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

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

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

LP

Across clues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

39. Beginning with covers of Nirvana track (7)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Down clues

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Gathering police must conserve energy (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

31. Speaker’s shy in class (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

48. Lingerie items donned by Royal composer (6)

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

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

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

52. Not as large, empty vessel (4)

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

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

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

LP

Across clues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21. Crime fast overwhelming Ireland (6)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

38. Sweetener applied to tongue mostly useless (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

51. Sit on completed story (7)

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

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

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

53. Female caught sliprail after collapsing (9)

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

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

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

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

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

Down clues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Boorish idiot on councillor’s case (5)

Answer: CRASS (i.e. “boorish”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “idiot”) placed “on” or after CR (i.e. “councillor’s case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “councillor”), like so: CR-ASS.

4. Obvious formality puts off adult trainee (10)

Answer: APPRENTICE (i.e. “trainee”). Solution is APPARENT (i.e. “obvious”) and ICE (i.e. “formality”) with one of the As removed (indicated by “puts off adult”, an old film certification requiring children under 14 to be accompanied by an adult, which was largely superseded by PG), like so: APPRENT-ICE.

9. They bring together British experts (6)

Answer: BRACES (i.e. “they bring together”). Solution is BR (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) and ACES (i.e. “experts”).

14. Confiscate sought after object stolen by witness (9)

Answer: SEQUESTER (i.e. “confiscate”). Solution is QUEST (i.e. “sought after object”) placed in or “stolen by” SEER (i.e. “witness”), like so: SE(QUEST)ER.

15. English doctor runs into trouble, heading off source of shame? (13)

Answer: EMBARRASSMENT (i.e. “shame”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MB (i.e. “doctor”, a Bachelor of Medicine or Medicinae Baccalaureus) and HARRASSMENT (i.e. “trouble”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: E-MB-ARRASSMENT.

16. Letter’s mostly impressive elegance, having no heart (7)

Answer: EPISTLE (i.e. “letter”). Solution is EPIC (i.e. “impressive”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder followed by STYLE (i.e. “elegance”) once its middle letter has been removed (indicated by “having no heart”), like so: EPI-STLE.

17. Is work this writer’s returned disrupting whole discussion? (9)

Answer: SYMPOSIUM (i.e. “discussion”). Solution is IS, OP (i.e. “work”, a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) and MY (i.e. “this writer’s”, or something belonging to the setter) all reversed (indicated by “returned”) and placed in or “disrupting” SUM (i.e. “whole”), like so: S(YM-PO-SI)UM.

18. Monarch’s rule is unfamiliar except for Republican’s predecessors (5)

Answer: REIGN (i.e. “monarch’s rule”). Solution is FOREIGN (i.e. “unfamiliar”) with the FO removed (indicated by “except for Republican’s predecessors” – I believe this is referring to the word “for” in the clue, specifically the letters ‘FO’ of the word that precede ‘R’ (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”). If it turns out this refers to something else then I’ll update the post).

19. Fresh fruit filled with sugar’s beginning process involving press (4,10)

Answer: NEWS CONFERENCE (i.e. “process involving press”). Solution is NEW (i.e. “fresh”) and CONFERENCE (i.e. “fruit”, specifically a variety of pear) all wrapped around or “filled with” S (i.e. “sugar’s beginning” letter), like so: NEW-(S)-CONFERENCE.

22. ID provided by returning sentry? (7)

Answer: NAMETAG (i.e. “ID”). Solution is GATEMAN (i.e. “sentry”) reversed or “returned”. The riddly question mark isn’t really necessary as GATEMAN is a recognised word.

25. Novel written that is containing new twist (10)

Answer: INTERTWINE (i.e. “twist”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of WRITTEN followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”!) once wrapped around or “containing” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: INTERTW-I(N)E.

27. Song drunk lady sung with elan (4,4,4)

Answer: AULD LANG SYNE (i.e. “song”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of LADY SUNG and ELAN.

30. Who might produce monumental work featuring mother and child? (5)

Answer: MASON (i.e. “who might produce monumental work”). Solution is MA (i.e. informal word for “mother”) followed by SON (i.e. “child”).

31. Loutish Australian arrived spreading much fondness (8)

Answer: LARRIKIN (i.e. “loutish Australian” – a new one on me, but then I’m not Australian). Solution is ARR (a recognised abbreviation of “arrived” used, say, on timetables) placed on or “spreading” LIKING (i.e. “fondness”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “much”), like so: L(ARR)IKIN.

32. Emphasised the effect of final courses being returned (8)

Answer: STRESSED (i.e. “emphasised the effect of”). Solution is DESSERTS (i.e. “final courses”) reversed (indicated by “returned”). Seen it before.

35. Particular detail diminished sci-fi epic in some way (8)

Answer: SPECIFIC (i.e. “particular”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in some way”) of SCI-FI once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “diminished”) and EPIC.

36. Sinister people on the march wanting power (8)

Answer: MENACING (i.e. “sinister”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “people”) followed by PACING (i.e. “on the march”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “wanting power” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: MEN-ACING.

37. Time to worry persistently about distinctive accent (5)

Answer: TWANG (i.e. “distinctive accent”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by GNAW (i.e. “to worry persistently”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: T-WANG.

39. Conservative government’s first, for example, to stop helping assembly (12)

Answer: CONGREGATION (i.e. “assembly”). Solution is CON (short for “Conservative”) followed by G (i.e. “government’s first” letter) and EG (i.e. “for example”) once placed in or “stopping” RATION (i.e. portion or “helping”), like so: CON-G-R(EG)ATION.

41. Purchased too much public housing for branch (10)

Answer: OVERBOUGHT (i.e. “purchased too much”). Solution is OVERT (i.e. “public”) wrapped around or “housing” BOUGH (i.e. “branch”), like so: OVER(BOUGH)T.

43. Hot sauce and beans regularly wrapped in pancake (7)

Answer: TABASCO (i.e. “hot sauce”). Solution is BAS (i.e. “beans regularly”, i.e. every other letter of BEANS) placed or “wrapped in” TACO (i.e. “pancake”), like so: TA(BAS)CO.

