s official! (10)

Answer: BUREAUCRAT (i.e. “official”). Solution is UR (i.e. “you are” in textspeak – seems a popular thing for setters these days) placed in or “stopping” BEAU (i.e. “boyfriend”). This is followed by C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) and RAT (i.e. “to divulge secrets”), like so: B(UR)EAU-C-RAT.

49. Restore IT to US centre ransacked (12)

Answer: RECONSTITUTE (i.e. “restore”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ransacked”) of IT TO US CENTRE.

53. The Doldrums as Lennon put it, oddly dismissive? (5)

Answer: ENNUI (i.e. “the doldrums”). “Oddly dismissive” indicates the solution is derived by taking every other letter of LENNON PUT IT. Appeared in grid 1627, also back in July, and also on odd intersecting letters, so…

54. Beyond silly covering banker’s last debt (9)

Answer: OVERDRAFT (i.e. “debt”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “beyond”) and DAFT (i.e. “silly”) all wrapped around or “covering” R (i.e. “banker’s last” letter), like so: OVER-D(R)AFT.

55. Substance from cinchona tree – one of five in east (7)

Answer: QUININE (i.e. “substance from cinchona tree”). Solution is QUIN (i.e. “one of five”) followed by IN and E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”).

56. Small volume’s middle covering current literature (10)

Answer: CENTILITRE (i.e. “small volume”). Solution is CENTRE (i.e. “middle”) wrapped around or “covering” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electric “current” used in physics) and LIT (a recognised abbreviation of “literature”), like so: CENT(I-LIT)RE.

57. Such a person is male and flirtatious? (6,3)

Answer: LADIES MAN. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole but is also an anagram (indicated by “flirtatious” of IS MALE AND. An excellent clue, probably the best of the lot.

Down clues

1. Martians at last in American airspace (5)

Answer: SINUS (i.e. “airspace” or an air-filled cavity in the skull connecting with the nose). Solution is S (i.e. “Martians at last”, i.e. the last letter of “Martians”) followed by IN and US (i.e. “American”). Another clue I liked.

2. Time at home in seaside resort – distant location? (4,6)

Answer: EAST INDIES (i.e. “distant location”, from the UK at least). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and IN (i.e. “at home”) both placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “resort”) of SEASIDE, like so: EAS(T-IN)DIES.

3. Casey Jones to give instruction to staff? (8)

Answer: TRAINMAN (i.e. “Casey Jones”, a US train driver who died in 1900 when his passenger train collided with a stalled freight train. His heroism meant he was the only casualty. Quite a strong US theme to this week’s Jumbo, don’t you think? I don’t mind as I rather like the US, but I know this can stick in the craw of some Jumbo addicts. By the way, of the 2,000 or so views my site attracts each week, around 1% comes from the US. If you’re reading this from over the pond, drop in and say howdy). Solution is TRAIN (i.e. “to give instruction”) followed by MAN (i.e. “staff” – I usually think of this in terms of staffing an organisation). This solution appeared in grid 1606 back in April and also on odd intersecting letters, so…

4. Metal rod for this hand-to-hand engagement? (5)

Answer: POKER. Solution satisfies “metal rod” and, playfully, “hand-to-hand engagement”, referring to hands of cards in a game of poker. This took way longer to nail than it ought to. Sometimes I just don’t see ‘em.

5. Learner brought in becoming fond of lecture (7,2)

Answer: TALKING TO (i.e. “lecture”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”, e.g. on L-plates) placed “in” TAKING TO (i.e. “becoming fond of”), likes so: TA(L)KING-TO.

6. Display anti-aircraft gun, having disregarded second order (4)

Answer: POMP (i.e. “display”). Solution is POM-POM (i.e. informal name for an “anti-aircraft gun”, apparently imitative of its sound. A new one on me, but I like it) with the last OM removed (indicated by “having disregarded second order”, OM being short for the Order of Merit), like so: POM-P.

