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

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

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

LP

Across clues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

15. Ancient instrument rotated on black stone (5)

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

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

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

17. Champ, caught, fell (4)

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

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

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

20. Honour claimed by barbarian navigator (6)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

38. Impatience ultimately observed in pleasant relative (5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Down clues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Internet Explorer? (6,6)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19. Suit certain to delight (8)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

51. Character standing leaves to exercise joint (4)

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

Less a Jumbo this week than Who’s Who. Had I known that not only was MAHATMA GANDHI here but also HENRY THE EIGHTH, CARDINAL WOLSEY and ALFRED THE GREAT, not to mention Daniel DEFOE and Doris DAY, then I’d have brought my bleedin’ autograph book. And don’t think I didn’t spot ANNA KARENINA in there rubbing shoulders with HYACINTH Bucket out of Keeping Up Appearances and – best of all – one of the actual WHEELIEs from Chorlton and the Wheelies. Esteemed company indeed!

Now that the competition deadline has passed here is my completed grid along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. If a recent Jumbo has given you a proper slapping then my Just For Fun page might help, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

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

LP

Across clues

1. Writer Jane – typical American – penning principally erotic fiction (5)

Answer: Daniel DEFOE (i.e. “writer”). Solution is DOE (i.e. “Jane – typical American”) wrapped around or “penning” E and F (i.e. “principally erotic fiction”, i.e. the first letters of “erotic” and “fiction”), like so: D(E-F)OE.

4. Say 2000 guineas initially captured Alfa Romeo vintage model? (7,3)

Answer: CLASSIC CAR (i.e. “vintage model”). Solution is CLASSIC (i.e. “say 2000 guineas” – other horse races of the English Classics are available) followed by C, A and R (i.e. “initially captured Alfa Romeo”, i.e. the first letter of “captured”, “Alfa” and “Romeo”).

9. Nearly new frame for Canaletto artwork (6)

Answer: FRESCO (i.e. “artwork”). Solution is FRESH (i.e. “new”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “nearly”) and the remainder followed by CO (i.e. “frame for Canaletto”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Canaletto”), like so: FRES-CO.

14. Soldier in red gear going on manoeuvres (9)

Answer: GRENADIER (i.e. “soldier”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “going on manoeuvres”) of IN RED GEAR.

15. Wow, Bernard Levin no longer popular? That’s surprisingly novel! (5,3,5)

Answer: BRAVE NEW WORLD (i.e. “novel” by Aldous Huxley). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s surprising”) of WOW BERNARD LEVIN once the IN has been removed (indicated by “no longer popular”).

16. Elite forces circling around send for The Blues (7)

Answer: SADNESS (i.e. “The Blues”). Solution is SAS (i.e. “elite forces”, the Special Air Service) wrapped around or “circling” SEND once it has been reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: SA(DNES)S.

17. Hurricane winds becoming more earthy (9)

Answer: RAUNCHIER (i.e. “more earthy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “winds”) of HURRICANE.

18. Yellow Sea for French shellfish? (5)

Answer: ORMER (i.e. a “shellfish”). Solution is OR (i.e. “yellow” or gold in heraldry) followed by MER (i.e. “sea for French”, i.e. the French for “sea”). One nailed from the wordplay.

19. Spooner lets me off when pinching the first bit of egg flip (4,4,6)

Answer: LOSE ONE’S TEMPER (i.e. “flip”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “off”) of SPOONER LETS ME wrapped around or “pinching” E (i.e. “the first bit of egg”, i.e. the first letter of “egg”), like so: LOS(E)ONESTEMPER.

22. Launch parody (4-3)

Answer: TAKE-OFF. Solution satisfies “launch” and a “parody”.

25. Cursed wicked spirit renounced religious belief when killing knight (10)

Answer: IMPRECATED (i.e. “cursed”). Solution is IMP (i.e. “wicked spirit”) followed by RECANTED (i.e. “renounced religious belief”) once the N has been removed (indicated by “when killing knight” – N being a recognised abbreviation of “knight” used in chess), like so: IMP-RECATED.

27. Gasbag bishop shampoos little Christopher before the start of evensong (12)

Answer: BLATHERSKITE (i.e. “gasbag”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “bishop”, again used in chess) followed by LATHERS (i.e. “shampoos”), KIT (i.e. “little Christopher”, a shortened form of the name) and E (i.e. “start [letter] of evensong”). This has appeared in Jumbos a couple of times already, but it’s still a cool word.

30. Familiar extremes of temperature during month (5)

Answer: MATEY (i.e. “familiar”). Solution is TE (i.e. “extremes of temperature”, i.e. the first and last letters of “temperature”) placed “during” MAY (i.e. “month”), like so: MA(TE)Y.

31. Blag dealer of supply (8)

Answer: FREELOAD (i.e. “blag”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “supply”, as in being supple) of DEALER OF.

32. Child catching Greek character who was an old monster (8)

Answer: MINOTAUR (i.e. “an old monster”). Solution is MINOR (i.e. “child”) wrapped around or “catching” TAU (i.e. “Greek character”, the nineteenth letter of the Greek alphabet), like so: MINO(TAU)R.

35. Liberated grass-covered meadows (8)

Answer: RELEASED (i.e. “liberated”). Solution is REED (i.e. “grass”) wrapped around or “covering” LEAS (i.e. “meadows”), like so: RE(LEAS)ED.

36. From superior keyboard instrument we hear something flowery (8)

Answer: HYACINTH (i.e. “something flowery”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “we hear”) of HIGHER (i.e. “superior”) and SYNTH (i.e. “keyboard instrument”, short for synthesiser).

37. Riviera city accommodating eastern relative (5)

Answer: NIECE (i.e. “relative”). Solution is NICE (i.e. “Riviera city”) wrapped around or “accommodating” E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”), like so: NI(E)CE. Hello. Mystic Poll here. I’m reaching out deep into the spectral realm, calling out to the spirits, beseeching their wisdom and foresight. I think… yes! I think I can hear them! They are saying that we will see this solution again very soon, something about a “Jumbo 1659”. How mysterious. What’s that? No, your uncle Derek wasn’t there. That’ll be £20, please.

39. Top brass in the army? (7,5)

Answer: TRUMPET MAJOR. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being “a head trumpeter in a regiment” (Chambers), while also playing on TRUMPETs being “brass” musical instruments.

41. Down, lacking energy, daughter always makes time for the old man (7,3)

Answer: FATHER’S DAY (i.e. “time for the old man”). Solution is FEATHERS (i.e. “down”) with the first E removed (indicated by “lacking energy” – E being a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) and the remainder followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) and AY (i.e. yes or “always”), like so: FATHERS-D-AY.

43. Cold, solitary, eating variable pie from Italy (7)

Answer: CALZONE (i.e. “pie from Italy”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” used on water taps) and ALONE (i.e. “solitary”) once wrapped around or “eating” Z (i.e. “variable” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns or variables), like so: C-AL(Z)ONE.

45. Diocesan rally organised to defend women’s church leader (8,6)

Answer: CARDINAL WOLSEY (i.e. 16th Century “church leader”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “organised”) of DIOCESAN RALLY wrapped around or “defending” W (a recognised abbreviation of “women”), like so: CARDINAL(W)OLSEY.

48. Talk about the introduction of regional map (5)

Answer: CHART (i.e. “map”). Solution is CHAT (i.e. “talk”) wrapped “about” R (i.e. “introduction of regional”, i.e. the first letter of “regional”), like so: CHA(R)T.

49. Well-bred one from stable background? (9)

Answer: RACEHORSE. Another where the solution satisfies the clue as a whole, this time playing on horses, breeding, stables etc. You get the idea.

51. Follow upper-class, Liberal, boring online partner? (7)

Answer: EMULATE (i.e. “follow”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of the “upper-class”) and L (ditto “Liberal”) both placed in or “boring” E-MATE (i.e. “online partner”, playfully, as in how the prefix e- is stuck on words to make them online-related), like so: E-M(U-L)ATE.

53. Panama hat, mag and his sandwiches… a peaceful chap (7,6)

Answer: MAHATMA GANDHI (i.e. “a peaceful chap”). “Sandwiches” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: PANA(MA HAT MAG AND HI)S. You don’t often see hidden solutions as long as this. Impressive work!

54. Foolish, sick arbitrator, ultimately good (3-6)

Answer: ILL-JUDGED (i.e. “foolish”). Solution is ILL (i.e. “sick”) followed by JUDGE (i.e. “arbitrator”) and D (i.e. “ultimately good”, i.e. the last letter of “good”).

55. Register Nick held with both hands (6)

Answer: LEDGER (i.e. “register”). Solution is EDGE (i.e. to “nick” a ball in cricket) placed in or “held” by L and R (i.e. “both hands”, respectively recognised abbreviations of “left” and “right”), like so: L-(EDGE)-R.

56. Chronic weak person eschewing R&B (10)

Answer: INVETERATE (i.e. “chronic”). Solution is INVERTEBRATE (i.e. “weak person”) with “R&B” removed or “eschewed”.

57. Healthy appetite by the end of day (5)

Answer: LUSTY (i.e. “healthy”). Solution is LUST (i.e. “appetite”) followed by Y (i.e. “the end [letter] of the day”).

Down clues

1. Be really into established summary publication (6)

Answer: DIGEST (i.e. “summary publication”). Solution is DIG (i.e. “be really into”) followed by EST (short for “established”).

2. Centre of military operations in theatre of war? (5,8)

Answer: FIELD HOSPITAL. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, playing on surgical “operations” rather than military ones.

3. Delete answer posed in Gaelic language (5)

Answer: ERASE (i.e. “delete”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) placed “in” ERSE (i.e. “Gaelic language”), like so: ER(A)SE.

4. Tory crossing boundaries becomes a Red (7)

Answer: CRIMSON (i.e. “red”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is CON (i.e. “Tory”, in this case a short form of “Conservative”) wrapped around or “crossing” RIMS (i.e. “boundaries”), like so: C(RIMS)ON.

5. It helps to improve the atmosphere after one’s kicked up a stink (3,9)

Answer: AIR FRESHENER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Quite a straightforward one.

6. Took over undersea vessel, American, coming up on the sea (8)

Answer: SUBSUMED (i.e. “took over”). Solution is SUB (i.e. “undersea vessel”, short for submarine) followed by US (i.e. “American”) reversed (indicated by “coming up” – this being a down clue) and MED (i.e. “sea”, short for Mediterranean), like so: SUB-SU-MED.

7. Runs first-class cricket club at the borders for fun in Ireland (5)

Answer: CRAIC (i.e. “fun in Ireland”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) and AI (i.e. “first class”, i.e. A1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent) both placed in or having “at the borders” CC (a recognised abbreviation of “cricket club”), like so: C(R-AI)C.

8. Improve a real-time broadcast receiving Oscar (10)

Answer: AMELIORATE (i.e. “improve”). Solution is A followed by an anagram (indicated by “broadcast”) of REAL-TIME once wrapped around or “receiving” O (“Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: A-MELI(O)RATE.

10. Argument with rugby forward where he sticks his oar in? (7)

Answer: ROWLOCK (i.e. “where he sticks his oar in”). Solution is ROW (i.e. “argument”) followed by LOCK (i.e. “rugby forward”).

11. I chuck bombs skyward, just missing a Republican hothead in Italy (9)

Answer: Mount STROMBOLI (i.e. a volcano or “hothead in Italy”). Solution is I LOB MORTARS (i.e. “I chuck bombs”) reversed (indicated by “skyward” – this being a down clue) once the A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) have first been removed, like so: STROM-BOL-I.

12. Earlier file force deleted (5)

Answer: OLDER (i.e. “earlier”). Solution is FOLDER (i.e. “file”) with the F removed (indicated by “force deleted” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”).

13. Twice-divorced royal female going on-line, getting a date? (5,3,6)

Answer: HENRY THE EIGHTH (i.e. “twice-divorced royal”. It’s one way to describe him, I suppose). Solution is HEN (i.e. “female” bird) followed by or “going on” RY (i.e. “line”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “railway”) and THE EIGHTH (i.e. “a date”).

20. Time metaphorically affected the Opposition (5,4)

Answer: ENEMY CAMP (i.e. “the Opposition”). Solution is ENEMY (i.e. “time metaphorically”, after the phrase “time is the enemy”) followed by CAMP (i.e. an “affected” manner).

21. Large hollowed out yucca in colonnade having multiple fibrous stems (8)

Answer: POLYARCH (i.e. “having multiple fibrous stems” botanically). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and YA (i.e. “hollowed out yucca”, i.e. the word “yucca” with all its middle letters removed) both placed “in” PORCH (i.e. “colonnade”), like so: PO(L-YA)RCH.

23. Iris surely fled in a tizzy (5-2-3)

Answer: FLEUR-DE-LYS (i.e. “iris”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in a tizzy”) of SURELY FLED.

24. One reporting on those who make scenes? (4,6)

Answer: FILM CRITIC. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, playing on movie “scenes” rather than melodramatic ones.

26. Old King Aethelred laboured with graft (6,3,5)

Answer: ALFRED THE GREAT (i.e. “old king”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “laboured”) of AETHELRED and GRAFT. Nicely worked.

28. Rascal (and German!) coming in to make a half century (9)

Answer: SCOUNDREL (i.e. “rascal”). Solution is UND (i.e. “and German”, i.e. the German for “and”) placed or “coming in” SCORE L (i.e. “make a half century”, using the Roman numeral for 50), like so: SCO(UND)RE-L.

29. Actor entertaining game fan of drama (8)

Answer: PLAYGOER (i.e. “fan of drama”). Solution is PLAYER (i.e. “actor”) wrapped around or “entertaining” GO (an ancient board “game”), like so: PLAY(GO)ER.

33. EU’s ban angered ground beef producer (8,5)

Answer: ABERDEEN ANGUS (i.e. “beef producer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ground”) of EU’S BAN ANGERED.

34. Book – aka Inner Circles – and article not available earlier (4,8)

Answer: ANNA KARENINA (i.e. “book” by Leo Tolstoy). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “circles”) of AKA INNER placed after or having “earlier” AN (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) and N/A (short for “not available”), like so: AN-N/A-KARENINA.

38. Observe answer in projecting feature’s links leading to Hunter? (5,5)

Answer: WATCH CHAIN (i.e. “links leading to hunter” – a hunter being “a watch whose face is protected with a metal case” (Chambers)). Solution is WATCH (i.e. “observe”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, already covered) once placed “in” CHIN (i.e. “projecting [facial] feature”), like so: WATCH-CH(A)IN.

40. Freed, if not let outside hospital (9)

Answer: UNLEASHED (i.e. “freed”). Solution is UNLEASED (i.e. “not let”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital”), like so: UNLEAS(H)ED.

42. Russian fighter nearly fell from sky? What a pain! (8)

Answer: MIGRAINE (i.e. “pain”). Solution is MIG (i.e. “Russian fighter” jet) followed by RAINED (i.e. “feel from sky”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “nearly”), like so: MIG-RAINE.

44. Month compiler uncovered a group of eight musicians (7)

Answer: OCTETTE (i.e. “group of eight musicians”). Solution is OCT (i.e. “month”, short for October) followed by SETTER (i.e. crossword “compiler”) once the first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “uncovered”), like so: OCT-ETTE.

46. Trick husband, taken in by little fib (7)

Answer: WHEELIE (i.e. “trick” on a bicycle. Trickier on a unicycle). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) placed “in” WEE (i.e. “little”) and LIE (i.e. “fib”), like so: W(H)EE-LIE.

47. Boom that was said to attract Doris’s attention? (6)

Answer: HEYDEY (i.e. “boom” or good times). When written as HEY DAY the solution playfully satisfies “that was said to attract Doris’s attention”, referring to actress Doris Day.

48. Pack animal arrived, then left (5)

Answer: CAMEL (i.e. “pack animal”). Solution is CAME (i.e. “arrived”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”). Simple, but nicely done.

50. Strategy to reduce risk beginning to hurt margin (5)

Answer: HEDGE (i.e. “strategy to reduce risk”). Solution is H (i.e. “beginning [letter] to hunt”) followed by EDGE (i.e. “margin”).

52. General regularly puts out ally (5)

Answer: USUAL (i.e. “general”). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of PUTS OUT ALLY.

A reasonably straightforward Jumbo this week. It was okay, but a bit dull to write up. There seemed a slight overreliance on names or the first/last letters of things which made it a bit samey. No biggie, though.

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

Thanks again for your comments and patience. I appreciate this whole waiting-for-the-deadline-to-pass regime is a pain in the arse. The alternative is to revert back to publishing solutions shortly after publication, but keep in mind that a request to stop by The Times would put the mockers on these posts.

Anyway, on with the show. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Firm well-organised factor (11)

Answer: COEFFICIENT (i.e. “factor”, or “a numerical or literal expression for a factor of a quantity in an algebraic term” (Chambers)). Solution is CO (i.e. “firm”, short for company) followed by EFFICIENT (i.e. “well-organised”).

7. Coat ornament Glynis wore at last, one of five (6)

Answer: SEQUIN (i.e. “coat ornament”). Solution is S and E (i.e. “Glynis wore at last”, i.e. the last letter of “Glynis” and “wore”) followed by QUIN (i.e. “one of five”).

10. Affected male in close fitting headgear (4)

Answer: CAMP (i.e. an “affected” manner). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) placed “in” CAP (i.e. “close fitting headgear”), like so: CA(M)P.

14. Fellow engaging an expert where alcohol may be served (7)

Answer: TAPROOM (i.e. “where alcohol may be served”). Solution is TOM (i.e. “fellow’s” name) wrapped around or “engaging” A PRO (i.e. “an expert”), like so: T(A-PRO)OM.

15. Agree the sun god is a will o’ the wisp (7)

Answer: CHIMERA (a bit tenuous, this, but I reckon this is “any idle or wild fancy” (Chambers), taking a “fancy” to be something “capriciously departing from the ordinary” (also Chambers). A “will o’ the wisp” or ignis fatuus, meanwhile, is “the light produced by combustion of marsh gas, which may lead a traveller into danger; any delusive ideal or hope that may lead one astray” (also, also Chambers). I guess there’s some overlap in amongst that lot). Solution is CHIME (i.e. “agree”) followed by RA (i.e. “the [Egyptian] sun god”).

16. Club employee’s dishonest cheque? (7)

Answer: BOUNCER. Solution satisfies “club employee” and, playfully, a “dishonest cheque”.

17. Fashionable artist frames them regularly, that’s for sure (13)

Answer: INCONTESTABLE (i.e. “for sure”). Solution is IN (i.e. “fashionable”) and John CONSTABLE (i.e. “artist”) wrapped around or “framing” TE (i.e. “them regularly”, i.e. every other letter of THEM), like so: IN-CON(TE)STABLE.

