A toughie this week, but one that was pleasant enough to chip away at during the day.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you the horrors 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 the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once the dust has settled. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Bad feeling, locked in taxi in high temperature (5,5)

Answer: CABIN FEVER (i.e. “bad feeling, locked in”). Solution is CAB (i.e. “taxi”) followed by IN, then FEVER (i.e. “high temperature”).

6. Junior officer hit worker, perhaps a civilian (12)

Answer: NON-COMBATANT (i.e. “a civilian” during wartime). Solution is NON-COM (i.e. “junior officer”, short for a non-commissioned officer) followed by BAT (i.e. “hit”) and ANT (i.e. “worker, perhaps” – other flavours of ant are available).

14. Hair that is short and curly (7)

Answer: PIGTAIL. Solution satisfies “hair” and “that is short and curly”, referring to the tail of a pig.

15. Loudly disapprove of unproductive sort of logic (7)

Answer: BOOLEAN (i.e. “sort of logic”, and the basis of pretty much every programming language going). Solution is BOO (i.e. “loudly disapprove”) followed by LEAN (i.e. “unproductive”).

16. Subtle Greek character skipped away from head (7)

Answer: NUANCED (i.e. “subtle”). Solution is NU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by DANCED (i.e. “skipped”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “away from head”), like so: NU-ANCED.

17. Drop flier back (4)

Answer: DRIB (i.e. a “drop” or trickle). Solution is BIRD (i.e. “flier”) reversed (indicated by “back”).

18. Bog’s depths initially repel (6)

Answer: OFFEND (i.e. “repel”). Solution is OF FEN (i.e. “bog’s”, read as “of a bog”) followed by D (i.e. “depths initially”, i.e. the first letter of “depths”).

20. Briefly left top of hill for cooked breakfast (8)

Answer: PORRIDGE (i.e. “cooked breakfast”). Solution is PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by RIDGE (i.e. “top of hill”), like so: POR-RIDGE.

24. Novel warning widely posted by one relatively interfering (3,7,2,8,3)

Answer: BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU (i.e. “novel warning widely posted”, referring to the notices plastered everywhere in George Orwell’s novel 1984). Clue plays on BROTHER being a “relative”. You get the idea.

25. Go back into part of prison perhaps visibly upset (7)

Answer: WEEPING (i.e. “visibly upset”). Solution is PEE (i.e. “go” or take a leak) reversed (indicated by “back”) and placed “into” WING (i.e. “part of prison perhaps” – other buildings have wings), like so: W(EEP)ING.

26. Daughter arrived after the start in her finery (6,2)

Answer: DOLLED UP (i.e. “in her finery”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) followed by ROLLED UP (i.e. “arrived”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “after the start”), like so: D-(OLLED-UP).

27. Heard nothing new? Shame (2,4)

Answer: OH DEAR (i.e. “shame”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of HEARD and O (i.e. “nothing”).

29. Pounded, flee across with or without changing course (2,3,4,5)

Answer: AS THE CROW FLIES (i.e. “without changing course”). “Pounded” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of FLEE ACROSS WITH.

31. Breaks down domain name and puts up online (8)

Answer: COMPOSTS (i.e. “breaks down”). Solution is COM (i.e. top-level “domain name”) followed by POSTS (i.e. “puts up online”).

34. One writing around book length in illegible hand (8)

Answer: SCRIBBLE (i.e. “in illegible hand”). Solution is SCRIBE (i.e. “one writing”) wrapped “around” B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) and L (ditto “length”), like so: SCRIB(B-L)E.

36. Lacking energy hears public transport’s convenient for work (8,6)

Answer: TRISTRAM SHANDY (i.e. a “work” by Laurence Sterne; full title: The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman). Solution is TRIES (i.e. “hears” in court) with the E removed (indicated by “lacking energy” – E being a recognised abbreviation of energy) and the remainder followed by TRAM’S (i.e. “public transport’s”) and HANDY (i.e. “convenient”), like so: TRIS-TRAM’S-HANDY.

39. Be little affected by one’s having broken sleep (6)

Answer: RESIST (i.e. “be little affected by”). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) placed in or “breaking” REST (i.e. “sleep”), like so: RES(I’S)T.

41. Publicises journey and its starting point? (8)

Answer: AIRSTRIP (i.e. “[journey’s] starting point”). Solution is AIRS (i.e. “publicises”) followed by TRIP (i.e. “journey”).

43. Running around indoors, mute (7)

Answer: SORDINO (i.e. a “mute” or “damper to soften or deaden the sound of an instrument” (Chambers)). “Running around” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INDOORS.

46. Short notice badly deceives, if mistranslated (10,13)

Answer: CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENT (i.e. a “short notice”). “Badly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DECEIVES IF MISTRANSLATED.

47. Finally putting a drink before tortoise (8)

Answer: GALAPAGO (i.e. “tortoise”). Solution is G (i.e. “finally putting”, i.e. the last letter of “putting”) followed by A, then LAP (i.e. “drink”) and AGO (i.e. “before”).

48. Stay with sober group around November in the country (6)

Answer: GUYANA (i.e. “country”). Solution is GUY (i.e. “stay” or rope) followed by AA (i.e. “sober group”, specifically Alcoholics Anonymous) once wrapped “around” N (i.e. “November” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: GUY-A(N)A.

49. With others behind, returning (2,2)

Answer: ET AL (i.e. “with others”). Solution is LATE (i.e. “behind”) reversed (indicated by “returning”).

53. Impressive genes, not extremely common to both sexes (7)

Answer: EPICENE (i.e. “common to both sexes”). Solution is EPIC (i.e. “impressive”) followed by ENE (i.e. “genes, not extremely”, i.e. the word “genes” with its first and last letters removed).

54. Finds at home, and allows to escape (7)

Answer: INVENTS (i.e. “finds”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by VENTS (i.e. “allows to escape”).

56. I waste time inhaling drug, for preference (7)

Answer: IDEALLY (i.e. “preference”). Solution is I and DALLY (i.e. “waste time”) wrapped around or “inhaling” E (slang for the “drug” ecstasy), like so: I-D(E)ALLY.

57. With caginess, Gill breaking barrier to progress (5,7)

Answer: GLASS CEILING (i.e. “barrier to progress”). “Breaking” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CAGINESS GILL.

58. Revolutionary used to take month out, given another job (10)

Answer: REDEPLOYED (i.e. “given another job”). Solution is RED (i.e. “revolutionary”) followed by EMPLOYED (i.e. “used”) once the M has been removed (indicated by “to take month out” – M being a recognised abbreviation of “month”), like so: RED-EPLOYED.

Down clues

1. Raised bids to fiddle inside female’s lovely mouth? (6,3)

Answer: CUPID’S BOW (i.e. “lovely mouth” – over to Chambers: “the human lips shaped (either naturally or by lipstick) like [an archery bow in the shape of a double-curve]”). Solution is UP (i.e. “raised”) and an anagram (indicated by “to fiddle”) of BIDS both placed “inside” COW (i.e. “female”), like so: C(UP-IDSB)OW.

2. Appeal from gambler including encouraging line (7,6)

Answer: BEGGING LETTER (i.e. “appeal”). Solution is BETTER (i.e. “gambler”) wrapped around or “including” EGGING (i.e. “encouraging”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”), like so: B(EGGING-L)ETTER.

3. Bread not available? Some is short (4)

Answer: NAAN (i.e. “bread”). Solution is N/A (i.e. “not available”) followed by ANY (i.e. “some”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “is short”), like so: N/A-AN.

4. Singer is suitable to hear, girl and boy admit (4,10)

Answer: ELLA FITZGERALD (i.e. “singer”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to hear”) of FITS (i.e. “is suitable”) placed between or “admitted” by ELLA and GERALD (i.e. names of a “girl and boy”), like so: ELLA-(FITZ)-GERALD.

5. Decline to start eating big breakfast (3)

Answer: EBB (i.e. “decline”). “To start” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Eating Big Breakfast.

7. Visiting Australia, you call to attract attention (4)

Answer: OYEZ (i.e. “call to attract attention” from, say, a town crier). Solution is YE (i.e. ye olde “you”) “visiting” or placed in OZ (i.e. “Australia”), like so: O(YE)Z.

8. Association opposed to tourism in resort (10)

Answer: CONSORTIUM (i.e. “association”). Solution is CON (i.e. “opposed to”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “in resort”) of TOURISM, like so: CON-SORTIUM.

9. Working through month with pay at the end, as a rule (8)

Answer: MONARCHY (i.e. a form of “rule”). Solution is ON (i.e. “working”) placed in or “through” MARCH (i.e. “month”) and followed by Y (i.e. “pay at the end”, i.e. the last letter of “pay”), like so: M(ON)ARCH-Y.

10. A teacher’s maintaining veto on knowing the latest emergency order (7,4)

Answer: ABANDON SHIP (i.e. “emergency order”). Solution is A and DON’S (i.e. “teacher’s”) wrapped around or “maintaining” BAN (i.e. “veto”). This is all then followed by HIP (i.e. “knowing the latest”), like so: (A-(BAN)-DON’S)-HIP.

11. Perfect model car – vault over it (9)

Answer: ARCHETYPE (i.e. “perfect model”). Solution is E TYPE (i.e. make of “car”, a Jaguar – interesting after DAIMLER last week. Are Times setters angling for new cars now? Ker-ching!) placed after or having “over it” – this being a down clue – ARCH (i.e. “vault” – I disagree. Vaults can be formed of arched ceilings, but I don’t think that’s sufficient to make a direct leap from “vault” to ARCH), like so: ARCH-(E-TYPE).

12. Wonder about leaving tideway in an orderly state (4)

Answer: TIDY (i.e. “in an orderly state”). Solution is TIDEWAY with the EWA removed (indicated by “wonder about leaving” – AWE being “wonder” and “about” being a reversal indicator).

13. Valid legal document is a business asset (8)

Answer: GOODWILL (i.e. “a business asset”, though perhaps not one you’re going to see on a balance sheet). Solution is GOOD (i.e. “valid”) followed by WILL (i.e. “legal document”).

19. Scans the hill, so calling to start game (4,4)

Answer: EYES DOWN (i.e. a “calling to start game” of bingo). Solution is EYES (i.e. “scans”) followed by DOWN (i.e. “hill” – Chambers offers “a treeless upland” to support this, but not much else. My Bradford’s likes it, though).

21. Punch may have this effect – reportedly makes tea (6)

Answer: BRUISE (i.e. “punch may have this effect”). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of BREWS (i.e. “makes tea”).

22. Small widows’ veils ending up at the cleaners (8)

Answer: SWEEPERS (i.e. “cleaners”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by WEEPERS (i.e. “widows’ veils”). “Ending up” in a down clue can be a cryptic indicator of a final letter moving place, but I think on this occasion it is merely to be read as “resulting in”. Meanwhile, it’s odd to have WEEPERS and WEEPING in the same grid. Suggests there may have been some algorithmic assistance to this week’s puzzle.

23. Supply US with energy for island (8)

Answer: GUERNSEY (i.e. “island”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of US and ENERGY.

28. Uniformed man’s authority over fine corps (14)

Answer: COMMISSIONAIRE (i.e. “uniformed man”). Solution is COMMISSION (i.e. “authority”) followed by AI (i.e. “fine”, i.e. “A1” with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) and RE (i.e. “corps”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army).

29. Painting a leaf wrapping stone (8)

Answer: ABSTRACT (i.e. “painting”). Solution is A and BRACT (i.e. “leaf” – over to Chambers again: “a leaf (often modified) that bears a flower in its axil”) “wrapped” around ST (a recognised abbreviation of “stone”), like so: AB(ST)RACT.

30. Rest period, at the test match? (5,3)

Answer: LORD’S DAY (i.e. “rest period”, Sunday). Clue plays on LORDS being a “test match” ground.

32. Given an errand, one people credit with tender emotion (13)

Answer: SENTIMENTALLY (i.e. “with tender emotion”). Solution is SENT (i.e. “given an errand”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then MEN (i.e. “people”) and TALLY (i.e. concur or “credit”).

33. Permanent quality something brought on stage (8)

Answer: PROPERTY. Solution satisfies “permanent quality” and “something brought on stage”, often shortened to “prop”.

35. Where to find the finest vintages, we hear – they fly off the shelves (4,7)

Answer: BEST SELLERS (i.e. “they fly off the shelves”). “We hear” indicates homophone, in this case of BEST CELLARS (i.e. “where to find the finest vintages”).

37. Wounded horse with weapons (6)

Answer: HARMED (i.e. “wounded”). Solution is H (i.e. “horse”, both slang for heroin) followed by ARMED (i.e. “with weapons”).

38. This could suggest girl left meat dish (5,5)

Answer: MIXED GRILL (i.e. “meat dish”). Solution is MIXED GRIL (i.e. “this could suggest girl”, i.e. how GRIL is an anagram (indicated by MIXED) of “girl”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”).

40. In paradise almost furiously anxious at first to uphold peace (7-2)

Answer: SHANGRI-LA (i.e. “paradise” of James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon). Solution is ANGRILY (i.e. “furiously”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder followed by A (i.e. “anxious at first”, i.e. the initial letter of “anxious”). This is all preceded by or “upholding” – this being a down clue – SH (i.e. “peace” – Chambers suggests this used to be directive to be silent), like so: SH-(ANGRIL-A). Another conspicuous repeat, appearing only a couple of months ago in grid 1600.

42. Storming round Virginia wreaking destruction (8)

Answer: RAVAGING (i.e. “wreaking destruction”). Solution is RAGING (i.e. “storming”) wrapped “round” VA (US state abbreviation of “Virginia”), like so: RA(VA)GING.

44. Defeated by a better dramatist? (9)

Answer: OUTPLAYED (i.e. “defeated”). Clue plays on “dramatists” wot write PLAYS. You get the idea.

45. Perhaps bishop’s uniform (2,1,5)

Answer: OF A PIECE (i.e. homogenous or “uniform”). Clue also satisfies “perhaps bishop’s”, read possessively – a bishop being a chess PIECE.

50. Composer committed to chamber group (4)

Answer: Alban BERG (i.e. “composer”). “Committed to” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CHAM(BER G)ROUP.

51. River that is a feature of some German names (4)

Answer: AVON (i.e. “river”). Solution is A followed by VON (i.e. “feature of some German names”).

52. Divorced from old wife, chap collapsed (4)

Answer: FELL (i.e. “collapsed”). Solution is FELLOW (i.e. “chap”) once removing or “divorcing” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and W (ditto “wife”).

55. Get to appear shortly (3)

Answer: SEE (i.e. understand or “see”). Solution is SEEM (i.e. “appear”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “shortly”).

Another medium-strength Jumbo, much like Saturday’s, and another winner in my book. The clueing wasn’t quite as inventive, but there’s always something nice about concisely-written clues. (Less typing for a start.)

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

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once their pens are stilled. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Provide with some flexibility (6)

Answer: SUPPLY. Solution satisfies “provide” and “with some flexibility”, as in being supple.

4. Those spotted in historical Croatian region? (10)

Answer: DALMATIANS. Solution satisfies “those spotted”, referring to the breed of dogs, and “in historical Croatian region”, Dalmatia.

10. Preserve licence, say, for dog (5)

Answer: CANID (i.e. “dog”). Solution is CAN (i.e. “preserve”) followed by ID (i.e. “licence, say” – I’m guessing something like a driving licence or shotgun licence).

14. A bloke carrying boy round drink (9)

Answer: AMERICANO (i.e. coffee “drink”). Solution is A followed by MAN (i.e. “bloke”) once wrapped around or “carrying” ERIC (i.e. “boy’s” name), then O (i.e. “round”), like so: A-M(ERIC)AN-O.

15. Godfather in agreement, perhaps, with important oil supplier (7,6)

Answer: NODDING DONKEY (i.e. “oil supplier”). Solution is DON (i.e. “godfather”, probably referring to a Mafia don) placed “in” NODDING (i.e. “agreement, perhaps”) and KEY (i.e. “important”), like so: NODDING-(DON)-KEY. Disappointing that this solution appeared only a few weeks ago in grid 1601. Conspicuous repeats like this happen way too often in Jumbos. It’s enough to get certain internet non-entities dusting off their pet conspiracy theories… rant, rave, GridFill 4000^TM, froth, seethe and so forth.

16. Disinfected blister I left to shrink (7)

Answer: STERILE (i.e. “disinfected”). “To shrink” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, stripping away the outer letters of BLI(STER I LE)FT. Nicely worked.

17. Car manufacturer close to Oxford, one intending to import first of Ladas (7)

Answer: DAIMLER (i.e. “car manufacturer”). Solution is D (i.e. “close of Oxford”, i.e. the last letter of “Oxford”) followed by AIMER (i.e. “one intending”) once wrapped around or “importing” L (i.e. “first [letter] of Ladas”), like so: D-AIM(L)ER. There has been some interesting commentary in the main paper over the weekend about the differences between crosswords in US and British newspapers. In my (limited) experience, US crosswords are somewhat more forgiving in what they will allow in their grids: company names especially. It’s perhaps not surprising when you consider the large number of intersecting solutions in US grids, but I do prefer the relative restraint exercised by the Brits. Until this solution, anyway. Kerching!

18. Dissertation originally by old maestro, dramatised (7)

Answer: OVERDID (i.e. “dramatised”, presumably with a ‘dying swan’ flourish). Solution is D (i.e. “dissertation originally”, i.e. the first letter of “dissertation”) placed “by” or after O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and Giuseppe VERDI (i.e. “maestro”), like so: (O-VERDI)-D.

19. That criticism was just some advice to headgear’s buyer? (2,3,3,4,4,2)

Answer: IF THE CAP FITS WEAR IT, a phrase suggesting someone should accept an appropriate “criticism” made of them. The rest of the clue riffs on CAPS being “headwear” and so on. You get the idea.

21. Second before now (4)

Answer: BACK. Solution satisfies “second” or to support, and “before now”.

24. Ship returning banks on European currency (5)

Answer: KRONA (i.e. “European currency”). Solution is ARK (i.e. “ship”) reversed (indicated by “returning”) and wrapped around or “banking” ON, like so: KR(ON)A.

26. Knowledge gathered about fall in old French province (8)

Answer: LORRAINE (i.e. “old French province”). Solution is LORE (i.e. “knowledge gathered”) wrapped “about” RAIN (i.e. “fall”), like so: LOR(RAIN)E.

27. Slow gin, a strange motor fuel! (8)

Answer: GASOLINE (i.e. “motor fuel”). “Strange” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SLOE GIN A.

29. Serve grotty stuff and give the game away? (4,3,4)

Answer: DISH THE DIRT. Solution playfully satisfies “serve grotty stuff” and “give the game away” – my Chambers disagrees, suggesting it’s purely about spreading malicious gossip, but my Oxford just about supports it.

30. One’s as stupid, apparently, when news is slow (5,6)

Answer: SILLY SEASON (i.e. “when news is slow”). The first half of the clue plays on how “one’s as” is an anagram of SEASON. SILLY, meanwhile, is sometimes used as an anagram indicator; SILLY = “stupid”, you get the idea.

32. Sticky bat compiler wielded (11)

Answer: PROBLEMATIC (i.e. “sticky”). “Wielded” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of BAT COMPILER.

35. Put down location of bench in sporting arena (6,5)

Answer: SQUASH COURT (i.e. “sporting arena”). Solution is SQUASH (i.e. extinguish or “put down”) followed by COURT (i.e. “location of bench”, legally speaking).

37. Embarrassed: like you reportedly? (8)

Answer: SHEEPISH (i.e. “embarrassed”). The rest of the clue plays on “you” being a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of a “ewe”; like a “ewe” could be said to be SHEEPISH. Again, you get the idea.

39. Sneakiness evident if loading lorry with last of merchandise (8)

Answer: ARTIFICE (i.e. “sneakiness”). Solution is IF is placed in or “loaded” into ARTIC (i.e. “lorry”) and E (i.e. “last [letter] of merchandise”), like so: ART(IF)IC-E.

40. See you grabbing tail of sleek otter (5)

Answer: TARKA (i.e. “otter”, after Henry Williamson’s novel Tarka The Otter). Solution is TARA (i.e. “see you”) wrapped around or “grabbing” K (i.e. “tail of sleek”, i.e. the last letter of “sleek”), like so: TAR(K)A.

