A toughie this week. I won’t give it the coveted label of “stinker” on account of all the obscure trash in the grid. This is just a cheap way of making the puzzle harder. Still, at least there was some good clues to be had, so it wasn’t all bad. [EDIT: “were”, not “was”. Good grief, Poll, where do you think you’re from? Bleedin’ West ‘Am or sumfin’? – LP]

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 you have come a cropper 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 again for your patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Unappealing uniform son dons every 24 hours (9)

Answer: UNSIGHTLY (i.e. “unappealing”). Solution is U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) once placed in or “donning” NIGHTLY (i.e. “every 24 hours”), like so: U-N(S)IGHTLY.

6. African country to the west importing some empty food container (7)

Answer: NOSEBAG (i.e. “food container” for a horse). Solution is GABON (i.e. “African country”) reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue) and wrapped around or “importing” SE (i.e. “some empty”, i.e. the word “some” with all its middle letters removed), like so: NO(SE)BAG.

10. Shot through part of hotel? (5)

Answer: LOBBY (i.e. “part of hotel”). Solution is LOB (i.e. a throw or “shot”) followed by BY (i.e. “through”).

13. Parties in parliament prepare for war between sides (13)

Answer: HOUSEWARMINGS (i.e. “parties”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “parliament”) followed by ARM (i.e. “prepare for war”) once placed “between” WINGS (i.e. “sides”), like so: HOUSE-W(ARM)INGS.

14. Swan around with Parisian in boring Med resort, making money once (9)

Answer: NINEPENCE (i.e. “money once”). Solution is PEN (i.e. a female “swan”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and followed by EN (i.e. “Parisian in”, i.e. the French for “in”). These are then placed in or “boring” NICE (i.e. “Med resort”), like so: NI(NEP-EN)CE.

15. King in jumper, say, returned fashion adornment for crown (7)

Answer: TOPKNOT (i.e. “adornment for crown” – can refer to a hairstyle, fake hair or a knot of ribbons plonked on one’s noggin). Solution is K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess) placed “in” between TOP (i.e. “jumper, say” – other garments are available) and TON (i.e. “fashion”, a variant meaning I’ve only ever seen used in Jumbos) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “returned”), like so: TOP-(K)-NOT.

16. Bread and some butter eaten by president briefly (7)

Answer: CHAPATI (i.e. “bread”). Solution is PAT (i.e. “some butter”) placed in or “eaten by” CHAIR (i.e. “president”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: CHA(PAT)I.

17. Dogged right back has trouble with gutless England (7)

Answer: TRAILED (i.e. “dogged”). Solution is RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, as in the title Rt Hon) reversed (indicated by “back”) and followed by AIL (i.e. “trouble”), then ED (i.e. “gutless England”, i.e. the word “England” with all the middle letters removed), like so: TR-AIL-ED.

18. Devour nuts, entertained by those running the Grand National courses (4,8)

Answer: HORS D’OEUVRES (i.e. “courses”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “nuts”) of DEVOUR placed in or “entertained by” HORSES (i.e. “those running the Grand National”), like so: HORS(DOEUVR)ES.

20. Could one be accepted as eccentric? (5,5)

Answer: SPACE CADET. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being an “eccentric” person, but the clue is also an anagram (also indicated by “eccentric”) of ACCEPTED AS.

23. Ultimately founder in drink? (5)

Answer: DROWN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also formed by R (i.e. “ultimately founder”, i.e. the last letter of “founder”) placed “in” DOWN (i.e. to “drink”), like so: D(R)OWN.

24. Retreating, I left old, short rifle in military campaign (9)

Answer: GALLIPOLI (i.e. a “military campaign” of the First World War). Solution is I followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), then O (ditto “old”) and PILLAGE (i.e. to “rifle”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “retreating”), like so: GALLIP-O-L-I.

25. Dog given large drink retires somewhere secluded (5,2)

Answer: CURLS UP (i.e. “retires somewhere secluded”). Solution is CUR (i.e. “dog”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and SUP (i.e. “drink”).

26. Tendency to stuff goods roughly into long ship (11)

Answer: PIGGISHNESS (i.e. “tendency to stuff”). Solution is G and G (i.e. both “goods”, G being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and ISH (i.e. “roughly”) both placed “into” PINE (i.e. to “long” for). This is all then followed by SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: PI(GG-ISH)NE-SS.

28. Being indecisive, I’m going to holiday houses (11)

Answer: VACILLATION (i.e. “being indecisive”). Solution is I’LL (i.e. “I’m going to”, a contraction of I WILL) placed in or “housed” by VACATION (i.e. “holiday”), like so: VAC(I’LL)ATION.

30. Rightist sent out guards opposed to ancient ruler (11)

Answer: CONSTANTINE (i.e. “ancient ruler”, 4th century Roman emperor). Solution is CON (i.e. “rightist”, short for Conservative) followed by an anagram (indicated by “out”) of SENT once wrapped around or “guarding” ANTI (i.e. “opposed to”), like so: CON-ST(ANTI)NE.

32. Act to keep walls of cell, say, in a tidier state (11)

Answer: DECLUTTERED (i.e. “in a tidier state”). Solution is DEED (i.e. “act”) wrapped around or “keeping” CL (i.e. “walls of cell”, i.e. the first and last letters of “cell”) and UTTER (i.e. “say”), like so: DE(CL-UTTER)ED.

34. New aim to limit danger, mostly, in ruler’s domains (7)

Answer: IMPERIA (i.e. “ruler’s domains”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of AIM wrapped around or “limiting” PERIL (i.e. “danger”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: IM(PERI)A.

36. Embarrassed-looking Conservative in left-wing stronghold once (3,6)

Answer: RED SQUARE (i.e. “left-wing stronghold once”). Solution is RED (i.e. “embarrassed-looking”) followed by SQUARE (i.e. “conservative”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation).

38. Star group periodically accepts crossword setters (5)

Answer: CETUS (i.e. a constellation or “star group”). Solution is CET (i.e. “periodically accepts”, i.e. every other letter of ACCEPTS) followed by US (i.e. “crossword setters”, from the point of view of the setter).

39. Nothing stops sister getting article in part of phrase (4,6)

Answer: NOUN CLAUSE (i.e. “part of phrase”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) placed in or “stopping” NUN (i.e. “sister”) and followed by CLAUSE (i.e. “article” in, say, a contract or will), like so: N(O)UN-CLAUSE.

41. One possibly potted in party, after poet hosts wicked one (8,4)

Answer: BILLIARD BALL (i.e. “one possibly potted”). Solution is BALL (i.e. “party”) placed “after” BARD (i.e. “poet”) once wrapped around or “hosting” ILL (i.e. “wicked”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: B(ILL-I)ARD-BALL.

45. Stick around because this is found in fruit (7)

Answer: GLUCOSE (i.e. “this is found in fruit”). Solution is GLUE (i.e. “stick”) wrapped “around” COS (informal form of “because”), like so: GLU(COS)E.

46. Person entertained during contest drinking tea, mostly (7)

Answer: INVITEE (i.e. “person entertained”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) and VIE (i.e. “contest”) once wrapped around or “drinking” TE (i.e. “tea, mostly”, i.e. the word “tea” with its last letter removed), like so: IN-VI(TE)E.

47. Mike loathing holding clubs in scrap (7)

Answer: MODICUM (i.e. a small amount or “scrap”). Solution is M (“Mike” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by ODIUM (i.e. “loathing”) once wrapped around or “holding” C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games), like so: M-ODI(C)UM.

49. David’s wife is the lady plugging city travel firm (9)

Answer: BATHSHEBA (i.e. King “David’s wife”). Solution is SHE (i.e. “the lady”) placed in or “plugging” BATH (i.e. British spa “city”) and BA (i.e. “travel firm”, British Airways), like so: BATH-(SHE)-BA.

50. Musician finally playing with leading orchestra is conveying no warmth? (3-10)

Answer: NON-CONDUCTING (i.e. of a material “conveying no warmth”). Solution is N (i.e. “musician finally”, i.e. the last letter of “musician”) followed by ON (i.e. “playing”) and CONDUCTING (i.e. “leading orchestra”).

52. Ruminant’s dash to the left of delta (5)

Answer: ELAND (i.e. a variety of antelope, i.e. “ruminant”). Solution is ELAN (i.e. “dash”, vigour or style) placed before or “to the left of” – this being an across clue – D (“delta” in the phonetic alphabet).

53. For medics, filter calls about unknown drug (7)

Answer: DIALYSE (i.e. “for medics, filter”). Solution is DIALS (i.e. “calls”) wrapped “about” Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) and followed by E (i.e. “drug”, slang name of ecstasy), like so: DIAL(Y)S-E.

54. Expels police officer confiscating one’s stuff (9)

Answer: DISGORGES (i.e. “expels”). Solution is DS (i.e. “police officer”, specifically a Detective Sergeant) wrapped around or “confiscating” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) and GORGE (i.e. to “stuff”), like so: D(I’S-GORGE)S.

Down clues

1. Release article in Le Monde on problem (7)

Answer: UNHITCH (i.e. “release”). Solution is UN (i.e. “article in Le Monde”, Le Monde is a French newspaper so this is the French for “a” – an article being a word like a, an or the) followed by HITCH (i.e. “problem”).

2. Foil, no good, wrapping new grape variety (11)

Answer: SCUPPERNONG (i.e. “grape variety” from North Carolina, named after the river apparently. Yeah, me neither). Solution is SCUPPER (i.e. to “foil”, for example, Professor Badguy’s dastardly plans for world domination using just the inside of a biro, a small sachet of baking soda and a 5V battery; ultimately shutting down and blowing up his vast poison gas factory that had been cunningly disguised as an abandoned and conveniently flammable shopping mall, all the while assisted but eventually betrayed by a clothes-averse swimwear-model-cum-quantum-physicist called Ophelia Norks. Die In A Bit, coming soon to a cinema near you!) followed by NO and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) once “wrapped” around N (ditto “new”), like so: SCUPPER-NO-(N)-G.

3. Place for putting dope’s clothing on (5)

Answer: GREEN (i.e. “place for putting” in golf). Solution is GEN (i.e. info or “dope”) wrapped around or “clothing” RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies), like so: G(RE)EN.

