A medium strength Jumbo peppered with some well-written clues and some spicy solutions. It’s a shame several of the exotic solutions came from anagrammy clues, though. Yuck. There were also sufficient Times crossword clichés to knock another from the countdown, so there are now 17 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition deadline has passed, here is my completed grid along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has piddled on your chips 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

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Deluded father jogged round with one athletic club (9)

Answer: PARANOIAC (i.e. “deluded”). Solution is PA (i.e. “father”) followed by RAN (i.e. “jogged”), then O (i.e. “round”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and AC (a recognised abbreviation of “athletic club”).

6. Bad quality insulin sent as ordered (13)

Answer: UNSAINTLINESS (i.e. “bad quality” – speak for yourself, setter). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of INSULIN SENT AS.

13. Received a name (5)

Answer: ROGER. Solution satisfies “received” in radio comms, and “a name”.

14. One making review cut pay increase in public relations (11)

Answer: REAPPRAISER (i.e. “one making review”). Solution is REAP (i.e. “cut”) followed by RAISE (i.e. “pay increase”) once placed “in” PR (a recognised abbreviation of “public relations”), like so: REAP-P(RAISE)R. Nicely worked.

15. Full fruit pie that is consumed (5)

Answer: PLUMP (i.e. “full”). Solution is PLUM (i.e. “fruit”) followed by P (i.e. “pie that is consumed”, i.e. the word PIE with the IE (i.e. “that is”, or i.e.) removed or “consumed”).

16. Neglected Saturn, say, because of interest by Newton (11)

Answer: GODFORSAKEN (i.e. “neglected”). Solution is GOD (i.e. “Saturn, say” – other gods are available) followed by FOR (i.e. “because of”), then SAKE (i.e. an “interest”, vested or otherwise, in something) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “newton”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation – this is a unit of force in physics).

17. Very good quick look round protected by fellow UN soldier (11)

Answer: PEACEKEEPER (i.e. “UN soldier”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “very good”) and PEEK (i.e. “quick look”), the latter reversed (indicated by “round”) and both placed in or “protected by” PEER (i.e. “fellow”), like so: PE(ACE-KEEP)ER.

18. Hideous newborn’s masculine when undressed (7)

Answer: ABYSMAL (i.e. “hideous”). Solution is BABY’S (i.e. “newborn’s”) and MALE (i.e. “masculine”) once the first and letters have been removed from the whole phrase (indicated by “when undressed”), like so: ABY’S-MAL.

20. Genuine about element of part of the eye (7)

Answer: RETINAL (i.e. “of part of the eye”). Solution is REAL (i.e. “genuine”) wrapped “about” TIN (i.e. chemical “element”), like so: RE(TIN)AL. Stay tuned in a couple weeks to see this solution repeated again. You stay you, Times.

21. Attentive hospital required removing third of fingers (7)

Answer: HEEDFUL (i.e. “attentive”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” used on maps and stuff) followed by NEEDFUL (i.e. “required”) with the N removed (indicated by “removing third [letter] of fingers”), like so: H-EEDFUL.

23. Workers in group sadly get meaner pay deal (10,9)

Answer: COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT (i.e. “pay deal”). Solution is COLLECTIVE (i.e. “workers in group”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of GET MEANER.

27. North African pop with a lot of attack (3)

Answer: RAI (i.e. “North African pop” music, specifically a form of Algerian folk music dating back 100 years. No, me neither). Solution is RAID (i.e. “attack”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “a lot of…”).

28. Wordy part for actor lacking English in pictures (6)

Answer: PROLIX (i.e. “wordy”). Solution is ROLE (i.e. “part for actor”) with the E removed (indicated by “lacking English”, E being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and the remainder placed “in” PIX (informal abbreviation of “pictures”), like so: P(ROL)IX.

29. Artist dividing using shade (6)

Answer: WRAITH (i.e. “shade”, both spectres). Solution is RA (i.e. “artist”, specifically a Royal Academician) placed in or “dividing” WITH (i.e. “using”), like so: W(RA)ITH.

31. Consume copper in coppery bust (9)

Answer: PREOCCUPY (i.e. “consume”). Solution is CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “bust”) of COPPERY, like so: PREOC(CU)PY.

34. Join with unappreciative person penning note (9)

Answer: INTEGRATE (i.e. “join with”). Solution is INGRATE (i.e. “unappreciative person”) wrapped around or “penning” TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale, sometimes written as TI), like so: IN(TE)GRATE.

35. Army finally advance at regular intervals (6)

Answer: YEARLY (i.e. “at regular intervals”). Solution is Y (i.e. “army finally”, i.e. the last letter of “army”) followed by EARLY (i.e. “advance”).

36. Enjoy following live act (6)

Answer: BEHAVE (i.e. “act” in a particular manner). Solution is HAVE (i.e. “enjoy”, like an estate agent telling you a property enjoys floors, while perhaps also describing it as “bijou”) placed after or “following” BE (i.e. to “live”), like so: BE-HAVE.

39. Odd bishop banned from Birmingham (3)

Answer: RUM (i.e. “odd”). Solution is BRUM (informal name of “Birmingham”) with the B removed (indicated by “bishop banned from…”, B being a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess).

40. Strain of bird, assumed to be a boiler? (5,3,3,6,2)

Answer: POLLY PUT THE KETTLE ON (i.e. “strain” or musical piece). The rest of the clue plays on POLLY being an informal name for a parrot (i.e. a “bird”) and with KETTLE being “a boiler”. You get the idea.

42. A port cased by five United States divers (7)

Answer: VARIOUS (i.e. “divers”, an archaic word for “sundry; several; more than one” (Chambers), a variant form of DIVERSE). Solution is A and RIO (i.e. “a port”, Rio De Janeiro) both placed in or “cased by” V (i.e. “[Roman numeral] five”) and US (i.e. “United States”), like so: V-(A-RIO)-US. Another well-worked clue.

43. Regret disrespectful talk holds objective back (7)

Answer: SADNESS (i.e. “regret”). Solution is SASS (i.e. “disrespectful talk”) wrapped around or “holding” END (i.e. “objective”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: SA(DNE)SS.

45. Most risky district French company’s invested in (7)

Answer: DICIEST (i.e. “most risky”). Solution is DIST (a recognised abbreviation of “district”) wrapped around or having “invested” CIE (i.e. “French company”, a recognised abbreviation of Compagnie – pfffffff! Give over, setter. Have a French meme), like so: DI(CIE)ST.

47. Actual politicians with time for constant disagreement (11)

Answer: CONTRETEMPS (i.e. “disagreement”). Solution is CONCRETE (i.e. “actual”) and MPS (i.e. “politicians”, specifically Members of Parliament) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) swapped “for” C (ditto “constant”), like so: CON(C)RETE-MPS => CON(T)RETE-MPS.

49. Composer’s mass I know rewritten across unknown years (11)

Answer: Karol SZYMANOWSKI (i.e. “composer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rewritten”) of MASS I KNOW wrapped around or placed “across” Z (i.e. “unknown” – setters love calling X, Y or Z in solutions unknowns) and Y (a recognised abbreviation of “years”), like so: S(Z-Y)MANOWSKI. Good grief I’m so over composers in Jumbos. And, let’s face it, this solution is over 80% anagrammed, a big bugbear of mine for exotic solutions. Look out, here comes angry Beethoven.

51. Book some area in Russian bath (5)

Answer: BANYA (i.e. “Russian bath”, a sauna of sorts). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) followed by ANY (i.e. “some”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”). It’s in the dictionary, so I guess I can’t grumble too much. I’m still calling Senator McCarthy on this pinko ratbastard clue, though.

52. Photo of generous chaps in English National Trust (11)

Answer: ENLARGEMENT (i.e. blow-up “photo”). Solution is LARGE (i.e. “generous”) and MEN (i.e. “chaps”) all placed “in” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and NT (ditto “National Trust”), like so: E-N(LARGE-MEN)T.

53. Rebellious tribe in America kill unit deprived of cover (5)

Answer: ICENI (i.e. “rebellious tribe” led by Queen Boudicca against the Romans). Solution is ICE (i.e. “in America[,] kill”) followed by UNIT once its first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “deprived of cover”), like so: ICE-NI.

54. Extreme sun unfortunately limiting red French wine (5-4-4)

Answer: ENTRE-DEUX-MERS (i.e. “French wine”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of EXTREME SUN wrapped around or “limiting” RED, like so: ENT(RED)EUXMERS. Oh, this definitely warrants its French meme. And mostly clued as an anagram too? Be thankful I’m not doubling the penalty.

55. Human resources entirely died during male American slavery (9)

Answer: THRALLDOM (i.e. “slavery”). Solution is HR (i.e. “human resources”), ALL (i.e. “entirely”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “died”) all placed in or “during” TOM (i.e. “male” cat, for example), like so: T(HR-ALL-D)OM.

