A decent puzzle this week, which I’d have cracked sooner had I spelt FLUORESCE correctly. Oh well, there are more important things going on in the world at the moment. If you are reading this while in self-imposed exile or, worse still, suffering the effects of coronavirus, hang in there. On the other hand, if you are reading this while sitting on furniture made entirely of bags of rice and pasta because there’s literally nowhere else left in your house to stuff them, consider donating a few bags of your newfound wealth to a local food bank to even up the score a little. Score a few karma points, eh?

Okay, preachy public service announcement over. Now for some me-time. If you’ve got a recent Times Jumbo Cryptic that’s got you jiggered, then my Just For Fun page could be just the thing you need. While you’re here, I’ve got a bunch of book reviews should you suddenly find yourself with a lot of time on your immaculately clean hands. If you’d like to give an old alter-ego a boost, then I’ve also got a story of mine over thisaway.

Alrighty then. To the answers! Keep well, peeps.

LP

P.S. A big thank you to Sue and Steve, both regulars in the comments, for clearing up the mystery behind 1426’s clue for 17a. Turns out the printed clue was incorrect, and the editor was rather perplexed as to how it happened!

Across clues

1. Unreliable old man nicks tune we added (4-7)

Answer: FAIR-WEATHER (i.e. “unreliable”). Solution is FATHER (i.e. “old man”) wrapped around or “nicking” AIR (i.e. “tune”) and WE, like so: F(AIR-WE)ATHER.

7. Holland House fuel extract (6,5)

Answer: ORANGE JUICE (i.e. “extract”). Solution is ORANGE (i.e. “Holland [royal] House”) followed by JUICE (i.e. “fuel”).

13. One daughter inspires tango performed on stage (5)

Answer: ACTED (i.e. “performed on stage”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “one” in playing cards) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) wrapped around or “inspiring” T (“tango” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: AC(T)E-D.

14. Risk grabbing Romeo’s ulcer (7)

Answer: CHANCRE (i.e. “ulcer”). Solution is CHANCE (i.e. “risk”) wrapped around or “grabbing” R (“Romeo” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: CHANC(R)E. One gotten from the wordplay and a quick brute force of my Chambers.

15. Dodging a very old paper ball (9)

Answer: AVOIDANCE (i.e. “dodging”). Solution is A followed by V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), then O (ditto “old”), then I (i.e. “[British news]paper”) and finally DANCE (i.e. “ball”).

16. Scary spinner’s natural bent among reserves (9)

Answer: TARANTULA (i.e. “scary spinner”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “bent”) of NATURAL which is placed “among” TA (i.e. “reserves”, specifically the Territorial Army), like so: T(ARANTUL)A.

17. One large boy struggled to suppress second rash (3-7)

Answer: ILL-ADVISED (i.e. “rash”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), then LAD (i.e. “boy”), then VIED (i.e. “struggled”) once it has been wrapped around or “suppressing” S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”), like so: I-L-LAD-VI(S)ED.

20. Right court for controlling scrap – thanks to this (4,3)

Answer: RIOT ACT (i.e. “controlling scrap – thanks to this”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) and CT (ditto “court”) wrapped around or “controlling” IOTA (i.e. “scrap”), like so: R-(IOTA)-CT.

22. Leaves after wasted meal (4,3)

Answer: HIGH TEA (i.e. “meal”). Solution is TEA (i.e. “leaves”) placed “after” HIGH (i.e. “wasted”, as in a drug high).

24. European allowed to conceal crew’s hint (7)

Answer: ELEMENT (i.e. “hint”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and LET (i.e. “allowed”) once it has been wrapped around or “concealed” MEN (i.e. “crew”), like so: E-LE(MEN)T.

25. Weakling must have very little money in principle (8)

Answer: RUDIMENT (i.e. “principle”). Solution is RUNT (i.e. “weakling”) wrapped around or “having” DIME (i.e. “very little money”), like so: RU(DIME)NT.

26. Harry Potter hurt nine, which drivers sometimes can do (5-5,4)

Answer: THREE-POINT TURN (i.e. “which drivers sometimes can do”). “Harry” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of POTTER HURT NINE.

28. What scouts do in playground before church (5)

Answer: RECCE (i.e. “what scouts do”). Solution is REC (i.e. “playground”) followed by CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England).

29. Trained pupil briefly to stop the old city slicker (6)

Answer: YUPPIE (i.e. “city slicker”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “trained”) of PUPIL once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), which is then placed in or “stopping” YE (i.e. “the old”, as in ye olde “the”), like so: Y(UPPI)E.

30. Star Glaswegian recalled fine area around Halifax (4,6)

Answer: NOVA SCOTIA (i.e. “area around Halifax” – Halifax being its capital). Solution is NOVA (i.e. “star”) followed by SCOT (i.e. “Glaswegian”) and AI (i.e. excellent or “fine”, i.e. A1), the latter reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: NOVA-SCOT-IA.

33. It helps in speech to emphasise saint (6,4)

Answer: STRESS MARK (i.e. “it helps in speech”). Solution is STRESS (i.e. “to emphasise”) followed by MARK (i.e. “saint”).

35. A sample of polar Canada’s secrets (6)

Answer: ARCANA (i.e. “secrets”). “A sample of” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: POL(AR CANA)DA’S.

37. Peace advocate captivates Republican horde (5)

Answer: DROVE (i.e. “horde”). Solution is DOVE (i.e. “peace advocate”) wrapped around or “captivating” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”), like so: D(R)OVE.

39. Spreading scandal, excited at telling it three times (6-8)

Answer: TITTLE-TATTLING (i.e. “spreading scandal”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “excited”) of AT TELLING IT and, T, T and T (i.e. “three times” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”).

41. Archipelago short of popular pineapples (8)

Answer: GRENADES (i.e. “pineapples”, given their resemblence). Solution is GRENADINES (i.e. “archipelago”) with the IN removed (indicated by “short of popular”).

44. It’s a pride issue, working with copper in library (4,3)

Answer: LION CUB (i.e. “it’s a pride issue” – a pack of lions being a “pride”, and “issue” taken to mean young offspring). Solution is ON (i.e. “working”) and CU (chemical symbol of “copper”) placed “in” LIB (a recognised abbreviation of “library”), like so: LI(ON-CU)B.

45. Intended fund without name ending in failure (7)

Answer: FIANCEE (i.e. one’s “intended” in marriage). Solution is FINANCE (i.e. “fund”) with the first N removed (indicated by “without name”, N being a recognised abbreviation of “name”) and the remainder followed by E (i.e. “ending in failure”, i.e. the last letter of “failure”), like so: FIANCE-E.

46. Cutting tree I found in British Columbia (7)

Answer: ACERBIC (i.e. “cutting”). Solution is ACER (i.e. “tree”) followed by I once it has been placed or “found in” BC (a recognised abbreviation of “British Columbia”), like so: ACER-B(I)C.

47. Like some bread with jam and seeds (10)

Answer: WHOLEGRAIN (i.e. “like some bread”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by HOLE (i.e. “jam”, both taken to mean bad situations) and GRAIN (i.e. “seeds”).

49. Cleaner not able initially to charge about one pound (9)

Answer: NAILBRUSH (i.e. “cleaner”). Solution is N and A (i.e. “not able to begin with”, i.e. the first letters of “not” and “able”) and RUSH (i.e. “charge”) placed “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and LB (a recognised abbreviation of a “pound” of weight), like so: N-A-(I-LB)-RUSH.

53. Send out light roasted course: fabulous being back to eat it! (9)

Answer: FLUORESCE (i.e. “send out light”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “roasted”) of COURSE which is placed in or “eaten” by ELF (i.e. “fabulous being”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: FL(UORESC)E.

54. Star gets into bed for a smoke (7)

Answer: CHEROOT (i.e. “a smoke”). Solution is HERO (i.e. “star”) which is placed or “gets into” COT (i.e. “bed”), like so: C(HERO)OT.

55. Swimmer’s about to perish, heading west (5)

Answer: EIDER (i.e. “swimmer” – a little too far down the role profile for my liking, but heigh-ho). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) and DIE (i.e. “to perish”) both reversed (indicated by “heading west” – this being an across clue), like so: EID-ER.

56. Enthuses, perhaps evading gym and old dishes Henry left (11)

Answer: RHAPSODIES (i.e. “enthuses”). Solution is PERHAPS with the PE removed (indicated by “evading gym” – PE being a recognised abbreviation of Physical Education) and the remainder followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and DISHES once the H has been removed (indicated by “Henry left” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a measurement that’s currently flavour of the month for setters), like so: RHAPS-O-DISES.

57. Ditch tongue, heading off for Happy Eater? (11)

Answer: TRENCHERMAN (i.e. “happy eater” – a trencher is a plate or platter). Solution is TRENCH (i.e. “ditch”) followed by GERMAN (i.e. language or “tongue”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “heading off”), like so: TRENCH-ERMAN. Not a word I’m familiar with, despite my Mr Creosote-esque appetite. I like it.

Down clues

1. Note shorter, less singular person using flannel (9)

Answer: FLATTERER (i.e. “person using flannel” – an informal word for flattery). Solution is FLAT (i.e. “note”) followed by TERSER (i.e. “shorter”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “less singular” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “singular”), like so: FLAT-TERER.

2. Job for painter inside 8 (8,10)

Answer: INTERIOR DECORATION (i.e. “job for painter”). The solution to 8d is AWARD. The solution is INTERIOR (i.e. “inside”) followed by DECORATION (i.e. “award”).

3. Extra new stretch (5)

Answer: WIDEN (i.e. “stretch”). Solution is WIDE (i.e. “extra” run in cricket awarded when the bowler buggers up) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”).

4. Story by some about constant profession (11)

Answer: ACCOUNTANCY (i.e. “profession”). Solution is ACCOUNT (i.e. “story”) followed by ANY (i.e. “some”) once it has been placed “about” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”), like so: ACCOUNT-AN(C)Y.

5. Each had awful athlete’s foot and pain at the other end (8)

Answer: HEADACHE (i.e. “pain at the other end” of the body from the feet). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of EACH HAD followed by E (i.e. “athlete’s foot”, i.e. the last letter of “athlete”), like so: HEADACH-E.

6. Relax here, startling boss (7,5)

Answer: ROCKING CHAIR (i.e. “relax here”). Solution is ROCKING (i.e. “startling”) followed by CHAIR (i.e. “boss” of a committee).

7. Expose what’s in envelope that’s given to the press (4,6)

Answer: OPEN LETTER. Solution satisfies “expose what’s in envelope” and “that’s given to the press”.

8. Place for nursing trophy (5)

Answer: AWARD (i.e. “trophy”). When written as A WARD the solution also satisfies “place for nursing”.

9. I love angler somehow catching large marine creature (11)

Answer: GLOBIGERINA (i.e. “marine creature”, and a little diddy one too). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of I, O (i.e. “love”, i.e. a zero score in tennis) and ANGLER all wrapped around or “catching” BIG, like so: GLO(BIG)ERINA. The wordplay was reasonably clear, but needed most of the intersecting letters completed and a quick brute force of Chambers to nail it.

10. Reason obscure hero hoards brilliant books? (9)

Answer: JUDGEMENT (i.e. “reason”). Solution is JUDE (“obscure hero”, Saint Jude I guess – one for the theologians) wrapped around or “hoarding” GEM (i.e. “brilliant”) and followed by NT (i.e. “books”, specifically the New Testament of The Bible), like so: JUD(GEM)E-NT.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mick in the comments for clearing up JUDE, being a reference to Thomas Hardy’s novel Jude the Obscure. – LP]

11. Where to find barmen of different types? (4)

Answer: INNS (i.e. “where to find barmen”). A guess, if I’m honest, as I can’t figure “of different types” at the moment. If I or a kind commenter has a brainwave then I’ll update the post.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mrs D and Mick for quickly clarifying this one. “Barmen” refers to barristers who are called to the English bar when they qualify and join one of the four INNS of Court. Thanks both! – LP]

12. River’s banks eroded constantly (4)

Answer: EVER (i.e. “constantly”). Solution is the “River” SEVERN with the first and last letters removed (indicated by “banks eroded”).

