The faint stench of Billy Shakespeare kills off another decent Jumbo. Ho hum. 5 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 solver’s cramp 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 patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Air-conditioning extremely welcomed by right-minded; so hot right now! (3,3,4)

Answer: ALL THE RAGE (i.e. “so hot right now”). Solution is AG (i.e. “air-conditioning extremely”, i.e. the first and last letters of “air-conditioning”) placed in or “welcomed by” ALL THERE (i.e. “right-minded” or sane), like so: ALL-THER(AG)E.

6. Tortuously agonise with clue involving hours seated here? (6,6)

Answer: CHAISE LONGUE (i.e. “seated here”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “tortuously”) of AGONISE and CLUE wrapped around or “involving” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hours”), like so: C(H)AISELONGUE.

14. Host Kent, certain to lose both openers (9)

Answer: ENTERTAIN (i.e. to “host”). Solution is KENT and CERTAIN once the initial letters of both have been removed (indicated by “to lose both openers”), like so: ENT-ERTAIN.

15. Old croupier eventually cut deck (5)

Answer: ORLOP (i.e. a “deck” on a ship – the lowest apparently). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by R (i.e. “croupier eventually”, i.e. the last letter of “croupier”) and LOP (i.e. to “cut”).

16. Flower arranging embargo introduced by Swedish institution (7)

Answer: IKEBANA (i.e. the Japanese art of “flower arranging”). Solution is BAN (i.e. “embargo”) placed in or “introduced by” IKEA (i.e. “Swedish institution”), like so: IKE(BAN)A.

17. NYC village meme guarding against British standard (9,4,4)

Answer: GREENWICH MEAN TIME (i.e. “British standard”). Solution is GREENWICH (i.e. “NYC village”) followed by MEME once wrapped around or “guarding” ANTI (i.e. “against”), like so: GREENWICH-ME(ANTI)ME.

18. Junior officer expected to be out of uniform with whip round (5)

Answer: CADET (i.e. “junior officer”). Solution is DUE (i.e. “expected”) with the U removed (indicated by “out of uniform” – U being “uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder placed in or having “round” it CAT (i.e. “whip”, short for a cat-o-nine-tails), like so: CA(DE)T.

19. Function in November completely rejected meat (7)

Answer: VENISON (i.e. “meat”). Solution is SINE (i.e. trigonometric “function”) placed “in” NOV (short for “November”) and the whole reversed (indicated by “completely rejected”), like so: V(ENIS)ON.

21. Deaden the sound of animal going about very loudly (6)

Answer: MUFFLE (i.e. “deaden the sound”). Solution is MULE (i.e. “animal”) wrapped “about” FF (i.e. “very loudly”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “fortissimo” in musical lingo), like so: MU(FF)LE.

22. Second comics, with covers going cheap (8)

Answer: ECONOMIC (i.e. “cheap”). Solution is SECOND COMICS with the first and last letters of each word removed (indicated by “with covers going”), like so: ECON-OMIC.

24. David briefly returns to visit granny (she’s from Reno) (7)

Answer: NEVADAN (i.e. “she’s from Reno”). Solution is DAVE (i.e. “David briefly”) reversed or “returning” and placed in or “visiting” NAN (i.e. “granny”), like so: N(EVAD)AN.

26. One should be able to complete a sentence (8)

Answer: PRISONER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. I’m not getting much else from this one, but I could be missing something clever.

27. Party is boring, stuffiest atmosphere (6)

Answer: FIESTA (i.e. “party”). “Is boring” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: STUF(FIEST A)TMOSPHERE.

30. Reserve chicken, 14lb (11)

Answer: YELLOWSTONE (i.e. nature “reserve” in the US). Solution is YELLOW (i.e. cowardly or “chicken”) followed by STONE (i.e. “14lb” of weight).

32. Fighter for the Union betrays chap bored by combat (4,7)

Answer: SHOP STEWARD (i.e. “fighter for the union”). Solution is SHOPS (i.e. “betrays”) followed by TED (i.e. “chap’s” name) once wrapped around or “bored by” WAR (i.e. “combat”), like so: SHOPS-TE(WAR)D.

33. Popular single ticket at the back coach allowance includes (11)

Answer: CHARTBUSTER (i.e. “popular single”). Solution is T (i.e. “ticket at the back”, i.e. the last letter of “ticket”) and BUS (i.e. “coach”) both placed in or “included” by CHARTER (i.e. “allowance”), like so: CHAR(T-BUS)TER.

35. Artificially westernised Muscat? (7,4)

Answer: DESSERT WINE (i.e. “Muscat”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “artificially”) of WESTERNISED.

37. Murky tragedy Times covers (6)

Answer: BLEARY (i.e. “murky”). Solution is King LEAR (i.e. “tragedy” – yes, another week and another setter that simply has to include history’s only playwright in their Jumbo. I’m beginning to wonder if the RSC has dirt on Times setters. Either way, this is an instant kill as you should know by now) placed in or “covered by” BY (i.e. multiplied or “times”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: B(LEAR)Y.

38. City bank’s head runs commercial vehicle company (8)

Answer: BRADFORD (i.e. “city”). Solution is B (i.e. “bank’s head”, i.e. the first letter of “bank”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games), then AD (i.e. “commercial” or advertisement) and FORD (i.e. “vehicle company”).

39. For the Stasi, the East German blocks file (7)

Answer: DOSSIER (i.e. “file”). Solution is DER (i.e. “for the Stasi, the”, i.e. the German for “the” – the Stasi was the secret police force of the old East Germany) wrapped around or “blocking” OSSI (i.e. “East German” – specifically “a citizen of the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) before reunification with the Federal Republic in 1990” (Chambers)), like so: D(OSSI)ER. I’d often do my Alf Garnett act whenever there’s a whiff of foreign languages being used in a clue, but this was excellent. Well played, setter.

42. Perhaps neon light initially probing one’s bag when travelling (5,3)

Answer: NOBLE GAS (i.e. “perhaps neon” – other noble gases are available). Solution is L (i.e. “light initially”, i.e. the first letter of “light”) placed in or “probing” an anagram (indicated by “travelling”) of ONE’S BAG, like so: NOB(L)EGAS.

44. Kinky feature that’s designed for swingers who can’t go straight? (6)

Answer: DOGLEG. Solution satisfies “kinky feature” or sharp bend, and also “that’s designed for swingers who can’t go straight”, referring to a golf hole with a bent fairway. Golfers “swing” golf clubs, you get the idea, etc etc.

46. Smear mark on graph in school (7)

Answer: SPLOTCH (i.e. “smear”). Solution is PLOT (i.e. “mark on graph”) placed “in” SCH (a recognised abbreviation of “school”), like so: S(PLOT)CH.

48. Left Bank absorbs artisan (5)

Answer: TILER (i.e. “artisan”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) placed in or “absorbed” by TIER (i.e. “bank” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation), like so: TI(L)ER.

49. Proposed Pope’s in-depth quote needs editing (6,3,8)

Answer: POPPED THE QUESTION (i.e. “proposed” to be married). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “needs editing”) of POPE’S IN-DEPTH QUOTE.

51. Public viewing opportunity accessible 24h (4,3)

Answer: OPEN DAY (i.e. “public viewing opportunity”). Solution is OPEN (i.e. “accessible”) followed by DAY (i.e. “24h”).

52. Leaders of African Cooperation Council raise additional capital (5)

Answer: ACCRA (i.e. “capital” city of Ghana). “Leaders of” indicates the solution is derived from the first letters of “African Cooperation Council Raise Additional”.

53. Wife of Perseus & Italian city lawyer (9)

Answer: ANDROMEDA (i.e. “wife of Perseus”). Solution is AND (i.e. “&”) followed by ROME (i.e. “Italian city”) and DA (i.e. “lawyer”, specifically a District Attorney). Greek mythology is often a turn-off for me, so have a demerit.

54. Mad Hatter unsure where to dig for gold? (8,4)

Answer: TREASURE HUNT (i.e. “where to dig for gold”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “mad”) of HATTER UNSURE.

55. Hidden area – diaries regularly written here (10)

Answer: SECRETAIRE (i.e. “written here”, a writing desk). Solution is SECRET (i.e. “hidden”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) and IRE (i.e. “diaries written regularly”, i.e. every other letter of DIARIES).

Down clues

1. Community of Yerevan bang out of order (11)

Answer: ABERGAVENNY (a town in Wales, i.e. “community”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out of order”) of YEREVAN BANG.

2. Ignited high explosive fluid (5)

Answer: LITHE (i.e. “fluid”). Solution is LIT (i.e. “ignited”) followed by HE (a recognised abbreviation of “high explosive”).

3. Uncompromising, like a rhinoceros? (4-5)

Answer: HARD-NOSED. Solution satisfies “uncompromising” and, playfully, “like a rhinoceros”.

4. Change formation, getting finally stuck into Madrid at home (7)

Answer: REALIGN (i.e. “change formation”). Solution is G (i.e. “getting finally”, i.e. the last letter of “getting”) placed or “stuck into” REAL (i.e. “Madrid”, footie team) and IN (i.e. “at home”), like so: REAL-I(G)N.

5. Medway town banning sick material (7)

Answer: GINGHAM (i.e. fabric or “material”). Solution is GILLINGHAM (i.e. “Medway town”) with the ILL removed (indicated by “banning sick”).

7. Holds small beer, drunk around noon no less! (4,7)

Answer: HALF NELSONS (i.e. wrestling “holds”). Solution is HALF (i.e. “small beer”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “noon”) once placed in or having “around” it an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of NO LESS, like so: HALF-NELSO(N)S.

8. Spoil one married couple (6)

Answer: IMPAIR (i.e. “spoil”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “married”) and PAIR (i.e. “couple”).

9. Fame of rap artist spending second million as soon as losing love (8)

Answer: EMINENCE (i.e. “fame”). Solution is EMINEM (i.e. “rap artist” – yay, some modern day stuff) with the second M removed (indicated by “spending second million” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “million”) and the remainder followed by ONCE (i.e. “as soon as”) once the O has been removed (indicated by “losing love” – “love” being a zero score in tennis), like so: EMINE-NCE.

10. Liberal forced vote in November, being a bit cocky (13)

Answer: OVERCONFIDENT (i.e. “a bit cocky”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “liberal”) of FORCED VOTE IN and N (“November” in the phonetic alphabet).

11. $1000 before noon, for old matriarch (7)

Answer: GRANDAM (i.e. “old matriarch”). Solution is GRAND (i.e. “$1000”) followed by AM (i.e. “before noon”).

12. One might secure a bundle, at a stretch (7,4)

Answer: ELASTIC BAND. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given they’re “stretchy” and are used to wrap things into “bundles”.

13. Government department which became vital during lockdown? (4,6)

Answer: HOME OFFICE. Solution satisfies “government department” and “which became vital during lockdown” during the covid-19 pandemic, at least for some.

20. Commercial vehicle going over Scotland emptied site in Faslane say (5,4)

Answer: NAVAL BASE (i.e. “Faslane say”). Solution is VAN (i.e. “commercial vehicle”) reversed (indicated by “going over”) and followed by ALBA (i.e. “Scotland” to the Scottish) and SE (i.e. “emptied site”, i.e. the word “site” with its middle letters removed), like so: NAV-ALBA-SE.

23. Key English river dredged at last, decontaminated (8)

Answer: DELOUSED (i.e. “decontaminated”). Solution is DEL (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for “delete”) followed by OUSE (i.e. “English river”) and D (i.e. “dredged at last”, i.e. the last letter of “dredged”).

25. Blow-out meal – Henry breaks refusal to drink (4-2)

Answer: NOSH-UP (i.e. “blow-out meal”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement) placed in or “breaking” NO SUP (i.e. “refusal to drink”), like so: NO-S(H)UP.

26. Professional players shun key universal officials (8)

Answer: PROCTORS (i.e. “university officials”). Solution is PRO (short for “professionals”) followed by ACTORS (i.e. “players”) once the A has been removed (indicated by “shun [musical] key”), like so: PRO-CTORS.

28. Hardliner accommodated in borstal in Istanbul (9)

Answer: STALINIST (i.e. “hardliner”). “Accommodated in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: BOR(STAL IN IST)ANBUL.

29. Airless, exhausted, cold, finish climb (6)

Answer: ASCEND (i.e. “climb”). Solution is AS (i.e. “airless, exhausted”, i.e. the word “airless” with its middle letters removed) followed by C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” used on water taps) and END (i.e. “finish”).

31. Wandering tribe rehoused in remote islands (5,8)

Answer: OUTER HEBRIDES (i.e. “remote islands” of Scotland). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wandering”) of TRIBE REHOUSED.

33. Letters supporting case for a senior government role (7,4)

Answer: CABINET POST (i.e. “senior government role”). Solution is POST (i.e. mail or “letters”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – CABINET (i.e. “case”).

34. Once aboard, I reset navigation aid (5,6)

Answer: RADIO BEACON (i.e. “navigation aid”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reset”) of ONCE ABOARD I.

35. Roman head of new artificial intelligence comms business I’d set up (10)

Answer: DIOCLETIAN (i.e. “Roman head” or emperor). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by AI (a recognised abbreviation of “artificial intelligence”), then TELCO (i.e. “comms business”, short for telecommunications company) and I’D all reversed (indicated by “set up” – this being a down clue), like so: D’I-OCLET-IA-N.

36. Our home space with less common exposed crockery (11)

Answer: EARTHENWARE (i.e. “crockery”). Solution is planet EARTH (i.e. “our home”) followed by EN (i.e. printing terminology for a “space”, one being half the width of a letter m), then W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and RARER (i.e. “less common”) once its first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “exposed”), like so: EARTH-EN-W-ARE.

40. According to Spooner, Big Oil firm sought to make a negative bet (4,5)

Answer: SELL SHORT (i.e. “make a negative bet” – the practice involves borrowing shares to sell in the hope of later buying them back at a lower price). Solution is a “Spoonerism” of SHELL (i.e. “Big Oil firm”) and SOUGHT.

41. Thanks! Kiss dad, your common source of revenue! (8)

Answer: TAXPAYER (i.e. “source of revenue” for governments, and oh boy do we know it!) Solution is TA (informal expression of “thanks”) followed by X (i.e. “kiss”), then PA (i.e. “dad”) and YER (i.e. “your common”, an informal expression of “your”).

43. Have faith in credit (7)

Answer: BELIEVE. Solution satisfies “have faith in” and “credit”.

45. Rank nurse cuts pineapple (7)

Answer: GRENADE (i.e. “pineapple”, military slang thereof). Solution is GRADE (i.e. “rank”) wrapped around or being “cut” by EN (i.e. “nurse”, specifically an Enrolled Nurse), like so: GR(EN)ADE.

46. Dug under half of shed producing tremor (7)

Answer: SHUDDER (i.e. “tremor”). Solution is UDDER (i.e. “dug” – a variant meaning of dug is an udder or woman’s breast) placed “under” – this being a down clue – SH (i.e. the first “half of shed”), like so: SH-UDDER.

47. Headline band covering upcoming album (6)

Answer: SPLASH (i.e. newspaper “headline”). Solution is SASH (i.e. “band”) wrapped around or “covering” LP (i.e. “album”, a Long Play record) once this has been reversed (indicated by “upcoming” – this being a down clue), like so: S(LP)ASH.

50. Decorate 50 per cent of nice old Brits (5)

Answer: ICENI (i.e. “old Brits” led by Queen Boudicca). Solution is ICE (i.e. “decorate” a cake) followed by NI (i.e. “50 per cent of nice”, specifically the first 50 per cent).

A toughie this week but a fairly dull one thanks to so many tired Times crossword clichés. It reminded me exactly why I’m winding down these posts. I mean, the case for the prosecution this week runs as nearly as long as the rest of the post. All this means there are now 6 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 you’ve given up on a recent Jumbo then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Orpheus finally coming to Stygian realm – in Ray-Bans? (6)

Answer: SHADES (i.e. “Ray-Bans”, both referencing sunglasses). Solution is S (i.e. “Orpheus finally”, i.e. the last letter of “Orpheus”) followed by HADES (i.e. “Stygian realm”). I’d usually slap a classics demerit on this one, but this was quite wittily done.

5. Your writer writes in crimson – not green (7)

Answer: RIPENED (i.e. “not green”). Solution is I PEN (i.e. “your writer writes” from the point of view of the setter) all placed “in” RED (i.e. “crimson”), like so: R(I-PEN)ED.

9. Distinct character’s island god embracing holy work (8)

Answer: IDENTITY (i.e. “distinct character”). Solution is I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) and DEITY (i.e. “god”) wrapped around or “embracing” NT (i.e. “holy work”, specifically the New Testament of The Bible), like so: I-DE(NT)ITY.

13. Old mark used in complex cash agreement with China for currency control (8,4,9)

Answer: EXCHANGE RATE MECHANISM (i.e. “currency control”). Solution is EX (i.e. “old” or former) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “mark”, the former currency of Germany) all wrapped around or having “in” an anagram (indicated by “complex”) of CASH AGREEMENT and CHINA, like so: EX(CHANGERATEMECHANIS)M.

14. Literary composition on page – very small piece? (8)

Answer: PARTICLE (i.e. “very small piece”). Solution is ARTICLE (i.e. “literary composition”) placed “on” or after P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”), like so: P-ARTICLE.

15. Bone from three in the reckoning? (7)

Answer: STERNUM (i.e. “bone”). Solution is TERN (i.e. a set of “three”, a variant meaning of the word) placed “in” SUM (i.e. “reckoning”), like so: S(TERN)UM.

16. Duck, then another ancient Briton saves for cat (6)

Answer: OCELOT (i.e. species of “cat”). Solution is O (i.e. “duck”, a zero score) followed by “another” O once placed in or “saved” by CELT (i.e. “ancient Briton”), like so: O-CEL(O)T.

17. Means to wipe material linked with online pest (6,4)

Answer: TOILET ROLL (i.e. “means to wipe”). Solution is TOILE (i.e. a kind of cotton “material”) followed by TROLL (i.e. “online pest”). One I remembered from a previous puzzle, which made this a little easier.

20. In the cooking dad was all for this culinary classic (7,5)

Answer: WALDORF SALAD (i.e. “culinary classic”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in the cooking”) of DAD WAS ALL FOR.

23. Murphy from south meeting reflective Unionists (4)

Answer: SPUD (i.e. “Murphy”, both slang words for a potato). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”) followed by DUP (i.e. “Unionists”, specifically the Democratic Unionist Party) once reversed (indicated by “reflective”), like so: S-PUD.

24. Airport dispute dogging former PM (8)

Answer: HEATHROW (i.e. “airport”). Solution is ROW (i.e. “dispute”) placed after or “dogging” Edward HEATH (i.e. “former PM”), like so: HEATH-ROW. Ol’ Teddy is always being used in cryptic crosswords, but The Times aren’t exactly alone in this regard so no demerit.

26. Ring through often on such personal extensions? (8)

Answer: EARLOBES. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “ring” to be an earring.

29. Isn’t that Tatum FBI agent’s arrested? Or Craven? (5-7)

Answer: FAINT-HEARTED (i.e. “craven” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is AIN’T HE ART (i.e. “isn’t that Tatum”, referring to Art Tatum, An American jazz pianist. No, me neither) placed in or “arrested by” FED (i.e. slang for an “FBI agent”), like so: F(AIN’T-HE-ART)ED. Definitely worthy of a Who’s Who demerit.

30. Appearance of fast current – no going back (10)

Answer: EXPRESSION (i.e. “appearance”). Solution is EXPRESS (i.e. “fast”) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and NO once reversed (indicated by “going back”), like so: EXPRESS-I-ON.

32. Comedy at last in two sections provides amusing turn (5,5)

Answer: PARTY PIECE (i.e. “amusing turn”). Solution is Y (i.e. “comedy at last”, i.e. the last letter of “comedy”) placed “in” between PART and PIECE (i.e. “two sections”), like so: PART-(Y)-PIECE.

34. Reward – our men earn it corruptly (12)

Answer: REMUNERATION (i.e. “reward”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “corruptly”) of OUR MEN EARN IT.

36. Revealing source, legendary Swiss thanks the French (8)

Answer: TELLTALE (i.e. a “revealing source”). Solution is William TELL (i.e. “legendary Swiss”) followed by TA (i.e. “thanks”) and LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the French for “the”).