4. Little piggy imbibing wine and snack food (7)

Answer: TOASTIE (i.e. “snack food”). Solution is TOE (i.e. “little piggy”, colloquially) wrapped around or “imbibing” ASTI (i.e. “wine” variety), like so: TO(ASTI)E.

5. What for a Spaniard is very flipping delicious! (3)

Answer: YUM (i.e. “delicious”). Solution is MUY (i.e. “what for a Spaniard is ‘very’”) reversed (indicated by “flipping”).

6. The setter’s two relatives climbing Indian mountain (5,4)

Answer: NANDA DEVI (i.e. “Indian mountain”). Solution is I’VE (i.e. “the setter’s” or a contraction of I HAVE from the point of view of the setter) followed by DAD and NAN (i.e. “two relatives”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “climbing” – this being a down clue), like so: NAN-DAD-EV’I. Bradford’s was deployed here without hesitation. That’s not to say this was a hasty action, though. Mercy, no, don’t think me so shallow. This was a decision that had been reached having previously spent decades measuring the value of knowing every mountain in the world against the value of going out and meeting people. Every day leading up to this Jumbo a tug-of-war had been contested throughout my mind. Do I dedicate a significant and unrecoverable portion of my life to learning and re-learning the names and locations of every mountain in the world, perchance they should appear in a cryptic crossword or two, or do I go out and meet people, get drunk, talk rubbish, play pool, screw around, get into scrapes and generally immerse myself in the whole messy business of life? Frankly, given that, you’re lucky I still know what an Everest is.

7. Do some hip swinging in band? Always (6)

Answer: SASHAY (i.e. “do some hip swinging”). Solution is SASH (i.e. “band”) followed by AY (i.e. “always” or forever – another cryptic crossword staple, this is an archaic variant meaning of “aye” Chambers would have you believe is something said these days in Scotland or the North East. Well, I grew up in County Durham and frequently return there to visit family and friends and I can confidently say I’ve only ever heard “aye” used in an affirmative sense. Can’t speak for them lot up in Northumberland, mind…).

8. German city that is close to Berlin blocking charge by silly would-be ruler (6,6,7)

Answer: BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE (i.e. “would-be ruler” who, born in exile, journeyed to Scotland in 1745 and led an attempted Jacobite invasion of England. It got as far as Derby before running out of steam). Solution is BONN (i.e. “German city”) followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, from the Latin id est) and N (i.e. “close to Berlin”, i.e. the last letter of “Berlin”) once placed in or “blocking” PRICE (i.e. “charge”). This is all then followed by CHARLIE (i.e. a “silly” person), like so: BONN-IE-PRI(N)CE-CHARLIE.

9. Some incite neglect about dealing with make-up (7)

Answer: GENETIC (i.e. “dealing with make-up”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “about” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: IN(CITE NEG)LECT.

10. Exciting performer in Hollywood area pranced wildly (3,6)

Answer: LAP DANCER (i.e. “exciting performer”). Solution is LA (i.e. “Hollywood area”, Los Angeles) followed by an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of PRANCED, like so: LA-PDANCER.

11. Asian with collar up clearing vessel, almost (11)

Answer: BANGLADESHI (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is NAB (i.e. to “collar” someone) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by GLADE (i.e. “clearing”) and SHIP (i.e. “vessel”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: BAN-GLADE-SHI.

12. Profit that is invested by unknown land’s banks (5)

Answer: YIELD (i.e. “profit”). Solution is I.E. (i.e. “that is”, already covered in 8d) placed in or “invested by” Y (i.e. “unknown”, already covered in 53a) and LD (i.e. “land’s banks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “land”), like so: Y-(IE)-LD.

16. Aria and curtain call save failing opera (10,9)

Answer: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (i.e. “opera” by Pietro Mascagni – that’s a nope and a nope from me, but you’ll probably recognise bits of its Intermezzo – 1:20 onwards in particular, if you fancy a listen below). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “failing”) of ARIA and CURTAIN CALL SAVE. If you imagined me effing and blinding over this one, you’d be right, but I have to admit this was an excellent clue.

19. Provider of a filling dinner only half set out on time (7)

Answer: DENTIST (i.e. “provider of a filling”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out” again) of DIN (i.e. “dinner only half”, specifically the first half) and SET followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: DENTIS-T.

21. Need pasta cooked for Mediterranean spreads (9)

Answer: TAPENADES (i.e. “Mediterranean spreads” apparently “made from capers, anchovies and black olives, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice” (Chambers). Sounds rather nice, to be fair). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of NEED PASTA.

22. Maybe crow or rook beset by modern ailment (6)

Answer: CORVID (i.e. “maybe crow”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess) placed in or “beset by” COVID (i.e. “modern ailment”, lest we forget), like so: CO(R)VID.

23. Noticed oddball penning irrational drawing (9)

Answer: DEPICTION (i.e. “drawing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddball”) of NOTICED wrapped around or “penning” PI (i.e. an “irrational” number in maths), like so: DE(PI)CTION.

24. Wife of William S, say, raised hell (7)

Answer: GEHENNA (i.e. “hell” – over to Chambers for this one: “the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, in which the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch, and to which, at a later time, the refuse of the city was conveyed to be burned; hence hell (Bible)“). Solution is ANNE H (i.e. “wife of William S”, referring to Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare) and E.G. (i.e. “say”, from the Latin exempli gratia) all reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue), like so: GE-H-ENNA. One remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance if I’m honest.

25. Contrive dull, occasionally somewhat revolutionary plot (7)

Answer: COLLUDE (i.e. “plot”). “Somewhat” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “revolutionary” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: CONTRIV(E DULL OC)CASIONALLY.

27. Partner said why date’s gone wrong, initially (6)

Answer: STEADY (i.e. “partner” or an informal reference to a regular boyfriend or girlfriend). Solution is Y (i.e. “said why”, i.e. the letter Y spoken) with an anagram (indicated by “gone wrong”) of DATE’S placed before it or “initially”, like so: STEAD-Y.

29. Queen’s servant, say, given a bunch of coppers for stomach remedy (7)

Answer: ANTACID (i.e. “stomach remedy”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “queen’s servant, say”) followed by A and CID (i.e. “bunch of coppers”, the Criminal Investigation Department).

31. Turn up and sell a potty in perfect condition (2,4,5)

Answer: NE PLUS ULTRA (i.e. “perfect condition” – Latin, of course. Sine qua non for The Times). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “potty”) of TURN UP and SELL A.

33. Possibly, job for a Persian sailor without contract (3-8)

Answer: RAT-CATCHING (i.e. “possibly, job for a Persian”, a variety of cat). Solution is CATCH (i.e. to “contract” a disease) with RATING (i.e. “sailor” – over to Chambers again: “the class of any member of a crew; a sailor of such a class”) wrapped around or “without” it, like so: RAT(CATCH)ING.

35. Once again, went over grass borders in a mood (9)

Answer: RECROSSED (i.e. “once again, went over”). Solution is REED (i.e. “grass”) wrapped around or “bordering” CROSS (i.e. “in a mood”), like so: RE(CROSS)ED.

37. Receipt of fruit with dry area inside (9)

Answer: QUITTANCE (i.e. a “receipt”). Solution is QUINCE (i.e. “fruit”) wrapped around or having “inside” of it TT (i.e. “dry”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “teetotal”) and A (ditto “area”), like so: QUI(TT-A)NCE.

40. A retired teacher with lower energy, one making cuts (3-4)

Answer: AXE-HEAD (i.e. “one making cuts”). Solution is A followed by EX-HEAD (i.e. “retired teacher”) once the first E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) has been “lowered” a notch – this being a down clue – like so: A-(E)X-HEAD => A-X(E)-HEAD.

42. Sections of navy blue American painter put upside down (7)

Answer: ARMADAS (i.e. “sections of navy”). Solution is SAD (i.e. “blue”), AM (a recognised abbreviation of “American”) and RA (i.e. “painter”, specifically a Royal Academician) all reversed (indicated by “put upside down” – this being a down clue), like so: AR-MA-DAS.

43. Travel northwards through trees in French city (7)

Answer: LIMOGES (i.e. “French city”). Solution is GO (i.e. “travel”) reversed (indicated by “northwards” – this being a down clue) placed in or “through” LIMES (i.e. “trees”), like so: LIM(OG)ES. It was at this point I found myself imagining the shame and agony of this week’s setter every time the poor soul had to use an English word in their grid. There, there, Ptolemy. You got through it.

44. Diarist lifting foot smoothly (6)

Answer: EVENLY (i.e. “smoothly”). Solution is John EVELYN (i.e. “diarist”, no me neither) with the last letter or “foot” knocked back a couple of notches or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: EVELY(N) => EVE(N)LY.

45. Outburst of laughter, say, welcomes British film star (5)

Answer: Clark GABLE (i.e. “film star” of Hollywood’s Golden Era). Solution is GALE (i.e. “outburst of laughter, say”) wrapped around or “welcoming” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: GA(B)LE.

48. Knock down duck and gander (5)

Answer: DECKO (i.e. “gander” or look-see). Solution is DECK (i.e. to “knock down”) followed by O (i.e. “duck” or zero score). Another remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance.

51. Pair performing pirouettes to get instrument (3)

Answer: OUD (i.e. Arabic stringed “instrument”, a bit like a lute). Solution is DUO (i.e. “pair performing”) reversed (indicated by “pirouettes”).

A relatively straightforward one for Bank Holiday Monday. Unusually for me I had this one licked in under an hour, albeit not fully parsed. Still, get me, eh? (Puffs out chest for maximum peacockery.)

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 already ruined Christmas for 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 your patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Realised what could be said of Scotland – but not home town (11)

Answer: CAPITALISED (i.e. “realised”, say, a profit). The rest of the clue plays on how “Scotland” has a capital letter, while “home town” does not.

7. Doing fair by niece, one who will gain from will? (11)

Answer: BENEFICIARY (i.e. “who will gain from will”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doing”) FAIR BY NIECE.

13. Check uranium found in part of mine (5)

Answer: AUDIT (i.e. “check”). Solution is U (chemical symbol of “uranium”) placed “in” ADIT (i.e. “part of mine” – we had this one only a few weeks ago, being “an opening or passage, especially into a mine” (Chambers)), like so: A(U)DIT.

14. Persistent white tern always is around (7)

Answer: ETERNAL (i.e. “persistent”). “Is around” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: WHIT(E TERN AL)WAYS.