18. Quirky odd bureaucrat is almost silent proof of falsehood (8,2,8)

Answer: REDUCTIO AD ABSURDUM (i.e. “proof of falsehood”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “quirky”) of ODD BUREAUCRAT IS followed by DUMB (i.e. “silent”) once its final letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: REDUCTIOADABSUR-DUM. Not being a Latin scholar, this took a number of intersecting letters solving before I had enough hooks to perform another quick brute force of my Chambers.

19. Very old joke packs theatre (5,3)

Answer: STONE AGE (i.e. “very old”). Solution is ONE (i.e. “joke”, as in “did you hear the one about…”) placed in or “packing” STAGE (i.e. “theatre”), like so: ST(ONE)AGE.

21. Idle, the writer’s tucking into drink with sons (7)

Answer: AIMLESS (i.e. “idle”). Solution is I’M (i.e. “the writer is”, taken from the point of view of the setter) “tucked into” ALE (i.e. “drink”) and followed by S and S (i.e. “two sons”, S being a recognised abbreviation of “son”), like so: A(I’M)LE-S-S.

23. Software run at cricket ground’s OK (8)

Answer: APPROVAL (i.e. “OK”). Solution is APP (i.e. “software”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” in a number of ball games) and OVAL (i.e. “cricket ground”).

27. Impressionist, perhaps one able to lift drink (8)

Answer: APERITIF (i.e. “drink”). Solution is APER (i.e. “impressionist, perhaps”, as in one who apes another) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and FIT (i.e. “able”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “to lift” – this being a down clue), like so: APER-I-TIF.

28. Engineers resolve to move (8)

Answer: RESETTLE (i.e. “to move”). Solution is RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by SETTLE (i.e. “resolve”).

31. Measure port imbibed by conservative Anglicans (7)

Answer: CADENCE (i.e. “measure”). Solution is ADEN (i.e. “port” – chalk one to my Bradfords here as there are thousands of ports to choose from) which is placed in or “imbibed by” C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) and CE (i.e. “Anglicans”, specifically the Church of England), like so: C-(ADEN)-CE.

32. Sublime climb across middle of liner in river (12)

Answer: TRANSCENDENT (i.e. “sublime”). Solution is ASCEND (i.e. “climb”) wrapped around or placed “across” N (i.e. “middle [letter] of liner”) and then itself placed “in” TRENT (i.e. “river”), like so: TR(A(N)SCEND)ENT.

34. Broken down? Police stopped, after spending hours (11)

Answer: METABOLISED (i.e. digested or “broken down”). Solution is MET (i.e. “police”, specifically the Metropolitan Police Service of London) followed by ABOLISHED (i.e. “stopped”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “spending hours” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “hours”), like so: MET-ABOLISED.

36. Answer cut from article about avoiding “hippy” type of language (4-7)

Answer: AFRO-ASIATIC (i.e. “type of language”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”) followed by FROM once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), then A (i.e. “article”, such as words like ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’), then SCIATIC (i.e. “hippy” type – a sneaky one, this, “hippy” referring to the area of the body – the sciatic nerve stems from the base of the spine. I’m not keen, but my Bradfords wins out on this one) once the first C has been removed (indicated by “about avoiding” – C being a recognised abbreviation of “circa”, or “about”), like so: A-FRO-A-SIATIC. Phew!

38. 150 eastern experts accepting smuggled licences (10)

Answer: CLEARANCES (i.e. “licences”). Solution is CL (i.e. “[Roman numerals] 150”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”), then ACES (i.e. “experts”) once it has been wrapped around or “accepted” RAN (i.e. “smuggled”, think gun-running), like so: CL-E-A(RAN)CES.

40. Do battle to secure instruments (4,5)

Answer: LOCK HORNS. Solution satisfies “do battle” and “to lock [musical] instruments”.

42. Cash in car interpreted as sweetener (9)

Answer: SACCHARIN (i.e. “sweetener” – can be spelled with or without an ‘e’). “Interpreted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CASH IN CAR.

43. Head man from Krakow’s supporter in plot (8)

Answer: BEANPOLE (i.e. “supporter in [garden] plot”). Solution is BEAN (i.e. “head”, an informal name backed up by my Chambers) followed by POLE (i.e. “man from Krakow”). Not an easy one when you’ve got _E_N_O_E to work with.

48. Fancy patrons wasting time! (5)

Answer: GUESS (i.e. “fancy”). Solution is GUESTS (i.e. “patrons”) with the T removed (indicated by “wasting time” – T being a recognised abbreviation of “time”). Another win for my Bradfords as my brain could not equate “fancy” to “guess”. Still doesn’t, if I’m honest. It’s getting late, that’s my excuse.

50. Part of speech backed up English note (5)

Answer: BREVE (i.e. “[musical] note”). Solution is VERB (i.e. “part of speech”) reversed (indicated by “backed up” – this being a down clue) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: BREV-E.

51. Starts to approach from access road a long way off (4)

Answer: AFAR (i.e. “a long way off”). “Starts to” indicates the solution is derived by taking the initial letters of APPROACH FROM ACCESS ROAD.

52. Each year involves leading intermediate stage (4)

Answer: PUPA (i.e. “intermediate stage”). Solution is PA (i.e. “each year”, being a recognised abbreviation of “per annum”) wrapped around or “involving” UP (i.e. “leading”), like so: P(UP)A.

If last week’s puzzle had a people and places mini-theme going on, this week’s seems to be flora and fauna. Well, fruits and birds. And colours. Anyway, an easier time of it was had, which made for a decidedly less grumpy alter-ego.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. If you’ve got previous Jumbos that have given you grief, then my Just For Fun page might help you. I’ve got some other odds and ends knocking around, so it’s not all crosswords, crosswords, crosswords. If book reviews are your thing, then I’ve got a few over thisaway. If you’d like a story of mine to get you through a spare half hour, then head over thataway.

In the meantime, we’ll head to the answers. TTFN.

LP

Across clues

1. Singer, one acknowledging applause before time? (9)

Answer: BOWERBIRD (i.e. “singer”. It’s a bird, but I can’t see much to qualify it as a songbird.) Solution is BOWER (i.e. “one acknowledging applause”) followed by BIRD (i.e. “time [spent in prison]”).

6. Soft cheese a woman takes in bed (7)

Answer: RICOTTA (i.e. “soft cheese”). Solution is RITA (i.e. “woman”) wrapped around or “taking in” COT (i.e. “bed”), like so: RI(COT)TA.

10. Ways a girl possibly sought at first to capture hearts (5)

Answer: PATHS (i.e. “ways”). Solution is PAT (i.e. “a girl possibly”, specifically a shortened form of Patricia. The “possibly” bit indicates that Pat can also be short for Patrick, a boy’s name) and S (i.e. “sought at first”, i.e. the first letter of  “sought”) wrapped around or “capturing” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hearts” used in some card games), like so: PAT-(H)-S.

13. Vehicle I’d used to carry books? It carries blood! (7)

Answer: CAROTID (i.e. “it carries blood”). Solution is CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) and I’D wrapped around or “carrying” OT (i.e. “books”, specifically the Old Testament of The Bible), like so: CAR-(OT)-I’D.

14. Shade encountered in Milanese piazzas (5)

Answer: SEPIA (i.e. “shade”). “In” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: MILANE(SE PIA)ZZAS.

15. Old boxer given permit that’s legally transferrable (9)

Answer: ALIENABLE (i.e. “that’s legally transferrable”). Solution is Muhammad ALI (i.e. “old boxer”) followed by ENABLE (i.e. “permit”).

16. It’s unremarkable, but prep school pupils feared having it? (7,2,5,4,5)

Answer: NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT. Solution satisfies “unremarkable” and “prep school pupils feared having it”.

17. Run into pole – fast! (6)

Answer: STARVE (i.e. “fast”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) placed “into” STAVE (i.e. “pole”), like so: STA(R)VE.

18. Projecting column I coated in stucco (8)

Answer: PILASTER (i.e. “projecting column”). Solution is I placed or “coated in” PLASTER (i.e. “stucco”), like so: P(I)LASTER.

19. No one’s pad in Albert Square is so disgusting (7)

Answer: NOISOME (i.e. “disgusting”). Solution is NO followed by I’S (i.e “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) and ‘OME (i.e. “pad in Albert Square”, i.e. the word HOME with the aitch dropped like what them cock-er-neys on EastEnders do, innit?).

22. Money suitable for securing game and starchy food (10)

Answer: BREADFRUIT (i.e. “starchy food”). Solution is BREAD (i.e. “money”) followed by FIT (i.e. “suitable”) once it has been wrapped around or “securing” RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union), like so: BREAD-F(RU)IT.

23. European woman, one coming ashore with bag (12)

Answer: NETHERLANDER (i.e. “European”). Solution is HER (i.e. “woman”) and LANDER (i.e. “one coming ashore”) placed after NET (i.e. “bag”, both words for obtaining stuff), like so: NET-HER-LANDER.

27. Place where a stripper briefly appears? (5)

Answer: LOCUS (i.e. “place”). Solution is LOCUST (i.e. “stripper”) with the last letter trimmed (indicated by “briefly appears”).

29. Caustic wordplay by man of breeding (7)

Answer: PUNGENT (i.e. “caustic”). Solution is PUN (i.e. “wordplay”) followed by GENT (i.e. “man of breeding”).

30. Prevent retiring daughter concealing her archaeological find (8)

Answer: POTSHERD, which are shards of old pottery (i.e. “archaeological find”). Solution is STOP (i.e. “prevent”) reversed (indicated by “retiring”) and D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”) wrapped around or “concealing” HER, like so: POTS-(HER)-D. One I remembered from a previous puzzle, making this an easier get.

32. A French lad ringing about a lack of logical thinking (8)

Answer: UNREASON (i.e. “lack of logical thinking”). Solution is UN (i.e. “A French”, i.e. the masculine form of “a” in French) and SON (i.e. “lad”) wrapped around or “ringing” RE (i.e. “about” – think email replies) and A, like so: UN-(RE-A)-SON.

34. Cooked most tropical fruit (7)

Answer: APRICOT (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of TROPICAL once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “most”).

36. Strip firearm (5)

Answer: RIFLE. Solution satisfies “[to] strip” and “firearm”.

39. Vehicle thief collects favourite political candidate from afar? (12)

Answer: CARPETBAGGER (i.e. “political candidate from afar” – Donald Trump would be a good example of one, given he isn’t really seen as a Republican). Solution is CAR (i.e. “vehicle”) and BAGGER (i.e. “thief”) wrapped around or “collecting” PET (i.e. “favourite”), like so: CAR-(PET)-BAGGER.

41. Belittled and frustrated, the writer’s at home in this (10)

Answer: DIMINISHED (i.e. “belittled”). Solution is DISHED (i.e. “frustrated”, as in having outwitted or defeated an opponent) wrapped around (indicated by “…in this”) I’M IN (i.e. “the writer’s at home”, taken from the point of view of the setter), like so: D(I’M-IN)ISHED.

44. Liberal academic given employment (7)

Answer: PROFUSE (i.e. “liberal”). Solution is PROF (i.e. “academic”, specifically a shorted form of “professor”) followed by USE (i.e. “employment”).

46. The domain one abandoned sadly for Macbeth’s Cawdor? (8)

Answer: THANEDOM (i.e. “the domain… [of] …Macbeth’s Cawdor). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of THE DOMAIN once the I has been removed (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one abandoned”). Nicely worked.

48. Present old footballer with ring in retirement (6)

Answer: BESTOW (i.e. “present”). Solution is George BEST (i.e. “old footballer”) followed by W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and O (i.e. “ring”) once these latter two have been reversed (indicated by “in retirement”), like so: BEST-O-W.

50. Become agitated carelessly removing one’s clothing from washing machine? (3,4,8,2,1,5)

Answer: GET ONES KNICKERS IN A TWIST. Solution satisfies “become agitated” and “carelessly removing one’s clothing from washing machine”. Also descriptive of me most weekends when I’m putting these posts together.

53. Surprisingly happy with old car and rejected books (9)

Answer: APOCRYPHA (i.e. “rejected books”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “surprisingly”) of HAPPY, O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and CAR.

54. Hang about in south east resort before run (5)

Answer: HOVER (i.e. “hang about”). Solution is HOVE (i.e. “south east resort”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games).