18. Talmudic scholar, poor performer, accepting return of evil (9)

Answer: RABBINIST (i.e. “Talmudic scholar”). Solution is RABBIT (i.e. “poor performer” or “inferior player at golf, cricket etc” (Chambers)) wrapped around or “accepting” SIN (i.e. “evil”) once reversed (indicated by “return of…”), like so: RABBI(NIS)T.

19. Solicitor catching river fish (5)

Answer: TROUT (i.e. “fish”). Solution is TOUT (i.e. “solicitor”, to solicit being to tout) wrapped around or “catching” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: T(R)OUT.

21. Desire for travelling west and touring Ulster (10)

Answer: WANDERLUST (i.e. “desire for travelling”). Solution W (a recognised abbreviation of “west”) followed by AND, then an anagram (indicated by “touring”) of ULSTER, like so: W-AND-ERLUST.

23. Be tedious, like the north wind (6)

Answer: BOREAS (i.e. “the north wind”). Solution is BORE (i.e. “be tedious”) followed by AS (i.e. “like”).

25. Framework retailed outside popular eating-place (8)

Answer: SCAFFOLD (i.e. “framework”). Solution is SOLD (i.e. “retailed”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of CAFF (i.e. “eating-place”, in this case a slang or “popular” word for a CAFÉ), like so: S(CAFF)OLD.

26. Defiance regarding ringers enveloping us in terrible noise (14)

Answer: REBELLIOUSNESS (i.e. “defiance”). Solution is RE (i.e. “regarding” – think email replies) followed by BELLS (i.e. “ringers”) once wrapped around or “enveloping” US once first placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “terrible”) of NOISE, like so: RE-BELL(IO(US)NES)S.

29. Fuss associated with bishop’s parsley, for example (7)

Answer: POTHERB (i.e. “parsley, for example”). Solution is POTHER (i.e. “fuss”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “bishop” used in chess).

30. Means to record a dupe raving about very little (9)

Answer: AUDIOTAPE (i.e. “means to record”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “raving”) of A DUPE wrapped “about” IOTA (i.e. “very little”), like so: AUD(IOTA)PE.

31. Instrument produced by girl at bar (5)

Answer: BANJO (i.e. musical “instrument”). Solution is JO (i.e. “girl’s” name) placed after or “by” BAN (i.e. to “bar” someone entry), like so: BAN-JO.

32. Verbal greeting to woman, one that laughs maniacally? (5)

Answer: HYENA (i.e. “one that laughs maniacally”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “verbal”) of HI (i.e. “greeting”) followed by ENA (i.e. “woman’s” name), like so: HY-ENA.

34. Opposed to sparkling wine, consuming soft hors-d’oeuvres (9)

Answer: ANTIPASTI (i.e. “hors-d’oeuvres”). Solution is ANTI (i.e. “against”) and ASTI (i.e. “sparkling wine”) all wrapped around or “consuming” P (i.e. “soft”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo), like so: ANTI-(P)-ASTI.

37. Increased entitlement – honest! (7)

Answer: UPRIGHT (i.e. “honest”). Solution is UP (i.e. “increased”) followed by RIGHT (i.e. “entitlement”).

39. Typical letters about one given time in charge (14)

Answer: CHARACTERISTIC (i.e. “typical”). Solution is CHARACTERS (i.e. “letters”) wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”). This is all then followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) and IC (ditto “in charge”), like so: CHARACTER(I)S-T-IC.

41. Police officer’s bloomer, a catastrophe! (8)

Answer: DISASTER (i.e. “a catastrophe”). When written as DI’S ASTER the solution also satisfies “police officer’s bloomer”, a DI being a Detective Inspector.

43. Revealing novel accepted by agent (6)

Answer: SKIMPY (i.e. “revealing”). Solution is KIM (i.e. a “novel” by Rudyard Kipling) placed in or “accepted by” SPY (i.e. “agent”), like so: S(KIM)PY.

44. Least distinguished weaver ultimately fails in test (10)

Answer: BOTTOMMOST (i.e. “least distinguished”). Solution is Nick BOTTOM (i.e. “weaver” of William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream) followed by S (i.e. “ultimately fails”, i.e. the last letter of “fails”) once placed “in” MOT (i.e. motor suitability “test”), like so: BOTTOM-MO(S)T.

45. Wee tipple taken before a play (5)

Answer: DRAMA (i.e. “play”). Solution is DRAM (i.e. “wee tipple”) followed by A.

48. Boyfriend, very shortly, to accommodate painter (9)

Answer: INAMORATO (i.e. “boyfriend”). Solution is IN A MO (i.e. “very shortly”) and TO all wrapped around or “accommodating” RA (i.e. “painter”, specifically a Royal Academician), like so: IN-A-MO-(RA)-TO. One remembered from its previous appearance, if I’m honest.

49. Vulgarity involving four sons, late teens, sadly (13)

Answer: TASTELESSNESS (i.e. “vulgarity”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of LATE TEENS and SSSS (i.e. “four sons”, S being a recognised abbreviation of “son”).

51. Formal note about a church dignitary, perhaps (7)

Answer: PRIMATE (i.e. “church dignitary”). Solution is PRIM (i.e. “formal”) and TE (i.e. “note” of the sol-fa scale) all wrapped “about” A, like so: PRIM-(A)-TE.

52. Beg politician to penetrate current body of learning (7)

Answer: IMPLORE (i.e. “beg”). Solution is MP (i.e. “politician” or Member of Parliament) placed in or “penetrating” I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and LORE (i.e. “body of learning”), like so: I-(MP)-LORE.

53. Diplomat starts to acquire this hirsute growth (7)

Answer: ATTACHÉ (i.e. “diplomat”). Solution is A and T (i.e. “starts to acquire this”, i.e. the first letters of “acquire” and “this”) followed by TACHE (i.e. “hirsute growth”, short for moustache).

54. Republican with cash in Limpopo (4)

Answer: RAND (i.e. “cash in Limpopo”, a province of South Africa). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) followed by AND (i.e. “with”).

55. Dry American conspirator (6)

Answer: BRUTUS (i.e. “conspirator” against Julius Caesar). Solution is BRUT (i.e. unsweetened or “dry” wine) followed by US (i.e. “American”).

56. Disheartened after new heater damaged pottery (11)

Answer: EARTHENWARE (i.e. “pottery”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “damaged”) of AR (i.e. “disheartened after”, i.e. the word “after” with all its middle letters removed) and NEW HEATER.

Down clues

1. Downy plant principally cultivated where money is made (7)

Answer: CATMINT (i.e. “downy plant”). Solution is C (i.e. “principally cultivated”, i.e. the first letter of “cultivated”) followed by AT MINT (i.e. “where money is made”).

2. In the club collecting gold? It makes you spit! (11)

Answer: EXPECTORANT (i.e. “it makes you spit”). Solution is EXPECTANT (i.e. pregnant or “in the club”) wrapped around or “collecting” OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry), like so: EXPECT(OR)ANT.

3. Scowl, initially feeling narked about argument (5)

Answer: FROWN (i.e. “scowl”). Solution is F and N (i.e. “initially feeling narked”, i.e. the first letters of “feeling” and “narked”) wrapped “about” ROW (i.e. “argument”), like so: F(ROW)N.

4. A fluttery type, Miss London SE5? (10,6)

Answer: CAMBERWELL BEAUTY (a butterfly or “a fluttery type”). Solution also playfully satisfies “Miss London SE5”, being the postcode area of CAMBERWELL.

5. Thrilling, going out without chaperone at first (8)

Answer: EXCITING (i.e. “thrilling”). Solution is EXITING (i.e. “going out”) wrapped around or placed “without” C (i.e. “chaperone at first”, i.e. the first letter of “chaperone”), like so: EX(C)ITING.

6. American anemone maybe little daughter found under seamstress’s cap (11)

Answer: THIMBLEWEED (i.e. “American anemone”). Solution is WEE (i.e. “little”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) both placed after or “under” – this being a down clue – THIMBLE (i.e. “seamstress’s cap”), like so: THIMBLE-(WEE-D).

7. Kid moved from side to side when speaking (5)

Answer: SUEDE (i.e. “kid”, short for kidskin). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “when speaking”) of SWAYED (i.e. “moved from side to side”).

8. A bird struggling with icy squall – like oystercatcher, for example (14)

Answer: QUADRISYLLABIC (i.e. “like oystercatcher, for example” – other four-syllabled words are available). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “struggling”) of A BIRD and ICY SQUALL.

9. Take in this person’s sacred writings, forking out pounds (6)

Answer: IMBIBE (i.e. “take in”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “this person’s”, taken to be a shortened form of “this person is” or I AM) followed by BIBLE (i.e. “sacred writings”) once the L has been removed (indicated by “forking out pounds”, L being a recognised abbreviation of a pound weight or a pound sterling, both derived from the Latin libra), like so: I’M-BIBE.

11. Chap welcoming male faculty head, like a man of principle? (11)

Answer: ARCHIMEDEAN (i.e. “like a man of principle”, Archimedes’ principle being “that a body weighed when immersed wholly or partly in a fluid shows a loss of weight equal to the weight of fluid it displaces” (Chambers)). Solution is ARCHIE (i.e. “chap’s” name) wrapped around or “welcoming” M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) and followed by DEAN (i.e. “faculty head”), like so: ARCHI(M)E-DEAN.

12. Yellow mineral used in two-fifths of happy ceremonies (7)

Answer: PYRITES (i.e. “yellow mineral”). Solution is PY (i.e. “two-fifths of happy”, specifically the last two-fifths) followed by RITES (i.e. “ceremonies”).

13. Rebellious Greek character can finally woo you and me (8)

Answer: MUTINOUS (i.e. “rebellious”). Solution is MU (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the thirteenth letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by TIN (i.e. “can”), then O (i.e. “finally woo”, i.e. the last letter of “woo”) and US (i.e. “you and me”).

20. Material from Welsh river consumed going north (7)

Answer: TAFFETA (i.e. “material”). Solution is TAFF (i.e. “Welsh river”) followed by ATE (i.e. “consumed”) once reversed (indicated by “going north” – this being a down clue), like so: TAFF-ETA.

22. Stop at sea and tell tales? (3,2)

Answer: LIE TO. Solution satisfies “stop at sea” and “tell tales”.

24. Sort itself out? The rivers Welland and Nene do it (4,3,2,3,4)

Answer: COME OUT IN THE WASH. Solution satisfies “sort itself out” and “the rivers Welland and Nene do it”.

25. Like some Greek odes thus entertaining husband with download (7)

Answer: SAPPHIC (i.e. “like some Greek odes”). Solution is SIC (i.e. Latin for “thus”) wrapped around or “entertaining” H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) once placed after or “with” APP (i.e. a “download”), like so: S(APP-H)IC.

27. Duck run into by old two-wheeled vehicle (7)

Answer: SCOOTER (i.e. “two-wheeled vehicle”). Solution is SCOTER (i.e. a northern sea “duck”) wrapped around or “run into by” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: SC(O)OTER.

28. Perform with hesitation, disturbing one scientist or another (14)

Answer: BACTERIOLOGIST (i.e. “another [scientist]”). Solution is ACT (i.e. “perform”) and ER (i.e. a sound of “hesitation”) both placed in or “disturbing” BIOLOGIST (i.e. “scientist”), like so: B(ACT-ER)IOLOGIST.

31. Save money at first – help girl that pulls pints (7)

Answer: BARMAID (i.e. “girl that pulls pints”). Solution is BAR (i.e. except or “save” for) followed by M (i.e. “money at first”, i.e. the first letter of “money”) and AID (i.e. “help”).

33. Investigation into axeman rampaging around island (11)

Answer: EXAMINATION (i.e. “investigation”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rampaging”) of INTO AXEMAN wrapped “around” I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”), like so: EXAM(I)NATION.

35. Put forward ideas originally received in mail (5)

Answer: POSIT (i.e. “put forward”). Solution is I (i.e. “ideas originally”, i.e. the first letter of “ideas”) placed or “received in” POST (i.e. “mail”), like so: POS(I)T.

36. Old detector of tremors Moses copies ineptly (11)

Answer: SIESMOSCOPE (i.e. “old detector of tremors”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ineptly”) of MOSES COPIES.

38. Get up a chart cracking up latex-derived substance (5-6)

Answer: GUTTA-PERCHA (i.e. “latex-derived substance”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cracking up”) of GET UP A CHART. Another remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance.

40. A very quiet cricket ground securing king’s favour (8)

Answer: APPROVAL (i.e. “favour”). Solution is A, PP (i.e. “very quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of pianissimo in musical lingo) and OVAL (i.e. “cricket ground” in London) all wrapped around or “securing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “king”, short for the Latin Rex).

42. Ancestor’s warning over plantigrade mammal (8)

Answer: FOREBEAR (i.e. “ancestor”). Solution is FORE (i.e. “warning” shout in golf) followed by BEAR (i.e. “plantigrade animal” – plantigrade denotes something that walks fully on the soles of its feet). The solution was relatively easy but, come on, setter, did you really think we’d make the leap from “plantigrade mammal” to BEAR? Or did you just want to show off a bit? Be honest now.

43. Captain’s second course at breakfast, perhaps? (7)

Answer: SKIPPER (i.e. “captain”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of a “second”) followed by KIPPER (i.e. “course at breakfast, perhaps”).

46. Stern Liberal leaving Ulster, in paper regularly (7)

Answer: AUSTERE (i.e. “stern”). Solution is ULSTER with the L removed (indicated by “Liberal leaving…” – L being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and the remainder placed “in” AE (i.e. “paper regularly”, i.e. every other letter of PAPER), like so: A(USTER)E.

47. Rush about centre of Leeds in motorised vehicle (6)

Answer: CAREER (i.e. “rush”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies again) and E (i.e. “centre [letter] of Leeds”) both placed “in” CAR (i.e. “motorised vehicle”), like so: CA(RE-E)R.

49. Thanks old man originally supplying savoury snacks (5)

Answer: TAPAS (i.e. small dishes or “savoury snacks”). Solution is TA (i.e. “thanks”) followed by PA (i.e. “old man”, both informal references to one’s father) and S (i.e. “originally supplying”, i.e. the first letter of “supplying”).

50. Glossy fabric used by dressmakers at Inverness (5)

Answer: SATIN (i.e. “glossy fabric”). “Used by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: DRESSMAKER(S AT IN)VERNESS.

A toughie this week, but for the most part this was a goodie. TRAPINA got up my nose, but a bevy of well-worked clues more than made up for it.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Eliot accepts welcome from Adam, perhaps, and so does Nick (7)

Answer: THIEVES (i.e. “does nick”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is TS (i.e. “Eliot”, the poet) wrapped around or “accepting” HI EVE (i.e. “welcome from Adam, perhaps”, Biblically speaking), like so: T(HI EVE)S.

5. See head or tail of small horse obscured by pet (7)

Answer: PONTIFF (i.e. Holy “See head”). Solution is PONY (i.e. “small horse”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “tail of…obscured”) and the remainder followed by TIFF (i.e. “pet” or huff), like so: PON-TIFF.

9. American means to open and cancel bill (4-3)

Answer: PULL-TAB (i.e. “American means to open”, e.g. a ring-pull on, say, a delicious can of Pepsi Max. Lime flavour, if any advertising reps are reading this. Worth a try). Solution is PULL (i.e. to “cancel”) followed by TAB (i.e. “bill”, say, at a bar).

13. Scandal marred Legoland’s progress, somehow (6,5)

Answer: MUDDLE ALONG (i.e. “progress, somehow”). Solution is MUD (i.e. “scandal”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “marred”) of LEGOLAND, like so: MUD-DLEALONG.

14. Early in the day, indeed, for broadcaster to supply something cheesy! (6,5)

Answer: MORNAY SAUCE (i.e. “something cheesy”). Solution is MORN (i.e. “early in the day”) followed by AY (i.e. “indeed”, variant spelling of “aye”) and a homophone (indicated by “for broadcaster”) of SOURCE (i.e. “to supply”), like so: MORN-AY-SAUCE.

15. Career endlessly, becoming exhausted (3-2)

Answer: ALL-IN (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is CALLING (i.e. one’s “career”) with both the first and last letters removed (indicated by “endlessly”).

16. Parents rating entertainer for teenager? (3,4)

Answer: POP STAR (i.e. “entertainer for teenager”). Solution is POPS (i.e. “parents” – POP is an informal word for one’s father in the US, short for poppa) followed by TAR (i.e. “rating” – this refers to a rank of a sailor; TAR, meanwhile, is an informal word for a sailor).

17. Biscuit base is mixed (9)

Answer: HOBNOBBED (i.e. socialised or “mixed”). Solution is HOBNOB (i.e. “biscuit” – also delicious, in case any McVities reps are in the room. Hey, your boy’s gotta eat) followed by BED (i.e. “base”). Nicely worked.

18. One applied to head Corporate Challenge organised around English pub (21)

Answer: ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPH (i.e. “one applied to head” to detect brain activity). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “orgainsed”) of CORPORATE CHALLENGE wrapped “around” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) and PH (i.e. “pub”, short for Public House), like so: ELECTROENC(E-PH)ALOGRAPH.

23. Exquisite present, amongst other things (8)

Answer: ETHEREAL (i.e. “exquisite” – I don’t think there’s much overlap here. You could argue both satisfy “heavenly”, but only if you play on two different meanings of “heavenly”. Very iffy). Solution is HERE (i.e. “present”) placed in or “amongst” ET AL (Latin for “and other”, or, in this case “other things”), like so: ET-(HERE)-AL.

25. Trouble set back crook (6)

Answer: DOGLEG (i.e. a sharp bend or “crook”). Solution is DOG (i.e. to “trouble” someone) followed by GEL (i.e. “set”) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: DOG-LEG.

27. A little embroidery more than enough to occupy sister (7)

Answer: SAMPLER (i.e. “a little embroidery”). Solution is AMPLE (i.e. “more than enough”) placed in or “occupying” SR (a recognised abbreviation of the title “Sister”), like so: S(AMPLE)R.

30. Colleagues work after getting time off (5)

Answer: OPPOS (i.e. “colleagues” – Chambers offers: “a person who is allotted to one as partner, opponent etc”). Solution is OP (i.e. “work”, short for opus) followed by POST (i.e. occupation or “work”) once the T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) has been removed (indicated by “off”), like so: OP-POS.

32. Publicises furious golfer’s embarrassing error (3,4)

Answer: AIR SHOT (i.e. “golfer’s embarrassing error”). Solution is AIRS (i.e. “publicises”) followed by HOT (i.e. “furious”).

33. Verbal agreement to follow play without rehearsing in full (3-6)

Answer: JAM-PACKED (i.e. “full”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “verbal”) of PACT (i.e. “agreement”) placed after or “following” JAM (i.e. “play without rehearsing”).