15. Boy I trick, say, over ending a race (9)

Answer: GENOCIDAL (i.e. “ending a race”). Solution is LAD (i.e. “boy”), I, CON (i.e. “trick”) and E.G. (i.e. “say”), all reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: GE-NOC-I-DAL.

16. Away without money and not inclined to drink (9)

Answer: ABSTINENT (i.e. “not inclined to drink”). Solution is ABSENT (i.e. “away”) wrapped around or placed “without” TIN (slang for “money”), like so: ABS(TIN)ENT.

17. Disillusioned with meter debit out of control (10)

Answer: EMBITTERED (i.e. “disillusioned”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out of control”) of METER DEBIT.

20. Invention of a cold snack (4,3)

Answer: PORK PIE. Solution satisfies “invention” or lie, as in the cockney rhyming slang, and “cold snack”.

22. American specialised soldier regularly leads (7)

Answer: MAJORED (i.e. “American specialised” or studied at a US university). Solution is MAJOR (i.e. “soldier”) followed by ED (i.e. “regularly leads”, i.e. every other letter of LEADS).

24. Ineffective medicine’s rank smell (7)

Answer: PLACEBO (i.e. “ineffective medicine”). Solution is PLACE (i.e. “rank”) followed by BO (i.e. “smell”, or Body Odour).

25. Assess girl with stringed instrument keeping in key (8)

Answer: EVALUATE (i.e. “assess”). Solution is EVA (i.e. “girl’s” name) and LUTE (i.e. “stringed instrument”) once wrapped around or “keeping” A (i.e. musical “key”), like so: EVA-LU(A)TE.

26. Feat of splashing cash with compliment (14)

Answer: ACCOMPLISHMENT (i.e. “feat”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “splashing”) of CASH and COMPLIMENT.

28. Old piece of key found in Tube (5)

Answer: DUCAT (i.e. “old piece” or coin). Solution is A (i.e. musical “key” again) placed “in” DUCT (i.e. “tube”), like so: DUC(A)T.

29. Did revolt spread beyond port? (6)

Answer: RIOTED (i.e. “did revolt”). Solution is TED (i.e. “spread” – the TED spread is “a measure of the difference between the value of three-month US Treasury bills and three-month Eurodollar futures contracts” (Chambers). One of those everyday terms, then) placed after or “beyond” RIO (i.e. a “port” in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro), like so: RIO-TED.

30. Toothpaste certified prepared without nitrogen (10)

Answer: DENTIFRICE (i.e. “toothpaste”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “prepared”) of CERTIFIED wrapped around or placed “without” N (chemical symbol of “nitrogen”), like so: DE(N)TIFRICE.

33. I’m pleased nice hero is pious (5-5)

Answer: GOODY-GOODY (i.e. “pious”). Solution is GOODY (i.e. “I’m pleased”) followed by GOODY (i.e. “nice hero”).

35. At first believe old butcher’s lamb tender (2-4)

Answer: BO-PEEP (i.e. “lamb tender” of nursery rhyme). Solution is B (i.e. “at first believe”, i.e. the initial letter of “believe”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and PEEP (i.e. “butcher’s” – more cockney rhyming slang, this time butcher’s hook = look).

37. Visitor from east sheltering in wind (5)

Answer: GUEST (i.e. “visitor”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”) placed “in” GUST (i.e. “wind”), like so: GU(E)ST.

39. Where location of Portsmouth harbour entrance is irrelevant (6,3,5)

Answer: BESIDE THE POINT. Solution satisfies “irrelevant”, and “where location of Portsmouth harbour entrance is” – one of the few places in Jumbos I’ve actually been to! Fun fact: Portsmouth Point used to be abbreviated to “Po’m P” in ships’ logbooks, and so was born the nickname “Pompey”.

41. Diatribe’s answer resounded in tone (8)

Answer: HARANGUE (i.e. “diatribe”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) and RANG (i.e. “resounded”) both placed “in” HUE (i.e. “tone”), like so: H(A-RANG)UE.

44. One dug out new underground room (7)

Answer: DUNGEON (i.e. “underground room”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of ONE DUG followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: DUNGEO-N.

45. Movement that’s annoyed feral cat taking time out (7)

Answer: FLOUNCE (i.e. “movement that’s annoyed”). Solution is FERAL and OUNCE (i.e. “cat”, the snow leopard) once the ERA (i.e. “time”) has been “taken … out”.

46. Wide area of plant endlessly filling river (7)

Answer: EXPANSE (i.e. “wide area”). Solution is PANSY (i.e. “plant”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder placed in or “filling” EXE (i.e. an English “river”), like so: EX(PANS)E.

47. Banning or backing me visiting pubs? (10)

Answer: EMBARGOING (i.e. “banning”). Solution is ME reversed (indicated by “backing”) and followed by BAR-GOING (i.e. “visiting pubs”), like so: EM-BAR-GOING.

49. I am receiving treatment for itching (9)

Answer: IMPATIENT (i.e. “itching”). When written as I’M PATIENT the solution also satisfies “I am receiving treatment”.

53. Conductor’s to study in Italy initially (9)

Answer: Arturo TOSCANINI (i.e. “conductor”). Solution is TO, SCAN (i.e. “study”), IN and I (i.e. “Italy initially”, i.e. the first letter of “Italy”).

54. Country road Tim found in car with never an end (7)

Answer: CROATIA (i.e. “country”). Solution is ROAD and TIM both placed “in” CAR once the last letter of all three has been removed (indicated by “with never an end”), like so: C(ROA-TI)A.

55. Without protection Zunis and Utes stick together (5)

Answer: UNITE (i.e. “stick together”). Solution is ZUNIS and UTES once the first and last letters of each has been removed (indicated by “without protection”, like so: UNI-TE.

56. Harmonises decorations in a make-over (11)

Answer: COORDINATES (i.e. “harmonises”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in a make-over”) of DECORATIONS.

57. Business listing has unnerved hotel workers (6,5)

Answer: YELLOW PAGES (i.e. “business listing”). Solution is YELLOW (i.e. “unnerved”) followed by PAGES (i.e. “hotel workers”).

Down clues

1. Fruit nipper peeled, marked with spots (4,5)

Answer: CRAB APPLE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is CRAB (i.e. “nipper”) followed by DAPPLED (i.e. “marked with spots”) once the first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “peeled”).

2. What gets one over uninspiring Atlantic voyage? (10,8)

Answer: PEDESTRIAN CROSSING (i.e. “what gets one over” the road). Solution is PEDESTRIAN (i.e. “uninspiring”) followed by CROSSING (i.e. “Atlantic voyage”).

3. Time two notes to be played together (5)

Answer: TUTTI (i.e. “to be played together” in musical lingo). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by UT and TI (i.e. “two notes” of the sol-fa scale – UT was later superseded by “doh”).

4. Polygraph machine – electrode’s involved with it (3,8)

Answer: LIE DETECTOR (i.e. “polygraph machine”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “involved”) of ELECTRODE and IT.

5. It seemed about the season to plant corn? (8)

Answer: SEEDTIME (i.e. “the season to plant corn”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “about”) of IT SEEMED.

6. Coat put on essential lifting device taking little energy and time (6,6)

Answer: DONKEY JACKET (i.e. “coat”). Solution is DON (i.e. “put on”) followed by KEY (i.e. “essential”), then JACK (i.e. “lifting device”), then E and T (recognised abbreviations, or “little” forms of “energy” and “time” respectively).

7. Hungarian composer’s band accepting a piece of music very well (4,6)

Answer: BELA BARTOK (i.e. “Hungarian composer”). Solution is BELT (i.e. “band”) wrapped around or “accepting” A and BAR (i.e. “piece of music”). This is all then followed by OK (i.e. “very well”), like so: BEL(A-BAR)T-OK.

8. What’s black chess piece (not king) (5)

Answer: NIGHT (i.e. “what’s black”). Solution is KNIGHT (i.e. “chess piece”) with the K removed (indicated by “not king” – K being a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess).

9. Handle issue in characteristic style (11)

Answer: of the three words that fit (FINGERPOINT, FINGERPAINT and FINGERPRINT) I’m plumping for FINGERPRINT (i.e. “characteristic style”). Can’t say I’m entirely sold, but I guess the setter is playing on a FINGERPRINT being a characteristic of someone, in that fingerprints are supposedly unique among people. Solution is FINGER (i.e. to “handle”) followed by PRINT (i.e. publication or “issue”). Not a classic.

10. Track events repeated regularly and aptly hard (5,4)

Answer: CYCLE PATH (i.e. “track”). Solution is CYCLE (i.e. “events repeated regularly”) followed by PAT (i.e. “aptly”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils).

11. Assistant dropping unknown from lead of Mozart opera (4)

Answer: AIDE (i.e. “assistant”). Solution is ZAIDE (i.e. “Mozart opera”, unfinished apparently) with the Z removed (indicated by “dropping unknown from…” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns).

12. I agree about large dog’s cry of pain (4)

Answer: YELP (i.e. “dog’s cry of pain”). Solution is YEP (i.e. “I agree”) wrapped “about” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: YE(L)P.

18. Enticing green genie to work life-altering change (7,11)

Answer: GENETIC ENGINEERING (i.e. “life-altering change”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to work”) of ENTICING GREEN GENIE.

19. Most noble of connections garnered by elite regularly (8)

Answer: LOFTIEST (i.e. “most noble”). Solution is OF and TIES (i.e. “connections”) all placed in or “garnered by” LT (i.e. “elite regularly”, i.e. every other letter of ELITE), like so: L(OF-TIES)T.

21. Birds in City of London street (7)

Answer: POULTRY. Solution satisfies “birds” and “City of London street”.

23. Exhausted and wiped out, broken by pressure (8)

Answer: DEPLETED (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is DELETED (i.e. “wiped out”) wrapped around or “broken by” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: DE(P)LETED.

27. Good ancient arable land fine for valuable cover (4,4)

Answer: GOLD LEAF (i.e. “valuable cover”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by OLD (i.e. “ancient”), then LEA (i.e. “arable land”) and F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”, again used in grading pencils).

28. One who works hard to reveal remains of cairn? (8)

Answer: DOGSBODY (i.e. “one who works hard”). When written as DOG’S BODY the solution also satisfies “remains of cairn”, a variety of Scottish terrier.