38. Engineer’s instrument is one that’s not working (8)

Answer: ORGANISE (i.e. to “engineer”). Solution is ORGAN (i.e. musical “instrument”) followed by IS and ONE once the ON has been removed (indicated by “that’s not working”), like so: ORGAN-IS-E.

39. Said to be in power shower (4)

Answer: RAIN (i.e. “shower”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “said”) of REIGN (i.e. “to be in power”).

41. One standing in for royal pair, earnest man discharging seconds (6,6)

Answer: PRINCE REGENT (i.e. “one standing in for royal”). Solution is PR (a recognised abbreviation of “pair”) followed by SINCERE GENT (i.e. “earnest man”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “discharging seconds” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “seconds”), like so: PR-(INCERE-GENT).

43. Free hotel in secure enclosure close to town? That’s an old chestnut! (10)

Answer: COPENHAGEN (i.e. “that’s an old chestnut” – this is referring to the Duke of Wellington’s horse which he rode at the Battle of Waterloo, described as “a dark chestnut with two white heels”). Solution is OPEN (i.e. “free”) and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) both placed “in” CAGE (i.e. “secure enclosure”) and followed by N (i.e. “close to town”, i.e. the last letter of “town”, like so: C(OPEN-H)AGE-N. Come on, how many people are going to know this? Definitely worthy of a History Today demerit.

44. American inventor’s instinct about protecting little girl (6)

Answer: Thomas EDISON (i.e. “American inventor”). Solution is NOSE (i.e. “instinct”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or “protecting” DI (i.e. “little girl”, i.e. a shortened form of DIANA), like so: E(DI)SON. I’ll hang fire on the Who’s Who demerit as Edison is rather well known.

46. Fireplace feature inlaid with nickel and stone (7)

Answer: GRANITE (i.e. “stone”). Solution is GRATE (i.e. “fireplace feature”) wrapped around or “inlaid with” NI (chemical symbol of “nickel”), like so: GRA(NI)TE.

48. Branch specialised in launching carpeting line (8)

Answer: ROCKETRY (i.e. “branch specialised in launching”). Solution is ROCKET (i.e. “carpeting”, both meaning a right ticking-off) followed by RY (i.e. “line”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a railway).

50. Male in great metropolis accommodates writer following fire in research centre (6,6,9)

Answer: ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY (i.e. “research centre”). Solution is TOM (i.e. “male” cat, also a bloke’s name) placed “in” AI (i.e. “great” or excellent, i.e. A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) and CITY (i.e. “metropolis”). This is then wrapped around or “accommodating” AUTHOR (i.e. “writer”) once placed after or “following” ENERGY (i.e. “fire”), like so: A(TOM)I-C(ENERGY-AUTHOR)ITY.

51. Unbeatable on new wicket that turns, covered loosely (8)

Answer: BESTREWN (i.e. “covered loosely”). Solution is BEST (i.e. “unbeatable”) and RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) and W (ditto “wicket”, used in cricket) once these latter two have been reversed (indicated by “that turns”), like so: BEST-RE-(W-N).

52. Ray and Henry escaping village near Tokyo once (7)

Answer: TORPEDO (i.e. a type of “ray”, as in the fish). Solution is THORP (i.e. another word for a “village”) with the H removed (indicated by “Henry escaping” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement) and the remainder followed or placed “near” EDO (i.e. “Tokyo once”, i.e. the former name of Tokyo), like so: TORP-EDO. Probably the toughest clue of the lot. It’s tempting to slap a History Today on this one, but I do have a begrudging respect for the misdirection at play here.

53. Onegin, for one, in central Greece throttling upper-class dope (6)

Answer: EUGENE (i.e. “Onegin, for one”, after the novel in verse by Alexander Pushkin. Other Eugenes are available, though perhaps none so fitting a dull Times crossword cliché). Solution is EE (i.e. “central Greece”, i.e. the middle letters of “Greece”) wrapped around or “throttling” U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper-class”) and GEN (i.e. info or “dope”), like so: E(U-GEN)E.

Down clues

2. Why we don’t start with an ascendant animal? (5)

Answer: HYENA (i.e. “animal”). Solution is WHY WE with the first letters of each removed (indicated by “don’t start”). This is then followed by AN reversed (indicated by “ascendant” – this being a down clue), like so: (HY-E)-NA.

3. Dance technique never succeeded with fellow in plant (11)

Answer: DICOTYLEDON (i.e. “plant” group). Solution is DISCO (i.e. “dance”) and STYLE (i.e. “technique”) with the S removed from both (indicated by “never succeeded” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”) and the remainders followed by DON (i.e. “fellow”), like so: DICO-TYLE-DON. You can imagine the amount of effing and blinding this one elicited once it dropped.

4. Tom perhaps in Ascot agitated, somewhat abrupt in bars? (8)

Answer: STACCATO (i.e. “somewhat abrupt in [musical] bars”). Solution is CAT (i.e. “tom, perhaps”, a male thereof) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “agitated”) of ASCOT, like so: STAC(CAT)O. You know the drill. Musical lingo is always, always, ALWAYS in Jumbos, and Beethoven continues to be angry about it.

5. Mischievous journey up Parisian street is entertaining (5)

Answer: ROGUE (i.e. “mischievous”). Solution is GO (i.e. “journey”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue – and placed in or “entertained” by RUE (i.e. “Parisian street”, i.e. the French for “street”), like so: R(OG)UE. I know “rue” is fairly common knowledge, but I’m still deploying the meme.

6. Country girl in Reading? (7)

Answer: PERUSAL (i.e. “reading”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is PERU (i.e. “country”) followed by SAL (i.e. a “girl’s” name).

7. Woman’s experience after capture is hell (11)

Answer: NETHERWORLD (i.e. “hell”). Solution is HER WORLD (i.e. “woman’s experience”) placed “after” NET (i.e. to “capture”), like so: NET-(HER-WORLD).

8. Twinkling in private room reveals Screwtape, say (5)

Answer: DEMON (i.e. “Screwtape, say” – apparently this is after a satirical novel by C S Lewis, a new one on me). Solution is MO (i.e. a moment or “twinkling” or short period of time) placed “in” DEN (i.e. “private room”), like so: DE(MO)N.

9. Trouble means covering for government department (9)

Answer: INCOMMODE (i.e. to “trouble”). Solution is INCOME (i.e. “means”) wrapped around or “covering” MOD (i.e. “government department”, specifically the Ministry of Defence), like so: INCOM(MOD)E.

10. Inspiration displayed by punter at Oaks (5)

Answer: ERATO (i.e. “inspiration”, one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology). “Displayed by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PUNT(ER AT O)AKS. Greek mythology is always going to attract a demerit from me.

11. Flash damaged a port initially set for obsolete browser? (11)

Answer: TRICERATOPS (i.e. “obsolete browser”, a browser being an animal that feeds on young twigs and shoots. We’ve seen this usage of “browser” quite a few times in recent Jumbos. Are setters all copycats or is there some newsletter going round between them all?

12. Having rolled a lofty pitch, test results in draw (7)

Answer: TOMBOLA (i.e. game of chance or “draw”). Solution is A, LOB (i.e. “lofty pitch”) and MOT (i.e. motoring “test”) all reversed (indicated by “rolled”), like so: TOM-BOL-A.

18. Gold leaf walls in Chinese family home (9)

Answer: ORPHANAGE (i.e. “home”). Solution is OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) followed by PAGE (i.e. “leaf” of a book) once wrapped around or “walling in” HAN (i.e. “Chinese family” or dynasty), like so: OR-P(HAN)AGE.

19. Love goddess hosting a function (7)

Answer: OPERATE (i.e. “function”). Solution is O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis) and ATE (i.e. Green “goddess” of mischief) all wrapped around or “hosting” PER (i.e. “a”, as in there being fourteen pounds a stone), like so: O-(PER)-ATE. You see Ate all the time in Jumbos, and again we’re dipping into Greek mythology so have a demerit.

21. More vulgar chap appropriating grand language (3,6)

Answer: LOW GERMAN (i.e. “language” – I’d like to think the only difference between this and High German is you’d say the latter in a squeaky voice, but I suspect I’m wrong). Solution is LOWER (i.e. “more vulgar”) and MAN (i.e. “chap”) all wrapped around or “appropriating” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”), like so: LOW(G)ER-MAN.

22. Voluntarily avoids having worries about planet (8)

Answer: FORBEARS (i.e. “voluntarily avoids”). Solution is FEARS (i.e. “worries”) wrapped “about” ORB (i.e. “planet”), like so: F(ORB)EARS.

25. Othello for example right – heartless loser crushed (5,4)

Answer: TITLE ROLE (i.e. “Othello for example”). Solution is TITLE (i.e. “for example right”, as in titles such as Right Honourable) followed by an anagram (indicated by “crushed”) of LOSER once the middle letter has been removed (indicated by “heartless”). Oh look, another Times setter that simply can’t help themselves when it comes to crowbarring history’s only playwright into their Jumbo. Seriously, how many other title roles could the setter have chosen from? Good grief. This was heading for cliché city to begin with but this is an instant kill.

27. With online scam over, tightwad endlessly cut spending (9)

Answer: ECONOMISE (i.e. “cut spending”). Solution is E-CON (i.e. playfully an “online scam”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and MISER (i.e. “tightwad”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endlessly”), like so: E-CON-O-MISE.

28. Hearty pie and mash prepared – time to tuck in (8)

Answer: SHIPMATE (i.e. “hearty”, an old form of address thereof). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “prepared”) of PIE and MASH once wrapped around or “tucking in” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: SHIPMA(T)E.

31. Dutchman’s pipe in long drain (7)

Answer: PINESAP (i.e. “Dutchman’s pipe” – plants, predictably). Solution is PINE (i.e. “long” or yearn for) followed by SAP (i.e. to “drain”). The wordplay was easier than verifying the solution. Some assert both Pinesap and Dutchman’s pipe are examples of Monotropa hypopitys and definitely not Atrisolochia; Chambers, meanwhile, insists a Dutchman’s Pipe is an Aristolochia. I’ll let the experts argue it out among themselves. I literally couldn’t care.

33. Bent investigator? (6,5)

Answer: TALENT SCOUT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking TALENT to mean “disposition” (Chambers) rather than a natural ability. Should I issue demerits for diving too deep into the definitions? A bit late now, I suppose. Meanwhile, this is a repeat from about four months ago in grid 1674, where the clue on that occasion was “person hunting for a certain gift”.

34. Conservative having to fix pain, taking hour outside (5-6)

Answer: RIGHT-WINGER (i.e. “Conservative”). Solution is RIG (i.e. “to fix”) followed by TWINGE (i.e. “pain”) with HR (a recognised abbreviation of “hour”) placed “outside” of it, like so: RIG-H(TWINGE)R.

35. Hostile Republican consumed in obsession (11)

Answer: THREATENING (i.e. “hostile”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and EATEN (i.e. “consumed”) both placed in or “consumed” by THING (i.e. “obsession”, as in having a thing about someone), like so: TH(R-EATEN)ING.

37. Ivy for one always the ingenue? (9)

Answer: EVERGREEN (i.e. “ivy for one” – other evergreen varieties are available). Solution is EVER (i.e. “always”) followed by GREEN (descriptive of “the ingenue”, i.e. an innocent or naïve person).

40. A relative skipping one grips point in narrative (8)

Answer: ANECDOTE (i.e. “narrative”). Solution is A and NIECE (i.e. “relative”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “skipping [Roman numeral] one”). This is then all wrapped around or “gripping” DOT (i.e. “point”), like so: A-NEC(DOT)E.

42. Beam in relief having risen in rank (7)

Answer: RADIATE (i.e. “beam”). Solution is AID (i.e. “relief”) reversed (indicated by “having risen” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” RATE (i.e. to “rank”), like so: RA(DIA)TE.

43. Burn body of old woman found in Minoan’s island (7)

Answer: CREMATE (i.e. “burn”). Solution is MA (i.e. “old woman”, both informal names for one’s mother) placed “in” CRETE (i.e. “Minoan’s island”), like so: CRE(MA)TE.

45. Interference with signal in northern French department? (5)

Answer: NOISE (i.e. “interference with signal”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) followed by OISE (i.e. “French department” – a department being a region of France). Ah, let’s get my favourite meme out again.

47. Native Alaskan beer presented without head (5)

Answer: ALEUT (i.e. “native Alaskan”). Solution is ALE (i.e. “beer”) followed by PUT (i.e. “presented”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “without head”), like so: ALE-UT. If you want proof that this week’s setter is being deliberately awkward, consider how many proper words – you know, the kind you might actually find in a dictionary – fit the letters A-E-T. All demerits this week are well-earned. This is one setter I’m not going to miss when I’m done.

48. Relationship over with call for sailor’s attention? (5)

Answer: RATIO (i.e. “relationship” between two or more measurements). Solution is OI, TAR! (i.e. “call for sailor’s attention”) all reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: RAT-IO. Another recent repeat, literally appearing in last week’s grid. But you try telling Times puzzle editors that.

49. Material about to be ignored in youngster’s drawer (5)

Answer: RAYON (i.e. “material”). Solution is CRAYON (i.e. “youngster’s drawer”) with the C removed (indicated by “about to be ignored” – a recognised abbreviation of “circa” being C).

A medium strength Jumbo that didn’t outstay its welcome, and one that was relatively free of dull Times crossword clichés too. Nice! The countdown therefore remains at 7 Jumbos to go before I wind up these posts.

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 you jiggered then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll see 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. Vehicle belonging to officer that stops working (7,6)

Answer: GENERAL STRIKE (i.e. “that stops working”). When written as GENERAL’S TRIKE the solution also satisfies “vehicle belonging to officer”, a TRIKE being an informal name for a tricycle.

8. Release payment (9)

Answer: DISCHARGE. Solution satisfies “release” and “payment”.

13. Bear marks object of symbolic significance (5)

Answer: TOTEM (i.e. “object of symbolic significance”). Solution is TOTE (i.e. to carry or “bear”) followed by M (a recognised abbreviation of “marks”, the former German currency).

14. Laptop camera losing power damaged tablet? (11)

Answer: PARACETAMOL (i.e. “tablet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “damaged”) of LAPTOP CAMERA once one of the Ps has been removed (indicated by “losing power” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “power”).

15. Reassign motorway area covered by salesman (5)

Answer: REMAP (i.e. “reassign”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “motorway”) and A (ditto “area”) both placed in or “covered by” REP (i.e. “salesman”), like so: RE(M-A)P.

16. Maxim presumably helping to manage cutting edge technology (6,3)

Answer: COPING SAW (i.e. “cutting edge technology”, playing on a saw cutting). Solution also satisfies “maxim presumably helping to manage”, playing on COPING meaning “managing” and a SAW meaning a motto or “maxim”.

17. Swapping sides in period of military service results in heavy defeat (4)

Answer: ROUT (i.e. “heavy defeat”). Solution is TOUR (i.e. “period of military service”) with the first and last letters or “sides” “swapped”, like so: (T)OU(R) => (R)OU(T).

18. Trainees despatched, having succeeded finally with previous boss (8)

Answer: STUDENTS (i.e. “trainees”). Solution is SENT (i.e. “despatched”) with the S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”) placed at the end or “finally”, like so: (S)ENT => ENT(S). This is then placed after or having “previous” to it STUD (i.e. “boss”), like so: STUD-ENTS.

20. Rather strange hairstyle repulsed attractive person (6)

Answer: ODDISH (i.e. “rather strange”). Solution is DO (i.e. “hairstyle”) reversed or “repulsed” and followed by DISH (i.e. “attractive person”), like so: OD-DISH.

21. Estate manager recognised flower outside English church (8,8)

Answer: OFFICIAL RECEIVER (i.e. “estate manager”). Solution is OFFICIAL (i.e. “recognised”) followed by RIVER (i.e. “flower”, as in how one flows) once wrapped around or placed “outside” of E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: OFFICIAL-R(E-CE)IVER.

24. Bold expression of gallery pieces in stone (9)

Answer: STATEMENT (i.e. “bold expression”). Solution is TATE (i.e. art “gallery”, favourite of cryptic crossword setters everywhere) and MEN (i.e. chess “pieces”) both placed “in” ST (a recognised abbreviation of “stone”), like so: S(TATE-MEN)T.

26. Home team start to show guts (7)

Answer: INSIDES (i.e. “guts”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) followed by SIDE (i.e. “team”) and S (i.e. “start [letter] to show”).

27. Record almost everything of dreadful quality (5)

Answer: ALBUM (i.e. “record”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “everything”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder followed by BUM (i.e. “of dreadful quality”), like so: AL-BUM.

29. Congress would not be able to pass such a measure (8,4)

Answer: CHASTITY BELT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, playing on a definition of “congress” to mean nookie, shagging, playing hide the sausage, rogering, the beast with two backs, a bit of the other, bonking, having it off, and about a billion other euphemisms.

31. Compensate district court with time rather than money ultimately (10)

Answer: COUNTERACT (i.e. “compensate”). Solution is COUNTY (i.e. “district”) and CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”) with the Y of COUNTY (indicated by “money ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “money”) swapped for ERA (i.e. “time”), like so: COUNT(Y)-CT => COUNT(ERA)-CT.

33. Board of international organisation keeping united front for Israel is inappropriate (10)

Answer: UNSUITABLE (i.e. “inappropriate”). Solution is UN’S TABLE (i.e. “board of international organisation”, in this case the United Nations) all wrapped around or “keeping” U (a recognised abbreviation of “united”) and I (i.e. “front for Israel”, i.e. the first letter of “Israel”), like so: UN’S-(U-I)-TABLE.

35. One who wastes more than most (6,6)

Answer: SERIAL KILLER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “wasting” to mean killing someone.

38. Fresh troops evacuated subway (5)

Answer: SASSY (i.e. “fresh”). Solution is SAS (i.e. “troops”, specifically the Special Air Service) followed by SY (i.e. “evacuated subway”, i.e. the word “subway” with all its middle letters removed).

39. Sick reindeer with docked tail requiring more attention (7)

Answer: NEEDIER (i.e. “requiring more attention”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sick”) of REINDEER once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “with docked tail”).

40. Imbecile destined to possess brains (9)

Answer: FATHEADED (i.e. “imbecile”). Solution is FATED (i.e. “destined”) wrapped around or “possessing” HEAD (i.e. “brains”), like so: FAT(HEAD)ED.

42. Tolerably polite act of manipulation that helps to build bridges (5,11)

Answer: CIVIL ENGINEERING (i.e. “that helps to build bridges”). Solution is CIVIL (i.e. “tolerably polite”) followed by ENGINEERING (i.e. “act of manipulation”).

44. This may be viewed on the outside of computer’s case (6)

Answer: SCREEN (i.e. “this may be viewed”). Solution is SEEN (i.e. “viewed” – a bit of recycling there) wrapped around or placed on the “outside” of CR (i.e. “computer’s case”, i.e. the first and last letters of “computer”), like so: S(CR)EEN.

47. Pardon me! It’s wrong to mention somebody you know (4-4)

Answer: NAME-DROP (i.e. “mention somebody you know”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “it’s wrong”) of PARDON ME.

49. Upmarket magazine uncovered what’s missing (4)

Answer: LOSS (i.e. “what’s missing”). Solution is GLOSSY (i.e. “upmarket magazine”) with the first and last letters removed (indicated by “uncovered”).

50. Artwork certainly encapsulates pressure inherent in religious belief (9)

Answer: SCULPTURE (i.e. “artwork”). Solution is SURE (i.e. “certainly”) wrapped around or “encapsulating” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”) once this has first been placed “in” CULT (i.e. “religious belief”), like so: S(CUL(P)T)URE.

52. Helping mainly to get a sense of proportion (5)

Answer: RATIO (i.e. “sense of proportion”). Solution is RATION (i.e. portion or “helping”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mainly”). Be sure to join us next week when this solution gets repeated. Happens all the time.

53. Desperate state of French government’s rules repulsing Conservative (11)

Answer: DESTITUTION (i.e. “desperate state”). Solution is DE (i.e. “of French”, i.e. the French for “of”) followed by CONSTITUTION (i.e. “government’s rules”) once the CON has been removed (indicated by “repulsing Conservative” – CON being a recognised abbreviation thereof), like so: DE-STITUTION. Previous Me would have pounced on this with the Holy Grail “I’m French!” meme, but the use of DE in this way is fairly common across most cryptic crosswords.