Down clues

1. Headgear chap praying could perhaps provide (8,3)

Answer: PHRYGIAN CAP (i.e. “headgear”, the kind you’d see on a garden gnome). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “could perhaps provide”) of CHAP PRAYING.

2. Fiddle lazily and with a stiff style (7)

Answer: RIGIDLY (i.e. “with a stiff style”). Solution is RIG (i.e. to “fiddle”) followed by IDLY (i.e. “lazily”).

3. Drug smuggler’s refusal to carry Arabian cocaine at first (5)

Answer: NARCO (i.e. “drug smuggler”). Solution is NO (i.e. “refusal”) wrapped around or carrying AR (a recognised abbreviation of “Arabian”) and C (i.e. “cocaine at first”, i.e. the first letter of “cocaine”), like so: N(AR-C)O.

4. Hesitating? Sure loiter about (10)

Answer: IRRESOLUTE (i.e. “hesitating”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “about”) of SURE LOITER.

5. What’s pulled wife out of bad car wreck? (7)

Answer: CRACKER (i.e. “what’s pulled” at Christmas. Or in August if you’re odd). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of CAR WRECK once the W has been removed (indicated by “wife out of…” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “wife”).

6. Bad timing relating to a point in harmony (13)

Answer: UNPUNCTUALITY (i.e. “bad timing”). Solution is PUNCTUAL (i.e. “relating to a point” in mathematics) placed “in” UNITY (i.e. “harmony”), like so: UN(PUNCTUAL)ITY.

7. Cards cheat takes in two bridge players – it gives an edge (9)

Answer: SHARPENER (i.e. “it gives an edge”). Solution is SHARPER (i.e. “cards cheat”) wrapped around or “taking in” E and N (i.e. “two bridge players”, recognised abbreviations of “east” and “north” respectively), like so: SHARP(EN)ER.

8. Instant everything is set in position (7)

Answer: INSTALL (i.e. “set in position”). Solution is INST (a recognised abbreviation of “instant”) followed by ALL (i.e. “everything”).

9. Confused about European banker’s small car (5-7)

Answer: THREE-WHEELER (i.e. “small car”). Solution is THREW (i.e. “confused”) wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and followed by HEELER (i.e. “banker” – I think this is in the sense of something listing or leaning to one side), like so: THR(E)EW-HEELER.

10. Execute one parliamentarian – permit having fellows enter (9)

Answer: IMPLEMENT (i.e. to “execute”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), MP (i.e. “parliamentarian”, already covered in 47a) and LET (i.e. “permit”) all wrapped around or “having” MEN (i.e. “fellows”) “enter”, like so: I-MP-LE(MEN)T.

11. Entertainer’s beginning with joke outfit (5)

Answer: EQUIP (i.e. to “outfit”). Solution is E (i.e. “entertainer’s beginning” letter) followed by QUIP (i.e. “joke”).

12. Excess cool – illness unknown after it? (11)

Answer: SUPERFLUITY (i.e. “excess”). Solution is SUPER (i.e. awesome or “cool”) followed by FLU (i.e. “illness”) and Y (i.e. “unknown” – already covered in 49a) once this latter has been placed “after” IT, like so: SUPER-FLU-(IT-Y).

19. Gathering rising support within imperial dynasty (7)

Answer: MEETING (i.e. “gathering”). Solution is TEE (i.e. “support” for a golf ball) reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue) and placed “within” MING (i.e. Chinese “imperial dynasty”), like so: M(EET)ING.

22. Plan beneficial to drug smuggler concealing a ton (9)

Answer: FORMULATE (i.e. “plan”). Solution is FOR (i.e. “beneficial to”) followed by MULE (i.e. “drug smuggler”) once wrapped around or “concealing” A and T (a recognised abbreviation of “ton”), like so: FOR-MUL(A-T)E.

24. Hero trained with resistance, one presenting with pride (4-5)

Answer: LION-TAMER (i.e. “one presenting with pride”, the collective noun for lions being a “pride”). Solution is LION (i.e. “hero”) followed by TAME (i.e. “trained”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “resistance”).

25. Class diversity in music-hall entertainment (7)

Answer: VARIETY. A triple-header, I believe, with the solution satisfying “class” or category, “diversity” and “music-hall entertainment”.

26. Expel former heart-throb? (7)

Answer: EXPULSE (i.e. “expel”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former”) followed by PULSE (i.e. “heart-throb”).

30. Male with natural head for cruelty (13)

Answer: HEARTLESSNESS (i.e. “cruelty”). Solution is HE (i.e. “male”) followed by ARTLESS (i.e. “natural”) and NESS (i.e. “head”, or a headland).

32. Watson’s colleague lacking potassium about to have a bite of meat (7)

Answer: CREATIC (i.e. “of meat”). Solution is Francis CRICK (i.e. James “Watson’s colleague” in discovering DNA – took a quick Google to confirm once I began to suspect what the solution would be) with the K removed (indicated by “lacking potassium” – K being the chemical symbol thereof) and the remainder wrapped “about” EAT (i.e. “to have a bite”), like so: CR(EAT)IC. A decidedly stinkerish clue in an otherwise non-stinkery Jumbo.

33. Elephant alas is transformed goddess (6,6)

Answer: PALLAS ATHENE (i.e. “goddess” – Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “is transformed”) of ELEPHANT ALAS. The classics always feature in Times Jumbos, so have a demerit.

34. I run over returning guy, perhaps predetermined? (11)

Answer: IRREVOCABLE (i.e. “predetermined”). Solution is I followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “run”), then OVER reversed (indicated by “returning”), then CABLE (i.e. “guy, perhaps”), like so: I-R-REVO-CABLE.

37. Mine uranium in site for processing radioactive element (11)

Answer: EINSTEINIUM (i.e. “radioactive element”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “for processing”) of MINE, U (chemical symbol of “uranium”) and IN SITE.

38. Intelligence and excellence about one restaurant worker (10)

Answer: HEADWAITER (i.e. “restaurant worker”). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “intelligence”) followed by WATER (i.e. “excellence”, apparently after phrases such as “…of the first water”) once wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: HEAD-WA(I)TER.

40. Have children, supporting area in Greek island (9)

Answer: PROCREATE (i.e. “have children”). Solution is PRO (i.e. “supporting”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) once first placed “in” CRETE (i.e. “Greek island”), like so: PRO-CRE(A)TE.

41. Fail to justify a lot of insufficient aid (9)

Answer: UNDESERVE (i.e. “fail to justify”). Solution is UNDER (i.e. “insufficient”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “a lot of…”) and the remainder followed by SERVE (i.e. “aid”), like so: UNDE-SERVE.

43. Computer game Place Exodus allowing going only one way (7)

Answer: SIMPLEX (i.e. “allowing going only one way”). Solution is SIM (i.e. “computer game”, short for simulation) followed by PL (a recognised abbreviation of “place”), then EX (ditto the Book of “Exodus”, biblically speaking).

44. Astronomer finally was the only prof we ever met (7)

Answer: Carl K SEYFERT (i.e. American “astronomer” – (Googles his name…) Yeah, I don’t understand word one of that. I do wonder the thought process when a setter immortalises someone in their grids. Of course, it could just be made to fit). “Finally” indicates the solution can be derived from the last letters of WAS THE ONLY PROF WE EVER MET. The parsing was mercifully straightforward, but Who’s Who is another Times Jumbo cliché. Have a demerit.

46. Editor’s penning a second X where H is often missed? (4.3)

Answer: EAST END (i.e. “where H is often missed”, wordplay that is not often missed by cryptic crossword setters). Solution is ED (short for “editor”) wrapped around or “penning” A, S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) and TEN (i.e. “X”, Roman numeral thereof), like so: E(A-S-TEN)D.

48. What involves some number – one over eight, ultimately? (5)

Answer: NONET (i.e. “what involved some number”, taking “number” to be a piece of music. A nonet can be a group of nine musicians). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “number”) followed by ONE, then T (i.e. “eight, ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “eight”). “One over eight” also gets you nine, which also ties in. Nicely done.

50. Gold that is pounds light (5)

Answer: ORIEL (i.e. a window or “light”). Solution is OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, after id est in Latin) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” weight or sterling).

A medium strength Jumbo with enough stuffy Times Crossword clichés to knock another from the countdown. 18 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition deadline has passed here is my completed grid along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has done your nut 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 input and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Robust compilers are going to do our job (4-3)

Answer: WELL-SET (i.e. “robust”). When written as WE’LL SET the solution also satisfies “compilers are going to do our job”, from the point of view of the setter.