31. What helps one see travelling dandy going round well-dressed (3,4)

Answer: FOG LAMP (i.e. “what helps one see travelling”). Solution is FOP (i.e. “dandy”) wrapped “round” GLAM (i.e. “well-dressed”), like so: FO(GLAM)P.

32. Reportedly lamenting parrot eating grand Ipomoea (7,5)

Answer: MORNING GLORY (i.e. “ipomoea” – not quite sure why it was capitalised). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of MOURNING (i.e. “lamenting”) and LORY (i.e. variety of “parrot”) all wrapped around or “eating” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”), like so: MORNING-(G)-LORY.

34. Show Belgian port’s terminus perhaps exporting diamonds and sulphur (11)

Answer: OSTENTATION (i.e. “show”). Solution is OSTEND STATION (i.e. “Belgian port’s terminus perhaps”) with the D and S in the middle removed (indicated by “exporting diamonds and sulphur”, D being a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in card games, S being the chemical symbol of “sulphur”), like so: OSTEN-TATION.

36. Instrument’s power level is over quiet (6,5)

Answer: PLAYER PIANO (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”) followed by LAYER (i.e. “level”) and PIANO (i.e. “quiet” in musical lingo).

38. Obtained work that is having reduced tax and lose it (2,2,6)

Answer: GO TO PIECES (i.e. “lost it”). Solution is GOT (i.e. “obtained”) followed by OP (i.e. “work”, short for opus), then IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, after the Latin id est) and CESS (i.e. an obsolete word for a “tax”, short for assess) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”), like so: GOT-OP-IE-CES.

40. Man Dr Dale treated for state of unconsciousness (9)

Answer: DREAMLAND (i.e. “state of unconsciousness”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “treated”) of MAN DR DALE.

42. Chosen Republican regularly teases voter (9)

Answer: ELECTRESS (i.e. female “voter”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “chosen”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and ESS (i.e. “regularly teases”, i.e. every other letter of TEASES).

43. Hand in money in Brazil for pardoning (8)

Answer: REMITTAL (i.e. “pardoning”). Solution is MITT (i.e. “hand”) placed “in” REAL (i.e. “money in Brazil”), like so: RE(MITT)AL.

48. Ground corn’s right stuffed into marrow (5)

Answer: GRIST (i.e. “ground corn”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) placed “into” GIST (i.e. “marrow” or essence of something), like so: G(R)IST.

50. Trick’s beginning with bottom card of winning suit (5)

Answer: TRUMP (i.e. “card of winning suit”). Solution is T (i.e. “trick’s beginning”, i.e. the first letter of “trick”) followed by RUMP (i.e. “bottom”).

51. Somewhat exotically having a shell-like nature? (4)

Answer: OTIC (i.e. “having a shell-like nature” – taking “shell-like” to be slang for the ear). “Somewhat” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: EX(OTIC)ALLY.

52. Very large centre in Toulouse city (4)

Answer: OSLO (i.e. “city” in Norway). Solution is OS (i.e. “very large”, short for outsize) followed by LO (i.e. “centre in Toulouse”, or the middle letters of “Toulouse”).

Another middling Jumbo for me that went a little too tenuous at times. 8d was very good, though.

Now 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 kicked you 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 for your continued patience and input. Till next time (i.e. in a minute or two), stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Reply unexpectedly, with solution to defend (6,4)

Answer: ANSWER BACK (i.e. “reply unexpectedly”). Solution is ANSWER (i.e. “solution”) followed by BACK (i.e. “to defend”).

6. Quick tongue, yet serpentine, in two parts? (7-5)

Answer: LICKETY-SPLIT (i.e. “quick”). Solution is LICK (i.e. to “tongue”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “serpentine”) of YET, then SPLIT (i.e. “in two parts”), like so: LICK-ETY-SPLIT.

14. Children’s animation featuring popular kids (7)

Answer: BAMBINI (i.e. “kids”, plural of bambino, from the Italian). Solution is BAMBI (i.e. “children’s animation” from Walt Disney) wrapped around or “featuring” IN (i.e. “popular”), like so: BAMB(IN)I.

15. Creative type, one filling hot dog? (7)

Answer: PAINTER (i.e. “creative type”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “filling” PANTER (i.e. descriptive of a “hot dog”), like so: PA(I)NTER.

16. Role model’s pain of having missed birdie, coming up short? (7)

Answer: PARAGON (i.e. “role model”). Solution is PAR AGONY (i.e. playfully descriptive of some “pain of having missed birdie” in golf) with the last letter removed (indicated by “coming up short”), like so: PAR-AGON.

17. Exquisite red (4)

Answer: RARE. Solution satisfies “exquisite” and “red”, the colour of undercooked meat. Too loose for my liking.

18. Evidence of painful experience in banging performance? (6)

Answer: TATTOO. Solution satisfies “evidence of painful experience” – not my scene, but I’m always impressed by a good tattoo. I went to a Guana Batz gig a few months ago. If they had frontman Pip Hancox’s full upper-body tattoo as a long-sleeved T-shirt I’d have bought their entire stock. Solution also satisfies a “banging performance” of drumming.

20. European chap in battle that is uglier on the flanks (8)

Answer: MONSIEUR (i.e. “European chap”). Solution is MONS (i.e. “battle” in the First World War, been used in a few Jumbos now) followed by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”!) and UR (i.e. “uglier on the flanks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “uglier”).

24. Eccentric Wars of the Roses lot, queen and king, proving this? (6,4,2,5,2,4)

Answer: THERE’S NOWT SO QUEER AS FOLK, a phrase summing up the “eccentric” nature of people. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “eccentric”) of WARS OF THE ROSES LOT, QUEEN and K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess”).

25. Sage parent admits something going to her head? (7)

Answer: MAHATMA (i.e. a wise or “sage” leader). Solution is MAMA (i.e. “parent”) wrapped around or “admitting” HAT (i.e. “something going to her head”), like so: MA(HAT)MA.

26. Vehicle for hire, a racer not cleared of old rubbish (4-1-3)

Answer: RENT-A-CAR (i.e. “vehicle for hire”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rubbish”) of A RACER NOT once the O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) has been removed or “cleared”.

27. Sailor married to girl in sci-fi film (6)

Answer: AVATAR (i.e. “sci-fi film”). Solution is TAR (i.e. informal reference for a “sailor”) placed after or – loosely – “married to” AVA (i.e. “girl’s” name), like so: AVA-TAR.

29. Gather enthusiast confronting family is an impertinent riddler (8,6)

Answer: SQUIRREL NUTKIN (i.e. “impertinent riddler” of Beatrix Potter’s book, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin). Solution is SQUIRREL (i.e. “gather”) followed by NUT (i.e. “enthusiast”) and KIN (i.e. “family”).

31. Democrat, national leader once (8)

Answer: DISRAELI (i.e. UK “leader once”, he was prime minister in the 1800s). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) followed by ISRAELI (i.e. “national”). I suppose it’s been a year, but it’s no less disappointing to find yet another Times setter who cannot look beyond this obvious construction. See grids 1604 and 1595 for previous examples. Ho hum.

34. Bull or cow? Horse close (4,4)

Answer: GREY SEAL (i.e. “bull or cow”, male and female of the species respectively). Solution is GREY (i.e. variety of “horse”) followed by SEAL (i.e. to “close”). A bit random.

36. Caught in bombardment, general’s sacred object (10,4)

Answer: FISHERMAN’S RING (i.e. “sacred object” – over to Chambers: “a signet ring, with the device of St Peter fishing, used in signing papal briefs”. The ring is used to seal documents. A new ring is cast for each Pope, with the previous ring either destroyed or damaged in some way to prevent further use). Solution is William Tecumseh SHERMAN’S (i.e. “general’s”) placed “in” FIRING (i.e. “bombardment”), like so: FI(SHERMAN’S)RING.

39. King spotting game likely to crack? (6)

Answer: CRISPY (i.e. “likely to crack”). Solution is CR (i.e. “king”, specifically Charles Rex) followed by I SPY (i.e. “game”).

41. Cook with waiters at hairdressers in conversation? (8)

Answer: BARBECUE (i.e. “cook”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “in conversation”) of BARBER QUEUE (i.e. “waiters at hairdressers”).

43. Act nine or younger, daughter! (7)

Answer: PRETEND (i.e. “act”). Solution is PRE-TEN (i.e. “nine or younger”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).

46. Unfortunate position, awaiting platform alteration? (3,5,4,2,3,6)

Answer: THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS. Solution satisfies “unfortunate position” in life, and, playfully, with a little recycling, “position, awaiting platform alteration”.

47. Very soon gold chain added to kitty (8)

Answer: TOMORROW (i.e. “very soon”). Solution is OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) and ROW (i.e. “chain”) all placed after or “added to” TOM (i.e. male “kitty”), like so: TOM-(OR-ROW).

48. Longchamp favourite hurdling as racehorse (6)

Answer: CHASER (i.e. “racehorse”). Solution is CHER (i.e. “Longchamp favourite” – Longchamp is a racecourse in Paris, so this is the French for “dear” or “favourite”) wrapped around or “hurdling” – really stretching it now – AS, like so: CH(AS)ER.

49. Setter, ‘orrible character (4)

Answer: AGAR (i.e. “setter”, a jelly derived from seaweed used to host bacterial cultures, among other uses). Solution is HÄGAR with the H dropped (indicated by “’orrible character” – Hägar the Horrible is a syndicated cartoon strip with some serious reach, some 1,900 newspapers over the years if Wikipedia is anything to go by).

53. Bit of a shock? Incorrect exclusion of workforce (7)

Answer: LOCKOUT (i.e. “exclusion of workforce”, typically enforced by factory owners on their employees). Solution is LOCK (i.e. “bit of a shock” of hair) followed by OUT (i.e. “incorrect”).

54. Where shopper may be brewing (2,5)

Answer: IN STORE. Solution satisfies “where shopper may be” and “brewing”.

56. Either way, it’s exalted (7)

Answer: DEIFIED (i.e. “exalted”). “Either way” is an indication the solution is a palindrome.

57. Traveller across the sky, path’s shown up in height… (7,5)

Answer: HALLEY’S COMET (i.e. “traveller across the sky”). Solution is ALLEY’S (i.e. “path’s”) and COME (i.e. arrived or “shown up”) both placed “in” HT (a recognised abbreviation of “height”), like so: H(ALLEY’S-COME)T.