35. Snappy banker’s line (9)

Answer: CROCODILE. Solution satisfies “snappy banker” – this refers to how crocs can often be found at the water’s edge, e.g. riversides – and “line” of, say, schoolchildren.

36. Director after ale half-heartedly fed (7)

Answer: Ingmar BERGMAN (i.e. film “director”). Solution is BER (i.e. “ale half-heartedly”, i.e. BEER with one of its middle Es removed) followed by G-MAN (i.e. “fed” or FBI agent in the US).

37. Swimmer brightly coloured alien craft circles around (5)

Answer: TETRA (i.e. a fish or “swimmer brightly coloured”). Solution is ET (i.e. “alien” or Extra-Terrestrial) and ART (i.e. “craft”) each reversed (indicated by “circles around”), like so: TE-TRA.

38. Scoffed as one unhorsed, as it were? (7)

Answer: DERIDED (i.e. “scoffed”). When written as DE-RIDED the solution also playfully satisfies “unhorsed”. The “as it were” is an acknowledgement that DE-RIDED isn’t exactly a word you’re going to find in the dictionary.

40. Chief regularly had to try being casually friendly (6)

Answer: CHATTY (i.e. “being casually friendly”). Solution is CH (a recognised abbreviation of “chief”) followed by ATTY (i.e. “regularly had to try”, i.e. every other letter of HAD TO TRY).

41. British-made – and broken! (8)

Answer: BREACHED (i.e. “broken”). Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) followed by REACHED (i.e. “made”).

44. Stolen motorboat blonde resolved to get back no matter what (3,4,6,6,2)

Answer: BET ONE’S BOTTOM DOLLAR ON (i.e. to “back no matter what”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “resolved”) of STOLEN MOTORBOAT BLONDE.

48. Fiercest when moved to defend one’s rights (9)

Answer: RECTIFIES (i.e. “rights”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “when moved”) of FIERCEST wrapped around or “defending” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: RECT(I)FIES.

50. Dancer pushed back against discrimination charge (7)

Answer: Rudolph NUREYEV (i.e. “dancer”). Solution is V (i.e. “against”, short for versus), EYE (i.e. “discrimination”) and RUN (i.e. “charge”) all reversed (indicated by “pushed back”), like so: NUR-EYE-V. Very nicely done.

53. Find fancy uniform needed by page (3,2)

Answer: DIG UP (i.e. “find”). Solution is DIG (i.e. to “fancy”) followed by U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) and P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”).

54. Primitive missile part prepared for battle? (11)

Answer: QUARRELSOME (i.e. “prepared for battle”). Solution is QUARREL (a square-headed crossbow arrow or “primitive missile”) followed by SOME (i.e. “part”).

55. Asian dish: one nice roasted (11)

Answer: INDOCHINESE (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “roasted”) of DISH ONE NICE.

56. Used to 53 thousand in hex, due to be converted (7)

Answer: EXHUMED (i.e. descriptive of one who “used to 53” – the solution to 53a being DIG UP). Solution is M (i.e. “[Roman numeral] thousand”) placed in an anagram (indicated by “to be converted”) of HEX DUE, like so: EXHU(M)ED.

57. Request to have part of component re-attached (7)

Answer: ENTREAT (i.e. “request to have”). “Part of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: COMPON(ENT RE-AT)TACHED.

58. Major attempt to get to grips with old prejudice (7)

Answer: BIGOTRY (i.e. “prejudice”). Solution is BIG (i.e. “major”) and TRY (i.e. “attempt”) all wrapped around or “getting to grips with” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: BIG-(O)-TRY.

Down clues

1. Host poking spot on family pet? (6)

Answer: TOMCAT (i.e. “pet”). Solution is MC (i.e. “host” or Master of Ceremonies) placed in or “poking” TO A T (i.e. “spot on”), like so: TO-(MC)-A-T.

2. Scandinavian girl retaining flat mostly as favour (7)

Answer: INDULGE (i.e. to “favour”). Solution is INGE (i.e. “Scandinavian girl’s” name) wrapped around or “retaining” DULL (i.e. “flat”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: IN(DUL)GE.

3. University books, always of poetry, with one of a series on offer (9)

Answer: VOLUNTEER (i.e. “offer”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), NT (i.e. “books”, specifically the New Testament of The Bible) and E’ER (i.e. “always of poetry”) all placed after or “with” VOL (i.e. “one of a series”, short for volume), like so: VOL-(U-NT-E’ER).

4. A little current beneath the bottom left quagmire (5)

Answer: SWAMP (i.e. “quagmire”). Solution is AMP (i.e. “a little [electric] current”) placed after or “beneath” – this being a down clue – SW (i.e. “the bottom left”, short for the South-West), like so: SW-AMP.

5. Twin bears scorn (4-4)

Answer: POOH-POOH (i.e. “scorn”). The solution also playfully satisfies “twin bears”, referring to AA Milne’s Winnie-The-Pooh repeated twice.

6. When it’s black, chess piece can be picked up (5)

Answer: NIGHT (i.e. “when it’s black” outside). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “picked up”) of KNIGHT (i.e. “chess piece”).

7. One’s just consuming small dip (7)

Answer: IMMERSE (i.e. “dip”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “one’s”, a contraction of I AM) and MERE (i.e. “just”) once wrapped around or “consuming” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: I’M-MER(S)E.

8. With carpeting coming, hoping to clear the bar? (3,3,4,4)

Answer: FOR THE HIGH JUMP. Solution satisfies “with carpeting coming” – carpeting being another word for a ticking-off – and, playfully, “hoping to clear the bar”.

9. Record misfortunes involving amateur drama promoters (9)

Answer: PLAYBILLS (i.e. theatre posters or “drama promoters”). Solution is PB (i.e. “record”, short for Personal Best) and ILLS (i.e. “misfortunes”) all wrapped around or “involving” LAY (i.e. “amateur”), like so: P(LAY)B-ILLS.

10. One used to catch and miss nothing (5)

Answer: LASSO (i.e. “one used to catch”). Solution is LASS (i.e. “miss” or young woman) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”).

11. Picture, thus, executioner, grabbing doctor by collar (9,6)

Answer: THUMBNAIL SKETCH (i.e. “picture”). Solution is THUS and Jack KETCH (i.e. 17th Century English “executioner” notorious for some of his messy executions) all wrapped around or “grabbing” MB (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Medicinae Baccalaureus or Bachelor of Medicine) and NAIL (i.e. to seize or “collar”), like so: THU(MB-NAIL)S-KETCH.

12. Measure a fraction of a loaf? (7)

Answer: BREADTH (i.e. “measure”). Solution also satisfies “a fraction of a loaf”, jokingly adding the fractional suffix -TH to a “loaf” of BREAD. I rather liked this one when it clicked.

19. Sicilian town in a region to the north (7)

Answer: TRAPANI (i.e. “Sicilian town”). Solution is IN A and PART (i.e. “region”) all reversed (indicated by “to the north” – this being a down clue), like so: TRAP-A-NI. Made. To. Fit.

20. Disliking the new iPhone, ordered with a slightly smaller box (9)

Answer: NEOPHOBIA (i.e. “disliking the new”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of IPHONE, A and BOX once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “slightly smaller”).

21. Tumbler seen at different types of bar (7)

Answer: GYMNAST (i.e. “tumbler”). The remainder of the clue plays on different types of gym equipment, unless I’m missing something clever.

22. Celebrated, note, with big beam when speaking (8)

Answer: REJOICED (i.e. “celebrated”). Solution is RE (i.e. “note” of the sol-fa scale) followed by a homophone (indicated by “when speaking”) of JOIST (i.e. “big beam”), like so: RE-JOICED.

24. A pledge from the MD, not one wallowing in power! (11,4)

Answer: HIPPOCRATIC OATH (i.e. “a pledge from the MD”, in this case a Medicinae Doctor or Doctor of Medicine). The remainder of the clue plays on HIPPOS “wallowing”, and also how part of the modern oath includes the line: “But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God”. That’s my take anyway. If a cleverer solution comes to light then I’ll update the post.

26. Time trial is hit: so copied exactly? (9)

Answer: LITERATIM (i.e. without the change of a letter, or “so copied exactly”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “is hit”) of TIME TRIAL.

28. Forest dweller on doorstep’s outside with key (3,5)

Answer: RED PANDA (i.e. “forest dweller”). Solution is RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies) followed by DP (i.e. “doorstep’s outside”, i.e. the first and last letters of “doorstep”), then AND (i.e. “with”) and A (i.e. musical “key”).

29. Instructions for kids once put out by clubs in raw verse form (5,5,4)

Answer: GREEN CROSS CODE (i.e. “instructions for kids once”). Solution is CROSS (i.e. “put out”) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in some card games) both placed “in” GREEN (i.e. “raw”) and ODE (i.e. “verse form”), like so: GREEN-(CROSS-C)-ODE.

31. Fall from great height taking green light up mountain (7)

Answer: SNOWDON (i.e. a “mountain” in Wales). Solution is SNOW (i.e. “fall from great height”) followed by NOD (i.e. “green light”) once reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: SNOW-DON.

34. For this, among relatives is boxer? (7)

Answer: MONGREL (i.e. “boxer”, a bulldog cross). “Among” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: A(MONG REL)ATIVES.

39. Girl calmed down and concentrated (9)

Answer: DISTILLED (i.e. “concentrated”). Solution is DI (i.e. “girl’s” name) followed by STILLED (i.e. “calmed down”).

42. Drag in big works for this? (9)

Answer: ABRIDGING. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, and is also an anagram (indicated by “works”) of DRAG IN BIG.

43. Busy, you had use of computers for work on paper (4-4)

Answer: COPY-EDIT (i.e. “work on [news]paper”). Solution is COP (i.e. “busy”, both slang words for a policeman) followed by YE’D (i.e. “you had” contracted in ye olde form) and IT (i.e. “use of computers”, or Information Technology).

44. Fifteenth café? That, for Paris, would be extravagant (7)

Answer: BAROQUE (i.e. “extravagant”). Solution is BAR O (i.e. “fifteenth café”, O being the fifteenth letter of the alphabet) followed by QUE (i.e. “that, for Paris”, i.e. the French for “that”).

45. Function female solarium won’t do? (7)

Answer: TANGENT (i.e. trigonometrical “function”). When written as TAN GENT the solution also playfully satisfies a situation where a “female solarium won’t do”.

46. Skip unused items fall into? (7)

Answer: NEGLECT. Solution satisfies to “skip” over, and also a state in which “unused items fall into”.

47. Female leaving to eat, stopping to observe fast (6)

Answer: SPEEDY (i.e. “fast”). Solution is FEED (i.e. “to eat”) with the F removed (indicated by “female leaving…”, F being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and the remainder placed in or “stopping” SPY (i.e. “to observe”), like so: SP(EED)Y.

49. One-hour drive is the habit of the pilgrim (5)

Answer: IHRAM (i.e. “habit of the pilgrim”, or “the seamless white cotton garment worn by Muslim pilgrims to Mecca” (Chambers)). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hour”) followed by RAM (i.e. to “drive” an object with force).

51. Hike evenly, tread in step (5)

Answer: RAISE (i.e. “hike”). “Evenly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of TREAD IN STEP.

52. Words of verse passed on, roughly penned (5)

Answer: VOCAB (i.e. “words”, short for vocabulary). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “verse”) followed by OB (i.e. “passed on”, short for the Latin obiit) once wrapped around or “penning” CA (i.e. “roughly”, short for “circa”), like so: V-O(CA)B.

A medium strength Jumbo that was spiced up with a sprinkling of general knowledge solutions. A few were a bit drab – call me weird but minerals and organic compounds will never get my blood racing – but overall this was a decent enough puzzle to chew on.

Now that the competition deadline is over 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 made mincemeat of your crosswording skills then you might find succour in my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions to hundreds of the things.

As ever, thanks for your comments and patience. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Something slimy in effect left sink needing an overhaul? (9)

Answer: GASTROPOD (i.e. “something slimy”, e.g. a slug or snail). Solution is DO (i.e. “effect”), PORT (i.e. “left” in shipspeak) and SAG (i.e. “sink”) all reversed (indicated by “needing an overhaul”), like so: GAS-TROP-OD.

6. Reused manuscript is in France: father stumbles upon it (10)

Answer: PALIMPSEST (i.e. “reused manuscript”). Solution is EST (i.e. “is in France”, i.e. the French for “is”) placed after or “upon” PA (i.e. informal word for a “father”) and LIMPS (i.e. “stumbles”), like so: (PA-LIMPS)-EST.

12. In North America, run into terrible chap’s old band (7)

Answer: NIRVANA (i.e. “old band” – for all the impact grunge had on rock music, it’s surprising how short its heyday lasted). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) placed “into” IVAN (i.e. “terrible chap”, Ivan The Terrible), which is itself placed “in” NA (a recognised abbreviation of “North America”), like so: N(I(R)VAN)A.

13. Assembled vehicles working for frontiersman (3,6)

Answer: KIT CARSON (i.e. American “frontiersman”). Solution is KIT CARS (i.e. “assembled vehicles”) followed by ON (i.e. “working” or operational).

14. Scum, something on lip quaffing last of beer (5)

Answer: TRASH (i.e. “scum”). Solution is TASH (i.e. “something on lip”, informal word for a moustache) wrapped around or “quaffing” R (i.e. “last [letter] of beer”), like so: T(R)ASH.

16. Whoops, retiring primates squeezed tight! (12)

Answer: CHEESEPARING (i.e. “tight” or miserly). Solution is CHEERING (i.e. “whoops”) wrapped around or “squeezing” APES (i.e. “primates”) once reversed (indicated by “retiring”), like so: CHEE(SEPA)RING.

17. Cultural learning from politician I’m referring to after a Republican (3,7)

Answer: ART HISTORY (i.e. “cultural learning”). Solution is THIS TORY (i.e. “politician I’m referring to”) placed “after” A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: A-R-(THIS-TORY).

19. Best picture? (2,4,2,2,4)

Answer: AS GOOD AS IT GETS. Solution satisfies “best” and “picture”, specifically a 1998 movie starring Jack Nicholson. Best clue of the puzzle. Very nicely done.

22. One living on Crete, say, smearing on fourth of lotion (8)

Answer: ISLANDER (i.e. “one living on Crete, say”). Solution is SLANDER (i.e. “smearing”) placed “on” or after I (i.e. “fourth [letter] of lotion”), like so: I-SLANDER.

24. One taking deliveries of cherries, maybe, finding means to access container (6)

Answer: OPENER. Solution satisfies “one taking deliveries of cherries, maybe” – a cherry is slang for a new ball in cricket – and also “means to access container”. Another pleasing clue.

25. Scale mountain finally, a ridge etc formed around it (10)

Answer: CENTIGRADE (i.e. temperature “scale”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “formed”) of A RIDGE ETC placed “around” N (i.e. “mountain finally”, i.e. the last letter of “mountain”), like so: CE(N)TIGRADE.

26. Capital where vessel remains (5)

Answer: TUNIS (i.e. “capital” city of Tunisia). When written as TUN IS the solution also satisfies “vessel remains”.

29. Handsome orderly (4)

Answer: TIDY. Solution satisfies “handsome” or large amount, and “orderly”.

30. Simple life forms: some that sit or proceed backwards (8)

Answer: PROTISTA (i.e. “simple life forms”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “backwards” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: TH(AT SIT OR P)ROCEED. Took ages to twig as I couldn’t look beyond “protozoa”.

32. How scrabbling after change is for character in phone box? (6,3)

Answer: DOCTOR WHO (i.e. TV show “character in phone box”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “scrabbling”) of HOW placed “after” DOCTOR (i.e. to “change”).

34. Undemanding, see, show for cissies? (3-6)

Answer: LOW-IMPACT (i.e. “undemanding”). Solution is LO (i.e. “see”, as in lo and behold) followed by WIMP ACT (playfully, a “show for cissies”).

35. Stretch between last parts of theatre production, the interval (8)

Answer: ENTR’ACTE (i.e. “interval” – over to Chambers: “the interval between acts in a play”). Solution is TRACT (i.e. “stretch”) placed “between” E N and E (i.e. “last parts of theatre production, the”, i.e. the last letters of “theatre”, “production” and “the”), like so: EN(TRACT)E. Bradford’s to the rescue here.

36. Problem making comeback with old player (4)

Answer: MUSO (i.e. “player” or musician). Solution is SUM (i.e. mathematical “problem”) reversed (indicated by “making comeback”) and followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: MUS-O.

39. Rock, one stuck on front of swimming trunks (5)

Answer: TORSI (i.e. “trunks”, specifically the plural of torso). Solution is TOR (i.e. “rock”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) once first placed “on” or after S (i.e. “front of swimming”, i.e. the first letter of “swimming”), like so: TOR-S-I.

40. Mineral with a use, ‘til metamorphosing (10)

Answer: ANDALUSITE (i.e. “mineral”). Solution is AND (i.e. “with”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “metamorphosing”) of A USE ‘TIL, like so: AND-ALUSITE.

42. Report of sandpiper on river, naturally! (3,3)

Answer: WHY NOT (i.e. “naturally” – I always thought the solution was an expression of agreement, along the lines of “Shall we?” “Why not.”, but here the setter seems to suggest it’s an expression of certainty. I’m not so sure). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “report of”) of KNOT (i.e. “sandpiper”) and WYE (i.e. a “river”), the former placed “on” or after the latter, like so: WYE-KNOT.

44. Lead surprisingly transformed volatile character in organic compound (8)

Answer: ALDEHYDE (i.e. “organic compound”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of LEAD followed by HYDE (i.e. “volatile character” of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), like so: ALDE-HYDE.

46. Piper to manage small gallery in Florida or Oklahoma, say (9,5)

Answer: PANHANDLE STATE (i.e. “Florida or Oklahoma, say”, given their location in south-eastern US’s sticky-out-bit). Solution is PAN (i.e. “piper” of folklore) followed by HANDLE (i.e. “to manage”), then S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and TATE (i.e. a famous art “gallery”).

48. Girl speaks about love where keepers sought? (10)

Answer: GOALMOUTHS (i.e. “where keepers [are] sought”). Solution is GAL (informal word for “girl”) and MOUTHS (i.e. “speaks”) all wrapped “about” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), like so: G(O)AL-MOUTHS.

49. For example, you are in this gym occupied by hate figures (7,5)

Answer: PRESENT TENSE (i.e. “for example, you are in this”. In the past tense the sentence would be “you were in this”, though I could be missing something clever). Solution is PE (i.e. “gym” or Physical Education) wrapped around or “occupied by” RESENT (i.e. “hate”) and TENS (i.e. “figures” or numbers), like so: P(RESENT-TENS)E.

53. Sullen fellow with catapult faced by principal in college (5)

Answer: CHURL (i.e. “sullen fellow”). Solution is HURL (i.e. to “catapult”) placed after or “by” C (i.e. “principal in college”, i.e. the first letter of “college”), like so: C-HURL.