43. Heading off, poach bird (4)

Answer: TEAL (i.e. “bird”). Solution is STEAL (i.e. “poach”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “heading off”).

44. Exaggerate awfully witty Orwellian oath (3,2,2,4,1,6)

Answer: LAY IT ON WITH A TROWEL (i.e. “exaggerate”). “Awfully” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WITTY ORWELLIAN OATH.

47. Emotional teacher’s first lecture (7)

Answer: TEARFUL (i.e. “emotional”). Solution is T (i.e. “teacher’s first” letter) followed by EARFUL (i.e. “lecture”).

48. Samples in vegetables eyed, first of swedes eaten (7)

Answer: TASTERS (i.e. “samples”). Solution is TATERS (i.e. “vegetables eyed” – an “eye” can be “the seed-bud of a potato” (Chambers)) wrapped around or “eating” S (i.e. “first [letter] of swedes”), like so: TA(S)TERS.

50. A way past disagreement on reflection, initially (2,5)

Answer: AT FIRST (i.e. “initially”). Solution is A and ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a “street”), the latter placed after or “past” RIFT (i.e. “disagreement”) once reversed (indicated by “on reflection”), like so: A-(TFIR)-ST.

51. For each family conflict, gesture old pretender (6,7)

Answer: PERKIN WARBECK (i.e. “old pretender” – he tried to claim he was one of the two princes supposedly murdered in the Tower of London, playing on the uncertainly of the time. Can’t say I’d heard of him, but interesting all the same). Solution is PER (i.e. “for each”) followed by KIN (i.e. “family”), then WAR (i.e. “conflict”) and BECK (i.e. a nod or “gesture”).

52. Arguably, what might grip opera lover about a show from the 80’s (5,4)

Answer: MIAMI VICE (i.e. TV “show from the 80’s”). Solution is MIMI VICE (playfully, “what might grip opera lover” – Mimi is a character from Giacomo Puccini’s La bohème. Yes, I looked it up) wrapped “about” A, like so: MI(A)MI-VICE. For much of the puzzle I’d convinced myself this was going to be THAT’S LIFE, if only so I could then post a video of that dog saying “sausages”. Such cultural highpoints will have to wait, sadly.

53. Nothing in eastern half of country, Switzerland (5)

Answer: ZILCH (i.e. “nothing”). Solution is ZIL, the “eastern half” of Brazil (i.e. a “country”) – this being an across clue – followed by CH (country code of “Switzerland”, standing for Confoederatio Helvetica).

54. Semi-intelligible character wanting land redistributed: do nothing about that (6,4)

Answer: DONALD DUCK (i.e. “semi-intelligible character” of Walt Disney). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “redistributed”) of LAND placed in or having “about” it DO and DUCK (i.e. “nothing”, a zero score in some sports), like so: DO-(NALD)-DUCK.

55. Broadcast dark period piece (6)

Answer: KNIGHT (i.e. chess “piece”). “Broadcast” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of NIGHT (i.e. “dark period”).

Down clues

1. Laugh initially nailed by halfwits, instant comedy (9)

Answer: SLAPSTICK (i.e. “comedy”). Solution is L (i.e. “laugh initially”, i.e. the first letter of “laugh”) placed in or “nailed by” SAPS (i.e. “halfwits”) and followed by TICK (i.e. an “instant”), like so: S(L)APS-TICK.

2. High-sounding holy shrouds on canvas (11)

Answer: PRETENTIOUS (i.e. “high-sounding”). Solution is PIOUS (i.e. “holy”) wrapped around or “shrouding” RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) and TENT (i.e. “canvas”), like so: P(RE-TENT)IOUS.

3. Remove from church where US city is icebound (7)

Answer: LAICISE (i.e. “remove from church”). Solution is LA (i.e. “US city”, Los Angeles) followed by IS once placed in or “bound” by ICE, like so: LA-IC(IS)E.

5. Nothing consumed by hungry duck (5)

Answer: AVOID (i.e. “duck” or dodge). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) placed in or “consumed by” AVID (i.e. greedily “hungry”), like so: AV(O)ID.

6. Characteristic of chaps crossing perfect stretch of water (5,6)

Answer: MENAI STRAIT (i.e. “stretch of water” separating Anglesey and the Welsh mainland). Solution is MEN’S TRAIT (i.e. “characteristic of chaps”) wrapped around or “crossing” AI (i.e. “perfect”, i.e. A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent), like so: MEN(AI)’S-TRAIT.

7. Game involving king in victories that are tight? (11)

Answer: TIDDLYWINKS (i.e. “game”). Solution is TIDDLY WINS (i.e. “victories that are tight” – “tight” and TIDDLY being words for being drunk) wrapped around or “involving” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess), like so: TIDDY-WIN(K)S.

8. Song in a code relating to hives (8)

Answer: APIARIAN (i.e. “relating to [bee]hives”). Solution is ARIA (i.e. “song”) placed “in” A and PIN (i.e. “code”, or Personal Identification Number), like so: A-PI(ARIA)N.

9. Miss warning: “broadcast on air” (9)

Answer: SIGNORINA (i.e. Italian “miss”). Solution is SIGN (i.e. “warning”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of ON AIR, like so: SIGN-ORINA.

10. Herb, Charlie and Romeo (6)

Answer: CLOVER (i.e. “herb”). Solution is C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by LOVER (i.e. “Romeo”).

11. Women wanting fig leaves for plant (5,6)

Answer: NAKED LADIES (i.e. “plant”, albeit not one I’ll be doing a Google image search for). Solution playfully satisfies “women wanting fig leaves”, given how fig leaves were sometimes used in artworks to cover up naughty bits.

12. Sober plug for spirit (5)

Answer: DRYAD (i.e. “spirit” or wood nymph). Solution is DRY (i.e. “sober”) followed by AD (i.e. “plug”, short for advertisement).

13. Nine of diamonds? (8,4)

Answer: BASEBALL TEAM. Clue plays on how baseball is played on a “diamond”, and how there are “nine” players in a team. Nicely worked.

20. Ordinal throwing relationship in river (8)

Answer: FORTIETH (i.e. “ordinal”, a word that indicates the position within a sequence). Solution is TIE (i.e. “relationship”) “thrown…into” FORTH (a “river” in Scotland), like so: FOR(TIE)TH.

22. Holding underwater device with all toes, maybe, look up (7)

Answer: KEEPNET (i.e. “holding underwater device” used by anglers to keep their catches alive). Solution is TEN (i.e. “all toes, maybe” – well, obviously except anyone from (insert your local backwater town here)) and PEEK (i.e. “look”) all reversed (indicated by “up”- this being a down clue), like so: KEEP-NET.

23. Current failure has United team in first position going the wrong way (5,3)

Answer: POWER CUT (i.e. electrical “current failure”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “United”) and CREW (i.e. “team”) placed “in” TOP (i.e. “first position”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “going the wrong way”), like so: PO(WERC-U)T.

25. Insect has taken fly off gazelle, say (8)

Answer: ANTELOPE (i.e. “gazelle, say” – other antelopes are available). Solution is ANT (i.e. “insect”) followed by ELOPE (i.e. “fly off” secretly, usually to marry).

28. Tailored suit, dull coats for musician (8)

Answer: FLAUTIST (i.e. “musician”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “tailored”) of SUIT placed in or “coated” by FLAT (i.e. “dull”), like so: FLA(UTIS)T.

29. Matter dropped when top side hammered (7)

Answer: DEPOSIT (i.e. “matter dropped”). “Hammered” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TOP SIDE.

31. Old Middle Eastern leader a long way off grabbed by sailor with effort, after capsizing (6,6)

Answer: YASSER ARAFAT (i.e. “old Middle Eastern leader”). Solution is AFAR (i.e. “a long way off”) placed in or “grabbed by” TAR (slang for a “sailor”) and followed by ESSAY (i.e. “effort” or to attempt). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “after capsizing” – this being a down clue), like so: YASSE-RA(RAFA)T.

33. More than 35 imperial gallons of oil in a pickle (4,1,6)

Answer: OVER A BARREL. Solution satisfies “more than 35 imperial gallons of oil” and “in a pickle”. Love the imagery. That’s one hell of a pickle!

34. Alloy wheels stolen, be furious! (6,5)

Answer: CARBON STEEL (i.e. “alloy”). Solution is CAR (i.e. “wheels”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “furious”) of STOLEN BE, like so: CAR-BONSTEEL.

35. Last of vermouth in drink drunk on the rocks, perhaps? (11)

Answer: SHIPWRECKED (i.e. “on the rocks, perhaps”). Solution is H (i.e. “last [letter] of vermouth”) placed “in” SIP (i.e. “drink”) and followed by WRECKED (i.e. “drunk”), like so: S(H)IP-WRECKED.

36. Enduring war, tragically futile (11)

Answer: UNREWARDING (i.e. “futile”). “Tragically” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ENDURING WAR.

38. Drunk welcome beyond Devon etc (9)

Answer: SWALLOWED (i.e. “drunk”). Solution is ALLOWED (i.e. “welcome” or admitted willingly) placed after or “beyond” SW (i.e. “Devon etc”, i.e. its location in England, a recognised abbreviation of “south-west”), like so: SW-ALLOWED.

41. Share fortune soldiers locked up with key (9)

Answer: ALLOTMENT (i.e. “share”). Solution is LOT (i.e. “fortune”) and MEN (i.e. “soldiers”, unreconstructedly) all placed in or “locked up with” ALT (i.e. a “key” on a computer keyboard), like so: AL(LOT-MEN)T.

42. Plunge has sea bird catching a fly, say (8)

Answer: DIPTERAN (i.e. “fly, say” – the solution is a creature with two wings). Solution is DIP (i.e. “plunge”) followed by TERN (i.e. “sea bird”) once wrapped around or “catching” A, like so: DIP-TER(A)N. One recalled from a previous puzzle, eventually.

45. Punk with green hair brushed up (7)

Answer: RUFFIAN (i.e. “punk”). Solution is NAIF (i.e. “green” or naïve) and FUR (i.e. “hair”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: RUF-FIAN. Nicely worked.

46. Piscatorial, maybe, and cold? (6)

Answer: OFFISH (i.e. “cold”). When written as OF FISH the solution also satisfies “piscatorial”. Another I rather liked.

47. Stone to kill, sent skywards (5)

Answer: TOPAZ (i.e. “stone”). Solution is TO and ZAP (i.e. “kill”) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “sent skywards” – this being a down clue), like so: TO-PAZ.

49. Plant philosopher pulled up (5)

Answer: SUMAC (i.e. “plant”). Solution is Albert CAMUS (i.e. “philosopher”) once reversed (indicated by “pulled up” – again, this being a down clue).

A medium strength Jumbo for the Easter weekend, and one that offered the kind of steady progression that I always like… well, that was until the bottom-right corner. Thankfully there was nothing too egregious here, just a little snaggy in places. A healthy dollop of good clues made up for all this and more.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 3.2%
(finished with dashes of German and Italian for a cosmopolitan tang)

Across clues

1. Incorrect statement about Disney character, about right for tycoon? (9)

Answer: PLUTOCRAT (i.e. “tycoon”). Solution is PLUTO CAT (i.e. “incorrect statement about Disney character” – Pluto being a dog, not a cat) wrapped “about” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: PLUTO-C(R)AT.

6. Bout follows live match (5)

Answer: BEFIT (i.e. “match”). Solution is FIT (i.e. “bout”) placed after or “following” BE (i.e. “live”), like so: BE-FIT.

9. Henry returning to pay in haste (7)

Answer: HOTFOOT (i.e. “haste”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement of electrical inductance) followed by TO reversed (indicated by “returning”), then FOOT (i.e. “to pay”), like so: H-OT-FOOT.

13. Thus overlooked, boy did play, strangely (5)

Answer: ODDLY (i.e. “strangely”). The first part of the clue plays on how the solution cryptically satisfies “thus overlooked, boy did play”, as in how the solution is derived by removing or “overlooking” the odd letters of BOY DID PLAY.

14. Not the clergy’s records being recalled in particular (7)

Answer: SPECIAL (i.e. “particular”). Solution is LAIC (i.e. “not the clergy’s”, or of lay people) and EPS (i.e. “records”, specifically Extended Plays) all reversed (indicated by “being recalled”), like so: SPE-CIAL.

15. Had food finally landed in appropriate place, at long last? (9)

Answer: BELATEDLY (i.e. “at long last”). Solution is ATE (i.e. “had food”) and D (i.e. “finally landed”, i.e. the last letter of “landed”) both placed “in” BELLY (i.e. “appropriate place” for food, in the context of the clue), like so: BEL(ATE-D)LY.

16. Wide river: manage to cross it in pain (3-8)

Answer: FAR-REACHING (i.e. “wide”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), REACH (i.e. “manage to cross it”) and IN all placed “in” (a bit of recycling, if I’m not mistaken) FAG (i.e. “pain”, as in a tiresome task or person), like so: FA(R-REACH-IN)G.

[EDIT: Thanks to Chris in the comments for providing a much cleaner solution, being FARE (i.e. “manage”) wrapped around or “crossing” R (“river”, as described) and followed by ACHING (i.e. “in pain”), like so: FAR(R)E-ACHING. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

17. Suffering from cold several times bonfires must be built (11)

Answer: FROSTBITTEN (i.e. “suffering from cold”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “must be built”) of TTT (i.e. “several times”, T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”. On this occasion we want three of them) and BONFIRES.

18. Bounded around home, healthy and with energy (6)

Answer: FINITE (i.e. “bounded”). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) with FIT (i.e. “healthy”) placed “around” it. This is all then followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: F(IN)IT-E.

19. Both mum and aunt finally, sadly, showing little character (3,5)

Answer: TOM THUMB (i.e. “little character” of folklore). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of BOTH MUM and T (i.e. “aunt finally”, i.e. the last letter of “aunt”).

21. Disturbance over waiter’s tip, followed by row (6)

Answer: UPROAR (i.e. “disturbance”). Solution is UP (i.e. complete or “over”) followed by R (i.e. “waiter’s tip”, in this case the back end of “waiter”) and OAR (i.e. “row”).

25. Stud resembling star affixed to cape (8)

Answer: CASANOVA (i.e. “stud”). Solution is AS A (i.e. “resembling”) and NOVA (i.e. “star”) all placed after or “affixed to” C (a recognised abbreviation of “cape”), like so: C-(AS-A-NOVA).

26. Be received by television station’s original founder (2,4,3,5)

Answer: GO DOWN THE TUBES (i.e. to “founder”). Solution is GO DOWN THE TUBE (i.e. “be received by television” – TUBE being slang for a television set) followed by S (i.e. “station’s original”, i.e. the first letter of “station”).

28. Settlements: a single one ultimately that hurt the Poles (5)

Answer: TOWNS (i.e. “settlements”). Solution is T (i.e. “settlements: a single one ultimately” – I think the setter is referring to a single settlement here, the last or “ultimate” letter of the word being T) followed by OW (i.e. “that hurts”) and NS (i.e. “poles”, short for north and south).

29. Musical works tell a story, radical on reflection (6)

Answer: LIEDER (i.e. “musical works”). Solution is LIE (i.e. “tell a story”) followed by RED (i.e. a “Radical”) once reversed (indicated by “on reflection”), like so: LIE-DER.

30. Titled lord, frightfully musical! (2,8)

Answer: DR DOLITTLE (i.e. “musical” film of 1968 starring Rex Harrison, based on the children’s books of Hugh Lofting). “Frightfully” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TITLED LORD.

33. Shopkeeper with quiet way of working getting in touch (10)

Answer: FISHMONGER (i.e. “shopkeeper”). Solution is SH (i.e. “quiet”) and MO (i.e. “way of working”, short for Modus Operandi) both placed “in” FINGER (i.e. “touch”), like so: FI(SH-MO)NGER.

35. Old dictator seeing money accrued after election is endless (3,3)

Answer: POL POT (i.e. “old dictator” of Cambodia). Solution is POT (i.e. “money accrued”) placed “after” POLL (i.e. “election”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “is endless”).

36. Kid is very loud after tea (5)

Answer: CHAFF (i.e. to “kid”). Solution is FF (i.e. “very loud”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of fortissimo used in musical lingo) placed “after” CHA (i.e. “tea”), like so: CHA-FF.

38. Nonsense about basic fitness of course good reason for scepticism (11,3)

Answer: CREDIBILITY GAP (i.e. “reason for scepticism”). Solution is CRAP (i.e. “nonsense”) wrapped “about” EDIBILITY (i.e. “basic fitness of course”) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: CR(EDIBILITY-G)AP.

40. For physicist, a very disastrous error having a doctor round (8)

Answer: Amadeo AVOGADRO (i.e. Italian “physicist”). Solution is A followed by V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), then OG (i.e. “disastrous error”, short for an Own Goal), then A, then DR (short for “doctor”) and O (i.e. “round”). One pieced together solely from the wordplay.

42. One going left hot drink close to pram: naughty! (6)

Answer: IMPISH (i.e. “naughty”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot” used on taps), SIP (i.e. a “drink”) and M (i.e. “close to pram”, i.e. the last letter of “pram”) once these latter three have all been reversed (indicated by “going left” – this being an across clue), like so: I-(M-PIS-H).

43. Shrink understood Leo – only for so long (6-2)

Answer: TOODLE-OO (i.e. “so long”). “Shrink” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, removing the outer letters of UNDERS(TOOD LEO O)NLY.

44. What bishops may grasp about different men (6)

Answer: CROOKS (i.e. “what bishops may grasp”). Solution is C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by ROOKS (i.e. “men” – chess pieces are sometimes referred to as men). “Different” seems surplus to requirements, so I might not have this 100% right.

[EDIT: Thanks again to Chris for clarifying “different” within the clue. I hadn’t twigged bishops being chess pieces too. Cheers, Chris! – LP]

47. Soft and runny porridge: that is a French dish (8,3)

Answer: PERIGORD PIE (i.e. “French dish” of meat and truffles. Sounds good to me). Solution is P (i.e. “soft”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) followed by an anagram (indicated by “runny”) of PORRIDGE, then IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.” short for the Latin id est), like so: P-ERIGORDP-IE.

50. Something deceptive in the case of latest Mob suspect (5,6)

Answer: FALSE BOTTOM (i.e. “something deceptive in the [suit]case”). “Suspect” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of OF LATEST MOB.

52. Notwithstanding popular image, enemy in retreat (2,5,2)

Answer: IN SPITE OF (i.e. “notwithstanding”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by SPIT (i.e. “image” or exact replica) and FOE (i.e. “enemy”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “in retreat”), like so: IN-SPIT-EOF.

53. Wind got of husband’s casual reference to couple? (7)

Answer: MEANDER (i.e. to “wind”). When written as ME AND ‘ER the solution playfully satisfies “husband’s casual reference to couple”.

54. Chap fifty yards back, bang in the middle (5)

Answer: DYLAN (i.e. “chap’s” name). Solution is L (i.e. “[Roman numeral] fifty”) and YD (a recognised abbreviation of “yards”) all reversed (indicated by “back”). This is then followed by AN (i.e. “bang in the middle”, i.e. the middle letters of “bang”), like so: (DY-L)-AN.

55. Camel at the back, one with humps, for example, not unnaturally (7)

Answer: LITOTES (i.e. “for example, not unnaturally” – over to Chambers: “affirmation by negation of the contrary”). Solution is L (i.e. “camel at the back”, i.e. the last letter of “camel”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and TOTES (i.e. “humps” or carries). One I remembered from a previous Jumbo.

56. Four German couples appearing at end of Huckleberry Finn? (5)

Answer: YACHT (i.e. “finn” – this defeated my Chambers and Oxford dictionaries, but a quick Google suggests this is a type of dinghy used in competitive racing). Solution is ACHT (i.e. “four German couples”, i.e. the German for “eight”) placed after or “at” Y (i.e. “end of Huckleberry”, i.e. the last letter of “Huckleberry”), like so: Y-ACHT.