7. Best known champion shearer down under? (6)

Answer: OUTGUN (i.e. to “best” someone). Solution is OUT (i.e. “known”) followed by GUN (apparently slang for a “champion shearer down under” – valid clueing, sure, but, come on, who on earth is going to know this? Apart from Australian sheep shearers, obviously. Strewth…)

8. Old man keeps the French lawyers winning in legal practice (4,10)

Answer: PLEA BARGAINING (i.e. “legal practice”). Solution is PA (i.e. “old man”, both informal references to one’s father) wrapped around or “keeping” LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the masculine form of “the” in French). This is then followed by BAR (i.e. “lawyers”) and GAINING (i.e. “winning”), like so: P(LE)A-BAR-GAINING.

9. Sin here acknowledged dreadful lesson of Cain (12)

Answer: CONFESSIONAL (i.e. “sin here acknowledged”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dreadful”) of LESSON OF CAIN.

10. Asian craft capsized one mile south of old Baltic port (7)

Answer: ORIGAMI (i.e. “Asian craft” of paper-folding). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “mile”) all reversed (indicated by “capsized” – this being a down clue) and placed after or “south of” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and RIGA (i.e. “Baltic port”, capital of Latvia), like so: O-RIGA-(M-I). ORIGAMI is surely the mother of all repeats, now appearing for the fourth time in the space of a year, having previously appeared in grid 1589 in December, grid 1604 in March, and grid 1614 in April, each time on odd intersecting letters. I get the value of vowelly words when constructing grids, setters, but this is getting silly.

11. Margaret embraced by gangster eschewing force, the rascal (10)

Answer: SCAPEGRACE (i.e. “rascal”). Solution is PEG (i.e. a shortened form of “Margaret”) placed in or “embraced by” SCARFACE (i.e. “gangster”, nickname of Al Capone) once the F has been removed (indicated by “eschewing force” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”), like so: SCA(PEG)RACE. An excellent word. I thought the same back in 2020, the last time this appeared in a Jumbo cryptic.

15. Laurel perhaps remaining fresh and vital (9)

Answer: EVERGREEN. Solution satisfies “laurel perhaps” – other evergreens are available – and “remaining fresh and vital”.

18. Fish from Scotland – central region? (8)

Answer: ALBACORE (i.e. “fish”). Solution is ALBA (i.e. “Scotland” to Gaelic Scots) followed by CORE (i.e. “central region”). Quite nice to find this was the first 8-letter fish listed in my Bradford’s. Saved a bit of time.

20. Worker beset by terrible malady relentlessly (9)

Answer: ADAMANTLY (i.e. “relentlessly”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “worker”) placed in or “beset by” an anagram (indicated by “terrible”) of MALADY, like so: ADAM(ANT)LY.

21. A bachelor, eccentric, having lived in the country from the start (10)

Answer: ABORIGINAL (i.e. “having lived in the country from the start”). Solution is A followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”, e.g. in a Bachelor of Arts) and ORIGINAL (i.e. unusual or “eccentric” – a bit of a stretch for my money, but whatever).

23. Replace dogs brought round to guard artist in foundation (10)

Answer: SUBSTRATUM (i.e. “foundation”). Solution is SUB (i.e. “replace”, short for substitute) followed by MUTTS (i.e. “dogs”) once reversed (indicated by “brought round”) and wrapped around or “guarding” RA (i.e. “artist”, specifically a Royal Academician), like so: SUB-(ST(RA)TUM).

27. Home Office head blocking one hundred and one commoners? (3,6)

Answer: HOI POLLOI (i.e. “commoners”). Solution is HO (I guess this is supposed to be a recognised abbreviation of the “Home Office” – trouble is none of my dictionaries seem to support it. Yellow card?) followed by POLL (i.e. “head”, both meaning to remove the top of something; the former of a tree) once placed in or “blocking” IOI (i.e. letters resembling “one hundred and one”), like so: HO-I(POLL)OI.