54. Refusal to stop membership fee brought about unexpected reward (5)

Answer: BONUS (i.e. “unexpected reward”). Solution is NO (i.e. “refusal”) placed in or “stopping” SUB (i.e. “membership fee”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “brought about”), like so: B(ON)US.

55. Perverted server of queen seduced by Zeus? (3,6)

Answer: LED ASTRAY (i.e. “perverted”). When written as LEDA’S TRAY the solution also satisfies “server of queen seduced by Zeus”. Leda was a Spartan queen who was seduced – others would say raped – by Zeus while he was… (checks notes) …oh, for goodness sake… while Zeus was disguised as a swan. Let me just run that by you again: she was raped and impregnated by a god… who was disguised as a swan. Pffff. Greek mythology, ladies and gentlemen. Have a classics demerit.

56. Departure gate for vital flight? (9,4)

Answer: EMERGENCY EXIT. Another solution that satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “flight” to mean escape.

Down clues

1. Convey what one must do to reach the other side (3,6)

Answer: GET ACROSS. Solution satisfies “convey” and “what one must do to reach the other side”.

2. Well-known old man stops writer’s block? (7)

Answer: NOTEPAD (i.e. “writer’s block”, taking “block” to be a pad of paper). Solution is NOTED (i.e. “well-known”) wrapped around or “stopped” by PA (i.e. “old man”, both informal names for one’s father), like so: NOTE(PA)D.

3. Evocative piece for theremin is centrepiece (11)

Answer: REMINISCENT (i.e. “evocative”). “Piece for” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: THE(REMIN IS CENT)REPIECE. Nicely worked.

4. What breaks down fat in cheek when beginning to eat? (6)

Answer: LIPASE (i.e. an enzyme, specifically “what breaks down fat”). Solution is LIP (i.e. “cheek” or effrontery) followed by AS (i.e. “when”) and E (i.e. “beginning [letter] to eat”).

5. Bad faith mostly behind cast’s rage (5,1,3)

Answer: THROW A FIT (i.e. “rage”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of FAITH once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”) placed “behind” THROW (i.e. “cast”), like so: THROW-AFIT.

6. Boring relic I smashed is beyond repair (12)

Answer: INCORRIGIBLE (i.e. “beyond repair”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “smashed”) of BORING RELIC I.

7. This fanatic could make us hesitant (10)

Answer: ENTHUSIAST (i.e. “fanatic”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “could make”) of US HESITANT.

8. Demerger of company possibly finishing early in March? (4)

Answer: DEMO (i.e. “march”, short for demonstration). I think this is DEMOB with its last letter removed (indicated by “finishing early”), with DEMOB being a shortened form of DEMOBILISATION, an informal reference to being discharged from the army. Divisions of army regiments are sometimes called companies.

9. Croatian celebrity’s mercurial character (5,11)

Answer: SPLIT PERSONALITY (i.e. “mercurial character”). Solution also playfully satisfies “Croatian celebrity”, SPLIT being Croatia’s second-largest city.

10. Cruel king died at the foot of illustrious man (5)

Answer: HEROD (i.e. “cruel king” of Judea a few thousand years ago). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “died”) placed after or “at the foot of” HERO (i.e. “illustrious man”), like so: HERO-D.

11. Imperial family’s month south of Italian capital (7)

Answer: ROMANOV (i.e. “imperial family” who ruled Russia for over 300 years). Solution is NOV (i.e. “month”, short for November) placed after or to the “south of” – this being a down clue – ROMA (i.e. “Italian capital”, in Italian), like so: ROMA-NOV.

12. Part of camera appearance on television perhaps satisfied former monarch (8,5)

Answer: EXPOSURE METER (i.e. “part of camera”). Solution is EXPOSURE (i.e. “appearance on television perhaps”) followed by MET (i.e. “satisfied”) and ER (i.e. “former monarch”, Elizabeth Regina).

19. Flowers merry widow laid regularly (8)

Answer: GLADIOLI (i.e. “flowers”). Solution is GLAD (i.e. “merry”) followed by IOLI (i.e. “widow laid regularly”, i.e. every other letter of WIDOW LAID).

22. Remove level after end of game (5)

Answer: ERASE (i.e. “remove”). Solution is RASE (i.e. “level”, a variant spelling of RAZE) placed “after” E (i.e. “end [letter] of game”), like so: E-RASE.

23. Court directive’s support reportedly governing organisation (11,5)

Answer: RESTRAINING ORDER (i.e. “court directive”). Solution is REST (i.e. “support”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of REIGNING (i.e. “governing”), then ORDER (i.e. “organisation”), like so: REST-RAINING-ORDER.

25. Brings together group involved in team assessments (7)

Answer: AMASSES (i.e. “brings together group”). “Involved in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: TE(AM ASSES)SMENTS.

28. Scrapped qualification overwhelming unprepared learner (7)

Answer: BRAWLED (i.e. “scrapped”). Solution is BED (i.e. “qualification”, specifically a Bachelor of Education) wrapped around or “overwhelming” RAW (i.e. “unprepared”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”, on L-plates), like so: B(RAW-L)ED.

29. Vehicle regulator announced staff’s important role in experiment (6,7)

Answer: CRUISE CONTROL (i.e. “vehicle regulator”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “announced”) of CREW’S followed by CONTROL (i.e. “important role in experiment”, being “a scientific experiment performed without variables to provide a standard of comparison for other experiments” (Chambers)).

30. Shot part of news report (8)

Answer: BULLETIN (i.e. “news report”). Solution is BULLET (i.e. “shot”) followed by IN (i.e. “part of”).

32. Look convinced about president’s compulsion to emulate others (4,8)

Answer: PEER PRESSURE (i.e. “compulsion to emulate others”). Solution is PEER (i.e. “look”) and SURE (i.e. “convinced”) all wrapped “about” PRES (a recognised abbreviation of “president”), like so: PEER-(PRES)-SURE.

34. Partially erected folly disturbed charming scene (5)

Answer: IDYLL (i.e. “charming scene”). “Partially” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, while “erected” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: FO(LLY DI)STURBED.

36. Special ban destroyed last of industry inevitably (11)

Answer: INESCAPABLY (i.e. “inevitably”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “destroyed”) of SPECIAL BAN followed by Y (i.e. “last [letter] of industry”), like so: INESCAPABL-Y.

37. Intimate books yielding pleasant embraces (4,6)

Answer: GIVE NOTICE (i.e. “intimate”). Solution is OT (i.e. “books”, specifically the Old Testament of The Bible) placed in or “embraced by” GIVE (i.e. “yielding”) and NICE (i.e. “pleasant”), like so: GIVE-N(OT)ICE.

40. Striking skill involved with boring pastime (9)

Answer: FINISHING (i.e. “striking skill” in a game of football, scoring a goal). Solution is IN (i.e. “involved with”) placed in or “boring” FISHING (i.e. a “pastime”), like so: F(IN)ISHING.

41. What evildoer owes according to Reverend Spooner’s service (6,3)

Answer: DINNER SET (i.e. “service”). Solution is a “Spoonerism” of SINNER DEBT (i.e. “what evildoer owes”).

43. Brought up small child borne by very old daughter (7)

Answer: VOMITED (i.e. “brought up”). Solution is MITE (i.e. “small child”) placed in or “borne by” V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), O (ditto “old”) and D (ditto ditto “daughter”), like so: V-O-(MITE)-D.

45. Rare event of horse scratching bottom on cow (7)

Answer: EQUINOX (i.e. “rare event”, happening twice a year). Solution is EQUINE (i.e. “of horse”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “scratching bottom”) and the remainder followed by OX (i.e. “cow”), like so: EQUIN-OX.

46. Suddenly attack exciting idea? (4-2)

Answer: TURN-ON. Solution satisfies “suddenly attack” and “exciting idea” – nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

48. Angry with fivefold increase initially in rubbish (5)

Answer: DROSS (i.e. “rubbish”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. “angry”) with the “initial” letter C – 100 expressed as a Roman numeral – “increased fivefold” to D (500), like so: (C)ROSS => (D)ROSS.

51. Notice faculty that’s disputed closure of university (4)

Answer: ESPY (i.e. “notice”). Solution is ESP (i.e. “faculty that’s disputed”, specifically Extra-Sensory Perception) followed by Y (i.e. “closure of university”, i.e. the last letter of “university”).

Another of those Jumbos that was trundling along nicely until it was killed off by an egregious act of convenience from the setter. French corn, FFS. Also History’s Only Playwright is shoehorned in because of course he is. Ugh. 7 Jumbos to go.

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 pulled your pants down then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Seated, is given food around one, making one this? (9)

Answer: SATISFIED. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also SAT (i.e. “seated”) followed by IS and FED (i.e. “given food”) once wrapped “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: SAT-IS-F(I)ED.

6. Funny man embraced by achiever’s widow (7)

Answer: DOWAGER (i.e. “widow”). Solution is WAG (i.e. “funny man”) placed in or “embraced by” DOER (i.e. “achiever”), like so: DO(WAG)ER.

10. Timeless photo capturing a king in military headgear (5)

Answer: SHAKO (i.e. “military headgear”, specifically a tall cylindrical cap with a visor that was all the rage across nineteenth century Europe). Solution is SHOT (i.e. “photo”) with the T removed (indicated by “timeless” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and the remainder wrapped around or “capturing” A and K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess), like so: SH(A-K)O. Made. To. Fit.

13. Take over a thousand solid gold deer (7)

Answer: ROEBUCK (i.e. “deer”). Solution is K (a recognised abbreviation of “a thousand”), CUBE (i.e. a “solid” regular figure) and OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) all reversed (indicated by “take over”), like so: RO-EBUC-K.

14. Joanna has quiet man round (5)

Answer: PIANO (i.e. “Joanna”, rhyming slang after ‘ow all ’em cockneys say piano as “pianna”, apparently). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano”, or “quiet” in musical lingo) followed by IAN (a “man’s” name) and O (i.e. “round”).

15. Lots are in stitches with tons delayed in fierce attack (9)

Answer: ONSLAUGHT (i.e. “fierce attack”). Solution is TONS LAUGH (i.e. “lots are in stitches”) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “tons”) placed to the end or “delayed”, like so: (T)ONSLAUGH => ONSLAUGH(T).

16. I bewitch with melodic nonsense, somehow get confused (5,7,4,7)

Answer: BLIND SOMEONE WITH SCIENCE (i.e. “get [someone] confused”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of I BEWITCH and MELODIC NONSENSE.

17. Ship’s track visible after daybreak in surface? (4,2)

Answer: WAKE UP (i.e. to “surface” from sleep). Solution is WAKE (i.e. “ship’s track”) followed by UP (i.e. “visible after daybreak”).

18. Actress Leslie’s mother, perhaps one who cares about their appearance (8)

Answer: MACARONI (i.e. a dandy or “one who cares about their appearance”). Solution is MA CARON (i.e. “actress Leslie’s mother, perhaps” – Leslie Caron is… hang on… (fetches up Wikipedia) …Leslie Caron is an actress who starred in a film called Fanny. Well, that I did not expect. With a little bit of luck maybe we’ll get Stormy Daniels in next week’s Jumbo) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). It’s worth noting that, as of writing, Leslie Caron is still alive and kicking, so it seems The Times is indeed ditching its unwritten rule of only allowing dead people feature in crosswords.

19. Free muscles needing source of oil without iodine (7)

Answer: ABSOLVE (i.e. to “free”). Solution is ABS (i.e. “muscles”, short for abdominal) followed by OLIVE (i.e. “source of oil”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “without iodine” – I being the chemical symbol of iodine), like so: ABS-OLVE.

22. Calculating crime that I arranged (10)

Answer: ARITHMETIC (i.e. “calculating”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “arranged”) of CRIME THAT I.

23. Kind to have an impact on island edges in tide (12)

Answer: AFFECTIONATE (i.e. “kind”). Solution is AFFECT (i.e. “to have an impact”) followed by IONA (i.e. a Scottish “island” often used by cryptic crossword setters) and TE (i.e. “edges in tide”, i.e. the first and last letters of “tide”).

27. One rambling president splitting House of Representatives (5)

Answer: HIKER (i.e. “one rambling”). Solution is IKE (i.e. “president”, nickname of US President Dwight Eisenhower) placed in or “splitting” HR (a recognised abbreviation of “House of Representatives” in the US), like so: H(IKE)R.

29. English roar for score (7)

Answer: ENGRAVE (i.e. to “score”). Solution is ENG (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by RAVE (i.e. “roar”).

30. Very surprised was leading immediately after kick-off (8)

Answer: STARTLED (i.e. “very surprised”). Solution is LED (i.e. “was leading”) placed “immediately after” START (i.e. “kick-off”), like so: START-LED.

32. Magazine to quote Newton over demonstrating attraction (8)

Answer: MAGNETIC (i.e. “demonstrating attraction”). Solution is MAG (short for “magazine”) followed by CITE (i.e. “to quote”) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “Newton”, a measurement of force) once these latter two have been reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: MAG-(N-ETIC).

34. Vehicle reinforced by aged tungsten in conflict (4,3)

Answer: COLD WAR (i.e. “conflict” of the mid-to-late 20th century). Solution is CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) wrapped around or “reinforced by” OLD (i.e. “aged”) and W (chemical symbol of “tungsten”), like so: C(OLD-W)AR.

36. Convex floor’s not good (5)

Answer: ROUND (i.e. “convex”). Solution is GROUND (i.e. “floor”) with the G removed (indicated by “not good” – G being a recognised abbreviation of “good”).

39. Too desperately ill for forty-one? (12)

Answer: OVERCRITICAL (i.e. “forty-one”, referring to 41a, the solution of which being NITPICKING). Solution is OVER (i.e. “too” or overly) followed by CRITICAL (i.e. “desperately ill”).

41. On reflection, can picture monarch finding fault (10)

Answer: NITPICKING (i.e. “finding fault”). Solution is TIN (i.e. “can”) reversed (indicated by “on reflection”) and followed by PIC (short for “picture”) and KING (i.e. “monarch”), like so: NIT-PIC-KING.

44. Suggest altering partly psychological concept (7)

Answer: GESTALT (i.e. “psychological concept”, often associated with the whole being greater than the sum of its parts). “Partly” indicates that the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SUG(GEST ALT)ERING.

46. Hot roofs unfortunately aged indeed (8)

Answer: FORSOOTH (i.e. “aged indeed”, i.e. ye olde form of “indeed”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of HOT ROOFS.

48. Turkey gutted after bird is difficult (6)

Answer: KNOTTY (i.e. “difficult”). Solution is TY (i.e. “turkey gutted”, i.e. the word “turkey” with all its middle letters removed) placed “after” KNOT (i.e. a variety of wading “bird”), like so: KNOT-TY.

50. Sadly bemoan culture drama with visit here? (8,3,6,6)

Answer: VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM (i.e. “visit here”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of BEMOAN CULTURE DRAMA and VISIT.

53. Swimming in the sea around reef regularly using a snorkel? (9)

Answer: BREATHING (i.e. “using a snorkel”). Solution is BATHING (i.e. “swimming in the sea”) wrapped “around” RE (i.e. “reef regularly”, i.e. every other letter of REEF), like so: B(RE)ATHING.

54. Green comes after a stop (5)

Answer: AVERT (i.e. “stop”). Solution is VERT (i.e. “green” in heraldry – we’ve seen this a few times in recent Jumbos) placed “after” A, like so: A-VERT.

55. Criticise record (3,4)

Answer: PUT DOWN. Solution satisfies “criticise” and to “record”.

56. Call out first woman that’s permitted inside (5)

Answer: EVOKE (i.e. “call out”). Solution is EVE (i.e. “first woman”, according to The Bible) wrapped around or having “inside” OK (i.e. “permitted”), like so: EV(OK)E.

57. Plant provider’s charge over Southeastern Railway (7)

Answer: NURSERY (i.e. “plant provider”). Solution is RUN (i.e. “charge”) reversed (indicated by “over”) and followed by SE (a recognised abbreviation of “southeastern”) and RY (ditto “railway”), like so: NUR-SE-RY.

58. Bird droppings over plaster walls (9)

Answer: PARTRIDGE (i.e. “bird”). Solution is PARGE (i.e. to “plaster” – honestly a new one on me) wrapped around or “walling” DIRT (i.e. “droppings”) reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: PAR(TRID)GE.

Down clues

1. Stunted growth in small vineyard with beginning of blight (5)

Answer: SCRUB (i.e. “stunted growth”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by CRU (i.e. “vineyard”, from the French) and B (i.e. “beginning [letter] of blight”).

2. Nominate Hamlet in the press for classic book (3,8,6)

Answer: THE PICKWICK PAPERS (i.e. “classic book” by Charles Dickens). Solution is PICK (i.e. “nominate”) and WICK (i.e. a “hamlet” in England, Scotland or Wales – take your… er… pick) both placed “in” THE PAPERS (i.e. “the press”), like so: THE-(PICK-WICK)-PAPERS. I do like me some Dickens, but I just can’t get into this one. I’ve tried a number of times, but there are simply no hooks that keep me reading. It’s just a series of mildly diverting accounts of stuff happening. Also, this fulfils this week’s CLASSIC NOVEL Times crossword cliché, so have a demerit.

Also, don’t think I didn’t see this week’s setter dip their… er… wick into Billy Shakespeare again. I keep saying it, these sods simply cannot help themselves when it comes to The Bard. And so, also…

3. Keep quiet about my family’s Douglas making bread (9)

Answer: SOURDOUGH (i.e. “bread”). Solution is SH (i.e. “keep quiet”) wrapped “about” OUR DOUG (i.e. “my family’s Douglas”), like so: S(OUR-DOUG)H.

4. Writer’s vessel has American turtle avoiding strait (6)

Answer: INKPOT (i.e. “writer’s vessel”). Solution is STINKPOT (i.e. “American turtle”, aptly named by all accounts) with the ST removed (indicated by “avoiding strait”, ST being a recognised abbreviation of “strait”).

5. Belittling awful creep during romantic activity (11)

Answer: DEPRECATING (i.e. “belittling”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of CREEP placed in or “during” DATING (i.e. “romantic activity”), like so: D(EPREC)ATING.

6. Approach doctor with bristle on lughole (4,4)

Answer: DRAW NEAR (i.e. “approach”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) followed by AWN (i.e. a “bristle”) and EAR (i.e. “lughole”).

7. Show how, when formatted, this list shows names at the top (4,3)

Answer: WHO’S WHO (i.e. “this list shows names at the top”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “when formatted”) of SHOW HOW.

8. Unnatural quality of entertainer with part in G&S (11)

Answer: GHOSTLINESS (i.e. “unnatural quality”) followed by HOST (i.e. “entertainer”) and LINES (i.e. acting “part”) both placed “in G&S”, like so: G(HOST-LINES)S.

9. Applying block is getting brown during time off (9)

Answer: RESISTANT (i.e. “applying block”). Solution is IS and TAN (i.e. “getting brown”) both placed in or “during” REST (i.e. “time off”), like so: RES(IS-TAN)T.

10. Disease of, namely, fir tree genus (7)

Answer: SCABIES (i.e. “disease”). Solution is SC (i.e. “namely”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the Latin scilicet) followed by ABIES (i.e. “fir tree genus”). Latin and plant genera? Wow, a suspiciously tough sod of a clue. Who hurt you, setter? You can have a classics demerit for your trouble.

11. Ship new type of gas (5)

Answer: ARGON (i.e. “type of gas”). Solution is ARGO (i.e. “ship” of myth, belonging to Jason and his Argonauts) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”). More Greek myth bollocks, but I imagine most people will have heard of the Argo so no demerit.

12. Fair then bad in school exam (2,3,5)

Answer: ON THE LEVEL (i.e. “fair”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bad”) of THEN placed “in” O-LEVEL (i.e. “school exam” of a generation ago), like so: O-(NTHE)-LEVEL.

17. Anger with engaging artist for one (5)

Answer: WRATH (i.e. “anger”). Solution is WITH with the I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) swapped “for” RA (i.e. “artist”, specifically a Royal Academician), like so: W(I)TH => W(RA)TH.

20. Shun holiday walking in Antarctica? (5,3,2,3,4)

Answer: LEAVE OUT IN THE COLD (i.e. “shun”). Solution is LEAVE (i.e. “holiday”) followed by OUT IN THE COLD (i.e. descriptive of “walking in Antarctica”).

21. Choose sulphur to put in (6)

Answer: SELECT (i.e. “choose”). Solution is S (chemical symbol of “sulphur”) followed by ELECT (i.e. “put in” to office).