57. Festival queen, depressed, finding comfort in retirement (9)

Answer: EIDERDOWN (i.e. “comfort in retirement” or in having some kip). Solution is EID (i.e. Muslim “festival”) followed by ER (i.e. “queen”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) and DOWN (i.e. “depressed”).

Down clues

1. What demonstrates strength of spirit (5)

Answer: PROOF. Solution satisfies “what demonstrates” and “strength of spirit”. Nicely worked.

2. Very young infants have small playgroup, independently (5,4,3,5)

Answer: UNDER ONE’S OWN STEAM (i.e. “independently”). Solution is UNDER-ONES (i.e. “very young infants”) followed by OWNS (i.e. “have”) and TEAM (i.e. “playgroup”).

3. Neat Yankee fellow seen with medical department’s hospital equipment (6,5)

Answer: OXYGEN TENTS (i.e. “hospital equipment”). Solution is OX (i.e. “neat”, a variant meaning) followed by Y (“Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet), then GENT (i.e. “fellow”) and ENT’S (i.e. “medical department’s” – ENT being short for Ear Nose and Throat).

4. For these jobs the academic not always in the end cut out (6)

Answer: RESECT (i.e. “cut out”, supposedly a section of bone). “Always in the end” indicates the solution is derived from the last letters of “foR thesE jobS thE academiC noT“.

5. Bash we do with champagne (3,5)

Answer: THE WIDOW (i.e. “champagne”, specifically Veuve Clicquot. Veuve is French for “widow”). “Bash” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WE DO WITH. Another nicely worked clue.

6. Link with firms keeping judge and journalist in work (7,5)

Answer: BRIDGET JONES (i.e. “journalist in work” by novelist Helen Fielding). Solution is BRIDGE (i.e. “link”) followed by TONES (i.e. “firms” up) once wrapped around or “keeping” J (a recognised abbreviation of “judge”), like so: BRIDGE-T(J)ONES. It’s always nice to see relatively recent cultural references sneaking into Jumbos every now and again.

7. Conflict with rank in decline, mostly (4,4,2)

Answer: FALL FOUL OF (i.e. “conflict with”). Solution FOUL (i.e. “rank”) placed “in” FALL OFF (i.e. “decline”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: FALL-(FOUL)-OF.

8. Disapproved of cheers? The opposite! (5)

Answer: TABOO (i.e. “disapproved of”). Solution is TA (i.e. “cheers”) followed by BOO (i.e. “the opposite” of cheers).

9. Deception lethal, FT ruthlessly demonstrates (4-5)

Answer: HALF-TRUTH (i.e. “deception”). “Demonstrates” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: LET(HAL FT RUTH)LESSLY.

10. Sound disapproving note about one franc confection (5,6)

Answer: TUTTI FRUTTI (i.e. “confection”). Solution is TUT-TUT (i.e. “sound disapproving”) and TI (i.e. musical “note” of the sol-fa scale) wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and FR (a recognised abbreviation of “franc”), like so: TUT-T(I-FR)UT-TI.

11. Report of case for Oxonian: E Morse? (2,3)

Answer: ON DIT (i.e. “report” – another that defeats my Chambers, but my Oxford supports it, supposedly being a rumour or piece of gossip). Solution is ON (i.e. “case for Oxonian”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Oxonian”) followed by DIT (i.e. “E Morse”, i.e. the letter E in Morse code, a single dit). Can’t say I’ve ever heard the phrase but I do like the construction of the clue, playing on Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse, whose first name is Endeavour. Very nicely done.

12. Object after husband’s made track difficult (6)

Answer: TRYING (i.e. “difficult”). Solution is THING (i.e. “object”) once the H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) has been swapped for or “made” into RY (i.e. “track”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “railway”), like so: T(H)ING => T(RY)ING.

18. Expert’s characteristic, confrontational position (4,2,4)

Answer: FACE TO FACE (i.e. “confrontational position”). When written as FACET OF ACE the solution also satisfies “expert’s characteristic”.

20. Stony ridge linked to football training (8)

Answer: BANKRUPT (i.e. “stony” broke). Solution is BANK (i.e. “ridge”) followed by RU (i.e. “football”, specifically Rugby Union) and PT (i.e. “training”, specifically Physical Training).

22. Poor old constable to bat, getting a pair – that was funny! (6,3,8)

Answer: Bud ABBOTT AND Lou COSTELLO (i.e. “a pair – that was funny”. I concur! I loved their horror cross-overs as a young un). “Poor” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of OLD CONSTABLE TO BAT. Another winner.

23. What you see before eruption upset island paradise (6)

Answer: AVALON (i.e. “island paradise” where King Arthur was supposedly laid to rest). Solution is NO LAVA (i.e. “what you see before eruption”) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue). The down clues are knocking it out of the park this week!

24. Life’s good for flourishing South London area (4,2,4)

Answer: ISLE OF DOGS (i.e. “London area”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “for flourishing”) of LIFE’S GOOD followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”), like so: ISLEOFDOG-S.

27. Old monk’s high point joining order (8)

Answer: BENEDICT (i.e. “old monk”). Solution is BEN (i.e. a mountain peak or “high point”) followed by EDICT (i.e. “order”).

31. Old firm keeping tax returns in book (6)

Answer: OCTAVO (i.e. “book”. Over to Chambers again: “adjective: having eight leaves to the sheet; (conventionally) of a size so obtained, whether so folded or not. noun: a book printed on sheets so folded; (conventionally) a book of such a size…”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and CO (i.e. “firm”, short for company) once wrapped around or “keeping” VAT (i.e. “tax”, specifically Value Added Tax) once reversed (indicated by “returns”), like so: O-C(TAV)O. A relatively recent repeat with much the same clue, making this a much easier get.

32. What’s Easter – and Lent – without a taste of eggs! (7,5)

Answer: MOVABLE FEAST (i.e. “Easter”, a festival that shifts about according to the first full moon after the spring equinox). The rest of the clue leaves me cold – religion has that effect on me – but it could be MOVABLE FAST (i.e. “Lent”) wrapped around or placed “without” E (i.e. “a taste of eggs”, i.e. the first letter of “eggs”).

34. Millions, unhealthy and lean, are those up for spam? (7,4)

Answer: MAILING LIST (i.e. “are those up for spam” – categorically not!) Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “millions”) followed by AILING (i.e. “unhealthy”) and LIST (i.e. to “lean”).

36. Red oligarch’s broadcast one offering a mouthpiece for Havana? (5,6)

Answer: CIGAR HOLDER (i.e. “one offering a mouthpiece for Havana”). “Broadcast” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RED OLIGARCH.

37. Promoter with loudspeaker outside party, back to get under one’s skin (10)

Answer: HYPODERMIC (i.e. “under one’s skin”). Solution is HYPER (i.e. “promoter”) and MIC (i.e. “loudspeaker” – I think the setter’s really stretching it here. A microphone on its own isn’t going to amplify your voice. Don’t believe me? Take a mic to the bar of a packed nightclub and let me know how you get on) placed “outside” of DO (i.e. “party”) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: HYP(OD)ER-MIC.

39. Ann with shires working thus? (2,7)

Answer: IN HARNESS (i.e. “thus” within the context of the clue, referring to “shire” horses). “Working” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ANN and SHIRES.

41. US president collected papers for one from the South (8)

Answer: Calvin COOLIDGE (i.e. “US president” of the 1920s). Solution is COOL (i.e. “collected”) followed by ID (i.e. “papers”) and EG (i.e. “for one” or for example) once reversed (indicated by “from the South” – this being a down clue), like so: COOL-ID-GE.

45. University fellow stretched, evidently, to a higher level (6)

Answer: UPHILL (i.e. “to a higher level”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) followed by PHILL (i.e. “fellow stretched, evidently” – i.e. the man’s name PHIL with the last letter repeated).

46. Old-fashioned daughter walked on over (6)

Answer: RETROD (i.e. “walked on over”). Solution is RETRO (i.e. “old-fashioned”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”). Took a while to twig.

48. Put back a class of biblical scholars? (5)

Answer: RESET (i.e. “put back” to a previous state). When written as RE SET the solution satisfies “class of biblical scholars” – RE being Religious Education.

49. Having the effects of inflation drag on years (5)

Answer: PUFFY (i.e. “having the effects of inflation”). Solution is PUFF (i.e. “drag” of a cigarette) followed by Y (a recognised abbreviation of “years”).

51. Opera that’s performed in French but not in Italian (5)

Answer: MANON (i.e. “opera that’s performed in French” by Jules Massenet – no, me neither). When written as MA NON the solution also satisfies “but not” in Italian. I got this latter bit by spotting the phrase “ma non troppo” in my Chambers, supposedly meaning “but not too much” in musical lingo. There might be more to this clue, but I’m not seeing it.

A medium strength Jumbo this week with a dash of misdirection and invention to toughen up proceedings. Overall I liked it, though some of the clues were so tenuous or vague as to be virtually useless. Case in point, 6a: how many species across the animal kingdom are classed as predators? More than three, I’d wager. And from that we’re supposed to make the leap from “robust hunter” to WOLF SPIDER? Throw me a frickin’ bone here.

Anyway, weak Dr Evil references aside, 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 night terrors then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the thoughts of other solvers once the dust has settled. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 1.7%

(With thanks to Chris in the comments for fixing 25a)

Across clues

1. Making meaty meal, criticise and complain (5,4)

Answer: ROAST BEEF (i.e. “meaty meal”). Solution is ROAST (i.e. “criticise”) followed by BEEF (i.e. a “complaint”).

6. Robust hunter nasty about fox initially needing rest (4,6)

Answer: WOLF SPIDER (i.e. “robust hunter” (looks to camera; shakes head)). Solution is LOW (i.e. base or “nasty”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and followed by F (i.e. “fox initially”, i.e. the first letter of “fox”), then SPIDER (i.e. a “rest” for a snooker cue), like so: WOL-F-SPIDER.

12. Beginning to secure wartime bomb outside body (2,5)

Answer: IN VITRO (i.e. “outside [the] body”). Solution is INTRO (i.e. “beginning”) wrapped around or “securing” VI (i.e. “wartime bomb”, in this case the V-1 flying bomb with the 1 replaced with its Roman numeral equivalent), like so: IN(VI)TRO.

13. Reckless American lawman taken with Soviet wickedness? (9)

Answer: DAREDEVIL (i.e. “reckless”). Solution is DA (i.e. “American lawman”, specifically a District Attorney) followed by RED (i.e. “Soviet”) and EVIL (i.e. “wickedness”).

14. Floridan location where monkey heard? (5)

Answer: TAMPA (i.e. “Florida location”). “Heard” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of TAMPER (i.e. to “monkey” with).

16. Enchantress keeps sum for conversion with pirate bound (12)

Answer: CIRCUMSCRIBE (i.e. to draw a line around or to “bound” something). Solution is CIRCE (i.e. “enchantress” of Greek myth) wrapped around or “keeping” an anagram (indicated by “for conversion”) of SUM along with CRIB (i.e. to copy or “pirate”), like so: CIRC(UMS-CRIB)E.

17. Exhausted – given hand when leaving? (7,3)

Answer: CLAPPED OUT. Solution satisfies “exhausted” and “given hand when leaving”.

19. Maybe daughters into bordello as poor (5,9)

Answer: BLOOD RELATIONS (i.e. “maybe daughters”). “Poor” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INTO BORDELLO AS.

22. Say setter loves the German sort affecting virtue? (2-6)

Answer: DO-GOODER (i.e. “sort affecting virtue”). Solution DOG (i.e. “setter”) followed by OO (i.e. “loves” – “love” being a zero score in tennis) and DER (i.e. “the German”, i.e. the German for “the”).

24. Highland beer without cask (6)

Answer: ALPINE (i.e. “highland”). Solution is ALE (i.e. “beer”) wrapped around or placed “without” PIN (i.e. “cask”), like so: AL(PIN)E.

25. Lie in comfort in Paris and dance for sport at court (10)

Answer: RACKETBALL (i.e. “sport at court”). Not 100% sure here, so watch out. My solution, for what it’s worth, is RACK (i.e. “lie in comfort”, though quite how is beyond me, my Chambers and my Bradford’s. While RACK has several variant meanings, none leap out at me that qualifies the “in comfort” part. Quite the opposite, in fact) followed by ET (i.e. “in Paris and”, i.e. the French for “and”) and BALL (i.e. “dance” event).

[EDIT: Scratch that, the answer is BASKETBALL (i.e. “sport at court”). Solution is BASK (i.e. “lie in comfort”) followed by ET and BALL as described above, i.e. the French for “and” along with a “dance” event. Thanks to Chris in the comments for fixing this one! – LP]

26. Lizard shy about kiss lacking in pressure (5)

Answer: GECKO (i.e. “lizard”). Solution is GO (i.e. “shy” – Chambers backs this one up, listing “shy” as “an attempt, shot” under a variant meaning) wrapped “about” PECK (i.e. “kiss”) once the P has been removed (indicated by “lacking in pressure” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: G(ECK)O.

29. Stones in road in stockbroker belt (4)

Answer: KERB (i.e. “stones in road” – weird, I always thought they were part of the pavement. No wonder drivers are pissed off. If it’s not potholes ruining car suspensions its ruddy great kerbstones set into the road. What a waste of taxpayers’ money). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: STOCKBRO(KER B)ELT.

30. Australian native came upon the vacant compartment (8)

Answer: ROOMETTE (i.e. “compartment”). Solution is ROO (i.e. “Australian native”, short for kangaroo) followed by MET (i.e. “came upon”) and TE (i.e. “the vacant”, i.e. the word “the” with its middle letter removed).

32. Skinless meat served in huge pot for gourmet (9)

Answer: EPICUREAN (i.e. “gourmet”). Solution is EA (i.e. “skinless meat”, i.e. the word “meat” with its first and last letters removed) placed or “served in” EPIC (i.e. “huge”) and URN (i.e. “pot”), like so: EPIC-UR(EA)N.

34. Electricity generator in Post Office nicked by subversive group (9)

Answer: PHOTOCELL (i.e. “electricity generator”, a shortened form of photoelectric cell). Solution is PO (i.e. short for “Post Office”) wrapped around or having “in” HOT (i.e. “nicked” or stolen) and followed by CELL (i.e. “subversive group”), like so: P(HOT)O-CELL.

35. No information, doctor admitted, on a steroid men produce (8)

Answer: ANDROGEN (i.e. “steroid men produce”). Solution is NO and GEN (i.e. “information”) wrapped around or “admitting” DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”). This is all then placed “on” or after A, like so: A-(N(DR)O-GEN).

36. Have sudden inspiration? (4)

Answer: GASP. Clue plays on “inspiration” being an intake of breath.

39. Snatching grouper’s tail, ray finds another fish (5)

Answer: BREAM (i.e. “fish”). Solution is R (i.e. “grouper’s tail”, i.e. the last letter of “grouper”) placed in or being “snatched” by BEAM (i.e. “ray” of light), like so: B(R)EAM.

40. Older issue detectable in both aspects of Marxism-Leninism? (4-6)

Answer: BACK-NUMBER (i.e. “older issue” of a publication). The solution cryptically satisfies “detectable in both aspects of Marxism-Leninism”, as in how “MarXISm-LENINism” contains the NUMBERS “six” and “nine” respectively once reversed or BACKED. I rather liked this one when I finally twigged it.

42. Sally’s grabbing Penny’s white-tipped flower parts? (6)

Answer: RAPIDS (i.e. “white-tipped flower parts”, taking “flower” to be a river, as in how a river flows). Solution is RAID’S (i.e. “sally’s” – a sally being an onrush) wrapped around or “grabbing” P (a recognised abbreviation of a “penny”), like so: RA(P)ID’S. Another I liked once the… er… penny dropped.

44. This exponent of spin may be fired (8)

Answer: REVOLVER. Solution satisfies an example or “exponent of spin”, and something that “may be fired”.

46. Consumer needs analysis, having abused car makers there (6,8)

Answer: MARKET RESEARCH (i.e. “consumer needs analysis”). “Abused” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CAR MAKERS THERE.

48. Wife perhaps not tolerant enough to see brilliant child? (10)

Answer: WUNDERKIND (i.e. “brilliant child”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) followed by UNDER-KIND (i.e. “perhaps not tolerant enough”, playfully).

49. One’s almost in for changes to keep satellite country’s exceptionalist policy (12)

Answer: ISOLATIONISM (i.e. “country’s exceptionalist policy”). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “for changes”) of ALMOST IN once wrapped around or “keeping” IO (i.e. “satellite” or moon of Jupiter), like so: I’S-OLAT(IO)NISM.

53. State imprisoning upper-class caught being impudent (5)

Answer: SAUCY (i.e. “being impudent”). Solution is SAY (i.e. to “state”) wrapped around or “imprisoning” U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper-class”) and C (ditto “caught”, used in a number of ball games), like so: SA(U-C)Y.

54. Element one among former students Greek character backed (9)

Answer: ALUMINIUM (i.e. chemical “element”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “among” ALUMNI (i.e. “former students”) and followed by MU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the twelfth letter of the Greek alphabet) once reversed (indicated by “backed”), like so: ALUM(I)NI-UM.

55. Tundra dwellers in estate for instance; one about to lose coat (7)

Answer: CARIBOU (i.e. North American reindeer, or “tundra dwellers”). Solution is CAR (i.e. “estate for instance” – other flavours of car are available) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” again) and BOU (i.e. “about to lose coat”, i.e. the word “about” with the first and last letters removed).

56. Uncompromising army corps not so fast invading? (10)

Answer: RELENTLESS (i.e. “uncompromising”). Solution is RE (i.e. “army corps”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) and LESS (i.e. “not so”) wrapped around or being “invaded” by LENT (i.e. a “fast” or period of fasting), like so: RE-(LENT)-LESS.

57. Relevant document to be landed with? (5,4)

Answer: TITLE DEED. Clue plays on the “document” in question being one that proves a right to possession, in this case of “land”.

Down clues

1. Lunar vehicle runs past (5)

Answer: ROVER (i.e. “lunar vehicle”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) followed by OVER (i.e. “past”).

2. Phenomenal temperature found in a measurement at sea (10)

Answer: ASTOUNDING (i.e. “phenomenal”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”) placed “in” A and SOUNDING (i.e. “measurement at sea”, in this case of depth), like so: A-S(T)OUNDING.

3. Criminal haul lifted, then dropped in gardener’s store (8)

Answer: TOOLSHED (i.e. “gardener’s store”). Solution is LOOT (i.e. “criminal haul”) reversed (indicated by “lifted” – this being a down clue) and followed by SHED (i.e. “dropped”), like so: TOOL-SHED.

4. Senior worker joining renounces whiskey (5)

Answer: ELDER (i.e. “senior”). Solution is WELDER (i.e. “worker joining”) with the W removed (indicated by “renounces whiskey” – “whiskey” being W in the phonetic alphabet).

5. Passion shown by Casablanca café owner welcoming British liner (9)

Answer: FIREBRICK (i.e. “liner” of a furnace). Solution is FIRE (i.e. “passion”) and RICK Blaine (i.e. “Casablanca café owner” in the 1940s film) wrapped around or “welcoming” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: FIRE-(B)-RICK.

6. What cranes do in Kurosawa depictions (4)

Answer: WADE (i.e. “what cranes do”, referring to the birds). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: KUROSA(WA DE)PICTIONS.

7. Animated Roman historian pens article in Spanish (6)

Answer: LIVELY (i.e. “animated”). Solution is Titus Livius, known to the English as LIVY (i.e. “Roman historian” – no, me neither) wrapped around or “penning” EL (i.e. “article in Spanish”, i.e. the Spanish for “the” – an article being a word like a, an or the), like so: LIV(EL)Y.

8. Magical being in south for new medical, announced without endorsement (4-10)

Answer: SELF-PROCLAIMED (i.e. “announced without endorsement”). Solution is ELF (i.e. “magical being”) placed “in” between S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”), PRO (i.e. “for” or in favour of) and an anagram (indicated by “new”) of MEDICAL, like so: S-(ELF)-PRO-CLAIMED.

9. Where Pheidippides made his name eventually? (2,3,4,3)

Answer: IN THE LONG RUN. Solution playfully satisfies “where Pheidippides made his name” – he was the messenger who ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of the Greek victory in the Battle of Marathon, dying shortly afterwards – and “eventually”. Another I rather liked.