45. Coolness and spirit belonging to object (8,2,4)

Answer: PRESENCE OF MIND (i.e. “coolness”). Solution is MIND (i.e. “spirit”) being OF or “belonging to” PRESENCE (i.e. a material thing or “object”). You get the idea.

48. Harangue half-cut voters (5)

Answer: ORATE (i.e. to “harangue”). Solution is ELECTORATE (i.e. “voters”) with the first “half cut”.

49. Awfully banal choir missing a description of breathtaking passage? (9)

Answer: BRONCHIAL (i.e. “description of breathtaking passage”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of BANAL CHOIR.

51. Extreme means of amplifying vocal controversy (7)

Answer: POLEMIC (i.e. “controversy”). Solution is POLE (i.e. geographical “extreme”) followed by MIC (i.e. “means of amplifying vocal”, short for a microphone).

53. What can prise open the tightest of locks? (4-5,4)

Answer: FINE-TOOTH COMB. Clue plays on “locks” being another word for hair. Would a fine-tooth comb do the job though? I don’t have tight curly hair (very much the opposite) so can’t really answer. Seems unlikely though.

54. Take cover from some of sun’s heat henceforth (9)

Answer: UNSHEATHE (i.e. “take cover from”). “Some of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: S(UN’S HEAT HE)NCEFORTH. Nicely done.

55. Temptation grips king, queen and lady-in-waiting? (6)

Answer: LURKER (i.e. “lady-in-waiting”, playing more on someone lying in wait than anyone in a royal household). Solution is LURE (i.e. “temptation”) wrapped around or “gripping” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess) and followed by R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina), like so: LUR(K)E-R.

56. Advanced position demonstrated by leader of game? (10)

Answer: BRIDGEHEAD (i.e. “advanced position” on a ship). When written as BRIDGE HEAD the solution also playfully satisfies “leader of [card] game”.

57. I’m surprised piercing sound is boring (2-3)

Answer: HO-HUM (i.e. “boring”). Solution is OH (i.e. “I’m surprised”) placed in or “piercing” HUM (i.e. “sound”), like so: H(OH)UM.

Down clues

1. Partners in deal following money and source of oil (6)

Answer: CASHEW (i.e. a “source of oil”). Solution is E and W (i.e. “partners in deal”, specifically east and west in a game of bridge) placed after or “following” CASH (i.e. “money”), like so: CASH-E-W.

2. Gained experience that takes time to be appreciated (8,5)

Answer: ACQUIRED TASTE (i.e. “that takes time to be appreciated”). Solution is ACQUIRED (i.e. “gained”) followed by TASTE (i.e. an “experience” of something).

3. Process to extract metal emitted noxious fumes? (5)

Answer: SMELT. Solution satisfies “process to extract metal” and, playfully, “emitted noxious fumes”, for the Johnny Fartpants among you.

4. Innovative style disrupted trade with company (3,4)

Answer: ART DECO (i.e. “innovative style”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disrupted”) of TRADE followed by CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”), like so: ARTDE-CO.

5. Legal ways in sabotaged troop’s attempt to guard Slough (5,2,5)

Answer: PORTS OF ENTRY (i.e. “legal ways in”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sabotaged”) of TROOP’S and TRY (i.e. “attempt”) all wrapped around or “guarding” FEN (i.e. a marsh or “slough”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: PORTSO-(FEN)-TRY.

6. Sin tempted woman upset about way of working henceforth (8)

Answer: EVERMORE (i.e. “henceforth”). Solution is ERR (i.e. to “sin”) and EVE (i.e. “tempted woman”) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “about” MO (i.e. “way of working”, short for Modus Operandi), like so: EVE-R(MO)RE.

7. Cheers show disapproval of what is unacceptable (5)

Answer: TABOO (i.e. “what is unacceptable”). Solution is TA (i.e. “cheers”) followed by BOO (i.e. “show disapproval”).

8. Elements of a recording requiring adjustment? (10)

Answer: CORRIGENDA. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being “corrections to be made in a book” (Chambers) and is also an anagram (indicated by “requiring adjustment”) of A RECORDING. Usually I’d have a big moan about exotic solutions being clued up as anagrams, but at least on this occasion the solution was interesting.

10. Platform game set in storm at sea (7)

Answer: ROSTRUM (i.e. “platform”). Solution is RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “at sea”) of STORM, like so: ROST(RU)M.

11. Subject that brings people together? (9)

Answer: CHEMISTRY. Solution satisfies school “subject” and “that brings people together”.

12. Made a contribution to protest material (5)

Answer: SATIN (i.e. “material”). When written as SAT-IN the solution also satisfies “made a contribution to protest”.

13. Carnivorous animal is confused with a giant marten (9,5)

Answer: TASMANIAN TIGER (i.e. “carnivorous animal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of IS and A GIANT MARTEN.

20. Dog that’s been fed one more resilient (9)

Answer: SPRINGIER (i.e. “more resilient”). Solution is SPRINGER (i.e. “dog”) wrapped around or having “been fed” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: SPRING(I)ER.

21. Reportedly bad state of ratings? (8)

Answer: NAUTICAL (i.e. “of ratings” – one definition of “rating” is a class of seaman). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of NAUGHTY (i.e. “bad”) followed by CAL (i.e. US “state”, short for California), like so: NAUTI-CAL.

23. Editor plugging dull, essential elements for enthusiastic consumer (6,4)

Answer: GREEDY GUTS (i.e. “enthusiastic consumer”). Solution is ED (short for “editor”) placed in or “plugging” GREY (i.e. “dull”) and followed by GUTS (i.e. “essential elements”), like so: GRE(ED)Y-GUTS.

24. Hipster from country once potential partner for Queen (7,3)

Answer: SIAMESE CAT (i.e. “potential partner for Queen” – a queen being a female cat). Solution also satisfies “hipster from country once”, referring to Siam, the former name of Thailand.