28. Where children are taught to get on? (8,6)

Answer: BOARDING SCHOOL (i.e. “where children are taught”). The remainder of the clue plays on how BOARDING can mean to “get on”. Another clue I liked.

31. Doing nothing in group when leader vanishes (8)

Answer: INACTION (i.e. “doing nothing”). Solution is IN followed by FACTION (i.e. “group”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “when leader vanishes”), like so: IN-ACTION.

33. Military supplier’s aromatic cooking drawing in young woman (12)

Answer: COMMISSARIAT (i.e. “military supplier”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooking”) of AROMATIC wrapped around or “drawing in” MISS (i.e. “young woman”), like so: COM(MISS)ARIAT.

34. Reasonable advantage retaining a religious work, not the first (9)

Answer: PLAUSIBLE (i.e. “reasonable”). Solution is PLUS (i.e. “advantage”) wrapped around or “retaining” A and followed by BIBLE (i.e. “religious work”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “not the first”), like so: PL(A)US-IBLE.

37. Not inclined to be fair (2,3,5)

Answer: ON THE LEVEL. Solution satisfies “not inclined” and “be fair”.

38. Upright character must stop malign duo, criminal element (10)

Answer: GADOLINIUM (i.e. chemical “element”, a rather toxic metal). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “criminal”) of MALIGN DUO once wrapped around or being “stopped” by I (i.e. “upright character”), like so: GADOL(I)NIUM. I liked the clue significantly more than the solution. It’s tempting to remember this one solely on the off-chance I’ll be asked by a Pointless researcher one day to name a chemical element. And on the off-chance that “chemical elements” gets chosen as a category by a contestant on Pointless. And on the off-chance that said contestant on Pointless smugly offers GADOLINIUM as a pointless answer, believing themselves quids-in. And on the off-chance I’ll happen across said episode of Pointless when it is broadcast to see the smile wiped from said contestant’s face as Richard Osman (if he still does Pointless) says one person actually did say GADOLINIUM. I would find that incredibly funny, perhaps even rolling on the floor cackling “That was me! That was me what did that! A-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa!” It would be quite a long way to go for a joke, though, I admit, considering 1) only I would get it, and 2) I don’t even watch Pointless.

41. Immoral habit by newspaper keeping old phone messages (9)

Answer: VOICEMAIL (i.e. “phone messages”). Solution is VICE (i.e. “immoral habit”) and MAIL (i.e. “newspaper”) all wrapped around or “keeping” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: V(O)ICE-MAIL.

43. Feeling of anger going round confused shy figure (8)

Answer: PHYSIQUE (i.e. “figure”). Solution is PIQUE (i.e. “feeling of anger”) wrapped “round” an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of SHY, like so: P(HYS)IQUE. Appeared in grid 1583 back in November, also on even intersecting letters, so…

45. Settle musical scores? (7)

Answer: ARRANGE. Clue plays on the solution satisfying “settle” and “musical scores” being arrangements. Something like that, anyway.

47. Ability explosive: is it drink-fuelled? (6)

Answer: TALENT (i.e. “ability”). Solution is TNT (i.e. “explosive”, short for trinitrotoluene) wrapped around or “fuelled” by ALE (i.e. “drink”), like so: T(ALE)NT. Appeared in grid 1610 back in April, but on that occasion on odd intersecting letters.

50. Repetitious complaint about old volunteers in four pairs? (5)

Answer: OCTAD (i.e. a set of eight, or “four pairs”). Solution is OCD (i.e. “repetitious complaint”, short for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) wrapped “about” TA (i.e. “old volunteers”, the Territory Army – it’s not often you find a setter acknowledge the TA doesn’t exist any more), like so: OC(TA)D.

51. Confederacy or those who opposed it? (5)

Answer: UNION (i.e. “confederacy”). The remainder of the clue plays on the American Civil War, fought between the Union (the North) and the Confederacy (the South) of the US.