5. Mixed drink prior to winning fight (5-2)

Answer: PUNCH-UP (i.e. “fight”). Solution is PUNCH (i.e. “mixed drink”) followed by UP (i.e. “winning”, as in being 1-0 up in football).

9. Kelly, in films, gets a lot of credit dealing with make-up (7)

Answer: GENETIC (i.e. “dealing with make-up” of one’s DNA). Solution is GENE (i.e. “Kelly, in films”) followed by TICK (i.e. “credit”, or delayed purchase) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “a lot of…”), like so: GENE-TIC.

13. Eating around 6, party first in restaurant sent back staff to find water (8,3)

Answer: DIVINING ROD (i.e. “staff to find water”). Solution is DINING (i.e. “eating”) wrapped “around” VI (i.e. “6” expressed in Roman numerals). This is then followed by DO (i.e. “party”) and R (i.e. “first [letter] in restaurant”) once these have been reversed (indicated by “sent back”), like so: DI(VI)NING-(R-OD).

14. Place for rolls of cash head of bank takes out (11)

Answer: BREADBASKET (i.e. “place for rolls”). Solution is BREAD (slang for “cash”) followed by B (i.e. “head of bank”, i.e. the first letter of “bank”), then an anagram (indicated by “out”) of TAKES, like so: BREAD-B-ASKET.

15. Match about to occupy a long time (5)

Answer: AGREE (i.e. “match”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think emails) placed in or “occupying” AGE (i.e. “a long time”), like so: AG(RE)E.

16. Under most stress, and kind of cross before ordeal (7)

Answer: TAUTEST (i.e. “under most stress”). Solution is TAU (i.e. “kind of cross”, specifically a T-shaped one – thank you, Chambers) followed by TEST (i.e. “ordeal”).

17. Embroider an accessory worn by son after little drink (9)

Answer: DRAMATISE (i.e. to “embroider” or add fictitious detail to). Solution is A TIE (i.e. “an accessory”) wrapped around or “worn by” S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”). This is all then placed “after” DRAM (i.e. “little drink”), like so: DRAM-(A-TI(S)E).

18. Player, who, to resolve a pay dispute, made the issue vanish? (3,4,5,2,7)

Answer: THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “issue” to mean children. In the story, the Pied Piper plays his pipe to lure rats away from the town of Hamelin. When he is not paid for his work, he takes revenge by playing his pipe to lure the kids away too.

23. Periodically scratched plain carpet is free (8)

Answer: LIBERATE (i.e. “free”). Solution is LI (i.e. “scratched plain”, i.e. every other letter of PLAIN) followed by BERATE (i.e. to “carpet” or reprimand).

25. Is it wrong to oust leaders in firm? (6)

Answer: STRONG (i.e. “firm”). Solution is IS IT WRONG once the first letters or “leaders” of each word have been removed or “ousted”.

27. Make invalid discern changes (7)

Answer: RESCIND (i.e. “make invalid”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “changes”) of DISCERN.

30. Accountants beside old tree (5)

Answer: CACAO (i.e. a variety of “tree”). Solution is CA and CA (i.e. “accountants” both, short for Chartered Accountant) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”).

32. From Virginia, book somewhere to stay in Florida (7)

Answer: ORLANDO. Solution satisfies “from Virginia [Woolf], book”, and a city or “somewhere to stay in Florida”. Was tempted to slap a classic novel demerit against this, but the clue does at least offer multiple paths to the solution.

33. The writer’s letter has no information – it may provoke a defensive reaction (9)

Answer: IMMUNOGEN (i.e. “it may provoke a defensive reaction”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “the writer’s”, taken to be a contraction of “the writer is” rather than a possessive – from the point of view of the setter this equates to I AM, the contraction thereof being I’M) followed by MU (i.e. twelfth “letter” of the Greek alphabet), then NO and GEN (i.e. “information”).

35. Doctor loves catching European opera (9)

Answer: RIGOLETTO (i.e. “opera” by Giuseppe Verdi). Solution is RIG (i.e. to manipulate or “doctor”) followed by O and O (both “loves”, being zero scores in tennis) once these have been wrapped around or “catching” LETT (i.e. a “European”, specifically one from Latvia), like so: RIG-O(LETT)O. Okay, this is exactly what I mean when I say I’m bored of Times setters’ general refusal to accommodate more modern culture in their grids. Do you want to know how often RIGOLETTO has been an answer in Jumbo Cryptics? Try grid 1651, back at the start of the year. Or grid 1516. Or grid 1500. “Oh, come on, Mr Poll”, I hear you saying. “That’s only four times over three years.” Okay, how about LA DONNA È MOBILE, an aria from said opera? Grid 1591 and grid 1564 before it, in case you were wondering. Look, I get it. It’s a famous opera. You’ve got hard-ons for this stuff. I don’t. I prefer to get my rocks off in other, far cooler ways. Have a music demerit. Beethoven is very, very disappointed in you.

36. One helping criminal venture featured in 18 letters (7)

Answer: ABETTER (i.e. “one helping criminal”). I’m not 100% sure what the setter is playing at in the remainder of the clue, but the traditional Irish alphabet has 18 letters and is called aibítir, which is quite similar. (Pats Google on the head. There’s a good Google.)

37. Punch yobbo roughly to start with (5)

Answer: CLOUT (i.e. “punch”). Solution is LOUT (i.e. “yobbo”) with C (i.e. “roughly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) placed “to start with”, like so: C-LOUT.

38. Making fast run beset by sound of farm animals (7)

Answer: MOORING (i.e. “making fast”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “run”) placed in or “beset by” MOOING (i.e. “sound of farm animals”), like so: MOO(R)ING.

40. Car in front of Escort, say (6)

Answer: ESTATE (i.e. “car”). Solution is E (i.e. “front of Escort”, i.e. the first letter of “Escort”) followed by STATE (i.e. “say”).

41. Somewhere sailors may be, smuggling ecstasy and crack (3-5)

Answer: ONE-LINER (i.e. “crack” or joke). Solution is ON LINER (i.e. “somewhere sailors may be”) wrapped around or “smuggling” E (slang name of the drug “ecstasy”), like so: ON-(E)-LINER.

44. Child holding new suit strangely ends cartoon film (4,6,3,8)

Answer: KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (i.e. 1949 “film”). Solution is KID (i.e. “child”) wrapped around or “holding” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and followed by HEARTS (i.e. “suit” in a deck of cards). This is all then followed by an anagram (indicated by “strangely”) of ENDS CARTOON, like so: KI(N)D-HEARTS-ANDCORONETS. I’m going to feel shitty doing this as I do love me some Ealing comedy – The Man In The White Suit is one of my favourite films – but if I’m railing against Times setters resolutely ignoring modern popular culture then a 75-year-old film is going to attract my Eye of Sauron. Demerit time.

48. Feeling less energy after playing hit song (6,3)

Answer: NUMBER ONE (i.e. “hit song”). Solution is NUMBER (i.e. “feeling less”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) once first placed “after” ON (i.e. “playing”), like so: NUMBER-(ON-E).

50. Fought in ring: asked to absorb pressure (7)

Answer: OPPOSED (i.e. “fought”). Solution is O (i.e. “ring”) followed by POSED (i.e. “asked”) once wrapped around or “absorbing” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: O-P(P)OSED.

53. Targeting property of popular American rock band (2,3)

Answer: IN REM (i.e. against a thing, or “targeting property”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by REM (i.e. “American rock band”). Good to see something a little more up-to-date in the Jumbo. What a pity then that Latin is another tired Times cliché. Have another demerit.

54. Court winner being successful in attempt (7,4)

Answer: PASSING SHOT (i.e. “court winner”, referring to a shot that defeats a tennis opponent). Solution is PASSING (i.e. “being successful” or making the grade) followed by SHOT (i.e. “attempt”).

55. Vague insinuations heard – they get harder to hear (11)

Answer: DIMINUENDOS (i.e. “they get harder to hear” in musical lingo). Solution is DIM (i.e. “vague”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of INNUENDOS (i.e. “insinuations”), like so: DIM-INUENDOS. Musical lingo is another cliché in Jumbos, so here comes angry Beethoven again.

56. London university splitting gas particle (7)

Answer: NUCLEON (i.e. “particle”). Solution is UCL (i.e. “London university”, specifically University College London) placed in or “splitting” NEON (i.e. “gas”), like so: N(UCL)EON.

57. Arrive earlier than partner, gutted by online assignation? (7)

Answer: PREDATE (i.e. “arrive earlier than”). Solution is PR (i.e. “partner, gutted”, i.e. the word “partner” with all its middle letters removed) followed by E-DATE (i.e. “online assignation”, playfully speaking, as in how e- is often a prefix used to denote something online. An assignation, meanwhile, is “an appointment to meet, used chiefly of clandestine meetings between lovers and mostly with disapproval” (Chambers)).