26. Capital gains reduced protection for member (10,4)

Answer: WELLINGTON BOOT (i.e. “protection for member” – a member sometimes refers to an arm or leg). Solution is WELLINGTON (i.e. “capital” of New Zealand) followed by BOOTS (i.e. “gains” – a variant meaning of “boot” is profit) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”).

28. For all to see, established in union member’s accommodation (5,4)

Answer: GUEST ROOM (i.e. “accommodation”). Solution is U (i.e. “for all to see”, i.e. the film certificate “universal”) and EST (a recognised abbreviation of “established”) both placed “in” GROOM (i.e. “union member”, taking a union to be a wedding), like so: G(U-EST)ROOM.

29. Boring book about religious education occupying lives (8)

Answer: TIRESOME (i.e. “boring”). Solution is TOME (i.e. “book”) wrapped “about” RE (a recognised abbreviation of “religious education”) once this has first been placed in or “occupying” IS (i.e. “lives”), like so: T(I(RE)S)OME.

33. Bitter dispute caused by raising line in small fishing competition (8,5)

Answer: SLANGING MATCH (i.e. “bitter dispute”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), ANGLING (i.e. “fishing”) and MATCH (i.e. “competition”) once the L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”) has been moved back a couple of notches or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: S-ANG(L)ING-MATCH => S-(L)ANGING-MATCH.

34. 56 lines Lucretius translated in The Art of Forestry (12)

Answer: SILVICULTURE (i.e. “the art of forestry” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is LVI (i.e. “56” expressed in Roman numerals) placed in or “lining” an anagram (indicated by “translated”) of LUCRETIUS, like so: SI(LVI)CULTURE.

38. Woman often seen as wicked sulks about choke holds (10)

Answer: STEPMOTHER (i.e. “woman often seen as wicked” in fairy tales). Solution is PET (i.e. “sulk”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and placed in or “held” by SMOTHER (i.e. “choke”), like so: S(TEP)MOTHER.

40. Presumably someone who wouldn’t bash your head in is hardly a problem (2-7)

Answer: NO-BRAINER. Solution satisfies “hardly a problem” and, playfully, “presumably someone who wouldn’t bash your head in”.

42. Trustworthy cover from reinsurance likely (8)

Answer: RELIABLE (i.e. “trustworthy”). Solution is RE (i.e. “cover from reinsurance”, i.e. the first and last letters of “reinsurance”) followed by LIABLE (i.e. “likely”).

44. Staff spirit changing around characters known for political correctness (7)

Answer: SCEPTRE (i.e. “staff”). Solution is SPECTRE (i.e. “spirit”) with the P and C swapped around (indicated by “changing around characters known for political correctness”), like so: S(P)E(C)TRE => S(C)E(P)TRE.

46. Not in favour of baseless stance adopted by newspaper article (7)

Answer: OPPOSED (i.e. “not in favour of”). Solution is POSE (i.e. “stance”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “baseless”) and the remainder placed in or “adopted by” OP-ED (i.e. “newspaper article”), like so: OP-(POS)-ED.

47. Cry about being caught in sting (6)

Answer: SCREAM (i.e. “cry”). Solution RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) placed or “caught in” SCAM (i.e. “sting”), like so: SC(RE)AM.

48. Waste removed from almost everything (5)

Answer: OFFAL (i.e. “waste removed”). Solution is OFF (i.e. “from”) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: OFF-AL.

50. Sound produced by one string or several (5)

Answer: CHORD. Solution is a homophone (indicated by “sound produced by”) of CORD (i.e. “string”). The solution also satisfies “sound produced by several” strings. Nicely worked.

52. Scoundrel lying about securing Charlie for sucker (5)

Answer: LEECH (i.e. “sucker”). Solution is HEEL (i.e. “scoundrel”) reversed (indicated by “lying about”) and wrapped around or “securing” C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: LEE(C)H.

A medium strength Jumbo this week with a decent number of inventive clues. Not a bad little timewaster, all told.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Reverse carriage and damage wall (7)

Answer: RAMPART (i.e. defensive “wall”). Solution is TRAP (i.e. “carriage”, as in a pony and trap) and MAR (i.e. “damage”) all “reversed”, like so: RAM-PART.

5. Saw guide with German about to fight (5,3)

Answer: MITRE BOX (i.e. “saw guide” – over to Chambers: “a box with narrow slots to guide a saw when cutting a mitre”). Solution is MIT (i.e. “with German”, i.e. the German for “with”) followed by RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) and BOX (i.e. “to fight”).

9. Singular characteristic difficulty (6)

Answer: STRAIT (i.e. “difficulty”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by TRAIT (i.e. “characteristic”).

13. Naïve and weak Tory responsible for visibly distressed male? (3,6,3,4)

Answer: WET BEHIND THE EARS (i.e. “naïve”). Solution is WET (i.e. moderate or “weak Tory”) followed by BEHIND (i.e. being “responsible” for an outcome), then HE placed in TEARS (hinted at by “visibly distressed male”), like so: WET-BEHIND-T(HE)EARS.

14. Plot is reconstructed for this part of Henry V (6)

Answer: PISTOL (i.e. “part of Henry V”, specifically a character who appears in not only this but a handful of other Billy Shakespeare plays). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reconstructed”) of PLOT IS. One for the luvvies.

16. A couple of such fliers can be downloaded from Internet (8)

Answer: SEABIRDS (i.e. “fliers”). The rest of the clue plays on how TERN (one such seabird) can be found in or “downloaded from” IN(TERN)ET.

17. Stout one’s included in arbitrary order (4)

Answer: FIAT (i.e. “arbitrary order” – over to Chambers again: “a short order or warrant of a judge for making out or allowing processes, letters, patent, etc”. Busywork, then). Solution is FAT (i.e. “stout”) wrapped around or “including” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: F(I)AT.

18. Easily win a fight in pedestrian appearance (9)

Answer: WALKABOUT (i.e. a “pedestrian appearance”, say, by a royal). Solution is WALK (i.e. “easily win”) followed by A, then BOUT (i.e. “fight”).