54. Narrow trousers beginning to chafe on boy with black belt, maybe stage performer (3,6)

Answer: TAP DANCER (i.e. “stage performer”). Solution is TAPER (i.e. “narrow”) wrapped around or “trousering” C (i.e. “beginning [letter] to chafe”) once placed after or “on” DAN (i.e. “boy with black belt, maybe” – a DAN is a level of proficiency in martial arts, but could also be playing on it being a “boy’s” name), like so: TAP(DAN-C)ER.

55. Workable bringing wine into company (7)

Answer: PLASTIC (i.e. “workable”). Solution is ASTI (i.e. “wine” variety) placed “into” PLC (i.e. “company”, specifically a Public Limited Company), like so: PL(ASTI)C.

56. Queen’s rocker, perhaps, loopy thing (4,6)

Answer: CAT’S CRADLE (i.e. “loopy thing”, or “a pastime in which a string looped around the fingers and passed from player to player is transformed from one symmetrical pattern to another” (Chambers)). Solution is CAT’S (i.e. “queen’s” – the female of the species) followed by CRADLE (i.e. a baby “rocker, perhaps”).

57. Chicken, less hot, to start smoking outside: cool it! (7,2)

Answer: LIGHTEN UP (i.e. “cool it”). Solution is HEN (i.e. “chicken”) with the H removed (indicated by “less hot” – H being a recognised abbreviation thereof used on water taps) and the remainder placed in or having “outside” of it LIGHT UP (i.e. “start smoking”), like so: LIGHT-(EN)-UP.

Down clues

1. Wolf down in valley (5)

Answer: GORGE. Solution satisfies to “wolf down” food, and “valley”.

2. Old skyscraper where packer keeps things boxed, sometimes? (5,5)

Answer: SEARS TOWER (i.e. “old skyscraper” in Chicago, a former world’s tallest building. These days it’s called the Willis Tower, which is just begging for a Die Hard reference). Solution is STOWER (i.e. “packer”) wrapped around or “keeping” EARS (i.e. “things boxed”, or giving someone a clip around the ear), like so: S(EARS)TOWER.

3. Return with scythe and fruit (8)

Answer: REAPPEAR (i.e. “return”). Solution is REAP (i.e. to “scythe”) followed by PEAR (i.e. “fruit”).

4. Game with pressure more satisfactory, might one say? (5)

Answer: POKER (i.e. card “game”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”) followed by OKER (i.e. “more satisfactory, might one say?”, playing on how the suffix -er is appended to some words to indicate more of the same, e.g. high and higher, fast and faster, etc).

5. Fruity thing and naughty thing united in romantic event (4,5)

Answer: DATE NIGHT (i.e. “romantic event”). Solution is DATE (i.e. “fruity thing”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “naughty”) of THING.

6. Sort of work – that isn’t! (4)

Answer: PLAY. Solution satisfies “sort of [artistic] work” and an activity “that isn’t [work]”.

7. Passion relating to brilliant appearance (6)

Answer: LUSTRE (i.e. “brilliant appearance”). Solution is LUST (i.e. “passion”) followed by RE (i.e. “relating to” – think email replies).

8. Team fixing matches, nice try! (10,4)

Answer: MANCHESTER CITY (i.e. football “team”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fixing”) of MATCHES NICE TRY.

9. Sense of achievement is observed after day with party (12)

Answer: SATISFACTION (i.e. “sense of achievement”). Solution is IS placed “after” SAT (i.e. “day”, short for Saturday) and followed by FACTION (i.e. “party”), like so: SAT-(IS)-FACTION.

10. Main dishes of a brasserie ultimately served up covered in soil (7)

Answer: SEAFOOD (i.e. “main dishes” – “main” is another word for the high sea). Solution is OF A and E (i.e. “brasserie ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “brasserie”) all reversed (indicated by “served up” – this being a down clue) and placed or “covered in” SOD (i.e. “soil”), like so: S(E-A-FO)OD.

11. A fight to finish off innings in boisterous play (10)

Answer: KNOCKABOUT (i.e. “boisterous play”). Solution is A and BOUT (i.e. “fight”) placed after or “finishing off” KNOCK (i.e. informal reference to an “innings” in cricket), like so: KNOCK-(A-BOUT).

15. Film about battle in house – there it is! (3,6)

Answer: HEY PRESTO (i.e. “there it is!”). Solution is ET (i.e. “film”, specifically ET: The Extra-Terrestrial) placed “about” YPRES (i.e. “battle” of the First World War, technically a series of battles). This is all then placed “in” HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”), like so: H(E(YPRES)T)O.

18. Male relative has time, still (8)

Answer: STAGNANT (i.e. “still”). Solution is STAG (i.e. “male”), followed by NAN (i.e. “relative”, a grandmother) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

20. Look hard to retain objective, being Welsh leader (9)

Answer: Owain GLENDOWER (i.e. 15th century “Welsh leader”). Solution is GLOWER (i.e. “look hard”) wrapped around or “retaining” END (i.e. “objective”), like so: GL(END)OWER. One nailed from the wordplay and a check on Google, if I’m honest.

21. Clumsiness in patois oddly written into musical composition (10)

Answer: INEPTITUDE (i.e. “clumsiness”). Solution is IN followed by PTI (i.e. “patois oddly written”, i.e. every other letter of PATOIS) once placed or “written into” ETUDE (i.e. “musical composition” used to help train or test musical skill), like so: IN-E(PTI)TUDE.

23. Novelist Amis, say, in flier (4,6)

Answer: SAND MARTIN (i.e. bird or “flier”). Solution is George SAND (i.e. “novelist” – no, me neither. Her real name was Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil. I’d have picked a shorter pen name too) followed by MARTIN (i.e. “Amis, say” – other famous Martins are available).

27. Gold coin freshly minted somewhere in Oceania (3,6)

Answer: NEW GUINEA. Solution satisfies “gold coin freshly minted” and “somewhere in Oceania”.

28. Basic food registered in basic hotel, say (5,3,6)

Answer: BREAD AND BUTTER (i.e. “basic food”). Solution is READ (i.e. “registered”) placed “in” B AND B (i.e. “basic hotel”, or Bed & Breakfast) and followed by UTTER (i.e. “say”), like so: (B-(READ)-AND-B)-UTTER.

31. Drop what you’re carrying, huge amount (8)

Answer: SHEDLOAD (i.e. “huge amount”). When written as SHED LOAD the solution also satisfies “drop what you’re carrying”.

33. Northern Ireland deception covered up by London commoners, heading off complete chaos (12)

Answer: OMNISHAMBLES (i.e. “complete chaos”). Solution is NI (short for “Northern Ireland”) and SHAM (i.e. “deception”) placed in or “covered up by” WOMBLES (i.e. “London commoners”, from Wimbledon Common to precise) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: OM(NI-SHAM)BLES.

34. Slow destruction of Earth and rising of smoke follows conclusion of all (9)

Answer: LETHARGIC (i.e. “slow”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “destruction of”) of EARTH followed by CIG (i.e. “smoke”, slang for a cigarette) once reversed (indicated by “rising of…” – this being a down clue). This is all then placed after or “following” L (i.e. “conclusion of all”, i.e. the last letter of “all”), like so: L-(ETHAR-GIC).

37. Where shell may be found that’s novel? (2,3,5)

Answer: ON THE BEACH. Solution satisfies “where shell may be found”, and is also an apocalyptic “novel” by Nevil Shute, one I think I’ll add to my to-be-read mountain.

38. Ride on and straight out (5,5)

Answer: GHOST TRAIN (i.e. fairground “ride”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of AND STRAIGHT. I rather liked this one.

41. Clear, ship turned round (9)

Answer: SPHERICAL (i.e. “round”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “turned”) of CLEAR SHIP.

43. Where pink might be seen in a couple of snooker shots? (5,3)

Answer: PLANT POT. Solution satisfies “where pink might be” – pink being a variety of flower – and also “a couple of snooker shots”. Nicely worked.

45. Copper impressed by the lifting up of a fat claret drinker? (7)

Answer: DRACULA (i.e. “claret drinker”, “claret” being a slang word for blood). Solution is CU (i.e. chemical symbol of “copper”) placed in or “impressed by” A and LARD (i.e. “fat”) once these have been reversed (indicated by “lifted up” – this being a down clue), like so: DRA(CU)L-A.

47. Cast I see standing in shot (6)

Answer: SHAPED (i.e. “cast”). Solution is HA! (i.e. “I see”) placed or “standing in” SPED (i.e. raced or “shot”), like so: S(HA)PED.

50. Buck having pulled out gun, finally – shoot! (5)

Answer: SPRIG (i.e. “shoot”). Solution is SPRING (i.e. to “buck”) with the N (i.e. “gun, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “gun”) removed (indicated by “having pulled out”).

51. Court verdict – going down then? (3,2)

Answer: NOT UP. Solution satisfies “court verdict” – this is a phrase in tennis describing when a player fails to hit a ball before it has bounced twice – and, by inference, “going down then”.

52. Residing in Poland, an Eastern European (4)

Answer: DANE (i.e. “European”). “Residing in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: POLAN(D AN E)ASTERN.

Oops. I’ve left it a little too long to write the intro to this week’s Jumbo, so I can’t remember too much about it! Let’s see if it all comes back to me in the edit, eh?

[EDIT: Nope. I got nothing. Sorry, Previous-Me. Also, don’t have all that San Miguel on Saturday. – LP]

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

Thanks again for your patience and kind words. Till next time, batten down the hatches for whatever storm we’re up to now and stay safe, kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Bore with a little alcohol: a mouse could do it (4,3,4)

Answer: DRAG AND DROP (i.e. “a mouse could do it”, referring to the computer peripheral. Drag-and-drop is a common action performed on a computer desktop). Solution is DRAG (i.e. a “bore” or source of mild annoyance) followed by AND (i.e. “with”) and DROP (i.e. informal reference to “a little alcohol”).

7. Classical puzzle that was solved at a stroke (7,4)

Answer: GORDIAN KNOT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, referring to an unsolvable knot of Ancient Greek legend. Anyone who untied the knot was supposedly destined to rule all of Asia, which seems logical. I mean, why doubt it? Just because all the hard mathematics and complex workings that went into the prophesy went up in the Great Library of Alexandria fire two centuries later doesn’t mean it never held water. You’ll be telling me Excalibur was just a sword next. Anyway, speaking of swords, Alexander the Great stuck his through said knot, thus solving the problem a different way. And you thought lateral thinking was a modern thing.

13. Crafty killer in bar taking pressure off grass (1-4)

Answer: U-BOAT (i.e. “crafty killer”, taking craft to be a seagoing vessel). Solution is PUB (i.e. “bar”) with the P removed (indicated by “taking pressure off” – P being a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”) and the remainder followed by OAT (i.e. a “grass”), like so: UB-OAT.

14. Wicket! I had gone, sadly for a duck (7)

Answer: WIDGEON (i.e. “duck”, a rare alternative spelling of WIGEON. Chambers supports it, so setter wins). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “wicket” used in cricket) followed by I’D (a contraction of “I had”) and an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of GONE, like so: W-I’D-GEON. So which came first? PIGEON or WIGEON? Either way, someone at the Official Zoological Animal Naming Society wasn’t trying very hard that day. What next? Blue gits? Lurkeys? Fagpies? Still, as WIGEON covers “any of various ducks of the genus Anas”, I guess we should be thankful we’re not all calling them ANASES.

15. Material for printer is empty, rubbished along with the rest (4,5)

Answer: TYPE METAL (i.e. “material for printer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rubbished”) of EMPTY followed by ET AL (Latin for “along with the rest”), like so: (TYPEM)-ET-AL.

16. Criminal also about to tuck into some breakfast? (9)

Answer: KIDNAPPER (i.e. “criminal”). Solution is AND (i.e. “also”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and placed “into” KIPPER (i.e. “some breakfast”), like so: KI(DNA)PPER.

17. Walk, run, climb here (10)

Answer: STEPLADDER (i.e. “climb here”). Solution is STEP (i.e. “walk”) followed by LADDER (i.e. “run” in a pair of tights).

20. Financial support some needed to secure expensive car (7)

Answer: ALIMONY (i.e. “financial support”). Solution is ANY (i.e. “some”) wrapped around or “securing” LIMO (i.e. “expensive car”), like so: A(LIMO)NY.

22. Not so lenient as Lawrence King (7)

Answer: STERNER (i.e. “not so lenient”). Solution is “Lawrence” STERNE (novelist who wrote Tristram Shandy. Shouldn’t this have been “Laurence”, though?) followed by R (i.e. “king”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation – this is a recognised abbreviation of the Latin Rex).

24. More temperamental and lower when girl interrupts (7)

Answer: MOODIER (i.e. “more temperamental”). Solution is MOOER (i.e. “lower” – to low is to moo like a cow) wrapped around or “interrupted” by DI (i.e. “girl’s” name), like so: MOO(DI)ER.

25. With calves underwater, require to put board around (4-4)

Answer: KNEE-DEEP (i.e. “with calves underwater”). Solution is NEED (i.e. “require”) placed in or having “around” it KEEP (i.e. “board” or rent money), like so: K(NEED)EEP.

26. Person with an entitlement: vets resented it badly (6,8)

Answer: VESTED INTEREST (i.e. “person with an entitlement” – Chambers goes on: “an entitlement or interest under a will or a trust that is not contingent or defeasible” in Scottish law). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “badly”) of VETS RESENTED IT.

28. Some basic hormones classically coursing through the veins (5)

Answer: ICHOR (i.e. substance said to be “coursing through the veins” of the gods, hence the “classically” reference). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: BAS(IC HOR)MONES.

29. Singer in America finished with silence (6)

Answer: THRUSH (i.e. “singer” or songbird). Solution is THRU (i.e. “in America finished” – is it, though? I always thought the usage was more for words like “drive-thru”. I’m struggling to recall any usage that meant “finished”. Anyone? Or are we issuing a yellow card here?) followed by SH (i.e. “silence”).

30. Remarkably absorbent fleece finally found in front of cage (10)

Answer: BREASTBONE (i.e. “found in front of [rib]cage”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “remarkably”) of ABSORBENT followed by E (i.e. “fleece finally”, i.e. the last letter of “fleece”), like so: BREASTBON-E.

33. New arrival is something significant for a dwarf? (5,5)

Answer: HAPPY EVENT. Solution satisfies a “new arrival” or the birth of a child, and, playfully, “something significant for a dwarf”, referring to a character in the Disney film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

35. Mountain region bans a small political meeting (6)

Answer: CAUCUS (i.e. a “political meeting” in the US where candidates are nominated). Solution is CAUCASUS (i.e. a “mountain region”) with the A and S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) removed or “banned”.

37. Dust often associated with these trees (5)

Answer: ASHES. Solution satisfies “dust” – for which Chambers offers “the dead human body, remains” – and also some “trees”.

39. Back opinion by paper that shows what may come to pass (4-4,6)

Answer: REAR-VIEW MIRROR (i.e. “that shows what may come to pass”, i.e. those about to overtake you when driving). Solution is REAR (i.e. “back”) followed by VIEW (i.e. “opinion”) and MIRROR (i.e. UK daily “[news]paper”).

41. Considers following some current stories (8)

Answer: ACCOUNTS (i.e. “stories”). Solution is COUNTS (i.e. “considers”) placed after or “following” AC (i.e. “some current”, specifically the alternating flavour), like so: AC-COUNTS.

44. Time in cell, but one is not charged (7)

Answer: NEUTRON (i.e. a subatomic particle that “is not charged”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) placed “in” NEURON (i.e. brain “cell”), like so: NEU(T)RON.

45. Edition I notice is sent back cut (7)

Answer: TOPSIDE (i.e. “cut” of meat). Solution is ED (short for “edition”), I and SPOT (i.e. “notice”) all reversed (indicated by “is sent back”), like so: TOPS-I-DE.

46. What some say I noticed, and wished I hadn’t? (7)

Answer: EYESORE. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but also comprises homophones (indicated by “what some say”) of I and SAW (i.e. “noticed”).

47. A series of blows that may bring someone round (4,2,4)

Answer: KISS OF LIFE. Another where the solution satisfies the clue as a whole, i.e. the use of artificial respiration to revive someone who isn’t breathing.

49. Dropping off a sequence of letters, very fast going round (9)

Answer: SOMNOLENT (i.e. sleepy or “dropping off”). Solution is M N and O (i.e. “a sequence of letters” of the alphabet) placed in or having “round” it SO (i.e. “very”) and LENT (i.e. religious “fast”), like so: SO-(MNO)-LENT.

53. Senior official’s objective in processing the butter mountain? (3,6)

Answer: BIG CHEESE. Solution satisfies “senior official” and, playfully, “objective in processing the butter mountain”. I know it’s all dairy, but can you actually change butter into cheese? Both seem like final forms to me.

54. Greek hero in Florida? (7)

Answer: THESEUS (i.e. “Greek hero” who slew the Minotaur). When written as THE SE US the solution also playfully satisfies “Florida”, given the state is found in THE SE (a recognised abbreviation of “southeast”) of the US.

55. Mosaic construction where the Promenaders go initially? (5)

Answer: TORAH (i.e. a book or “Mosaic construction” in Judaism, taking “Mosaic” to mean “of or relating to Moses” (Chambers)). When written as TO RAH the solution also satisfies “where the Promenaders go initially”, specifically TO the Royal Albert Hall, venue of the BBC Proms.

56. Competitor at Oval streaks around, keeping back near the boundary (5,6)

Answer: SPEED SKATER (i.e. “competitor at oval”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “around”) of STREAKS wrapped around or “keeping” DEEP (i.e. “near the boundary” in cricket) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: S(PEED)SKATER.

57. Part of wafer I left with one shell in drink (7,4)

Answer: SILICON CHIP (i.e. “part of wafer”, being “a thin slice of silicon on which multiple chips are formed” (Chambers)). Solution is I, L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and CONCH (i.e. “shell”) all placed “in” SIP (i.e. “drink”), like so: S(I-L-I-CONCH)IP.

Down clues

1. Downed by an aggressive vehicle? That provides a sobering experience (5,4)

Answer: DRUNK TANK (i.e. “that provides a sobering experience”, US slang for a jail cell holding those sailing three sheets to the wind). Solution is DRUNK (i.e. “downed”) followed by TANK (i.e. “aggressive vehicle”).

2. Advice to writers about clichés (5,4,3,6)

Answer: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, and is also a “cliché” in itself. I rather liked this one when it clicked.

3. Cavities want rapid filling (5)

Answer: ANTRA (i.e. “cavities”, plural of antrum. No, me neither). “Filling” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, occupying W(ANT RA)PID.