10. Old women almost ruined timber (7)

Answer: ELMWOOD (i.e. “timber”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ruined”) of OLD WOMEN once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”).

11. Very dark ground – defender has got left inside (5-5)

Answer: PITCH-BLACK (i.e. “very dark”). Solution is PITCH (i.e. sporting “ground”) followed by BACK (i.e. “defender”) once wrapped around or having “inside” L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), like so: PITCH-B(L)ACK.

15. Rum neat for working PM (9)

Answer: AFTERNOON (i.e. “pm” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rum” or strange) of NEAT FOR followed by ON (i.e. “working”), like so: AFTERNO-ON.

18. Complete stop by noted criminal (3-2-3)

Answer: END-TO-END (i.e. “complete”). Solution is END (i.e. “stop”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “criminal”) of NOTED.

20. Forward contract that holds work up intentionally (2,7)

Answer: ON PURPOSE (i.e. “intentionally”). Solution is ON (i.e. “forward” or onwards) and PURSE (i.e. “contract”) wrapped around OP (i.e. “work”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “opus”) once this has been reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: ON-PUR(PO)SE.

21. Branch with a large notice that ought to cause a stir (5,5)

Answer: ALARM CLOCK (i.e. “that ought to cause a stir”). Solution is ARM (i.e. “branch”) placed after or “with” A and L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and followed by CLOCK (i.e. to “notice”), like so: A-L-(ARM)-CLOCK.

23. Spiteful fellow filled pastry case, discarding middle portion (10)

Answer: MALEVOLENT (i.e. “spiteful”). Solution is MALE (i.e. “fellow”) followed by VOL AU VENT (i.e. “filled pastry case”) once the “middle portion”, AU V, has been removed or “discarded”, like so: MALE-VOLENT.

27. Sound’s shortened in shout to encourage knight (9)

Answer: CHEVALIER (i.e. “knight”). Solution is VALID (i.e. “sound”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “shortened”) and the remainder placed “in” CHEER (i.e. “shout to encourage”), like so: CHE(VALI)ER.

28. Business meeting might disintegrate rapidly (5,9)

Answer: POWER BREAKFAST (i.e. “business meeting”). Solution is POWER (i.e. “might”) followed by BREAK (i.e. “disintegrate”) and FAST (i.e. “rapidly”).

31. End of violent film showing rail worker (8)

Answer: TRAINMAN (i.e. “rail worker”). Solution is T (i.e. “end of violent”, i.e. the last letter of “violent”) followed by RAIN MAN (i.e. 1988 “film”).

33. Preservative starchy and dry that drives out vermin (12)

Answer: FORMALDEHYDE (i.e. “preservative”). Solution is FORMAL (i.e. “starchy”) followed by DEHYDRATE (i.e. to “dry”) once the RAT (i.e. “vermin”) has been removed or “driven out”, like so: FORMAL-DEHYDE.

34. On the rise, winning fights outside clubs in local tours (3-6)

Answer: PUB CRAWLS (i.e. “local tours” – “locals” being another word for public houses). Solution is UP (i.e. “winning”) reversed (indicated by “on the rise” – this being a down clue) followed by BRAWLS (i.e. “fights”) once wrapped around or placed “outside” of C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games), like so: PU-B(C)RAWLS.

37. River mouth reconstructed in South America after death (10)

Answer: POSTHUMOUS (i.e. “after death”). Solution is PO (i.e. a “river” in Italy) followed by an anagram (indicated by “reconstructed”) of MOUTH once placed between or “in” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”) and US (i.e. “America”, or the United States), like so: PO-(S-(THUMO)-US).

38. People use bad language about old Hippodrome? (10)

Answer: RACECOURSE (i.e. “Hippodrome”, an ancient Greek stadium used for chariot racing). Solution is RACE (i.e. “people”) followed by CURSE (i.e. “use bad language”) once wrapped “about” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: RACE-C(O)URSE.

41. Rough and ready fashion garment (9)

Answer: MAKESHIFT (i.e. “rough and ready”). Solution is MAKE (i.e. to “fashion”) followed by SHIFT (i.e. “garment”).

43. One may feel cold coming into shelter with drink (8)

Answer: TENTACLE (i.e. “one may feel”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” used on taps) placed “into” TENT (i.e. “shelter”) and ALE (i.e. “drink”), like so: TENT-A(C)LE.

45. Commercial enterprise opening beside river in Yorkshire (7)

Answer: VENTURE (i.e. “commercial enterprise”). Solution is VENT (i.e. “opening”) followed by URE (i.e. “river in Yorkshire”).

47. Confidence lacking – fund issues currency in central areas (6)

Answer: UNSURE (i.e. “confidence lacking”). “In central areas” indicates the solution is derived from the middle letters of FUND ISSUES CURRENCY.

50. The writer is drunk outside – over this presumably! (5)

Answer: LIMIT (i.e. “over this presumably” within the context of the clue). Solution is I’M (i.e. “the writer is”, from the point of view of the setter; a contraction of I AM) placed in or having “outside” LIT (i.e. “drink”), like so: L(I’M)IT.

51. Looking towards the North, name UK region about to blossom (2,3)

Answer: IN BUD (i.e. “about to blossom”). Solution is DUB (i.e. to “name”) and NI (i.e. “UK region”, Northern Ireland) all reversed (indicated by “looking towards the north” – this being a down clue).

52. Collide momentarily with runners when cycling (4)

Answer: KISS (i.e. “collide momentarily”). Solution is SKIS (i.e. “runners”) with the letters “cycled”, in this case the first letter placed last, like so: (S)KIS => KIS(S).

A half-and-half Jumbo this week: half-easy, half-toughie, as you can probably see from the grid. Too uneven for my tastes, though some good clueing made up for it. I almost forgot to finish this post as the Senior Darts this weekend has been an absorbing watch. Good to see it on national TV now, and congratulations to Leonard Gates on becoming the Champion of Champions.

Back to the Jumbo, 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 shrugging your shoulders then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 1.6%

Across clues

1. Belted out ditty about drink (7)

Answer: SANGRIA (i.e. “drink”). Solution is SANG (i.e. “belted out”) followed by AIR (i.e. “ditty”) once reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: SANG-RIA.

5. Person who “liberates” a bit of Assam? (3,4)

Answer: TEA LEAF. Solution satisfies “person who ‘liberates’”, being the cockney rhyming slang for a thief, and “a bit of Assam”, being a variety of tea.

9. Returning half-sober answer on occasion (2,5)

Answer: AT TIMES (i.e. “on occasion”). Solution is SEMI-TT (i.e. “half-sober” – TT is a recognised abbreviation of “teetotal” – not quite sure how anyone can be semi-teetotal, but never mind) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) all reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: A-TT-IMES.

13. Very ill-informed GP rationing shot (3-8)

Answer: PIG-IGNORANT (i.e. “very ill-informed”). “Shot” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of GP RATIONING.

14. Ruthless examination for PhD? (5,6)

Answer: THIRD DEGREE (i.e. “ruthless examination”). The remainder of the clue also playfully satisfies “PhD”, much like it did a couple of months ago when this clue last appeared. Ho hum!

15. New Year in French style for southern African native (5)

Answer: NYALA (i.e. a large antelope and “southern African native”). Solution is NY (short for “New Year”) followed by A LA (i.e. “in French style”).

16. One putting down every single English philosopher (7)

Answer: ALLAYER (i.e. “one putting down”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “every single”) followed by (A.J.) AYER (i.e. “English philosopher” – no, me neither).

17. Unobtrusive observation of Prince devotee by sleuth (4,2,3)

Answer: HALF AN EYE (i.e. “unobtrusive observation”). Solution is HAL (i.e. “Prince” – Prince Hal is a reference to Shakespeare’s portrayal of a young Henry V. Times setters generally have a soft-on for Shakespeare, so this is one worth keeping in mind if you’ve not come across it before) followed by followed by FAN (i.e. “devotee”) and EYE (i.e. “detective”, as in a private eye).

18. Sort out details, and finish off letters (3,3,2,3,5,3,2)

Answer: DOT THE IS AND CROSS THE TS. Solution satisfies “sort out details” and “finish off letters”.

23. Oddity of bachelor eschewing intemperance (8)

Answer: EERINESS (i.e. “oddity”, characteristically speaking). Solution is BEERINESS (i.e. “intemperance”) with the B removed (indicated by “bachelor eschewing…” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”).

25. Film about life and work in British Isles, initially convincing (6)

Answer: BIOPIC (i.e. “film about life”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) placed “in” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) II (i.e. “isles”, I being a recognised abbreviation of “isle”) and C (i.e. “initially convincing”, i.e. the first letter of “convincing”), like so: B-I(OP)I-C.

27. Articulate girl yearned for believer in spirits (7)

Answer: ANIMIST (i.e. “believer in spirits”). “Articulate” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of ANNIE (i.e. “girl’s” name) and MISSED (i.e. “yearned”). Not from my mouth it wouldn’t, so I’ll let the setter fend for themselves on that one.

30. Reviewed notable books in turn (5)

Answer: PIVOT (i.e. “turn”). Solution is VIP (i.e. “notable”, in this case a Very Important Person) reversed (indicated by “reviewed”, as in being looked over) and followed by OT (i.e. “books”, the Old Testament of The Bible), like so: PIV-OT.

32. A Scottish dear concealing accident, half-cut in Corsican port (7)

Answer: AJACCIO (i.e. “Corsican port”). Solution is A and JO (i.e. “Scottish dear” or one beloved, apparently an old Scots form of “joy” – again, me neither) once wrapped around or “concealing” ACCI (i.e. “accident, half-cut”), like so: A-J(ACCI)O. Regular readers will know I treat inclusions of ports in Jumbos with significant disdain. All too often they are used when a setter is too lazy to rework an awkward spot in the grid. If they aren’t willing to put in the work, then why should we? I’m glad I reached straight for my Bradford’s on this one, too – what a horror show! If you nailed this with grey matter alone then hats off to you.

33. Supervisory body recalling both pistol and round (9)

Answer: REGULATOR (i.e. “supervisory body”). Solution is LUGER (i.e. a variety of “pistol”) and ROTA (i.e. “round”) both reversed (indicated by “recalling”), like so: REGUL-ATOR. After slating the setter just now, it’s only fair to highlight a clue that is genuinely well-worked.

35. Salt introduced to processed cereals and veg (9)

Answer: CALABRESE (i.e. “veg” – also the name of my go-to pizza at Pizza Express, assuming they still do it. Top nomming). Solution is AB (i.e. “salt”, both references to sailors, in this case one of the Able-Bodied persuasion) placed in or “introduced to” an anagram (indicated by “processed”) of CEREALS, like so: CAL(AB)RESE. Another toughie. The mid-left of the grid was generally a bit of a bastard.

36. Dim male relative content to leave alligator (7)

Answer: UNCLEAR (i.e. “dim”). Solution is UNCLE (i.e. “male relative”) followed by AR (i.e. “content to leave alligator”, i.e. the word “alligator” with all its middle letters removed).

37. Soppy people ultimately shed tears (5)

Answer: DRIPS (i.e. “soppy people”). Solution is D (i.e. “ultimately shed”, i.e. the last letter of “shed”) followed by RIPS (i.e. “tears”).

38. Temporary Head of IT coming on board during semester (7)

Answer: INTERIM (i.e. “temporary”). Solution is I (i.e. “head of IT”, i.e. the first letter of “IT”) placed in or “coming on board” IN TERM (i.e. “during semester”), like so: IN-TER(I)M.

40. Tell dog to follow sappers (6)

Answer: RETAIL (i.e. “tell”, in this case “to put about, hand on by report” (Chambers, deep into the definitions)). Solution is TAIL (i.e. to “dog”) placed after or “following” RE (i.e. “sappers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army), like so: RE-TAIL.

41. Leash may wound terrier (8)

Answer: SEALYHAM (i.e. “terrier” – again, me neither. A bit of a theme this week. After doing a Google image search, I believe this is a popular breed among New Yorkers. There were loads of little white yappy things being walked about the place when She and I visited a few years ago. It was like The Stepford Dogs or something). “Wound” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LEASH MAY.

44. Impulsive peer group producing something out of nothing (11,10)

Answer: SPONTANEOUS GENERATION (i.e. “something out of nothing”, in this case “the supposed production of living organisms from non-living matter” (Chambers)). Solution also playfully satisfies “impulsive peer group”.

48. Weary workforce that upholds standards (9)

Answer: FLAGSTAFF (i.e. “that upholds standards” or flags). Solution is FLAG (i.e. “weary”, as an intransitive verb) followed by STAFF (i.e. “workforce”).

50. Dickens sold in Wick without front covers (3,4)

Answer: OLD NICK (i.e. “Dickens”, both nicknames for the Devil). “Without front covers” indicates the solution is derived by removing the first letters of SOLD IN WICK.

53. Reform in pursuit of constant faith (5)

Answer: CREDO (i.e. “faith”). Solution is REDO (i.e. “reform”) placed after or “in pursuit of” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”), like so: C-REDO.

54. Mysterious magician let out (11)

Answer: ENIGMATICAL (i.e. “mysterious”). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of MAGICIAN LET.

55. Alcoholic beverage is found in her office, sadly (5,6)

Answer: IRISH COFFEE (i.e. “alcoholic beverage”). Solution is IS placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of HER OFFICE, like so: IR(IS)HCOFFEE.

56. Provide nourishment for bear (7)

Answer: SUSTAIN. Solution satisfies “provide nourishment for” and to “bear”.

57. Informal evening turned into regret for entourage (7)

Answer: RETINUE (i.e. “entourage”). Solution is NITE (i.e. “informal evening”, or an informal version of “night”) reversed (indicated by “turned”) and placed “into” RUE (i.e. “regret”), like so: R(ETIN)UE.

58. Loves assimilating the lines for Shakesperean role (7)

Answer: OTHELLO (i.e. “Shakespearean role”). Solution is OO (i.e. “loves” – “love” being a zero score in tennis) wrapped around or “assimilating” THE and LL (i.e. “lines” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”), like so: O(THE-LL)O.

Down clues

1. Lying on back finally makes you ache (6)

Answer: SUPINE (i.e. “lying on back”). Solution is SU (i.e. “finally makes you”, i.e. the last letter of “makes” and “you”) followed by PINE (i.e. to long for or “ache”).

2. Daughter endlessly teasing upwardly mobile miser (7)

Answer: NIGGARD (i.e. “miser”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) followed by RAGGING (i.e. “teasing”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “upwardly” – this being a down clue), like so: NIGGAR-D.

3. Without introduction, congregate to play Caribbean music (9)

Answer: REGGAETON (i.e. “Caribbean music”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to play”) of CONGRETATE once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “without introduction”).

4. Sample ultra-romantic fragrance (5)

Answer: AROMA (i.e. “fragrance”). “Sample” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ULTR(A-ROMA)NTIC.

5. Sustenance for tramps (5,3)

Answer: TRAIL MIX, “a mixture of pieces of dried fruit (e.g. bananas, dates, pineapples, apricots, etc) nuts and seeds eaten as a snack, originally by hikers” (Chambers). Clue plays on “tramps” being journeys made on foot.

6. Fittingly, apartment lay empty (5)

Answer: APTLY (i.e. “fittingly”). Solution is APT (a recognised abbreviation of “apartment”) followed by LY (i.e. “lay empty”, i.e. the word “lay” with its middle letter removed).

7. Admitted removing case of Lenten wine (7)

Answer: ENTERED (i.e. “admitted”). Solution is ENTE (i.e. “removing case of Lenten”, i.e. “Lenten” with its first and last letters removed) followed by RED (i.e. “wine”).

8. Fine, delicate wind instrument in black box (6,8)

Answer: FLIGHT RECORDER (informally known as a “black box”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils) followed by LIGHT (i.e. “delicate”) and RECORDER (i.e. “wind instrument”).

9. Ace sundial transformed area in Spanish autonomous community (9)

Answer: ANDALUSIA (i.e. “Spanish autonomous community”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” on playing cards) followed by an anagram (indicated by “transformed”) of SUNDIAL and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”), like so: A-NDALUSI-A.

10. Letter and article on former reservists (5)

Answer: THETA (i.e. eighth “letter” of the Greek alphabet). Solution is THE (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) followed by TA (i.e. “former reservists”, the Territorial Army).

11. Real men swooning over slim, wealthy film star (7,8)

Answer: MARLENE DIETRICH (i.e. “film star”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “swooning”) of REAL MEN followed by DIET (i.e. to “slim”) and RICH (i.e. “wealthy”).

12. Prescient woman getting Victor out of harsh southern sierra (7)

Answer: SEERESS (i.e. “prescient woman”). Solution is SEVERE (i.e. “harsh”) with the V removed (indicated by “getting Victor out of…” – Victor being V in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and S (“sierra” in the phonetic alphabet again), like so: SEERE-S-S.

19. Unaccompanied male carrying garden tool for personal security (7)

Answer: HOSTAGE (i.e. “tool for personal security”). Solution is STAG (i.e. “unaccompanied male”) placed in or “carrying” HOE (i.e. “garden tool”), like so: HO(STAG)E.

20. Up before the beak after a grand battle (9)

Answer: AGINCOURT (i.e. “battle”). Solution is IN COURT (i.e. “up before the beak”) placed “after” A and G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”), like so: A-G-(IN-COURT).

21. Ran off after Turpin regularly messed about (7)

Answer: TRIFLED (i.e. “messed about”). Solution is FLED (i.e. “ran off”) placed “after” TRI (i.e. “Turpin regularly”, i.e. every other letter of TURPIN), like so: TRI-FLED.

22. Well-travelled Florentine gives Puccini clothes (8)

Answer: Amerigo VESPUCCI (i.e. “well-travelled Florentine” – from whose name America was supposedly named. Interesting). “Clothes” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GI(VES PUCCI)NI.

24. Norris and I leave out rum for rebels (15)

Answer: REVOLUTIONARIES (i.e. “rebels”). “Rum” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NORRIS and I LEAVE OUT.

26. Professional writer in bar (9)

Answer: PROSCRIBE (i.e. to “bar”). Solution is PRO (short for “professional”) followed by SCRIBE (i.e. “writer”).

28. Tedious book containing intellectual’s original research (8)

Answer: TIRESOME (i.e. “tedious”). Solution is TOME (i.e. “book”) wrapped around or “containing” I (i.e. “intellectual’s original”, i.e. the first letter of “intellectual”) and RES (short for “research”, apparently), like so: T(I-RES)OME.

29. Educational functionary runs away with cake decorator (7,7)

Answer: CAREERS OFFICER (i.e. “educational functionary”). Solution is CAREERS (i.e. “runs”) followed by OFF (i.e. “away”) and ICER (i.e. “cake decorator”).

31. Simple dons produce lace and silk (7)

Answer: TABARET (i.e. “silk”, “with alternate stripes of watered and satin surface” (Chambers)). Solution is BARE (i.e. “simple”) placed in or “donning” TAT (i.e. “produce silk”), like so: TA(BARE)T.

34. Plant starts to grow elegant red blooms over time (7)

Answer: GERBERA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is GERB (i.e. “starts to grow elegant red blooms”, i.e. the first letters of “grow”, “elegant”, “red” and “blooms”) followed by ERA (i.e. “time”).

39. Explosive project in part of NYC (9)

Answer: MANHATTAN. Solution satisfies “explosive project” that produced the world’s first nuclear weapons, and “part of NYC”.

42. Left fashionable fool wearing extremely outlandish garment (9)

Answer: LOINCLOTH (i.e. “garment”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) followed by IN (i.e. “fashionable”) and CLOT (i.e. “fool”) once these have been placed in or “wearing” OH (i.e. “extremely outlandish”, i.e. the first and last letters of “outlandish”), like so: L-O(IN-CLOT)H.

43. Royal icing (8)

Answer: REGICIDE. Clue plays on “icing” being an informal reference to killing someone. Best clue of the puzzle, for my money. Don’t read too much into that.