20. Like voices raised in argument after brief tumble (8)

Answer: FALSETTO (i.e. “like voices raised”). Solution is SET TO (i.e. “argument”) placed “after” FALL (i.e. “tumble”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “brief”), like so: FAL-(SET-TO). Nicely disguised.

21. Time to stop bad behaviour characteristic of French academicians (11)

Answer: IMMORTALITY (i.e. “characteristic of French academicians” – the Académie Française comprises forty members, collectively known as “the immortals”. Of course I looked it up). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed in or “stopping” IMMORALITY (i.e. “bad behaviour”), like so: IMMOR(T)ALITY.

24. Give more details after English dog appears to speak (9)

Answer: ELABORATE (i.e. “give more details”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by LAB (i.e. “dog”, short for labrador) and ORATE (i.e. “to speak”).

25. Behaving badly about power in revolutionary movement (8)

Answer: SPINNING (i.e. “revolutionary movement”). Solution is SINNING (i.e. “behaving badly”) wrapped “about” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: S(P)INNING.

26. Crawl one of those babies does produce (4)

Answer: FAWN (i.e. to “crawl” or toady). The remainder of the clue plays on how a FAWN is also a young or “baby” deer. That’s about it, I guess.

29. In cruel way, call demanding attention traps innocent learner (11)

Answer: HEARTLESSLY (i.e. “in a cruel way”). Solution is HEY (i.e. “call demanding attention”) wrapped around or “trapping” ARTLESS (i.e. “innocent”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner” on L-plates), like so: HE(ARTLESS-L)Y.

31. Awful thing one encountered in swamp, truly awful (11)

Answer: NIGHTMARISH (i.e. “truly awful”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of THING followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) once placed “in” MARSH (i.e. “swamp”), like so: NIGHT-MAR(I)SH.

33. Conversely, copies out what led to first dismissal (8,3)

Answer: ORIGINAL SIN (i.e. “what led to first dismissal”, referring to Eve getting booted out of the Garden of Eden in The Bible). Solution comprises the opposites (indicated by “conversely”) of COPIES and OUT, i.e. ORIGINALS and IN.

36. Should, for example, state almost everything (11)

Answer: CONDITIONAL (i.e. “should, for example” – another example being “if”). Solution is CONDITION (i.e. “state” of something) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: CONDITION-AL.

38. Draw conclusions from Laurence Olivier portraying Othello so (4)

Answer: ERGO (i.e. “so”). “Draw conclusions from” indicates the solution is derived from the last letters of “LaurencE OlivieR portrayinG OthellO“.

39. Slam, beat badly (8)

Answer: LAMBASTE (i.e. “slam” – the solution can be spelled with or without an E, though with an E the only roasting it conjures up is that of juicy, tender meat. Nom, nom, nom). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of SLAM BEAT. Nice bit of recycling there.

41. Combinations of sayings oddly selected about articles referenced (9)

Answer: SYNTHESES (i.e. “combinations”). Solution is SYNS (i.e. “sayings oddly selected”, i.e. every other letter of SAYINGS) wrapped “about” THESE (i.e. “articles referenced”), like so: SYN(THESE)S.

44. Partners securing success with arrest for nonviolent kind of crime? (5-6)

Answer: WHITE-COLLAR (i.e. “nonviolent kind of crime”). Solution is W and E (i.e. “partners” in a game of bridge, being East and West) wrapped around or “securing” HIT (i.e. “success”). This is all followed by COLLAR (i.e. “arrest”), like so: W(HIT)E-COLLAR.

45. Cooked rice came for dessert (3,5)

Answer: ICE CREAM (i.e. “dessert”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of RICE CAME.

48. How one sees things in struggle with head (9)

Answer: VIEWPOINT (i.e. “how one sees things”). Solution is VIE (i.e. “struggle”) followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and POINT (i.e. “head”).

49. Attending promotion, recalled information (4)

Answer: DATA (i.e. “information”). Solution is AT (i.e. “attending”) and AD (i.e. “promotion”, short for advertisement) all reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: DA-TA.

50. Create diversion from Land’s End, with vehicles heading West in it (8)

Answer: DISTRACT (i.e. “create diversion”). Solution is D (i.e. “Land’s End”, i.e. the last letter of “Land”) followed by IT once CARTS (i.e. “vehicles”) has been reversed (indicated by “heading West” – this being an across clue) and placed “in” it, like so: D-I(STRAC)T.

52. Routine that’s central to spirituality (6)

Answer: RITUAL (i.e. “routine”). “That’s central to” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SPI(RITUAL)ITY.

53. Part of annual event in which some stand and face the music (9,7)

Answer: PROMENADE CONCERT (i.e. “in which some stand and face the music”). “Part of annual event” likely refers to the BBC Proms.

54. Shed less light on rescue vessel in study (6)

Answer: DARKEN (i.e. “shed less light on”). Solution is ARK (i.e. Biblical “rescue vessel”) placed “in” DEN (i.e. “study”), like so: D(ARK)EN.

55. Disturbed by result, becoming windy (8)

Answer: BLUSTERY (i.e. “windy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disturbed”) of BY RESULT.

56. Full of fight after goal in final part of match (7)

Answer: ENDGAME (i.e. “final part of match”). Solution is GAME (i.e. “full of fight”) placed “after” END (i.e. “goal”), like so: END-GAME.

Down clues

1. Red or green in the extreme (6)

Answer: RAWEST. Solution satisfies the clue has a whole, being “red in the extreme” (referring to meat) and “green in the extreme” (referring to experience).

2. Laid up most of season, left and returned (6)

Answer: MUTUAL (i.e. “returned”). Solution AUTUMN (i.e. “season”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “most of…”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “laid up” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), like so: MUTUA-L.

3. On camera, broadcast about one kind of coffee (9)

Answer: AMERICANO (i.e. “kind of coffee”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of ON CAMERA wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: AMER(I)CANO.