4. Retainer’s reduced earnings with staff finally cut (4,7)

Answer: DOWN PAYMENT (i.e. a “retainer”). Solution is DOWN (i.e. “reduced”) followed by PAY (i.e. “earnings”), then MEN (i.e. “staff” – sorry, ladies, it seems you’ve all been fired) and T (i.e. “finally cut”, i.e. the last letter of “cut”).

5. English flag has this contradictory signal for pedestrians? (3,5)

Answer: RED CROSS. Solution satisfies “English flag has this” and, playfully, a “contradictory signal for pedestrians”, given the red man signal on a pedestrian crossing is an indication to not cross.

6. Push free material for reporters (5,7)

Answer: PRESS RELEASE (i.e. “material for reporters”). Solution is PRESS (i.e. “push”) followed by RELEASE (i.e. to “free”).

7. Snaps members of the Red Headed League? (6,4)

Answer: GINGER NUTS. Solution satisfies “snaps” or a variety of biscuit, and “members of the Red Headed League”. Several years ago I took it upon myself to read the entire Sherlock Holmes in sequence. In hindsight this was a mistake as there are only a few stories that now stick in my mind, but The Red-headed League is one of them.

8. Carnivore from Africa, price one pound (5)

Answer: RATEL (i.e. “carnivore from Africa”). Solution is RATE (i.e. “price”) followed by L (i.e. “one pound” of weight, an abbreviation from the Latin libra).

9. Traps one scholar, closing part of the Parthenon (11)

Answer: IMPEDIMENTA (i.e. “traps”, a variant meaning being “personal luggage or belongings” (Chambers)). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by MA (i.e. “scholar”, short for a Master of Arts) once wrapped around or “closing” PEDIMENT (i.e. “part of the Parthenon” – the Pediments of Parthenon are two sets of statues depicting scenes of Greek myth), like so: I-M(PEDIMENT)A. Tough bugger.

10. Naval officer nine places away from the PM? (6,3)

Answer: NUMBER ONE (i.e. “naval officer”). Clue plays on the Prime Minister or “PM” residing in Number 10 Downing Street. Deduct “nine” and you get the solution.

11. Eggs with awful smell almost picked up (4)

Answer: NITS (i.e. “eggs” of headlice). Solution is STINK (i.e. “awful smell”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “picked up” – this being a down clue).

12. Had weight disclosed (4)

Answer: TOLD. Solution satisfies “had weight” or mattered, and “disclosed”.

18. Enjoy love in a flowerbed? Grotesque! (4,7,2,5)

Answer: LIKE NOTHING ON EARTH (i.e. descriptive of a “grotesque”). Solution is LIKE (i.e. “enjoy”) followed by NOTHING (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis) and ON EARTH (i.e. “in a flowerbed”. (Makes so-so gesture.)).

19. With soup, regularly refresh members of union (8)

Answer: BROTHERS (i.e. “members of [trade] union”). Solution is BROTH (i.e. “soup”) followed by ERS (i.e. “regularly refresh”, i.e. every other letter of REFRESH).

21. Officer in command, lazy on vacation (7)

Answer: ORDERLY (i.e. “officer”). Solution is ORDER (i.e. “command”) followed by LY (i.e. “lazy on vacation”, i.e. the word “lazy” with its middle letters removed).

23. Flushed with anger, court is to change jury instructions (8)

Answer: REDIRECT (i.e. “change jury instructions”. I’ve heard of judges directing juries to a particular decision, but could they really redirect them? Would this be mistrial territory? Any Rumpoles out there?) Solution is RED (i.e. “flushed”) followed by IRE (i.e. “anger”) and CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”).

27. Tram isn’t moving, so pass on (8)

Answer: TRANSMIT (i.e. “pass on”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “moving”) of TRAM ISN’T.

28. Natural to be present in pub at end of shift (8)

Answer: INHERENT (i.e. “natural”). Solution is HERE (i.e. “be present”) placed “in” INN (i.e. “pub”) and followed by T (i.e. “end [letter] of shift”), like so: IN(HERE)N-T.

31. Hybrid’s terrible wings came into view (3,4)

Answer: TEA ROSE (i.e. plant “hybrid”). Solution is TE (i.e. “terrible wings”, i.e. the first and last letters of “terrible” – ought to have been possessive in my view, but then the clue wouldn’t scan) followed by AROSE (i.e. “came into view”).

32. More articles churned out that show a measure of warmth (12)

Answer: CALORIMETERS (i.e. devices “that show a measure of warmth”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “churned out”) of MORE ARTICLES.

34. Snake native processed into rissole (6,5)

Answer: VIENNA STEAK (i.e. “rissole”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “processed”) of SNAKE NATIVE.

36. So houses with lots of land, flipping problem, something for the masses? (6,5)

Answer: SACRED MUSIC (i.e. “something for the masses”, taking mass to be a Catholic service). Solution is SIC (i.e. “so” in Latin) wrapped around or “housing” ACRED (i.e. “with lots of land”) and SUM (i.e. a mathematical “problem”) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “flipping”), like so: S(ACRED-MUS)IC. Bloody hell, this defeated nearly all my reference books. I eventually found it listed in my Chambers Thesaurus in a list of music styles.

38. One who owns there is no end to decent behaviour by men (10)

Answer: PROPRIETOR (i.e. “one who owns”). Solution is PROPRIETY (i.e. “decent behaviour”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “there is no end to…”) and the remainder followed by OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army), like so: PROPRIET-OR.

40. Having coat on, was lost to sight across river (9)

Answer: VARNISHED (i.e. “having coat on”). Solution is VANISHED (i.e. “was lost to sight”) wrapped around or placed “across” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: VA(R)NISHED.

42. What Spooner does when changing the bed is a magnet for children? (9)

Answer: SWEETSHOP (i.e. “a magnet for children”). Solution is a “Spoonerism” of SHEET SWAP (i.e. “what [someone] does when changing the bed”).

43. Marine creature, large, eating female that’s cast up on the beach (8)

Answer: SEASHELL (i.e. “that’s cast up on the beach”). Solution is SEAL (i.e. “marine creature”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) all wrapped around or “eating” SHE (i.e. “female”), like so: SEA(SHE)L-L.

48. Ahead of time, run away quick (5)

Answer: FLEET (i.e. “quick”). Solution is FLEE (i.e. “run away”) followed by or being “ahead of” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: FLEE-T.

50. Be less rigid, removing top regularly (5)

Answer: OFTEN (i.e. “regularly”). Solution is SOFTEN (i.e. “be less rigid”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “removing top”).

51. Wader seen in island twice (4)

Answer: IBIS (i.e. a bird or “wader”). Solution is I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) followed by BIS (i.e. “twice” in musical lingo).

52. Curve’s highest point a page doesn’t show (4)

Answer: OGEE (i.e. an S-shaped “curve”, apparently). Solution is APOGEE (i.e. “highest point”) with the A and P removed (indicated by “a page doesn’t show”, P being a recognised abbreviation of “page”).

A medium strength Jumbo where, mercifully, the more exotic solutions were gettable from the wordplay. None of this anagramming stuff like SKA HAT MAN A VIP or A VAST PINK HAM A to get some port I’ve never heard of. All good by me!

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Prime Minister aboard HMS India upset sailor (10)

Answer: MIDSHIPMAN (i.e. “sailor”). Solution is PM (short for “Prime Minister”) placed in or “aboard” an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of HMS INDIA, like so: MIDSHI(PM)AN.

6. What tailors use to record sizes? (4,8)

Answer: TAPE MEASURES (i.e. “what tailors use”). Solution is TAPE (i.e. “record”) followed by MEASURES (i.e. “sizes”). Simple, but nicely done.

14. Formal surrender parade – not professional (7)

Answer: CESSION (i.e. “formal surrender”). Solution is PROCESSION (i.e. “parade”) with the PRO removed (indicated by “not professional”).

15. Common genus of flowers in picture (7)

Answer: PROSAIC (i.e. “common”). Solution is ROSA (i.e. “genus of flowers”) placed “in” PIC (short for “picture”), like so: P(ROSA)IC.

16. Peer has company – note a lot of misgiving (7)

Answer: COEQUAL (i.e. “peer”). Solution CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) followed by E (i.e. musical “note”) and QUALM (i.e. “misgiving”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “a lot of…”), like so: CO-E-QUAL.

17. Mostly silly about Ecstasy and unwilling to listen (4)

Answer: DEAF (i.e. “unwilling to listen”). Solution is DAFT (i.e. “silly”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped “about” E (slang name for “Ecstasy”), like so: D(E)AF.

18. Honey bear indeed, all empty, and cross (6)

Answer: HYBRID (i.e. “cross”). “All empty” indicates the solution is formed from HONEY BEAR INDEED once the middle letters have been removed from each word.

20. Make a channel carrying spring’s discharge (8)

Answer: DISPATCH (i.e. “discharge”). Solution is DITCH (i.e. “make a channel”, can be a verb in this regard as well as a noun) wrapped around or “carrying” SPA (i.e. “spring”), like so: DI(SPA)TCH.

24. Self-satisfied group with upsetting intimacy and amorous latitude (6,10,7)

Answer: MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY (i.e. “self-satisfied group”, or, facetiously, “a group of people or circle of friends lavish in their praise of one another” (Chambers). The book world is dreadful for this, so much so that I automatically discount the opinion of pretty much any author quoted on the cover. I mean, think about it. Where else do you see people crank out glowing reviews of their peers’ work? Do you see Damien Hirst put out another spot painting and see Tracey Emin, Jeff Koons and Banksy all scramble to heap praise on it? When you see an advert for Alice Cooper’s latest album, do you see a quote from Ozzy saying “It’s alright actually”? Weird that we accept it for books). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upsetting”) of INTIMACY and AMOROUS LATITUDE. Very nicely worked.

25. Temporarily suspended – a chance there’s no returning in it (7)

Answer: ABEYANT (i.e. “temporarily suspended”). Solution is A and BET (i.e. “chance”) wrapped around or having “in it” NAY (i.e. “no”) once reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: A-BE(YAN)T.

26. People who fight OAP protected by son run away finally (8)

Answer: SOLDIERY (i.e. “people who fight”). Solution is OLDIE (i.e. “OAP”) placed in or “protected by” S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”), R (ditto “run”) and Y (i.e. “away finally”, i.e. “away” with its last letter removed), like so: S-(OLDIE)-R-Y.

27. Design a river flat (6)

Answer: PLANAR (i.e. “flat”). Solution is PLAN (i.e. “design”) followed by A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”).

29. Student teacher? Pity one unfortunately covering nearly everything (4,10)

Answer: OPEN UNIVERSITY (i.e. “student teacher”, taken to mean a teacher of students). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unfortunately”) of PITY ONE wrapped around or “covering” UNIVERSE (i.e. “everything”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “nearly”), like so: OPEN(UNIVERS)ITY.

31. Bank installing stronghold backs updated version (8)

Answer: RETROFIT (i.e. taken as a noun, an “updated version”). Solution is TIER (i.e. “bank”) wrapped around or “installing” FORT (i.e. “stronghold”), and the whole then reversed (indicated by “backs”), like so: RE(TROF)IT.

34. Instruction note about US vehicle trail (8)

Answer: TUTELAGE (i.e. “instruction”). Solution is TE (i.e. “note” in the sol-fa scale) wrapped “about” UTE (i.e. “US vehicle”, short for a utility truck) and LAG (i.e. to “trail”), like so: T(UTE-LAG)E.

36. Clue, for instance, is a curse! (4-6,4)

Answer: FOUR-LETTER WORD. Solution satisfies “clue, for instance” and “a curse” or swear word.

39. Prompt is visible to audience (6)

Answer: INCITE (i.e. to “prompt”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “to audience”) of IN SIGHT (i.e. “is visible”).

41. How one may receive holiday home which helps one slow down? (5,3)

Answer: BRAKE PAD (i.e. “which helps one slow down”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “how one may receive”) of BREAK (i.e. “holiday”) followed by PAD (i.e. “home”).

43. Former pope from a wealthy satellite town (7)

Answer: EXURBAN (“from a wealthy satellite town”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former”) followed by URBAN (i.e. “pope” – there have been a few Pope Urbans over the years).

46. A wonder of old tapestry with areas of flowers round fine little lake on (7,7,2,7)

Answer: HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON (i.e. “a wonder of old”, or one of The Seven Wonders of the World). Solution is HANGING (i.e. “tapestry”) followed by GARDENS (i.e. “areas of flowers”), then O (i.e. “round”), F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils), BABY (i.e. “little”), L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”) and ON.

47. A section of mascarpone pie, certainly not cut (3-5)

Answer: ONE-PIECE (i.e. “not cut”). “A section of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: MASCARP(ONE PIE CE)RTAINLY.

48. The man carries a crash helmet in compound (6)

Answer: HALIDE (i.e. “compound” of halogen and a metal). Solution is HE (i.e. “the man”) wrapped around or “carrying” A and LID (slang for a “crash helmet”), like so: H(A-LID)E. One nailed from the wordplay.

49. Shady dealer with small celebrity backing (4)

Answer: SPIV (i.e. “shady dealer”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by VIP (i.e. “celebrity”) once reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: S-PIV.

53. Opening of second of songs Mahler’s rewritten (7)

Answer: ARMHOLE (i.e. “opening” in a garment). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rewritten”) of O (i.e. “second [letter] of songs”) and MAHLER.

54. One may want spread here, having a spell of good luck (2,1,4)

Answer: ON A ROLL. Solution satisfies “one may want spread here”, i.e. on a bread roll, and “having a spell of good fortune”.

56. American I had over one August night for starters (7)

Answer: IDAHOAN (i.e. an “American”). Solution is I followed by HAD once reversed (indicated by “over”), then O, A and N (i.e. “one August night for starters”, i.e. the first letters of “one”, “August” and “night”), like so: I-DAH-O-A-N.

57. Improbability of oiled hunk cooking with oil? (12)

Answer: UNLIKELIHOOD (i.e. “improbability”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooking”) of OILED HUNK and OIL.

58. Dynasty left fools – they lower the level of brightness (10)

Answer: SUNGLASSES (i.e. “they lower the level of brightness”). Solution is SUNG (i.e. Chinese “dynasty”, more commonly known as the Song dynasty) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and ASSES (i.e. “fools”).

Down clues

1. Something put on road island – a tree (9)

Answer: MACADAMIA (i.e. “tree”). Solution is MACADAM (i.e. “something put on road”, tarmac) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) and A.

2. Lament mind set developing destructive action (13)

Answer: DISMANTLEMENT (i.e. “destructive action”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “developing”) of LAMENT MIND SET.

3. One who succeeds is regularly cheerier (4)

Answer: HEIR (i.e. “one who succeeds”). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CHEERIER.

4. Set on distant objects, girl cycles (5-9)

Answer: PENNY-FARTHINGS (i.e. “cycles”). Solution is FAR THINGS (i.e. “distant objects”) with PENNY (i.e. “girl’s” name) “set on” top, like so: PENNY-(FAR-THINGS).

5. Intention to avoid November when climbing mountain (3)

Answer: ALP (i.e. “mountain”). Solution is PLAN (i.e. “intention”) with the N removed (indicated by “to avoid November” – November being N in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “when climbing” – this being a down clue).

7. Gelatinous substance got from a fish (4)

Answer: AGAR (i.e. “gelatinous substance”, the kind of stuff you grow bacteria on). Solution is A followed by GAR (i.e. a variety of “fish”).

8. Eastern father keeping one of Plato’s works in desk (10)

Answer: ESCRITOIRE (i.e. a writing “desk”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) followed by SIRE (i.e. to “father”) once wrapped around or “keeping” CRITO (i.e. “one of Plato’s works”), like so: E-S(CRITO)IRE. Tough bugger.

9. Arranged a Pisces maiden’s fantasy? (8)

Answer: ESCAPSIM (i.e. “fantasy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “arranged”) of A, PISCES and M (a recognised abbreviation of “maiden” used in cricket).

10. Dazzling, like a mirror cat’s reflected in (11)

Answer: SPECTACULAR (i.e. “dazzling”). Solution is SPECULAR (i.e. “like a mirror” – speculum is another name for a mirror) wrapped around or having “in” CAT once reversed (indicated by “reflected”), like so: SPEC(TAC)ULAR.

11. Not clear cut how hunger gets resolved (5-4)

Answer: ROUGH-HEWN (i.e. “not clear cut”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “gets resolved”) of HOW HUNGER.

12. Meat cut up for a person (4)

Answer: SELF (i.e. “a person”). Solution is FLESH (i.e. “meat”) with the last letter removed (indicated by cut”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue).

13. File with contents of folk’s foolish nonsense (8)

Answer: FOLDEROL (i.e. “foolish nonsense”). Solution is FOLDER (i.e. “file”) followed by OL (i.e. “contents of folk”, i.e. the middle letters of “folk”).

19. Once more get control over historic London bus after missing out (8)

Answer: REMASTER (i.e. “once more get control over”). Solution is ROUTEMASTER (i.e. “historic London bus”) with the OUT removed (indicated by “after missing out”).

21. Fabled capital, unknown and fantastically covered in gold (6)

Answer: XANADU (i.e. an idyllic “fabled capital” in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem Kubla Khan). Solution is X (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) followed by an anagram (indicated by “fantastically”) of AND once placed or “covered in” AU (chemical symbol of “gold”), like so: X-A(NAD)U.

22. More stern and rising cruelty Cain rates regularly (8)

Answer: STRICTER (i.e. “more stern”). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CRUELTY CAIN RATES, while “rising” indicates the letters are reversed – this being a down clue.

23. Given water monster on Tweed, we got away (8)

Answer: HYDRATED (i.e. “given water”). Solution is HYDRA (i.e. mythical “monster”) followed by TWEED once the WE has been removed (indicated by “we got away”), like so: HYDRA-TED.

28. Making things easy, exploit perhaps minted ring (7-7)

Answer: FEATHER-BEDDING (i.e. “making things easy”). Solution is FEAT (i.e. “exploit”) followed by HERBED (i.e. “perhaps minted”) and DING (i.e. a “ring” sound).

29. Totally unconscious justice (8)

Answer: OUTRIGHT (i.e. “totally”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “unconscious”) followed by RIGHT (i.e. “justice”).

30. Customary notice on the end of the enclosure (8)

Answer: STOCKADE (i.e. “enclosure”). Solution is STOCK (i.e. “customary”) followed by AD (i.e. “notice”, short for advertisement) and E (i.e. “end of the”, i.e. the last letter of “the”).

32. Gambling system somewhat dependent on draws (8,5)

Answer: FOOTBALL POOLS. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given the game asks punters to guess the score “draws” in a number of football games.

33. Action over vote name changer? (4,4)

Answer: DEED POLL (i.e. “name changer”). Solution is DEED (i.e. “action”) followed by POLL (i.e. “vote”).