44. Puts up with singular idiots losing diamonds (7)

Answer: SUFFERS (i.e. “puts up with”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by DUFFERS (i.e. “idiots”) once the D has been removed (indicated by “losing diamonds” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds”), like so: S-UFFERS.

45. Drew attention to combat operations moving north (7)

Answer: SPOTLIT (i.e. “drew attention to”). Solution is TILT (i.e. “combat” – Chambers offers “to charge, attack (with at; literally or figuratively)”) and OPS (short for “operations”) all reversed (indicated by “moving north” – this being a down clue), like so: SPO-TLIT.

46. Required New England Democrat to interrupt fuel supply (7)

Answer: NEEDFUL (i.e. “required”). Solution is NE (a recognised abbreviation of “New England”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) once placed in or “interrupting” an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of FUEL, like so: NE-E(D)FUL.

47. About to throw up over jacket (6)

Answer: BOLERO (i.e. “jacket”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) and LOB (i.e. “to throw”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue). This is all then followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket), like so: (BOL-ER)-O.

49. Briefly spotted extinct bird in part of Polynesia (5)

Answer: SAMOA (i.e. “part of Polynesia”). Solution is SAW (i.e. “spotted”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by MOA (i.e. “extinct bird”), like so: SA-MOA.

51. Northern European’s pronounced stoop (5)

Answer: DEIGN (i.e. “stoop”). “Pronounced” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of DANE (i.e. “Northern European”).

52. Oddly withdrawn, Warhol interrupts retired fine artist (5)

Answer: Frida KAHLO (i.e. “artist”). Solution is AHL (i.e. “oddly withdrawn, Warhol”, i.e. every other letter of WARHOL) placed in or “interrupting” OK (i.e. “fine”) once this has been reversed (indicated by “retired”), like so: K(AHL)O.

A medium strength Jumbo this week with a handful of spicy clues to liven up proceedings. A few recent repeats spoiled things a little, but overall this was a pretty good run-out.

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 over a barrel then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 1.7%
suitable for consumption by minors under adult supervision

Across clues

1. Practical, say, and grand item for a picnic? (4-6,3)

Answer: HARD-BOILED EGG (i.e. “item for a picnic”). Solution is HARD-BOILED (i.e. “practical”) followed by EG (i.e. “say” or for example) and G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”).

8. Preserved fruit succeeded best after upper-class fish (9)

Answer: SUGARPLUM (i.e. “preserved fruit”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”) followed by PLUM (i.e. “best”) once placed “after” U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper-class”) and GAR (a variety of “fish”), like so: S-(U-GAR)-PLUM.

13. Regret including English verse in entertainment (5)

Answer: REVUE (i.e. “entertainment”). Solution is RUE (i.e. “regret”) wrapped around or “including” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and V (ditto “verse”), like so: R(E-V)UE.

14. Vegetable cooked, stew and pâté too (5,6)

Answer: SWEET POTATO (i.e. “vegetable”). “Cooked” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of STEW and PÂTÉ TOO.

15. Sectarian going back to Gibraltar (5)

Answer: BIGOT (i.e. “sectarian”). Solution is TO and GIB (informally short for “Gibraltar”) all reversed (indicated by “going back”), like so: BIG-OT.

16. Firm depressed about the empty fleet (9)

Answer: STEADFAST (i.e. “firm”). Solution is SAD (i.e. “depressed”) wrapped “about” TE (i.e. “the empty”, i.e. the word “the” with its middle letter missing) and followed by FAST (i.e. “fleet”), like so: S(TE)AD-FAST.

17. Long walk of trees reduced by two kilometres (4)

Answer: TREK (i.e. “long walk”). Solution is TREES with the last two letters removed (indicated by “reduced by two”) and the remainder followed by K (a recognised abbreviation of “kilometres”), like so: TRE-K.

18. Character backed in Times broadcast point-by-point (8)

Answer: SERIATIM (i.e. “point-by-point”). Solution is AIR (i.e. manner or “character”) reversed (indicated by “backed”) and placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of TIMES, like so: SE(RIA)TIM. The mechanics of the clue were fairly obvious, but this took a brute force of my Chambers to nail it.

20. Fount of some Indo-European languages (6)

Answer: ITALIC. Solution satisfies “fount” or typeface, and “of some Indo-European languages”. Chambers offers “a branch of Indo-European usually considered to comprise Oscan, Umbrian, Latin and related languages, but sometimes applied to either the Latin group or the Osco-Umbrian group alone”, if any of that helps.

21. Cook’s staple grain has to lessen – evidence daily (11,5)

Answer: GREASEPROOF PAPER (i.e. “cook’s staple”). Solution is GR (a recognised abbreviation of “grain”, I believe relating to the weight measurement) followed by EASE (i.e. “to lessen”), then PROOF (i.e. “evidence”) and PAPER (i.e. “daily”).

24. I left after a month in London mostly – one can smell it (6,3)

Answer: ALMOND OIL (i.e. “one can smell it”). Solution is I and L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) both placed “after” A and M (a recognised abbreviation of “month”) once the latter has been placed “in” LONDON after its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: (A-L(M)ONDO)-I-L.

26. Woman’s horse mostly about without a warming cover (7)

Answer: EARFLAP (i.e. “warming cover”). Solution is PALFREY (i.e. “woman’s horse”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or placed “without” A, like so: E(A)RFLAP.

27. Keep mum putting horse into Japanese dish? I disappeared (5)

Answer: SHUSH (i.e. “keep mum”). Solution is H (i.e. “horse”, both slang for heroin) placed “into” SUSHI (i.e. “Japanese dish”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “I disappeared”), like so: S(H)USH-I.

29. City hospital has money given by one small company (3,9)

Answer: SAN FRANCISCO (i.e. “city”). Solution is SAN (i.e. “hospital” – san is short for a sanatorium) followed by FRANC (i.e. “money”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and CO (i.e. “company”).

31. Petitions to take in interrupting candidates (10)

Answer: ENTREATIES (i.e. “petitions”). Solution is EAT (i.e. “to take in”) placed in or “interrupting” ENTRIES (i.e. “candidates”), like so: ENTR(EAT)IES.

33. Worker in bacon factory, possibly one who walks around (10)

Answer: BACKPACKER (i.e. “one who walks around”). When written as BACK PACKER the solution playfully satisfies “worker in bacon factory, possibly” – bacon is sourced from the back (and sides) of a pig.

35. Disagreeable hour with insomnia, tossing and turning (12)

Answer: INHARMONIOUS (i.e. “disagreeable”). “Tossing and turning” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HOUR and INSOMNIA. Nicely worked.

38. Regular time for game, say (5)

Answer: EVENT (i.e. “game, say” – other flavours of event are available). Solution is EVEN (i.e. “regular”) followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

39. National day’s abolished by prime minister (7)

Answer: ISRAELI (i.e. “national”). Solution is Benjamin DISRAELI (i.e. 19th century “prime minister”) with the D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”) removed or “abolished”. After my comment in grid 1595 a couple of months ago I can only conclude that intensive research into alternative clues for ISRAELI/DISRAELI continues. Godspeed, setters. We know you’ll crack it eventually.

40. Chap from Maggot island (9)

Answer: GENTLEMAN (i.e. “chap”). Solution is GENTLE (a kind of “maggot” used as bait) followed by MAN (i.e. “island”, specifically the Isle of Man).

42. Get better small pie once again with tea, perhaps (4,4,1,3,4)

Answer: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF (i.e. “get better”). Solution is TURNOVER (i.e. “small pie”) followed by ANEW (i.e. “once again”) and LEAF (i.e. “tea, perhaps”).

44. Savoury pastry from Greek island area (6)

Answer: SAMOSA (i.e. “savoury pastry”). Solution is SAMOS (i.e. “Greek island”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

47. Tasty food doctor and men backed in eastern lands (8)

Answer: AMBROSIA (i.e. “tasty food” of the Greek gods). Solution is MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Bachelor of Medicine or Medicinae Baccalaureus) and OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “backed”). These are both then placed “in” ASIA (i.e. “eastern lands”), like so: A(MB-RO)SIA.

49. Just show decent objective (4)

Answer: FAIR. A quadruple-header, this, satisfying “just”, “show”, “decent” and “objective”.

50. At the moment doctor is in to examine blockage during cold (9)

Answer: SNOWDRIFT (i.e. “blockage during cold”). Solution is NOW (i.e. “at the moment”) and DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) both placed “in” SIFT (i.e. “to examine”), like so: S(NOW-DR)IFT.

52. Only partial certitude over measurement for solution (5)

Answer: TITRE (i.e. “measurement for (chemical) solution”). “Only partial” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “over” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: C(ERTIT)UDE.

53. Land plot held by church as a protection for horses (11)

Answer: SADDLECLOTH (i.e. “protection for horses”). Solution is SADDLE (i.e. to “land” someone with) followed by LOT (i.e. “plot” of land) once placed in or “held by” CH (a recognised abbreviation of “church”), like so: SADDLE-C(LOT)H.

54. Certainly a pious creature (5)

Answer: OKAPI (i.e. “creature”, and friend of crossword setters everywhere). Solution is OK (i.e. “sure”, both forms of assent) followed by A and PI (short for “pious”).

55. Somehow never once get together again (9)

Answer: RECONVENE (i.e. “get together again”). “Somehow” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NEVER ONCE.

56. Celebration deserving wild dancing (6,7)

Answer: SILVER WEDDING (i.e. “celebration”). “Dancing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of DESERVING WILD.

Down clues

1. Emperor surrendering to mother around S Honshu city (9)

Answer: HIROSHIMA (i.e. “Honshu city”). Solution is HIROHITO (Japanese “Emperor” of the 20th Century) with the TO removed (indicated by “surrendering to”) and the remainder followed by MA (i.e. “mother”). This is all then wrapped “around” S, like so: HIRO(S)HI-MA.

2. I arrive to be treated in coastal resort area (7)

Answer: RIVIERA (i.e. “coastal resort area”). “To be treated” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of I ARRIVE.

3. Bureau initially study wife with secret source of family income (11)

Answer: BREADWINNER (i.e. “source of family income”). Solution is B (i.e. “bureau initially”, i.e. the first letter of “bureau”) followed by READ (i.e. “study”), then W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) and INNER (i.e. “secret”).

4. Popular and well-known form if insect (6)

Answer: INSTAR (i.e. “form of insect” between moult and moult (Chambers) – I’m still none the wiser). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by STAR (i.e. “well-known”, as in a star turn).

5. Elite exam for type of college in the US (9)

Answer: ELECTORAL (i.e. “type of college in the US”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “elite”) followed by ORAL (i.e. “exam”).

6. Where to seek property, position in life and power (6,6)

Answer: ESTATE AGENCY (i.e. “where to seek property”). Solution is ESTATE (i.e. rank or “position in life”) followed by AGENCY (i.e. instrumentality, operation or “power”).

7. Unwelcome character of slime on outside of stale fish egg (10)

Answer: GOOSEBERRY (i.e. “unwelcome character”). Solution is GOO (i.e. “slime”) followed by SE (i.e. “outside of slate”, i.e. the first and last letters of “slate”), then BERRY (i.e. “fish egg” – a new one on me, this is “a lobster’s or crayfish’s egg” (Chambers)).

8. Thoroughly water small tree (4)

Answer: SOAK (i.e. “thoroughly water”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by OAK (i.e. “tree”).

9. Key? Really like remark about role for car locker (5,11)

Answer: GLOVE COMPARTMENT (i.e. “car locker”, or, rather, a locker found in a car’s dashboard). Solution is G (i.e. musical “key”) followed by LOVE (i.e. “really like”), then COMMENT (i.e. “remark”) once placed “about” PART (i.e. “role”), like so: G-LOVE-COM(PART)MENT.

10. Some headline-grabbing religious leader (5)

Answer: RABBI (i.e. “religious leader”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: HEADLINE-G(RABBI)NG.

11. Look suddenly pleased to start smoking (5,2)

Answer: LIGHT UP. Solution satisfies “look suddenly pleased” and “start smoking”.

12. Swap round rooms with shipmate for a change (13)

Answer: METAMORPHOSIS (i.e. “a change”). “Swap round” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ROOMS and SHIPMATE.

19. Land in kraals is redistributed (3,5)

Answer: SRI LANKA (i.e. “land” or country). “Is redistributed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN KRAALS.

22. Brief infatuation with a Turkish officer (5)

Answer: PASHA (i.e. “Turkish officer”). Solution is PASH (i.e. “brief infatuation”, i.e. an informal abbreviation of “passion”) followed by A. A recent repeat, like ISRAELI/DISRAELI, making this a much easier get.

23. Link one old solider with children and vital support system (10,6)

Answer: CONNECTIVE TISSUE (i.e. “vital support system”). Solution is CONNECT (i.e. “link”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then VET (i.e. “old soldier”, short for veteran) and ISSUE (i.e. “children”).

25. Seeing glass has blemish around company name when held up (7)

Answer: MONOCLE (i.e. “seeing glass”). Solution is MOLE (i.e. “blemish”) wrapped “around” CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) and N (ditto “name”) once these have been reversed (indicated by “held up” – this being a down clue), like so: MO(N-OC)LE.

28. Regular follower of tango (7)

Answer: UNIFORM (i.e. “regular”). The rest of the clue plays on the phonetic alphabet, where “Tango” for T is “followed” by UNIFORM for U.

29. Topic for debate likely to be affected by business (7,6)

Answer: SUBJECT MATTER (i.e. “topic for debate”). Solution is SUBJECT to (i.e. “likely to be affected by”) followed by MATTER (i.e. “business”).

30. Neapolitan, perhaps, in charge of European elite (3,5)

Answer: ICE CREAM (i.e. “Neapolitan, perhaps”). Solution is IC (a recognised abbreviation of “In charge”) followed by E (ditto “European”) and CREAM (i.e. “elite”).

32. Organised call in a trice concerning attitude of militant atheist? (12)

Answer: ANTICLERICAL (i.e. “concerning attitude of militant atheist”). “Organised” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CALL IN A TRICE.

34. Courtyard just right for the occasion with current circle (5)

Answer: PATIO (i.e. “courtyard”). Solution is PAT (i.e. “just right for the occasion”) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and O (i.e. “circle”).

36. Greek character left country unoccupied and without legal force (4,3,4)

Answer: NULL AND VOID (i.e. “without legal force”). Solution is NU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), then LAND (i.e. “country”) and VOID (i.e. “unoccupied”).

37. A new rebel’s meddled with sources of power (10)

Answer: RENEWABLES (i.e. “sources of power”). “Meddled with” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A NEW REBEL’S.

40. Good young men with character could make prime minister (9)

Answer: William GLADSTONE (i.e. 19th century “prime minister”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by LADS (i.e. “young men”) and TONE (i.e. “character”).

41. New reason for lightning rods just avoided catastrophe (4,5)

Answer: NEAR THING (i.e. “just avoided catastrophe”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by EARTHING (i.e. “reason for lightning rods”).

43. Plunder old heart from mortician making up stiff (7)

Answer: ROBOTIC (i.e. “stiff”). Solution is ROB (i.e. “plunder”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), then TIC (i.e. “heart from mortician”, i.e. the middle letters of “mortician”).

45. What gets sheets folded at first shortly before friend appears (7)

Answer: ORIGAMI (i.e. “what gets sheets folded”). Solution is ORIG (a recognised abbreviation of “originally”, i.e. “at first shortly”) followed by AMI (i.e. “friend”, from the French so you know what that means…)

46. Food over with for restaurant diner not turning up (2-4)

Answer: NO-SHOW (i.e. “diner not turning-up”). Solution is NOSH (i.e. “food”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”).

48. Ulysses chronicler’s no judge and unknown in the main (5)

Answer: OCEAN (i.e. “the main” or the sea). Solution is JOYCEAN (i.e. “Ulysses chronicler’s”, i.e. of James JOYCE) with the J removed (indicated by “no judge” – J being a recognised abbreviation of “judge”) and the Y also removed (indicated by “no…unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns), like so: (J)O(Y)CEAN => OCEAN.

51. Unoccupied island, mined finally for sulphur (4)

Answer: IDLE (i.e. “unoccupied”). Solution is ISLE (i.e. “island”) with the D (i.e. “mined finally”, i.e. the last letter of “mined”) swapped “for” S (chemical element of “sulphur”), like so: I(S)LE => I(D)LE.

A toughie this week. I’d have probably been less forgiving had I wrote this up yesterday. In the (mercifully warmer) light of day, this wasn’t too bad. Except for GRAPPELLI. He can still do one.

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

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 3.2%

Across clues

1. Most swimming in the sea is something infernal (9)

Answer: BRIMSTONE (i.e. “something infernal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “swimming”) of MOST placed “in” BRINE (i.e. “the sea”), like so: BRI(MSTO)NE.

6. Likely to don French priest collar (7)

Answer: CAPTURE (i.e. to “collar”). Solution is APT (i.e. “likely” – Stephen King makes frequent use of the phrase “apt to” in his work; perhaps this was what led to him being outed as Richard Bachman all those years ago) placed in or “donning” CURÉ (i.e. “French priest”), like so: C(APT)URÉ. An early showing of the French this week.

10. Picked up lolly in store (5)

Answer: CACHE (i.e. “store”). “Picked up” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of CASH (i.e. “lolly”, slang thereof).

13. Champ is defeated, punched by one with a cataract (8,5)

Answer: VICTORIA FALLS (i.e. “cataract” – its chief definition in Chambers is a waterfall). Solution is VICTOR (i.e. “champ”) and FALLS (i.e. “is defeated”) wrapped around or “punched by” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and A, like so: VICTOR-(I-A)-FALLS.

14. Backtracking Liverpool player admits slipping, whence shot comes (9)

Answer: DERRINGER (i.e. a variety of pistol, i.e. “whence shot comes”). Solution is RED (i.e. “Liverpool player”) reversed (indicated by “backtracking”) and wrapped around or “admitting” ERRING (i.e. “slipping”), like so: D(ERRING)ER.

15. Fast worker in post office put on uniform (2-5)

Answer: UP-TEMPO (i.e. “fast”). Solution is TEMP (i.e. “worker”) placed “in” PO (a recognised abbreviation of “post office”). This is all then placed “on” or after U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: U-(P(TEMP)O)

16. Someone jumping in African river, as some say (7)

Answer: VAULTER (i.e. “someone jumping”). “As some say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of VOLTA (i.e. “African river”).

17. Shell of iron present where van is (2,5)

Answer: IN FRONT (i.e. “where van is” – “van” being a shortened form of “vanguard”). Solution is IN (i.e. “shell of iron”, i.e. the first and last letters of “iron”) followed by FRONT (i.e. to “present”, e.g. a TV show).

18. All there is on guys brought in to make fertiliser (6,6)

Answer: COMPOS MENTIS (i.e. sane or “all there”). Solution is IS placed “on” or after MEN (i.e. “guys”) once this has been “brought in” COMPOST (i.e. “to make fertiliser”), like so: COMPOS(MEN)T-IS.

20. Holding run, instigate competition – it’s refreshing for an equestrian (7,3)

Answer: STIRRUP CUP (i.e. “it’s refreshing for an equestrian” – Chambers offers: “a drink taken on horseback on departing”). Solution is STIR UP (i.e. “instigate”) placed around or “holding” R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) and followed by CUP (i.e. “competition”), like so: (STIR-(R)-UP)-CUP.

23. Car brand, not Rover or Sierra? (5)

Answer: RANGE (i.e. “sierra” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is RANGE ROVER (i.e. “car brand”) once the ROVER has been removed (indicated by “not Rover”).

24. Maybe Winter’s Tale’s opening by mediocre poet (9)

Answer: TRIMESTER (i.e. an academic term of three months, i.e. “maybe winter” – again, ignoring the formatting of the text). Solution is T (i.e. “tale’s opening”, i.e. the first letter of “tale”) followed by RIMESTER (i.e. “mediocre poet” – RIME is an archaic spelling of RHYME).

25. Forbidding learner to hold article of bone (7)

Answer: STERNAL (i.e. ” of bone”, specifically the sternum). Solution is STERN (i.e. “forbidding”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”, e.g. on L-plates) wrapped around or “holding” A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the), like so: STERN-(A)-L.