52. Grunge band, unconvincing here, finally shows bite (4)

Answer: EDGE (i.e. “bite”). “Finally” indicates the solution is formed from the last letters of GRUNGE BAND UNCONVINCING HERE.

A relatively straightforward Jumbo this week that was noticeably more fun to complete than it was to write up. Repeats are a given by this point, but the number of times I was writing “man’s name” or “woman’s name” was getting silly. I recall a previous Jumbo that came across like a baby names book, so maybe this a particular setter’s calling card. If so, I can’t say I’m a fan.

Anyway, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has trampled your daisies 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, and thanks also to those of you dipping your toes in the comments for the first time. You’ll find a good bunch here, far better than the curmudgeonly bugger writing the posts deserves. 😀 Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

RBV (Repeats-By-Volume): 10.3% (including a biggie)

Across clues

1. Woman entertaining cricket side in Italian city (6)

Answer: VERONA (i.e. “Italian city”). Solution is VERA (i.e. “woman’s” name) wrapped around or “entertaining” ON (i.e. “cricket side”, also known as leg side), like so: VER(ON)A.

5. Piece of writing originally studied in father’s day (7)

Answer: PASSAGE (i.e. “piece of writing”). Solution is S (i.e. “originally studied”, i.e. the first letter of “studied”) placed “in” PA’S (i.e. “father’s”) and AGE (i.e. “day”, as in “back in my day”), like so: PA’S-(S)-AGE.

9. Independence of a university man receiving high honour (8)

Answer: AUTONOMY (i.e. “independence”). Solution is A followed by U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) then TONY (i.e. a “man’s” name) once wrapped around or “receiving” OM (i.e. “high honour”, specifically the Order of Merit), like so: A-U-TO(NO)MY.

13. Suffer verbal abuse? A stranger on a bus may ask to (2,4,5,3,4,3)

Answer: BE TOLD WHERE ONE GETS OFF. Solution satisfies “suffer verbal abuse” and “a stranger on a bus may ask to”, if you follow it with the whole solution.

14. Objections of experts holding trial (8)

Answer: PROTESTS (i.e. “objections”). Solution is PROS (i.e. “experts”, short for professionals) wrapped around or “holding” TEST (i.e. “trial”), like so: PRO(TEST)S.

15. Comfortless role in school sickbay (7)

Answer: SPARTAN (i.e. “comfortless”). Solution is PART (i.e. “role”) placed “in” SAN (i.e. boarding “school sickbay”, short for sanatorium), like so: S(PART)AN.

16. Like a coward, react noisily to sudden pain (6)

Answer: YELLOW (i.e. “like a coward”). When written as YELL OW! The solution also satisfies “react noisily to sudden pain”.

17. Uncommonly loud surgical appliance, one used in Algerian port (10)

Answer: STENTORIAN (i.e. “uncommonly loud”). Solution is STENT (i.e. “surgical device”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) once placed “in” ORAN (i.e. “Algerian port”), like so: STENT-OR(I)AN.

20. Old method of punishment avoiding spades and drill, say (7,5)

Answer: DUCKING STOOL (i.e. “old method of punishment”). Solution is DUCKING (i.e. “avoiding”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “spades” used in some card games) and TOOL (i.e. “drill, say” – other tools are available).

23. Dress Mickey’s mousy girlfriend talked of? (4)

Answer: MINI (i.e. “dress”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “talked of”) of MINNIE (i.e. “Mickey’s mousy girlfriend”).

24. Son making fun of ornamental needlework (8)

Answer: SMOCKING (i.e. “ornamental needlework”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by MOCKING (i.e. “making fun of”).

26. His sonata endlessly contrived to amaze (8)

Answer: ASTONISH (i.e. “to amaze”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “contrived”) of HIS SONATA once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “endlessly”).