24. Wasted payment on French corn (6)

Answer: FEEBLE (i.e. “wasted”). Solution is FEE (i.e. “payment”) followed by BLÉ (i.e. “French corn”, i.e. the French for “corn”. Okay, two things here. First up, this should apparently be “French wheat”, as BLÉ means “wheat”. MAIS, meanwhile, is “corn”. Second, ask yourself how many people here in Blighty are honestly going know that? I don’t recall this in French lessons. It was all cats, dogs, tables, books and counting to ten. Probably other things too, but certainly not whatever the French is for corn. Anyway, who on earth is going to ask for corn over in France other than French farmers and commodity traders? “Excuse me, my good man, I was wondering where in this wonderful land I could buy a lovely bag of corn”. Give me a break. It’s shite like this that turns me off these Jumbos. That alone would have been an instant kill this week had Billy Bloody Shakespeare not already stunk up the place. Have a Jumbo-sized meme).

25. Route diverted further from the centre (5)

Answer: OUTER (i.e. situated “further from the centre”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “diverted”) of ROUTE.

26. Frontage a shop can install above on opening (6)

Answer: FASCIA (i.e. “frontage”). “On opening” indicates the solution is also derived from the first letters of Frontage A Shop Can Install Above.

28. University in middle of Mercia is concerned with spelling (5)

Answer: RUNIC (i.e. “concerned with spelling” – some believe runes possess magical properties, so I think this is more to do with magic spells than anything relating to language). Solution is UNI (short for “university”) placed “in” RC (i.e. “middle [letters] of Mercia”), like so: R(UNI)C.

31. Sudden game point after a bye (6)

Answer: ABRUPT (i.e. “sudden”). Solution is RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) and PT (a recognised abbreviation of “point”) both placed “after” A and B (a recognised abbreviation of “bye” used in cricket), like so: A-B-(RU-PT).

33. Mistake about mostly doubtful hour’s suspense at end of programme (11)

Answer: CLIFFHANGER (i.e. “suspense at end of programme”). Solution is CLANGER (i.e. “mistake”) wrapped “about” IFFY (i.e. “doubtful”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hour”), like so: CL(IFF-H)ANGER.

35. Hardly pausing to avoid the risk of work after card game (7-4)

Answer: WHISTLESTOP (i.e. “hardly pausing”). Solution is LEST (i.e. “to avoid the risk of”) and OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) both placed “after” WHIST (i.e. “card game”), like so: WHIST-(LEST-OP).

37. Child’s pet is unreliable, but grand for second daughter (5)

Answer: DOGGY (i.e. “child’s pet”). Solution is DODGY (i.e. “unreliable”) with the “second” D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) swapped “for” G (ditto “grand”), like so: DO(D)GY => DO(G)GY.

38. Five tangling with Balrog such as may be let go (10)

Answer: FORGIVABLE (i.e. “such as may be let go”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “tangling”) of FIVE and BALROG. Interesting that we had FORGIVE only last week. I’d wang on about repeats again if it wasn’t for the risk of repeating myself.

40. Funny feeling with home teaching (9)

Answer: INTUITION (i.e. “funny feeling”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) followed by TUITION (i.e. “teaching”).

42. Bird circling unfortunately cut person waving stick (9)

Answer: CONDUCTOR (i.e. “person waving stick”). Solution is CONDOR (i.e. “bird”) wrapped around or “circling” an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of CUT, like so: COND(UCT)OR.

43. Weep about Stan’s partner and mine (8)

Answer: COLLIERY (i.e. coal “mine”). Solution is CRY (i.e. “weep”) wrapped “about” OLLIE (i.e. “Stan’s partner”, referring to ye olde cinema double act Laurel & Hardy), like so: C(OLLIE)RY. I really ought to throw a prehistoric cinema demerit at this one, but the fact is I rather like Laurel & Hardy.

45. Child that’s taken on song and dance part on the stage finally (7)

Answer: ADOPTEE (i.e. “child that’s taken on”). Solution is ADO (i.e. fuss or a “song and dance”) followed by PT (a recognised abbreviation of “part”), then E and E (i.e. “the stage finally”, i.e. the last letters of “the” and “stage”).

47. Run a social engagement around one in shed (7)

Answer: RADIATE (i.e. to “shed”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) followed by A DATE (i.e. “an engagement”) once wrapped “around” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: R-(A-D(I)ATE).

49. Mostly kind about ram’s dazed state (6)

Answer: STUPOR (i.e. “dazed state”). Solution is SORT (i.e. type or “kind”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped “about” TUP (i.e. another word for a “ram” we’ve seen a number of times recently in Jumbos), like so: S(TUP)OR.

51. Section of sacred opus? (5)

Answer: CREDO. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but “section of” also indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SA(CRED O)PUS.

52. Southern English after staff for northern vicarage (5)

Answer: MANSE (i.e. “northern vicarage”, i.e. one in Scotland). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and E (ditto “English”) both placed “after” MAN (i.e. to recruit or “staff”), like so: MAN-(S-E).

A medium strength Jumbo that would have amused Previous Me with how French it got at times. It’s a shame I deem such things a bit of a Times crossword cliché these days. The countdown is therefore now 8 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition deadline has long-since 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 bum’s rush 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. Underwear line made smaller for French establishment (9)

Answer: BRASSERIE (i.e. “French establishment”, specifically a bar or simple restaurant). Solution is BRAS (i.e. “underwear”) followed by SERIES (i.e. “line”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “made smaller”), like so: BRAS-SERIE. Crikey, straight out the traps with a cliché. This setter’s not wasting any time. Times setters generally love squeezing French words and phrases into their puzzles. What do you mean “brasserie is perfectly acceptable over here in Blighty?” Pffff, away with you. Outrageous. Almost made me lose my monocle there. Have a demerit.

6. Thief to make decision in pool? (10)

Answer: PICKPOCKET (i.e. “thief”). When written as PICK POCKET the solution also playfully satisfies “make decision in pool”. I don’t know about you but I hate it when the opponent insists we all have to nominate the pocket we intend to pot in. It utterly ruins my “if in doubt, smack ’em about” strategy.

12. Went back with Frenchman, e.g. to return diamonds (7)

Answer: RENEGED (i.e. “went back” on an agreement). Solution is RENE (i.e. “Frenchman”, basically a French bloke’s name) followed by E.G. reversed or “returned”, then D (a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in card games), like so: RENE-.G.E-D. Sure, squeeze some more French in there. I got all the memes for you.

13. Like some architecture in British university town’s entrance – top tier (9)

Answer: BRUTALIST (i.e. “like some architecture”). Solution is BR (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) followed by U (ditto “university”), then T (i.e. “town’s entrance”, i.e. the first letter of “town”) and A-LIST (i.e. “top tier”).

14. Get to give a sermon without introduction (5)

Answer: REACH (i.e. “get to”). Solution is PREACH (i.e. “give a sermon”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “without introduction”).

16. Crème de la crème of joints to the east of Brentford FC (3,4,5)

Answer: THE BEES KNEES (i.e. “crème de la crème”). Solution is KNEES (i.e. “joints”) placed after or “to the east of” – this being an across clue – THE BEES (nickname of “Brentford FC”). Don’t think I didn’t see you squeeze some more French in there, setter.

17. Busy period in pirates’ domain, with no going back (4,6)

Answer: HIGH SEASON (i.e. “busy period”). Solution is HIGH SEAS (i.e. “pirate’s domain”) followed by NO reversed (indicated by “going back”), like so: (HIGH-SEAS)-ON.

19. Policeman, one stopping pot user – an artist (5,9)

Answer: CHIEF CONSTABLE (i.e. “policeman”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) placed in or “stopping” CHEF (i.e. “pot user”, referring to pots and pans rather than the Devil’s Lettuce) and followed by John CONSTABLE (i.e. “an artist”), like so: CH(I)EF-CONSTABLE. Using John Constable in this way is fairly common across all cryptic crosswords, not just those in The Times, so no demerit here.

22. Wow – fib about extremely dashing old leader (8)

Answer: Calvin COOLIDGE (i.e. “old leader”, specifically the 30th US president). Solution is COO (i.e. “wow”, both expressions of awe) followed by LIE (i.e. “fib”) once wrapped “about” DG (i.e. “extremely dashing”, i.e. the first and last letters of “dashing”), like so: COO-LI(DG)E. Tempted to drop a Who’s Who demerit here, but, compared to some of the obscure sorts that get immortalised in Jumbos, I think Coolidge is reasonably well known.

24. Certify central portion of data examination (6)

Answer: ATTEST (i.e. “certify”). Solution is AT (i.e. “central portion of data”, i.e. the middle letters of “data”) followed by TEST (i.e. “examination”).

25. Footballer with a bit of money getting on with support (6,4)

Answer: CENTRE BACK (i.e. “footballer”). Solution is CENT (i.e. “a bit of money” – a bit can mean a coin) followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and BACK (i.e. “support”).

26. Improperly, mainly invest in island (5)

Answer: NEVIS (i.e. “island”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “improperly”) of INVEST once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mainly”).

29. With no time at the end, competition is deadlocked (4)

Answer: EVEN (i.e. “deadlocked”). Solution is EVENT (i.e. “competition”) with the T “at the end” removed (indicated by “no time…” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

30. Plane tilts back – let go! (8)

Answer: SPITFIRE (i.e. famous “plane” of WW2). Solution is TIPS (i.e. “tilts”) reversed (indicated by “back”) and followed by FIRE (i.e. “let go” or sack), like so: SPIT-FIRE.

32. Return to ground and score, getting 6 points (5,4)

Answer: TOUCH DOWN (i.e. “return to ground”). When written without the space the solution also satisfies “6 points” in a game of American Football.

34. Heard work by instrument that’s shared between friends (5,4)

Answer: PEACE PIPE (i.e. “that’s shared between friends”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of PIECE (i.e. musical “work”) followed by PIPE (i.e. “instrument”).

35. Parrot, maybe, swallows tablet periodically, showing sign of overindulgence (8)

Answer: POTBELLY (i.e. “sign of overindulgence”. I was going to grumble about this being a single word but my Collins Concise backs it up. All it takes is one dictionary). Solution is POLLY (i.e. “parrot, maybe” – other names for your parrot are available. Steve, for example) wrapped around or “swallowing” TBE (i.e. “tablet periodically”, i.e. every other letter of TABLET), like so: PO(TBE)LLY.

36. Soft rock featuring in metal concert (4)

Answer: TALC (i.e. “soft rock”). “Featuring in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ME(TAL C)ONCERT. Simple but very nicely done. My favourite clue for some time.

39. Light brown garments on at first for dance (5)

Answer: TANGO (i.e. “dance”). Solution is TAN (i.e. “light brown”) followed by GO (i.e. “garments on at first”, i.e. the initial letters of “garments” and “on”).

40. Endlessly feast on French writer’s cheese (10)

Answer: GORGONZOLA (i.e. “cheese”). Solution is GORGE (i.e. “feast”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder followed by ON and Émile ZOLA (i.e. “French writer”. What do you mean, “who?” He wrote Nana! No? How about The Ladies’ Paradise? Never heard of it? Hmm. The Masterpiece then? Perhaps not. What about Germinal? That was at least used in a Jumbo a few years ago, predictably pissing off yours truly at the time. Not that either, eh? Wow. It’s almost as if the guy’s been crowbarred into the clue because, you know, Times setters and anything French. You know what that means…), like so: GORG-ON-ZOLA.

42. Saint breaking rule to stand down (6)

Answer: RESIGN (i.e. “stand down”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “saint”, not just “St”) placed in or “breaking” REIGN (i.e. “rule”), like so: RE(S)IGN.

44. Those who don’t believe in ex-Cuban leader and head of state (8)

Answer: INFIDELS (i.e. “those who don’t believe” – raises hand). Solution is IN followed by FIDEL Castro (i.e. “ex-Cuban leader”), then S (i.e. “head of state”, i.e. the first letter of “state”).

46. Fool infiltrates cultural movement for survey (14)

Answer: RECONNAISSANCE (i.e. “survey”). Solution is CON (i.e. to “fool”) placed in or “infiltrating” RENAISSANCE (i.e. “cultural movement”), like so: RE(CON)NAISSANCE.

48. Robot from a film has period in a hill (10)

Answer: TERMINATOR (i.e. “robot from a film” – oh, hello, a modern cultural reference! Nice. Keep it up). Solution is TERM (i.e. “period”) followed by IN A and TOR (i.e. “hill”).

49. Leicester cop ordered to create shadowy law enforcement group (6,6)

Answer: SECRET POLICE (i.e. “shadowy law enforcement group”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of LEICESTER COP.

53. Relax briefly with daughter’s kid (5)

Answer: CHILD (i.e. “kid”). Solution is CHILL (i.e. “relax”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”), like so: CHIL-D.

54. I am quick to get uniform that’s not prepared (9)

Answer: IMPROMPTU (i.e. “that’s not prepared”). Solution is I’M (a contraction of “I am”) followed by PROMPT (i.e. “quick”) and U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet).

55. Second chance to hear new trailer? (7)

Answer: RETRIAL (i.e. “second chance to hear” – referring to a court hearing). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of TRAILER.

56. Reportedly was familiar with Boston’s location? It’s here! (3,7)

Answer: NEW ENGLAND (i.e. “Boston’s location” in the US). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of KNEW (i.e. “was familiar with”) followed by ENGLAND (i.e. “Boston’s location”, in this case a town in Lincolnshire).

57. I dared her to dance like Rita Hayworth (3-6)

Answer: RED-HAIRED (i.e. “like Rita Hayworth”. Oh well, so much for the modern stuff. She wasn’t even a natural redhead either). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to dance”) of I DARED HER.

Down clues

1. Overdo it grabbing empty bottles (5)

Answer: BINGE (i.e. “overdo it”). “Bottles” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GRAB(BING E)MPTY.

2. RAF agitated with English submarine type? (10)

Answer: ANGLERFISH (i.e. a fish or “submarine type”. I was going to grumble about this one being a single word too, but my Oxford backs it up. Again, it just takes one dictionary). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “agitated”) of RAF and ENGLISH.

3. Circus attraction features teams in what way? (8)

Answer: SIDESHOW (i.e. “circus attraction”). Solution is SIDES (i.e. “teams”) followed by HOW (i.e. “in what way”).

4. Flier showcasing reduced clothing (5)

Answer: ROBIN (i.e. bird or “flier”). Solution is ROBING (i.e. “clothing”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “reduced”).

5. Former taxi company worker, for one, is high-spirited (9)

Answer: EXUBERANT (i.e. “high-spirited”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former”) followed by UBER (i.e. “taxi company” – okay, getting modern again) and ANT (i.e. “worker”).

6. Flavour for some scotch eggs originally found in bit of butter (4)

Answer: PEAT (i.e. “flavour for some scotch” whisky). Solution is E (i.e. “eggs originally”, i.e. the first letter of “eggs”) placed “in” PAT (i.e. “bit of butter”), like so: P(E)AT.

7. Majority of gel pens in medical centre (6)

Answer: CLINIC (i.e. “medical centre”). Solution is CLICK (i.e. to get along or “gel”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “majority of”) and the remainder wrapped around or “penning” IN, like so: CL(IN)IC.

8. Plot to succeed – leave carrying large bed cover (9,5)

Answer: PATCHWORK QUILT (i.e. “bed cover”). Solution is PATCH (i.e. “plot” of land) followed by WORK (i.e. “to succeed”) and QUIT (i.e. “leave”) once wrapped around or “carrying” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: PATCH-WORK-QUI(L)T.

9. Freedom to transport English character in A Streetcar Named Desire (5,7)

Answer: CARTE BLANCHE (i.e. “freedom”). Solution is CART (i.e. “to transport”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and BLANCHE Dubois (i.e. “character in A Streetcar Named Desire”). French again, eh? Have another meme!

10. Proceeded with punishment from coach, entering river backwards (7)

Answer: ELAPSED (i.e. “proceeded”). Solution is LAPS (i.e. “punishment from coach”, i.e. laps of a running track. Or, if your PE teacher was a sadist, the entire playing field) placed in or “entering” DEE (i.e. a “river” in Scotland) once this has been reversed (indicated by “backwards”), like so: E(LAPS)ED.

11. Character running to catch one creature in the north (6,4)

Answer: ARCTIC HARE (i.e. “creature in the north”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “running” of CHARACTER wrapped around or “catching” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: ARCT(I)CHARE.

15. Hotel gets irritated about entourage (7-2)

Answer: HANGERS-ON (i.e. “entourage”). Solution is H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by ANGERS (i.e. “gets irritated”) and ON (i.e. “about” or regarding – already covered in 25a).

18. Small vegetable established to be the most shiny (8)

Answer: SLEEKEST (i.e. “most shiny”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by LEEK (i.e. “vegetable”) and EST (a recognised abbreviation of “established”).

20. Generally, popular home occupied by those people first of all? (2,3,4)

Answer: IN THE MAIN (i.e. “generally”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) and IN (i.e. at “home”) all wrapped around or “occupied by” THEM (i.e. “those people”) and A (i.e. “first [letter] of all”), like so: IN-(THEM-A)-IN.

21. You and I must be seen in fancy theatres, darling (10)

Answer: SWEETHEART (i.e. “darling”). Solution is WE (i.e. “you and I”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “fancy”) of THEATRES, like so: S(WE)ETHEART.

23. Violently liberates northern walled city once (4,6)

Answer: EAST BERLIN (i.e. “walled city once”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “violently”) of LIBERATES followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), like so: EASTBERLI-N.

27. Breach metal around front of opening underneath instrument (9)

Answer: VIOLATION (i.e. “breach”). Solution is TIN (i.e. “metal”) wrapped “around” O (i.e. “front of opening”, i.e. the first letter of “opening”). This is all then placed after or “underneath” – this being a down clue – VIOLA (i.e. a musical “instrument”), like so: VIOLA-TI(O)N.

28. May chores bring about release of ultimately problematic tendency? (6-8)

Answer: SPRING CLEANING (i.e. “May chores”). Solution is SPRING (i.e. “bring about release”) followed by C (i.e. “ultimately problematic”, i.e. the last letter of “problematic”) and LEANING (i.e. “tendency”).

31. Devilish sort moved around a lot and got better (8)

Answer: IMPROVED (i.e. “got better”). Solution is IMP (i.e. “devilish sort”) followed by ROVED (i.e. “moved around a lot”).

33. Support fraud in subordinate role (6,6)

Answer: SECOND FIDDLE (i.e. “subordinate role”). Solution is SECOND (i.e. “support”) followed by FIDDLE (i.e. “fraud”).

34. Nationalist at violent disturbance caught in photo (9)

Answer: PATRIOTIC (i.e. “nationalist”). Solution is AT and RIOT (i.e. “violent disturbance”) both placed or “caught in” PIC (i.e. “photo”), like so: P(AT-RIOT)IC.

37. Heroine recalled in novel (10)

Answer: CINDERELLA (i.e. fairy tale “heroine”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of RECALLED IN.

38. Blowgun damaged ape’s nose (3,7)

Answer: PEA SHOOTER (i.e. “blowgun”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “damaged”) of APE’S followed by HOOTER (slang for the “nose”), like so: PEAS-HOOTER. The solution also appeared, without a space, in grid 1689 barely a month ago. The repeats keep happening, people.

41. Animal worker in rush to get rid of last big fish (9)

Answer: ZOOKEEPER (i.e. “animal worker”). Solution is ZOOM (i.e. “rush”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “to get rid of last”) and the remainder followed by KEEPER (i.e. “big fish” – I’m guessing this is an important person; Chambers has this definition for KEEPER: “the title of certain officials, such as Lord Keeper (of the Great Seal), whose office since 1757 has been merged in that of Lord Chancellor”), like so: ZOO-KEEPER.

43. Waiter is moving plant (8)

Answer: WISTERIA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “moving”) of WAITER IS.

45. Pardon four caught inside blacksmith’s workshop (7)

Answer: FORGIVE (i.e. “pardon”). Solution is IV (i.e. “four” in Roman numerals) placed “inside” FORGE (i.e. “blacksmith’s workshop”), like so: FORG(IV)E.

47. Upset a large bear, creating fuss (6)

Answer: HOOPLA (i.e. “fuss”). Solution is A, L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and POOH (i.e. “bear”, Winnie the Pooh) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: HOOP-L-A.