26. Refused to pay fare, working with boss at Times? (11)

Answer: DISHONOURED (i.e. “refused to pay”). Solution is DISH (i.e. food or “fare”) followed by ON (i.e. “working”) and OUR ED (i.e. “boss at Times”, from the point of view of the setter, ED being a shortened form of “editor”).

28. Carrying on again after pressure, showing arrogance (11)

Answer: PRESUMPTION (i.e. “arrogance”). Solution is RESUMPTION (i.e. “carrying on again”) placed “after” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: P-RESUMPTION.

30. Where fuel’s kept in US state around old sink (4,7)

Answer: COAL SCUTTLE (i.e. “where fuel’s kept”). Solution is CAL (i.e. “US state”, short for California) wrapped “around” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and followed by SCUTTLE (i.e. to “sink” a ship), like so: C(O)AL-SCUTTLE.

32. E.g. blogger rebuked about initially losing face in campaign (6,5)

Answer: POSTER CHILD (i.e. “face in campaign”). Solution is POSTER (i.e. “e.g. blogger”) followed by CHID (i.e. “rebuked”) once wrapped “about” L (i.e. “initially losing”, i.e. the first letter of “losing”), like so: POSTER-CHI(L)D.

34. Distance is maintained in hotels of a very bad nature (7)

Answer: HELLISH (i.e. “of a very bad nature”). Solution is ELL (i.e. “distance”, “a varying measure of length originally taken from the arm” (Chambers)) and IS placed in or “maintained in” H and H (i.e. “hotels” – H is “hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: H-(ELL-IS)-H.

36. Green car bagged by this person in kind of trade (1-8)

Answer: E-COMMERCE (i.e. “kind of trade”). Solution is ECO (i.e. “green”) followed by MERC (i.e. “car” brand, short for Mercedes) once placed in or “bagged by” ME (i.e. “this person”, from the point of view of the setter), like so: ECO-M(MERC)E.

38. Pose by American location (5)

Answer: SITUS (i.e. “location”). Solution is SIT (i.e. “pose”) followed by US (i.e. “American”).

39. Crawling about before game of cards (2,3,5)

Answer: ON ALL FOURS (i.e. “crawling”). Solution is ON (i.e. regarding or “about”) followed by ALL FOURS (i.e. a “game of cards”).

41. Inherit income? Saving pounds, start to work (4,4,4)

Answer: COME INTO PLAY (i.e. “start to work”). Solution is COME INTO (i.e. “inherit”) followed by PAY (i.e. “income”) once wrapped around or “saving” L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” of weight, after the Latin libra), like so: COME-INTO-(P(L)AY).

45. Urge service on vacation, chopping wood (7)

Answer: BESEECH (i.e. “urge”). Solution is SE (i.e. “service on vacation”, i.e. the word “service” with all its middle letters removed) placed in or “chopping” BEECH (i.e. “wood”), like so: BE(SE)ECH.

46. Extra small advantage, bagging game when returning (7)

Answer: SURPLUS (i.e. “extra”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and PLUS (i.e. “advantage”) all wrapped around or “bagging” RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) once reversed (indicated by “when returning”), like so: S-(UR)-PLUS.

47. Running track with area later being examined (2,5)

Answer: ON TRIAL (i.e. “being examined” in court). Solution is ON (i.e. “running”) followed by TRAIL (i.e. “track”) once the A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) has been knocked back a notch or placed “later”, like so: ON-TR(A)IL => ON-TRI(A)L.

49. Good vocalist almost has trouble around violinist (9)

Answer: Stéphane GRAPPELLI (i.e. jazz “violinist” – no, me neither). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by RAPPER (i.e. “vocalist”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), then ILL (i.e. “trouble”) once reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: G-RAPPE-LLI. The guy was French, so you know what that means…

50. Cult leader intoxicated media around strange site (4,9)

Answer: HIGH PRIESTESS (i.e. “cult leader”). Solution is HIGH (i.e. “intoxicated”) followed by PRESS (i.e. “media”) once wrapped “around” an anagram (indicated by “strange”) of SITE, like so: HIGH-PR(IEST)ESS.

52. Reportedly diaphanous coat is removed when people do this (5)

Answer: SHEAR (i.e. sheep’s “coat is removed when people do this”). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of SHEER (i.e. “diaphanous”).

53. Boost the FBI in a case of underachievement (7)

Answer: AUGMENT (i.e. “boost”). Solution is G-MEN (slang for “the FBI”) once placed “in” A and UT (i.e. “case of underachievement”, i.e. the first and last letters of “underachievement”), like so: A-U(G-MEN)T.

54. Idiot without skill by northern Scottish town (9)

Answer: DUMBARTON (i.e. “Scottish town”). Solution is DUMBO (i.e. “idiot”) wrapped around or placed “without” ART (i.e. “skill”) and followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), like so: DUMB(ART)O-N.

Down clues

1. Camp writer penning verse, jocular at intervals (7)

Answer: BIVOUAC (i.e. a makeshift “camp”). Solution is BIC (i.e. brand of pen or “writer”) wrapped around or “penning” V (a recognised abbreviation of “verse”) and OUA (i.e. “jocular at intervals”, i.e. every other letter of JOCULAR), like so: BI(V-OUA)C.

2. Spurs, at home, perhaps change defending pair (11)

Answer: INCITEMENTS (i.e. “spurs”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at home”) followed by CENTS (i.e. coinage or “change”) wrapped around or “defending” ITEM (i.e. “pair”), like so: IN-C(ITEM)ENTS.

3. Leader of military goes off mounting attack (5)

Answer: STORM (i.e. “attack”). Solution is M (i.e. “leader of military”, i.e. the first letter of “military”) and ROTS (i.e. “goes off”) all reversed (indicated by “mounting” – this being a down clue), like so: STOR-M.

4. Fairly elliptic poet left unfinished by schoolchildren (7)

Answer: OVIFORM (i.e. “fairly elliptic”). Solution is OVID (i.e. Roman “poet”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “left unfinished”) and the remainder followed by FORM (i.e. “schoolchildren”), like so: OVI-FORM.

5. Fabulous figure in German football team? (3)

Answer: ELF (i.e. “fabulous figure”, or thing found in fable). The remainder of the clue plays on ELF being “German” for eleven, the number of players in a “football team”.

6. Area of confinement for all to see, for dieters getting fat (9)

Answer: CELLULITE (i.e. “fat”). Solution is CELL (i.e. “area of confinement”) followed by U (i.e. the film certificate, Universal, classifying a film “for all to see”) and LITE (i.e. low in calories, i.e. “for dieters”).

7. Read on about a quiet speaker of Asian language (6)

Answer: PASHTO (i.e. “speaker of Asian language”, specifically “an official language of Afghanistan, also spoken in parts of Pakistan” (Chambers)). Solution is PTO (i.e. “read on”, short for Please Turn Over, informing readers a text continues over the page) wrapped “about” A and SH (i.e. “quiet”), like so: P(A-SH)TO. One nailed from the wordplay alone, if I’m honest.

8. About to attack course, eating dishes, asks for too little? (5,8,6)

Answer: UNDER STARTER’S ORDERS (i.e. “about to attack [race] course”). Solution is UNDER-ORDERS (i.e. “asks for too little”) wrapped around or “eating” STARTERS (i.e. “dishes”).

9. Prior is one hearing untruth, right? (7)

Answer: EARLIER (i.e. “prior”). Solution is EAR (i.e. “one hearing”) followed by LIE (i.e. “untruth”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

10. Stylist and I cutting a lot of drink consumption (9)

Answer: COIFFEUSE (i.e. hair “stylist”). Solution is I placed in or “cutting” COFFEE (i.e. “drink”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “a lot of…”), and USE (i.e. “consumption”), like so: CO(I)FFE-USE.

11. Discerning folk go on scenic meanders round Thailand’s capital (11)

Answer: COGNOSCENTI (i.e. “discerning folk”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “meanders”) of GO ON SCENIC wrapped “round” T (i.e. “Thailand’s capital” letter), like so: COGNOSCEN(T)I.

12. One wading in water gets knocked over (5)

Answer: EGRET (i.e. a heron, or “one wading”). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “knocked over” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: WA(TER GE)TS.

16. Season with this very trendy feather on clothing (11,8)

Answer: VINAIGRETTE DRESSING (i.e. “season with this”). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) followed by IN (i.e. “trendy”), then AIGRETTE (i.e. “feather”, or egret’s plume – interesting usage so soon after 12d) and DRESSING (i.e. “clothing”). A very similar clue appeared in grid 1432, but that was nearly three years ago. Even a picky sod like me can’t grumble too much about that.

19. Heavy responsibility to save deposit up (7)

Answer: ONEROUS (i.e. “heavy”). Solution is ONUS (i.e. “responsibility”) wrapped around or “saving” ORE (i.e. “deposit”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: ON(ERO)US.

21. I agree to break barriers in poetry (9)

Answer: PALINODES (i.e. “poetry”, apparently ones that retract something expressed in a previous work. Must have happened a lot for it to warrant its own name in the dictionary. Never trust a poet, it seems). Solution is I and NOD (i.e. “agree”) both placed in or “breaking” PALES (i.e. “barriers” – a variant meaning of PALE is “anything that encloses or fences in” (Chambers)), like so: PAL(I-NOD)ES.

22. Maybe Judy’s losing heart, needing flipping raise! (4,2)

Answer: STEP UP (i.e. “raise”). Solution is PUPPET’S (i.e. “maybe Judy’s”, referring to Punch and Judy shows) with the middle letter removed (indicated by “losing heart”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “flipping”).

23. Diced chard I twice cook, tossing out OK salad vegetable (9)

Answer: RADICCHIO (i.e. “salad vegetable”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “diced”) of CHARD, I and I (i.e. “I twice”), and COOK once the OK has been removed (indicated by “tossing out OK”).

24. Receiving award, move more than is sensible (3,4)

Answer: TOO MUCH (i.e. “more than is sensible”). Solution is OM (i.e. “award”, specifically the Order of Merit) placed in or “received” by TOUCH (i.e. evoke emotion or “move”), like so: TO(OM)UCH.

25. They use manoeuvres for what you get after retiring (7)

Answer: SHUTEYE (i.e. “what you get after retiring” or going to sleep). “Manoeuvres” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THEY USE.

27. Traveller going north, full of energy and spirit (6)

Answer: DAEMON (i.e. “spirit”). Solution is NOMAD (i.e. “traveller”) reversed (indicated by “going north” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or being “full of” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: DA(E)MON.

29. Idiot stopping shot, ball that’s top drawer (7)

Answer: Pablo PICASSO (i.e. “top drawer” – a matter of opinion). Solution is ASS (i.e. “idiot”) placed in or “stopping” PIC (i.e. photograph or “shot”) and O (i.e. “ball”, as in the shape of the letter O), like so: PIC-(ASS)-O.

31. No sooner keeping off drugs in post-rehabilitation condition (1,5,5)

Answer: A CLEAN SLATE (i.e. “post-rehabilitation condition”). Solution is AS LATE (i.e. “no sooner” – probably better read as “no sooner than/as late as”) wrapped around or “keeping” CLEAN (i.e. “off drugs”), like so: A(CLEAN)S-LATE.

33. Savvy, impoverished duke getting replaced by count (11)

Answer: INTELLIGENT (i.e. “savvy”). Solution is INDIGENT (i.e. “impoverished”) with the D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) swapped for or “replaced by” TELL (i.e. to “count” or effect in a meaningful way), like so: IN(D)IGENT => IN(TELL)IGENT.

35. Character flaw I’m going to tone down (3,6)

Answer: ILL TEMPER (i.e. “character flaw”). Solution is I’LL (i.e. “I’m going to” – a contraction of I WILL) followed by TEMPER (i.e. “to tone down”).

37. According to Spooner fool could get a second job (9)

Answer: MOONLIGHT (i.e. “get a second job”). Solution is a “Spoonerism” of LOON (i.e. “fool”) and MIGHT (i.e. “could”).

40. Tragic figure in work by essayist captivating hearts (7)

Answer: OPHELIA (i.e. “tragic figure” in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for “opus”) and ELIA (i.e. “essayist”, pseudonym of Charles Lamb. Again, me neither) all wrapped around or “captivating” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hearts” used in card games), like so: OP-(H)-ELIA. One for the culture vultures.

42. I heard you will get into mob, in criminal element (7)

Answer: NIOBIUM (i.e. chemical “element”). Solution is I and U, a homophone (indicated by “heard”) of “you”), both placed in an anagram (indicated by “criminal”) of MOB IN, like so: NIOB(I-U)M.

43. Old president still wrong, probed by Liberal (7)

Answer: Boris YELTSIN (i.e. “old president” of Russia). Solution is YET (i.e. “still”) and SIN (i.e. “wrong”) once wrapped around or “probed by” L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: YE(L)T-SIN.

44. Boy knowing Irene superficially? (6)

Answer: ARCHIE (i.e. “boy’s” name). Solution is ARCH (i.e. shrewd or “knowing”) followed by IE (i.e. “Irene superficially”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Irene”).

45. Not Real’s coach admitting defensive blunder (5)

Answer: BOGUS (i.e. “not real”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is BUS (i.e. “coach”) wrapped around or “admitting” OG (i.e. “defensive blunder”, or Own Goal), like so: B(OG)US.

48. Primarily operatic cast performing this? (5)

Answer: TOSCA (i.e. “this” within the context of the clue, specifically an opera by Giacomo Puccini). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “performing”) of O (i.e. “primarily operatic”, i.e. the first letter of “operatic”) and CAST.

51. I must leave music player in school (3)

Answer: POD (i.e. “school” of fish, usually whales). Solution is IPOD (i.e. “music player” – ask your parents, kids) with the I removed (indicated by “I must leave…”).

A relatively straightforward one this week. I often like the easier Jumbos but this one didn’t too much for me. The number of times I found words or the same kinds of wordplay being repeated later in the puzzle started to grate after a while. I appreciate the composition of a solution is often dictated by how the eventual clue scans, but I doubt this excuses three appearances by the Royal Engineers this week. Come on, there are dozens of ways you can get the letters RE.

Anyway, as ever 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 find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 5%

Across clues

1. Desire a name for this US passenger vehicle? (9)

Answer: STREETCAR (i.e. “US passenger vehicle”). The first part of the clue riffs on Tennessee Williams’ play A Streetcar Named Desire.

6. Two crooks accept fine, having share in major fire (13)

Answer: CONFLAGRATION (i.e. “major fire”). Solution is CON and LAG (i.e. “two crooks”, slang words thereof) wrapped around or “accepting” F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”, used in grading pencils) and followed by RATION (i.e. “share”), like so: (CON-(F)-LAG)-RATION.

13. Originally only such types inhabited an old Italian town (5)

Answer: OSTIA (i.e. “old Italian town”). “Originally” indicates the solution comprises the initial letters of “Only”, “Such”, “Types”, “Inhabited” and “An”. Made. To. Fit.

14. Recall soldiers about to appear in film (11)

Answer: REMEMBRANCE (i.e. “recall”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by C (i.e. “about”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) once “appearing in” MEMBRANE (i.e. “film”), like so: RE-MEMBRAN(C)E.

15. Expanse of water no container crosses easily to begin with (5)

Answer: OCEAN (i.e. “expanse of water”). Solution is O (i.e. “no” or nothing) and CAN (i.e. “container”) wrapped around or “crossing” E (i.e. “easily to begin with”, i.e. the first letter of “easily”), like so: O-C(E)AN.

16. Sadly it’s not a fine instrumental work (11)

Answer: SINFONIETTA (i.e. “instrumental work”). “Sadly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IT’S NOT A FINE.

17. Slimming down of care covering upper-class area (11)

Answer: ATTENUATION (i.e. “slimming down”). Solution is ATTENTION (i.e. “care”) wrapped around or “covering” U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper class”) and A (ditto “area”), like so: ATTEN(U-A)TION.

18. Army corps loner crazy to enlist again (2-5)

Answer: RE-ENROL (i.e. “enlist again”). Solution is RE (i.e. “army corps” – our Royal Engineers again) followed by an anagram (indicated by “crazy”) of LONER.

20. Raging fury surrounding sons, I imbue with national character (7)

Answer: RUSSIFY (i.e. “imbue with national character”, specifically that of Russia). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “raging”) of FURY wrapped around or “surrounding” S and S (both a recognised abbreviation of “son”) and I, like so: RU(SS-I)FY.

21. House thus accommodating NCO briefly by island (7)

Answer: SCORPIO (i.e. “house” – signs of the zodiac are sometimes referred to as houses). Solution is SO (i.e. “thus”) wrapped around or “accommodating” CORP (i.e. “NCO” or non-commissioned officer, in this case a shortened form of corporal) and I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: S(CORP-I)O.

23. Be restless, employing briefs to protect workers, perhaps? (4,4,2,4,5)

Answer: HAVE ANTS IN ONE’S PANTS (i.e. “be restless”). The remainder of the clue plays on “briefs” being another word for PANTS, and “worker” ANTS. You get the idea.

27. Declaim regularly, being a priest (3)

Answer: ELI (i.e. a high “priest” of ancient Israel in the Book of Samuel, and a friend of crossword setters across the land). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of DECLAIM.

28. Retired sick in flat, lacking colour (6)

Answer: PALLID (i.e. “lacking colour”). Solution is ILL (i.e. “sick”) reversed (indicated by “retired”) and placed “in” PAD (i.e. “flat” or apartment), like so: PA(LLI)D.

29. Weapons found in vessel carrying fruit (6)

Answer: SPEARS (i.e. “weapons”). Solution is SS (i.e. “vessel”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”) once wrapped around or “carrying” PEAR (i.e. “fruit”), like so: S(PEAR)S.

31. Showing opposition, boy enters further exam (9)

Answer: RESISTANT (i.e. “showing opposition”). Solution is STAN (i.e. “boy’s” name) placed in or “entering” RESIT (i.e. “further exam”), like so: RESI(STAN)T.

34. State’s stories connect with first of many French kings (9)

Answer: LOUISIANA (i.e. US “state”). Solution is ANA (i.e. “stories”, being “a collection of someone’s table talk or of gossip, literary anecdotes or possessions” (Chambers). Another pet word of setters) placed “with” or after LOUIS I (i.e. “first of many French kings”), like so: (LOUIS-I)-ANA.

35. Rich confection in City refuge (6)

Answer: ÉCLAIR (i.e. “rich confection”). Solution is EC (i.e. “City” of London’s postcode area, short for East Central. I’ve always considered this wordplay weak. Why aren’t other postcode areas used in this way? What marks EC for special treatment?) followed by LAIR (i.e. “refuge”).

36. Greet head of school with a plucked stringed instrument (6)

Answer: SALUTE (i.e. “greet”). Solution is S (i.e. “head of school”, i.e. the first letter of “school”) followed by A and LUTE (i.e. “plucked stringed instrument”).

39. Note about key supporter on course (3)

Answer: TEE (i.e. “supporter on [golf] course”). Solution is TE (i.e. musical “note” in sol-fa notation) wrapped “about” E (i.e. musical “key”), like so: T(E)E.

40. Get the point exactly, as woodworkers aim to do? (3,3,4,2,3,4)

Answer: HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. Solution satisfies “get the point exactly” and “as woodworkers aim to do”.

42. Exposed star at golf, bested in performance? (7)

Answer: OUTSUNG (i.e. “bested in performance”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “exposed”) followed by SUN (i.e. “star”) and G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet).

43. Fugitive from justice gets free at last, crossing headland (7)

Answer: ESCAPEE (i.e. “fugitive”). Solution is ESE (i.e. “justice gets free at last”, i.e. the last letters of “justice”, “gets” and “free”) wrapped around or “crossing” CAPE (i.e. “headland”), like so: ES(CAPE)E.

45. Muscle and energy shown by parish priest (7)

Answer: ERECTOR (i.e. “muscle”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) followed by RECTOR (i.e. “parish priest”).

47. Repetitious old German cavalryman backing Peron (11)

Answer: REITERATIVE (i.e. “repetitious”). Solution is REITER (i.e. “old German cavalryman” – no, me neither, but Chambers supports it) followed by EVITA (nickname of Eva “Peron”) once reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: REITER-ATIVE.