29. Docker yearns to meet equestrian? Not so, at first (12)

Answer: LONGSHOREMAN (i.e. “docker”). Solution is LONGS (i.e. “yearns”) followed by HORSEMAN (i.e. “equestrian”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “not so, at first”, i.e. the first letter of “so”), like so: LONGS-HOREMAN.

30. Looking into Irish lineage, one gets shot (10)

Answer: IRIDESCENT (i.e. “shot” – over to Chambers for a few variant meanings: “with warp and weft of different colours, as in shot silk; showing a play of colours”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” again) placed “into” IR (a recognised abbreviation of “Irish”) and DESCENT (i.e. “lineage”), like so: IR-(I)-DESCENT. IRIDESCENCE appeared in grid 1584 back in November, also on odd intersecting letters. Close enough for me, so…

32. Servant girl disturbed diner in wine store, right away (10)

Answer: CINDERELLA (i.e. “servant girl” of the Brothers Grimm tale). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disturbed”) of DINER placed “in” CELLAR (i.e. “wine store”) once the R has been removed (indicated by “right away”, R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: C(INDER)ELLA.

34. Single state of Society playwright arresting second gangster (12)

Answer: SPINSTERHOOD (i.e. “single state”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “society”) followed by Harold PINTER (i.e. “playwright”) once wrapped around or “arresting” S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”). This is all then followed by HOOD (i.e. “gangster”), like so: S-PIN(S)TER-HOOD.

36. For example, a woman’ll collect good thin porcelain (8)

Answer: EGGSHELL (i.e. “thin porcelain”). Solution is E.G. (i.e. “for example”, after the Latin exampli gratia) and SHE’LL (i.e. “woman’ll”) all wrapped around or “collecting” G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: E.G.-(G)-SHE’LL.

38. Manxman possibly, one dogged by malicious defamation (8)

Answer: ISLANDER (i.e. “Manxman possibly”, other islanders are available). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again again) followed by SLANDER (i.e. “malicious defamation”).

39. Sort of test covering a defensive water-filled ditch (4)

Answer: MOAT (i.e. “defensive water-filled ditch”). Solution is MOT (i.e. “sort of test”, named after the old Ministry of Transport) wrapped around or “covering” A, like so: MO(A)T.

41. Incompatibility of trendy crook thus meeting granny at church (12)

Answer: INCONSONANCE (i.e. “incompatibility”). Solution is IN (i.e. “trendy”) followed by CON (i.e. “crook”), then SO (i.e. “thus”), then NAN (i.e. “granny”) and CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England).

43. Composer briefly hemmed in by bounder’s dog (10)

Answer: ROTTWEILER (i.e. “dog”). Solution is Kurt WEILL (i.e. “composer” who brought us The Threepenny Opera with Bertolt Brecht. I’ll now have Mack the Knife stuck in my head for the rest of this post, which is no bad thing) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder placed in or “hemmed in by” ROTTER (i.e. “bounder”), like so: ROTT(WEIL)ER.

44. Current taking explorer from one side to the other (6)

Answer: ACROSS (i.e. “from one side to the other”). Solution is AC (i.e. alternating “current”) followed by John ROSS (i.e. polar “explorer” of the nineteenth century).

46. Film brought back to plug old injury in back of head (7)

Answer: OCCIPUT (i.e. “back of head”, anatomically speaking). Solution is PIC (i.e. “film”, short for picture) reversed (indicated by “brought back”) and placed in or “plugging” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and CUT (i.e. “injury”), like so: O-C(CIP)UT.

48. Sour woman taking chap round north-east (8)

Answer: VINEGARY (i.e. “sour”). Solution is VI (i.e “woman’s” name) and GARY (i.e. “chap’s” name) all wrapped “round” NE (a recognised abbreviation of “north-east”), like so: VI-(NE)-GARY. Good grief, this is four forenames used in solutions to this point, and we’re not even out of the across clues yet. Chuck in a couple of real-world people and it starts to feel a little one-track.