58. … trail on which I am transported, shimmering with light! (10)

Answer: IRIDESCENT (i.e. “shimmering with light”). Solution is SCENT (i.e. “trail” or clue) placed “on” or after I RIDE (i.e. “I am transported”), like so: (I-RIDE)-SCENT.

Down clues

1. Botanical garden a nuisance, corporation bringing in bulldozer finally (9)

Answer: ARBORETUM (i.e. “botanical garden”). Solution is A, BORE (i.e. “nuisance”) and TUM (i.e. “corporation” – I’ve said this a few times now, but “corporation” is pure catnip for Times setters; the word is an archaic reference to a pot belly) all wrapped around or “bringing in” R (i.e. “bulldozer finally”, i.e. the last letter of “bulldozer”), like so: A-(R)-BORE-TUM.

2. Pile on the Thames in use, a few others scattered to the north (8,5)

Answer: SOMERSET HOUSE (i.e. an impressive “pile on the Thames” that was designed to accommodate a number of societies and public offices). Solution is USE with SOME (i.e. “a few”) and an anagram (indicated by “scattered”) of OTHERS both placed before it, or “to the north” – this being a down clue – like so: (SOME-RSETHO)-USE.

3. Unholy fiend wiping brow (4)

Answer: EVIL (i.e. “unholy”). Solution is DEVIL (i.e. “fiend”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “wiping brow”).

4. Terminal a bit erratic, containing an alloy (9,5)

Answer: BRITANNIA METAL (i.e. an “alloy” similar to pewter, apparently). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “erratic”) of TERMINAL A BIT wrapped around or “containing” BRIT(AN)NIAMETAL.

5. Nick and Bobby (3)

Answer: COP. Solution satisfies “nick” or to catch, and “bobby”, slang for a policeman.

7. Halfwit forgetting ID, a Greek character (4)

Answer: IOTA (i.e. “Greek character”, the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is IDIOT (i.e. “halfwit”) with the ID removed or “forgotten” and the remainder followed by A, like so: IOT-A.

8. Hark! A berk! Empty orchestra playing, hard to ignore – here? (7,3)

Answer: KARAOKE BAR. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole – not only does it describe what one may encounter in such a place, but KARAOKE is also “empty orchestra” in Japanese. Solution is also an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of HARK A BERK and OA (i.e. “empty orchestra”, i.e. the word “orchestra” with all its middle letters removed) once the H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) has been removed or “forgotten”. An excellent clue. Best of the lot.

9. Nailed by judge, a blighter hanging (8)

Answer: TAPESTRY (i.e. “hanging”). Solution is TRY (i.e. to “judge”) wrapped around or “nailing” – this setter’s containment indicators are really pushing it this week – A and PEST (i.e. “blighter”), like so: T(A-PEST)RY.

10. Show superhero, say, in image on computer (11)

Answer: SCREENSAVER (i.e. “image on computer” – again, pushing it). Solution is SCREEN (i.e. “show”) followed by SAVER (i.e. “superhero, say” – other less fantastical heroes are available).

11. Delinquent criminal has worked to rule (5,4)

Answer: LAGER LOUT (i.e. “delinquent”). Solution is LAG (slang for a “criminal”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “worked”) of TO RULE, like so: LAG-ERLOUT.

12. Defeat war machine (4)

Answer: TANK. Solution satisfies a slang word for “defeat”, and “war machine”.

13. Undercarriage scratched in luxury car, being lower (8)

Answer: LIMOUSIN (i.e. “lower”, or breed of cattle. To “low” is another way of saying mooing). Solution is LIMOUSINE (i.e. “luxury car”) with the last letter or “undercarriage” removed or “scratched”.

19. Huge cable at the back, pull loop to secure it (8)

Answer: TOWERING (i.e. “huge”). Solution is E (i.e. “cable at the back”, i.e. the last letter of “cable”) placed between or “secured” by TOW (i.e. to “pull”) and RING (i.e. “loop”), like so: TOW-(E)-RING.

21. High treble producing great number (6)

Answer: BELTER (i.e. “great [musical] number”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “high”) of TREBLE.

22. Fruit stuffed with half of rice – quite like a regular meal is it? (8)

Answer: SQUARISH (i.e. “quite like a regular meal”). Solution is SQUASH (i.e. “fruit”) wrapped around or “stuffed with” RI (i.e. “half of rice”, specifically the first half), like so: SQUA(RI)SH.

23. Alongside cocktail, smart bottles (8)

Answer: SKIRTING (i.e. “alongside”). Solution is KIR (i.e. “cocktail”) placed in or “bottled” by STING (i.e. to “smart”), like so: S(KIR)TING.

28. Girl, briefly detained, got the wrong idea (14)

Answer: MISAPPREHENDED (i.e. “got the wrong idea”). Solution is MISS (i.e. “girl”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by APPREHENDED (i.e. “detained”), like so: MIS-APPREHENDED.

29. Wisdom in place of heroic stories? (8)

Answer: SAGACITY (i.e. “wisdom”). When written as SAGA CITY the solution also playfully satisfies “place of heroic stories”.

30. Wind best dispersed for couple in boudoir? (4,4)

Answer: TWIN BEDS (i.e. “couple in boudoir”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dispersed”) of WIND BEST.

32. Top advisor hopeless in emergencies (8,5)

Answer: EMINENCE GRISE (i.e. “top advisor” – over to Chambers again: “someone exercising power in the background, as did Cardinal Richelieu’s private secretary and alter ego Père Joseph”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “hopeless”) of IN EMERGENCIES.

33. Sickly character called out for drink (5,3)

Answer: GREEN TEA (i.e. “drink”). Solution is GREEN (i.e. “sickly”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “called out”) of the letter T (i.e. a “character” of the alphabet).

35. Set on reversing unpleasant situation: think about that (11)

Answer: SUPERIMPOSE (i.e. “set on” top of another). Solution is MIRE (i.e. “unpleasant situation”) “reversed” and placed in or having “about” it SUPPOSE (i.e. “think”), like so: SUP(ERIM)POSE.

37. Drop a brick into modest drink (6)

Answer: SHERRY (i.e. “drink”). Solution is ERR (i.e. “drop a brick”, specifically saying something tactless or indiscreet) placed “into” SHY (i.e. “modest”), like so: SH(ERR)Y.

38. Old musician has piece to play after lifting of short’s stick (4,6)

Answer: FATS DOMINO (i.e. “old musician”). Solution is DOMINO (i.e. a “piece to play” in a game of… um…) placed “after” STAFF (i.e. “stick”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “lifting of…” – this being a down clue).

40. Differing in citadel – or not? (9)

Answer: IDENTICAL (i.e. “differing … not”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “differing” – a little more recycling) of IN CITADEL.

42. Train that’s amazing loaded with liquor (4-4)

Answer: CHOO-CHOO (i.e. “train”). Solution is COO (i.e. “that’s amazing”) wrapped around or “loaded” with HOOCH (i.e. “liquor”), like so: C(HOOCH)OO.

44. Shame seeing recording, evidently blushing over it (9)

Answer: DISCREDIT (i.e. “shame”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “recording”) followed by RED (i.e. “evidently blushing”) and IT.

45. At the crease, openers bagging runs – people unlikely to applaud? (8)

Answer: INGRATES (i.e. “people unlikely to applaud”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at the crease” in a game of cricket) followed by GATES (i.e. “openers”) once wrapped around or “bagging” R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs”), like so: IN-G(R)ATES.

50. Expression of contempt about Liberal nonsense (4)

Answer: BLAH (i.e. “nonsense”). Solution is BAH (i.e. “expression of contempt”) wrapped “about” L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: B(L)AH.

51. Man say brought up in Helsinki (4)

Answer: ISLE (i.e. “Man[,] say” – other isles are available). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “brought up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: H(ELSI)NKI.

52. Beer voucher turned over (4)

Answer: PILS (i.e. “beer”). Solution is SLIP (i.e. “voucher”) reversed or “turned over”.

55. First of all, euphonium and reed organ (3)

Answer: EAR (i.e. “organ”). “First of all” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Euphonium And Reed.

A middling Jumbo this week. I wouldn’t be so mean as to say it was 41a, but it didn’t exactly have me 30a for more either.

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 flipped you the bird then you might find solace in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

Across clues

1. Make quite clear what to do at end of holiday? (5,4)

Answer: DRIVE HOME. Solution satisfies “make quite clear” and “what to do at end of holiday”.

6. Vegetables, with lots of people in line for them, we hear, mind them? (2,3,2)

Answer: PS AND QS (i.e. “mind them”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “we hear”) of PEAS (i.e. “vegetables”) and QUEUES (i.e. “lots of people in line”). These are separated by AND (i.e. “with”).

10. Radiant with Russian girl returning (5)

Answer: AGLOW (i.e. “radiant”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and OLGA (i.e. “Russian girl’s” name) all reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: AGLO-W.

13. Cold, simple chemical substance losing one electron at first becomes mild (7)

Answer: CLEMENT (i.e. “mild”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” on water taps) followed by ELEMENT (i.e. “simple chemical substance”) with the first E removed (indicated by “losing one electron at first”, i.e. the first letter of “electron”), like so: C-LEMENT.

14. Cries aloud for the country (5)

Answer: WALES (i.e. “country”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “aloud”) of WAILS (i.e. “cries”).

15. Put name into small newspaper article, curving along the edges (9)

Answer: SCALLOPED (i.e. “curved along the edges”). Solution is CALL (i.e. to “name”) “put into” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and OP-ED (i.e. “newspaper article”), like so: S-(CALL)-OP-ED.

16. Lifelong description of how “rock-a-bye-baby” fell to its death? (4,3,6,2,3,5)

Answer: FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE (i.e. “lifelong”). The remainder of the clue plays on the nursery rhyme: “Rock-a-bye-baby, on the tree-top; when the wind blows, the cradle will rock; when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall; down will come baby, cradle and all”.

17. Singular taxi driver making a crust (6)

Answer: SCABBY (i.e. “making a crust” over a healing wound). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by CABBY (i.e. slang for a “taxi driver”).