55. Popular view voiced by Republican, a provoker of action (7)

Answer: INCITER (i.e. “provoker of action”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by CITE (i.e. “view voiced”, i.e. a homophone of SIGHT) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”).

56. High-flyer changes sides – what a bore (5)

Answer: EAGRE (i.e. a “bore” or sudden rise of the tide in a river). Solution is EAGLE (i.e. “high-flyer”) with the L replaced with R (indicated by “changes sides”, L and R being recognised abbreviations of “left” and “right” respectively).

57. For a seamstress they’re not entirely unnecessary (7)

Answer: NEEDLES. Solution is NEEDLESS (i.e. “unnecessary”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “not entirely”).

58. Assuasive English gang girl that is not without heart (9)

Answer: EMOLLIENT (i.e. “assuasive”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MOLL (i.e. “gang girl”) then IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. …um… “i.e.”) and NT (i.e. “not without heart”, i.e. the word NOT with the middle letter removed).

Down clues

1. Meaty product of Berkshire philosopher? (5)

Answer: BACON. Solution satisfies “meaty product” and “Berkshire philosopher”, namely Francis BACON.

2. Best to reconnoitre plot? Nothing could be more awful (5-4,8)

Answer: WORST-CASE SCENARIO (i.e. “nothing could be more awful”). Clue plays on how “reconnoitring” something is to CASE it, and how a “plot” can be a SCENARIO. Within the context of the clue, if “nothing could be more awful” when reconnoitring a plot, it could be described as a WORST-CASE SCENARIO. Clunky, but you get the idea. Ish.

3. Recovered stored information? It’s what the Lab did? (9)

Answer: RETRIEVED. Solution satisfies “recovered stored information” and “what the Lab did”. A bit sneaky from the setter here. “Lab” is a recognised abbreviation of the Canadian region of Labrador. You also get Labrador retrievers. Join the dots.

4. Once disgraceful gibe delivered in pub (6)

Answer: INDIGN (i.e. a poetic or archaic word (indicated by “once”) for “disgraceful”). Solution is DIG (i.e. “gibe”) placed or “delivered” in INN, like so: IN(DIG)N.

5. Girl’s status and character (11)

Answer: DISPOSITION (i.e. “character”). When written as DI’S POSITION, the solution also satisfies “girl’s status”.

6. Final send-off for heretic connected with bank (8)

Answer: RIPARIAN (i.e. “connected with [river] bank”). Solution is RIP (i.e. “final send-off”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Rest In Peace) followed by ARIAN (i.e. “heretic”). Not a word that leapt out at me. A brute force of my Chambers was needed once I’d gotten all the intersecting letters.

7. Bird identified by lieutenant, one wearing outdoor garment (4,3)

Answer: COAL TIT (i.e. “bird”). Solution is LT (a recognised abbreviation of “lieutenant”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “wearing” COAT (i.e. “outdoor garment”), like so: COA(LT-I)T.

8. Her chap set out to secure current post at school (11)

Answer: TEACHERSHIP (i.e. “post at school”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of HER CHAP SET wrapped around or “securing” I (a recognised abbreviation of “[electrical] current”), like so: TEACHERSH(I)P.

9. A former country with popular old king? It’s what Anatolia was (4,5)

Answer: ASIA MINOR (i.e. “it’s what Anatolia was”). Solution is A followed by SIAM (i.e. “former country”), then IN (i.e. “popular”), then O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and R (ditto Rex, i.e. “king”).

10. Judge given notes in largely Carthaginian language (7)

Answer: PUNJABI (i.e. “language”). Solution is J (a recognised abbreviation of “judge”) and A and B (i.e. both musical “notes”) placed “in” PUNIC (i.e. “Carthaginian”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “largely”), like so: PUN(J-A-B)I.

11. Forbidden book, not acceptable in Chinese philosophy (5)

Answer: TABOO (i.e. “forbidden”). Solution is BOOK with the OK removed (indicated by “not acceptable”) and the remainder placed “in” TAO (i.e. “Chinese philosophy”), like so: TA(BO)O.

12. Lover demanding attention in parts of the West (10)

Answer: SWEETHEART (i.e. “lover”). Solution is EAR (i.e. “attention”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “parts of”) of THE WEST, like so: SWEETH(EAR)T.

17. Prophetess lives over by the lake (5)

Answer: SIBYL (i.e. “prophetess”). Solution is IS (i.e. “lives”) reversed (indicated by “over”) and followed by BY, then L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: SI-BY-L.

20. A Scottish honour, tho Forester held it, unexpectedly (5,2,3,7)

Answer: ORDER OF THE THISTLE (i.e. “a Scottish honour”). “Unexpectedly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THO FORESTER HELD IT.

21. Loses footing absorbing last of info for Cambridge exam (6)

Answer: TRIPOS (i.e. “Cambridge exam”). Solution is TRIPS (i.e. “loses footing”) wrapped around or “absorbing” O (i.e. “last of info”, i.e. the last letter of “info”), like so: TRIP(O)S.

24. Secure by intimidation in text or tweet (6)

Answer: EXTORT (i.e. “secure by intimidation”). “In” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: T(EXT OR T)WEET.

25. Hate airline coming over house by river (5)

Answer: ABHOR (i.e. “hate”). Solution is BA (i.e. “airline”, specifically British Airways) reversed (indicated by “coming over”) and followed by HO (a recognised abbreviation of “house”) and R (ditto “river”), like so: AB-HO-R.

26. Lavishly supply short man with alcoholic drink (6)

Answer: REGALE (i.e. “lavishly supply”). Solution is REG (i.e. “short man”, specifically a shortened form of Reginald) followed by ALE (i.e. “alcoholic drink”).

28. Kid influenced by power or moral force, we hear (5)

Answer: SUEDE (i.e. “kid [leather]”). “We hear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of SWAYED (i.e. “influenced by power or moral force”).

31. Shabby-sounding provider of starch in Scotland (6)

Answer: TATTIE (i.e. “provider of starch in Scotland”, namely a Scots word for potato). “Sounding” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of TATTY (i.e. “shabby”).

33. Singer’s dark period buffeted by wind (11)

Answer: NIGHTINGALE (i.e. “singer” – birds again, but at least this one is known for its song). Solution is NIGHT (i.e. “dark period”) followed by IN GALE (i.e. “buffeted by wind”).

35. Decorative work of one in hard-wearing trousers on lake (11)

Answer: CHINOISERIE (i.e. “decorative work”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed “in” CHINOS (i.e. “hard-wearing trousers”) and followed by ERIE (one of the Great “Lakes”), like so: CHINO(I)S-ERIE. Another I remembered from a previous puzzle, if I’m honest, making this an easier get than it ought to have been.

37. Finance demise that hurt (5)

Answer: ENDOW (i.e. “finance”). Solution is END (i.e. “demise”) followed by OW! (i.e. “that hurt”).

38. Rascal initially scaring head girl? (10)

Answer: SCAPEGRACE (i.e. “rascal”). Solution is S (i.e. “initially scaring”, i.e. the first letter of “scaring”) followed by CAPE (i.e. “head”, as in the geographical feature) and GRACE (i.e. “girl”). Can’t say I’ve seen this word out in the wild. I like it!

40. British painter’s fancy brooch (9)

Answer: BREASTPIN (i.e. “brooch”). Solution is BR (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “fancy”) of PAINTER’S, like so: BR-EASTPIN.

42. The writer would clean it out just the same (9)

Answer: IDENTICAL (i.e. “just the same”). Solution is I’D (i.e. “the writer would”, taken from the point of view of the setter) followed by an anagram (indicated by “out”) of CLEAN IT, like so: I’D-ENTICAL.

43. Books about court actions? (8)

Answer: RESERVES (i.e. “books” a table in a restaurant, for example). Solution is RE (i.e. “about” – again, think email replies) followed by SERVES (i.e. “[tennis] court actions”).

45. Disconcert peacekeepers, at no time raising resistance (7)

Answer: UNNERVE (i.e. “disconcert”). Solution is UN (i.e. “peacekeepers”, specifically the United Nations) followed by NEVER (i.e. “at no time”) once the R (a recognised abbreviation of electrical “resistance”) has been “raised” a couple of notches, this being a down clue, like so: UN-NERVE.

47. Everyone taking in salmon and strong drink (7)

Answer: ALCOHOL (i.e. “strong drink”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “everyone”) wrapped around or “taking in” COHO (i.e. a Pacific “salmon”), like so: AL(COHO)L.

49. A shade 4, changing second name to Oscar (6)

Answer: INDIGO (i.e. “a shade”). The solution to 4d is INDIGN. Solution is 4d with the “second” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”) changed to O (“Oscar” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: INDIG(N) => INDIG(O).

51. Heavyweight key locking up husband’s skimpy beachwear (5)

Answer: THONG (i.e. “skimpy beachwear”). Solution is TON (i.e. “heavyweight”) and G (a musical “key”) wrapped around or “locking up” H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: T(H)ON-G. I’m more of a mankini fella myself, being a little self-conscious.

52. Card call-girl carries round (5)

Answer: TAROT (i.e. “card”). Solution is TART (i.e. “call-girl”) wrapped around or “carrying” O (i.e. “round”), like so: TAR(O)T.

Rubbish.

Links: Just For Fun. Some book reviews. Story.

LP

Across clues

1. Defenceless but not hurt when horse flees (7)

Answer: UNARMED (i.e. “defenceless”). Solution is UNHARMED (i.e. “not hurt”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “when horse flees” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “horse”).

5. Romp curtailed by French girlfriend in city (7)

Answer: LARAMIE (i.e. a “city” in Wyoming, USA. A city with a population of barely 30,000 people according to the last census.) Solution is LARK (i.e. “romp”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “curtailed”) and followed by AMIE (i.e. “French girlfriend”, i.e. the French for “girlfriend”), like so: LAR-AMIE. A sign of the rubbish to come.

9. Friend across pond welcomes celebrated flyer (7)

Answer: BUSTARD (i.e. “flyer”). Solution is BUD (i.e. “friend across pond”, referring to how Americans stereotypically call their friends buds or buddies) wrapped around or “welcoming” STAR (i.e. “celebrated”), like so: BU(STAR)D.

13. Maiden is deity accepting writer not well directed (11)

Answer: MISGOVERNED (i.e. “not well directed”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “maiden” used in cricket) followed by IS, then GOD (i.e. “deity”) once it has been wrapped around or “accepting” Jules VERNE (i.e. “writer”), like so: M-IS-GO(VERNE)D.

14. Back in first of several additional residences (6,5)

Answer: SECOND HOMES (i.e. “additional residences”). Solution is SECOND (i.e. to “back”) followed by HOME (i.e. “in”, i.e. “at home”) and S (i.e. “first of several”, i.e. the first letter of “several”).

15. Rocket incorporating new submarine detection system (5)

Answer: SONAR (i.e. “submarine detection system”). Solution is SOAR (i.e. “rocket”) wrapped around or “incorporating” N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: SO(N)AR.

16. Composer admits small offence to French king (7)

Answer: Gioachino ROSSINI (i.e. “composer”). Solution is ROI (i.e. “French king”, i.e. the French for “king”) wrapped around or “admitting” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and SIN (i.e. “offence”), like so: RO(S-SIN)I.

17. Russian empress one departing Mediterranean port (9)

Answer: ALEXANDRA Feodorovna (i.e. “Russian empress”). Solution is ALEXANDRIA (i.e. “Mediterranean port”) with the I removed (indicated by “[Roman numeral] one departing…”).

18. Anxious to enjoy a drama by Williams (4,1,3,2,1,3,3,4)

Answer: LIKE A CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Solution satisfies “anxious” and “enjoy a drama by [Tennessee] Williams”.

23. Evil claims a cleaner in church property (8)

Answer: VICARAGE (i.e. “church property”). Solution is VICE (i.e. “evil”) wrapped around or “claiming” A and RAG (i.e. “cleaner”), like so: VIC(A-RAG)E.

25. Boy and girl love workroom (6)

Answer: STUDIO (i.e. “workroom”). Solution is STU and DI (i.e. “boy and girl”, respective shortened forms of Stuart and Diana) followed by O (i.e. “love”, i.e. a zero score in tennis).