58. Flamboyant winger and token supporter of match (4,3)

Answer: BEST MAN (i.e. “supporter of match”, referring to a wedding). Solution is George BEST (i.e. “flamboyant winger” formerly of Manchester United) followed by MAN (i.e. “token” or playing piece).

Down clues

1. 1980s band welcoming a day in Oxford college (6)

Answer: WADHAM (i.e. “Oxford college”). Solution is WHAM (i.e. “1980s band” – being a child of the 80s I’d count this as modern popular culture, so credit where it’s due) wrapped around or “welcoming” A and D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”), like so: W(A-D)HAM.

2. Small, fast runner always obstructed by obstacle (7)

Answer: LEVERET (i.e. “small, fast runner” – a young hare). Solution is EVER (i.e. “always”) placed in or “obstructed by” – I can’t help this ought to have been “obstructing” – LET (i.e. “obstacle”, an archaic variant meaning seen in a few Jumbos now), like so: L(EVER)ET.

3. Location of websites grasped by visionary poet (9)

Answer: SONNETEER (i.e. “poet”). Solution is ON NET (i.e. “location of websites”) placed in or “grabbed by” SEER (i.e. “visionary”), like so: S(ON-NET)EER.

4. Doctrine unaffected by revolution? (5)

Answer: TENET (i.e. “doctrine”). The rest of the clue plays on how the solution is a palindrome.

5. Coax salesman over petition to limit publicity (8)

Answer: PERSUADE (i.e. “coax”). Solution is REP (i.e. “salesman”) reversed (indicated by “over”) and followed by SUE (i.e. to “petition”) once wrapped around or “limiting” AD (i.e. “publicity”), like so: PER-SU(AD)E.

6. Jog, say, with horse heading north (5)

Answer: NUDGE (i.e. “jog” or to push with one’s elbow). Solution is EG (i.e. “say”, after the Latin exempli gratia) and DUN (i.e. a dun-coloured “horse”) all reversed (indicated by “heading north” – this being a down clue), like so: NUD-GE.

7. Colour lines somewhat regular (7)

Answer: HABITUÉ (i.e. a “regular”, say, at a pub). Solution is HUE (i.e. “colour”) wrapped around or “lining” A BIT (i.e. “somewhat”), like so: H(A-BIT)UE.

8. Point legal duty out – one may do so in court (5,3,6)

Answer: PLEAD NOT GUILTY (i.e. “one may do so in court”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of POINT LEGAL DUTY.

9. Rising mist round delta area by the River Don (9)

Answer: GODFATHER (i.e. “don”, both slang descriptions of Mafia bosses). Solution is FOG (i.e. “mist”) reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “round” D (“delta” in the phonetic alphabet). This is then followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), then THE and R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: GO(D)F-A-THE-R.

10. Nearly ignoring nobleman recalling sight seen on safari? (5)

Answer: NYALA (i.e. “sight seen on safari”). Solution is NY (i.e. “nearly ignoring nobleman”, i.e. the word NEARLY with the EARL removed) followed by A LÁ (i.e. “recalling” or in the manner of, from the French).

11. Swallow vermouth, dishonest over drink? Don’t object (4,2,5,4)

Answer: TAKE IT LYING DOWN (i.e. “don’t object”). Solution is TAKE IT (i.e. “swallow vermouth” – “It” is a recognised abbreviation of Italian vermouth) followed by LYING (i.e. “dishonest”) and DOWN (i.e. to “drink”).

12. Caught heron hiding head in wooden box with strings (7)

Answer: CITTERN (i.e. “wooden box with strings”, a stringed instrument. If you thought this was a rubbish descriptor, you weren’t alone. Do a Google image search. Doesn’t look very boxy, does it?) Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in some ball games) followed by BITTERN (i.e. “heron”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “hiding head”), like so: C-ITTERN.

19. One books trio playing religious music (7)

Answer: INTROIT (i.e. “religious music”, specifically “the anthem sung at the beginning of Mass” (Chambers)). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by NT (i.e. “books”, specifically the New Testament of The Bible) and an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of TRIO, like I-NT-RIOT. Religion is another Jumbo cliché I’d quite happily ridicule, but given some adherents get a little, er… touchy, shall we say?… then I’m probably better to leave it alone.

20. Official not losing heart after mean answer (9)

Answer: INTENDANT (i.e. “official”). Solution is NT (i.e. “not losing heart”, i.e. the word “not” with its middle letter removed) placed “after” INTEND (i.e. “mean”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A), like so: (INTEND-A)-NT.

21. Like some lodges with family members in charge (7)

Answer: MASONIC (i.e. “like some lodges”). Solution is MA and SON (i.e. “family members” both) followed by IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”).

22. Return strange material for jewellery (8)

Answer: ELECTRUM (i.e. “material for jewellery”, specifically an alloy of gold and silver). Solution is ELECT (i.e. to “return” an MP to office) followed by RUM (i.e. “strange”).

24. What creates atmosphere in stadium: header for Man United saved by defender thus (10,5)

Answer: BACKGROUND MUSIC (i.e. “what creates atmosphere”). Solution is GROUND (i.e. “stadium”), M (i.e. “header for Man”, i.e. the first letter of “Man”) and U (a recognised abbreviation of “united”) all placed in or “saved by” BACK (i.e. “defender”) and SIC (i.e. “thus” in Latin), like so: BACK-(GROUND-M-U)-SIC.

26. Solo number coming up – do badly with notes (2,4,3)

Answer: ON ONE’S TOD (i.e. “solo”). Solution is NO (short for “number”) reversed (indicated by “coming up” – this being a down clue) and followed by an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of DO and NOTES, like so: ON-ONESTOD.

28. Alter tune – dare to get a remix (8)

Answer: DENATURE (i.e. “alter” or “remix”, you could make an argument for both). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “alter” or “remix”, ditto) of TUNE DARE.

29. After a couple of litres, that man’s in public dance in a state (3,4,3,4)

Answer: ALL OVER THE SHOP (i.e. “in a state”). Solution is A and LL (i.e. “a couple of litres”, L being a recognised abbreviation thereof). This is then followed by HE’S (i.e. “that man’s”, a contraction of that man is or HE IS) once first placed “in” OVERT (i.e. “public”) and HOP (i.e. “dance”), like so: A-LL-OVERT-(HE’S)-HOP.

31. Time off work for Otto I, hosting king with great natural resources (3-4)

Answer: OIL-RICH (i.e. “with great natural resources”). Solution is TOIL (i.e. “work”) with the T removed (indicated by “time off” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”). This and ICH (i.e. “for Otto I”, i.e. the German for “I”) are then wrapped around or “hosting” R (a recognised abbreviation of “king”, after the Latin Rex), like so: OIL-(R)-ICH.

34. Battle knight – try to follow horse (7)

Answer: MARENGO (i.e. 1800 “battle” between France and Austria). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess) and GO (i.e. a “try” or turn) both placed after or “following” MARE (i.e. “horse”), like so: MARE-(N-GO). Battles are ten-a-penny in Jumbos, so have a History Today meme.

39. Type of rock with gold and jade around Welsh area (9)

Answer: GLAMORGAN (i.e. “Welsh area”). Solution is GLAM (i.e. “type of rock” – again, I’ll take that as being a bit more modern) followed by OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) and NAG (i.e. “jade”, a variant meaning being a worn-out horse – a new one on me) once reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: GLAM-OR-GAN.

42. Large, unnerving character showing caution (9)

Answer: LEERINESS (i.e. “caution”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) followed by EERINESS (i.e. “unnerving”).

43. Eating tonnes occasionally, like French soup (8)

Answer: CONSOMME (i.e. “soup”). Solution is COMME (i.e. “like French”, i.e. the French for “like”) wrapped around or “eating” ONS (i.e. “tonnes occasionally”, i.e. every other letter of TONNES), like so: C(ONS)OMME. Tsk. I have a hard enough time with English let alone French. Have a meme.

44. Maybe one’s bowled over family doctor with case of indigestion (7)

Answer: KINGPIN (i.e. “maybe one’s bowled”, in this case a pin prominently placed at the front in a game of ten-pin bowling). Solution is KIN (i.e. “family”) followed by GP (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a General Practitioner) and IN (i.e. “case of indigestion”, i.e. the first and last letters of “indigestion”).

45. Job secured by potentially stout supporter (7)

Answer: APOSTLE (i.e. “supporter”). Solution is POST (i.e. “job”) placed in or “secured by” ALE (i.e. “potentially stout” – other ales are available), like so: A(POST)LE.

46. Bondage deforms elastic (7)

Answer: SERFDOM (i.e. “bondage”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “elastic”) of DEFORMS.