50. Issue a challenge that’s involved hero that’s now performing at Bayreuth? (5,4,3,2,3,4)

Answer: THROW ONE’S HAT IN THE RING (i.e. “issue a challenge”). A quick aside: thanks in part to restrictions placed on the amount of gambling advertising on UK TV, there are so few advertisers across Sky Sports these days that Sky often have to fill most or all of their ad breaks with show trailers or ads for their own umpteen spurious services. Meanwhile, those few adverts that aren’t for Sky are created by agencies who rarely create more than one TV ad per campaign. As a result, pretty much every ad break across Sky Sports comprises a vanishingly small pool of adverts on heavy rotation. TV types don’t seem to appreciate that when viewers are plagued with the same shit over and over and over again, they grow averse to the stuff being advertised. If I cease posting soon, it might be because I’ve stolen all the conservatory insulation, Sky “smart tech” (please…) and knob drugs I can get my hands on and burnt them all in a big pit. Sirram’s comment last week about me posting from prison may be strangely prophetic.

All this waffle is to say, in short: familiarity breeds contempt. Which brings me to this solution. Fans of the Jumbo cryptic will know we had virtually the same solution in grid 1632 barely over a month ago (also on odd intersecting letters). Now, a few five-letter repeats each week we can perhaps expect, but a 20+ letter phrase so soon after its last appearance? No. Not good enough. Not even close. Now, the temptation here would be for me to unload on this week’s setter in my usual graceless way, but, really, the problem lies squarely with The Times’ puzzles editor. A stronger editor would have rejected this grid due to the jarring repeat, or at the very least arranged for it to be published much later. But no, the editor just blindly published it unchallenged as he always does. It’s pathetic, and it’s getting really boring now. The fact that Max ERNST has made an appearance again this week, when I keep using him as a past example of dull repeats, is the cherry on the cake.

Right, that’s my customary rant about repeats out of the way for this week. On with the show…

The solution is an anagram (indicated by “involved”) of HERO THAT’S NOW followed by IN THE RING (indicative of “at Bayreuth” – The Bayreuth Festival was created to celebrate Richard Wagner’s works, in particular his Ring Cycle. Apparently the festival was his idea, which is some impressive next-level egotism).

51. One offering to be more affectionate (8)

Answer: TENDERER. Solution satisfies “one offering” and “more affectionate”. TENDERLY appeared in grid 1628 a couple of months ago, but on odd intersecting letters on that occasion.

52. Furtiveness of duck taking time in quiet environment (7)

Answer: STEALTH (i.e. “furtiveness”). Solution is TEAL (i.e. “duck”) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) all placed “in” SH (i.e. “quiet”), like so: S(TEAL-T)H. STEALTHY appeared in grid 1588 in December and again in grid 1637 only last week, but on both occasions on even intersecting letters. Still, quite a popular word, isn’t it?

53. A piece of cake daughters received in hand-out (6)

Answer: DODDLE (i.e. a cinch or “piece of cake”). Solution is D and D (i.e. “daughters” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) both placed “in” DOLE (i.e. “hand-out”), like so: DO(DD)LE. Appeared in grid 1625 in July, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

Down clues

2. Something that glows at the end of three months? (5)

Answer: EMBER (i.e. “something that glows”). The solution also satisfies the remainder of the clue, given EMBER is found “at the end of” SEPTEMBER, NOVEMBER and DECEMBER. This would have been a good clue were it not for the fact we had virtually the same thing in last week’s Jumbo. Almost worth a meme in itself.

3. Exceptional? Not in status (11)

Answer: OUTSTANDING (i.e. “exceptional”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “not in”) followed by STANDING (i.e. “status”).