35. Rule about dry ice or potassium structure (11)

Answer: LATTICEWORK (i.e. “structure”). Solution is LAW (i.e. “rule”) wrapped “about” TT (i.e. “dry”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of teetotal) and ICE. This is all then followed by OR and K (chemical symbol of “potassium”), like so: LA(TT-ICE)W-OR-K.

37. Reportedly what sailors would take to be compass points (6)

Answer: RHUMBS (i.e. “compass points”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of RUMS (i.e. “what sailors would take”).

38. Broadcasting lots then dropping 50 per cent of all material (10)

Answer: BROADCLOTH (i.e. “material”). “Dropping 50 per cent of all” indicates the solution is derived from the first halves of BROADCASTING LOTS THEN.

40. As some maps are to deceive, not easy going (9)

Answer: CONFORMAL (i.e. “as some maps are” – over to Chambers: “(of a map) representing small areas in their true shape”, whatever that means). Solution is CON (i.e. “to deceive”) followed by FORMAL (i.e. “not easy going”).

42. Quiet meal, but not opening large cask as before (8)

Answer: PUNCHEON (i.e. “large cask” – I think “as before” indicates the solution is an obsolete word). Solution is P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” used in musical lingo) followed by LUNCHEON (i.e. “meal”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “not opening”), like so: P-UNCHEON.

44. Church service openings can be dull occasions (3-6)

Answer: NON-EVENTS (i.e. “dull occasions”). Solution is NONE (i.e. 3pm “church service”, one of the canonical hours, also known as NONES) followed by VENTS (i.e. “openings”).

45. What one tries to live up to as oldie struggling with age (3,5)

Answer: EGO IDEAL (i.e. “what one tries to live up to”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “struggling”) of OLDIE and AGE.

50. Military insignia university prohibited (4)

Answer: TABU (i.e. “prohibited”, a variant spelling of TABOO). Solution is TAB (i.e. “military insignia” “distinguishing a staff officer on the collar of his or her uniform” (Chambers)) followed by U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”).

51. Plant with corm – not a root shows (4)

Answer: TARO (i.e. “plant with corm”). “Shows” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: NO(T A RO)OT. One nailed from the wordplay.

52. Religious leader hit hard over article (4)

Answer: LAMA (i.e. Buddhist “religious leader”). Solution is LAM (i.e. “hit hard”) followed by A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the).

55. Regularly clued-up and ready in Europe (3)

Answer: LEU (i.e. “ready in Europe” – ready is a slang word for money; the solution is the currency of Romania). “Regularly” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of CLUED-UP.

…and straight into another one. The Christmas and New Year period is great for getting lots of Jumbos to solve, but a bit of a bugger for my two typing fingers! Anyway, if memory serves me correctly, this was a medium strength Jumbo, though some of this was thanks to exotic solutions being clued up as anagrams. Yuck. Mercifully this didn’t happen too often.

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 gotten up your nose 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 encouragement. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Letters from struggling lads to New Statesman (9)

Answer: William GLADSTONE (former prime minister, i.e. “statesman”). “Letters from” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: STRUGGLIN(G LADS TO NE)W.

6. Send kind of file for researcher (7)

Answer: POSTDOC (i.e. “researcher”, short for one in a postdoctoral role). Solution is POST (i.e. “send” a letter) followed by DOC (i.e. “kind of file”, short for a document).

10. More mature message mourning late monarch (5)

Answer: RIPER (i.e. “more mature”). Solution is RIP (i.e. “message mourning”, i.e. Rest In Peace) followed by ER (i.e. “late monarch”, short for Elizabeth Regina).

13. Royal gets salad put on bagel? It’s a current rule (4,3)

Answer: OHM’S LAW (i.e. “it’s a[n electrical] current rule”). Solution is HM (i.e. “royal”, short for His or Her Majesty) and SLAW (i.e. a cabbage “salad”) both placed “on” or after O (i.e. “bagel”, after its shape), like so: O-(HM-SLAW).

14. I need to think, entering attraction in London gallery (7)

Answer: VERANDA (i.e. a roofed “gallery”). Solution is ER (i.e. “I need to think”) placed in or “entering” V AND A (i.e. “attraction in London”, short for the Victoria and Albert Museum), like so: V-(ER)-AND-A.

15. Marine creature in autumn time round some whales (7)

Answer: OCTOPOD (i.e. “marine creature”). Solution is OCT (i.e. “in autumn time”, short for October) followed by O (i.e. “round”) and POD (i.e. “some whales”).

16. Citizen keeps working, dealing with current kind of art (19)

Answer: NONREPRESENTATIONAL (i.e. “kind of art” purposely meant to not look like anything recognisable). Solution is NATIONAL (i.e. “citizen”) wrapped around or “keeping” ON (i.e. “working”), RE (i.e. “dealing with” or regarding – think email replies) and PRESENT (i.e. “current”), like so: N(ON-RE-PRESENT)ATIONAL.

17. Greek goddess returns as character in The Oresteia? (3)

Answer: ETA (i.e. “character in The Oresteia” – I think this merely means a letter of the Greek alphabet, in this case the seventh. The Oresteia is a trilogy of Greek tragedies by Aeschylus. Of course I Googled it). Solution is ATE (i.e. “Greek goddess” of mischief) reversed (indicated by “returns”).

18. Foil wrapping from supermarket that is holding cored yam (6)

Answer: STYMIE (i.e. to “foil”). Solution is ST (i.e. “wrapping from supermarket”, i.e. the first and last letters of “supermarket”) and IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, from the Latin id est) all wrapped around YM (i.e. “cored yam”, i.e. the word “yam” with the middle letter removed), like so: ST-(YM)-IE. An easy get thanks to the same solution appearing in the previous Jumbo only two days earlier. Ho hum.

20. Prepare miners for combat in depressed region (6)

Answer: ARMPIT (i.e. “depressed region”, the hollow under one’s shoulder). When written as ARM PIT the solution playfully satisfies “prepare miners for combat”.

21. Extremely gloomy mounted policeman stops one spinning around (9)

Answer: GYROSCOPE (i.e. “one spinning around”). Solution is GY (i.e. “extremely gloomy”, i.e. the first and last letters of “gloomy”) followed by ROSE (i.e. “mounted” up) once wrapped around or being “stopped” by COP (i.e. “policeman”), like so: GY-ROS(COP)E.

23. Made new fashion navy instead, oddly (10)

Answer: MODERNISED (i.e. “made new”). Solution is MODE (i.e. “fashion”) followed by RN (i.e. “navy”, specifically the Royal Navy) and ISED (i.e. “instead, oddly”, i.e. every other letter of INSTEAD).

25. Instruction from journalist? Current story holds answer (11)

Answer: EDIFICATION (i.e. “instruction”). Solution is ED (i.e. “journalist”, short for an editor) followed by I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, e.g. in Q&A) once placed in or “held” by FICTION (i.e. “story”), like so: ED-I-FIC(A)TION.

29. Provocative artist forbidding cycling (5)

Answer: Max ERNST (i.e. “provocative artist”). Solution is STERN (i.e. “forbidding”) with the letters “cycled” to the left a couple of times, like so: STERN => TERNS => ERNST. Ah, Max Ernst. It was only a matter of time before we’d see you again. I’m amazed there are any clues left to describe you.

30. For mum and dad, first article’s delayed before delivery (8)

Answer: PRENATAL (i.e. “before delivery” or birth). Solution is PARENTAL (i.e. “for mum and dad”) with the “first” A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the) moved a few notches to the right or “delayed”, like so: P(A)RENTAL => PREN(A)TAL.

31. Reported holes in old-fashioned bags (8)

Answer: BREECHES (i.e. “old-fashioned bags”, bags being slang for trousers). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reported”) of BREACHES (i.e. “holes” in a defence).

34. Men on board determined to follow old red vessel (5,3)

Answer: CHESS SET (i.e. “men on board” – chess pieces are sometimes referred to as men). Solution is SET (i.e. “determined”) placed after or “following” CHE Guevarra (famous Marxist guerilla leader, i.e. “red”) and SS (i.e. “vessel”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: (CHE-SS)-SET.

36. Time lag reforms, accepting head of institution’s regulation (3,5)

Answer: AGE LIMIT (i.e. “regulation”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reforms”) of TIME LAG wrapped around or “accepting” I (i.e. “head of institution”, i.e. the first letter of “institution”), like so: AGEL(I)MIT.

37. Cheers by Sampdoria’s no.1 thus for Italian linesman (5)

Answer: Torquato TASSO (i.e. “Italian linesman”, in this case a 16th century poet). Solution is TA (i.e. thanks or “cheers”) followed by S (i.e. “Sampdoria’s no.1” letter) and SO (i.e. “thus”). One nailed solely from the wordplay, unsurprisingly.

39. Adopt sexist hiring policy, given time slot for meeting (11)

Answer: APPOINTMENT (i.e. “slot for meeting”). Solution is APPOINT MEN (i.e. “adopt sexist hiring policy”) followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

41. Queen Mother leaves African from fabulous kingdom (10)

Answer: RURITANIAN (i.e. “from fabulous kingdom”, fabulous being another way of saying fictitious. Ruritania is a made-up central European country that features in several novels by Anthony Hope). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “queen”, short for the Latin Regina) followed by MAURITANIAN (i.e. an “African”) once the MA has been removed (indicated by “mother leaves…”), like so: R-URITANIAN.

43. Go and nick fancy undies for cold-blooded killer (4,5)

Answer: KING COBRA (i.e. “cold-blooded killer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fancy”) of GO and NICK followed by BRA (i.e. “undies”), like so: KINGCO-BRA.

45. Test this person’s reason (6)

Answer: MOTIVE (i.e. “reason”). Solution is MOT (i.e. “test” of roadworthiness) followed by I’VE (i.e. “this person’s”, I guess a contraction of I HAVE. I don’t think this works, though, as I doubt anyone has ever abbreviated “this person has” to “this person’s”). Meh.

47. Perhaps keeper’s better catching header from defender? (6)

Answer: FINDER (i.e. “perhaps keeper”, from the phrase “finders keepers”). Solution is FINER (i.e. “better”) wrapped around or “catching” D (i.e. “header from defender”, i.e. the first letter of “defender”), like so: FIN(D)ER.

49. Group staying dry and hot? How delightful! (3)

Answer: AAH (i.e. “how delightful!”). Solution is AA (i.e. “group staying dry”, specifically Alcoholics Anonymous) followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot” used on water taps).

50. Rogue in kindergarten began giving offence (8,3,8)

Answer: BREAKING AND ENTERING (i.e. criminal “offence”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rogue”) of IN KINDERGARTEN BEGAN.

52. Bird getting behind ape in admiration (7)

Answer: EMULATE (i.e. “ape in admiration”). Solution is EMU (i.e. a “bird”) followed by LATE (i.e. “behind” time).

53. Mind ringing a hotel in gulf state (7)

Answer: BAHRAIN (i.e. “gulf state”). Solution is BRAIN (i.e. “mind”) wrapped around or “ringing” A and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: B(A-H)RAIN.

54. With energy, married couple perhaps do this? (7)

Answer: EMBRACE (i.e. “married couple perhaps do this”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) followed by M (ditto “married”) and BRACE (i.e. “couple”). Nicely worked.

55. Return from India, packing cases for 19 and Lapland (5)

Answer: YIELD (i.e. “return” on investment). Solution is I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet) placed in or “packing” YE and LD (i.e. “cases for 19 and Lapland”, i.e. the first and last letters of both YAOUNDE (the solution to “19” down) and “Lapland”), like so: Y(I)E-LD.

56. Hard to climb flipping frame of Eiffel Tower! (7)

Answer: STEEPLE (i.e. “tower”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is STEEP (i.e. “hard to climb”) followed by the first and last letters of “Eiffel” (indicated by “frame of…”) once reversed (indicated by “flipping”), like so: STEEP-LE.

57. Gift yours truly wrapped in blue taken into part of hospital (9)

Answer: ENDOWMENT (i.e. “gift”). Solution is ME (i.e. “yours truly”) placed “in” DOWN (i.e. “blue”) which is itself then placed “into” ENT (i.e. “part of hospital”, specifically Ear, Nose and Throat), like so: EN(DOW(ME)N)T.

Down clues

1. My healthy food provides it (8)

Answer: GOODNESS (i.e. “my”, both taken to be exclamations). Solution also satisfies “healthy food provides it”.

2. Superhero saving British Indian’s soul (5)

Answer: ATMAN (i.e. “Indian’s soul”). Solution is BATMAN (i.e. a “superhero”) with the B removed (indicated by “saving British”, B being a recognised abbreviation of “British”). A new one on me.

3. Plain or veldt, if seen abroad (4-7)

Answer: SELF-EVIDENT (i.e. “plain”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “abroad”) of VELDT IF SEEN.

4. Running down, covering area by River Forth (6)

Answer: ONWARD (i.e. “forth”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “running”) of DOWN wrapped around or “covering” A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) and R (ditto “river”), like so: ONW(A-R)D.

5. Spy seller I’ve thrashed, having hit record merchant (5,7)

Answer: ELVIS PRESLEY (i.e. “hit record merchant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “thrashed”) of SPY SELLER I’VE.

6. Maybe spin round a cut vegetable (7)

Answer: PARSNIP (i.e. “vegetable”). Solution is PR (i.e. “spin”, or Public Relations) wrapped “round” A and followed by SNIP (i.e. “cut”), like so: P(A)R-SNIP.

7. Folk hero sorry that man’s imprisoned in orient following transgression (6,3,6)

Answer: SINBAD THE SAILOR (i.e. “folk hero”). Solution is BAD (i.e. “sorry” condition, for example) followed by HE’S (i.e. “that man’s”) once placed or “imprisoned in” TAILOR (i.e. to “orient” I suppose, though I’m not seeing any overlap between the two words in Chambers, Bradford’s doesn’t support it and I can’t be arsed to go upstairs to check my other dictionaries. Yellow card time?) This is all then placed after or “following” SIN (i.e. “transgression”), like so: SIN-(BAD-T(HE’S)AILOR).

8. Two medics claiming a triumph with hip fixing device (7,3)

Answer: DRAWING PIN (i.e. “fixing device”). Solution is DR and GP (i.e. “two medics”, one a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”, the other a General Practitioner) wrapped around or “claiming” A and WIN (i.e. “triumph”) and followed by IN (i.e. “hip” or trendy), like so: (DR-(A-WIN)-GP)-IN.

9. Public official moving over for Frank Sinatra? (7)

Answer: CROONER (i.e. “Frank Sinatra”). Solution is CORONER (i.e. “public official”) with one of the Os (a recognised abbreviation of “over” in cricket) “moving” a smidge, like so: C(O)RONER => CR(O)ONER.

10. Throw small, uncovered, tailless reptile (11)

Answer: RATTLESNAKE (i.e. “reptile”). Solution is RATTLE (i.e. “throw”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and NAKED (i.e. “uncovered”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “tailless”), like so: RATTLE-S-NAKE.

11. Argentinian leader eats course with starter of Italian meat (9)

Answer: PEPPERONI (i.e. “meat”). Solution is Juan PERÓN (i.e. former “Argentinian leader”) wrapped around or “eating” PPE (i.e. a university “course” – not had this for a while, this is short for Philosophy, Politics and Economics) and followed by I (i.e. “starter [letter] of Italian”), like so: PE(PPE)RÓN-I.

12. Auditor’s studied record for bureaucratic business (3,4)

Answer: RED TAPE (i.e. “bureaucratic business”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “auditor’s”) of READ (i.e. “studied”) followed by TAPE (i.e. “record”).

19. Dane travelling with you in the capital (7)

Answer: YAOUNDE (i.e. “capital” of Cameroon). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “travelling”) of DANE and YOU.

22. Foot beginning to ache? Peasant is put out (8)

Answer: ANAPAEST (i.e. “foot”). Solution is A (i.e. “beginning to ache”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “put out”) of PEASANT, like so: A-NAPAEST. According to Chambers, the solution, in prosody, is “a foot of two short (or unstressed) syllables followed by a long (or stressed) syllable”, so a word like “interrupt” or “comprehend”. This and YAOUNDE in close succession reminded me how much I dislike exotic solutions clued as anagrams. Fume, seethe and so forth.

24. Ability to draw game with craft, capturing piece of 34 (15)

Answer: DRAUGHTSMANSHIP (i.e. “ability to draw”). Solution is DRAUGHTS (i.e. “game”) and SHIP (i.e. “craft”) all wrapped around or “capturing” MAN (i.e. “piece of 34” – the solution to 34a is CHESS SET, and chess pieces are sometimes referred to as “men”), like so: DRAUGHTS-(MAN)-SHIP.

26. Temperature in water, not good for bug (8)

Answer: IRRITATE (i.e. to “bug”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”) placed “in” IRRIGATE (i.e. to “water”) once the G has been removed (indicated by “not good” – G being a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: IRRI(T)ATE.

27. Child raised question for absent guest (2-4)

Answer: NO-SHOW (i.e. “absent guest”). Solution is SON (i.e. “child”) reversed (indicated by “raised”) and followed by HOW (i.e. “question”), like so: NOS-HOW.

28. South of foreign sea, spies ancient kingdom (6)

Answer: MERCIA (i.e. “ancient kingdom”). Solution is MER (i.e. “foreign sea”, basically the French for “sea”) followed by CIA (i.e. “spies”, specifically the Central Intelligence Agency). “South of” just means CIA is placed under MER, this being a down clue.

32. Save pop group from American hours, initially (7)

Answer: HUSBAND (i.e. “save”). Solution is US (i.e. “American”) and BAND (i.e. “pop group”) placed after H (i.e. “hours, initially”, i.e. the first letter of “hours”), like so: H-(US-BAND).

33. Newspaper covered MP in Barking displaying short-sightedness (12)

Answer: IMPROVIDENCE (i.e. “short-sightedness”). Solution is I (i.e. a UK “newspaper”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “barking” mad, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) of COVERED MP IN, like so: I-MPROVIDENCE.

35. Son and enchantress get on where callers are received (11)

Answer: SWITCHBOARD (i.e. “where callers are received”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by WITCH (i.e. “enchantress”) and BOARD (i.e. “get on”).

37. Complaint of one appearing regularly in court? (6,5)

Answer: TENNIS ELBOW (i.e. muscular “complaint” caused by overexercise). Clue plays on a tennis “court”. You get the idea.

38. Newly assess president adopting line that’s noteworthy (10)

Answer: REMARKABLE (i.e. “noteworthy”). Solution is RE-MARK (i.e. “newly assess”, say, coursework) followed by ABE Lincoln (i.e. former US “president”) once wrapped around or “adopting” L (a recognised abbreviation of “line”), like so: RE-MARK-AB(L)E.

40. Room at the Top writer has grand scene’s outline (9)

Answer: PENTHOUSE (i.e. “room at the top”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is PEN (i.e. “writer”) followed by THOU (i.e. “grand”, both slang for a thousand) and SE (i.e. “scene’s outline”, i.e. the first and last letters of “scene”).