4. Common people in one way contained by the government (5,6)

Answer: THIRD ESTATE (i.e. “common people”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) and RD (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “road”) all placed in or “contained by” THE STATE (i.e. “the government”), like so: TH(I-RD)E-STATE.

5. Kind of skirt from part of France (4)

Answer: MIDI. Solution satisfies “kind of skirt” and the southern “part of France”.

6. Musical great has tea put out – covered by television channel (11)

Answer: Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY (i.e. “musical great”). Solution is CHAI (i.e. “tea”) and KO (i.e. “put out” or render unconscious, short for “knock out”) both placed in or “covered by” TV (short for “television”). This is all then followed by SKY (i.e. UK satellite “channel”, several hundred of them nowadays), like so: T(CHAI-KO)V-SKY.

7. Expert on current issues amended nice article (11)

Answer: ELECTRICIAN (i.e. “expert on [electrical] current issues”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “amended”) of NICE ARTICLE.

8. Females with pulling power in shell company? (9)

Answer: OARSWOMEN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “shell” to be “a type of light racing boat” (Chambers).

10. Smart kind of knitwear for boat (8)

Answer: TRIMARAN (i.e. a “boat” with three hulls). Solution is TRIM (i.e. “smart”) followed by ARAN (i.e. “kind of knitwear”, a pattern originating from the Aran Islands).

11. Dictatorial approach that I confused with our heresy (16)

Answer: AUTHORITARIANISM (i.e. “dictatorial approach”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “confused”) of THAT I and OUR followed by ARIANISM (i.e. “heresy”, specifically “the heretical doctrine of Arius, that Christ was not consubstantial with God the Father, but only the first and highest of all finite beings” (Chambers)), like so: AUTHORIT-ARIANISM.

12. Author revised lots in play (7)

Answer: Leo TOLSTOY (i.e. “author”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “revised”) of LOTS placed “in” TOY (i.e. “play”), like so: TO(LSTO)Y.

15. Restructured recital around new instrument (8)

Answer: CLARINET (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “restructured”) of RECITAL wrapped “around” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: CLARI(N)ET.

19. Disbelieving people present during robberies (8)

Answer: ATHEISTS (i.e. “disbelieving people”). When written as AT HEISTS the solution also satisfies “present during robberies”. Seen it before.

22. Remove power from shirker shielding the drunk (8)

Answer: DETHRONE (i.e. “remove power from”). Solution is DRONE (i.e. “shirker”) wrapped around an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of THE, like so: D(ETH)RONE.

23. Boss I had upset with university head following older fellow? (8,8)

Answer: MANGING DIRECTOR (i.e. “boss”). Solution is I’D (a contraction of “I had”) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by RECTOR (i.e. “university head”). This is all then placed after or “following” MAN AGING (i.e. “older fellow”), like so: MAN-AGING-(D’I-RECTOR).

27. Totally unprincipled type in part of UK greeting problem for crew (8)

Answer: NIHILIST (i.e. “totally unprincipled type”). Solution is NI (i.e. “part of UK”, specifically Northern Ireland) followed by HI (i.e. “greeting”) and LIST (i.e. “problem for [ship’s] crew”).

28. Garment necessarily trimmed more on the left than right (4)

Answer: SARI (i.e. “garment”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the solution is hidden in NECES(SARI)LY if the word has been “trimmed more on the left than right”.

30. Change of heart for beginner in crowd, supposedly (4)

Answer: TRIO (i.e. “crowd, supposedly”, after the phrase “two’s company, three’s a crowd”). Solution is TIRO (i.e. “beginner”) with the middle two letters switched, or having a “change of heart”.

32. Bad person that’s good? Awfully strange (8)

Answer: GANGSTER (i.e. “bad person”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of STRANGE, like so: G-ANGSTER.

34. A Western team turned up trouble in part of Asia (8)

Answer: ANATOLIA (i.e. “part of Asia”, also known as Asia Minor). Solution is A followed by NATO (i.e. “Western team”, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and AIL (i.e. “trouble”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “turned up” – this being a down clue), like so: A-NATO-LIA.

35. Prophet holding crazy skills the wrong way in mind (11)

Answer: NOSTRADAMUS (i.e. “prophet”). Solution is MAD (i.e. “crazy”) and ARTS (i.e. “skills”) all reversed (indicated by “the wrong way”) and placed “in” NOUS (i.e. “mind”), like so: NO(STRA-DAM)US.

36. Peaceful kind of life one can never have (11)

Answer: COEXISTENCE (i.e. “peaceful kind of life”). The rest of the clue plays on how the solution requires at least two parties.

37. Part of target set in board for exclusive group (5,6)

Answer: INNER CIRCLE. Solution satisfies “part of target set in board” and “exclusive group”.

40. Both left and right, at historical time, covered by draft law (9)

Answer: BILATERAL (i.e. “both left and right”, politically). Solution is AT and ERA (i.e. “historical time”) both placed in or “covered by” BILL (i.e. “draft law”), like so: BIL(AT-ERA)L.

42. Be told by nurse about drug that’s given boost (9)

Answer: HEARTENED (i.e. “given boost”). Solution is HEAR (i.e. “be told”) followed by TEND (i.e. to “nurse”) once wrapped “about” E (slang name for the “drug” ecstasy), like so: HEAR-TEN(E)D.

43. Quickly look up drink in personal aide-memoire (8)

Answer: KEEPSAKE (i.e. “personal aide-memoire”). Solution is PEEK (i.e. “quickly look”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by SAKE (i.e. Japanese “drink”), like so: KEEP-SAKE.

44. Hesitated to get married outside state (7)

Answer: WAVERED (i.e. “hesitated”). Solution is WED (i.e. “get married”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of AVER (i.e. to “state”), like so: W(AVER)ED.

46. Means of producing pictures appeared before recognized artist (6)

Answer: CAMERA (i.e. “means of producing pictures”). Solution is CAME (i.e. “appeared”) followed by RA (i.e. “recognised artist”, specifically a Royal Academician).