4. Reference initially understood in the whole of Jerusalem (8)

Answer: ALLUSION (i.e. “reference”). Solution is U (i.e. “initially understood”, i.e. the first letter of “understood”) placed “in” ALL (i.e. “the whole of”) and SION (i.e. “Jerusalem”, variant spelling of Zion – Chambers doesn’t want to know, but my Oxford backs it up), like so: ALL-(U)-SION.

5. Wartime captives transfixed by unknown part of Wales (5)

Answer: POWYS (i.e. “part of Wales”). Solution is POWS (i.e. “wartime captives”, or Prisoners of War) wrapped around or “transfixed by” Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns), like so: POW(Y)S.

6. Family member’s measures, old and new (7)

Answer: STEPSON (i.e. “family member”). Solution is STEPS (i.e. “measures”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and N (ditto “new”).

7. Fellow embracing Roman law, an Egyptian citizen (11)

Answer: ALEXANDRIAN (i.e. “Egyptian citizen”). Solution is ADRIAN (i.e. “fellow’s” name – another forename) wrapped around or “embracing” LEX (i.e. “Roman law”, i.e. the Latin for law) and AN, like so: A(LEX-AN)DRIAN.

8. He painted sailors in east of France (5)

Answer: Max ERNST (i.e. “he painted”). Is he back for another residency in Times Jumbos? Could be. Solution is RN (i.e. “sailors”, the Royal Navy) placed “in” EST (i.e. “east of France”, i.e. the French for “east”), like so: E(RN)ST.

9. Country bloke in sports stadium having change of heart (9)

Answer: ARGENTINA (i.e. “country”). Solution is GENT (i.e. “bloke”) placed “in” ARENA (i.e. “sports stadium”) once its middle letter or “heart” has been “changed”, like so: AR(GENT)ENA => AR(GENT)INA. I’m seldom a fan of “change of heart” wordplay. It’s valid, but it always feels lazy to me. Meanwhile, the solution appeared in grid 1588 back in December, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

10. Worn out Rechabite thrown into Scottish river (5)

Answer: TATTY (i.e. “worn out”). Solution is TT (i.e. “Rechabite”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a teetotaller. Over to Chambers again: “a descendant of Jonadab, son of Rechab, who did not drink wine or dwell in houses”) placed “into” TAY (i.e. “Scottish river”), like so: TA(TT)Y.

11. Like a branch of philosophy misrepresented in a plot once (3-8)

Answer: NEO-PLATONIC (i.e. “like a branch of philosophy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “misrepresented”) of IN A PLOT ONCE.

12. Second note about a woman member of Cosa Nostra (7)

Answer: MAFIOSO (i.e. “member of Cosa Nostra”, or the Mafia). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment) and SO (i.e. musical “note” of the sol-fa scale) all wrapped “about” A and FI (i.e. “woman’s” name, the sixth forename now), like so: M(A-FI)O-SO.

18. In Herts town, worry over cut of clothes (9)

Answer: TAILORING (i.e. “cut of clothes”). Solution is TRING (i.e. “Herts town”) wrapped around or having “in” AIL (i.e. “worry”) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket), like so: T(AIL-O)RING.

19. Dissolute males involved in current exam (7)

Answer: IMMORAL (i.e. “dissolute”). Solution is M and M (i.e. “males”, much like DD for daughters earlier, M being a recognised abbreviation of “male”) both placed “in” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and ORAL (i.e. “exam”), like so: I-(MM)-ORAL.

21. Perception of minor employee no one can set up (9)

Answer: COGNITION (i.e. “perception”). Solution is COG (i.e. “minor employee”) followed by NO, I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” again again again) and TIN (i.e. “can”) once these last three have been reversed (indicated by “set up” – this being a down clue), like so: COG-(NIT-I-ON).

22. As harvest is in autumn, it’s understood (8)

Answer: GATHERED. Solution satisfies “as harvest is in autumn” and “understood”.