47. Smoke swirling over new elementary particle (1-5)

Answer: K-MESON (i.e. “elementary particle”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “swirling”) of SMOKE followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: KMESO-N. Made. To. Fit.

49. English team upset the Spanish one away from home (5)

Answer: EXILE (i.e. “one away from home”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by XI (i.e. “team”, Roman numerals for eleven) and EL (i.e. “the Spanish”, i.e. the Spanish for “the”) once reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: E-XI-LE.

51. Vow to turn up dressed in secretary’s platforms (5)

Answer: PODIA (i.e. “platforms”). Solution is I DO (i.e. “vow”) reversed (indicated by “to turn up” – this being a down clue) and placed in or “dressed in” PA (i.e. “secretary” or Personal Assistant), like so: P(OD-I)A.

52. Star turn keeping finale of routine up (5)

Answer: DENEB (i.e. a “star” in the constellation of Cygnus. Search me). Solution is BEND (i.e. “turn”) wrapped around or “keeping” E (i.e. “finale of routine”, i.e. the last letter of “finale”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “up” – again, this being a down clue), like so: D(E)NEB. Another that’s made to fit.

A toughie Jumbo that didn’t do too much for me. I was pretty much set against it the moment I realised the setter was nursing a semi for Billy Shakespeare. With sufficient Times Crossword clichés to tip me over the edge, I’m taking one off the countdown. 19 Jumbos to go.

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 the willies 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 input. I appreciate the disappointment some of you will feel in my intention to end these posts, but the truth is my life has changed during the last couple of months. I’m single again for the first time in a really long while (like, since Google was barely a thing) and I would like the space to deal with that. If you knew how much time I’ve spent solving and writing up Jumbo solutions over the years then I think you’d feel the same, or at least appreciate how every Jumbo Cryptic that bores me or annoys me makes it harder to continue. I may be back – I’ve said before that Jumbos are a hard habit to break – but once the countdown reaches zero I’d like to focus on me for a while.

Anyway, I’ll leave you with the answers. I’m off to make myself presentable for the singles scene. Do they still call it a ‘scene’ these days? Christ, I’m old. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Limiting volume, I sounded like a nag was ranting (9)

Answer: INVEIGHED (i.e. “was ranting”). Solution is I and NEIGHED (i.e. “sounded like a nag” or horse) all wrapped around or “limiting” V (a recognised abbreviation of “volume”), like so: I-N(V)EIGHED.

6. I have a craft – it’s coming in from islands off Ireland (7)

Answer: ARTISAN (i.e. “I have a craft”). Solution is TIS (i.e. “it’s”, ye-olde-stylee) placed “in” ARAN (i.e. “islands off Ireland”), like so: AR(TIS)AN.

10. Flood market primarily in exchange (5)

Answer: SWAMP (i.e. “flood”). Solution is M (i.e. “market primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “market”) placed “in” SWAP (i.e. “exchange”), like so: SWA(M)P.

13. Translucent material admits brief check of lenses etc (7)

Answer: OPTICAL (i.e. “of lenses etc”). Solution is OPAL (i.e. “translucent material”) wrapped around or “admitting” TICK (i.e. “check”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “brief”), like so: OP(TIC)AL.

14. One hundred and four at large in Greek city (5)

Answer: CORFU (i.e. “Greek city” on the island of the same name). Solution is C (i.e. “one hundred” as a Roman numeral) followed by an anagram (indicated by “at large” – Chambers offers “at random” as one of the definitions, so fair enough) of FOUR, like so: C-ORFU.

15. Punter’s song, festive one in plain setting (9)

Answer: BARCAROLE (i.e. a gondolier or “punter’s song”). Solution is CAROL (i.e. “festive one”) placed or “set” “in” BARE (i.e. “plain”), like so: BAR(CAROL)E. I was tempted to mark this one down as a musical cliché, but at least the solution was interesting.

16. I appreciate the cameo line before Hamlet enters (3,4,6,4,6)

Answer: FOR THIS RELIEF MUCH THANKS (i.e. “line before Hamlet enters” – Oh good. Billy Shakespeare, history’s only playwright it seems. Imagine my joy). Solution satisfies “I appreciate the cameo”, taking a cameo to be a head or bust carved in relief. Shakespeare gets his own special demerit, the amount of times he features in Jumbos. Here you go.

17. Chinese snack later sent back (3,3)

Answer: WON TON (i.e. “Chinese snack”). Solution is NOT NOW (i.e. “later”) all reversed (indicated by “sent back”).

18. The man’s doughnut-shaped and of a certain age (8)

Answer: HISTORIC (i.e. “of a certain age”). Solution is HIS (i.e. “the man’s”) followed by TORIC (i.e. “doughnut-shaped”).

19. Give reasons for land that’s lost its flatness? (7)

Answer: EXPLAIN (i.e. “give reasons for”). When written as EX-PLAIN the solution playfully satisfies “land that’s lost its flatness”.

22. Greek king’s unnatural russety hue (10)

Answer: EURYSTHEUS (i.e. ancient “Greek king”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unnatural”) of RUSSETY HUE. Boring. Also, rubbish to have it clued as an anagram. Have a classics demerit.

23. Film developer’s scene with rough cut more overused in audition (12)

Answer: SCRIPTWRITER (i.e. “film developer”). Solution is SC (a recognised abbreviation of “scene” – my Chambers and Oxford don’t want to know, but my Collins Concise backs it up) followed by RIP (i.e. “rough cut”) and a homophone (indicated by “in audition”) of TRITER (i.e. “more overused”).

27. Thanks to the end of Spanish snacks, getting some Italian? (5)

Answer: PASTA (i.e. “some Italian” food, within the context of the clue). Solution is TAPAS (i.e. “Spanish snacks”) with the TA or “thanks” at the front moved “to the end”, like so: (TA)PAS => PAS(TA).

29. For Magritte, this recalled 18 without emotion (3-4)

Answer: ICE-COLD (i.e. “without emotion”). Solution is CECI (i.e. “for Magritte, this”, or the French for “this” – good grief, setter, have another demerit) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) followed by OLD (i.e. “18” – the solution to 18a being HISTORIC), like so: ICEC-OLD.

30. Put in heavy type to give encouragement (8)

Answer: EMBOLDEN. Solution satisfies “put in heavy type” and “to give encouragement”.

32. Nun’s supervisor’s earlier attempts half-forgotten (8)

Answer: PRIORESS (i.e. “nun’s supervisor”). Solution is PRIOR (i.e. “earlier”) followed by ESSAYS (i.e. “attempts”) once its last “half” has been “forgotten”, like so: PRIOR-ESS.

34. Something thorny or horny? (7)

Answer: DILEMMA. The clue plays on two senses of the word, the first being a situation where no course of action is desirable, the second referring to the phrase “horns of a dilemma”, for which Chambers offers: “a form of argument in which the maintainer of a certain proposition is committed to accept one of two propositions each of which contradicts his or her original contention (the argument was called a ‘horned syllogism’, and the victim compared to a man certain to be impaled on one or other of the horns of an infuriated bull, hence the horns of a dilemma)”. Knowing how often things get repeated in Jumbos, it’s almost certain I’ll be copying and pasting that little lot again in the coming weeks!

36. Leftover rice left in a mess (5)

Answer: RELIC (i.e. “leftover”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in a mess”) of RICE and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”).

39. Waste of resources potentially nice? Nice and iffy (12)

Answer: INEFFICIENCY (i.e. “waste of resources”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “potentially”) of NICE NICE and IFFY.

41. Fifty per cent of not proven cases debunk sceptic (10)

Answer: UNBELIEVER (i.e. “sceptic”). Solution is UNVERIFIED (i.e. “not proven”) with the back half removed (indicated by “fifty per cent of…”) and the remainder wrapped around or “casing” BELIE (i.e. “debunk”), like so: UN(BELIE)VER.

44. Work statement on leaving prison? (7)

Answer: CANTATA (i.e. musical “work”). When written as CAN TA-TA the solution playfully satisfies “statement on leaving prison”, CAN being slang thereof. Another where I was tempted to award a musical cliché demerit. I probably would have done if the solution was a recent repeat.

46. A time to tease in long rant (8)

Answer: DIATRIBE (i.e. “rant”). Solution is A, T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and RIB (i.e. “tease”) all placed “in” DIE (i.e. desire or “long”, as in dying for a pint), like so: DI(A-T-RIB)E.

48. Fixes this before PM starts (6)

Answer: AMENDS (i.e. “fixes”). When written as AM ENDS the solution satisfies “before PM starts”.