47. Figure in law passed, apart from third time (6)

Answer: STATUE (i.e. “figure”). Solution is STATUTE (i.e. “law passed”) with the third T removed (indicated by “apart from third time” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

51. It’s not stress-free, being avant-garde (4)

Answer: EDGY. Solution satisfies “it’s not stress-free” and “avant-garde”.

I hope you brought your Lonely Planet for this week’s Jumbo! It wasn’t long before we were all sailing over the ADRIATIC SEA on the AFTERDECK, visiting CORFU, AMERICA, PUERTO RICO and the THIRD WORLD in the company of YEMENIs, TUAREGs, AFRIKANERs, SHINTOISTs, ANTIGUANs and other ISLANDERS, perhaps speaking a little conversational VEDIC along the way. It was quite an itinerary. Even Henry HUDSON would have been knackered after that little lot. No wonder he got LOST IN TRANSIT.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Reason items not delivered: batch outside St Trinians misplaced (4,2,7)

Answer: LOST IN TRANSIT (i.e. “reason items not delivered”). Solution is LOT (i.e. “batch”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of an anagram (indicated by “misplaced”) of ST TRINIANS, like so: LO(STINTRANSI)T.

8. Magistrate at party good for cut-throat competition (3-3-3)

Answer: DOG-EAT-DOG (i.e. “cut-throat competition”). Solution is DOGE (i.e. “magistrate”, specifically “formerly the title of the chief magistrate in republican Venice and Genoa” (Chambers)) followed by AT, then DO (i.e. “party”) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”).

13. Almost failing to save edition in early Sanskrit (5)

Answer: VEDIC (i.e. “early Sanskrit” language of the Vedas). Solution is VICE (i.e. a “failing”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder wrapped around or “saving” ED (short for “edition”), like so: V(ED)IC. Made. To. Fit.

14. Mediterranean drink? It’s a cider brewed in sober group (8,3)

Answer: ADRIATIC SEA (i.e. “Mediterranean drink”, taking “drink” to be slang for a sea). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “brewed”) of IT’S A CIDER placed “in” AA (i.e. “sober group”, specifically Alcoholics Anonymous), like so: A(DRIATICSE)A.

15. Ancient instrument rotated on black stone (5)

Answer: BERYL (i.e. a “stone”). Solution is LYRE (i.e. “ancient instrument”) reversed (indicated by “rotated”) and placed “on” or after B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess), like so: B-ERYL.

16. Craft surface as tribute to Garland? (9)

Answer: AFTERDECK (i.e. seagoing “craft surface”). Solution is AFTER (i.e. in imitation of, or “tribute”) followed by DECK (i.e. “to garland”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation”).

17. Champ, caught, fell (4)

Answer: CHEW (i.e. to “champ” at the bit, say). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in some ball games) followed by HEW (i.e. to “fell” with a cutting instrument).

18. Stick with commercial as far as this (6,2)

Answer: ADHERE TO (i.e. “stick”). Solution is AD (i.e. “commercial”, short for advertisement) followed by HERETO (i.e. “as far as this”).

20. Honour claimed by barbarian navigator (6)

Answer: Henry HUDSON (i.e. 17th century “navigator”). Solution is DSO (i.e. “honour”, in this case the Distinguished Service Order) placed in or “claimed by” HUN (i.e. “barbarian”), like so: HU(DSO)N.

21. Maths discipline altering ridiculously thick-skinned copper? (8,8)

Answer: INTEGRAL CALCULUS (i.e. “maths discipline”, and the precise moment I lost all interest in studying maths. It didn’t help that nobody could explain the point of calculus back then. Not a single practical application. Fast forward to 2024 and, thanks to the internet, we have all of mankind’s knowledge at our fingertips. One quick search online, for example, and I found that calculus has all sorts of useful applications, from calculating the materials needed to build “The Wall”, to “retrieving Crooked Hillary’s emails” and triangulating the exact location of some mysterious thing called an “Antifa”. And, get this, apparently the origins of calculus can be traced back to Donald Trump’s book The Art of the Deal, way before Loser Isaac Newton went and stole all his ideas. I had no idea. Thanks, internet!) Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ridiculously”) of ALTERING followed by CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) once placed in CALLUS (i.e. “thick skin”, also doubling as a containment indicator), like so: INTERGRAL-CAL(CU)LUS.

24. Head coach ignored first piece of cake (2-7)

Answer: NO-BRAINER (i.e. “piece of cake”). Solution is NOB (i.e. “head”, informally) followed by TRAINER (i.e. “coach”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “ignored first”), like so: NOB-RAINER. I am totally channelling Beavis and Butt-Head right now. Uh-huh-huh-huh! He said “nob rainer”.

26. Boorish type about to follow retiring giant (7)

Answer: GOLIATH (i.e. Biblical “giant”). Solution is HOG (i.e. “boorish type”) wrapped “about” TAIL (i.e. “to follow”) and the whole then reversed (indicated by “retiring”), like so: GO(LIAT)H.

27. Returning uniform and dress king leaves Greek territory (5)

Answer: CORFU (i.e. “Greek territory”). Solution is U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by FROCK (i.e. “dress”) once the K has been removed (indicated by “king leaves…” – K being a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: CORF-U.

29. Italian artist heard inside calls for language scientists (12)

Answer: PHONETICIANS (i.e. “language scientists”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of TITIAN (i.e. “Italian artist”) placed “inside” of PHONES (i.e. “calls”), like so: PHONE(TICIAN)S.

31. Reversing up hill man circles round island (6,4)

Answer: PUERTO RICO (i.e. “island”). Solution is UP “reversed” and followed by TOR (i.e. “hill”) once first placed in or having “circling” around it ERIC (i.e. “man’s” name). This is all then followed by O (i.e. “round”), like so: PU-ER(TOR)IC-O.

33. Doctor back in with Lord Batty in Global South (5,5)

Answer: THIRD WORLD (i.e. “Global South”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) reversed (indicated by “back”) and placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “batty”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) of WITH LORD, like so: THI(RD)WORLD.