27. Fuel can very hot inside (7)

Answer: GASOHOL (i.e. “fuel”). Solution is GAOL (i.e. “can”) with SO (i.e. “very”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot”) placed “inside”, like so: GA(SO-H)OL.

30. One wearing black recalled proud mother (5)

Answer: NIOBE. One solely for the classicists, it seems. In Greek mythology Niobe was a mother whose overbearing pride in her children saw them murdered. Then, in her grief, Niobe was turned to stone. Those Greeks, eh? Fun. Chalk one to my Bradfords here, which listed Niobe as a “mourner”. “One wearing black” is tenuous if you ask me. If I’m missing something in Homer’s Iliad that qualifies this then blame my decidedly non-classical education.
[EDIT: Thanks to Andrew in the comments for clarifying this one. “One wearing black recalled” is the Roman numeral I (i.e. “one”) placed in or “wearing” EBON (i.e.”black”) and the whole reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: N(I)OBE. Cheers, Andrew! – LP]

32. Knitted footwear allowing stars to conserve energy (7)

Answer: BOOTEES (i.e. “knitted footwear”). Solution is BOOTES (a constellation, i.e. “stars”) wrapped around or “conserving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: BOOT(E)ES.

33. One to examine tickets for theatrical caller? (9)

Answer: INSPECTOR. Solution satisfies “one to examine tickets” and “theatrical caller”, referring to the stage play An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley.

35. Divert sports team approaching course (9)

Answer: SIDETRACK (i.e. “divert”). Solution is SIDE (i.e. “sports team”) followed by TRACK (i.e. “course”).

36. Openings in colonnade showing dull interior (7)

Answer: STOMATA (i.e. “openings”). Solution is STOA (i.e. “colonnade”) wrapped around MAT (i.e. “dull” – can be spelled “matte”, “matt” or “mat”), like so: STO(MAT)A.

37. Woman, fantastic, needing time to appear earlier (5)

Answer: GRETA (i.e. “woman”). Solution is GREAT (i.e. “fantastic”) with the T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) moved back a notch (indicated by “…to appear earlier”).

38. Train ferries coin between terminals in Stoke and Carlisle (7)

Answer: EDUCATE (i.e. “train”). Solution is DUCAT (i.e. “coin”) placed “between” E and E (i.e. “terminals in Stoke and Carlisle”, i.e. the last letters of “Stoke” and “Carlisle”), like so: E-(DUCAT)-E.

40. Over there participating in activity on Derwent (6)

Answer: YONDER (i.e. “over there”). “Participating in” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: ACTIVIT(Y ON DER)WENT.

41. Dump Beethoven’s Fifth amid unknown music (8)

Answer: ANTIPHON (i.e. “music”). Solution is TIP (i.e. “dump”) and H (i.e. “Beethoven’s fifth”, i.e. the fifth letter of “Beethoven”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) placed “amid” ANON (i.e. “unknown”, i.e. an abbreviated form of “anonymous”), like so: AN(TIP-H)ON. This has appeared a few times now, making this one an easier get than it ought to have been.

44. Tackle problem resolutely – emulate matador’s hands-on approach? (4,3,4,2,3,5)

Answer: TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS. Solution satisfies “tackle problem resolutely” and “emulate matador’s hands-on approach”.

48. Citadel with excellent fencing or one with stronger premises (1,8)

Answer: A FORTIORI (Latin for “with stronger premises”). Solution is FORT (i.e. “citadel”) placed in or being “fenced” by AI (i.e. “excellent”, i.e. A1 with the 1 replaced by the Roman numeral I) and then followed by OR and I (i.e. another Roman numeral “one”), like so: A(FORT)I-OR-I. More for the classicists, there.

50. Piece in good works about divine persons (7)

Answer: ODDMENT (i.e. “piece”). Solution is OT (i.e. “good works”, specifically the Old Testament of The Bible) wrapped “about” DD (i.e. “divine”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “Divinitatus Doctor” I’ve seen used in a few puzzles recently) and MEN (i.e. “persons”), like so: O(DD-MEN)T.

53. Far side of the lake is spooky (5)

Answer: EERIE (i.e. “spooky”). Solution is E (i.e. “far side of the”, i.e. the last letter of “the”) followed by the Great “Lake” ERIE. Horror writer Steve Rasnic Tem would be proud.

54. Nausea presumably coming in waves (11)

Answer: SEASICKNESS. Clue riffs on how “waves” can also mean the waves of the sea. You get the idea.

55. Legendary abductor greeting solitary king and churchgoer (11)

Answer: PARISHIONER (i.e. “churchgoer”). Solution is PARIS (i.e. “legendary abductor” of Helen of Troy in Greek mythology – yet more for the classicists) followed by HI (i.e. “greeting”) then ONE (i.e. “solitary”) and R (i.e. “king”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “Rex”).

56. Most neat, one passes on dry clothes (7)

Answer: TIDIEST (i.e. “most neat”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and DIES (i.e. “passes on”) placed in or being “clothed” by TT (i.e. “dry”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “tee-total”), like so: T(I-DIES)T.

57. Secret repositioning with parking reserved for staff (7)

Answer: SCEPTRE (i.e. “staff”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “repositioning”) of SECRET wrapped around or “reserving” P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used in signage), like so: SCE(P)TRE.

58. Sound advice to boating companion, graceful creature (3,4)

Answer: ROE DEER (i.e. “graceful creature”). “Sound” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of ROW DEAR (i.e. “advice to boating companion”).

Down clues

1. Bare man thrown in Welsh river (6)

Answer: UNMASK (i.e. “[to] bare”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “thrown”) of MAN placed “in” USK (i.e. “Welsh river”), like so: U(NMA)SK.

2. Club in weapons collection (7)

Answer: ARSENAL. Solution satisfies “[football] club” and “weapons collection”.

3. Sail low – new angle right (9)

Answer: MOONRAKER (i.e. “sail”). Solution is MOO (i.e. to “low” – setters love referring to cows as “lowers” in their clues) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), then RAKE (i.e. “angle” – one of several of rake’s definitions) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

4. Gloomy doctor given attention (5)

Answer: DREAR (i.e. “gloomy”). Solution is DR (a recognised abbreviation of “doctor”) followed by EAR (i.e. “attention”).

5. Official verses and unfinished scores (8)

Answer: LINESMAN (i.e. “official” of some sports games). Solution is LINES (i.e. “verses”) followed by MANY (i.e. “scores”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “unfinished”), like so: LINES-MAN.

6. Almost set one, maybe two bones? (5)

Answer: RADII (i.e. “maybe two bones”, referring to the plural form of a “radius” bone). Solution is RADIO (i.e. device or “set”) with the final letter removed (indicated by “almost”) and followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: RADI-I.

7. Shambles in area in Sicilian city (7)

Answer: MESSINA (i.e. “Sicilian city”). Solution is MESS (i.e. “shambles”) followed by IN and A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”).

8. Demented alcoholic stage concerned with final events (14)

Answer: ESCHATOLOGICAL (i.e. “concerned with final events” in theology). “Demented” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of ALCOHOLIC STAGE.

9. Sweet roll with chopped dates good for diet (9)

Answer: BUNDESTAG (i.e. “diet” – a diet can mean parliament, in this case the one in Germany). Solution is BUN (i.e. “sweet roll”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “chopped”) of DATES, then G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: BUN-DESTA-G.

10. Unstressed syllable in school was cut (5)

Answer: SCHWA (i.e. “unstressed syllable”). Solution is SCH (a recognised abbreviation of “school”) followed by WAS once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut”), like so: SCH-WA. Made-to-fit rubbish to help the setter out of a tight spot, but thankfully the wordplay was pretty obvious.

11. Prepared for war theatre, MOD ordered choppers (5,2,3,5)

Answer: ARMED TO THE TEETH (i.e. “prepared for war”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ordered”) of THEATRE MOD followed by TEETH (i.e. “choppers”), like so: ARMEDTOTHE-TEETH.

12. Female following obese man sent north (7)

Answer: DISTAFF (i.e. “female” side of a family, it says here. The male side, in case you were wondering, is the spear side). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female” – a bit of recursion there) followed by FAT SID (i.e. “obese man”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “sent north” – this being a down clue), like so: DIS-TAF-F.

19. Subject of ace supporter nursing broken leg (7)

Solution: ALGEBRA (i.e. “subject”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “ace” used on playing cards) and BRA (i.e. “supporter”) wrapped around or “nursing” an anagram (indicated by “broken”) of LEG, like so: A-(LGE)-BRA.

20. Some elite academic betrayal, maybe, better for logic? (9)

Answer: OUTREASON (i.e. “[to] better [someone] for logic”). The solution, as far as I can make out, when read as OU TREASON, kind-of-perhaps-maybe-ish satisfies “some elite academic betrayal, maybe” – OU being the Open University. Not 100% sure, if I’m honest, given that the three dictionaries I have (Chambers, Oxford and an old Collins Concise) do not accept outreason as a word. Nor does Microsoft Word by the looks of it. If this turns out to be the solution, then, frankly, what a crock of shit.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mick and Sue in the comments for highlighting that OU is more likely to be Oxford University given the mention of “elite”. That’s not to belittle anyone bettering themselves through the Open University, mind. It’s just the prejudice of this particular setter. – LP]

21. Obtains inside information given rise in savings (4,3)

Answer: NEST EGG (i.e. “savings”). Solution is GETS (i.e. “obtains”) placed “inside” of GEN (i.e. “information”) and the whole then reversed (indicated by “given rise” – this being a down clue), like so: NE(STEG)G. A rare clue in this puzzle that scans really well.

22. Welshman, embracing English church, to disappear slowly (8)

Answer: EVANESCE (i.e. “to disappear slowly”). I’m not 100% sure but my solution is EVAN (i.e. “Welshman”) followed by a possessive E’S (i.e. “embracing English”), then CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England). I sincerely hope a better solution comes to light because, as it stands, this is another clue to file under “crock of shit”.
[EDIT: Thanks to Steve in the comments for nailing this one. Welshman is EVANS, not EVAN. When wrapped around E for “English”, and followed by CE as described, you get EVAN(E)S-CE. Cheers, Steve! – LP]

24. Mad about noisy estate outside fantasy realm (5-6-4)

Answer: CLOUD-CUCKOO-LAND (i.e. “fantasy realm”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of circa, i.e. “about”), LOUD (i.e. “noisy”) and LAND (i.e. “estate”) all placed “outside” of CUCKOO (i.e. “mad”), like so: C-LOUD-(CUCKOO)-LAND.

26. Find nightclub dead (9)

Answer: DISCOVERY (i.e. “find”). Solution is DISCO (i.e. “nightclub”) followed by VERY (i.e. “dead” as in being dead tired of this setter already).

28. Whence one cross, in traditional tales, drops from sky (8)

Answer: LORRAINE, referring to a two-barred “cross” used in heraldry. LORRAINE is also a region of France from “whence” it came. Solution is RAIN (i.e. “drops from sky”) placed “in” LORE (i.e. “traditional tales”), like so: LOR(RAIN)E.

29. Company after £500 in shady deal (6,8)

Answer: MONKEY BUSINESS (i.e. “shady deal”). Solution is BUSINESS (i.e. “company”) placed “after” MONKEY (i.e. “£500” in Cockneyland).

31. Perhaps wide court passage (7)

Answer: EXTRACT (i.e. “passage”). Solution is EXTRA (i.e. “perhaps wide”, referring to an extra run given in cricket for wide deliveries, among other things) followed by CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”).

34. Plug firm (7)

Answer: STAUNCH. Solution satisfies “plug” as in to staunch bleeding and “firm” as in a staunch believer of something.

39. Energy indeed has missile right out in orbit (3,6)

Answer: EYE SOCKET (i.e. “orbit”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) followed by YES (i.e. “indeed”) and ROCKET (i.e. “missile”) once the R has been removed (indicated by “right out”, R being a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: E-YES-OCKET.

42. Hebrew king brought up in island location (9)

Answer: ISRAELITE (i.e. “Hebrew”). Solution is LEAR (i.e. “king”, i.e. Shakespeare’s King Lear) which is reversed (indicated by “brought up” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) and SITE (i.e. “location”), like so: I-S(RAEL)ITE.