18. This is me at college, before being covered in flour etc (8)

Answer: MEUNIERE (i.e. “being covered in flour etc” – oh come on. 1) You’ve stuck this in the grid on even intersecting letters, _E_N_E_E; 2) the solution is a term only foodies are only ever going to care about, and 3) you appear to handwave away a good chunk of the clue under “etc”, a total nothingburger – Chambers describes MEUNIERE as: “lightly coated in flour and fried in butter, then served in butter, lemon juice and herbs, especially parsley”, which seems a little more than just sticking some flour on it). Solution is ME followed by UNI (i.e. “college”, short for university) and ERE (poetic form of “before”). This one got so far up my nose I decided to dust off this old favourite.

19. Reminder to collect protective gear held up (7)

Answer: PROPPED (i.e. “held up”). Solution is PROD (i.e. “reminder”) wrapped around or “collecting” PPE (i.e. “protective gear”, lest you have forgotten, Personal Protective Equipment. Has this made it into a dictionary already?), like so: PRO(PPE)D.

22. Figure Noah went swimming? Seems reasonable (4,6)

Answer: FAIR ENOUGH (i.e. “seems reasonable”). Solution is an anagram, indicated by “went swimming”, of FIGURE NOAH.

23. Almost attractive at first not before time (6,6)

Answer: PRETTY NEARLY (i.e. “almost”). Solution is PRETTY (i.e. “attractive”) followed by N (i.e. “at first not”, i.e. the first letter of “not”) and EARLY (i.e. “before time”).

27. Like to hear detective who lived in Mexico (5)

Answer: AZTEC (i.e. “who lived in Mexico”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to hear”) of AS (i.e. “like”) followed by TEC (informal word for a “detective”), like so: AZ-TEC.

29. Recipe for astringent to be put on back (7)

Answer: FORMULA (i.e. “recipe”). Solution is FOR followed by ALUM (i.e. “astringent”, in this case an agent that draws something together, such as the skin) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: FOR-MULA.

30. Great desire of Yankee as a salaryman? (8)

Answer: YEARNING (i.e. “great desire”). Solution is Y (“Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by EARNING (i.e. “as a salaryman”).

32. O my! – missing from holy book is the nucleus (8)

Answer: DEUTERON (i.e. “the nucleus” of heavy hydrogen). Solution is DEUTERONOMY (i.e. “holy book” of The Bible) with the O MY “missing” from the end.

34. Overdo it regularly with friend of a parricide (7)

Answer: OEDIPAL (i.e. “of a parricide” or murder of a parent. In Greek mythology Oedipus killed his father, not knowing who he was, and ended up marrying his mother. Them wacky Greeks, eh?) Solution is OEDI (i.e. “overdo it regularly”, i.e. every other letter of OVERDO IT) followed by PAL (i.e. “friend”).

36. Loves meeting in the street? Go ahead (5)

Answer: TRYST (i.e. “loves meeting”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) with TRY (i.e. a “go”) placed “ahead” of it, like so: TRY-ST.

39. Create storm to find necessary cash (5,3,4)

Answer: RAISE THE WIND (i.e. an informal phrase meaning “to find necessary cash”, apparently. Can’t say I’ve heard it before). Solution also playfully satisfies “create storm”.

41. Tiny policeman is ineffective (3,4,3)

Answer: NOT MUCH COP (i.e. “ineffective”). Solution is NOT MUCH (i.e. “tiny”) followed by COP (slang for a “policeman”).

44. Loiters uncertainly in luxury resort (7)

Answer: ESTORIL (i.e. “luxury resort” in Portugal). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “uncertainly”) of LOITERS.

46. Quietly leaves with order to remove underwear? (5,3)

Answer: SLIPS OFF (i.e. “quietly leaves”). Solution also playfully satisfies “order to remove underwear”.

48. Hostility as I am surrounded by a group of students (6)

Answer: ANIMUS (i.e. “hostility”). Solution is I’M (a contraction of “I am”) placed in or “surrounded by” A and NUS (i.e. “group of students”, specifically the National Union of Students), like so: A-N(I’M)US.

50. Hate run-of-the-mill BBC type messing up patriotic song (6,4,2,3,8)

Answer: BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC (i.e. US “patriotic song”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “messing up”) of HATE RUN-OF-THE-MILL BBC TYPE.

53. Universal train and air travel in the country one imagined (9)

Answer: RURITANIA (i.e. “country one imagined”, or, rather, imagined by Anthony Hope in a number of his novels). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “travel”) of U (a recognised abbreviation of “universal”, the film certificate), TRAIN and AIR.

54. A minor honour (5)

Answer: AWARD (i.e. “honour”). Solution is A followed by WARD (i.e. child or “minor”).

55. Cooking us one nice stew (7)

Answer: CUISINE (i.e. “stew”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “cooking”) of US, I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and NICE.

56. Parking vehicle first, go for long walk (5)

Answer: TRAMP (i.e. “go for long walk”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage) with TRAM (i.e. “vehicle”) placed “first”, like so: TRAM-P.

57. In nervous state, throw coconut perhaps at head (7)

Answer: SHYNESS (i.e. “nervous state”). Solution is SHY (i.e. “throw coconut perhaps”) followed by NESS (i.e. “head”, both promontories).

58. Considered odd, having been eaten by a bear? (9)

Answer: RUMINATED (i.e. “considered”). Solution is RUM (i.e. “odd”) followed by IN A TED (i.e. “having been eaten by a bear”, playfully speaking. To be fair, this did raise a smile when I twigged it).

Down clues

1. Unaware about cold drink (5)

Answer: DECAF (i.e. “drink”, short for decaffeinated). Solution is DEAF (i.e. “unaware”) wrapped “about” C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”, already covered), like so: DE(C)AF.

2. I can’t stand up straight to deliver patter song (3,3,1,6,4)

Answer: I’VE GOT A LITTLE LIST (i.e. “patter song”, or one where the lyrics are delivered in a rapid fashion, on this occasion a song from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado). Solution also playfully satisfies “I can’t stand up straight”, as in leaning or LISTING. You get the idea.

3. Delightful daughter missing with prospect of being returned? (9)

Answer: ELECTABLE (i.e. “with prospect of being returned” in an election). Solution is DELECTABLE (i.e. “delightful”) with the D removed (indicated by “daughter missing” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).

4. Beginning two terms of tennis (6)

Answer: OUTSET (i.e. “beginning”). When written as OUT and SET the solution also satisfies “two terms of tennis”.

5. Degas perhaps broken by conflict with key enigmatic man (6,5)

Answer: EDWARD ELGAR (i.e. “enigmatic man”, a reference to his Enigma Variations). Solution is EDGAR (i.e. “Degas perhaps”, other Edgars are available) wrapped around or “broken by” WAR (i.e. “conflict”) and DEL (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for “delete”), like so: ED(WAR-DEL)GAR.

6. Knights taking great care to protect youngster (8)

Answer: PALADINS (i.e. “knights”). Solution is PAINS (i.e. “great care”) wrapped around or “protecting” LAD (i.e. “youngster”), like so: PA(LAD)INS.

7. A part of Ireland, removing large English grave (7)

Answer: AUSTERE (i.e. “grave”). Solution is A followed by ULSTER (i.e. “part of Ireland”) once the L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) has been “removed”. This is all then followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: A-USTER-E.

8. Not truly attractive, one way the dawning of love must break in (11)

Answer: DISHONESTLY (i.e. “not truly”). Solution is DISHY (i.e. “attractive”) wrapped around or “broken in” by ONE, ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) and L (i.e. “dawning of love”, i.e. the first letter of “love”), like so: DISH(ONE-ST-L)Y.

9. Reckless with the cosmetics? (4-5)

Answer: SLAP-HAPPY (i.e. “reckless”). The rest of the clue plays on SLAP being a slang word for make-up.

10. Without leader, orchestra try to keep right tempo (7)

Answer: ALLEGRO (i.e. a musical “tempo”). Solution is HALLE (i.e. an “orchestra” in Manchester) with the first letter removed (indicated by “without leader”) and the remainder followed by GO (i.e. “try”) once wrapped around or “keeping” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: ALLE-G(R)O.

11. Slept again, concealing some small old coins (5)

Answer: LEPTA (i.e. “some small old coins”. An interesting one, this. A lepton has long been a minor coin of Greek currency, stretching back millennia. The name stuck even after Greece joined the Euro, with cents still getting referred to as lepta). “Concealing” indicates that the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: S(LEPT A)GAIN.

12. Regular occasions when being married, say, ends in confusion (10)

Answer: WEDNESDAYS (i.e. “regular occasions”). Solution is WED (i.e. “when being married”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “in confusion”) of SAY ENDS, like so: WED-NESDAYS.

17. Capital assembled in very short order (5)

Answer: SOFIA (i.e. “capital” of Bulgaria). Solution is SO (i.e. “very”) followed by FIAT (i.e. “order” – over to Chambers: “a formal or solemn command”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: SO-FIA.

20. Importantly, no cops interfered with this publication (8,9)

Answer: PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT (i.e. “publication”, specifically a novel by Philip Roth). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “interfered with”) of IMPORTANTLY NO COPS.

21. Chest: one heard having trouble with it? (6)

Answer: COFFER (i.e. “chest”). The rest of the clue plays on the solution being a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of COUGHER (i.e. “one … having trouble with” their chest).

24. Country golf club welcoming wife (6)

Answer: RWANDA (i.e. “country”). Solution is R AND A (i.e. “golf club”, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) wrapped around or “welcoming” W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”), like so: R-(W)-AND-A.

25. Formerly holding name Max? (5)

Answer: ERNST (i.e. “Max” – Oh look everyone, Max is back! I knew it wouldn’t take long before another Times setter fell for his charms. If you’re new to Jumbos and don’t know who Max Ernst was – I mean, let’s be honest, this clue has given you Sweet FA to work with – he was an artist. Don’t feel bad for not knowing that, but you might want to keep him in mind as he is forever appearing in Jumbos). Solution is ERST (i.e. “formerly”) wrapped around or “holding” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: ER(N)ST.

26. Illegally induce son, delivered by hairpin? (6)

Answer: SUBORN (i.e. “illegally induce”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by BORN (i.e. “delivered”) once this has first been placed after or “by” U (i.e. “hairpin”, as in the letter’s shape), like so: S-(U-BORN).