50. Hero’s description of uncle, heading off understanding by quiet inner areas of desert? (1,4,2,6,3,7)

Answer: A KING OF SHREDS AND PATCHES (i.e. “hero’s description of uncle” – from Hamlet again. I can imagine the setter feeling pretty pleased that they managed to find two 23-letter quotes from the same play, and, to be fair, that is quite impressive, but Shakespeare is anathema to me. This was always going to draw my ire). Solution is MAKING OF (i.e. “understanding”) with its first letter removed (indicated by “heading off”) and the remainder followed by SH (i.e. “quiet”), then RED (i.e. “inner” – I think this refers to an archery ring immediately outside the bull, coloured red) and SAND PATCHES (i.e. “areas of desert”), like so: AKING-OF-SH-RED-SAND-PATCHES.

53. They’re sliding, as in composition (9)

Answer: GLISSANDI (i.e. “they’re sliding”, plural of the musical term GLISSANDO). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in composition”) of SLIDING AS. I’m not usually a fan of musical lingo, but this was a good clue. That said, it is a big ol’ Times cliché, so have another demerit.

54. Island deer animated, scratching head and feet (5)

Solution: IAMBI (i.e. “feet”, a division of a line of poetry; an IAMBUS is “a foot of two syllables, a short followed by a long, or an unstressed by a stressed” (Chambers) – prosody is another tired Times cliché. Another demerit). Solution is I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) followed by BAMBI (i.e. “deer animated”, referring to the Walt Disney film) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “scratching head”), like so: I-AMBI.

55. Implicate loss of energy in remnant of burning petroleum (7)

Answer: EMBROIL (i.e. “implicate”). Solution is EMBER (i.e. “remnant”) with the latter E removed (indicated by “loss of energy in…” – E being a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) and the remainder followed by OIL (i.e. “petroleum”), like so: EMBR-OIL.

56. Inflexible belief of one who’s dropped litter? (5)

Answer: DOGMA (i.e. “inflexible belief”). When written as DOG MA the solution playfully satisfies “one who’s dropped litter”, taking MA to be an informal reference to a mother.

57. Some echo the advice for a Spitfire (7)

Answer: HOTHEAD (i.e. “spitfire”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: EC(HO THE AD)VICE.

58. Turn decorated piece of wood after cutting a flower (9)

Answer: GOLDENROD (i.e. a variety of “flower”). Solution is GO (i.e. “turn” or attempt) followed by LADEN (i.e. “decorated”) and ROD (i.e. “piece of wood”) once the A of LADEN has been removed (indicated by “after cutting a”), like so: GO-(LDEN-ROD).

Down clues

1. Type of pot, after a glance at the table (2-3)

Answer: IN-OFF. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, referring to a snooker or pool shot where the white gets potted after striking another ball. Not seeing anything else more than that.

2. Who’d need nurse on a tiger, very sick? (10,7)

Answer: VETERINARY SURGEON. Another where the solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also an anagram (indicated by “sick”) of NURSE ON A TIGER VERY. For all I’ve been wailing on this week’s setter, I have to say this was very well worked.

3. Conspiratorial old Central American is having a laugh? (2,7)

Answer: IN CAHOOTS (i.e. “conspiratorial”). Solution is INCA (i.e. “old Central American”) followed by HOOTS (i.e. “is having a laugh”).

4. Lives in a tree, getting altogether better? (6)

Answer: HOLISM (i.e. the practice of “getting altogether better”, or trying to heal something bodily rather than focusing on a problematic area). Solution is IS (i.e. “lives”) placed “in” HOLM (i.e. “tree”, shortened form of holm-oak, apparently), like so: HOL(IS)M.

5. Infirmity developed, climbing round about base of stomach? (11)

Answer: DECREPITUDE (i.e. “infirmity”). Solution is EDUCED (i.e. “developed”) reversed (indicated by “climbing” – this being a down clue) and wrapped “round” RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) and PIT (i.e. “base of stomach”), like so: DEC(RE-PIT)UDE.

6. Rescues by plane runs across 17 yards? (8)

Answer: AIRLIFTS (i.e. “rescues by plane”). Solution is AIRS (i.e. “runs” or broadcasts) wrapped around or “across” LI FT (i.e. “17 yards”, or 51ft expressed as Roman numerals, there being three feet to a yard), like so: AIR(LI-FT)S.

7. Weds follower with nothing for engagement as yet (4,3)

Answer: THUS FAR (i.e. “as yet”). Solution is THUR (i.e. “Weds follower”, shortened form of Thursday) wrapped around or “engaging” SFA (i.e. “nothing”, short for Sweet Fanny Adams among other things), like so: THU(SFA)R.

8. Secured by loan one has, junior court were often used in it? (11)

Answer: SUBJUNCTIVE (i.e. “‘were’ often used in it”. One for the grammarians, this is playing on how the past subjunctive form of ‘be’ is “often” “were”, i.e. I were, you were, and so on. Whoo-hoo, ain’t grammar fun? Anybody? Guys? Hello? Bueller?) Solution is SUB (i.e. a “loan”) and I’VE (a contraction of I have, i.e. “one has”) all wrapped around or “securing” JUN (a recognised abbreviation of “junior”) and CT (ditto “court”), like so: SUB-(JUN-CT)-I’VE.

9. Went short, roughly between 10 and 11 o’clock? (9)

Answer: NORTHWEST (i.e. positionally “between 10 and 11’o clock”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “roughly”) of WENT SHORT.

10. Wreck wee drink with form of potato in it (5,2)

Answer: SMASH UP (i.e. “wreck”). Solution is SUP (i.e. “wee drink”) wrapped around or having “in it” MASH (i.e. “form of potato”), like so: S(MASH)UP.

11. A name written around my nut (5)

Answer: ACORN (i.e. “nut”). Solution is A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”) all “written around” COR (i.e. “my”, both exclamations), like so: A-(COR)-N. The clue as a whole also describes what I would imagine is a fairly painful tattoo. Ouch.

12. Agreeable remark reduced rent in food store (10)

Answer: PLEASANTRY (i.e. “agreeable remark”). Solution is LEASE (i.e. “rent”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “reduced”) placed “in” PANTRY (i.e. “food store”), like so: P(LEAS)ANTRY.

17. Give birth with assistance (5)

Answer: WHELP (i.e. “give birth”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by HELP (i.e. “assistance”).

20. Almost too late when 48, nearly? (2,3,8,4)

Answer: AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR (i.e. “almost too late”). Solution also satisfies “when 48, nearly”, referring to 48a when written as AM ENDS.

21. Bird’s piercing call with a final inversion (6)

Answer: SHRIKE (i.e. “bird”). Solution is SHRIEK (i.e. “piercing call”) once the “final” two letters have been swapped or “inverted”, like so: SHRI(EK) => SHRI(KE).

24. Copper with top off, unusually good for hugs (6)

Answer: CUDDLY (i.e. “good for hugs”). Solution is CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) followed by ODDLY (i.e. “unusually”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “with top off”), like so: CU-DDLY.

25. Monarch associated with unbending line? (5)

Answer: RULER. Solution satisfies “monarch” and “associated with unbending line”.

26. Scandi and not American detective lacking conclusion (6)

Answer: NORDIC (i.e. “Scandi”). Solution is NOR (i.e. “and not”) followed by DICK (slang for an “American detective”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “lacking conclusion”), like so: NOR-DIC.

28. Cold sponge’s bottom needs to be on top (5)

Answer: ALOOF (i.e. “cold”). Solution is LOOFA (i.e. a rough “sponge”) with the A or “bottom” letter placed “on top” – this being a down clue – like so: LOOF(A) => (A)LOOF.

31. What might be uplifting religion without shame (6)

Answer: BRAZEN (i.e. “without shame”). Solution is BRA (i.e. “what might be uplifting”) followed by ZEN (i.e. “religion”).

33. Wasteful species destroy most of the division (11)

Answer: SPENDTHRIFT (i.e. “wasteful”). Solution is SP (a recognised abbreviation of “species”) followed by END (i.e. “destroy”), then THE once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of…”), and finally RIFT (i.e. “division”), like so: SP-END-TH-RIFT.

35. Complex fix improving when leads are crossed (4-7)

Answer: MIND-BENDING (i.e. “complex”). Solution is BIND (i.e. “fix”) and MENDING (i.e. “improving”) once the first letters of each, or “leads”, “are crossed”, like so: (B)IND-(M)ENDING => (M)IND-(B)ENDING.

37. Heart in sound body (5)

Answer: CORPS (i.e. a “body” of soldiers, or, more generally, any people with a common interest). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “in sound”) of CORE (i.e. “heart”).

38. Record difficult to hold up for example is released (10)

Answer: DISCHARGED (i.e. “released”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “record”) followed by HARD (i.e. “difficult”) once wrapped around or “holding” EG (i.e. “for example”, from the Latin exempli gratia) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: DISC-HAR(GE)D.