42. Paper bags clothes dealers split into pieces (8)

Answer: FRAGMENT (i.e. “split into pieces”). Solution is FT (i.e. UK “paper”, The Financial Times) wrapped around or “bagging” RAGMEN (i.e. “clothes dealers”), like so: F(RAGMEN)T.

43. Starts off knowing nothing, admitting really bad behaviour (7)

Answer: KNAVERY (i.e. “bad behaviour”). Solution is K, N and A (i.e. “starts off knowing nothing, admitting”, i.e. the first letters of “knowing”, “nothing” and “admitting”) followed by VERY (i.e. “really”).

44. Empty beer jugs for those who might fill them? (7)

Answer: BREWERS (i.e. “those who might fill [beer jugs]”). Solution is BR (i.e. “empty beer”, i.e. the word “beer” with its middle letters removed) followed by EWERS (i.e. “jugs”).

46. Roughly cutting wood, European gets snack (7)

Answer: TEACAKE (i.e. “snack”). Solution is CA (i.e. “roughly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) placed in or “cutting” TEAK (i.e. “wood”) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: TE(AC)AK-E.

48. Mean, finally, to expel ambassador (6)

Answer: INTEND (i.e. “mean”). Solution is IN THE END (i.e. “finally”) with the HE removed (indicated by “to expel ambassador”, addressed often as His Excellency if you go in for all that bowing and scraping), like so: IN-T-END.

51. A Gershwin tune leaves a Parisian in a bad mood (5)

Answer: IRATE (i.e. “in a bad mood”). Solution is IRA (i.e. “a Gershwin”) and TUNE once the UN has been removed (indicated by “leaves a Parisian” – UN being French for “a”), like so: IRA-TE.

A relatively straightforward one to see out 2023, which is fine by me. I never mind the easier ones! There were a few well-crafted clues to enjoy too.

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 diddled you 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 sticking with this whole delayed-solution thing. It’s a bit of a faff, isn’t it? Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Classic dish is extreme – duck served with rook (7)

Answer: RISOTTO (i.e. “classic dish”). Solution is IS, OTT (i.e. “extreme”, short for Over The Top) and O (i.e. “duck”, or a zero score) all placed after or “with” R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess), like so: R-(IS-OTT-O).

5. Public cages chimed with a New Forest resident (5-4)

Answer: ORANG-UTAN (i.e. “forest resident” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is OUT (i.e. “public”) wrapped around or “caging” RANG (i.e. “chimed”). This is then followed by A and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: O(RANG)UT-A-N.

10. Seen in cap, driver finally gets vehicle on track (4)

Answer: TRAM (i.e. “vehicle on track”). Solution is TAM (i.e. “cap”, specifically a Tam o’ Shanter) wrapped around or having “in” R (i.e. “driver finally”, i.e. the last letter of “driver”), like so: T(R)AM.

14. Remarkable Parisian one backing secure catalogue (13)

Answer: UNFORGETTABLE (i.e. “remarkable”). Solution is UN (i.e. “Parisian one”, i.e. the French for “one”) followed by FOR (i.e. “backing” or favour of), then GET (i.e. “secure”) and TABLE (i.e. list or “catalogue”).

15. Book in at Bedouin residence, finding steward (9)

Answer: ATTENDANT (i.e. “steward”). Solution is DAN (i.e. short for Daniel, a “book” of the Old Testament of The Bible) placed “in” AT and TENT (i.e. “Bedouin residence”), like so: AT-TEN(DAN)T.

16. Second motif in accommodation mostly having similar function (10)

Answer: HOMOLOGOUS (i.e. “having similar function”). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment) and LOGO (i.e. “motif”) all placed “in” HOUSE (i.e. “accommodation”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: HO(MO-LOGO)US.

17. Using this, I’d somehow see a difference (11)

Answer: DISTINGUISH (i.e. “see a difference”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of USING THIS I’D.

18. Tea going with very large order? Far from it (5)

Answer: CHAOS (i.e. “order – far from it”). Solution is CHA (i.e. “tea”) followed by OS (i.e. “very large”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of outsized).

19. Excessively patronising encountered in the High Street? (10)

Answer: SHOPAHOLIC. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “patronising” to mean “to give one’s custom to”.

21. Eyesore around M1 spoiling green strategy? (6)

Answer: STYMIE (i.e. “spoiling green strategy” – one definition of STYMIE in Chambers is: “a situation on the putting green, once difficult to overcome, in which an opponent’s ball blocks the way to the hole, the rules now allowing the obstructing ball to be lifted and its position marked”). Solution is STYE (i.e. “eyesore” or eye infection) wrapped “around” M1 with the 1 replaced by its Roman numeral equivalent, like so: STY(MI)E. Nicely done.

23. Touring south, use horn excessively – go too far (9)

Answer: OVERSHOOT (i.e. “go too far”). Solution is OVER-HOOT (i.e. “use horn excessively”) wrapped around or “touring” S (a recognised abbreviation of “south”), like so: OVER-(S)-HOOT.

25. Back in parliament celebrating return (5)

Answer: ELECT (i.e. to “back” in an election). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “return” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: PARLIAMEN(T CELE)BRATING. Another well-worked clue.

26. Working method in thrill endlessly erotic (7)

Answer: AMOROUS (i.e. “erotic”). Solution is MO (i.e. “working method”, short for Modus Operandi) placed “in” AROUSE (i.e. “thrill”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endlessly”), like so: A(MO)ROUS.

28. Emperor replacing his allies with ease (5,8)

Answer: HAILE SELASSIE (i.e. former “emperor” of Ethiopia). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “replacing”) of HIS ALLIES and EASE.

31. Grouse served on pan and dish (5,4)

Answer: ROAST BEEF (i.e. “dish”). Solution is BEEF (i.e. “grouse”, both words for a complaint) placed after or “on” ROAST (i.e. to “pan” or criticise).

33. Swimmer drawing in archaeologist Croft – suspect treachery? (5,1,3)

Answer: SMELL A RAT (i.e. “suspect treachery”). Solution is SMELT (i.e. “swimmer”, a variant meaning of SMELT is a variety of fish) wrapped around or “drawing in” LARA (i.e. “archaeologist Croft” from the Tomb Raider video games – this geek approves!), like so: SMEL(LARA)T.

35. Echo with very loud TV’s nice: see fantastic power? (13)

Answer: EFFECTIVENESS (i.e. “power”). Solution is E (“echo” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by FF (i.e. “very loud”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “fortissimo” used in musical lingo) and an anagram (indicated by “fantastic”) of TV’S NICE SEE, like so: E-FF-ECTIVENESS.

37. Shock regarding reserve showing initial loss (7)

Answer: ASTOUND (i.e. “shock”). Solution is AS TO (i.e. “regarding”) followed by FUND (i.e. “reserve”) once its first letter has been removed (indicated by “showing initial loss”), like so: AS-TO-UND.

38. German writer needing answer: it’s an unexpected gift (5)

Answer: MANNA (i.e. “it’s an unexpected gift”). Solution is Thomas MANN (i.e. “German writer”) followed by A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, e.g. in Q&A).

40. Drug creation’s out of order (9)

Answer: NARCOTISE (i.e. to “drug”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out of order”) of CREATION’S. Nicely worked.

42. Slight wind about in hot spring city (6)

Answer: BREATH (i.e. “slight wind”). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” or regarding – think email replies) placed “in” BATH (i.e. “hot spring city” – the spring water there reaches the surface at around 45°C), like so: B(RE)ATH.

44. Sea creature: grump on Channel Island catching it (6,4)

Answer: HERMIT CRAB (i.e. “sea creature”). Solution is CRAB (i.e. to “grump”) placed “on” or after HERM (i.e. “Channel Island”). This is all then wrapped around or “catching” IT, like so: HERM-(IT)-CRAB.

46. One billion stolen from dope, or grand? (5)

Answer: NOBLE (i.e. “grand”). Solution is NOBBLE (i.e. to “dope” someone or something) with one of the Bs removed (indicated by “one billion stolen from” – B being a recognised abbreviation of “billion”).

48. Listened to one putting up with joint in stiff condition (5,6)

Answer: RIGOR MORTIS (i.e. “stiff condition”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “listened to”) of RIGGER (i.e. “one putting up” equipment) and MORTISE (i.e. a type of “joint” – over to Chambers: “a hole made in wood, stone etc to receive a tenon”). Nicely done.

50. People in country put Croatian port into magical drink (10)

Answer: POPULATION (i.e. “people in country”). Solution is PULA (i.e. “Croatian port”, and rather a pretty one too if Google Images is any judge) placed “into” POTION (i.e. “magical drink”), like so: PO(PULA)TION.

52. European in circles close to his capital banning a musical work (9)

Answer: RIGOLETTO (i.e. “musical work” by Giuseppe Verdi). Solution is LETT (i.e. “European”, specifically one from Latvia) placed “in” O and O (i.e. “circles”). This is all then placed after or “close to” RIGA (i.e. “his capital”, i.e. the capital of Latvia) once the A has been removed (indicated by “banning a”), like so: RIG-(O-LETT-O).

53. Grey-haired judge, posh worker hosting the Italian’s anniversary (6,7)

Answer: SILVER JUBILEE (i.e. “anniversary”). Solution is SILVER (i.e. “grey-haired”) followed by J (a recognised abbreviation of “judge”), then U (ditto for the upper classes, or “posh”), then BEE (i.e. “worker”) once wrapped around or “hosting” IL (i.e. “the Italian”, i.e. the Italian for “the”), like so: SILVER-J-U-B(IL)EE.

54. Team displaying primitive instincts in Kentish region? (4)

Answer: SIDE (i.e. “team”). Solution is ID (i.e. “primitive instincts” in psychoanalysis) placed “in” SE (i.e. “Kentish region”, or South-East England), like so: S(ID)E.

55. Member on foot on way in distance sees poisoner (9)

Answer: MISTLETOE (i.e. “poisoner”). Solution is TOE (i.e. “member on foot”) placed “on” or after ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) once placed “in” MILE (i.e. “distance”), like so: MI(ST)LE-TOE.

56. Rapidly announce cancellation of dance? (4,3)

Answer: REEL OFF. Solution satisfies “rapidly announce” and, playfully, “cancellation of dance”.

Down clues

1. Soldier’s rear exposed in disorderly retreat (4)

Answer: ROUT (i.e. “disorderly retreat”). Solution is R (i.e. “soldier’s rear”, i.e. the last letter of “soldier”) followed by OUT (i.e. “exposed”).

2. Maybe Ipswich rowing crew said to choke (9)

Answer: SUFFOCATE (i.e. “choke”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “said”) of SUFFOLK EIGHT (i.e. “Ipswich rowing crew”). I did chuckle when the penny dropped.

3. Kinky stiletto heels for burly trucker initially? Delicate creature (13,9)

Answer: TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY (i.e. “delicate creature”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “kinky”) of STILETTO HEELS FOR BURLY and T (i.e. “trucker initially”, i.e. the first letter of “trucker”).

4. Oppressive old Roman emperor starts to unnerve Senate (7)

Answer: ONEROUS (i.e. “oppressive”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by NERO (i.e. “Roman emperor”), then U and S (i.e. “starts to unnerve Senate”, i.e. the first letters of “unnerve” and “Senate”).

5. Duck before whirling tornado hit dental practice (11)

Answer: ORTHODONTIA (i.e. “dental practice”). Solution is O (i.e. “duck”, or a zero score) followed by an anagram (indicated by “whirling”) of TORNADO HIT.

6. American rebel keeping rickety plane makes sudden attack (9)

Answer: AMBUSCADE (i.e. “sudden attack”). Solution is AM (a recognised abbreviation of “American”) and Jack CADE (i.e. a “rebel” who headed a revolt against the government of England in 1450) all wrapped around or “keeping” BUS (i.e. slang for an old or “rickety plane”), like so: AM-(BUS)-CADE.

7. Insatiable desire to have browser – Google’s first up (5)

Answer: GREED (i.e. “insatiable desire”). Solution is DEER (i.e. “browser”, taking “browse” to mean “to feed on the rough shoots of plants” (Chambers)) followed by G (i.e. “Google’s first [letter]”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: G-REED.

8. Radio maybe managed by sergeant major – have giggle about that? (11)

Answer: TRANSMITTER (i.e. “radio maybe”). Solution is RAN (i.e. “managed”) and SM (a recognised abbreviation of “sergeant major”) both placed in or having “about” them TITTER (i.e. “giggle”), like so: T(RAN-SM)ITTER.

9. Can appearing upside-down humour an idiot? (6)

Answer: NITWIT (i.e. “idiot”). Solution is TIN (i.e. “can”) reversed (indicated by “appearing upside-down” – this being a down clue) and followed by WIT (i.e. “humour”), like so: NIT-WIT.

11. Art style one’s introduced to province (7)

Answer: REALISM (i.e. “art style” – I’ve probably mentioned him before, but I can’t let this clue go without directing you towards the incredible work of the late Ralph Goings. His scenes of American diners and stores were simply astonishing for their realism. Don’t believe me? Check out the (rather scaled-down) example below. In fact, pop his name into Google Images and marvel at the results. You’re welcome!) Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) placed in or “introduced to” REALM (i.e. “province”), like so: REAL(I’S)M.

12. Unique floor covering – length deployed in game (9)

Answer: MATCHLESS (i.e. “unique”). Solution is MAT (i.e. “floor covering”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “length”) once placed or “deployed in” CHESS (i.e. “game”), like so: MAT-CH(L)ESS.

13. Percival and co think about saving grand, but not as managed with freehold (7,2,3,5,5)

Answer: KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE (i.e. “Percival and co”). Solution is THINK reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or “saving” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”). This is then followed by an anagram (indicated by “managed”) of BUT NOT AS and FREEHOLD, like so: KNI(G)HT-SOFTHEROUNDTABLE.

18. Garments from rococo chest – take look inside (7)

Answer: CLOTHES (i.e. “garments”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rococo” – over to Chambers again: “florid, extravagant in style”) of CHEST wrapped around or having “inside” of it LO (i.e. “look”, as in lo and behold), like so: C(LO)THES.

20. Pronoun given by solitary, small and mischievous creature (7)

Answer: ONESELF (i.e. “pronoun”). Solution is ONE (i.e. “solitary”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and ELF (i.e. “mischievous creature”).

22. Spanish wine and pork pie right for royalist (8)

Answer: CAVALIER (i.e. “royalist”). Solution is CAVA (i.e. “Spanish wine”) followed by LIE (i.e. “pork pie”, cockney rhyming slang thereof) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

24. Annul sin filling Roman writer close to Jerome (8)

Answer: OVERRIDE (i.e. “annul”). Solution is ERR (i.e. “sin”) placed in or “filling” OVID (i.e. “Roman writer”) and followed by E (i.e. “close to Jerome”, i.e. the last letter of “Jerome”), like so: OV(ERR)ID-E.

27. Alumnus, having feasted regularly, appears thus? (5)

Answer: OBESE (i.e. “having feasted regularly, appears thus”). Solution is OB (i.e. “alumnus”, short for Old Boy) followed by ESE (i.e. “feasted regularly”, i.e. every other letter of FEASTED).

29. Still at the crease – no boundaries in Perth (5)

Answer: INERT (i.e. “still” or motionless). Solution is IN (i.e. “at the crease” in game of cricket) followed by ERT (i.e. “no boundaries in Perth”, i.e. “Perth” with its first and last letters removed).

30. Bone hard? I’m not sure (7)

Answer: STERNUM (i.e. “bone”). Solution is STERN (i.e. “hard”) followed by UM (i.e. “I’m not sure”).

32. Energy invested in dubious electronic lens type? (4-3)

Answer: FISH-EYE (i.e. “lens type”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) placed or “invested in” FISHY (i.e. “dubious”) and followed by E (denotive of “electronic” in such words as email, ecommerce and so on), like so: FISH(E)Y-E.

34. Passionate Dicky seems put out (11)

Answer: TEMPESTUOUS (i.e. “passionate”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dicky”) of SEEMS PUT OUT.

36. Two coins securing extremely rare table decoration (11)

Answer: CENTREPIECE (i.e. “table decoration”). Solution is CENT and PIECE (i.e. “two coins”) wrapped around or “securing” RE (i.e. “extremely rare”, i.e. the first and last letters of “rare”), like so: CENT-(RE)-PIECE.

37. Fixative used in perfume has a light colour: French grey (9)

Answer: AMBERGRIS (i.e. “fixative used in perfume”). Solution is AMBER (i.e. traffic “light colour”) followed by GRIS (i.e. “French grey”, i.e. the French for “grey”).

39. George in perfect place, just about, to open a packet (9)

Answer: AUTOPILOT (i.e. “George”, RAF slang thereof). Solution is UTOPIA (i.e. “perfect place”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “just about”) and the remainder placed in or “opening” A LOT (i.e. “a packet”), like so: A-(UTOPI)-LOT.

41. Agitated microbiologist – no stoic – creates confusion (9)

Answer: IMBROGLIO (i.e. “confusion”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “agitated”) of MICROBIOLOGIST once the letters of STOIC have been removed.

43. Good time in bowls game promised (7)

Answer: ENGAGED (i.e. affianced or “promised”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) and AGE (i.e. “time”) both placed “in” END (i.e. “bowls game”), like so: EN(G-AGE)D.

45. Gas container from Scottish inventor upset government (4,3)

Answer: BELL JAR (i.e. “gas container”). Solution is Alexander Graham BELL (i.e. “Scottish inventor”) followed by RAJ (i.e. “government”, especially the British government of India 1858-1947) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upset”).

47. German fellow in German car leaving wife behind (6)

Answer: BOTTOM (i.e. one’s “behind”). Solution is OTTO (i.e. “German fellow”, and, thanks to Airplane, the one I immediately think of when autopilot is mentioned) placed “in” BMW (i.e. “German car”) once the W has been removed (indicated by “leaving wife behind” – W being a recognised abbreviation of “wife”), like so: B(OTTO)M.

49. Plant left unaltered when climbing (5)

Answer: SISAL (i.e. “plant”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and AS IS (i.e. “unaltered”) all reversed (indicated by “when climbing” – this being a down clue), like so: SI-SA-L.

51. One side not quite covering a page (4)

Answer: LEAF (i.e. “page”). Solution is LEFT (i.e. “one side” – right being the other) with its last letter removed (indicated by “not quite”) and the remainder wrapped around or “covering” A, like so: LE(A)F.

…and seamlessly into Boxing Day’s Jumbo.

This was a toughie thanks in part to it leaning a little too deeply into general knowledge for this uncultured oik. I imagine the Olav Bjortomts among you would have been fine. The clueing was mostly good, but, as you’ll see, there was the odd spelk that stung me.