25. Friend of fellow member with girl about ten (9)

Answer: COMPANION (i.e. “friend”). Solution is CO (i.e. prefix denoting “fellow”) followed by MP (i.e. “Member” of Parliament), then ANN (i.e. “girl’s” name, the seventh forename now) once wrapped “about” IO (i.e. “ten”), like so: CO-MP-AN(IO)N.

27. Ultimately many poets can somehow give an offbeat performance? (9)

Answer: SYNCOPATE (i.e. “give an offbeat performance”. Chambers offers: “to alter the rhythm (of music etc) temporarily by transferring the accent to a normally unaccented beat”. Whatever any of that means). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of Y (i.e. “ultimately many”, i.e. the last letter of “many”) and POETS CAN.

28. People demanding payment for battery boosters (8)

Answer: CHARGERS. Solution satisfies “people demanding payment” and “battery boosters”.

31. Examine pitch initially during cricket, perhaps (7)

Answer: INSPECT (i.e. “examine”). Solution is P (i.e. “pitch initially”, i.e. the first letter of “pitch”) placed in or “during” INSECT (i.e. “cricket, perhaps” – other flavours of insect are available), like so: INS(P)ECT.

33. Shamed donor hides outside entrance to United’s ground (11)

Answer: DISHONOURED (i.e. “shamed”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ground”) of DONOR HIDES wrapped around or placed “outside” of U (i.e. “entrance to United”, i.e. the first letter of “United”), like so: DISHONO(U)RED. Solution appeared in grid 1603 back in March, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

34. Sadly reveal split in tableware, perhaps (6,5)

Answer: SILVER PLATE (i.e. “tableware, perhaps”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of REVEAL SPLIT.

35. One that hovers, smelling rat at first in offer (11)

Answer: HUMMINGBIRD (i.e. “one that hovers”). Solution is HUMMING (i.e. “smelling”) followed by R (i.e. “rat at first”, i.e. the first letter of “rat”) placed “in” BID (i.e. “offer”), like so: HUMMING-BI(R)D. Solution appeared in grid 1592 back in December, also on odd intersecting letters, so…

37. Squire at lower level in country road by river (9)

Answer: LANDOWNER (i.e. “squire”). Solution is DOWN (i.e. “at lower level”) placed “in” LANE (i.e. “country road”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: LAN(DOWN)E-R.

40. Bird-keeper pale woman’s located in South Dakota (8)

Answer: SWANHERD (i.e. “bird-keeper”). Solution is WAN (i.e. “pale”) and HER (i.e. “woman’s”, read as possessive instead of a contraction of “woman is”) both placed “in” SD (US state abbreviation of “South Dakota”), like so: S(WAN-HER)D.

42. Canoodle on moor – in formal wear! (7)

Answer: NECKTIE (i.e. “formal wear”). Solution is NECK (i.e. “canoodle”) followed by TIE (i.e. to “moor”).

43. Further hearing set up in a while outside Rhode Island (7)

Answer: RETRIAL (i.e. “further hearing”). Solution is LATER (i.e. “in a while”) reversed (indicated by “set up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “outside” of RI (US state abbreviation of Rhode Island), like so: RET(RI)AL.

45. Thus you and I originally recognised a broadcaster? (5)

Answer: SOWER (i.e. “broadcaster”). Solution is SO (i.e. “thus”) followed by WE (i.e. “you and I”) and R (i.e. “originally recognised”, i.e. the first letter of “recognised”).

47. Bags patients? (5)

Answer: CASES. Solution satisfies “bags” and “patients”.

48. Make an impression supporting head of vehicle plant (5)

Answer: VETCH (i.e. “plant”). Solution is ETCH (i.e. “make an impression”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – V (i.e. “head of vehicle”, i.e. the first letter of “vehicle”), like so: V-ETCH.

49. Equipment used by the Spanish star (5)

Answer: RIGEL (i.e. a “star” of the constellation Orion). Solution is RIG (i.e. “equipment”) followed by EL (i.e. “the Spanish”, i.e. the Spanish for “the”).