43. Sandalwood used for this stretcher? (8)

Answer: SHOETREE, a support placed in shoes to help keep their shape, i.e. “stretcher”. Clue riddles on how “sandals” are a kind of SHOE and “wood” comes from a TREE. You get the idea.

44. Bird coming round managed second journey (7)

Answer: TRANSIT (i.e. “journey”). Solution is TIT (i.e. “bird”) wrapped or “coming round” RAN (i.e. “managed”) and S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”), like so: T(RAN-S)IT.

45. Gander appears with eagle’s wings (4-3)

Answer: LOOK-SEE (i.e. “gander”). Solution is LOOKS (i.e. “appears”) followed by E and E (i.e. “eagle’s wings”, i.e. the first and last letters of “eagle”).

46. One in medical administration’s year with cartel in south east (7)

Answer: SYRINGE (i.e. “one [used] in medical administration” of, say, a vaccine). Solution is Y (a recognised abbreviation of “year”) and RING (i.e. “cartel”) both placed “in” SE (a recognised abbreviation of “south east”), like so: S(Y-RING)E.

47. Monkey’s mistake, sheltering under tree top (6)

Answer: TERROR (i.e. “monkey”, as in a scamp or rascal). Solution is ERROR (i.e. “mistake”) “sheltering under” T (i.e. “tree top”, i.e. the first letter of “tree”), like so: T-ERROR.

49. Material either of two writers sent up (5)

Answer: TOILE (i.e. “material”). Solution is ELIOT (i.e. “either of two writers”, being George and T.S.) reversed (indicated by “sent up” – this being a down clue).

51. Tyrant dropping sulphur in warehouse (5)

Answer: DEPOT (i.e. “warehouse”). Solution is DESPOT (i.e. “tyrant”) with the S removed (indicated by “dropping sulphur” – S being the chemical symbol of “sulphur”).

52. Stunner posed again looking northward (5)

Answer: TASER (i.e. “stunner”). Solution is RESAT (i.e. “posed again”) reversed (indicated by “looking northward” – this being a down clue).

A noticeable dip in quality this week. Had to happen at some point. You can find my completed grid for what it’s worth, along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. Some are flakier than a le[REDACTED IN THE INTEREST OF GOOD TASTE]ck, so watch out.

Before all that nonsense, some me-time. If you’ve got a Times Jumbo Cryptic that is showing a few gaps then check out my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find posts covering the last 70-odd puzzles. While you’re buggering about the place, take a butchers at my Reviews page. I’m slowly working my way through the Best New Horror series, and will chuck a fresh review on here shortly. There’s even a story of mine knocking around here somewhere, just to show it’s not all crosswords here. (Okay, okay, it’s mostly crosswords.)

Anyway, enough of the guff. To (some of) the answers!

LP

Across clues

1. Regarding meals, grand and rather more than substantial! (13)

Answer: GASTRONOMICAL (i.e. “regarding meals”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”) followed by ASTRONOMICAL (i.e. “rather more than substantial”).

8. Circulating air is linked to expert forecast (9)

Answer: PROGNOSIS (i.e. “forecast”). Solution is SONG (i.e. “air”) reversed (indicated by “circulating”) and IS both placed after (weakly indicated by “linked to”) PRO (i.e. “expert”), like so: PRO-GNOS-IS.

13. Tailor inclined to get behind promotional material (5)

Answer: ADAPT (i.e. “tailor”). Solution is APT (i.e. “inclined”, as in “he was apt to say boo to geese as he was a bit weird like that”) placed “behind” AD (i.e. “promotional material”), like so: AD-APT.

14. Awkward behaviour necessarily limiting fellow (11)

Answer: PERFORMANCE (i.e. “awkward behaviour”). Solution is PERFORCE (i.e. “necessarily”) wrapped around or “limiting” MAN (i.e. “fellow”), like so: PERFOR(MAN)CE. Not a classic.

15. Computer component absorbing programmer’s latest tweet (5)

Answer: CHIRP (i.e. “tweet”). Solution is CHIP (i.e. “computer component”) wrapped around or “absorbing” R (i.e. “programmer’s latest”, i.e. the last letter of “programmer”), like so: CHI(R)P.

16. Equivocal with celebrity heading off to accept major opening in university (9)

Answer: AMBIGUOUS (i.e. “equivocal”). Solution is FAMOUS (i.e. “celebrity”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “heading off”) and the remainder wrapped around or “accepting” BIG (i.e. “major”) and U (i.e. “opening in university”, i.e. the first letter of “university”), like so: AM(BIG-U)OUS.

17. Rebellion? Show hesitation, deposing leading pair (4)

Answer: TEND. This is a complete guess, I’m afraid. The clue seems to suggest the solution is derived by removing or “deposing” the first two letters or “leading pair” of a six-letter word meaning “show hesitation” which fits the letters **T*N*. The best I’ve got at the moment is EXTEND, but I can’t square TEND with “rebellion”. Also, if the solution was TEND then its proximity to the similar-sounding TENDER IS THE NIGHT would suggest poor grid construction from the setter. So, yeah, this is very likely incorrect. If some kind soul swings by with the proper solution then I’ll update the post, but for now I’m going to get on with my weekend.
[EDIT: The solution to this one was TINY, as suggested by a number of commenters. That would be MUTINY (i.e. “rebellion”) with the “leading pair” of letters “deposed”. I’m still none the wiser why this would be “show hesitation”, though. – LP]
[FURTHER EDIT: A big thank you to Sue and Steve in the comments for clearing this one up. It seems the clue was incorrect and should have been: “Small-scale rebellion, deposing leading pair (4)”. This then gives you MUTINY, from which you then remove the “leading pair” of letters, MU, to leave TINY, i.e. “small-scale” – LP]

18. Criminal bid to secure target (8)

Answer: OFFENDER (i.e. “criminal”). Solution is OFFER (i.e. “bid”) wrapped around or “securing” END (i.e. “target”), like so: OFF(END)ER.

20. Over a year to adopt updated description of some streets? (3-3)

Answer: ONE-WAY (i.e. “description of some streets”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket), A and Y (ditto “year”) wrapped around or “adopting” NEW (i.e. “updated”), like so: O-(NEW)-A-Y.

21. Novel proposal – this thing is dodgy, involving energy (6,2,3,5)

Answer: TENDER IS THE NIGHT (i.e. “novel” by F. Scott Fitzgerald). Solution is TENDER (i.e. “proposal”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “is dodgy”) of THIS THING once it has been wrapped around or “involving” E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”), like so: TENDER-ISTH(E)NIGHT.

24. Payment seeing English name in memorial replaced by Latin (9)

Answer: EMOLUMENT (i.e. “payment”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by MONUMENT (i.e. “memorial”) once the first N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”) has been “replaced by” L (ditto “Latin”), like so: E-MO(N)UMENT => E-MO(L)UMENT.

26. Tinkers reduced thoughtless cries, making no repetition (7)

Answer: RASCALS (i.e. “tinkers”). Solution is RASH (i.e. “thoughtless”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “reduced”) and followed by CALLS (i.e. “cries”) once one of the Ls has been removed (indicated by “making no repetition”), like so: RAS-CALS.

27. Teaching graduate recalled it in a change to account (5)

Answer: DEBIT (i.e. “a change to account”). Solution is BED (i.e. “teaching graduate”, specifically a Bachelor of Education) reversed (indicated by “recalled”) and followed by IT, like so: DEB-IT.

29. A wonderful time with colourful characters? (3-6,3)

Answer: RED-LETTER DAY (i.e. “a wonderful time”). Solution riffs on how red letters can be described as “colourful characters”. A recent repeat.

31. Money went quickly leading to return of extravagant artist (10)

Answer: Jacopo TINTORETTO (i.e. “artist”). Solution is TIN (a slang word for “money”) followed by TORE (i.e. “went quickly”) and OTT (i.e. “extravagant”, i.e. an abbreviation of “over the top”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “return of…”), like so: TIN-TORE-TTO. Chalk one to by Bradfords here, as there have been a few artists over the years.

33. Illuminated slab, though not one to carry representation of constellation (6,4)

Answer: LITTLE BEAR (i.e. “constellation”). Solution is LIT (i.e. “illuminated”) followed by TILE (i.e. “slab”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “though not [Roman numeral] one”), and then BEAR (i.e. “to carry”), like so: LIT-TLE-BEAR.

35. Examination body in good successful result means to get on (8,4)

Answer: BOARDING PASS (i.e. “means to get on” a plane). Solution is BOARD (i.e. “examination body”) followed by IN, then G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) and PASS (i.e. “successful result”).

38. English education requirements including nothing wrong (5)

Answer: ERROR (i.e. “wrong”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by RRR (i.e. “education requirements”, being the three Rs: reading, writing and arithmetic – the fact only one of those words ever began with an R still bugs the shit out of me today. Yes, I’m weird…) once it is wrapped around or “including” O (i.e. “nothing”), like so: E-RR(O)R.

39. Take clothing off, having kinky fun with popular music (7)

Answer: UNFROCK (i.e. “take clothing off”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “kinky”) of FUN followed by ROCK (i.e. “popular music”), like so: UNF-ROCK.

40. Strategic manœuvring after losing lead to European is a fag (9)

Answer: CIGARETTE (i.e. “fag”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “manœuvring”) of STRAGETIC once the S has been removed (indicated by “after losing head”), and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”), like so: CIGARETT-E.

42. Participant in trial answers architect after demolition (9,7)

Answer: CHARACTER WITNESS (i.e. “participant in trial”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “after demolition”) of ANSWERS ARCHITECT.

44. What cuts up first bit of coal brought in by coal supplier? (6)

Answer: MINCER (i.e. “what cuts up”). Solution is C (i.e. “first bit of coal”, i.e. the first letter of “coal”) placed “in” MINER (i.e. “coal supplier”), like so: MIN(C)ER.

47. What viola uses, upset at cello getting loud (4,4)

Answer: ALTO CLEF (i.e. “what viola uses”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of AT CELLO followed by F (a recognised abbreviation of fortissimo or “loud” in musical lingo), like so: ALTOCLE-F.

49. Pellet or its victim? (4)

Answer: SLUG. Solution satisfies “pellet” and “[pellet’s] victim”.

50. Giving energy to an island marriage (9)

Answer: ANIMATING (i.e. “giving energy to”). Solution is AN, then I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) and MATING (i.e. “marriage”).

52. Walk miles, getting snared (5)

Answer: TRAMP (i.e. “walk”). Solution is M (a recognised abbreviation of “miles”). “Getting snared” indicates this is placed amid a TRAP, like so: TRA(M)P.

53. Vehicle getting a run in University bus service is blue (11)

Answer: ULTRAMARINE (i.e. “blue”). Solution is TRAM (i.e. “vehicle”), A and R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) all placed “in” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”) and LINE (i.e. “bus service”), like so: U-L(TRAM-A-R)INE.

54. US lawyer in one US state almost backing another (5)

Answer: IDAHO (i.e. “another [US state]”). Solution is DA (i.e. “US lawyer”, specifically a District Attorney) placed in OHIO (i.e. “US state”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: I(DA)HO.

55. Amateur behind nonsense seen by that woman in town (9)

Answer: ROTHERHAM (i.e. “town”). Solution is HAM (i.e. “amateur”) placed “behind” ROT (i.e. “nonsense”) and HER (i.e. “that woman”), like so: ROT-HER-HAM.

56. Sonatina tunes broadcast with no delay (13)

Answer: INSTANTANEOUS (i.e. “with no delay”). “Broadcast” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SONATINA TUNES.

Down clues

1. Hispanic dish about to be introduced to Pacific island with cheer from Spain (9)

Answer: GUACAMOLE (i.e. “Hispanic dish”). Solution is CA (i.e. “about”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) placed in or “introduced to” GUAM (i.e. “Pacific island”) and then followed by OLE (i.e. “cheer from Spain”), like so: GU(AC)AM-OLE.

2. Feign anger, dismissing one in drag? (7)

Answer: SHAMBLE (i.e. “drag”, as in to move laboriously). Solution is SHAM (i.e. “feign”) followed by BILE (i.e. “anger”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “dismissing [Roman numeral] one”), like so: SHAM-BLE.