50. Some drinks, like 100? (5)

Answer: ROUND. Solution satisfies “some drinks” and “like 100”, i.e. a round number.

51. Epic work, one penned by rising artist (5)

Answer: ILIAD (i.e. “epic work” by the ancient Greek poet Homer). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “penned by” Salvador DALI (i.e. “artist”) once reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: IL(I)AD. The classics always attract Times setters, so here’s a demerit.

52. By the sound of it, was on highway (4)

Answer: ROAD (i.e. “highway”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “by the sound of it”) of RODE (i.e. “was on”).

A decent enough Jumbo that sadly managed to trigger some big bugbears of mine. Seriously peeps, stop mainlining The Bard. It’s not healthy. Anyway, the countdown now stands at 9 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition deadline has long-since passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has done you a wrong un then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

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

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Strut for instance extended across wood (6)

Answer: SASHAY (i.e. to “strut”). Solution is SAY (i.e. “for instance”) wrapped around or “extended across” ASH (i.e. variety of “wood”), like so: S(ASH)AY.

4. Robust second wine, measure of its strength? (10)

Answer: SHOCKPROOF (i.e. “robust”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) followed by HOCK (i.e. type of “wine”) and PROOF (i.e. “measure of [wine’s] strength”).

10. Suggested delicacy one has filled (5)

Answer: TACIT (i.e. “suggested”). Solution is TACT (i.e. “delicacy” in negotiation) wrapped around or “filled” with I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: TAC(I)T.

14. Cigarette lit, fire heartlessly put out (6,3)

Answer: FILTER TIP (i.e. “cigarette”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of LIT FIRE and PUT once its middle letter has been removed (indicated by “heartlessly”).

15. Concept about country in South Africa regulating process (13)

Answer: NORMALISATION (i.e. “regulating process”). Solution is NOTION (i.e. “concept”) wrapped “about” MALI (i.e. “country”) once this has first been placed “in” RSA (short for Republic of “South Africa”), like so: NO(R(MALI)SA)TION.

16. Lighter game (7)

Answer: PONTOON. Solution satisfies “lighter” – both being a type of boat – and a card “game”.

17. Effective narration (7)

Answer: TELLING. Solution satisfies “effective” and “narration”.

18. Pose adopted by boy in a state? (7)

Answer: ALASKAN (i.e. US “state”). Solution is ASK (i.e. to “pose”, say, a question) placed in or “adopted by” ALAN (i.e. “boy’s” name), like so: AL(ASK)AN.

19. Huge flier off course, rare bird on course? (9,9)

Answer: WANDERING ALBATROSS (i.e. “huge flier”). Solution is WANDERING (i.e. “off course”) followed by ALBATROSS (i.e. “rare bird on course”, scoring a three under par on a single hole of a golf course).

21. Higher than the first sixteen characters? (4)

Answer: ATOP (i.e. “higher than”). When written as A TO P the solution also satisfies “the first sixteen characters” of the alphabet.

24. Principled observance declared? (5)

Answer: RIGHT (i.e. “principled”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “declared”) of RITE (i.e. “observance”).

26. Take it in your own hands and chill out! (3,1,4)

Answer: GET A GRIP. Solution satisfies “take it in your own hands” and a directive to “chill out”.

27. Have the temerity to bring in European regulation where Dover is (8)

Answer: DELAWARE (i.e. “where Dover is” in the US). Solution is DARE (i.e. “have the temerity”) wrapped around or “bringing in” E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and LAW (i.e. “regulation”), like so: D(E-LAW)ARE.

29. A border sign breaking three times now (2,3,6)

Answer: AT THE MOMENT (i.e. “now”). Solution is A followed by HEM (i.e. “border”) and OMEN (i.e. “sign”) once these latter two have been placed in or “breaking” T, T and T (i.e. “three times” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: A-TT(HEM-OMEN)T.

30. Stomach after lemon chicken (11)

Answer: YELLOWBELLY (i.e. coward or “chicken”). Solution is BELLY (i.e. “stomach”) placed “after” YELLOW (i.e. “lemon”), like so: YELLOW-BELLY.

32. Smashing up of gate amuses a pig, perhaps (7,4)

Answer: SAUSAGE MEAT (i.e. “pig, perhaps” – other types of sausage are available). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “smashing up of”) of GATE AMUSES A.

35. Certain kennels benefit hot dog! (6,5)

Answer: BASSET HOUND (i.e. “dog”). Solution is BOUND (i.e. “sure” to) wrapped around or “kennelling” ASSET (i.e. “benefit”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot” used on water taps), like so: B(ASSET-H)OUND.

37. Box opened by one with black key (5,3)

Answer: SPACE BAR (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard or typewriter). Solution is SPAR (i.e. to “box”) wrapped around or “opened by” ACE (i.e. “one” on a playing card) and B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess), like so: SP(ACE-B)AR.

39. Perhaps ticker in particular good before brief turns (3,5)

Answer: EGG TIMER (i.e. “perhaps ticker”). Solution is EG (i.e. “in particular”, or for example) followed by G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) and REMIT (i.e. “brief”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “turns”), like so: EG-G-TIMER.

40. Deck held in casino, it appearing to the left (5)

Answer: PATIO (i.e. “deck”). “Held in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “appearing to the left” indicates the solution has been reversed, this being an across clue, like so: CASIN(O IT AP)PEARING.

43. Playwright confident in speech? (4)

Answer: George Bernard SHAW (i.e. “playwright”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “in speech”) of SURE (i.e. “confident”).

44. Macbeth’s life identity: a ballad too stupid? (1,4,4,2,2,5)

Answer: A TALE TOLD BY AN IDIOT (i.e. “Macbeth’s life”, a soliloquy from Billy Shakespeare’s Macbeth where Macca bemoans his lot, saying of life that “it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Yup. Welcome to the universe). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “stupid”) of IDENTITY A BALLAD TOO. You know the drill – the merest whiff of Billy Shakespeare in a Jumbo is an instant kill for me.

47. Incompetent type, one blowing something out of proportion, ultimately (7)

Answer: BUNGLER (i.e. “incompetent type”). Solution is BUGLER (i.e. “one blowing something”) wrapped around or “out of” N (i.e. “proportion, ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “proportion”), like so: BU(N)GLER.

48. Tender secretary at length scrubbing back (7)

Answer: PAINFUL (i.e. “tender”). Solution is PA (i.e. “secretary”, or Personal Assistant) followed by IN FULL (i.e. “at length”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “scrubbing back”), like so: PA-(IN-FUL).

50. Eg plane orbiting Klingon kingdom identified initially – by one of those? (7)

Answer: TREKKIE (i.e. “one of those” who, I guess, can identify “Klingon kingdoms”. I’m a geek of some standing but I never really got into Star Trek). Solution is TREE (i.e. “plane”, a variant definition is a variety of tree) wrapped around or “orbiting” KKI (i.e. “Klingon kingdom identified initially”, i.e. the first letters of “Klingon”, “kingdom” and “identified”), like so: TRE(KKI)E. I get the impression this was one of those solutions the setter regretted putting in the grid the moment they realised they had to write a clue for it.

51. Rendering of a perfect theme in pastoral scene (4,9)

Answer: FÊTE CHAMPÊTRE (i.e. “pastoral scene” – basically a painting of a rural feast or garden party). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rendering of”) of A PERFECT THEME. The wordplay was fairly obvious, but I knew we were in for an exotic solution fairly early on. Ugh. Whenever I see a French phrase in a Jumbo grid it smacks of a setter smelling their own farts.

52. A bolt screwed into rod one’s pocketed! (4,5)

Answer: POOL TABLE (i.e. “one’s pocketed”, as in possessing pockets). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “screwed”) of A BOLT placed “into” POLE (i.e. “rod”), like so: PO(OLTAB)LE.

53. Mangy spud, by the sound of it? (5)

Answer: TATTY (i.e. “mangy”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “by the sound of it”) of TATTIE (i.e. “spud”, both informal names for a potato).

54. Standard trick nailing a rudiment of drumming (10)

Answer: PARADIDDLE (i.e. “rudiment of drumming”). Solution is PAR (i.e. “standard”) and DIDDLE (i.e. “trick”) all wrapped around or “nailing” A, like so: PAR-(A)-DIDDLE.

55. Strong programme cut, smoke remains? (3,3)

Answer: FAG END (i.e. cigarette or “smoke remains”). Solution is F (i.e. “strong”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “forte” in musical lingo) followed by AGENDA (i.e. “programme”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: F-AGEND.

Down clues

1. Political diplomacy in newspaper, paramilitary offensive originally covered by broadcaster (4,5)

Answer: SOFT POWER (i.e. “political diplomacy”). Solution is FT (i.e. “newspaper”, specifically the Financial Times) and PO (i.e. “paramilitary offensive originally”, i.e. the first letters of “paramilitary” and “offensive”) all placed in or “covered by” SOWER (i.e. “broadcaster”, in this case a sower of seeds), like so: SO(FT-PO)WER.

2. Wobbly thing lets in winter air (6,5)

Answer: SILENT NIGHT (i.e. “winter air”, “air” being taken to mean a song or, in this case, a Christmas carol). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wobbly”) of THING LETS IN.

3. Solvent, take note, capitalist is bearing up! (7)

Answer: ACETONE (i.e. “solvent”). “Bearing” indicates the clue has been hidden in the clue, while “up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: TAK(E NOTE CA)PITALIST.

5. Go jump in a lake, as might frog? (3,2)

Answer: HOP IT. Solution satisfies “go jump in a lake”, both taken as dismissive phrases, and also “as might frog”.

6. Might prove enchanting framing lovers starting out – might it? (11)

Answer: CANDLELIGHT. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, though you might have to squint your eyes a bit. It is also CAN (i.e. “might” or may) followed by DELIGHT (i.e. “prove enchanting”) once wrapped around or “framing” L (i.e. “lovers starting out”, i.e. the first letter of “lovers”), like so: CAN-D(L)ELIGHT.

7. Resolve to appear bold in a concrete jungle (11)

Answer: PERTINACITY (i.e. “resolve”). Solution is PERT (i.e. “appear bold”) followed by IN A and CITY (i.e. “concrete jungle”).

8. Greenhouse gas has park warden huffy in the end (8)

Answer: ORANGERY (i.e. “greenhouse”). Solution is O (i.e. “gas”, specifically the chemical symbol of oxygen) followed by RANGER (i.e. “park warden”) and Y (i.e. “huffy in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “huffy”).

9. Day and date to eat chicken, primarily, as – this dish has it! (9)

Answer: FRICASSÉE (i.e. “dish”). Solution is FRI (i.e. “day”, short for Friday) and SEE (i.e. to “date”, romantically) all wrapped around or “eating” C (i.e. “chicken, primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “chicken”) and AS, like so: FRI-(C-AS)-SEE.

10. Roman emperor’s bronze embodying power (6)

Answer: TRAJAN (i.e. “Roman emperor”). Solution is TAN (i.e. “bronze”) wrapped around or “embodying” RAJ (i.e. Indian “power”), like so: T(RAJ)AN. Trajan is also the name of a typeface you could hardly escape in the 2000s, featuring on a shedload of movie posters and book covers.

11. Cherry? Round object sustaining insect (7,4)

Answer: CRICKET BALL (i.e. “cherry”, slang thereof). Solution is BALL (i.e. “round object”) placed after or “sustaining” or supporting – this being a down clue – CRICKET (i.e. “insect”).

12. Projection: all but one in football team active (5)

Answer: TENON (i.e. “projection”). Solution is TEN (i.e. “all but one in football team”, such comprising eleven players) followed by ON (i.e. “active”).

13. Laughing stock, ordinary bloke on feet to welcome king (8,4)

Answer: STANDING JOKE (i.e. “laughing stock”). Solution is JOE (i.e. “ordinary bloke”, after the phrase “ordinary Joe”) placed “on” or after STANDING (i.e. “on feet”) and the whole then wrapped around or “welcoming” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess), like so: STANDING-JO(K)E.

20. Word of sympathy received by prophet, understood (8)

Answer: GATHERED (i.e. “understood”). Solution is THERE (i.e. “word of sympathy”, as in “there, there”) placed in or “received by” GAD (i.e. a “prophet” of The Bible), like so: GA(THERE)D.

22. Drunk sizing up a pasty? (3-4)

Answer: PIE-EYED. Solution satisfies “drunk” and, playfully, “sizing up a pasty”.

23. Meat cut, a doctor and companion tucked in (4,4)

Answer: LAMB CHOP (i.e. “meat”). Solution is LOP (i.e. “cut”) wrapped around or “tucking in” A, MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Medicinae Baccalaureus or Doctor of Medicine) and CH (i.e. “companion”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a Companion of Honour), like so: L(A-MB-CH)OP.

25. Peg, callous sister upset youngster (8)

Answer: TEENAGER (i.e. “youngster”). Solution is TEE (i.e. a golf ball support or “peg”) followed by REGAN (i.e. “callous sister” from Billy Shakespeare’s King Lear) once this has been reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: TEE-NAGER. BOOM!!! DOUBLE SHAKESPEARE!!! Because sure, why not? You’ve already killed this week’s Jumbo by shoehorning in history’s only playwright (43a notwithstanding). It’s not as if you can kill something twice. Unless, of course, I knock two off the countdown rather than one… hmm.

28. Quiet moment in corporation, activists quickly dispersing (5,3)

Answer: FLASH MOB (i.e. a once-popular activity where seemingly random strangers come together to perform a dance routine, which is recorded and uploaded to social media in the hope of scoring a viral hit. Participants then bugger off, which gets you your “activists quickly dispersing”). Solution is SH (i.e. “quiet”) and MO (short for a “moment”) both placed “in” FLAB (i.e. “corporation” – we see this so often now it’s almost becoming a cliché itself: a variant meaning of corporation is a pot belly), like so: FLA(SH-MO)B.

29. Missing intro, musical group provides backing (7)

Answer: ASSISTS (i.e. “provides backing”). Solution is BASSISTS (i.e. “musical group”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “missing intro”).

31. Spillage of tear, or novice crying over spilt milk? (12)

Answer: OVERREACTION (i.e. “crying over spilt milk”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “spillage of”) of TEAR OR NOVICE.

33. Looking at wall, where ladder goes in a difficult position? (2,7,2)

Answer: UP AGAINST IT. Solution satisfies “looking at wall, where ladder goes” and “in a difficult position”.

34. Mean and ready for bare-knuckle fight? (5-6)

Answer: TIGHT-FISTED. Solution satisfies “mean” or miserly, and, playfully, “ready for bare-knuckle fight”.

35. Having experienced a close shave, tie felt different going in front (11)

Answer: BATTLEFIELD (i.e. “front”). Solution is BALD (i.e. “having experienced a close shave”) wrapped around or having “in” an anagram (indicated by “different”) of TIE FELT, like so: BA(TTLEFIE)LD.

36. Nub: link with heat that’s off, not on (11)

Answer: UNTHINKABLE (i.e. “not on”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s off”) of NUB LINK and HEAT.

38. Where nation goes for oath on page, poisonous stuff (9)

Answer: AFTERDAMP (i.e. “poisonous stuff” in coal mines). Solution is AFTER DAM (i.e. “where nation goes for oath”, i.e. how “nation” is placed AFTER DAM to get the word DAMNATION) followed by P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”).

41. Getting better marks coming in last? (2,3,4)

Answer: ON THE MEND (i.e. “getting better”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “marks”, the former currency of Germany) placed in or “coming in” ON THE END (i.e. “last”), like so: ON-THE-(M)-END.

42. Pulp eaten by bird, sticky thing (8)

Answer: FLYPAPER (i.e. “sticky thing”). Solution is PAP (i.e. mash or “pulp”) placed in or “eaten by” FLYER (i.e. “bird”), like so: FLY(PAP)ER.

45. Cooler leader in actuality behind a web of deceit? (4,3)

Answer: ICED TEA (i.e. “cooler”). Solution is A (i.e. “leader in actuality”, i.e. the first letter of “actuality”) placed “behind” an anagram (indicated by “a web of” – weak, but I can see the temptation of its use) of DECEIT, like so: ICEDTE-A.

46. Spirited opening of performance, promising (6)

Answer: PLUCKY (i.e. “spirited”). Solution is P (i.e. “opening of performance”, i.e. the first letter of “performance”) followed by LUCKY (i.e. “promising” – again, weak. You could perhaps make an argument for “likely to turn out well” (Chambers), but you might need Perry Mason on your team to make it stick).

47. Suit: fine one, choice clothes (5)

Answer: BEFIT (i.e. “suit”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) both placed in or “clothed” by BET (i.e. “choice” – and once again this is too weak for me. I guess when you’re placing a bet you’re making a choice, but they’re not especially interchangeable), like so: BE(F-I)T.

49. Part of jacket, copy reading between the lines? (5)

Answer: LAPEL (i.e. “part of jacket”). Solution is APE (i.e. to imitate or “copy”) placed “between” L and L (both recognised abbreviations of “line”), like so: L(APE)L.

A relatively straightforward Jumbo this week, and one that didn’t trigger any Times Crossword clichés. Nice! Are we starting to see fewer fuddy-duddy Jumbos now? Or have we simply hit upon a run of Times crossword setters born within the last 100 years? Hard to say. The countdown remains at 10 Jumbos to go, either way.

Now the competition deadline has long since 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 tweaked your nose and pretended to steal it (I don’t know how, mind, given it doesn’t have any fingers) 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. Old key needed for lift (5)

Answer: EXALT (i.e. to “lift”). Solution is EX (i.e. “old”) followed by ALT (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard).

4. Dinghy hard to move out of the water (4,3,3)

Answer: HIGH AND DRY (i.e. “out of the water”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to move”) of DINGHY HARD. Nicely worked.

9. Position hesitant sounds around silence (4,2)

Answer: SHUT UP (i.e. “silence”). Solution is PUT (i.e. “position”) and UHS (i.e. “hesitant sounds”) all reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: SHU-TUP.

14. Performers in Gigi principally had to dress down (9)

Answer: CASTIGATE (i.e. “to dress down”). Solution is CAST (i.e. “performers”) followed by I and G (i.e. “in Gigi principally”, i.e. the first letters of “in” and “Gigi”), then ATE (i.e. “had” food).

15. Glut of extra cake put in a skip? (13)

Answer: OVERABUNDANCE (i.e. “glut”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “extra”) and BUN (i.e. “cake”) once the latter has been “put in” A and DANCE (i.e. “skip”), like so: OVER-(A-(BUN)-DANCE).

16. Have groups of associates succeeded? (7)

Answer: POSSESS (i.e. “have”). Solution is POSSES (i.e. “groups of associates”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”).

17. Plant beginning thoroughly to overwhelm far side of swamp (9)

Answer: SPEEDWELL (i.e. “plant”). Solution is SEED (i.e. “plant beginning” – a nice bit of recycling) and WELL (i.e. “thoroughly”) all wrapped around or “overwhelming” P (i.e. “far side of swamp”, i.e. the last letter of “swamp”), like so: S(P)EED-WELL.

18. Clear hole-like shape alongside green (5)

Answer: OVERT (i.e. “clear”). Solution is O (i.e. “hole-like shape”) followed by VERT (i.e. “green” in heraldry).

19. Frustration caused by senior cop’s job (14)

Answer: DISAPPOINTMENT (i.e. “frustration”). Solution is DI’S (i.e. “senior cop’s”, specifically a Detective Inspector’s) followed by APPOINTMENT (i.e. “job”).

22. Dairy alternative in fancy mocktail with no cherry to start with (3,4)

Answer: OAT MILK (i.e. “dairy alternative”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fancy”) of MOCKTAIL once the C has been removed (indicated by “with no cherry to start with” – C being the first letter of “cherry”).

25. Older relative finally gifted small child a pound – that’s the lot! (5,5)

Answer: GRAND TOTAL (i.e. “that’s the lot”). Solution is GRAN (i.e. “older relative”) followed by D (i.e. “finally gifted”, i.e. the last letter of “gifted”), then TOT (i.e. “small child”), then A and L (i.e. “pound” – can be a recognised abbreviation of a pound weight, after the Latin libra, or of a pound sterling).

27. Withdraw to attend a yoga getaway, maybe (4,1,7)

Answer: BEAT A RETREAT (i.e. “withdraw”). Solution is BE AT (i.e. “to attend”) followed by A and RETREAT (i.e. “yoga getaway, maybe”).