28. Smart person wiping chlorine from part of fingernail (5)

Answer: CUTIE (i.e. “smart person”, usually a girl). Solution is CUTICLE (i.e. “part of fingernail”) with the CL removed (indicated by “wiping chlorine from”, CL being the chemical symbol of chlorine).

31. A fine fabric, very red (6)

Answer: AFLAME (i.e. “very red”). Solution is A followed by F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”) and LAMÉ (i.e. “fabric”).

33. Briefing about problem, my answer’s complicated (4,7)

Answer: NEWS SUMMARY (i.e. “briefing”). Solution is SUM (i.e. mathematical “problem”) placed in or having “about” it an anagram (indicated by “complicated”) of MY ANSWER, like so: NEWS(SUM)MARY.

35. Galley slave toiling through passages in literal pursuit? (11)

Answer: PROOFREADER (i.e. “literal pursuit” in publishing). I get the setter is playing on “galley” being a proof copy, and that you’d find “passages” of text in a book, but I think the clue is rather too laboured.

37. Signal for bed, when eating a series of snacks (5)

Answer: TAPAS (i.e. “series of snacks”). Solution is TAPS (i.e. military “signal for bed”, e.g. a bugle call) wrapped around or “eating” A, like so: TAP(A)S.

38. Commando in protected area out of line calling in engineers (5,5)

Answer: GREEN BERET (i.e. “commando”). Solution is GREEN BELT (i.e. “protected area”) once the L has been removed (indicated by “out of line” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”), and the remainder wrapped around or “calling in” RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army), like so: GREEN-BE(RE)T.

40. Hospital people who are experienced get together affectionately (4,5)

Answer: HOLD HANDS (i.e. “get together affectionately”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” used on maps) followed by OLD HANDS (i.e. “people who are experienced”).

42. Very old Roman soldier? (9)

Answer: CENTURION. Solution satisfies “very old” – the word can mean anyone achieving a hundred in any way – and “Roman soldier”.

43. A missing pet’s hard to catch, having fouled dishes (8)

Answer: ASHTRAYS (i.e. “fouled dishes”). Solution is A followed by STRAY’S (i.e. “missing pet’s”) once wrapped around or “catching” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils), like so: A-S(H)TRAY’S.

45. Sort of desk surface: light lunch on it? (4-3)

Answer: ROLL-TOP (i.e. “sort of desk”). Solution is TOP (i.e. “surface”) with ROLL (i.e. “light lunch”) placed over or “on it”, this being a down clue.

47. Take apart one section of roof: nothing in it (7)

Answer: ISOLATE (i.e. “take apart”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) followed by SLATE (i.e. “section of roof”) once wrapped around or having “in it” O (i.e. “nothing”), like so: I-S(O)LATE.

49. Trap eccentric viewer (6)

Answer: WEBCAM (i.e. “viewer”). Solution is WEB (i.e. a “trap”) followed by CAM (i.e. “eccentric” – we’ve seen it umpteen times in Jumbos now, so this is another to keep in mind. Chambers has: “in mechanics, an irregular projection on a revolving shaft or rotating cylinder, shaped so as to transmit regular movement to another part”. “Eccentric” meanwhile is “with the axis to one side, not at the centre”). If this turns out to be NETCAM, justified by its appearance in some rickety online dictionary from 1999, the kind that used to put a hyphen in “email”, then I’m officially done with Jumbos.

51. Time on boat for rescuing a creature in river (5)

Answer: TARKA (i.e. “creature in river” – I’m going to disagree here. Tarka the Otter was a novel by Henry Williamson – we had it on our bookshelf when I was little – but none of my dictionaries support the use of TARKA to mean “otter”. What’s next? Are you going to expect solvers to deduce NEMO or JAWS from “creature in sea”? I wouldn’t rule it out, but I am not a fan). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by ARK (i.e. “boat for rescuing”, from The Bible) and A.

52. One might believe this Indian died (5)

Answer: CREED (i.e. “one might believe this”). Solution is CREE (i.e. “Indian”, in this case “a member of a Native American tribe living in Montana and parts of Canada” (Chambers)) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “died”).

Oops, another late one. Getting to be a habit, this.

Now 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 right going over 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 input and continued patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Too old? True, about fifty (6)

Answer: OVERLY (i.e. “too”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by VERY (i.e. “true”, archaically) once wrapped “about” L (i.e. “fifty” as a Roman numeral), like so: O-VER(L)Y.

4. European, before spring, mainly trained in ropy footwear (10)

Answer: ESPADRILLE (i.e. “ropy footwear”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) followed by SPA (i.e. “spring”) and DRILLED (i.e. “trained”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mainly”), like so: E-SPA-DRILLE.

10. One emperor backed follower of another (5)

Answer: RASTA (i.e. “follower of [emperor]”, specifically Heile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia). Solution is A TSAR (i.e. “one emperor”) reversed (indicated by “backed”), like so: RAST-A.

14. With stiff upper lip, there’s nothing I demand, squalidly housed (9)

Answer: STOICALLY (i.e. “with stiff upper lip”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”), I and CALL (i.e. “demand”) all placed or “housed” in STY (i.e. “squalid” accommodation), like so: ST(O-I-CALL)Y.

15. Innocence not so much seen in barrister’s first feeble point (13)

Answer: BLAMELESSNESS (i.e. “innocence”). Solution is LESS (i.e. “not so much”) placed “in” between B (i.e. “barrister’s first” letter), LAME (i.e. “feeble”) and NESS (i.e. “point”, both promontories), like so: B-LAME-(LESS)-NESS.

16. Imagined odds of perfect finish (7)

Answer: PRETEND (i.e. “imagined”). Solution is PRET (i.e. “odds of perfect”, i.e. every other letter of PERFECT) followed by END (i.e. “finish”). Fast-forward two weeks and you’ll see this solution in today’s Jumbo too (43a, if you’re interested). Aren’t repeats great?

17. Get around or above it at sea (7)

Answer: OBVIATE (i.e. “get around”. Chambers isn’t keen but my Oxford supports it, as in to remove a difficulty). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “at sea”) of ABOVE IT.

18. Fit singular form of Buddhist mystical text, you might think (7)

Answer: TANTRUM (i.e. a “fit” of anger). “You might think” playfully suggests the solution, under certain word constructions for plurals, would satisfy a “singular form of Buddhist mystical text”, TANTRA. You get the idea.

19. Strangely read and act no play after Chekov? That’s a tragedy (6,3,9)

Answer: ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (i.e. Shakespearean “tragedy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “strangely”) of READ and ACT NO PLAY once placed “after” ANTON (i.e. playwright “Chekov’s” first name), like so: ANTON-YANDCLEOPATRA.

21. Scottish group’s contribution to Gaelic language (4)

Answer: CLAN (i.e. “Scottish group”). “Contribution to” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GAELI(C LAN)GUAGE.

24. Fool one by one in strike (5)

Answer: IDIOT (i.e. “fool”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by I (the same) once placed “in” DOT (i.e. to “strike”, slang apparently), like so: I-D(I)OT.

26. Clear stuff from what we hear at church and pass on (8)

Answer: ORGANDIE (i.e. “clear stuff” – over to Chambers: “fine translucent plain-woven cotton dress material with a stiff finish”. Describing this as “clear stuff” is a total nothingburger) Solution is ORGAN (i.e. “what we hear at church”) followed by DIE (i.e. to “pass on”).

27. Two possibilities for movement found in recreational space (8)

Answer: PLAYROOM (i.e. “recreational space”). When written as PLAY and ROOM the solution also satisfies “two possibilities for movement”.

29. Half-hearted pledge about favourite I have that’s on a par with rivals (11)

Answer: COMPETITIVE (i.e. “on a par with rivals”). Solution is COMMIT (i.e. “pledge”) with one of the middle Ms removed (indicated by “half-hearted”) and the remainder wrapped “about” PET (i.e. “favourite”). This is all then followed by I’VE (a contraction of “I have”), like so: COM(PET)IT-I’VE.

30. Don’t leave religious group for what looks like just another branch (5,6)

Answer: STICK INSECT (i.e. “what looks like just another branch”). When written as STICK IN SECT the solution also satisfies “don’t leave religious group”.

32. Doctor clad a rich infant cutely, initially, in what’s fashionable and pink? (7,4)

Answer: RADICAL CHIC (i.e. “what’s fashionable and pink”, being “the trend among socialites of the late 60s and early 70s of mixing with and affecting the views, dress, style, etc of radicals”, while pink can be defined as “a person who is something of a socialist but hardly a red” (both Chambers)). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of CLAD A RICH followed by I and C (i.e. “infant cutely, initially”, i.e. the first letters of “infant” and “cutely”), like so: RADICALCH-IC.

35. Bring in vino in part of house for this activity? (4,7)

Answer: WINE TASTING. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also NET (i.e. “bring in”) and ASTI (i.e. a variety of wine or “vino”) all placed “in” WING (i.e. “part of house”), like so: WI(NET-ASTI)NG.

37. Hypothesis initially dropped by the firm, open to checking (8)

Answer: TESTABLE (i.e. “open to checking”). Solution is THE with the H removed (indicated by “hypothesis initially dropped”, i.e. the first letter of “hypothesis”) followed by STABLE (i.e. “firm”), like so: TE-STABLE.

39. Yearly cost of accommodation in relation to older pair (8)

Answer: PARENTAL (i.e. “in relation to older pair”). Solution is PA (i.e. “yearly”, short for Per Annum) followed by RENTAL (i.e. “cost of accommodation”).

40. Gather after a celebration in church (5)

Answer: AMASS (i.e. “gather”). Solution is A followed by MASS (i.e. “celebration in church”).

43. Order to dismiss or fire all but the last (4)

Answer: SHOO (i.e. “order to dismiss”). Solution is SHOOT (i.e. “fire”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “all but the last”).

44. Reverse a fixed routine in killing, destroy our violent disruption of society (8,10)

Answer: CULTURAL REVOLUTION (i.e. “disruption of society”). Solution is A RUT (i.e. “a fixed routine”) “reversed” and placed “in” CULL (i.e. “killing”). This is all then followed by an anagram (indicated by “destroy”) of OUR VIOLENT, like so: CUL(TUR-A)L-REVOLUTION.

47. A version of Bible included in set for Cambridge University (7)

Answer: HARVARD (i.e. “Cambridge university”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation. This is Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts). Solution is A and RV (i.e. “version of Bible”, in this case the Revised Version) both placed “in” HARD (i.e. “set”), like so: H(A-RV)ARD.