40. Singer very loud in linked series – the long and short of it (9)

Answer: CHAFFINCH (i.e. “singer” or songbird). Solution is FF (i.e. “very loud” in musical lingo, short for fortissimo) placed “in” CHAIN and CH (i.e. both “linked series”, the latter being the “shortened” form of the former), like so: CHA(FF)IN-CH.

42. Changeless Malibu met changes (9)

Answer: IMMUTABLE (i.e. “changeless”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “changes”) of MALIBU MET.

43. Taken for granted, carry on after intermission in Palladium (8)

Answer: PRESUMED (i.e. “taken for granted”). Solution is RESUME (i.e. “carry on after intermission”) placed “in” PD (chemical symbol of “palladium” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: P(RESUME)D.

45. Dignified area in Georgian city (7)

Answer: AUGUSTA (i.e. “Georgian city”, referring to the US state of Georgia, not the country). Solution is AUGUST (i.e. “dignified”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

47. Brutish games, sporting similar (7)

Answer: APELIKE (i.e. “brutish”). Solution is PE (i.e. “games”, specifically Physical Education) placed in or “sporting” ALIKE (i.e. “similar”), like so: A(PE)LIKE.

49. News agency ring for request (6)

Answer: APPEAL (i.e. “request”). Solution is AP (i.e. “news agency”, specifically Associated Press) followed by PEAL (i.e. “ring”).

51. Somewhat calorific in general, in addition to cake (5)

Answer: ICING (i.e. “addition to cake”). “Somewhat” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CALORIF(IC IN G)ENERAL.

52. Daughter unfortunately upended dish of vegetables (5)

Answer: SALAD (i.e. “dish of vegetables”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) and ALAS (i.e. “unfortunately”) all reversed (indicated by “upended” – this being a down clue), like so: SALA-D.

A medium strength Jumbo this week, but a good un with some stand-out clues and a welcome lack of stuffiness.

On that latter point, as mentioned last week, I’ve given it 20 Jumbo Cryptics before chucking in these posts as I’ve grown bored of all the stuffy clichés, particularly around cultural references. I don’t think I could care any less now about Billy Shakespeare, Greek mythology and a host of long-dead composers, poets, artists and philosophers. That said, let’s be fair to those setters who weren’t born in the 1800s. Let’s make it 20 more dull Jumbos before I walk into the sunset. Too many stuffy clichés and – tick! That’s one week closer to the end. It would be unfair to start the countdown on this week’s Jumbo, so the counter still stands at 20. Next week’s Jumbo, however? (Makes so-so gesture.)

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Got longer articles to spread popular beliefs (9)

Answer: INCREASED (i.e. “got longer”). Solution is AS (i.e. “articles”, basically A made plural – an article being a word like a, an or the) placed in or “spreading” IN (i.e. “popular”) and CREED (i.e. “beliefs”), like so: IN-CRE(AS)ED.

6. Sound – that of ceremony? (5)

Answer: RIGHT (i.e. “sound” or correct). Solution is a homophone (also indicated by “sound”) of RITE (i.e. “ceremony”).

9. Corrupts spy brought back to safeguard lives (7)

Answer: POISONS (i.e. “corrupts”). Solution is SNOOP (i.e. “spy”) reversed (indicated by “brought back”) and wrapped around or “safeguarding” IS (i.e. “lives” or exists), like so: PO(IS)ONS.

13. Acknowledge passage of mine contains start of message (5)

Answer: ADMIT (i.e. “acknowledge”). Solution is ADIT (i.e. an opening into a mine or “passage of mine” – we’ve seen this a couple of times in recent Jumbos) wrapped around or “containing” M (i.e. “start of message”, i.e. the first letter of “message”), like so: AD(M)IT.

14. Former state comprising capital of Poland and part of Soviet Union (7)

Answer: PRUSSIA (i.e. “former state”, dissolved in 1871). Solution is P (i.e. “capital of Poland”, i.e. the first letter of “Poland”) followed by RUSSIA (i.e. “part of Soviet Union”).

15. Being in exile forfeits right to go into details (9)

Answer: EXPATIATE (i.e. “go into details”). Solution is EXPATRIATE (i.e. “being in exile”) with the R removed (indicated by “forfeits right” – R being a recognised abbreviation thereof).

16. Most of teaching unit is rehashed for mock (11)

Answer: INAUTHENTIC (i.e. “mock”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rehashed”) of TEACHING once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of…”) and UNIT.

17. Onset of fear when entering dramatic location? (5,6)

Answer: STAGE FRIGHT. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole but is also F (i.e. “onset of fear”, i.e. the first letter of “fear”) placed in or “entering” STAGE RIGHT (i.e. “dramatic location”), like so: STAGE-(F)-RIGHT.

18. Pull again and screw around (6)

Answer: REDRAW (i.e. “pull again”). Solution is WARDER (i.e. “screw”, slang thereof) reversed (indicated by “around”).

19. Constructive activity gradually getting more intense (8)

Answer: BUILDING. Solution satisfies “constructive activity” and “gradually getting more intense”.

21. Stupefying work I put away (6)

Answer: OPIATE (i.e. “stupefying”, taking the solution as an adjective). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for opus) followed by I and ATE (i.e. “put away”).

25. Named suspect in photo creating widespread disorder (8)

Answer: PANDEMIC (i.e. “widespread disorder”, taking disorder to mean a disease). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “suspect”) of NAMED placed “in” PIC (i.e. “photo”), like so: P(ANDEM)IC.

26. Divine alien? (3,2,4,5)

Answer: OUT OF THIS WORLD. Solution satisfies “divine” and “alien”.

28. Support for individuals with bills to settle (5)

Answer: ROOST. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “individuals with bills” to mean birds. Nicely disguised.

29. Demonstrator in disreputable group (6)

Answer: SHOWER. Solution satisfies “demonstrator”, as in one who shows, and “disreputable group”.

30. Itchy feet could be symptomatic of this condition (10)

Answer: WANDERLUST. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “itchy feet” to mean a desire to move on.

33. Initially investigated if de facto changes performed authorized role (10)

Answer: OFFICIATED (i.e. “performed authorized role”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “changes”) of I (i.e. “initially investigated”, i.e. the first letter of “investigated”) and IF DE FACTO.

35. Surge of immigrants possibly belonging to unstable state (6)

Answer: INFLUX (i.e. “surge of immigrants possibly” – a rather specific definition, but fitting within the context of the clue). Solution is IN (i.e. “belonging to”) followed by FLUX (i.e. “unstable state”).

36. Shudder at minor injuries inflicted during attack by men (5)

Answer: ABHOR (i.e. “shudder at”). Solution is ABH (i.e. “minor injuries inflicted during attack”, or Actual Bodily Harm) followed by OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army).

38. Put in new order for remix of Memories on disc (14)

Answer: RECOMMISSIONED (i.e. “put in new order”, say, for a work of art). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “remix”) of MEMORIES ON DISC.

40. Essential blow phased out computer device (3,5)

Answer: KEY PUNCH (i.e. “phased out computer device”). Solution is KEY (i.e. “essential”) followed by PUNCH (i.e. a “blow”).

42. Make a mistake with message (6)

Answer: ERRAND (i.e. a verbal “message”, an archaic definition apparently). Solution is ERR (i.e. “make a mistake”) followed by AND (i.e. “with”).

43. Folk on social media in what way entertaining spectacle with restricted view (8)

Answer: PEEPSHOW (i.e. “entertaining spectacle with restricted view”). Solution is PEEPS (i.e. “folk on social media”) followed by HOW (i.e. “in what way”).

44. First class spinner follows helpful advice (6)

Answer: TIPTOP (i.e. “first class”). Solution is TOP (i.e. old skool toy, a “spinner”) placed after or “following” TIP (i.e. “helpful”), like so: TIP-TOP.

47. Peach skin’s flipping lovely nap? (6,5)

Answer: BEAUTY SLEEP (i.e. “lovely nap”). Solution is BEAUTY (i.e. a “peach”, slang thereof) followed by PEEL’S (i.e. “skin’s”) once reversed (indicated by “flipping”).

50. Support for light punishment of cruel bad man (11)

Answer: CANDELABRUM (i.e. “support for light”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “punishment”) of CRUEL BAD MAN.

52. For Americans, exactly where one might find visual aids? (2,3,4)

Answer: ON THE NOSE. Solution satisfies “for Americans, exactly” and “where one might find visual aids”.

53. Iditioic ideas in inefficient stores (7)

Answer: ASININE (i.e. “idiotic”). “Stores” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: IDE(AS IN INE)FFICIENT.