30. Nothing pleasant is held in reserve (2,3)

Answer: ON ICE (i.e. “held in reserve”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) followed by NICE (i.e. “pleasant”).

31. One-time London lawyer’s heading off to become model (8)

Answer: EXEMPLAR (i.e. “model” or perfect example). Solution is EX (i.e. “one-time”) followed by TEMPLAR (i.e. “London lawyer” who lives, or has chambers, in Temple, London) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: EX-EMPLAR.

32. A promotional packet largely used for winter social activities? (5-3)

Answer: APRES-SKI (i.e. “winter social activities”). Solution is A followed by PRESS KIT (i.e. “promotional packet”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “largely”), like so: A-(PRESS-KI).

35. In retrospect, part of explicit song actually is without conviction (8)

Answer: AGNOSTIC (i.e. “without conviction”). “Part of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “in retrospect” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: EXPLI(CIT SONG A)CTUALLY.

36. A new, revolutionary discipline lacking current development (8)

Answer: NASCENCE (i.e. “development”). Solution is A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) all reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”) and followed by SCIENCE (i.e. “discipline”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “lacking current” – I being a recognised abbreviation of an electric current used in physics), like so: (N-A)-SCENCE.

37. Fragile material hit with middle of bat (5)

Answer: CHINA (i.e. “fragile material”). Solution is CHIN (i.e. to “hit” someone) followed by A (i.e. “middle [letter] of bat”).

39. Grace regularly seen in fantastically surefooted, outstanding performances (5,2,5)

Answer: TOURS DE FORCE (i.e. “outstanding performances”). Solution is RC (i.e. “grace regularly seen”, i.e. every other letter of GRACE) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “fantastically”) of SUREFOOTED, like so: TOURSDEFO(RC)E.

41. Restraint attached to sheep’s in terrible condition (10)

Answer: RAMSHACKLE (i.e. “in terrible condition”). When written as RAM’S HACKLE the solution also satisfies “restraint attached to sheep”.

43. Some baseball players look for no backing (7)

Answer: YANKEES (i.e. “some baseball players”). Solution is SEEK (i.e. “look for”) and NAY (i.e. “no”) all reversed (indicated by “backing”).

45. Digital artwork? (6,8)

Answer: FINGER PAINTING. Clue plays on fingers being “digits” on one’s hand. Solution and pretty much the same clue appeared in grid 1649 at the start of the year, so this was an easy get.

48. Bound, we’re told, to be celebrated (5)

Answer: FETED (i.e. “celebrated”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “we’re told”) of FATED (i.e. “bound” by destiny).

49. At first, Oliver uses a hot, frenetic place with ovens (4,5)

Answer: OAST HOUSE (i.e. “place with ovens” where hops are dried). Solution is O (i.e. “at first, Oliver”, i.e. the first letter of “Oliver”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “frenetic”) of USES A HOT, like so: O-ASTHOUSE.

51. Witness, seriously cut, bearing pained expression (7)

Answer: VOUCHER (i.e. “witness”, as in one who vouches for another). Solution is VERY (i.e. “seriously”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”) and the remainder wrapped around or “bearing” OUCH (i.e. “pained expression”), like so: V(OUCH)ER.

53. Intend hospital department to receive constant, mostly firm support (13)

Answer: ACCOMPANIMENT (i.e. “support”). Solution is AIM (i.e. “intend”) and ENT (i.e. “hospital department”, specifically Ears Nose and Throat) all wrapped around or “receiving” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”) and COMPANY (i.e. “firm”) once this latter has had its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: A(C-COMPAN)IM-ENT.

54. Offshore territory briefly identified by limitless biome? (4,2,3)

Answer: ISLE OF MAN (i.e. “offshore territory” of the UK). Remainder of the clue plays on how the recognised abbreviation (indicated by “briefly identified”) of the solution, IOM, is in the word “bIOMe” once the first and last letters or “limits” of said word have been removed.

55. Emend socialist piece of legislation? (6)

Answer: REDACT (i.e. “emend”). Solution is RED (i.e. “socialist”) followed by ACT (i.e. “piece of legislation”).

56. A Parisian concert venue was in debt and not venerated (10)

Answer: UNHALLOWED (i.e. “not venerated”). Solution is UN (i.e. “a Parisian”, i.e. the French for “a”) followed by HALL (i.e. “concert venue”) and OWED (i.e. “was in debt”). No demerit for using the French “un” – you see it used in many other cryptic crosswords, not just those in The Times.

57. Warm beverage that you initially infused with rum (5)

Answer: TODDY (i.e. “warm beverage”). Solution is T and Y (i.e. “that you initially”, i.e. the first letters of “that” and “you”) all wrapped around or “infused with” ODD (i.e. “rum”), like so: T(ODD)Y.

Down clues

1. Jailbreak exploit not given publicity? (6)

Answer: ESCAPE (i.e. “jailbreak”). Solution is ESCAPADE (i.e. “exploit”) with the AD removed (indicated by “not given publicity” – “ad” being taken as a shortened form of advertisement).

2. Two idiots initiating one state shooting, perhaps (13)

Answer: ASSASSINATION (i.e. “shooting, perhaps”). Solution is ASS and ASS (i.e. “two idiots”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and NATION (i.e. “state”). A much easier get thanks to CHARACTER ASSASSINATION using much the same clue only a few Jumbos ago in grid 1690.

3. Rubbish drug experience on ecstasy (5)

Answer: TRIPE (i.e. “rubbish”). Solution is TRIP (i.e. “drug experience”) followed by E (slang name for the drug “ecstasy”). Simple, but nicely worked.

4. Warning given by one managing with drink (5-2)

Answer: HEADS-UP (i.e. “warning given”). Solution is HEAD (i.e. “one managing”) followed by SUP (i.e. “drink”).

5. Wacky ideas must get valued roughly (12)

Answer: GUESSTIMATED (i.e. “valued roughly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wacky”) of IDEAS MUST GET.

6. A greater, extravagant, upstanding lover (8)

Answer: AMORETTO (i.e. “lover”). Solution is A followed by MORE (i.e. “greater”) and OTT (i.e. “extravagant”, or Over The Top) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upstanding” – this being a down clue), like so: A-MORE-TTO.

7. Parent filled with concerning, foreboding feeling (5)

Answer: DREAD (i.e. “foreboding feeling”). Solution is DAD (i.e. “parent”) wrapped around or “filled with” RE (i.e. “concerning” or regarding – think email replies), like so: D(RE)AD.

8. Property of extremely restorative brew, say (4,6)

Answer: REAL ESTATE (i.e. “property”). Solution is RE (i.e. “extremely restorative”, i.e. the first and last letters of “restorative”) followed by ALE (i.e. “brew”) and STATE (i.e. “say”).

10. Great uncertainty expressed for where a villain may be? (7)

Answer: HIDEOUT (i.e. “where a villain may be”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “expressed”) of HIGH (i.e. “great”) and DOUBT (i.e. “uncertainty”).

11. Fork prong gathers up passion fruit (9)

Answer: TANGERINE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is TINE (i.e. “fork prong”) wrapped around or “gathering up” ANGER (i.e. “passion”), like so: T(ANGER)INE.

12. Gather defendant’s statement ahead of time (5)

Answer: PLEAT (i.e. “gather”). Solution is PLEA (i.e. “defendant’s statement”) followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

13. Defensive tactic of busy journalists covering The Old Bailey? (4-5,5)

Answer: FULL-COURT PRESS (i.e. “defensive tactic” in basketball – makes a change from cricket!). Solution is FULL (i.e. “busy”) and PRESS (i.e. “journalists”) all wrapped around or “covering” COURT (i.e. “The Old Bailey”), like so: FULL-(COURT)-PRESS.

20. Deals with the kids in the end, after a day shift? (9)

Answer: ADDRESSES (i.e. “deals with”). Solution is E and S (i.e. “the kids in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “the” and “kids”) placed “after” A, D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”) and DRESS (i.e. a “shift”), like so: (A-D-DRESS)-E-S.

21. Style and pizazz seen outside eg church (8)

Answer: ELEGANCE (i.e. “style”). Solution is ELAN (i.e. “pizazz”) wrapped around or “seen outside” of EG and followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: EL(EG)AN-CE.

23. Sound of cat rouses birds (10)

Answer: KITTIWAKES (i.e. “birds”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “sound of”) of KITTY (i.e. “cat”) followed by WAKES (i.e. “rouses”), like so: KITTI-WAKES. Another nicely worked clue.

24. Showing a lack of knowledge, but also not angrily getting upset (10)

Answer: IGNORANTLY (i.e. “showing a lack of knowledge”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “getting upset”) of NOT ANGRILY.

26. Working with online media’s awfully superficial (3-11)

Answer: ONE-DIMENSIONAL (i.e. “superficial”). Solution is ON (i.e. “working”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “awfully”) of ONLINE MEDIA’S, like so: ON-EDIMENSIONAL.

28. Biting insect at the bottom of deep hole (9)

Answer: TRENCHANT (i.e. “biting”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “insect”) placed after or “at the bottom of” – this being a down clue – TRENCH (i.e. “deep hole”), like so: TRENCH-ANT.

29. At one point, I ask you inside to examine painting equipment (5,3)

Answer: SPRAY CAN (i.e. “painting equipment”). Solution is PRAY (i.e. “at one point, I ask you”, taking “at one point” to indicate an archaic phrase) placed “inside” of SCAN (i.e. “to examine”), like so: S(PRAY)CAN.

33. Old-fashioned person strangely thinks I’m cute and prudent at heart (5-2-3-3)

Answer: STICK-IN-THE-MUD (i.e. “old-fashioned person”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “strangely”) of THINKS I’M CUTE followed by D (i.e. “prudent at heart”, i.e. the middle letter of “prudent”), like so: STICKINTHEMU-D.

34. VIP was keen re new special screening (5,7)

Answer: SNEAK PREVIEW (i.e. “special screening”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of VIP WAS KEEN RE.

38. Replace start of session with short online forum? That’s a revelation! (10)

Answer: CONFESSION (i.e. “a revelation” or disclosure). Solution is SESSION with the “start” “replaced…with” CONF (i.e. “short online forum” – Chambers supports it, but good grief this feels like it’s come from the Victorian age. Short for CONFERENCE, in case you hadn’t worked it out), like so: (S)ESSION => (CONF)ESSION.

40. Continued circulating without being spotted (9)

Answer: UNNOTICED (i.e. “without being spotted”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “circulating”) of CONTINUED. Another great clue. Some really good anagrams this week.

42. Subject of ridicule taken in by sincere comeback (8)

Answer: REBUTTAL (i.e. “comeback”). Solution is BUTT (i.e. “subject of ridicule”) placed in or “taken in by” REAL (i.e. “sincere”), like so: RE(BUTT)AL.

44. Enclosed around half of a local area (7)

Answer: ENDEMIC (i.e. “of a local area”). Solution is ENC (a recognised abbreviation of “enclosed” used in formal correspondence) placed “around” DEMI (i.e. “half”), like so: EN(DEMI)C.

46. Invented a cover having no effect (7)

Answer: INVALID (i.e. “having no effect”). Solution is INV (a recognised abbreviation of “invented”) followed by A and LID (i.e. “cover”).

47. Aim to interrupt experiment with it (6)

Answer: TRENDY (i.e. “with it” hep cats and daddios). Solution is END (i.e. “aim” or intention) placed in or “interrupting” TRY (i.e. “experiment with”), like so: TR(END)Y.

48. Talent evident in opening couplet of flamenco tune (5)

Answer: FLAIR (i.e. “talent”). Solution is FL (i.e. “opening couplet of flamenco”, i.e. the first two letters of “flamenco”) followed by AIR (i.e. “tune”).

50. Husband longing to introduce a source of wild laughter? (5)

Answer: HYENA (i.e. “source of wild laughter”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) followed by YEN (i.e. “longing”) and A.

52. University club bringing in old sub from overseas (1-4)

Answer: U-BOAT (i.e. “sub[marine] from overseas”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) followed by BAT (i.e. “club”) once wrapped around or “bringing in” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: U-B(O)AT.

A fairly straightforward Jumbo. I don’t mind that! Like recent Jumbos there was a refreshing lack of tired old Times crossword clichés – and this time without needing to reach for Billy Shakespeare, hurrah! – so the countdown stays at 10 Jumbos to go.

Now that the competition has long since 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 your life 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

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Quiet country with hot area for predatory fish (7)

Answer: PIRAHNA (i.e. “predatory fish”). Solution is P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo) followed by IRAN (i.e. “country”), then H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot” used on water taps) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

5. Quirky law from east binding that chap thus (9)

Answer: WHIMSICAL (i.e. “quirky”). Solution is LAW reversed (indicated by “from east” – this being an across clue) and wrapped around or “binding” HIM (i.e. “that chap”) and SIC (i.e. “thus”, from the Latin), like so: W(HIM-SIC)AL.

10. Muslim market? It’s substantially like this country (4)

Answer: SOUK (i.e. “Muslim market”). When written as SO UK the solution also satisfies “substantially like this country”. It’s interesting that we’ve had several Muslim-related solutions recently in Jumbos, e.g. FEDAYEEN, MARABOUT, HALAL, SOUK. I wonder if there’s been some edict to make Jumbos a little more diverse. The Times is on a drive to increase the appeal of their crosswords, so I wouldn’t put it past them.

14. Selfish person in the know worried about scam (13)

Answer: INCONSIDERATE (i.e. “selfish”). Solution is INSIDER (i.e. “person in the know”) and ATE (i.e. “worried”) all wrapped “about” CON (i.e. “scam”), like so: IN(CON)SIDER-ATE.

15. Drink before dance? It’s what a boxer may have (9)

Answer: PUNCHBALL (i.e. “what a boxer may have”). Solution is PUNCH (i.e. “drink”) followed by BALL (i.e. “dance”).

16. Essential to secure company for rambling (10)

Answer: INCOHERENT (i.e. “rambling”). Solution is INHERENT (i.e. “essential”) wrapped around or “securing” CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”), like so: IN(CO)HERENT.

17. Din god and devil initially investigated with sign of hesitation (11)

Answer: PANDEMONIUM (i.e. “din”). Solution is PAN (i.e. a Greek “god”) followed by DEMON (i.e. “devil”), then I (i.e. “initially investigated”, i.e. the first letter of “investigated”) and UM (i.e. “sign of hesitation”).

18. Man with papers and style (5)

Answer: IDIOM (i.e. “style”). Solution is IOM (i.e. “Man”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of the Isle of Man) placed after or “with” ID (i.e. identity “papers”), like so: ID-IOM. A word I’ll always remember thanks to Sir Lancelot in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

19. Like automated vehicles, oddly red and silver – and small (10)

Answer: DRIVERLESS (i.e. “like automated vehicles”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddly”) of RED and SILVER followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: DRIVERLES-S.

21. Agent disturbed by swindles, overcome with horror (6)

Answer: AGHAST (i.e. “overcome with horror”). Solution is AGT (a recognised abbreviation of “agent”) wrapped around or “disturbed by” HAS (i.e. “swindles”), like so: AG(HAS)T.

23. Composer’s offspring disheartened guests with German hotel (9)

Answer: SONGSMITH (i.e. “composer”). Solution is SON (i.e. “offspring”) followed by GS (i.e. “disheartened guests”, i.e. the word “guests” with all its middle letters removed), then MIT (i.e. “with German”, i.e. the German for “with”) and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet).

25. Old Italian coin, something chewed over by bankers ultimately (5)

Answer: SCUDO (i.e. “old Italian coin”). Solution is CUD (i.e. “something chewed”) and O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) all placed after or “by” S (i.e. “bankers ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “bankers”), like so: S-(CUD-O).

26. Entertainer’s treat is misguided (7)

Answer: ARTISTE (i.e. “entertainer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “misguided”) of TREAT IS.

28. Die by river, clutching one tropical bloom? (7,6)

Answer: PASSION FLOWER (i.e. “tropical bloom”). Solution is PASS ON (i.e. “die”) and FLOWER (i.e. “river”, as in how one flows) all wrapped around or “clutching” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: PASS-(I)-ON-FLOWER.

31. English celebrity escorted across lake, given a coat (9)

Answer: ENAMELLED (i.e. “given a coat”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by NAME (i.e. “celebrity”) and LED (i.e. “escorted”) all wrapped around or placed “across” L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: E-NAME-(L)-LED.

33. Monk’s function requiring small container (9)

Answer: DOMINICAN (i.e. “monk”). Solution is DO (i.e. “function” or party) followed by MINI (i.e. “small”) and CAN (i.e. “container”).

35. Like a mole, for example, eating his grub? (13)

Answer: INSECTIVOROUS. Clue satisfies the clue as a whole. “Moles” eat insects, and the rest of the clue plays on “grubs” being insects in their infancy. You get the idea.

37. On radio, a youth contributing to panto (7)

Answer: ALADDIN (i.e. a “panto”). Solution is A followed by a homophone (indicated by “on radio”) of LAD (i.e. “youth”), then IN (i.e. “contributing to”), like so: A-LADD-IN.

38. Indian dynasty in the end calling up forgotten reserve troops (5)

Answer: GUPTA (i.e. “Indian dynasty” of yore). Solution is G (i.e. “in the end calling”, i.e. the last letter of “calling”) followed by UP, then TA (i.e. “forgotten reserve troops”, the Territorial Army – feels odd to refer to them as forgotten: they were merely renamed the Army Reserve a decade or so ago).

40. Unfashionable wear for women in the suburbs (9)

Answer: OUTSKIRTS (i.e. “suburbs”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unfashionable”) followed by SKIRTS (i.e. “wear for women”).

42. Start of terrible split about husband’s frugality (6)

Answer: THRIFT (i.e. “frugality”). Solution is T (i.e. “start [letter] of terrible”) and RIFT (i.e. “split”) all wrapped “about” H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: T-(H)-RIFT.

44. Sentence in writing on southern peak’s fulmars, etc (10)

Answer: STORMBIRDS (i.e. “fulmars, etc”). Solution is BIRD (i.e. slang for a prison “sentence”) placed “in” MS (i.e. “writing”, short for a manuscript) and placed “on” or after S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and TOR (i.e. rocky “peak”), like so: (S-TOR)-M(BIRD)S.

46. Moved slowly, finally summoned by hooter (5)

Answer: NOSED (i.e. “moved slowly”). Solution is D (i.e. “finally summoned”, i.e. the last letter of “summoned”) placed after or “by” NOSE (i.e. “hooter”, slang thereof), like so: NOSE-D.

48. Having a bouquet prepared for our side only at first (11)

Answer: ODORIFEROUS (i.e. “having a bouquet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “prepared”) of FOR OUR SIDE and O (i.e. “only at first”, i.e. the first letter of “only”).

50. In South Carolina, getting own back for foraging (10)

Answer: SCAVENGING (i.e. “foraging”). Solution is SC (i.e. US state abbreviation of “South Carolina”) followed by AVENGING (i.e. “getting own back”). An easier get given we had a very similar clue only a few Jumbos earlier in grid 1689. I’m quite the stuck record on this, I know, but it does keep happening…

52. Be divided by new term for hardliner (9)

Answer: EXTREMIST (i.e. “hardliner”). Solution is EXIST (i.e. “be”) wrapped around or “divided by” an anagram (indicated by “new”) of TERM, like so: EX(TREM)IST.

53. Choose Italian film about golf: it has drawing power (13)

Answer: ELECTROMAGNET (i.e. “it has drawing power”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “choose”) followed by ROMAN (i.e. “Italian”) and ET (i.e. “film”, darling of cryptic crossword setters everywhere, ET: The Extra-Terrestrial) all wrapped “about” G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: ELECT-ROMA(G)N-ET.

54. Dress with a certain appeal, primarily round India (4)

Answer: SARI. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but also comprises SA (i.e. “a certain appeal”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of “sex appeal” you only ever really see in cryptic crosswords) followed by R (i.e. “primarily round”, i.e. the first letter of “round”) and I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet).

55. Seasonal farm worker, one hastening to acquire garment (9)

Answer: HARVESTER (i.e. “seasonal farm worker”). Solution is HARER (i.e. “one hastening” or haring about) wrapped around or “acquiring” VEST (i.e. “garment”), like so: HAR(VEST)ER.

56. Fool, possibly, principally serving in arid waste (7)

Answer: DESSERT (i.e. “fool, possibly”. Other desserts are available). Solution is S (i.e. “principally serving”, i.e. the first letter of “serving”) placed “in” DESERT (i.e. “arid waste”), like so: DE(S)SERT.