3. Upset over our rag including first sight of this photo print (11)

Answer: ROTOGRAVURE (i.e. “photo print”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of OVER OUR RAG wrapped around or “including”) T (i.e. “first sight of this”, i.e. the first letter of “this”), like so: RO(T)OGRAVURE. Another nod to my Bradfords. The wordplay was obvious, but so was the fact this was going to be a shitty word I didn’t know. I’ll probably now see this in everything I read for the next three weeks.

4. No pressure in seizing power in uprising in Asian country (6)

Answer: NIPPON (i.e. “Asian country”, i.e. Japan). Solution is NO, P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”) and IN all wrapped around or “seizing” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: NI-(P)-P-ON.

5. Steersman, confused – one’s not worth following up (5-4)

Answer: MARE’S-NEST, which is “a supposedly worthwhile discovery that turns out to have no real value” (Chambers) (i.e. “one’s not worth following up”). “Confused” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of STEERSMAN.

6. The fool Edward, overlooking the best treat in Devon (7,5)

Answer: CLOTTED CREAM (i.e. “treat in Devon”). Solution is CLOT (i.e. “the fool”) followed by TED (shortened form of “Edward”) both placed above or “overlooking” – this being a down clue – CREAM (i.e. “the best”).

7. Girl holding overturned garden ornament beginning to revive plant (5,5)

Answer: LEMON GRASS (i.e. “plant”). Solution is LASS (i.e. “girl”) wrapped around or “holding” GNOME (i.e. “garden ornament”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “overturned”) and R (i.e. “beginning to revive”, i.e. the first letter of “revive”), like so: L(EMONG-R)ASS.

8. Mount is fraudulent, having no height (4)

Answer: PONY (i.e. a horse or “mount”). Solution is PHONY (i.e. “fraudulent”) with the H removed (indicated by “having no height”, H being a recognised abbreviation of “height”).

9. Unavoidable item yonder? (3,2,5,6)

Answer: ONE OF THOSE THINGS. Solution satisfies “unavoidable” and “item yonder”.

10. Hot in Mediterranean resort? It’s not for everyone (5)

Answer: NICHE (i.e. “it’s not for everyone”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot”) placed in NICE (i.e. “Mediterranean resort”), like so: NIC(H)E.

11. Party to appreciate after quiet home (7)

Answer: SHINDIG (i.e. “party”). Solution is DIG (i.e. “to appreciate”) placed “after” SH (i.e. “quiet”) and IN (i.e. at “home”), like so: SH-IN-DIG.

12. Our site’s up – it’s running? Keeping fingers crossed, perhaps (13)

Answer: SUPERSTITIOUS (i.e. “keeping fingers crossed, perhaps”). “Running” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of OUR SITE’S UP IT’S.

19. French are less sanguine about one garden feature (8)

Answer: ESPALIER (i.e. “garden feature”). Solution is ES (i.e. “French are”, i.e. the French for “are”) followed by PALER (i.e. “less sanguine”) once it has been placed “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: ES-PAL(I)ER. One that needed a bit of brute force using my Chambers.

22. Managed to turn up without detective – a low point (5)

Answer: NADIR (i.e. “a low point”). Solution is RAN (i.e. “managed”) reversed (indicated by “to turn up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “without” DI (i.e. “detective”, specifically a Detective Inspector), like so: NA(DI)R.

23. Avoid the issue, something commoner amongst rural constabulary? (4,5,3,4)

Answer: BEAT ABOUT THE BUSH (i.e. “avoid the issue”). Solution riffs on how a constabulary’s patch is called a “beat”. You might find a “bush” on a common. Something like that, anyway. Not a classic.

25. One more mature Democrat brought in support for weaponry? Not initially (7)

Answer: OLDSTER (i.e. “one more mature”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) “brought in” to HOLSTER (i.e. “support for weaponry”) once the initial letter has been removed (indicated by “not initially”), like so: OL(D)STER.

28. Only took in some small feature of film (3,4)

Answer: BIT PART. Solution satisfies “only took in some” and “small feature of film”.

29. Unsettling transport provided by smart car and boat (6-7)

Answer: ROLLER-COASTER (i.e. “unsettling transport”). Solution is ROLLER (i.e. “smart car”, specifically a Rolls Royce) followed by COASTER (i.e. “boat”).

30. Again declare English will invest in service company (8)

Answer: REAFFIRM (i.e. “again declare”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) placed or “invested” in RAF (i.e. “service”, specifically the Royal Air Force) and followed by FIRM (i.e. “company”), like so: R(E)AF-FIRM.

32. It reflects visit on schooner around capital of Greece (7-5)

Answer: LOOKING-GLASS (i.e. “it reflects”). Solution is LOOK IN (i.e. “visit”) and GLASS (i.e. “schooner” – can mean a drinking glass or a boat) placed “around” G (i.e. “capital of Greece”, i.e. the first letter of “Greece”), like so: LOOK-IN-(G)-GLASS.

34. The French artist captures very insectile form (5)

Answer: LARVA (i.e. “insectile form”). Solution is LA (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the French for “the”) and RA (i.e. “artist”, specifically a Royal Academician) placed around or “capturing” V (a recognised abbreviation of “very”), like so: LA-R(V)A.

36. Some will leave country, one country in process of growth (11)

Answer: GERMINATION (i.e. “process of growth”). Solution is GERMANY (i.e. “country”) with the ANY (i.e. “some”) removed (indicated by “will leave”), and the remainder followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and NATION (i.e. “country”), like so: GERM-I-NATION.

37. Second criticism before I pin up Italian artist (10)

Answer: Amedeo MODIGLIANI (i.e. “Italian artist”). Solution is MO (i.e. “second”, both referring to a short period of time) followed by DIG (i.e. “criticism”, as in a dig in the ribs). These are then followed by and I and NAIL (i.e. “pin”) once they have been reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue), like so: MO-DIG-LIAN-I. Another success for my Bradfords. What’s better than one dead Italian artist in a crossword grid? Two dead Italian artists, of course! Actually, no. No it isn’t, setter.

40. Fellow performer I caught going to a country in the Americas (5,4)

Answer: COSTA RICA (i.e. “country in the Americas”). Solution is CO-STAR (i.e. “fellow performer”) followed by I, then C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) and A.

41. Outrageous for one holy man to spurn sources of lechery and immorality (9)

Answer: EGREGIOUS (i.e. “outrageous”). Solution is EG (i.e. “for one”, i.e. “e.g.”) followed by RELIGIOUS (i.e. “holy man”) once the L and first I have been removed (indicated by “to spurn sources of lechery and immorality”, i.e. the first letters of “lechery” and “immorality”), like so: EG-REGIOUS.

43. Evoke rising cheers over region (7)

Answer: ATTRACT (i.e. “evoke”). Solution is TA (i.e. “cheers”, both forms of thanks) which is reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue) and followed by TRACT (i.e. “region”), like so: AT-TRACT.

45. Marx enthralling a head of Government in US city (7)

Answer: CHICAGO (i.e. “US city”). Solution is CHICO, one of The “Marx” Brothers, wrapped around or “enthralling” A and G (i.e. “head of Government”, i.e. the first letter of “Government”), like so: CHIC(A-G)O.

46. Distract pickpocket before start of theft (6)

Answer: DIVERT (i.e. “distract”). Solution is DIVER (i.e. “pickpocket”, as in one who dives in pockets) placed “before” T (i.e. “start of theft”, i.e. the first letter of “theft”), like so: DIVER-T.

48. Taking up spades, manages small wood (5)

Answer: COPSE (i.e. “small wood”). Solution is COPES (i.e. “manages”) with the S (a recognised abbreviation of “spades” used in card games) nudged or “taken up” a notch – this being a down clue.

51. Support couple leaving island, adopting son (4)

Answer: STEM (i.e. “support”). Another guess, I’m afraid. There are a handful of words that fit the letters *T*M, but this seems the most likely. Could also be ITEM for a “couple”, but this seems less likely otherwise “couple” would be the first word of the clue. Again, if someone wanders by shedding light on this clue then I’ll update the post. Until then, I’m outta here.
[EDIT: Back again! Thanks to zouzoulap in the comments for clearing this one up. I was on the right lines, but didn’t really join the dots, to mix my metaphors. The solution is ITEM (i.e. “couple”) with the I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) replaced by S (ditto “son”), like so: (I)TEM => (S)TEM. Thanks, Z! – LP]

A pretty good one this week that I’d have cracked a lot sooner had I not written GLISTER when I’d meant GLISTEN. (Shakes head at previous me.) As ever, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful.

Some housekeeping, if you’ll forgive the intrusion. If you’ve got a previous Times Jumbo Cryptic that’s been giving you sleepless nights then you’ll find links to a whole bunch of solutions on my Just For Fun page. While you’re here, I’ve also got a bunch of book reviews to shove under your nose. All being well I’ll have a review of Best New Horror 13 up shortlyish, you lucky, lucky people. If you’d like a half-hour diversion, I’ve also got a story of mine knocking about the place for you. Generous to a fault, me, I know, I know.

Right then, to the answers!

Yours in cruciverbalism,

LP

Across clues

1. Pompous worker chasing two mischievous children in class (4-9)

Answer: SELF-IMPORTANT (i.e. “pompous”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “worker”) placed after or “chasing” ELF and IMP (i.e. “two mischievous children”) once they have been placed “in” SORT (i.e. “class”), like so: S(ELF-IMP)ORT-ANT.

8. Soldier’s one bloodsucker, mostly – like this? (9)

Answer: PARASITIC (i.e. “bloodsucker…like this”). Solution is PARA’S (i.e. “soldier’s”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and TICK (i.e. “bloodsucker”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: PARA’S-I-TIC.

13. A long letter (5)

Answer: AITCH (i.e. the “letter” H). Solution is A followed by ITCH (i.e. to “long” for).

14. Anger about recurrent motif in press writing (9)

Answer: REPORTAGE (i.e. “press writing”). Solution is RAGE (i.e. “anger”) placed “about” TROPE (i.e. “motif”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “recurrent” – one of the word’s lesser-used meanings), like so: R(EPORT)AGE.

15. Shine, displaying knowledge about series of items (7)

Answer: GLISTEN (i.e. “shine”). Solution is GEN (i.e. “knowledge”) placed “about” LIST (i.e. “series of items”), like so: G(LIST)EN.

16. Man can live ultimately on fish oil (12)

Answer: BRILLIANTINE (i.e. “[hair] oil”). Solution is IAN (i.e. “man”), TIN (i.e. “can”) and E (i.e. “live ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “live”) placed “on” or after BRILL (i.e. “fish”), like so: BRILL-IAN-TIN-E.

17. Exercises calm about time for deadly epidemic (10)

Answer: PESTILENCE (i.e. “deadly epidemic”). Solution is PE (i.e. “exercises”, specifically Physical Education), followed by SILENCE (i.e. “calm”) once it has been placed “about” T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: PE-S(T)ILENCE.

18. Scoffed about long time to pump in gas (6)

Answer: AERATE (i.e. “to pump in gas”). Solution is ATE (i.e. “scoffed”) placed “about” ERA (i.e. “long time”), like so: A(ERA)TE.

19. Tiny edit affected equation (8)

Answer: IDENTITY (i.e. an “equation” true for all values of the symbols involved (Chambers)). “Affected” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TINY EDIT.

21. Appoint a small board to give public information (6)

Answer: ASSIGN (i.e. “appoint”). Solution is A then S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and SIGN (i.e. “board to give public information”).

24. Improbity in the synod is out of order (10)

Answer: DISHONESTY (i.e. “improbity”). “Out of order” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THE SYNOD IS.

26. Sloshed inebriate outside reception room, forgetting name? (5,2,1,4)

Answer: DRUNK AS A LORD (i.e. “sloshed”). Solution is DRUNKARD (i.e. “inebriate”) wrapped around or “outside” of SALON (i.e. “reception room”) once the N has been removed (indicated by “forgetting name”, N being a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: DRUNKA(SALO)RD.

29. Contest unpaid pounds (4)

Answer: DUEL (i.e. “contest”). Solution is DUE (i.e. “unpaid”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “pounds” of weight).

30. Basil, say, a sentimental lover missing the point? (8)

Answer: AROMATIC (i.e. “basil, say”, as in an aromatic herb). Solution is A ROMANTIC (i.e. “a sentimental lover”) once the N has been removed (indicated by “missing the [compass] point”, N being a recognised abbreviation of “north”).