35. Middleman from Bury, behold, ignored other ranks (12)

Answer: INTERLOCUTOR (i.e. “middleman”). Solution is INTER (i.e. to “bury”, again ignoring the misleading capitalisation) followed by LO (i.e. “behold”, as in lo and behold), then CUT (i.e. “ignored”) and OR (a recognised abbreviation of the “Other Ranks” of the British Army).

38. Impatience ultimately observed in pleasant relative (5)

Answer: NIECE (i.e. “relative”). Solution is E (i.e. “impatience ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “impatience”) placed “in” NICE (i.e. “pleasant”), like so: NI(E)CE. Turns out Mystic Poll was right! Spooky!

39. Means to admit when one’s business is going down the drain (7)

Answer: MANHOLE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given manhole covers grant access to sewers.

40. Mr S O’Casey worked for US plane company? (9)

Answer: SYCAMORES (i.e. “US plane company”, in this case referring to American sycamore trees. A plane is “any tree of the genus Platanus” (Chambers). “Company”, meanwhile, just means a group of like things). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “worked”) of MR S O’CASEY.

42. Limited number in pub act in haste, madly consuming ecstasy (5,11)

Answer: LOCAL ANAESTHETIC (i.e. “limited number”, as in something that numbs). Solution is LOCAL (i.e. “pub”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “madly”) of ACT IN HASTE wrapped around or “consuming” E (slang for the drug “ecstasy”), like so: LOCAL-ANA(E)STHETIC.

44. Write a volume in furious activity – that brings ruin! (6)

Answer: RAVAGE (i.e. “ruin”). Solution is A and V (a recognised abbreviation of “volume”) both placed “in” a RAGE (i.e. “furious activity”), like so: R(A-V)AGE.

47. West Indian perhaps opposing Second Amendment pens article (8)

Answer: ANTIGUAN (i.e. “West Indian perhaps”). Solution is ANTI-GUN (i.e. “opposing Second Amendment” of the US constitution) wrapped around or “penning” A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the), like so: ANTI-G(U)AN.

49. Like good brandy that’s found in drainage ditch? (4)

Answer: AGED (i.e. “like good brandy”). “Found in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: DRAIN(AGE D)ITCH.

50. Queen with message for Alice featured in explosive adaptation? (9)

Answer: TREATMENT (i.e. “adaptation”, e.g. of a script). Solution is R (i.e. “queen”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Regina) and EAT ME (i.e. “message for Alice”, referring to the note attached to a cake in Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) all placed “in” TNT (i.e. “explosive”), like so: T(R-EAT-ME)NT.

52. Yank in paradise, not initially expelled (5)

Answer: HEAVE (i.e. “yank”). Solution is HEAVEN (i.e. “paradise”) with the N (i.e. “not initially”, or the first letter of “not”) removed or “expelled”.

53. At home, deep in thought about former partner’s budget (11)

Answer: INEXPENSIVE (i.e. “budget”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) and PENSIVE (i.e. “deep in thought”) all wrapped “about” EX (i.e. “former partner”), like so: IN-(EX)-PENSIVE.

54. Dunce, the writer had nothing invested in it (5)

Answer: IDIOT (i.e. “dunce”). Solution is I’D (i.e. “the writer had” from the point of view of the setter; a contraction of I HAD) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”) once placed or “invested in” IT, like so: I’D-I(O)T.

55. Highly regarded sappers, closely examined, in shed (9)

Answer: RESPECTED (i.e. “highly regarded”). Solution is RE (i.e. “sappers”, informal name of the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by INSPECTED (i.e. “closely examined”) once the IN has been removed or “shed”, like so: RE-SPECTED.

56. Shocking killer’s one featured in emotionally charged daily (8,5)

Answer: ELECTRIC CHAIR (i.e. “shocking killer”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” ELECTRIC (i.e. “emotionally charged”) and CHAR (i.e. “daily”, both referring to a domestic cleaner), like so: ELECTRIC-CHA(I)R.

Down clues

1. Sea monster having patriarch and prophet beheaded (9)

Answer: LEVIATHAN (i.e. “sea monster”). Solution is LEVI (i.e. Biblical “patriarch”) followed by NATHAN (i.e. Biblical “prophet”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “beheaded”), like so: LEVI-ATHAN.

2. On chair, taken round Land’s End, given diazepam? (7)

Answer: SEDATED (i.e. “given diazepam”). Solution is SEATED (i.e. “on chair”) wrapped “round” D (i.e. “Land’s End”, i.e. the last letter of “land”), like so: SE(D)ATED.

3. Old rocker’s initial parts in my head for mix (11)

Answer: INCORPORATE (i.e. “mix”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and R (i.e. “rocker’s initial” letter) both placed in or “parting” IN, COR (i.e. “my” – both exclamations) and PATE (i.e. “head”), like so: IN-COR-P(O-R)ATE.

4. North African in Egypt once stuffing sheep (6)

Answer: TUAREG (i.e. “North African”, or “nomadic Berber of the Sahara” (Chambers)). Solution is UAR (i.e. “Egypt once”, specifically the United Arab Republic) placed in or “stuffing” TEG (i.e. a “sheep” in its second year), like so: T(UAR)EG.

5. Freak rain storms, one having Dutch origins (9)

Answer: AFRIKANER (i.e. “one having Dutch origins”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “storms”) of FREAK RAIN.

6. Internet Explorer? (6,6)

Answer: SEARCH ENGINE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taken as a means to “explore” the “internet” (or at least the nicer parts of it). The web browser, Internet Explorer, meanwhile, has been defunct for nearly two years now. If you’re still using it, then, to be blunt, don’t.

7. Giants of literature and fantasy going head to head in paper? (6,4)

Answer: TOILET ROLL (i.e. “paper”). Solution is ELIOT (i.e. “giants of literature”, referring to George Eliot and T.S. Eliot) and TROLL (i.e. “giant…of fantasy”) placed “head-to-head”, like so: TOILE-TROLL. Very nicely worked. Best clue of the puzzle.