54. Northerners instinctively know to give up first time (5)

Answer: INUIT (i.e. far “northerners”). Solution is INTUIT (i.e. “instinctively know”) with the “first” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) removed or “given up”.

55. Talking out line of rubbish clogging up entrance (7)

Answer: GAROTTE (i.e. “taking out line” – “taking out” being slang for killing). Solution is ROT (i.e. “rubbish”) placed in or “clogging up” GATE (i.e. “entrance”), like so: GA(ROT)TE.

56. Great man’s relations inhibited by effect of The Sun’s coverage (5)

Answer: TITAN (i.e. “great man”). Solution is IT (i.e. sexual “relations”) placed in or “covered” by TAN (i.e. “effect of the sun”), like so: T(IT)AN.

57. Soldiers stationed in hamlet developed product that’s full of holes (9)

Answer: EMMENTHAL (i.e. cheese, a “product that’s full of holes”). Solution is MEN (i.e. “soldiers” – outdated wordplay now, surely) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “developed”) of HAMLET, like so: EM(MEN)THAL.

Down clues

1. National anthem’s introduction bores two hosting King and Queen (5)

Answer: IRAQI (i.e. “national”). Solution is A (i.e. “anthem’s introduction”, i.e. the first letter of “anthem”) placed in or “boring” II (i.e. “two” expressed in Roman numerals) once these have first been wrapped around or “hosting” R (i.e. “king”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Rex) and Q (a recognised abbreviation of “queen” used in chess), like so: I(R(A)Q)I. Nicely worked.

2. Head of unit’s integrated circuit included in authoritative proposal (10,7)

Answer: COMMANDING OFFICER (i.e. “head of unit”). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “integrated circuit”) placed or “included in” COMMANDING (i.e. “authoritative”) and OFFER (i.e. “proposal”), like so: COMMANDING-OFF(IC)ER.

3. He helps move each man around country (6,5)

Answer: ESTATE AGENT (i.e. “he helps move”). Solution is EA (a recognised abbreviation of “each”) and GENT (i.e. “man”) all wrapped “around” STATE (i.e. “country”), like so: E(STATE)A-GENT.

4. Royal Engineer’s draining job? (6)

Answer: SAPPER. Solution satisfies a slang term for a “Royal Engineer”, and also a “draining job”.

5. Suspect unlikely to take part (8)

Answer: DOUBTFUL. Solution satisfies “suspect” and “unlikely to take part”.

6. Unrealistically positive representation of decorous role (4-8)

Answer: ROSE-COLOURED (i.e. “unrealistically positive”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “representation of”) of DECOROUS ROLE.

7. I’m astonished about papers supporting rat’s abandoned wife (5,5)

Answer: GRASS WIDOW (i.e. “abandoned wife” – a new one on me). Solution is WOW (i.e. “I’m astonished”) wrapped “about” ID (i.e. identification “papers”) and the whole then placed after or “below” – this being a down clue – GRASS (i.e. traitor or “rat”), like so: GRASS-W(ID)OW.

8. Article ending in Saint Paul’s Second Letter to The Corinthians (5)

Answer: THETA (i.e. “letter to The Corinthians”, specifically the eighth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is THE (i.e. “article”, already covered in 1a) followed by T (i.e. “ending [letter] in saint”) and A (i.e. “Paul’s second letter”).

9. Riddle about source of Italian pizza topping (9)

Answer: PEPPERONI (i.e. “pizza topping”). Solution is PEPPER (i.e. to “riddle” with) followed by ON (i.e. “about” or regarding) then I (i.e. “source of Italian”, i.e. the first letter of “Italian”).

10. Individual questioning position adopted by dodgy rentier (11)

Answer: INTERVIEWER (i.e. “individual questioning”). Solution is VIEW (i.e. “position”) placed in or “adopted by” an anagram (indicated by “dodgy”) of RENTIER, like so: INTER(VIEW)ER.

11. Animal with a varied diet consisting mainly of fruit (5)

Answer: ORANG (i.e. “animal with a varied diet”, shortened form of orang-utan). Solution is ORANGE (i.e. “fruit”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mainly”).

12. Who might investigate elaborate hustle? (6)

Answer: SLEUTH (i.e. “who might investigate”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “elaborate”) of HUSTLE. Another nicely worked clue.

18. Dazzling display on a revolutionary English company’s range of work (10)

Answer: REPERTOIRE (i.e. theatre “company’s range of work”). Solution is RIOT (i.e. “dazzling display”), RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and PER (i.e. “a”, e.g. some beers being five pounds a pint) all reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: (REP-ER-TOIR)-E.

20. Understand board is ready for acquisition (8)

Answer: GETTABLE (i.e. “ready for acquisition”). Solution is GET (i.e. “understand”) followed by TABLE (i.e. a panel or “board”).

22. Connected with cast’s broadcast completely (7,3,7)

Answer: THROUGH AND THROUGH (i.e. “completely”). Solution is THROUGH (i.e. “connected”, as in “putting you through now, caller” – ask your parents, kids), followed by AND (i.e. “with”) and a homophone (indicated by “broadcast”) of THREW (i.e. “cast”).

23. Toxic atmosphere found among academia’s managers (6)

Answer: MIASMA (i.e. “toxic atmosphere”). “Found among” indicates the solution can be found in ACADE(MIA’S MA)NAGERS.

24. Reversed trend, heading off praise for position taken by journalist? (10)

Answer: EDITORSHIP (i.e. “position taken by journalist”). Solution is TIDE (i.e. “trend”) “reversed” and followed by WORSHIP (i.e. “praise”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: EDIT-ORSHIP.

27. Clears head raising matter concerning supervisor finishing early (6,2)

Answer: SOBERS UP (i.e. “clears head”). Solution is PUS (i.e. biological “matter”), RE (i.e. “concerning” – again, think email replies) and BOSS (i.e. “supervisor”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “finishing early”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “raising” – this being a down clue), like so: SOB-ER-SUP.

31. Discourage drinking by right (6)

Answer: DEXTER (i.e. “right”, from the Latin). Solution is DETER (i.e. “discourage”) wrapped around or “drinking” X (i.e. “by”, or the multiplication symbol), like so: DE(X)TER.

32. Meeting lays to rest notice following reorganization (12)

Answer: INTERSECTION (i.e. “meeting”). Solution is INTERS (i.e. buries or “lays to rest”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “following reorganisation”) of NOTICE, like so: INTERS-ECTION.

34. Chamber piece inspired by observation (11)

Answer: COMPARTMENT (i.e. “chamber”). Solution is PART (i.e. “piece”) placed in or “inspired by” COMMENT (i.e. “observation”), like so: COM(PART)MENT.

36. Software industry (11)

Answer: APPLICATION. Solution satisfies “software” and “industry”. Excellent clue! Best for quite a while.

37. Might scheme finish off bankrupt energy supplier? (5,5)

Answer: POWER PLANT (i.e. “energy supplier”). Solution is POWER (i.e. “might”) followed by PLAN (i.e. “scheme”) and T (i.e. the “finish off bankrupt”, or the last letter of “bankrupt”).

39. Put off key deficiency in Asian country’s attitude (9)

Answer: INDISPOSE (i.e. “put off”). Solution is INDIA’S (i.e. “Asian country’s”) with the A removed (indicated by “[musical] key deficiency”) and the remainder followed by POSE (i.e. “attitude”), like so: INDI’S-POSE.

41. Agree method of eliminating change? (8)

Answer: COINCIDE (i.e. “agree”). The solution also playfully satisfies “method of eliminating change”, as in how the suffix -CIDE, meaning the killing of someone or something, has been tacked on the end of COIN, or some “change”. I’ll admit this did raise a titter when I twigged it. Another excellent clue.

45. Old on-line journal includes name of slender figure? (6)

Answer: OBLONG (i.e. “slender figure” or shape). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by BLOG (i.e. “on-line journal”, short for weblog) once wrapped around or “including” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: O-BLO(N)G.

46. Free to think again seemingly (6)

Answer: REDEEM (i.e. “free”). When written as RE-DEEM the solution playfully satisfies “to think again seemingly”, taking DEEM to mean “think”. You get the idea.

48. Revise warning as a result of temperature rising (5)

Answer: ALTER (i.e. “revise”). Solution is ALERT (i.e. “warning”) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”) brought back a few notches (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: ALER(T) => AL(T)ER.

49. Employ specialist denied position originally (5)

Answer: EXERT (i.e. “employ”). Solution is EXPERT (i.e. “specialist”) with the P removed (indicated by “denied position originally”, i.e. the first letter of “position”).

51. Second unsatisfactory service upset driver using this establishment (5)

Answer: MOTEL (i.e. “driver using this establishment”). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment) followed by LET (i.e. an “unsatisfactory service” in tennis) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: MO-TEL.