31. What’s fallen out of second sack (8)

Answer: SPILLAGE (i.e. “what’s fallen out”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “second”) followed by PILLAGE (i.e. “[to] sack”).

34. Relating to courts female emperor overturned thus (8)

Answer: FORENSIC (i.e. “relating to courts”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) followed by NERO (i.e. “emperor”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “overturned”), then followed by SIC (i.e. “thus”), like so: F-OREN-SIC.

35. Broadcast by queen holds nothing about what took her abroad? (8)

Answer: AIRLINER (i.e. “what took her abroad”). Solution is AIR (i.e. “broadcast”) and ER (i.e. “queen”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) wrapped around or “holding” NIL (i.e. “nothing”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: AIR-(LIN)-ER.

36. Desire Shakespeare casually expressed (4)

Answer: WILL. Solution satisfies “desire” and “Shakespeare casually expressed”, being a shortened form of William.

39. English farm animals and cat I’m making upset – briefly amusing (12)

Answer: EPIGRAMMATIC (i.e. “amusing”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by PIG and RAM (i.e. “farm animals”) and an anagram (indicated by “making upset”) of CAT I’M, like so: E-PIG-RAM-MATIC.

40. Relaxed about wet weather that’s rather cold (10)

Answer: RESTRAINED (i.e. “rather cold” in demeanour). Solution is RESTED (i.e. “relaxed”) placed “about” RAIN (i.e. “wet weather”), like so: REST(RAIN)ED.

43. Area of ten by ten in the middle of cemetery (6)

Answer: EXTENT (i.e. “area”). Solution is X (i.e. the first “ten” of the clue) and TEN placed “in” ET (i.e. “the middle of cemetery”, i.e. the middle two letters of “cemetery”), like so: E(X-TEN)T.

44. Act roughly in factory dance (8)

Answer: WORKSHOP (i.e. “act roughly”, as in to work through something by trying stuff out, a bit like sandboxing in computing). Solution is WORKS (i.e. “factory”) followed by HOP (i.e. “dance”).

45. Fool holding gang’s possessions (6)

Answer: ASSETS (i.e. “possessions”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “fool”) wrapped around or “holding” SET (i.e. “gang”), like so: AS(SET)S.

49. Reprimand tons with cheap disposal not having succeeded (7-3)

Answer: TELLING-OFF (i.e. “reprimand”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “tons”) followed by SELLING OFF (i.e. “cheap disposal”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “not having succeeded”, S being a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”), like so: T-ELLING-OFF.

51. Stadium boxer swinging, using both left and right (12)

Answer: AMBIDEXTROUS (i.e. “using both left and right” hands). “Swinging” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of STADIUM BOXER. Excellent clue!

53. One cruelly killed a long time after deed (7)

Answer: ACTAEON (i.e. “one cruelly killed” in Greek mythology, when he was turned into a stag and torn to pieces by his frenzied hounds. Lovely.) Solution is A and EON (i.e. “long time”) placed “after” ACT (i.e. “deed”), like so: ACT-A-EON. One gotten from the wordplay.

54. Bolshevik cunning is possessed by worker (9)

Answer: ANARCHIST (i.e. “Bolshevik”). Solution is ARCH (i.e. “cunning”) and IS placed in or “possessed by” ANT (i.e. “worker”), like so: AN(ARCH-IS)T.

55. Like some yoghurt to follow over fruit? (5)

Answer: OLIVE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is LIVE (i.e. “like some yoghurt”) placed after or “following” O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket), like so: O-LIVE.

56. Turn out upper-class in gallery after literary evening (9)

Answer: EVENTUATE (i.e. “turn out”). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “upper-class”) placed “in” TATE (i.e. “gallery”) and the whole then placed “after” EVEN (i.e. a poetic or “literary [form of] evening”), like so: EVEN-T(U)ATE.

57. Spiritual awakening is nettling he-men, unfortunately (13)

Answer: ENLIGHTENMENT (i.e. “spiritual awakening”). “Unfortunately” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NETTLING HE-MEN.

Down clues

1. Climbing rodents get on ship to leave port? (9)

Answer: STARBOARD (i.e. “to leave port” – a commenter on a previous post made the point that “not port” on a ship needn’t automatically mean “starboard”. You’ve got midships, for example. He wasn’t keen on a clue that tried to get away with this, so I reckon he won’t be too impressed by this one either!) Solution is RATS (i.e. “rodents”) reversed (indicated by “climbing”, this being a down clue) followed by BOARD (i.e. “get on ship”), like so: STAR-BOARD.

2. Religious reformer imprisons one who will fret? (7)

Answer: LUTHIER (i.e. “who will fret” – a luthier is a maker of guitars and lutes, instruments with fretboards). Solution is Martin LUTHER (i.e. “religious reformer”) wrapped around or “imprisoning” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: LUTH(I)ER.

3. Inspiration Henry found in island race (10)

Answer: INHALATION (i.e. “inspiration”, as in to breathe in). Solution is HAL (an alternative form of “Henry”) placed or “found in” I (a recognised abbreviation of “island”) and NATION (i.e. “race”), like so: I-N(HAL)ATION.

4. Hard up, wretched in seclusion (6)

Answer: PURDAH (i.e. “seclusion”). “Wretched” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HARD UP.

5. What’s pirate suffering splitting share being brought home? (12)

Answer: REPATRIATION (i.e. “being brought home”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “suffering”) of PIRATE placed in or “splitting” RATION (i.e. “share”), like so: R(EPATRI)ATION.

6. Deliverer of order arrives carrying cooker (8)

Answer: ARRANGER (i.e. “deliverer of order”). Solution is ARR (a recognised abbreviation of “arrives” seen on timetables) wrapped around or “carrying” RANGE (i.e. “cooker”), like so: AR(RANGE)R.

7. Horses harnessed together: the second is out of energy (4)

Answer: TEAM (i.e. “horses harnessed together”). Solution is STEAM (i.e. “energy”) with the S removed (indicated by “the second is out of…” – S being a recognised abbreviation of “second”).

8. Oddly need priest to get ordained in advance (10)

Answer: PREDESTINE (i.e. “get ordained in advance”). “Oddly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NEED PRIEST.

9. Not quite in line with the latest ideas, okay? (6)

Answer: RIGHTO (i.e. “okay”). Solution is RIGHT ON (i.e. “in line with the latest ideas”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “not quite”).

10. Indecision of foolish girl embracing Henry more than once (12)

Answer: SHILLYSHALLY (i.e. “indecision”). Solution is SILLY (i.e. “foolish”) and SALLY (i.e. “girl”) once they have both (indicated by “more than once”) been wrapped around or “embracing” H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement that seems to be flavour of the month for setters), like so: S(H)ILLY-S(H)ALLY.

11. Giant bird sank, lacking wings (5)

Answer: TITAN (i.e. “giant”). Solution is TIT (i.e. “bird”) followed by AN (i.e. “sank, lacking wings”, i.e. the word “sank” with the first and last letters removed).

12. Abode ripe for demolition? Felon might hang about here? (9,4)

Answer: CONDEMNED CELL. Solution riffs on how “condemned” can describe a building earmarked for “demolition” as well as a “felon” awaiting execution, punningly referenced by “might hang about here”. You get the idea.

20. Go quickly up, sick over a Spanish omelette (8)

Answer: TORTILLA (i.e. “Spanish omelette”). Solution is TROT (i.e. “go quickly”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by ILL (i.e. “sick”) and A, like so: TORT-ILL-A.

22. One remedy that has answer for universal solitude (9)

Answer: ISOLATION (i.e. “solitude”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by SOLUTION (i.e. “remedy”) once the U (a recognised abbreviation of “universal” used in film certification) has been replaced by (indicated by “has…for”) A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A), like so: I-SOL(U)TION => I-SOL(A)TION

23. Millions lost by metal plant (8)

Answer: GERANIUM (i.e. “plant”). Solution is GERMANIUM (i.e. “metal”) once the middle M has been removed (indicated by “millions lost”, M being a recognised abbreviation of “millions”).

25. Succeeded with fruit as new flavour (9)

Answer: SPEARMINT (i.e. “flavour”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”) followed by PEAR (i.e. “fruit”) and MINT (i.e. “as new”).

27. With which Hook starts in the role of buccaneer (8)

Answer: ASPIRATE, which is to pronounce one’s aitches (i.e. “with which Hook starts”). When read as AS PIRATE the solution also satisfies “in the role of buccaneer”.

28. Reptile is back, large one coming in to lie in the sun (8)

Answer: BASILISK (i.e. “reptile”). Solution is IS reversed (indicated by “back”), L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), placed “in” BASK (i.e. “to lie in the sun”), like so: BA(SI-L-I)SK.

29. Distinguish if iron ripped apart with current in time (13)

Answer: DIFFERENTIATE (i.e. “distinguish”). Solution is IF, FE (chemical symbol for “iron”), RENT (i.e. “ripped apart”) and I (a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) all placed “in” DATE (i.e. “time”), like so: D(IF-FE-RENT-I)ATE.

32. Determined current passing round grid, initially (12)

Answer: INTRANSIGENT (i.e. “determined”). Solution is I (a recognised abbreviation of “current” as we’ve just covered) followed by TRANSIENT (i.e. “passing”) once it has been placed “round” G (i.e. “grid, initially”, i.e. the first letter of “grid”), like so: I-TRANSI(G)ENT.
[EDIT: Thanks to Richard in the comments for correcting this one. “Current” is IN, not I, so the solution is IN-TRANSI(G)ENT. Time was getting on when I wrote this bit! Thanks again, Richard! – LP]

33. Change ringers, inept and full of boldness (12)

Answer: ENTERPRISING (i.e. “full of boldness”). “Change” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RINGERS INEPT.

37. Came across old uniform cloth for staff in military design (10)

Answer: CAMOUFLAGE (i.e. “military design”). Solution is CAME wrapped around or placed “across” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) and FLAG (i.e. “cloth for staff”), like so: CAM(O-U-FLAG)E.

38. Instrument surgeon initially inserted in low spine (6,4)

Answer: BASSET HORN (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is S (i.e. “surgeon initially”, i.e. the first letter of “surgeon”) placed “in” BASE (i.e. “low”) and followed by THORN (i.e. “spine”), like so: BA(S)SE-THORN. One gotten from the wordplay.

41. Cover song about street woman (9)

Answer: DUSTSHEET (i.e. “cover”). Solution is DUET (i.e. “song”) placed “about” ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) and SHE (i.e. “woman”), like so: DU(ST-SHE)ET.

42. Caught Michael shaking for addictive drug (8)

Answer: CHEMICAL (i.e. “addictive drug”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) followed by an anagram (indicated by “shaking”) of MICHAEL, like so: C-HEMICAL.

46. European cause is possibly controversial (7)

Answer: EMOTIVE (i.e. “possibly controversial”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) followed by MOTIVE (i.e. “cause”).

47. As told, look after united country (6)

Answer: UGANDA (i.e. “country”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “as told”) of GANDER (i.e. “look”) placed “after” U (a recognised abbreviation of “united”), like so: U-GANDA.

48. Let It Be holds record for group (6)

Answer: SEPTET (i.e. “group” of seven). Solution is STET (i.e. “let it be” – when you cross something out you didn’t mean to, you’d write STET to show this) wrapped around or “holding” EP (i.e. an Extended Play “record”), like so: S(EP)TET. A clue that scans rather well.

50. Left one article in moving supply (5)

Answer: LITHE (i.e. “moving supply” – supply being the adverb form of “supple”. Sneaky, yes?). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and THE (i.e. “article”).

52. Record finish for a race (4)

Answer: TAPE. Solution satisfies “record”, as in to tape something, and “finish for a race”.

It seems we’re heading towards stinkerdom again with a grid riddled with exotic solutions and a bunch of dead guys, not to mention a handful of overly vague and tenuous clues. Hardly my favourites. Now that the dust has settled, though, I can’t say this one was too bad. We’ve certainly seen worse.

Anyway, before we get all misty-eyed and I pull up a chair to talk some more, let’s get down to why you’ve come here. The answers! You’ll find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful.