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

This post marks a near-consecutive run of 300 Jumbo Cryptic solutions over the last five years, which I’m rather chuffed about. Less cool is the significant drop-off in visitors since I switched to posting solutions after the competition deadline. I’d anticipated this, but it’s still a little deflating. To those of you who have stuck with me these last few weeks, and to those who have dropped by with messages of support, thank you. I’ll keep the posts going for a little while longer and see how things pan out in the new year. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Skip American judge we must think not quite appropriate (4,4)

Answer: JUMP ROPE (i.e. “skip American”, or an American name for a skipping rope). Solution is J (a recognised abbreviation of “judge”) followed by UM (i.e. a noise often made when “we must think”) and PROPER (i.e. “appropriate”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “not quite”), like so: J-UM-PROPE.

5. Capital made out of sarcasm – a rationale we don’t wholly get (6)

Answer: ASMARA (i.e. “capital” city of Eritrea). “We don’t wholly get” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: SARC(ASM A RA)TIONALE.

9. Turning, you drive off briefly after function (7)

Answer: SINUOUS (i.e. wavy or “turning”). Solution is U (i.e. “you”, e.g. in textspeak) and OUST (i.e. “drive out”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”). This is all then placed “after” SIN (i.e. trigonometrical “function”, short for sine), like so: SIN-(U-OUS).

14. Harsh, beginner having to go in with new form of metal (7,4)

Answer: WROUGHT IRON (i.e. “form of metal”). Solution is ROUGH (i.e. “harsh”), TIRO (i.e. “beginner”) both placed between or “in” W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and N (ditto “new”) like so: W-(ROUGH-TIRO)-N.

15. Rebuff gained at home daily for speaking out (3,2,3,3)

Answer: ONE IN THE EYE (i.e. a “rebuff”). Not 100% sure on this one. I guess “for speaking out” indicates a homophone, but this only seems to cover two-thirds of the clue: ONE for WON (i.e. “gained”) and THE EYE for THE I (i.e. a “daily” newspaper in the UK). IN, meanwhile, is “at home”. If this is correct then, ugh, what a dog’s dinner of a clue. Signalling that the solution comprises homophones and then slapping some entirely different wordplay in the middle is poor. I wouldn’t mind the setter bending the rules if it resulted in a clue that scanned well, but the thing reads like something my washing machine would spew out if I’d fed it a dictionary. If I do have the wrong end of the stick, however, and a better explanation comes to light, then I’ll update the post.

16. Sanction put on that hurt junior parliamentarian? (5)

Answer: OWLET (i.e. “junior parliamentarian”, playfully referencing a parliament, the collective noun for owls). Solution is LET (i.e. to allow or “sanction”) placed “on” or after OW (i.e. “that hurt”), like so: OW-LET.

17. Zero per cent of staff backing appeal (3,1,3)

Answer: NOT A BIT (i.e. “zero per cent”). Solution is BATON (i.e. “staff”) reversed (indicated by “backing”) and followed by IT (i.e. “appeal”), like so: NOTAB-IT. This was an easier get thanks to a very similar clue appearing in The Times Crossword only four days earlier.

18. Fish, sort of cut on top, to have with wine (3,6)

Answer: RED MULLET (i.e. “fish”). Solution is MULLET (i.e. “sort of [hair]cut on top”) placed after or “with” RED (i.e. variety of “wine”).

19. Rivet or nut, crude (7)

Answer: ENGROSS (i.e. to hold interest or “rivet”). Solution is EN (i.e. “nut”, both printing lingo for a space half the width of an ‘m’ character) followed by GROSS (i.e. “crude”).

20. What can attract good fortune? (9,6)

Answer: HORSESHOE MAGNET. Clue plays on how MAGNETs “attract” certain metals, and how HORSESHOEs are believed to grant “good fortune”. You get the idea. Simple but nicely done.

22. Slight resistance restricts one working for solicitor (10)

Answer: PETITIONER (i.e. “solicitor”). Solution is PETITE (i.e. “slight”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of electrical “resistance”) all wrapped around or “restricting” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and ON (i.e. “working”), like so: PETIT(I-ON)E-R.

23. Drink brought back is allowed to turn cold (6)

Answer: COGNAC (i.e. “drink”). Solution is CAN (i.e. “is allowed to”), GO (i.e. a “turn”, say, in a game) and C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” used on water taps) all reversed (indicated by “brought back”), like so: C-OG-NAC.

25. Black veil must be worn (4)

Answer: EVIL (i.e. “black” – it’s valid, but let’s just say it’s not the first word I’d have reached for). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “must be worn”) of VEIL.

28. Sadly, tale erring: half is exaggerated (6,4,4)

Answer: LARGER THAN LIFE (i.e. “exaggerated”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of TALE ERRING HALF.

30. Repulsive boxer nursing ear, fifty years later (4-4)

Answer: PLUG-UGLY (i.e. “repulsive”). Solution is PUG (i.e. “boxer” dog) wrapped around or “nursing” LUG (slang for an “ear”). This is then followed by L (i.e. “[Roman numeral] fifty”) and Y (a recognised abbreviation of “years”), like so: P(LUG)UG-L-Y.

32. Gathers dance must be attraction for schoolkids (4,4)

Answer: TUCK SHOP (i.e. “attraction for schoolkids”). Solution is TUCKS (i.e. “gathers”) followed by HOP (i.e. “dance”).

34. End argument? Vis-à-vis league title, it might (4,10)

Answer: GOAL DIFFERENCE. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given how goal difference can factor into a league title if teams cannot be separated on points. The solution also comprises GOAL (i.e. “end” or aim) and DIFFERENCE (i.e. “argument”). Another nicely worked clue.

37. Old people’s home? Not exactly (4)

Answer: INCA (i.e. historic or “old people” of South America). Solution is IN (i.e. at “home”) followed by CA (i.e. “not exactly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “circa”).

38. What one may have seen in garden after storm and scoffed? (6)

Answer: NOSHED (i.e. “scoffed”). When written as NO SHED the solution also playfully satisfies “what one may have seen in garden after storm”. I rather liked this one when I finally twigged it.

39. Square in Melbourne where exhibition had finally earned money, we hear (4,6)

Answer: FAIR DINKUM (i.e. “square in Melbourne”, or an Aussie way of saying someone is very honest). Solution is FAIR (i.e. “exhibition”) followed by D (i.e. “had finally”, i.e. the last letter of “had”) and an homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of INCOME (i.e. “earned money”), like so: FAIR-D-INKUM.

43. I don’t know what could make the guy overemote (5,3,2,5)

Answer: YOU’VE GOT ME THERE (i.e. “I don’t know”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “what could make”) of THE GUY OVEREMOTE.

45. Irish church worker perhaps is into refreshing brew (3,4)

Answer: ICE BEER (i.e. “refreshing brew”). Solution is IR (a recognised abbreviation of “Irish”) wrapped around or having “into” it CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England) and BEE (i.e. “worker perhaps” – other flavours of bee are available), like so: I(CE-BEE)R.

47. Proceed with an awkward balancing act (4,5)

Answer: ROPE DANCE (i.e. “balancing act”, another name for a tightrope walk). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awkward”) of PROCEED and AN.

49. Summoning up nerve to dispense with the odd act of approval (7)

Answer: EVOKING (i.e. “summoning up”). Solution is EV (i.e. “nerve to dispense with the odd”, i.e. every other letter of NERVE) followed by OKING (i.e. “act of approval”).

51. Possible Italian tourist handbook with nothing for the English (5)

Answer: GUIDO (i.e. “possible Italian”, basically a bloke’s name). Solution is GUIDE (i.e. “tourist handbook”) with the E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) swapped “for” O (i.e. “nothing”), like so: GUID(E) => GUID(O). Hey, setters, here’s an idea. After IRINA a couple of weeks ago and GUIDO this week, it’s clear many of you are too lazy to rework awkward spots in your grids. Why bother when you can just reach for a book of foreign names, right? So why not double down and crutch on some Polish forenames next time? Lots of Ks, Ys and Zs in there to bail you out of a tight spot. Even the occasional vowel if you really need it. This was at least an easier get than IRINA, but still, bloody hell.

52. Christian doctrine somehow thriving without turning to ridicule (6,5)

Answer: VIRGIN BIRTH (i.e. “Christian doctrine”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of THRIVING wrapped around or placed “without” RIB (i.e. “to ridicule”) once reversed (indicated by “turning”), like so: VIRGIN(BIR)TH.

53. Fish caught by pair at bridge wrapped in leaves? (11)

Answer: ENGARLANDED (i.e. “wrapped in leaves”). Solution is GAR (i.e. a variety of “fish”) and LANDED (i.e. “caught”) both placed after or “by” E and N (i.e. “pair at bridge”, the card game, being recognised abbreviations of east and north respectively), like so: (E-N)-GAR-LANDED.

54. Family members briefly demanding seconds behind one’s back (7)

Answer: SISTERS (i.e. “family members”). Solution is STERN (i.e. “demanding”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “seconds”). This is all then placed “behind” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: (S’I)-STER-S.

55. Bled once cold increased (6)

Answer: CUPPED (i.e. “bled”, specifically through the use of heated cups to draw blood to the surface of the skin). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”, already covered) followed by UPPED (i.e. “increased”).

56. Suffocating outside for hockey team visiting a resort (8)

Answer: ASPHYXIA (i.e. “suffocating”). Solution is HY (i.e. “outside for hockey”, i.e. the first and last letters of “hockey”) and XI (i.e. “team”, specifically eleven expressed in Roman numerals) both placed in or “visiting” A and SPA (i.e. “resort”), like so: A-SP(HY-XI)A.

Down clues

1. Strongman’s deadly weapon, essential for Churchill’s preference to war? (7)

Answer: JAWBONE. Solution satisfies “strongman’s deadly weapon” – a Biblical reference to Samson picking up a donkey’s jawbone and using it to slay a thousand men, which, I can only imagine, was because all one thousand men were milling around the edges, each politely waiting their turn to be killed one-by-one like in some 1970s Kung Fu movie. Either that or the jawbone came from one of those highly radioactive donkeys you read about in The Bible, and Samson just left it in the middle of the soldiers’ camp for a few weeks. Or maybe, just maybe, and hear me out on this one… maybe it didn’t happen. Meanwhile, the solution also satisfies “essential for Churchill’s preference to war” – a reference to a quote from his speech at The White House on 26th June 1954 (according to Brewer’s): “to jaw-jaw is always better than to war-war”, though others have suggested what he really said was, “meeting jaw-to-jaw is better than war”.

2. Person with two jobs: second one mostly easier (11)

Answer: MOONLIGHTER (i.e. “person with two jobs”). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, short for a moment) followed by ONE once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), then LIGHTER (i.e. “easier”), like so: MO-ON-LIGHTER.

3. OMG: T-shirt’s ripped at far end (9)

Answer: RIGHTMOST (i.e. “at far end”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ripped”) of OMG T-SHIRT.

4. Make firm decision to accelerate (3,4,4,4)

Answer: PUT ONE’S FOOT DOWN. Solution satisfies “make firm decision” and “to accelerate”.

6. Flyer from member of Trinity finally spending term inside (8)

Answer: SONGBIRD (i.e. “flyer”). Solution is SON (i.e. “member of [Holy] Trinity”, being the Father, the Son and In The Hole He Goes) followed by G (i.e. “finally spending”, i.e. the last letter of “spending”) and BIRD (slang for “spending term inside” prison).

7. French film dealing with boy given egg dish but no starter (1,4,2,7)

Answer: À BOUT DE SOUFFLE (i.e. 1960 “French film” by Jean-Luc Goddard, also known as Breathless. It was remade in 1983, starring Richard Gere. I haven’t seen either, to be honest). Solution is ABOUT (i.e. “dealing with”) followed by DES (i.e. “boy’s” name) and SOUFFLE (i.e. “egg dish”) once the first letter has been removed (indicated by “but no starter”), like so: ABOUT-DES-OUFFLE.

8. Ace finding missing uniform narrowly avoided disaster? (1,4,5)

Answer: A NEAR THING (i.e. “narrowly avoided disaster”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards) followed by UNEARTHING (i.e. “finding”) once the U has been removed (indicated by “missing uniform” – “uniform” being U in the phonetic alphabet), like so: A-NEARTHING.

9. Needs one twice as new, not dated (4,3)

Answer: SINE DIE (i.e. “not dated” in Latin). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “as new”) of NEEDS and two Is (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one twice”).

10. What game’s been covered by New Statesman once? (5)

Answer: Jawaharlal NEHRU (i.e. Indian “statesman”, ignoring the misleading formatting. He died in 1964, which was a bit before my time). Solution is EH? (i.e. “what”, pardon?) and RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) both placed “by” or after N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: N-(EH-RU).

11. Now history lecturer’s beginning to get close, making improper advances? (11)

Answer: OVERLENDING (i.e. “making improper [bank] advances”). Solution is OVER (i.e. “now history”) followed by L (i.e. “lecturer’s beginning [letter]”) and ENDING (i.e. “close”). For all my bellyaching over some of this week’s clues, this was very nicely worked.

12. Watch from gallery, following instructions (8)

Answer: SPECTATE (i.e. “watch”). Solution is TATE (i.e. a famous art “gallery”) placed after or “following” SPEC (i.e. “instructions”, short for specification), like so: SPEC-TATE.

13. You’ll find that in bunker golf gets played more slowly (4)

Answer: GRIT (i.e. “you’ll find that in bunker”). Solution is G (“golf” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by RIT (i.e. “played more slowly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of the musical term “ritardando”). Another good un.

20. Requiring hotels for sons, go up and down Bray (6)

Answer: HEEHAW (i.e. to “bray”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is SEESAW (i.e. “go up and down”) with the two Ss (recognised abbreviations of “sons”) swapped “for” two Hs (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: (S)EE(S)AW => (H)EE(H)AW.

21. One getting back from post-war celebration in rage (7)

Answer: AVENGER (i.e. “one getting back”). Solution is VE (i.e. “post-war celebration”, specifically Victory in Europe day, 8th May 1945) placed “in” ANGER (i.e. “rage”), like so: A(VE)NGER.

22. Irrational, being behind old governor (6)

Answer: Pontious PILATE (i.e. “old governor” of Judaea who ordered the crucifixion of Jesus Christ). Solution is PI (an “irrational” number, being one that cannot be expressed as a numeric fraction) followed by LATE (i.e. “being behind”).

24. State miss “succeeded” – and recorded hit (10,5)

Answer: CALIFORNIA GIRLS (i.e. “recorded hit” by The Beach Boys). Solution is CALIFORNIA (i.e. US “state”) followed by GIRL (i.e. “miss”) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”). Did I ever mention how annoying it is to keep seeing the same solutions again and again in Times Jumbos? No? Hmm. Maybe someone should write something about it sometime.

26. Gangster, sweetheart and actor keeping house in disarray (3,4,3,4)

Answer: ALL OVER THE SHOP (i.e. “in disarray”). Solution is AL Capone (i.e. “gangster”) followed by LOVER (i.e. “sweetheart”), then THESP (i.e. “actor”, short for thespian) once wrapped around or “keeping” HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”), like so: AL-LOVER-THES(HO)P.

27. After vacation, liftboy chose uniform for school (6)

Answer: LYCEUM (i.e. “school”, from the Latin). “After vacation” indicates the solution is derived by removing all the middle letters of LIFTBOY CHOSE UNIFORM.

29. Master, not the head, meaning to grab large bible (7)

Answer: ENSLAVE (i.e. to “master” or dominate someone). Solution is SENSE (i.e. “meaning”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “not the head”) and the remainder wrapped around or “grabbing” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and AV (i.e. “bible”, specifically the Authorised Version, another name for the King James Bible), like so: ENS(L-AV)E.

Hang on a minute… (scans back through clues): Virgin Birth, Samson, member of Trinity, Pontius Pilate, the Authorised Version of The Bible, and don’t think for a minute that I missed SISTERS back there either. Oh God, it’s this setter again, isn’t it? Bloody hell. I was wondering why my fingertips were scorched by the end.

31. Be preoccupied and worried by predicament (6)

Answer: FIXATE (i.e. “be preoccupied”). Solution is ATE (i.e. “worried”) placed after or “by” FIX (i.e. “predicament”), like so: FIX-ATE.

33. Rye is one to down, reportedly, with strong wines (6,5)

Answer: CINQUE PORTS (i.e. “Rye is one”. Chosen by Edward the Confessor for their defensive locations, the Cinque Ports comprised five harbours in south-east England (Sandwich, Dover, Hythe, Romney and Hastings) and two towns (Rye and Winchelsea)). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of SINK (i.e. “to down”) followed by PORTS (i.e. “strong wines”). Another well-worked clue.

35. Shares figures related to rise, ie kind falsified no longer (6,5)

Answer: NIKKEI INDEX (the Japanese stock market, i.e. “shares figures”). Solution is KIN (i.e. “related”) reversed (indicated by “to rise” – this being a down clue) and followed by an anagram (indicated by “falsified”) of IE KIND, then EX (i.e. “no longer”), like so: NIK-KEIIND-EX.

36. When upset, brother gets poetic rhythm out of proportion (10)

Answer: ASYMMETRIC (i.e. “out of proportion”). Solution is AS (i.e. “when”) followed by MY (i.e. “brother”, both exclamations) once reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), then METRIC (i.e. “poetic rhythm”), like so: AS-YM-METRIC.

40. Character of eg hairdo quietly altered (9)

Answer: IDEOGRAPH (i.e. “character”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “altered”) of EG HAIRDO and P (i.e. “quietly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo).

41. What I Claudius was for old entertainer (8)

Answer: Max BYGRAVES (i.e. “old entertainer”). When written as BY [Robert] GRAVES the solution also satisfies “what I Claudius was”.

42. Italian birds seen around late autumn (8)

Answer: GENOVESE (i.e. “Italian”, Genoa is also known as Genova). Solution is GEESE (i.e. “birds”) wrapped “around” NOV (i.e. “late autumn”, short for November), like so: GE(NOV)ESE.

44. The works outing in one? (7)

Answer: OMNIBUS. Solution satisfies “the works”, and, playfully, “outing in one”, referring to the old vehicle. Another good un.

46. Don’t take ay extra personnel to north Wales region (7)

Answer: RHONDDA (i.e. “Wales region”). Solution is ADD NO HR (i.e. “don’t take any extra personnel” – HR being short for Human Resources) all reversed (indicated by “to north” – this being a down clue), like so: RH-ON-DDA.

48. RAM that’s needed to operate computer disk (5)

Answer: DRIVE. Solution satisfies to “ram”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation, and also “that’s needed to operate computer disk”.

50. Standard bearer who gaily shows up (4)

Answer: IAGO (i.e. “standard bearer” of William Shakespeare’s Othello). “Shows” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: WH(O GAI)LY.