Down clues

1. Dickensian illustrator purchasing house in Zurich first of all (4)

Answer: PHIZ (i.e. “Dickensian illustrator”, real name Hablot Knight Browne). “First of all” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Purchasing House In Zurich. The wordplay was fairly obvious, making this rather exotic solution an easier get, but ask yourself how many other words would have fitted P_I_.

2. Revised text about religious feast, as released (9)

Answer: RECENSION (i.e. “revised text”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) followed by ASCENSION (i.e. “religious feast”) once the AS has been removed (indicated by “as released”), like so: RE-CENSION.

3. Tips from new commander overwhelmed a sergeant, say (3-12,7)

Answer: NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (i.e. “a sergeant, say”). Clue plays on the initials, NCO, a recognised abbreviation of the solution, also being the “tips” or first letters of New Commander Overwhelmed.

4. A requirement to digest one’s cake flavouring (7)

Answer: ANISEED (i.e. “cake flavouring”). Solution is A and NEED (i.e. “requirement”) all wrapped around or “digesting” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”), like so: A-N(I’S)EED.

5. Necessary funds enclosed in top half of wallet? (11)

Answer: WHEREWITHAL (i.e. “necessary” or the means). Solution is HEREWITH (i.e. “enclosed”) placed “in” WAL (i.e. “top half of [the word] wallet”), like so: W(HEREWITH)AL.

6. Unsuitability of snap I sent out (9)

Answer: INAPTNESS (i.e. “unsuitability”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of SNAP I SENT.

7. Eg, Leicester’s novel record? (5)

Answer: SHEEP (i.e. “e.g. Leicester” – other breeds are available). Solution is SHE (a “novel” by H Rider Haggard) followed by EP (i.e. “record”, specifically an Extended Play).

8. Builders may use one managing pit (6,5)

Answer: COPING STONE (i.e. “builders may use one”). Solution is COPING (i.e. “managing”) followed by STONE (i.e. a “pit” or fruit-stone).

9. Hang about, departing at last in ocean-going vessel (6)

Answer: LINGER (i.e. “hang about”). Solution is G (i.e. “departing at last”, i.e. the last letter of “departing”) placed “in” LINER (i.e. “ocean-going vessel”), like so: LIN(G)ER.

11. Old woman carrying in a simple wind instrument (7)

Answer: OCARINA (i.e. “simple wind instrument”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and CARA (i.e. “woman’s” name) all wrapped around or “carrying” IN, like so: O-CAR(IN)A.

12. Unit of distance? More like temperature, surprisingly (9)

Answer: KILOMETRE (i.e. “unit of distance”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of MORE LIKE and T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”).

13. Dodgson’s work reportedly disconcerted The Mirror? (7,3,7-5)

Answer: THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLASS (i.e. “Dodgson’s work” – he was better known as Lewis Carroll). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of THREW (i.e. “disconcerted”) followed by THE and LOOKING-GLASS (i.e. “mirror” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Though I have some affection for Carroll’s work, and though this is a famous book, I can’t ignore this is another Jumbo crutching on old novels to get the job done. Have a demerit.

18. Popular drink yours truly would find tasteless (7)

Answer: INSIPID (i.e. “tasteless”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by SIP (i.e. “drink”) and I’D (i.e. “yours truly would”, a contraction of I WOULD).

20. French museum’s door or window slats (7)

Answer: LOUVRES (i.e. “door or window slats”). When written as LOUVRE’S the solution also satisfies “French museum’s”.

22. Taken in by bulky catalogue, head of authority who’s resigned (8)

Answer: FATALIST (i.e. “who’s resigned”). Solution is A (i.e. “head of authority”, i.e. the first letter of “authority”) placed or “taken in by” FAT (i.e. “bulky”) and LIST (i.e. “catalogue”), like so: FAT-(A)-LIST.

24. Offender to begin with breaking into pub cash? Not guilty (8)

Answer: INNOCENT (i.e. “not guilty”). Solution is O (i.e. “offender to begin with”, i.e. the first letter of “offender”) placed in or “breaking into” INN (i.e. “pub”) and CENT (i.e. “cash”), like so: INN-(O)-CENT.

27. Colossal volley? Not entirely (5)

Answer: SALVO. Solution can satisfy “colossal volley”, but “not entirely” also indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: COLOS(SAL VO)LLEY. Nicely worked.

29. A flightless bird once associated with south Pacific state (5)

Answer: SAMOA (i.e. “Pacific state”). Solution is A and MOA (i.e. “flightless bird once”, now extinct) both placed after or “with” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”), like so: S-(A-MOA).

30. Communicate quietly with that man’s reputation rising (7)

Answer: WHISPER (i.e. “communicate quietly”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by HIS (i.e. “that man’s”) and REP (short for “reputation”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue), like so: W-HIS-PER.

32. Neglected, and treated with contempt around university (7)

Answer: DISUSED (i.e. “neglected”). Solution is DISSED (i.e. “treated with contempt”) wrapped “around” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: DIS(U)SED.

34. Hotel employee’s dark period overcoming drink? (5,6)

Answer: NIGHT PORTER (i.e. “hotel employee”). Solution is NIGHT (i.e. “dark period”) followed by PORTER (i.e. “drink”).

36. Church musician often representing him as rector (11)

Answer: CHOIRMASTER (i.e. “church musician often” – non-religious choirs are available). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “representing”) of HIM AS RECTOR.

37. Oaths sure upset a writer! (9)

Answer: AUTHORESS (i.e. “a writer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of OATHS SURE.

39. Man showing sign of age, perhaps hides key, turning white (9)

Answer: ALBESCENT (i.e. “turning white”). Solution is AL (i.e. “man’s” name) and BENT (i.e. “showing sign of age”) all wrapped around or “hiding” ESC (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for Escape), like so: AL-B(ESC)ENT.

41. Eastern lad having administered church without reverberation (9)

Answer: RESONANCE (i.e. “reverberation”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and SON (i.e. “lad”) both placed in or having “without” it RAN (i.e. “having administered”) and CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: R(E-SON)AN-CE.

43. Aussie native’s note on rook – for cock? (7)

Answer: ROOSTER (i.e. “cock”). Solution is ROO’S (i.e. “Aussie native’s”) followed by TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale, sometimes written TI) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess).

45. Heavenly body, not a fat-soluble compound (7)

Answer: STEROID (i.e. “fat-soluble compound”). Solution is ASTEROID (i.e. “heavenly body”) with the A removed (indicated by “not a”).

47. Retired agent is first of heroes to die (6)

Answer: PERISH (i.e. “to die”). Solution is REP (i.e. “agent”, short for representative) reversed (indicated by “retired”) and followed by IS, then H (i.e. “first [letter] of heroes”), like so: PER-IS-H.

49. Speaker’s perceived environment (5)

Answer: SCENE (i.e. “environment”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “speaker’s”) of SEEN (i.e. “perceived”).

51. Situated outside entrance to temple, let it remain (4)

Answer: STET (i.e. “let it remain”). Solution is SET (i.e. “situated”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of T (i.e. “entrance to temple”, i.e. the first letter of “temple”), like so: S(T)ET.

A very similar Jumbo to 1690: medium-strength; lower-than-usual Times crossword clichés, and an inevitable, almost fatal, attraction to the Bard. The latter alone is an instant kill, so there are now only 10 more Jumbos to go before I wrap up these posts.

Now that the competition deadline has long ago 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 done you a wrong un 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. Pet at the chemist’s, the old story (4,2,5)

Answer: PUSS IN BOOTS (i.e. “the old story” – a bit of a hand-wavy description). Solution is PUSS (i.e. a “pet”) followed by IN BOOTS (i.e. “at the chemist’s”, at least here in the UK. Other chemists are available).

7. He directed men and boys to conserve energy source first (5,6)

Answer: ORSON WELLES (i.e. “he directed” movies). Solution is OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) followed by SONS (i.e. “boys”) once wrapped around or “conserving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) once this has “first” been preceded by WELL (i.e. “source”), like so: OR-SON(WELL-E)S.

13. Brandish gun, a fine specimen (9)

Answer: SHOWPIECE (i.e. “a fine specimen”). Solution is SHOW (i.e. “brandish”) followed by PIECE (slang for a “gun”).

14. In brief ceremony almost nothing about one could be more richly stylish (7)

Answer: RITZIER (i.e. “more richly stylish”). Solution is RITE (i.e. “ceremony”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “in brief”) and ZERO (i.e. “nothing”) also with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”). This is then wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: RIT-Z(I)ER.

15. Plague is to lessen after time (5)

Answer: TEASE (i.e. to “plague” or annoy). Solution is EASE (i.e. “to lessen”) placed “after” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: T-EASE.

16. Diver circles a good lake (6)

Answer: LAGOON (i.e. “lake”). Solution is LOON (i.e. “diver” bird) wrapped around or “circling” A and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: L(A-G)OON.

17. Chief bird showing off (8)

Answer: SWANKING (i.e. “showing off”). When written as SWAN KING the solution also playfully satisfies “chief bird”. Hats off to the setter for getting WANKING into the grid. Good work! I’d shake your hand but, well, you know…

18. Cover where some dogs like to sprawl (7)

Answer: OVERLAP (i.e. to “cover”). When written as OVER LAP the solution also satisfies “where some dogs like to sprawl”.

20. Don’t delay rushed, curt thank-you note? (2,4,4,3,7)

Answer: NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT (i.e. “don’t delay”). When written as NO TIME! LIKE THE PRESENT! the solution playfully satisfies “rushed, curt thank-you note”.

23. Wrongly suggesting eastern and southern area of US? (7)

Answer: MIDWEST (i.e. “area of US”). Clue is playing on how E and S (recognised abbreviations of “east” and “south” form the MID of WEST, and how neither direction correctly describes where the Midwest is. You get the idea.

24. Wife no longer referred to as aroused (7)

Answer: EXCITED (i.e. “aroused” – goodness me, setter, and so soon after WANKING. You’re insatiable!) Solution is EX (i.e. “wife no longer” – well, that might explain the WANKING) followed by CITED (i.e. “referred to”).

26. Convertible option coming from the leader (3,4)

Answer: TOP-DOWN. Solution satisfies “convertible option” and “coming from the leader”.

28. Overcharge for plant (4)

Answer: RUSH. Solution satisfies to “overcharge” (informally, according to my Chambers) and a “plant”.

29. Find one’s about to enter port (8)

Answer: DISCOVER (i.e. “find”). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) and C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) both placed in or “entering” DOVER (i.e. “port”), like so: D(I’S-C)OVER.

32. Tutor’s work with small son on sci-fi writer (9)

Answer: GOVERNESS (i.e. “tutor”, especially in a private household). Solution is GO (i.e. “work”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and S (ditto “son”) once first placed “on” or after Jules VERNE (i.e. “sci-fi writer”), like so: GO-(VERNE-S-S).

35. Entering hotel, putting specs and card in receptacle (7,2)

Answer: BOOKING IN (i.e. “entering hotel”). Solution is OO (i.e. “specs”, as in how spectacles look like a pair of Os) and KING (i.e. playing “card”) both placed “in” BIN (i.e. “receptacle”), like so: B(OO-KING)IN.

36. Check competitiveness, not initially courteous behaviour (8)

Answer: CHIVALRY (i.e. “courteous behaviour”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “check” used in chess) followed by RIVALRY (i.e. “competitiveness”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “not initially”), like to: CH-IVALRY.

37. Swimmer’s blue with cold penetrating (4)

Answer: SCAD (i.e. a fish or “swimmer”). Solution is SAD (i.e. “blue”) wrapped around or “penetrated” by C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” used on water taps), like so: S(C)AD.

39. Buried away from home, with no confirmation of age (7)

Answer: UNDATED (i.e. “with no confirmation of age”). Solution is INUNDATED (i.e. “buried”, say, with work) with the IN (i.e. at “home”) removed or taken “away from” the word.

41. Plant college in favoured area (7)

Answer: PETUNIA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is UNI (i.e. “college”, short for university) placed “in” PET (i.e. “favourite”) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: PET-(UNI)-A.

44. A quiet reputation not at first given to dwarf’s leader, Bashful (7)

Answer: ASHAMED (i.e. “bashful”). Solution is A followed by SH (i.e. “quiet”), then NAME (i.e. “reputation”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “not at first”). This is all then followed by D (i.e. “dwarf’s leader”, i.e. the first letter of “dwarf”), like so: A-SH-AME-D.

45. Parliament put in a fix by a rigged photo: now there’s a story (3,5,2,4,6)

Answer: THE HOUSE AT POOH CORNER (i.e. “story” by AA Milne). Solution is THE HOUSE (i.e. “parliament”) followed by CORNER (i.e. to “put in a fix”) once first placed after or “by” A and an anagram (indicated by “rigged”) of PHOTO, like so: THE-HOUSE-(A-TPOOH-CORNER).

49. Look into swimming costume; a bit short for very large figures (7)

Answer: COLOSSI (i.e. “very large figures”). Solution is LO (i.e. “look”, as in lo and behold) placed “into” COSSIE (informal word for a “swimming costume”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “a bit short”), like so: CO(LO)SSI.

50. Sort of love some tea with meals provided (8)

Answer: CUPBOARD (i.e. “sort of love”, specifically a “hypocritical show of affection for material gain” (Chambers)). Solution is CUP (i.e. “some tea”) followed by BOARD (i.e. of accommodation “with meals provided”).

51. Following collapse close crew’s quarters (6)

Answer: FO’C’SLE (i.e. ship’s “crew’s quarters”, a contracted form of forecastle). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “following”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “collapse”) of CLOSE, like so: F-OCSLE.

53. Loaded information at end of magazine column (5)

Answer: SPINE (i.e. “column”). Solution is SPIN (i.e. “loaded information”, especially politically) followed by E (i.e. “end [letter] of magazine”).

54. Novice to shower wearing shirt (7)

Answer: TRAINEE (i.e. “novice”). Solution is RAIN (i.e. “to shower”) placed in or “wearing” TEE (i.e. variety of “shirt”), like so: T(RAIN)EE.

55. Piano, late alternative for leader of singing (9)

Answer: PRECENTOR (i.e. “leader of singing” in a church choir). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo) followed by RECENT (i.e. of “late”) and OR (i.e. “alternative”).

56. Digression as man interrupts two relatives (11)

Answer: PARENTHESIS (i.e. “digression”). Solution is HE (i.e. “man”) placed in or “interrupting” PARENT and SIS (i.e. “two relatives”, the latter shortened form of sister), like so: PARENT-(HE)-SIS.

57. Refuse to deal with brawl: I had come in time for a bargain (5,6)

Answer: BLACK FRIDAY (i.e. “time for a bargain”). Solution is BLACK (i.e. to boycott or “refuse to deal with”) followed by I’D (a contraction of “I had”) once placed “in” FRAY (i.e. “brawl”), like so: BLACK-FR(I’D)AY.

Down clues

1. Pound and a penny, let’s start to eat out (6)

Answer: PESTLE (i.e. to “pound”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “penny”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “out”) of LET’S and E (i.e. “start [letter] to eat”).

2. In great misery, God’s help found so transforming (6,2,7)

Answer: SLOUGH OF DESPOND (i.e. “in great misery” – not a phrase I’m familiar with, if I’m honest). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “transforming”) of GOD’S HELP FOUND SO.

[EDIT: Thanks to Andy in the comments for the typo fix. I’d written SLOUGH IN DESPOND by accident. The solution was correct in the grid. – LP]

3. Better holding is made up (10)

Answer: IMPROVISED (i.e. “made up”). Solution is IMPROVED (i.e. “better”) wrapped around or “holding” “IS”, like so: IMPROV(IS)ED.

4. Bowled, do you agree? Not if these result (4)

Answer: BYES. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole given BYES are runs scored in cricket that are not attributable to the batter, and given that no runs of any flavour would be awarded if a batsman gets bowled out. The solution is also formed from B (a recognised abbreviation of “bowled” in cricket) followed by YES (i.e. “do you agree”).

5. Compose in too ornate a style, but finished properly, we hear (9)

Answer: OVERWRITE (i.e. “compose in too ornate a style”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “finished”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of RIGHT (i.e. “properly”), like so: OVER-WRITE.

6. Not the usual way to classify (7)

Answer: STRANGE (i.e. “not the usual”). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) followed by RANGE (i.e. “to classify”).

7. Don’t hold back Lady Macbeth’s feeling about her spot? (3,4,2)

Answer: OUT WITH IT (i.e. “don’t hold back”). Solution plays on a quote from Lady Macbeth, “out, damned spot!”, thinking her hands are stained with blood. Oh dear, Billly Shakespeare alert! And things were going so well this week too. But here’s another Times setter who simply has to get history’s only playwright into their Jumbo by any means necessary. It’s like some kind of sick addiction. You know the deal, though: Shakespeare = instant deduction from the remaining blog count.

8. Big band music be hanged (5)

Answer: SWING. Solution satisfies “big band music” and “be hanged”.

9. Most precise projectile fired into sniper’s lair (9)

Answer: NARROWEST (i.e. “most precise”). Solution is ARROW (i.e. “projectile”) placed or “fired into” NEST (i.e. “sniper’s lair”), like so: N(ARROW)EST.

10. Dangerous activity for the most gentlemanly competitor (7,5)

Answer: EXTREME SPORT (i.e. “dangerous activity”). Solution is EXTREME (i.e. “the most”) followed by SPORT (i.e. “gentlemanly competitor”).

11. Brochure made from the tiniest bit of tree? (7)

Answer: LEAFLET (i.e. “brochure”). The remainder of the clue plays on leaves on trees and how the suffix -LET is used to signify diminutives. You get the idea.

12. Oozing round one side of lid, about to drop off (6)

Answer: SLEEPY (i.e. “about to drop off”). Solution is SEEPY (i.e. “oozing”) wrapped “round” L (i.e. “one side of lid”, specifically the left side of the word), like so: S(L)EEPY.

19. Observe diluted gallon coming to the boil (8)

Answer: SEETHING (i.e. “coming to the boil”). Solution is SEE (i.e. “observe”) followed by THIN (i.e. “diluted”) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “gallon”).

21. Gang regularly taken in school run a pain (7)

Answer: PODAGRA (i.e. “pain”, another word for gout). Solution is AG (i.e. “gang regularly”, i.e. every other letter of GANG) placed “in” POD (i.e. “school” of fish), R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) and A, like so: POD-(AG)-R-A. Made. To. Fit.

22. Unbalanced, I am helped to avoid area (3-5)

Answer: ONE-SIDED (i.e. “unbalanced”). Solution is ONE’S AIDED (i.e. “I am helped”) with the A removed (indicated by “to avoid area” – A being a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

23. Muslim hermit is around after a month (8)

Answer: MARABOUT (i.e. “Muslim hermit” – another new one on me, though I doubt I’ll remember this one). Solution is ABOUT (i.e. “around”) placed “after” MAR (i.e. “a month”, in this case short for March), like so: MAR-ABOUT.

25. Senior commander arrests one very unmilitary (5)

Answer: CIVIC (i.e. “unmilitary”). Solution is CIC (i.e. “senior commander”, specifically a Commander in Chief) wrapped around or “arresting” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), like so: C(I-V)IC.

27. Not quite get the better of author, more than satisfied with extravagant fee (15)

Answer: OVERCOMPENSATED (i.e. “with extravagant fee”). Solution is OVERCOME (i.e. “get the better of”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “not quite”) and the remainder followed by PEN (i.e. to “author”) and SATED (i.e. “more than satisfied”), like so: OVERCOM-PEN-SATED.

30. Tin with dreadful soup – just one star (7)

Answer: CANOPUS (i.e. the brightest “star” in the constellation Carina, wherever that is). Solution is CAN (i.e. “tin”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “dreadful”) of SOUP, like so: CAN-OPUS. Another made-to-fit solution, but at least this was an easier get.

31. Be in charge and come down to speak (5)

Answer: REIGN (i.e. “be in charge”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to speak”) of RAIN (i.e. “come down”).

33. In dispute, referee’s assistant intended to ignore fine (8)

Answer: VARIANCE (i.e. “in dispute”). Solution is VAR (i.e. “referee’s assistant”, short for Video Assistant Referee) followed by FIANCÉ (i.e. one’s “intended”) once the F has been removed (indicated by “to ignore fine” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils), like so: VAR-IANCE.