48. What may be taken innocently with unknown treatment (7)

Answer: THERAPY (i.e. “treatment”). Solution is THE RAP (i.e. “what may be taken innocently”) followed by Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in clues as unknowns).

50. Part of poetic line appearing ahead of time in film past (7)

Answer: FOOTAGE (i.e. “film [of the] past”). Solution is FOOT (i.e. “part of poetic line”) followed by AGE (i.e. “time”).

51. Absurdly, he preselects a competitor in race (13)

Answer: STEEPLECHASER (i.e. “competitor in race”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “absurdly”) of HE PRESELECTS A.

52. Some cut is altogether peculiar to tailor (9)

Answer: CUSTOMISE (i.e. “to tailor”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “altogether peculiar”) of SOME CUT IS.

53. Nincompoop concealing past that’s deeply alarming (5)

Answer: ABYSS (i.e. “that’s deeply alarming” – probably more so the deeply than the alarming). Solution is ASS (i.e. “nincompoop”) wrapped around or “concealing” BY (i.e. “past”), like so: A(BY)SS.

54. Therapist stole gripping film (6-4)

Answer: SHRINK WRAP (i.e. “film”). Solution is SHRINK (i.e. “therapist”) followed by WRAP (i.e. “stole”, both garments).

55. Silly damn emergency – totally evacuated state capital (6)

Answer: SYDNEY (i.e. “state capital”, in this case of New South Wales in Australia). “Totally evacuated” indicates the solution is derived from the first and last letters of SILLY DAMN EMERGENCY.

Down clues

1. Food routes Osage and Hopi interchanged (9)

Answer: OESOPHAGI (i.e. “food routes”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “interchanged”) of OSAGE and HOPI.

2. Personality problem exemplified by Gregory? (11)

Answer: EGOCENTRISM (i.e. “personality problem”). The remainder of the clue plays on how EGO can be found in the CENTRE of “GR(EGO)RY”.

3. With no leaders, elect her in speaker’s position (7)

Answer: LECTERN (i.e. “speaker’s position”, or, rather, what a speaker would stand behind). “With no leaders” indicates the solution is derived by removing the initial letters from ELECT HER IN.

5. Authority to pronounce part of essay’s OK (3-2)

Answer: SAY-SO (i.e. “authority” – “to pronounce” indicates what kind of authority). “Part of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ES(SAY’S O)K.

6. Feel divided about values – not half, producing this? (11)

Answer: AMBIVALENCE. The solution (kind of) satisfies the clue as a whole, being the “coexistence in one person of opposing emotional attitudes towards the same object” (Chambers), but is also VAL (i.e. “values – not half”, specifically the latter half) placed “in” AMBIENCE (i.e. “feel”), like so: AMBI(VAL)ENCE.

7. Financial doctrine having Americans go round the bend? (11)

Answer: REAGANOMICS (i.e. “financial doctrine” of the US in the 1980s, after US president Ronald Reagan). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “round the bend”) of AMERICANS GO.

8. Call set up including one who gave noble service (8)

Answer: LIEGEMAN (i.e. “who gave noble service”). Solution is NAME (i.e. “call”) and GEL (i.e. “set”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “including” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again), like so: L(I)EG-EMAN.

9. English learner getting shock treatment before exam in this kind of college (9)

Answer: ELECTORAL (i.e. “kind of college” in the US, being “the body people who elect the President and Vice President, themselves elected by the popular vote” (Chambers)). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), followed by L (ditto “learner” on L-plates), then ECT (i.e. “shock treatment”, short for electroconvulsive therapy) and ORAL (i.e. “exam”).

10. Revolting kind of behaviour on the increase (6)

Answer: RISING. Solution satisfies “revolting kind of behaviour” and “on the increase”.

11. I blunder in transaction with a part of Africa (6,5)

Answer: SIERRA LEONE (i.e. “part of Africa”). Solution is I and ERR (i.e. “blunder”) placed “in” SALE (i.e. “transaction”) and followed by ONE (i.e. “a”), like so: S(I-ERR)ALE-ONE.

12. A state in Eastern US, in short, upset another in East (5)

Answer: ASSAM (i.e. “[a state] in East”, specifically India). Solution is A followed by MASS (i.e. “state in Eastern US, in short”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Massachusetts) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: A-SSAM.

13. Over an ordeal about love, happy one is combative (12)

Answer: GLADIATORIAL (i.e. “one is combative”). Solution is A TRIAL (i.e. “an ordeal”) wrapped “about” O (i.e. “love, a zero score in tennis). This is all then placed after or having “over” it – this being a down clue – GLAD (i.e. “happy”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again), like so: GLAD-I-(A-T(O)RIAL).

20. Highly dangerous conflict appropriate for boxer? (8)

Answer: DOGFIGHT (i.e. “highly dangerous conflict”). The rest of the clue plays on a “boxer” being a variety of DOG. That’s about it, unless I’m missing something clever. Seems a bit anaemic.

22. Security worker turned over this ID (7)

Answer: NAMETAG (i.e. “ID”). Solution is GATEMAN (i.e. “security worker”) reversed (indicated by “turned over”). For all intents and purposes this is the same clue and solution as 22a in grid 1661 only last month. It’s bad enough that we get a steady stream of repeated solutions in Jumbos, but to see repeated clues as well is poor.

23. James, say – name used on continent for European schools (8)

Answer: GYMNASIA (i.e. “European schools” – over to Chambers again: “a top-grade secondary school in many European countries, especially Germany, which prepare pupils for higher education, especially in academic rather than vocational subjects”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “say”) of JIM (shortened form of “James”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”) and ASIA (i.e. “continent”), like so: GYM-N-ASIA.

25. In which monarch no longer detains old Conservative government minister? (8)

Answer: THEOCRAT (i.e. “government minister”). Solution is THAT (i.e. “which” – man, you could farm the rest of Bitcoin with the amount of energy wasted by writers and grammarians arguing the use of ‘that’ vs ‘which’, especially when the simple addition of a comma is often enough to eliminate any ambiguity. There are bigger things in the world to worry about, peeps) once having “in” ER (i.e. “monarch no longer”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) after this has itself been wrapped around or “detaining” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and C (ditto “Conservative”), like so: TH(E(O-C)R)AT. Nicely worked.

28. Brief struggle to secure grand after deductions (8)

Answer: VIGNETTE (i.e. “brief”). Solution is VIE (i.e. “struggle”) wrapped around or “securing” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”) and NETT (i.e. “after deductions”), like so: VI(G-NETT)E.

29. Selectively arranges some of the cloth? Doesn’t sound like it (7)

Answer: CURATES. Solution satisfies “selectively arranges” and “some of the cloth” – a curate being “a clergyman in the Church of England, assisting a rector or vicar” (Chambers). I don’t get the “doesn’t sound like it” bit. From the description above, I’d say a curate was very much of the cloth.

31. Confine as in protest, unfriendly state of affairs (6,2,4)

Answer: KETTLE OF FISH (i.e. “state of affairs”). Solution is KETTLE (i.e. “confine as in protest” – it’s certainly a police technique I remember being used to combat the student fee protests of 2010, hemming protesters in and only letting them leave via a specific exit, but has its use been sufficient to warrant a mention in the dictionary? My relatively recent Oxford thinks not) followed by OFFISH (i.e. “unfriendly”).

33. It’s awful ‘cos it’s rude and tacky, ultimately? (11)

Answer: DISCOURTESY. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole (kind of), but is also an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of COS IT’S RUDE followed by Y (i.e. “tacky, ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “tacky”), like so: DISCOURTES-Y.

34. President having enough academic jobs for all the boys (11)

Answer: CHAIRPERSON (i.e. “president”). When written as a CHAIR PER SON the solution also playfully satisfies “having enough academic jobs for all the boys”.

35. Awed comment about footwear facility, right? One can move things along with it (11)

Answer: WHEELBARROW (i.e. “one can move things along with it”). Solution is WOW (i.e. “awed comment”) wrapped “about” HEELBAR (i.e. “footwear facility” where shoes are repaired) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: W(HEELBAR-R)OW. For all intents and purposes the same clue and solution appeared in Jumbo 1592. Weird how I remembered that. I think I’ve been doing these posts for too long.

36. Creativity of gifted travellers in one country (11)

Answer: IMAGINATION (i.e. “creativity”). Solution is MAGI (i.e. “gifted travellers”, the three wise men of the nativity, carrying gifts for the infant Christ) placed “in” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again, again) and NATION (i.e. “nation”), like so: I-(MAGI)-NATION.

38. She washes area surrounding Hollywood strip (9)

Answer: LAUNDRESS (i.e. “she washes” clothes). Solution is LA (i.e. “area surrounding Hollywood”, Los Angeles) followed by UNDRESS (i.e. “strip”).

41. In honest fashion on account of being with bank (9)

Answer: SINCERELY (i.e. “in honest fashion”). Solution is SINCE (i.e. “on account of being”) followed by RELY (i.e. to “bank” on an outcome).

42. Series about small person – one finishing up in the theatre? (8)

Answer: STITCHER (i.e. “one finishing up in the [operating] theatre”). Solution is SER (a recognised abbreviation of “series”) wrapped “about” TITCH (i.e. “small person”), like so: S(TITCH)ER.

45. Guy upset about crazy fool’s study of mysterious visitors (7)

Answer: UFOLOGY (i.e. “study of mysterious visitors”, specifically Unidentified Flying Objects). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of GUY wrapped “about” another anagram (indicated by “crazy”), this time of FOOL, like so: U(FOLO)GY.

46. French author securing power in university position (6)

Answer: CAMPUS (i.e. “university position”). Solution is Albert CAMUS (i.e. “French author”) wrapped around or “securing” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: CAM(P)US.

47. Stocking article and book (5)

Answer: HOSEA (i.e. “book” of The Bible). Solution is HOSE (i.e. “stocking”) followed by A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the). An easier get on account of it being repeated from a few months ago.

49. From what we hear, this is why you seize a desert plant (5)

Answer: YUCCA (i.e. “desert plant”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “from what we hear”) of YUCK (i.e. “this is why you seize” or suffer a sudden intense attack of something, presumably in this case a nasty taste) followed by A, like so: YUCC-A.