49. Dispelling of doubt regarding life cover (11)

Answer: REASSURANCE (i.e. “dispelling of doubt”). Solution is RE (i.e. “regarding” – think email replies) followed by ASSURANCE (i.e. “life cover”).

51. It beats peas and beans and the like (5)

Answer: PULSE. Solution satisfies “it beats” (does a pulse beat, though? I would argue a pulse is the beat itself than the thing producing it) and “peas and beans and the like”.

52. Male traveller on water carrying a German from this point on (11)

Answer: HEREINAFTER (i.e. “from this point on”). Solution is HE (i.e. “male”) followed by RAFTER (i.e. “traveller on water”) once wrapped around or “carrying” EIN (i.e. “a German”, i.e. the German for “a”), like so: HE-R(EIN)AFTER.

53. Possibly active over stopping corruption (5)

Answer: VOICE (i.e. “possibly active”, referring to active voice in the dry and joyless world of grammar. An example of active voice would be “the boy kicked the ball”, while its passive voice equivalent would be “the ball was kicked by the boy”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) placed in or “stopping” VICE (i.e. “corruption”), like so: V(O)ICE.

54. Very long-lasting trees in map men distributed (13)

Answer: SEMIPERMANENT (i.e. “very long-lasting”). “Distributed” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TREES IN MAP MEN.

55. Absolutely authority to go on fell (9)

Answer: DOWNRIGHT (i.e. “absolutely”). Solution is RIGHT (i.e. “authority”) placed “on” or after DOWN (i.e. “fell”), like so: DOWN-RIGHT.

Down clues

1. Support offspring catching plane at first, or seagoing vessel (11)

Answer: SPONSORSHIP (i.e. “support”). Solution is SONS (i.e. “offspring”) wrapped around or “catching” P (i.e. “plane at first”, i.e. the first letter of “plane”) and followed by OR, then SHIP (i.e. “seagoing vessel”), like so: S(P)ONS-OR-SHIP.

2. Train rifle finally on can in Parisian street (7)

Answer: RETINUE (i.e. a “train”). Solution is E (i.e. “rifle finally”, i.e. the last letter of “rifle”) and TIN (i.e. “can”) both placed “in” RUE (i.e. “Parisian street”), like so: R(E-TIN)UE.

3. In Homer a towering source of inspiration (5)

Answer: ERATO (i.e. “source of inspiration”, being one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: HOM(ER A TO)WERING.

4. Friendliness men face in heavily-populated area (10)

Answer: CORDIALITY (i.e. “friendliness”). Solution is OR (i.e. “men”, soldiers again, in this case the Other Ranks of the British Army) and DIAL (i.e. “face”) both placed “in” CITY (i.e. “heavily-populated area”), like so: C(OR-DIAL)ITY.

5. More distant army transport mentioned by reporter (7)

Answer: REMOTER (i.e. “more distant”). Solution is RE (i.e. “army”, again our Royal Engineers) followed by a homophone (indicated by “mentioned by reporter”) of MOTOR (i.e. “transport”), like so: RE-MOTER.

6. Sympathetic fellow ship’s officer digesting sacred choral work (13)

Answer: COMPASSIONATE (i.e. “sympathetic”). Solution is CO- (i.e. prefix denoting “fellow”) and MATE (i.e. “ship’s officer”) wrapped around or “digesting” PASSION (i.e. “sacred choral work” upon the suffering and death of Christ), like so: CO-M(PASSION)ATE.

7. Foolishly credulous about Republican defector’s story (9)

Answer: NARRATIVE (i.e. “story”). Solution is NAÏVE (i.e. “foolishly credulous”) wrapped “about” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and RAT (i.e. “defector”), like so: NA(R-RAT)IVE.

8. Extended Great Hall’s entrance in outskirts of large city (7)

Answer: LENGTHY (i.e. “extended”). Solution is GT (a recognised abbreviation of “great”) and H (i.e. “hall’s entrance”, i.e. the first letter of “hall”) once placed “in” LE (i.e. “outskirts of large”, i.e. the first and last letters of “large”) and NY (i.e. “city”, this time New York), like so: LE-N(GT-H)Y.

9. She’s sneering, after trashing moderate environmentalism (12)

Answer: GREENISHNESS (i.e. “moderate environmentalism”). “After trashing” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SHE’S SNEERING.

10. Atypical American city woman going north over America (9)

Answer: ANOMALOUS (i.e. “atypical”). Solution is LA (i.e. “American city”, Los Angeles) and MONA (i.e. “woman’s” name) all reversed (indicated by “going north” – this being a down clue – and followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over”, already covered) and US (i.e. “America”), like so: (ANOM-AL)-O-US.

11. Body of rebels once set up in London financial centre (5)

Answer: ICENI (i.e. “body of rebels once”, being Boudicca’s tribe that rebelled against the Romans). Solution is IN followed by ECI (i.e. “London financial centre”, being the EC postcode area again, this time followed by I, representing 1) all reversed (indicated by “set up” – again, this being a down clue) like so: ICE-NI.

12. Independent type, socially unacceptable, is not in, unfortunately (11)

Answer: NONUNIONIST (i.e. “independent type”). Solution is NON-U (i.e. “socially unacceptable”, at least to the upper classes – the abbreviation of which, covered earlier, is U) followed by an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of IS NOT IN, like so: NON-U-NOINIST.

19. Ways to accommodate current European group’s transport managers (7)

Answer: ROADIES (i.e. “group’s transport managers”). Solution is ROADS (i.e. “ways”) wrapped around or “accommodating” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: ROAD(I-E)S.

22. Early animal domesticator brought up in unsullied surroundings (9)

Answer: PREMATURE (i.e. “early”). Solution is TAMER (i.e. “animal domesticator”) reversed (indicated by “brought up” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” PURE (i.e. “unsullied”), like so: P(REMAT)URE.

24. Book by family member inspiring very English dish (3-2-4)

Answer: VOL-AU-VENT (i.e. “dish”). Solution is VOL (i.e. “book”, short for “volume”) followed by AUNT (i.e. “family member”) once wrapped around or “inspiring” V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) and E (ditto “English”), like so: VOL-AU(V-E)NT.

25. Charge one politician apiece (7)

Answer: IMPEACH (i.e. “charge”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by MP (i.e. “politician” or Member of Parliament) and EACH (i.e. “apiece”).

26. Left in charge of old colonnade (7)

Answer: PORTICO (i.e. “colonnade”). Solution is PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak) followed by IC (a recognised abbreviation of “in charge”) and O (ditto “old”).

30. Pompous member gripped by rest of Latin translation (4-9)

Answer: SELF-IMPORTANT (i.e. “pompous”). Solution is MP (i.e. “member” of Parliament… again) placed in or “gripped by” an anagram (indicated by “translation”) of REST OF LATIN, like so: SELF-I(MP)ORTANT.

32. Cat requires quarters, going round some time after midnight (7)

Answer: SIAMESE (i.e. “cat”). Solution is S, E, S and E (i.e. all “quarters” of the compass, being abbreviations of south and east repeated) “going round” I AM (i.e. “some time after midnight”, being 1 in the morning – I being 1’s Roman numeral equivalent), like so: S(I-AM)ESE.

33. Mapmaker’s vehicle cameraman abandoned by quiet house (12)

Answer: CARTOGRAPHER (i.e. “mapmaker”). Solution is CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) followed by PHOTOGRAPHER (i.e. “cameraman”) once the P and HO have been removed (indicated by “abandoned by quiet house”, P being a recognised abbreviation of “piano” or quiet in musical lingo and HO being a recognised abbreviation of “house”), like so: CAR-TOGRAPHER.

34. Slip mixed up with Hogarth prints (11)

Answer: LITHOGRAPHS (i.e. “prints”). “Mixed up” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SLIP and HOGARTH.

37. Support given to offending motorists (11)

Answer: ENDORSEMENT. Solution satisfies “support” and a punishment “given to offending motorists”, being points recorded against a driving licence.

38. Amphibious mammal, the sort we disturbed crossing river (5,5)

Answer: OTTER SHREW (i.e. “amphibious mammal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “disturbed”) of THE SORT WE wrapped around or “crossing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: OTTE(R)SHREW.

40. Run home, initially having citadel south of river (9)

Answer: HOUSEKEEP (i.e. “run home”). Solution is H (i.e. “initially having”, i.e. the first letter of “having”) and KEEP (i.e. “citadel”) once placed after or “south of” – this being a down clue – OUSE (i.e. a “river”), like so: H-(OUSE)-KEEP.

41. Pinch 27’s key to coat with metal (9)

Answer: NICKELISE (i.e. “coat with metal”). Solution is NICK (i.e. “pinch”) followed by ELI’S (the solution to “27” across made possessive) and E (i.e. musical “key”).

43. African country’s anger over truncated celebration (7)

Answer: ERITREA (i.e. “African country”). Solution is IRE (i.e. “anger”) reversed (indicated by “over”) and followed by TREAT (i.e. “celebration” – not a connection I’d immediately make but my Bradford’s backs it up) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “truncated”), like so: ERI-TREA.

44. Lofty key journalist supporting old flame (7)

Answer: EXALTED (i.e. “lofty”). Solution is ALT (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard) and ED (i.e. “journalist”, in this case a shortened form of “editor”) both placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – EX (i.e. “old flame”), like so: EX-(ALT-ED).

46. Getting browned off working on hide (7)

Answer: TANNING. Solution satisfies “getting browned off” and “working on hide”.

48. Pole, note, inspired by this writer’s religion (5)

Answer: ISLAM (i.e. “religion”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of south, one of the “poles”) and LA (i.e. another “note” of the sol-fa scale) both placed in or “inspired by” I’M (a contraction of I AM, i.e. “this writer’s” from the point of view of the setter), like so: I(S-LA)’M.

50. Wanderer’s tour finally finished (5)

Answer: ROVER (i.e. “wanderer”). Solution is R (i.e. “tour finally”, i.e. the last letter of “tour”) followed by OVER (i.e. “finished”).

A medium strength offering this week. A decent enough Jumbo, though one that perhaps leaned a little too heavily into anagrams and homophones. To be fair, this was more apparent when writing up this post than it was during the puzzle itself.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you the slip then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

Thanks again for the kind words and input. It’s always interesting to hear the hot takes of other solvers when they set down their pens. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Front part of animal in square hole, did you say? (7)

Answer: FOREPAW (i.e. “front part of animal”). “Did you say” indicates the solution comprises homophones of FOUR (i.e. a “square” number) and PORE (i.e. “hole”).

5. Poisonous plant is on description of computer (9)

Answer: DIGITALIS (i.e. “poisonous plant”). Solution is IS placed “on” or after DIGITAL (i.e. “description of computer”), like so: DIGITAL-IS.

10. Weary flyer (4)

Answer: FLAG. Solution satisfies “weary” – Chambers supports its use as a verb – and a “flyer”.

14. Laborious, as is sentiment, for example? (4-9)

Answer: TIME-CONSUMING (i.e. “laborious”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the solution cryptically satisfies “sentiment”, given that the word contains or has CONSUMED the word TIME, i.e. SEN(TIME)NT.

15. Dance a good way with expression of support (9)

Answer: FARANDOLE (i.e. “dance” – a new one on me). Solution is FAR (i.e. “a good way” away or into) followed by AND (i.e. “with”) and OLÉ (i.e. “expression of support” over in Spain).

16. Riotous antics from Australian savage (10)

Answer: SATURNALIA (i.e. “riotous antics”). “Savage” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of AUSTRALIAN.

17. Crawling bug silences cat that’s skittish (5,6)

Answer: SCALE INSECT (i.e. “crawling bug” – over to Chambers: “any insect of the homopterous family Coccidae, in which the sedentary female fixes on a plant and secretes a waxy shield”). “That’s skittish” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SILENCES CAT.

18. Possibly West banks in US state (5)

Answer: MAINE (i.e. “US state”). Solution is MAE (i.e. “possibly West”, after the actress) wrapped around or “banking” “IN”, like so: MA(IN)E.

19. Island’s a bit windy, dock accessed via gates (5,5)

Answer: TIDAL BASIN (i.e. “dock accessed via gates”). “Windy” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ISLAND’S A BIT.

21. Good day with copper in conversation? (3,3)

Answer: SEE YOU (i.e. “good day”, both valedictions). “In conversation” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of the chemical symbol of “copper”, Cu.

23. Setter for example is encapsulated by “drab, opinionated type” (9)

Answer: DOGMATIST (i.e. “opinionated type”). Solution is DOG (i.e. “setter for example”) followed by IS once placed in or “encapsulated by” MATT (i.e. “drab”), like so: DOG-MAT(IS)T.

25. Looking at money in gold boxes (5)

Answer: EYING (i.e. “looking at”). “Boxes” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: MON(EY IN G)OLD.

26. Interest rate initially intolerable coming off tracker – might one be in a jam? (7)

Answer: APRICOT (i.e. “might one be in a jam”). Solution is APR (i.e. “interest rate”, short for Annual Percentage Rate) followed by ICOT (i.e. “initially intolerable coming off tracker”, i.e. the first letters of “intolerable”, “coming”, “off” and “tracker”).

28. Play damn trash unfortunately, title withdrawn (4,3,3,3)

Answer: ARMS AND THE MAN (i.e. “play” by George Bernard Shaw). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of DAMN TRASH followed by NAME (i.e. “title”) once reversed (indicated by “withdrawn”), like so: ARMSANDTH-EMAN.

31. Dull in colour, worker surplus to requirements (9)

Answer: REDUNDANT (i.e. “surplus to requirements”). Solution is DUN (i.e. “dull”) placed “in” RED (i.e. “colour”) and followed by ANT (i.e. “worker”), like so: RE(DUN)D-ANT.

33. Two types of note heard where country music popular? (9)

Answer: TENNESSEE (i.e. “where country music [is] popular”). “Heard” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of TENNER and C (i.e. “two types of note”, the former a banknote, the latter a musical note).

35. One of those working on oilfield, sycophantic fool? (7,6)

Answer: NODDING DONKEY, a type of oil pump or “one of those working on oilfield”. Solution is NODDING (i.e. “sycophantic”) and DONKEY (i.e. “fool”).

37. Native after small shroud? (7)

Answer: SMOTHER (i.e. “shroud”). Solution is MOTHER (i.e. “native” or originating) placed “after” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: S-MOTHER.

38. Mount in foreign region, did you say? (5)

Answer: CLIMB (i.e. “mount”). “Did you say” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of CLIME (i.e. “foreign region”, poetically).

40. Become rotten, as chopped vegetables etc may have? (4,2,3)

Answer: GONE TO POT. Solution satisfies “become rotten” and “as chopped vegetables etc may have”.

42. Simple life president recalled after a second (6)

Answer: AMOEBA (i.e. “simple life”). Solution is ABE (i.e. “president”, Abraham Lincoln) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and placed “after” A and MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment), like so: (A-MO)-EBA.

44. Loot left for grinch (10)

Answer: SPOILSPORT (i.e. “grinch”). Solution is SPOILS (i.e. “loot”) followed by PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak).

46. Lion heading for nervous bird (5)

Answer: HERON (i.e. “bird”). Solution is HERO (i.e. “lion”) followed by N (i.e. “heading for nervous”, i.e. the first letter of “nervous”).

48. Order learned with protest (4,3,4)

Answer: DRAW THE LINE (i.e. “protest”). “Order” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of LEARNED WITH.

50. As are some soccer players, dropped, then paid (4-6)

Answer: LEFT-FOOTED (i.e. “as are some soccer players”). Solution is LEFT (i.e. “dropped”) followed by FOOTED (i.e. “paid”).

52. Iranian lost on tour of Australia, returned in some state (9)

Answer: ARIZONIAN (i.e. “in some state”, specifically Arizona). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “lost”) of IRANIAN wrapped around or “touring” OZ (i.e. “Australia”) once reversed (indicated by “returned”), like so: ARI(ZO)NIAN.

53. A posh creation rewritten as an original expression (2,4,1,6)

Answer: TO COIN A PHRASE (i.e. “as an original expression”). “Rewritten” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of A POSH CREATION.

54. American jerk (4)

Answer: YANK. Solution satisfies “American” and “jerk”.

55. Cutting item first removed from entire satirical magazine (4,5)

Answer: HOLE PUNCH (i.e. “cutting item”). Solution is WHOLE (i.e. “entire”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “first removed”) and the remainder followed by PUNCH (i.e. famed “satirical magazine”).

56. Spouse and little kids reportedly in underwear (1-6)

Answer: Y-FRONTS (i.e. “underwear”). “Reportedly” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of WIFE (i.e. “spouse”) and RUNTS (i.e. “little kids”, as in the runts of the litter).

Down clues

1. Cheese in hamper, we hear? (4)

Answer: FETA (i.e. “cheese”). “We hear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of FETTER (i.e. to “hamper”).

2. Violent con mellowing (9)

Answer: RAMPAGING (i.e. “violent”). Solution is RAMP (i.e. to “con” someone, albeit deep into the definitions) followed by AGING (i.e. “mellowing”).

3. Russian work of art on show? (8,2,2,10)

Answer: PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION (i.e. “Russian work” by Modest Mussorgsky). Solution also satisfies “art on show”.

4. One political side has head that’s screwed on (7)

Answer: WINGNUT (i.e. “that’s screwed on”). Solution is WING (i.e. “one political side”) followed by NUT (slang for a “head”).

5. Evidence of bigamy mumbo jumbo? (6,5)

Answer: DOUBLE DUTCH (i.e. “mumbo jumbo”). Solution also playfully satisfies “evidence of bigamy”, DUTCH being Cockney rhyming slang for a wife, possibly after the Duchess of Fife, according to Chambers.

6. Monochrome artwork is article obscured by screen (9)

Answer: GRISAILLE (i.e. “monochrome artwork” – another new one on me). Solution is IS and A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) both placed in or “obscured by” GRILLE (i.e. “screen”), like so: GR(IS-A)ILLE.

7. Leader in Augustus wearing clothes – these? (5)

Answer: TOGAS (i.e. “these”, within the context of the clue, i.e. the kind of “clothes” “Augustus” would wear). Solution is TOGS (i.e. “clothes”) wrapped around or “wearing” A (i.e. “leader in Augustus”, i.e. the first letter of “Augustus”), like so: TOG(A)S.

8. Make an effort, as umpire will on dismissal? (4,1,6)

Answer: LIFT A FINGER. Solution satisfies “make an effort” and “as umpire will on dismissal” in cricket.

9. Ice hardened, sphere enclosed (6)

Answer: SORBET (i.e. “ice”). Solution is SET (i.e. “hardened”) wrapped around or “enclosing” ORB (i.e. “sphere”), like so: S(ORB)ET.

11. Places to go, see, more or less (7)

Answer: LOOSELY (i.e. “more or less”). Solution is LOOS (i.e. “places to go”, “go” being slang for visiting the toilet) followed by ELY (i.e. diocese or “see” in East Anglia).

12. Winner in the end, champ hugged by haggard relative (5-4)

Answer: GREAT-AUNT (i.e. “relative”). Solution is R (i.e. “winner in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “winner”) and EAT (i.e. to “champ”) both placed in or “hugged by” GAUNT (i.e. “haggard”), like so: G(R-EAT)AUNT.

13. Promptly ignored, as bullet passing through brain? (2,3,3,3,3,3,5)

Answer: IN ONE EAR AND OUT THE OTHER. Solution satisfies “promptly ignored” and, er – playfully, “as bullet passing through brain”.

18. Third note planned includes first two in diagram (7)

Answer: MEDIANT (i.e. “third note” of a scale). Solution is MEANT (i.e. “planned”) wrapped around or “including” DI (i.e. “first two [letters] in diagram”), like so: ME(DI)ANT.

20. All going one way, leading another way (7)

Answer: ALIGNED (i.e. “all going one way”). “Another way” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of “leading”.

22. Top location of Welsh castle (8)

Answer: CARDIGAN. Solution satisfies a garment or “top” and “location of Welsh castle”.