34. Philosopher isn’t tweeting nonsense (12)

Answer: Ludwig WITTGENSTEIN (i.e. “philosopher”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “nonsense”) of ISN’T TWEETING. Pretty well known he may be, but philosophers are a big old Times crossword cliché too, so…

38. Applause welcoming a huge success for racing driver (10)

Answer: CHARIOTEER (i.e. “racing driver”). Solution is CHEER (i.e. “applause”) wrapped around or “welcoming” A and RIOT (i.e. “huge success”), like so: CH(A-RIOT)EER. An easy get given CHARIOTEERING only appeared a few Jumbos earlier in grid 1687. As I always seem to be saying, isn’t it unusual how often that happens?

40. Supernatural creature I found in gutter, a source of irritation (5,4)

Answer: DHOBI ITCH (i.e. a form of dermatitis or “a source of irritation”). Solution is HOB (i.e. “supernatural creature”, such as Robin Goodfellow) and I both placed “in” DITCH (i.e. “gutter”), like so: D(HOB-I)ITCH.

42. Taking principal piece last, fastening up paraphernalia (9)

Answer: TRAPPINGS (i.e. “paraphernalia”). Solution is STRAPPING (i.e. “fastening up”) with the S (i.e. the first letter or “principal piece”) placed “last”, like so: (S)TRAPPING => TRAPPING(S).

43. Novel approach, collecting unknown religious literature (9)

Answer: APOCRYPHA (i.e. “religious literature”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “novel”) of APPROACH wrapped around or “collecting” Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns), like so: APOCR(Y)PHA.

45. Counter Reformation composer shortly to meet his monarch (7)

Answer: TALLIER (i.e. “counter” or one who tallies). Solution is Thomas TALLIS (i.e. “Reformation composer”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “shortly”) and the remainder followed by ER (i.e. “his monarch”, specifically Elizabeth Regina), like so: TALLI-ER. Clever, but you can’t move in Jumbos for composers so have an angry Beethoven.

46. Second demonstrator’s moral lesson (7)

Answer: PROVERB (i.e. “moral lesson”). When written as PROVER B the solution also satisfies “second demonstrator”, presumably after PROVER A.

47. Law on drink performs badly (4,2)

Answer: ACTS UP (i.e. “performs badly”). Solution is ACT (i.e. “law”) followed by SUP (i.e. “drink”).

48. Settle to repair what’s unravelling? (6)

Answer: DEFRAY (i.e. “settle”). When written as DE-FRAY the solution also playfully satisfies “to repair what’s unravelling”.

50. Blokes’ fortune in type of gas (5)

Answer: CHAPS (i.e. “blokes”). Solution is HAP (i.e. “fortune” or chance) placed “in” CS (i.e. “type of gas”, specifically that used in riot control), like so: C(HAP)S.

52. Sparingly eat a measure of grain (4)

Answer: PECK. Solution satisfies “sparingly eat” and “a measure of grain”.

A medium strength Jumbo for Bank Holiday Monday, and in the main it was a decent distraction. Those stuffy old Times crossword clichés were kept at bay for the most part, however the setter’s inability to resist tapping up history’s only playwright means there are now only 11 Jumbos to go before I wrap these posts up.

As the competition deadline has long since passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has dunked its trunk into your funky junk, whatever any of that means, 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 patience and input. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

The case for the prosecution

Across clues

1. Gives particulars of key drills fragmenting debris (9)

Answer: DESCRIBES (i.e. “gives particulars”). Solution is ESC (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for Escape) placed in or “drilling” an anagram (indicated by “fragmenting”) of DEBRIS, like so: D(ESC)RIBES.

6. Eulogistic report of events around pulpit, oddly (13)

Answer: COMPLIMENTARY (i.e. “eulogistic”). Solution is COMMENTARY (i.e. “report of events”) wrapped “around” PLI (i.e. “pulpit, oddly”, i.e. every other letter of PULPIT), like so: COM(PLI)MENTARY.

13. Cruel legislator with zero wit moving to the left (5)

Answer: DRACO (i.e. “cruel legislator” of Ancient Greece). Solution is O (i.e. “zero”) and CARD (i.e. “wit” or wag) all reversed (indicated by “moving to the left” – this being an across clue), like so: DRAC-O. Anything relating to ancient Greece is catnip to Times setters, so have a demerit.

14. Manager of Hearts, say, admitting this person with sign of hesitation (9)

Answer: ORGANISER (i.e. “manager”). Solution is ORGANS (i.e. “hearts, say”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) wrapped around or “admitting” I (i.e. “this person”, from the point of view of the setter) and followed by ER (i.e. “sign of hesitation”), like so: ORGAN(I)S-ER.

15. My work environment (7)

Answer: SETTING. Solution satisfies “my work”, again from the point of view of the setter, and also “environment”. Simple, but nicely done.

16. Savaging idiot repeatedly in letter, I state (9,13)

Answer: CHARACTER ASSASSINATION (i.e. “savaging”). Solution is ASS and ASS (i.e. “idiot repeatedly”) both placed “in” CHARACTER (i.e. “letter”), I and NATION (i.e. “state”), like so: CHARACTER-(ASS-ASS)-I-NATION.

18. Weapon of Persian male, maybe a belligerent sort (8)

Answer: TOMAHAWK (i.e. “weapon”). Solution is TOM (i.e, “Persian male, maybe” – a Persian being a variety of cat) followed by A and HAWK (i.e. “belligerent sort”).

20. Servers evicting one short child slide over the drink (5-3)

Answer: WATER-SKI (i.e. “slide over the drink”, taking “drink” to be an informal reference to a body of water). Solution is WAITERS (i.e. “servers”) with the I removed (indicated by “evicting [Roman numeral] one”) and the remainder followed by KID (i.e. “child”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: WATERS-KI.

21. Trick for one party Democrat backs (5)

Answer: DODGE (i.e. a “trick”). Solution is EG (i.e. “for one”, or for example), DO (i.e. a “party”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) all reversed (indicated by “backs”), like so: D-OD-GE.

23. Loathed touring Croatia’s capital, going west in Split (6)

Answer: DETACH (i.e. “split”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is HATED (i.e. “loathed”) wrapped around C (i.e. “Croatia’s capital” letter) and the whole then reversed (indicated by “going west” – this being an across clue), like so: DETA(C)H.

24. Escort and look after carriage heading for Oxford (6)

Answer: GIGOLO (i.e. male “escort”). Solution is LO (i.e. “look”, as in lo and behold) placed “after” GIG (i.e. a light two-wheeled “carriage”) and O (i.e. “heading for Oxford”, or its initial letter), like so: (GIG-O)-LO.

25. Southern French state established in the first place (9)

Answer: PROVENCAL (i.e. “southern French”). Solution is CAL (i.e. US “state”, short for California) with PROVEN (i.e. “established”) put “in the first place”, like so: PROVEN-CAL. The vast majority of Times setters simply cannot help themselves when it comes to all things French, so here we go again…

28. Stuttering criminal’s rating of PC’s intelligence? (6,4)

Answer: TURING TEST (i.e. “rating of PC’s intelligence” – not strictly true, I’d argue (there’s a distinction between systems and the computer hardware they run on, certainly these days, but then the clue wouldn’t scan so well). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “criminal”) of STUTTERING.

29. Translation of Mrs Dalloway’s opening ignored by hoaxer (4)

Answer: FRAU (i.e. “translation of Mrs”, specifically the German word for “Mrs”). Solution is FRAUD (i.e. “hoaxer”) with the D (i.e. “Dalloway’s opening” letter) removed or “ignored”.

30. Roomy English stores close to pork butcher’s (4-3)

Answer: LOOK-SEE (i.e. “butcher’s” hook, cockney rhyming slang for a look). Solution is LOOSE (i.e. “roomy”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) all wrapped around or “storing” K (i.e. “close to pork”, i.e. the last letter of “pork”), like so: LOO(K)SE-E.

32. A broadcaster breaks payment promise – really! (1,3,3)

Answer: I ASK YOU (i.e. “really”, both exclamations of disbelief). Solution is A and SKY (i.e. a “broadcaster” in the UK) both “breaking” IOU (i.e. “payment promise”), like so: I(A-SKY)OU.

34. Bank without charges, deferring fine (4)

Answer: REEF (i.e. “bank”). Solution is FREE (i.e. “without charges”) with the F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”, used in grading pencils) knocked back or “deferred”, like so: (F)REE => REE(F).

35. Indirect answer following drinks binge (10)

Answer: ROUNDABOUT (i.e. “indirect”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) placed after or “following” ROUND (i.e. “drinks”) and followed by BOUT (i.e. “binge”), like so: (ROUND-A)-BOUT.

38. Society getting cross somewhere in Surrey (9)

Answer: GUILDFORD (i.e. “somewhere in Surrey”). Solution is GUILD (i.e. “society”) followed by FORD (i.e. to “cross” a river, for example).

39. Protest against work singular Gothic writer pens (6)

Answer: OPPOSE (i.e. “protest against”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) once placed in or “penned” by Edgar Allan POE (i.e. “Gothic writer”), like so: OP-PO(S)E.

40. Various people who may come up with pearls (6)

Answer: DIVERS. Solution satisfies “various”, as in an old variant spelling of “diverse” – we had this in a recent Jumbo clue, so this was an easier get second time around – and also “people who may come up with pearls”.

43. Emblem directed at those people lacking height (5)

Answer: TOTEM (i.e. “emblem”). Solution is TO THEM (i.e. “directed at those people”) with the H removed (indicated by “lacking height” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “height”).

45. Building compiler returning: eager vacuous fellow (8)

Answer: EMERGENT (i.e. “building”). Solution is ME (i.e. “compiler” from the point of view of the setter) reversed (indicated by “returning”) and followed by ER (i.e. “eager vacuous”, i.e. the word “eager” with all its middle letters removed), then GENT (i.e. “fellow”), like so: EM-ER-GENT.

47. More exuberant relative eclipsed by Dallas oilman (8)

Answer: JAUNTIER (i.e. “more exuberant”). Solution is AUNTIE (i.e. “relative”) placed in or “eclipsed by” JR (i.e. “Dallas oilman”, JR Ewing, a character from the old TV series Dallas), like so: J(AUNTIE)R.

49. Saw advocating quiet, emotionless date saddens drunk (5,4,7,6)

Answer: LEAST SAID SOONEST MENDED (i.e. a phrase or “saw advocating quiet”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “drunk”) of EMOTIONLESS DATE SADDENS.

52. Climber in standard place for event, finishing early (7)

Answer: PARVENU (i.e. social “climber”). Solution is PAR (i.e. “standard”) followed by VENUE (i.e. “place for event”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “finishing early”), like so: PAR-VENU.

53. Peer inside proper vehicle component (4,5)

Answer: REAR LIGHT (i.e. “vehicle component”). Solution is EARL (i.e. “peer”) placed “inside” RIGHT (i.e. “proper”), like so: R(EARL)IGHT.

54. Prince Albert killed in accordance with law (5)

Answer: HALAL (i.e. of something “killed in accordance with [Muslim] law”). Solution is HAL (i.e. “prince” – we’ve had this several times over the years as Times setters can’t keep their mitts off of Billy Shakespeare. Prince Hal is a reference to Shakespeare’s portrayal of a young Henry V) followed by AL (shortened form of “Albert”). Clever, but you should all know by now that anything Shakespeare is like an earwax sandwich to me. Begone foul beast!

55. Ingredient for baking best doughnut substantially covers pastry (5,2,6)

Answer: CREAM OF TARTAR (i.e. “ingredient for baking”, or “purified argol, used in baking powder etc” (Chambers)). Solution is CREAM (i.e. the “best”) followed by O (i.e. “doughnut”, as in it looks like an O) and FAR (i.e. “substantially”) once wrapped around or “covering” TART (i.e. “pastry”), like so: CREAM-O-F(TART)AR.

56. Rush to secure politician promotion and bit of capital (9)

Answer: HAMPSTEAD (i.e. “bit of [England’s] capital”). Solution is HASTE (i.e. “rush”) wrapped around or “securing” MP (i.e. “politician” or Member of Parliament) and followed by AD (i.e. “promotion” or advertisement), like so: HA(MP)STE-AD.

Down clues

1. Stalwart old guards ruling briefly (9)

Answer: DEDICATED (i.e. “stalwart”). Solution is DATED (i.e. “old”) wrapped around or “guarding” EDICT (i.e. “ruling”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: D(EDIC)ATED.

2. A number of Catholics in attempt to win chess game with queen (6,5)

Answer: STABAT MATER (i.e. “a number of Catholics”, taking “number” to be a musical piece, in this case a hymn). Solution is STAB AT MATE (i.e. “attempt to win chess game”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “queen”, after the Latin Regina).

3. Show up, drinking soft drink and alcoholic one (5)

Answer: RIOJA (i.e. “alcoholic [drink]”). Solution is AIR (i.e. to “show”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “drinking” OJ (i.e. “soft drink”, short for orange juice), like so: RI(OJ)A.

4. Heckle record label releasing disc in rich place (8)

Answer: BOOMTOWN (i.e. “rich place”). Solution is BOO (i.e. “heckle”) followed by MOTOWN (i.e. “record label”) once the first O has been removed (indicated by “releasing disk”, again referring to the shape of a letter O), like so: BOO-MTOWN.

5. Sweet, unknown guy from America’s upset (6)

Answer: SUGARY (i.e. “sweet”). Solution is Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as “unknowns”) followed by RAG (i.e. “guy”, both taken to mean making fun of someone) and US (i.e. “from America”), all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: SU-GAR-Y.

6. Metro jams in a city, holding up group seen at night (5,5)

Answer: CANIS MAJOR (i.e. a constellation or “group seen at night”). “Holding” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue, like so: MET(RO JAMS IN A C)ITY.

7. Where to find posters in English with writing about judicious committee (7,5)

Answer: MESSAGE BOARD (i.e. “where to find posters”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) placed in or having “about” it MS (i.e. “writing”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a manuscript). This is then followed by SAGE (i.e. wise or “judicious”) and BOARD (i.e. “committee”), like so: M(E)S-SAGE-BOARD.

8. Primates wife expelled from small buildings (7)

Answer: LORISES (i.e. “primates”). Solution is LOW-RISES (i.e. “small buildings”) with the W removed (indicated by “wife expelled from…” – W being a recognised abbreviation thereof).

9. Parents love president defending Democrat policy – it was divisive in the States (5-5,4)

Answer: MASON-DIXON LINE (i.e. “it was divisive in the States”, essentially separating the North and South). Solution is MAS (i.e. “parents”, informal reference to mothers) followed by O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), then Richard NIXON (i.e. former US “president”) once wrapped around or “defending” D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”). This is all then followed by LINE (i.e. “policy”), like so: MAS-O-N(D)IXON-LINE.

10. Wrote down polite refusal addressed to Edward or Theodore? (7)

Answer: NOTATED (i.e. “wrote down”). When written as NO TA, TED the solution also playfully satisfies “polite refusal addressed to Edward or Theodore”.

11. Where Americans might climb road and can skid off (11)

Answer: ADIRONDACKS (i.e. “where Americans might climb”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “off”) of ROAD and CAN SKID. Wordplay was reasonably obvious, but you know what I think about exotic solutions when they are clued as anagrams. Utterly useless.

12. Instigators of youthful offences get incarcerated? One may do a big stretch (4)

Answer: YOGI (i.e. “one may do a big stretch”). “Instigators of” indicates the solution is derived from the first letters of Youthful Offences Get Incarcerated.

17. Determined chap’s going to gamble, clutching note (4-4)

Answer: HELL-BENT (i.e. “determined”). Solution is HE’LL BET (i.e. “chap’s going to gamble”) wrapped around or “clutching” N (a recognised abbreviation of “note”), like so: HE’LL-BE(N)T.

19. Tired journalist reported why penury is limiting (9)

Answer: HACKNEYED (i.e. “tired”). Solution is HACK (informal word for a “journalist”) followed by Y (i.e. “reported why”, i.e. a homophone of “why”) once placed in or “limited” by NEED (i.e. “penury”), like so: HACK-NE(Y)ED.

22. Female has no doubt over diamonds with cracks in (8)

Answer: FISSURED (i.e. “with cracks in”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) followed by IS SURE (i.e. “has no doubt”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in card games).

25. Stirred miso soup more rapidly (3,5)

Answer: PIU MOSSO (i.e. “more rapidly” in musical lingo). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “stirred”) of MISO SOUP. It’s well worked, granted, but 1) see my previous moan about exotic trash clued up as anagrams, and 2) I’m pig sick of musical terms in Jumbos now. Have an angry Beethoven.

26. Summoning memories of Antonin periodically cheers old fellow up (9)

Answer: EVOCATION (i.e. “summoning memories”). Solution is NOI (i.e. “Antonin periodically”, i.e. every other letter of ANTONIN) followed by TA (i.e. “cheers”, both informal forms of giving thanks) and COVE (i.e. “old fellow”, both informal forms of address for a man) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: EVOC-AT-ION.

27. Move confidently in groove among rocks over gorge (5,4,5)

Answer: STRUT ONE’S STUFF (i.e. “move confidently”). Solution is RUT (i.e. “groove”) placed “among” STONES (i.e. “rocks”) and followed by STUFF (i.e. to “gorge” on something), like so: ST(RUT)ONES-STUFF.

28. One wearing dodgy metal tag, millions having fallen off the back of a lorry (8)

Answer: TAILGATE (i.e. “the back of a lorry”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “wearing” an anagram (indicated by “dodgy”) of METAL TAG once the M has been removed (indicated by “millions having fallen off” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “million”), like so: TA(I)LGATE.

31. Maverick can get stoned – it helps with inspiration (12)

Answer: DECONGESTANT (i.e. “it helps with inspiration”, taking “inspiration” to mean breathing). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “maverick”) of CAN GET STONED.

33. Champion of a nation’s failing segregation (5,6)

Answer: SAINT GEORGE (i.e. “champion of a nation”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “failing”) of SEGREGATION.

36. Devouring extremely large nuts – so do this? (11)

Answer: OVERINDULGE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also an anagram (indicated by “nuts”) of DEVOURING and LE (i.e. “extremely large”, i.e. the first and last letters of “large”).

37. One responsible for deliveries pinches flipping hat (4,6)

Answer: SPIN BOWLER (i.e. “one responsible for deliveries” in a game of cricket). Solution is NIPS (i.e. “pinches”) reversed (indicated by “flipping”) and followed by BOWLER (i.e. “hat”).

41. Fiddle with light clothing daughter put pins around? (9)

Answer: STRADDLED (i.e. “put pins around”, “pins” taken as an informal reference to legs). Solution is STRAD (i.e. “fiddle” or violin, short for a Stradivarius) and LED (i.e. “light”, specifically a Light Emitting Diode”) all wrapped around or “clothing” D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”), like so: STRAD-(D)-LED.

42. Handyman caught filling corpulent, round stomach (8)

Answer: FACTOTUM (i.e. “handyman”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) placed in or “filling” FAT (i.e. “corpulent”) and followed by O (i.e. “round”), then TUM (i.e. “stomach”), like so: FA(C)T-O-TUM.

44. Wrongly designate English form of address by its short French equivalent (7)

Answer: MISTERM (i.e. “wrongly designate”). Solution is MISTER (i.e. “English form of address”) followed by M (i.e. “its short French equivalent” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “monsieur”).

46. Country’s flag raised on beginning to advance (7)

Answer: ERITREA (i.e. “country”). Solution is TIRE (i.e. to “flag”) reversed (indicated by “raised”) and followed by RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and A (i.e. “beginning [letter] to advance”), like so: ERIT-RE-A.

48. Distance one may swim fast, absorbing good hour (6)

Answer: LENGTH (i.e. “distance one may swim” in a pool). Solution is LENT (i.e. a religious “fast”) wrapped around or “absorbing” G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) and followed by H (ditto “hour”), like so: LEN(G)T-H.

50. Spirit is something stimulating with rum shot (5)

Answer: ETHOS (i.e. “spirit”). Solution is E (i.e. “something stimulating”, specifically the drug ecstasy, it’s informal name being E) followed by an anagram (indicated by “rum”) of SHOT, like so: E-THOS.

51. Product information is not half plausibly misleading (4)

Answer: SPEC (i.e. “product information”). Solution is SPECIOUS (i.e. “plausibly misleading”) with the last half removed (indicated by “not half”).