8. This for example – from Denmark, not Northern Ireland (4)

Answer: DASH (i.e. “this for example –”, specifically the “–”). Solution is DANISH (i.e. “from Denmark”) with the NI removed (indicated by “not Northern Ireland”, NI being a recognised abbreviation of thereof).

9. Striker smashing mug filled with pop (11,5)

Answer: GRANDFATHER CLOCK (i.e. “striker”, as in “the clock struck twelve”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. excellent or “smashing”) and CLOCK (i.e. “mug”, both slang words for a face) all wrapped around or “filled with” FATHER (i.e. “pop”, slang thereof).

10. Perhaps take constitutional risk, ousting leader (5)

Answer: AMBLE (i.e. “perhaps take constitutional” or a walk). Solution is GAMBLE (i.e. “risk”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “ousting leader”).

11. Bishop engaged in single combat with Liberal naturalist (7)

Answer: Gerald DURRELL (i.e. “naturalist”, author of My Family and Other Animals). Solution is RR (i.e. “bishop”, short for Right Reverend) placed “in” DUEL (i.e. “single combat”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: DU(RR)EL-L.

12. Comedian necessarily suspended delivering such dark material? (7,6)

Answer: GALLOWS HUMOUR (i.e. “dark [comedic] material”). Clue plays on how people are hung or “suspended” from GALLOWS. You get the idea.

19. Suit certain to delight (8)

Answer: PLEASURE (i.e. “to delight”). Solution is PLEA (i.e. “[law]suit”) followed by SURE (i.e. “certain”).

22. Producer of beans approximately doubled with embargo’s end (5)

Answer: CACAO (i.e. “producer of beans”). Solution is CA and CA (i.e. “approximately doubled”, CA being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by O (i.e. “embargo’s end”, i.e. the last letter of “embargo”).

23. Punished servant – not in lime green (16)

Answer: ENVIRONMENTALIST (i.e. “green”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “punished”) of SERVANT NOT IN LIME.

25. New union member’s restraining order for dull individual (7)

Answer: BROMIDE (i.e. “dull individual” – a new one on me). Solution is BRIDE (i.e. “new union member”, taking “union” to mean a marriage) wrapped around or “restraining” OM (i.e. “order”, specifically an Order of Merit), like so: BR(OM)IDE.

28. Martini at last included in list for party (7)

Answer: ROISTER (i.e. “party”). Solution is I (i.e. “Martini at last”, i.e. the last letter of “Martini”) placed or “included in” ROSTER (i.e. “list”), like so: RO(I)STER.

29. Obvious agitation about English material that’s shellacked (6,7)

Answer: PATENT LEATHER (i.e. “that’s shellacked”). Solution is PATENT (i.e. “obvious”) and LATHER (i.e. “agitation”) all wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: PATENT-L(E)ATHER.

30. Man’s man for example is on spacecraft (8)

Answer: ISLANDER (i.e. “Man’s man for example” – other inhabitants of the Isle of Man are available). Solution is IS placed “on” or followed by LANDER (i.e. “spacecraft”).

32. Standing alone at home of French writer, cold, in valley (12)

Answer: INDEPENDENCE (i.e. “standing alone”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by DE (i.e. “of French”, i.e. the French for “of”), then PEN (i.e. “writer”) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”) once first placed “in” DENE (i.e. a small “valley”), like so: IN-DE-PEN-DEN(C)E.

34. Rest attention where blue reflected by lake (5)

Answer: DWELL (i.e. “rest attention”, as in to dwell upon). Solution is LEWD (i.e. “blue”) reversed (indicated by “reflected”) and followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: DWEL-L.

36. Brief one’s held in Washington area for digital recording (7,4)

Answer: COMPACT DISC (i.e. “digital recording”). Solution is COMPACT (i.e. “brief”) followed by I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) once placed “in” DC (District of Colombia, or “Washington area”, referring to the US capital), like so: COMPACT-D(I’S)C.

37. Dish having price occasionally served by the house? (7,3)

Answer: COTTAGE PIE (i.e. “dish”). Solution is PIE (i.e. “price occasionally”, i.e. every other letter of PRICE) placed after or “by” COTTAGE (i.e. “house”).

40. This is not bad for devout Japanese (9)

Answer: SHINTOIST (i.e. “devout Japanese”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of THIS IS NOT.

41. One viewing Mark Murphy’s broadcast (9)

Answer: SPECTATOR (i.e. “one viewing”). Ignoring the misleading capitalisation, the solution comprises homophones (indicated by “broadcast”) of SPECK (i.e. a “mark”) and TATER (i.e. “murphy”, both slang words for a potato), like so: SPEC-TATOR.

43. Girl coming below slashed pirate’s arm (7)

Answer: CUTLASS (i.e. “pirate’s arm” or weapon). Solution is LASS (i.e. “girl”) placed after or “below” – this being a down clue – CUT (i.e. “slashed”), like so: CUT-LASS.

45. Uncle Sam’s revolutionary mother on the heath (7)

Answer: AMERICA (i.e. “Uncle Sam”, informal name thereof). Solution is MA (short form of “mother”) reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”) followed by ERICA (i.e. “heath”, which can be “barren open country” and also “any shrub of genus Erica” (both Chambers)), like so: AM-ERICA.

46. Timeless Himalayan creature devouring people from Sanaa? (6)

Answer: YEMENI (i.e. “from Sanaa”). Solution is YETI (i.e. “Himalayan creature”) with the T removed (indicated by “timeless” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and the remainder wrapped around or “devouring” MEN (i.e. “people”), like so: YE(MEN)I.

48. Diver one about to escape shipping hazard from the south (5)

Answer: GREBE (i.e. “diver” bird). Solution is ICEBERG (i.e. “shipping hazard”) with the I and C removed (indicated by “one about to escape” – I being the Roman numeral one, C being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “from the south” – this being a down clue).

51. Character standing leaves to exercise joint (4)

Answer: WELD (i.e. “joint” – weld can be a noun as well as a verb). Solution is WIELD (i.e. “to exercise”, e.g. a right) once the I has been removed (indicated by “character standing leaves…”, I being an upright letter).