24. Business in ashes, refinery vacated (8)

Answer: INDUSTRY (i.e. “business”). Solution is IN followed by DUST (i.e. “ashes”) and RY (i.e. “refinery vacated”, i.e. the word “refinery” with all its middle letters removed).

27. Attempt joke (5)

Answer: CRACK. Solution satisfies an “attempt” and a “joke”.

29. Appearing in gloom, unromantic peak in Scotland (5)

Answer: MUNRO (i.e. “peak in Scotland”). “Appearing in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GLOO(M UNRO)MANTIC.

30. Outfit exposing much flesh, knight say with blood on one (7)

Answer: MANKINI (i.e. “outfit exposing much flesh”). Solution is MAN (i.e. “knight say”, chess pieces are sometimes referred to as “men”) followed by KIN (i.e. family or “blood”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). Jagshemash, friends!

32. Unknown number defended by God test one’s patience (3,2,2)

Answer: TRY IT ON (i.e. “test one’s patience”). Solution is Y (i.e. “unknown number” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) placed in or “defended by” TRITON (i.e. Greek “God” of the sea), like so: TR(Y)ITON.

34. Outstanding save with one leg on a line (11)

Answer: EXCEPTIONAL (i.e. “outstanding”). Solution is EXCEPT (i.e. “save” for) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), then ON (i.e. “leg” side in cricket), then A and L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”).

36. Genuinely irritated if I had to go without nicotine, initially (2,4,5)

Answer: IN GOOD FAITH (i.e. “genuinely”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “irritated”) of IF I HAD TO GO wrapped around or placed “without” N (i.e. “nicotine, initially”, i.e. the first letter of “nicotine”), like so: I(N)GOODFAITH.

37. Relax with bear on a picnic! (5,4)

Answer: STAND EASY (i.e. “relax”). Solution is STAND (i.e. to “bear”) followed by EASY (i.e. a “picnic”, slang thereof).

39. First of Catholics welcomed by two boys from St Peter’s Church say (9)

Answer: BASILICAN (i.e. of a basilica, or “from St Peter’s Church say”, referring to St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican). Solution is C (i.e. “first of Catholics”, i.e. the first letter of “Catholics”) placed in or “welcomed by” BASIL and IAN (i.e. “two boys’” names), like so: BASIL-I(C)AN.

41. China in place, or plastic (9)

Answer: PORCELAIN (i.e. “china”). “Plastic” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IN PLACE OR.

43. Speech embraced by a British naval commander? (7)

Answer: ORATION (i.e. “speech”). The rest of the clue plays on how the solution is also found in famed “British naval commander” H(ORATIO N)ELSON.

45. Industrialist ultimately uncertain about an American jeweller (7)

Answer: Charles Lewis TIFFANY (i.e. “American jeweller”). Solution is T (i.e. “industrialist ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “industrialist”) followed by IFFY (i.e. “uncertain”) once wrapped “about” AN, like so: T-IFF(AN)Y.

47. Tasty light rolls I wrap up later (6)

Answer: DELISH (i.e. “tasty”, slang for delicious). 100% guess here, so watch out. Chambers supports DELISH, and I can get DEL (i.e. “light rolls”, i.e. an LED or Light Emitting Diode reversed) followed by I, but after that I’ve got nothing. If anyone swings by with the solution/explanation to this one then I’ll update the post.

[EDIT: Thanks to Sue in the comments for adding more to this one. One definition of “wrap up” is “to stop talking (often as imperative)” (Chambers), so you could set SH from that to complete the solution. “Later” seems a redundant word, but perhaps this is no biggie. Cheers, Sue! – LP]

49. Passage from gates to public bar (5)

Answer: ESTOP (i.e. to “bar”, an archaic word). “Passage from” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GAT(ES TO P)UBLIC.

51. Information in every direction (4)

Answer: NEWS (i.e. “information”). The rest of the clue plays on how the word comprises all the points of the compass, North, East, West and South.

A relatively straightforward one this week. Suits me fine, though it did feel a little one-track at times with lots of single letters being added or removed from stuff.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has given you the slip then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find solutions to hundreds of the things. (250 of them if I’m not mistaken. Good grief, that’s a lot of Saturdays…)

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

LP

FBV (French-By-Volume): 3.3%

Across clues

1. Hunt finally to wander, heading off for big cat (7)

Answer: TIGRESS (i.e. “big cat”). Solution is T (i.e. “hunt finally”, i.e. the last letter of “hunt”) followed by DIGRESS (i.e. “to wander”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: T-IGRESS.

5. Children, note, cornered by a sudden attack – scorpion? (8)

Answer: ARACHNID (i.e. “scorpion”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “children”) and N (ditto “note”) both placed in or “cornered by” A and RAID (i.e. “sudden attack”), like so: A-RA(CH-N)ID.

9. Bringer of news almost entirely surrounded by crowd (6)

Answer: HERALD (i.e. “bringer of news”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “entirely”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder placed in or “surrounded by” HERD (i.e. “crowd”), like so: HER(AL)D.

13. Inflation measure covered (in another case) in afterpiece (6,5,5)

Answer: RETAIL PRICE INDEX (i.e. “inflation measure”). The remainder of the clue plays on how the initials of the solution, RPI, can be found “in AFTE(RPI)ECE”.

14. Preparing to drive, say, carrying large old politician (6)

Answer: Clement ATTLEE (i.e. “old politician”). Solution is AT TEE (i.e. “preparing to drive” in golf) wrapped around or “carrying” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: AT-T(L)EE.

16. Pay for poet to give up first popular piece (8)

Answer: STANDARD (i.e. “popular piece”). Solution is STAND (i.e. “pay for”) followed by BARD (i.e. “poet”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “to give up first”), like so: STAND-ARD.

17. New Zealander winning originally cracking K2 (4)

Answer: KIWI (i.e. “New Zealander”, informally). Solution is W (i.e. “winning originally”, i.e. the first letter of “winning”) placed in or “cracking” K and II (i.e. “2” expressed as Roman numerals), like so: K-I(W)I.

18. Men keeping fine automobile back to get vehicle accessories (4,5)

Answer: ROOF RACKS (i.e. “vehicle accessories”). Solution is ROOKS (i.e. chess pieces, sometimes referred to as “men”) wrapped around or “keeping” F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in pencil grades) and CAR (i.e. “automobile”) once this latter has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: ROO(F-RAC)KS.

20. Body of water – repeatedly it swirls around, repeatedly (8)

Answer: Lake TITICACA (i.e. “body of water”). Solution is IT and IT (i.e. “repeatedly it”) reversed (indicated by “swirls”) and followed by CA and CA (i.e. “around, repeatedly” – CA being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”), like so: (TI-TI)-CA-CA.

21. Young woman in European country, subordinate worker on schooners etc (11)

Answer: GLASSBLOWER (i.e. “worker on schooners etc” – a schooner can be a large beer glass or a large sherry glass). Solution is LASS (i.e. “young woman”) placed “in” GB (i.e. “European country”, specifically Great Britain) and followed by LOWER (i.e. “subordinate”), like so: G(LASS)B-LOWER.

24. Converted girl has to accept a new life eternal here? Not quite (7-2)

Answer: SHANGRI-LA, “any remote or imaginary paradise” (Chambers). In James Hilton’s novel Lost Horizon, which coined the place, inhabitants enjoyed increased longevity, but “not quite” “life eternal”. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “converted”) of GIRL HAS wrapped around or “accepting” A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: SH(A-N)GRILA.

25. Old man leading revolution, briefly, catching a city dweller (8)

Answer: PARISIAN (i.e. “city dweller”). Solution is PA (i.e. “old man” or father) followed by RISING (i.e. “revolution”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “catching” A, like so: PA-RISI(A)N.

26. Reiki initially involved in life energy (4)

Answer: BRIO (i.e. “energy”). Solution is R (i.e. “reiki initially”, i.e. the first letter of “reiki” – a form of Japanese massage, if you were wondering) placed “in” BIO (i.e. a prefix denoting “life”), like so: B(R)IO.

29. Honest admen corrupted at the very least (3,4,4)

Answer: AND THEN SOME (i.e. “at the very least”). “Corrupted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HONEST ADMEN.

31. Indicating rationale for joint deficiencies? (8,3)

Answer: POINTING OUT (i.e. “indicating”). When written as POINT IN GOUT the solution satisfies the rather bizarre “rationale for joint deficiencies”.

33. Earlier, rebuke elf, one with a compulsion to stay home? (11)

Answer: AGORAPHOBIA (i.e. “compulsion to stay home”). Solution is AGO (i.e. “earlier”) followed by RAP (i.e. “rebuke”), then HOB (i.e. “elf” – a variant meaning of HOB is “a supernatural creature or fairy, such as Robin Goodfellow (folklore)” (Chambers)), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and A.

36. One foresees careering into cavalry (11)

Answer: CLAIRVOYANT (i.e. “one foresees”). “Careering” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INTO CAVALRY.

38. Watches emergency exits, always on the edge (4)

Answer: EYES (i.e. “watches”). “Always on the edge” indicates the solution is formed from the first and last letters of EMERGENCY EXITS.

39. Large animal knocked over tree, stifling agonised groan (8)

Answer: KANGAROO (i.e. “large animal”). Solution is OAK (i.e. “tree”) reversed (indicated by “knocked over”) and wrapped around or “stifling” an anagram (indicated by “agonised”) of GROAN, like so: KA(NGARO)O.

41. Show host adopting nothing regal, in a ridiculing style (9)

Answer: MOCKINGLY (i.e. “in a ridiculing style”). Solution is MC (i.e. “show host”, or Master of Ceremonies) wrapped around or “adopting” O (i.e. “nothing”) and followed by KINGLY (i.e. “regal”), like so: M(O)C-KINGLY.

44. Creative function wrong from the outset? (8,3)

Answer: ORIGINAL SIN (i.e. “wrong from the outset”, or “innate depravity and corruption believed to be transmitted to Adam’s descendants because of his sin” (Chambers). The concept apparently came about in the 3rd century and is ascribed to Saint Augustine. So a man-made construct, then. What’s that? “Like all religion”? You might say that. I couldn’t possibly comment). Solution is ORIGINAL (i.e. “creative”) followed by SIN (i.e. “function”, being a shortened form of the trigonometrical function, sine).

45. Unhappy about US shop-owner turning over tree (8)

Answer: SYCAMORE (i.e. “tree”). Solution is SORE (i.e. “unhappy”) wrapped “about” Rowland Hussey MACY (i.e. “US shop-owner”) once reversed (indicated by “turning over”), like so: S(YCAM)ORE.

48. Ballet favourite heading for Rome and America, going round Hong Kong (9)

Answer: PETRUSHKA (i.e. “ballet” by Igor Stravinsky). Solution is PET (i.e. “favourite”) followed by R (i.e. “heading for Rome”, i.e. the first letter of “home”), then USA (i.e. “America”) once wrapped “round” HK (short for “Hong Kong”), like so: PET-R-US(HK)A. By some sizeable coincidence I was scribbling away in The Times Cryptic Crossword Book 22, which I bought last night while waiting for a friend, where the same solution cropped up in grid #3. The clue on that occasion was: “Princess’s annoyance – about time to hasten King’s ballet”.

49. Declined to dismiss match official no longer in top condition? (4)

Answer: USED (i.e. “no longer in top condition”). Solution is REFUSED (i.e. “declined”) with the REF removed (indicated by “to dismiss match official” or referee).

50. Start of summer – immediately autumn and sign of winter? (8)

Answer: SNOWFALL (i.e. “sign of winter”). Solution is S (i.e. “start [letter] of summer”) followed by NOW (i.e. “immediately”) and FALL (i.e. “autumn”).

52. Copper kitchen utensil (6)

Answer: PEELER. Solution satisfies an old slang name for “copper” or policeman, and “kitchen utensil”.

53. Explorer going to platform with unknown flower (11,5)

Answer: LIVINGSTONE DAISY (i.e. rather colourful “flowers”). Solution is David LIVINGSTONE (i.e. “explorer”) followed by DAIS (i.e. “platform”) and Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in their solutions as unknowns).

54. One’s opening call is coming up (6)

Answer: RISING (i.e. “coming up”). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) placed in or “opening” RING (i.e. to “call”), like so: R(I’S)ING.

55. Biased individuals helped to lose source of aggression (3-5)

Answer: ONE-SIDED (i.e. “biased”). Solution is ONES (i.e. “individuals”) followed by AIDED (i.e. “helped”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “to lose source”), like so: ONES-IDED.

56. Space probe, very old, having a long time in planetary tour finally (7)

Answer: VOYAGER (i.e. “space probe”, launched by NASA in 1977). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), followed by O (ditto “old”), then AGE (i.e. “long time”) once placed “in” between Y and R (i.e. “planetary tour finally”, i.e. the last letters of “planetary” and “tour”), like so: V-O-(Y-(AGE)-R).

Down clues

1. Bird in this way mobbing rook, gaining height (6)

Answer: THRUSH (i.e. “bird”). Solution is THUS (i.e. “in this way”) wrapped around or “mobbing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess) and followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “height”), like so: TH(R)US-H.

2. Meal in France no longer excluding last cake (6)

Answer: GATEAU (i.e. “cake”). Solution is TEA (i.e. “meal”) placed “in” GAUL (i.e. “France no longer”, i.e. a former name for France) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “excluding last”), like so: GA(TEA)U.

3. Divine goal to eliminate a burst – of this? (4-5)

Answer: EVIL-DOING. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also an anagram (indicated by “burst”) of DIVINE GOAL once the A has been removed or “eliminated”.

4. Oversight, Shostakovich’s first in previous works (11)

Answer: SUPERVISION (i.e. “oversight”). Solution is S (i.e. “Shostakovich’s first” letter) followed by an anagram (indicated by “works”) of IN PREVIOUS, like so: S-UPERVISION.

5. Keen to dodge losing love (4)

Answer: AVID (i.e. “keen”). Solution is AVOID (i.e. “dodge”) once the O has been removed (indicated by “losing love” – “love” being a zero score in tennis).

6. Song title that could generate recipe mania? (8,3)

Answer: AMERICAN PIE (i.e. “song title”). “That could generate” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RECIPE MANIA.

7. After oats? It’s encouraging for horse (7-4)

Answer: HUNTING-CROP (i.e. “it’s encouraging for horse” – I bet the horse begs to differ). Solution is HUNTING (i.e. seeking or “after”) followed by CROP (i.e. “oats”).

8. Cricket body with lots of pages about English courses for summer? (3,6)

Answer: ICE CREAMS (i.e. “courses for summer”). Solution is ICC (i.e. “cricket body”, specifically the International Cricket Council) and REAMS (i.e. “lots of pages”) all wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: IC(E)C-REAMS.

10. Quietly heading away, stifling anger completely (8)

Answer: ENTIRELY (i.e. “completely”). Solution is GENTLY (i.e. “quietly”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading away”) and the remainder wrapped around or “stifling” IRE (i.e. “anger”), like so: ENT(IRE)LY.

11. Novel repairs etc on historic house placed under a notice (1,9,6)

Answer: A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (i.e. “novel” by Anthony Burgess). Solution is WORK (i.e. “repairs etc”) and ORANGE (i.e. Dutch “historic house”, royally speaking) both placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – A and CLOCK (i.e. to “notice”), like so: (A-CLOCK)-WORK-ORANGE.

12. Doctor, not so important, ignoring student, one treating wounds (7)

Answer: DRESSER (i.e. “one treating wounds”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) followed by LESSER (i.e. “not so important”) once the L has been removed (indicated by “ignoring student” – L being a recognised abbreviation of learner), like so: DR-ESSER.

15. Permanent way guarded by prisoner and soldier (8)

Answer: CONSTANT (i.e. “permanent”). Solution is ST (i.e. “way”, or a recognised abbreviation of a street) placed in or “guarded by” CON (i.e. “prisoner”) and ANT (i.e. “soldier”), like so: CON-(ST)-ANT.

19. Chap leading a search in cave (8)

Answer: CATACOMB (i.e. “cave”). Solution is CAT (slang for a “chap”) followed by A, then COMB (i.e. to “search”).

22. Exploit key item of dressing used in A&E (8)

Answer: ESCAPADE (i.e. “exploit”). Solution is ESC (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard) followed by PAD (i.e. “item of dressing”) once placed “in” “A&E”, like so: ESC-A(PAD)E.

23. Youngster in care to steal from record company: anxiety for costume designer (8,8)

Answer: WARDROBE MISTRESS (i.e. “costume designer”). Solution is WARD (i.e. “youngster in care”) followed by ROB (i.e. “to steal”), then EMI (i.e. “record company”, Electric & Musical Industries) and STRESS (i.e. “anxiety”).

27. Is harder to get rid of than unfashionable corset (8)

Answer: OUTSTAYS (i.e. “is harder to get rid of”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unfashionable”) followed by STAYS (i.e. “corset”).

28. Cancel Unionist veto about Democrat (4)

Answer: UNDO (i.e. “cancel”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “Unionist”) and NO (i.e. “veto”) once wrapped “about” D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”), like so: U-N(D)O.

30. Husband getting over a Times spoof (4)

Answer: HOAX (i.e. “spoof”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) followed by O (ditto “over”, used in cricket), then A and X (i.e. “times” – ignore the misleading capitalisation, we’re after the multiplication symbol here).

32. Seeing one, Schuman’s gone to pieces (8)

Answer: INASMUCH (i.e. considering or “seeing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “gone to pieces”) of I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and SCHUMAN.

34. That chap – cold and hot within a period of 24 hours, suffering localised pain (8)

Answer: HEADACHY (i.e. “suffering localised pain”). Solution is HE (i.e. “that chap”) followed by C and H (i.e. recognised abbreviations of “cold and hot” respectively, as sometimes seen on water taps) once placed “within” A and DAY (i.e. “period of 24 hours”), like so: HE-(A-DA(C-H)Y).

35. Elevated activity using gold in extravagant creations (11)

Answer: AERONAUTICS (i.e. “elevated activity”). Solution is AU (chemical symbol of “gold”) once placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “extravagant”) of CREATIONS, like so: AERON(AU)TICS.

36. Tetchy Liberal offered encouragement in a seated position (11)

Answer: CROSSLEGGED (i.e. “in a seated position”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. “tetchy”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”) and EGGED (i.e. “offered encouragement”).

37. Composer very supportive of harmonica playing, putting in extra note (11)

Answer: Sergei RACHMANINOV (i.e. “composer”). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”) placed after or beneath (indicated by “supportive of” – this being a down clue) an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of HARMONICA once wrapped around N (a recognised abbreviation of “note”), like so: RACHMA(N)INO-V.

40. Development promoted for one terminus? (9)

Answer: GESTATION (i.e. “development”). Solution is EG (i.e. “for one”, or for example) reversed (indicated by “promoted” or raised – this being a down clue) and followed by STATION (i.e. “terminus”), like so: GE-STATION.

42. Indian river: I twice run off around delta – twice (9)

Answer: IRRAWADDY (i.e. “Indian river”). Solution is I followed by R and R (i.e. “twice run” – R being a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games), then AWAY (i.e. “off”) once wrapped “around” D and D (i.e. “delta – twice” – “delta” being D in the phonetic alphabet), like so: I-RR-AWA(DD)Y.

43. Expect first diagram to be curtailed (6,2)

Answer: FIGURE ON (i.e. “expect”). Solution is FIGURE ONE (i.e. “first diagram”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “to be curtailed”).

44. Apparently practicable to take The Times? (2,5)

Answer: ON PAPER (i.e. “apparently”). Solution is ON (i.e. “practicable”) followed by PAPER (a newspaper, “The Times”).

46. Painful sensation when carrying six flags (6)

Answer: PAVING (i.e. “flags”). Solution is PANG (i.e. “painful sensation”) wrapped around or “carrying” VI (i.e. “six” in Roman numerals), like so: PA(VI)NG.

47. One trifling in soft bed (6)

Answer: PLAYER (i.e. “one trifling” – to trifle is “to play, toy, amuse oneself” (Chambers)). Solution is P (i.e. “soft”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) followed by LAYER (i.e. “bed”).

51. Boss curtailed analysis (4)

Answer: STUD (i.e. “boss”). Solution is STUDY (i.e. “analysis”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “curtailed”).