As ever, a spot of hawking before we jump in. If you’ve got a pesky Times Jumbo Cryptic that’s eluded your grey matter lately then you might find some satisfaction in my Just For Fun page. If you’d like to give an old alter-ego an ego boost, you could do a lot worse than browsing a few book reviews knocking about the place, or, if you’ve got 20 minutes to kill, a short(ish) story of mine.

Anyway, before I start pulling out the family photos and you get all eyeing-the-exits, let’s get down to why you’ve come here.

To the answers!

LP

Across clues

1. Supporters, British, stopping Polish players (5,4)

Answer: BRASS BAND (i.e. “players”). Solution is BRAS (i.e. “supporters”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) once it has been placed in or “stopping” SAND (i.e. “[to] polish”), like so: BRAS-S(B)AND.

6. Minor injury certainly no handicap (7)

Answer: SCRATCH. Solution satisfies “minor injury” and “no handicap” – golf players with no handicap will start from a zero score, i.e. start from scratch. “Certainly” seems a redundant word, so there might be something extra I’ve missed.

10. Elm in court outside a hotel (5)

Answer: WAHOO (i.e. a variety of “elm”, it says here). Solution is WOO (i.e. “[to] court”) wrapped around or placed “outside” of A and H (“hotel” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: W(A-H)OO.

13. Poor parrots: they’ve no more fun! (3,6,4)

Answer: THE PARTY’S OVER (i.e. “no more fun”). “Poor” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PARROTS THEY’VE.

14. Mole dwells across river bank (5,4)

Answer: LIVER SPOT (i.e. “mole” – too tenuous for me. While they are both marks found on the skin, I’d argue moles and liver spots are not the same. You don’t see many kids with liver spots, do you?) Solution is LIVES (i.e. “dwells”) wrapped around or placed “across” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”) and followed by POT (i.e. “bank”, as in a pot of money), like so: LIVE(R)S-POT. Ho hum.

15. Recalled church matter being out of place (7)

Answer: ECTOPIC, meaning “in an abnormal position” (i.e. “out of place”). Solution is CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England) which is reversed (indicated by “recalled”) followed by TOPIC (i.e. “matter”), like so: EC-TOPIC. One gotten from the wordplay and a brute force of my Chambers.

16. Ring to cancel film (7)

Answer: ANNULET (i.e. “ring”). Solution is ANNUL (i.e. “cancel”) followed by ET (i.e. “film”, specifically ET: The Extra-Terrestrial).

17. Ball game, I sense, doing massive harm (7)

Answer: RUINOUS (i.e. “doing massive harm”). Solution is RU (i.e. “ball game”, specifically Rugby Union) followed by I and then NOUS (i.e. “sense”).

18. New arrangement for writers bears fruit (12)

Answer: STRAWBERRIES (i.e. “fruit”). “New arrangement for” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WRITERS BEARS.

20. Meeting place in New Zealand at first overused, sadly (10)

Answer: RENDEZVOUS (i.e. “meeting place”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “sadly”) of NZ (i.e. “New Zealand at first”) and OVERUSED.

23. Secret miscreant kept from head (5)

Answer: INNER (i.e. “secret”). Solution is SINNER (i.e. “miscreant”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “kept from head”).

24. Hours in science laboratory being oddly ignored put out Soviet leader (9)

Answer: Konstantin CHERNENKO (i.e. “Soviet leader” immediately before Gorbachev). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hours”) placed “in” CERN (i.e. “science laboratory”, specifically the European Organisation of Nuclear Research. Also the birthplace of the world wide web, thanks to Sir Tim Berners-Lee) and followed by EN (i.e. “being oddly ignored”, i.e. the word BEING with the odd letters removed) and then KO (i.e. “put out”, as in to knock someone out), like so: C(H)ERN-EN-KO. One gotten from the wordplay.

25. Share personal perspective on what’s expected (7)

Answer: PARTAKE (i.e. “share”). Solution is TAKE (i.e. “personal perspective”) placed after PAR (i.e. “what’s expected”), like so: PAR-TAKE.

26. We cancel short journey to find convenience store (3-4,4)

Answer: ONE-STOP SHOP (i.e. “convenience store”). Solution is ONE STOPS (i.e. “we cancel”) followed by HOP (i.e. “short journey”), like so: ONE-STOPS-HOP.

28. In a way, uproar something we can learn from (11)

Answer: INSTRUCTION (i.e. “something we can learn from”). Solution is IN followed by ST (i.e. “a way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a “street”) and then RUCTION (i.e. “uproar”).

30. Follower of popular opinion, note, Strasbourg politician with letter (11)

Answer: TIMEPLEASER (i.e. “follower of popular opinion”, often cynically). Solution is TI (i.e. “note”, in the doh-ray-me fashion) followed by MEP (i.e. “Strasbourg politician”, specifically a Member of the European Parliament) and then LEASER (i.e. “letter”, both descriptive of a landlord). Cool word. I like it.

32. Salesman sulks, cross, turning to see waiting journalist? (11)

Answer: DOORSTEPPER (i.e. “[door-to-door] salesman”). Solution is PETS (i.e. “sulks”) and ROOD (i.e. “[Christ’s] cross”) both reversed (indicated by “turning”). That get’s me DOOR-STEP. As for the PER bit, I’m knackered. Anyone know why this would be “to see waiting journalist”?
[EDIT: Thanks to Gareth in the comments for clarifying this one. It turns out I’d misread a clump of definitions in my Chambers, and that a DOORSTEPPER was a “waiting journalist”. Salesman would therefore be a REP, which, when reversed with the others, gets you DOOR-STEP-PER. Thanks, Gareth! – LP]

34. Place for young and old train staff: Home Counties line? (7)

Answer: NURSERY (i.e. “place for young”). Solution is NUR (i.e. “old train staff”, specifically the National Union of Railwaymen, dissolved in 1990) followed by SE (i.e. “home counties”, i.e. the South East of England) and RY (a recognised abbreviation of “railway”, i.e. “line”).

36. Recovering, if diminished: lampoon them endlessly (2,3,4)

Answer: ON THE MEND (i.e. “recovering”). “If diminished” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: LAMPO(ON THEM END)LESSLY.

38. Shackles press with these (5)

Answer: IRONS. Solution satisfies “shackles” and “press with these”.

39. One predicting a storm, perhaps, if indeed listened to (7,3)

Answer: WEATHER EYE (i.e. “one predicting a storm, perhaps”). Solution comprises homophones (indicated by “listened to”) of WHETHER (i.e. “if”) and AYE (i.e. “indeed”).

41. Win big game following exclusive article (5,3,4)

Answer: SCOOP THE POOL (i.e. “win big”). Solution is POOL (i.e. “game”) placed after or “following” SCOOP (i.e. “[newspaper] exclusive”) and THE (i.e. “article”). I get the phrase but can’t recall seeing or hearing its use all that often.

45. Appropriate company to tour capitals presenting opera (7)

Answer: NABUCCO (i.e. “opera” by Verdi. No, me neither.) Solution is NAB (i.e. to steal or “appropriate”) and CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) wrapped around or “touring” UC (i.e. “capitals”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Upper Case), like so: NAB-(UC)-CO. Made. To. Fit.

46. Cunning US president with backing of forty on the left (7)

Answer: FOXLIKE (i.e. “cunning”). Solution is IKE (i.e. nickname of “US president” Dwight Eisenhower) with both OF reversed (indicated by “backing”) and XL (i.e. “[Roman numerals] forty”) placed “on the left” of it, like so: FO-XL-IKE.

47. Moslem doctrine to be poorly interpreted at first (7)

Answer: ISMAILI (i.e. “Moslem”, specifically “one of a sect of Shiite Muslims that recognises Ismail, son of the sixth imam, as the true seventh imam” (Chambers). So there you go.) Solution is ISM (i.e. “doctrine”) followed by AIL (i.e. “to be poorly”) and I (i.e. “interpreted at first”, i.e. the first letter of “interpreted”). One gotten purely from the wordplay.

49. Lasting mark left by short old Greek composer (9)

Answer: SCARLATTI (i.e. “composer” – there are a few to choose from, it seems). Solution is SCAR (i.e. “lasting mark”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and ATTIC (i.e. “old Greek” – Attic being of Attica, the region around Athens) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: SCAR-L-ATTI. Another gotten partially from the wordplay, once I’d started typing “composer scarl” into Google. Who needs knowledge, eh, folks?

50. In this selection process keen that woman should block top illustrator? (13)

Answer: CHERRYPICKING (i.e. “selection process”). Solution is CRY (i.e. to mourn or “keen”) wrapped around or “blocked” by HER (i.e. “that woman”) and followed by PIC KING (i.e. “top illustrator”, PIC being short for “picture”), like so: C(HER)RY-PIC-KING.

52. Wed, perhaps, without dread, vacuous PA (5)

Answer: DADDY (i.e. “pa” – ignore the misleading uppercase text). Solution is DAY (i.e. “Wed, perhaps”, being a recognised abbreviation of Wednesday) wrapped around or placed “without” DD (i.e. “dread, vacuous”, i.e. the word “dread” with all its middle letters removed), like so: DA(DD)Y. One of those clues that has you facepalming the moment you twig it. Well played.

53. City, close to championship, continue to be relaxed? (7)

Answer: PRESTON (i.e. “city”). Solution is P (i.e. “close to championship”, i.e. the last letter of “championship”) followed by REST ON (i.e. “continue to be relaxed”).

54. Henry abused his power to punish severely (9)

Answer: HORSEWHIP (i.e. “punish severely”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “Henry”, a unit of measurement we’ve seen used in another grid recently) followed by an anagram (indicated by “abused”) of HIS POWER, like so: H-ORSEWHIP. A clue that scans rather well.

Down clues

1. Prepares for fried dish or buffets (7)

Answer: BATTERS. Solution satisfies “prepares for fried dish” and “buffets”. Another well-worked clue.

2. Leaves stripper to run after a lowdown female (5,6)

Answer: AGENT ORANGE, a defoliant used as a chemical agent in the Vietnam war (i.e. “leaves stripper”). Solution is TO and R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in several ball games) placed “after” A and GEN (i.e. “lowdown”), then followed by ANGE (i.e. “female”, being a shortened form of Angela), like so: A-GEN-TO-R-ANGE.

3. Maidenhead maybe wanted in exchange for Slough (5)

Answer: SWAMP (i.e. “slough” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is M (i.e. “Maidenhead”, i.e. the first letter of “maiden”) placed “in” SWAP (i.e. “exchange”), like so: SWA(M)P.

4. A Conservative out to break with EU prompt! (7)

Answer: AUTOCUE (i.e. “prompt”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to break”) of A, C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”), OUT and EU. Cleverly done.

5. Some French boy (3)

Answer: DES. Solution satisfies “some French”, i.e. the French for “of the” or “some”, and “boy”, as in a boy’s name. My French extends little beyond un, deux, trois and Le Piat D’or, but this feels like another tenuous clue.

6. A number spotted, happening to be paying visit (9)

Answer: SEVENTEEN (i.e. “a number”). Solution is SEEN (i.e. “spotted”) wrapped around or being “paid a visit” by EVENT (i.e. “happening”), like so: S(EVENT)EEN.

7. Hardly ever is gran’s meat lean (6)

Answer: RARELY (i.e. “hardly ever”). Another where the setter loses me, so watch out. I get that meat can be prepared “rarely”, but that about all the heat I’m getting from this one.
[EDIT: Gareth comes to the rescue again here, pointing out that the solution is RA-RELY, comprising RA (i.e. “Gran’s meat”, i.e. the middle letters of “gran”) and RELY (i.e. “lean [on]”). Thanks, Gareth! – LP]

8. An age to cultivate some neat approach in (4,3,4,4,4)

Answer: TILL THE COWS COME HOME, denoting a long time (i.e. “an age”). Solution is TILL (i.e. “to cultivate [land]”) followed by THE COWS (i.e. “some neat” – an alternative meaning of “neat” covers cattle such as cows and oxen) then COME (i.e. “approach”) and HOME (i.e. “in”, as in “at home”).

9. Hung around with over-edacious hosts (7)

Answer: HOVERED (i.e. “hung around”). “Hosts” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: WIT(H OVER-ED)ACIOUS.

10. With place for page, it’s a sound organ or piano! (9)

Answer: WURLITZER (i.e. “organ or piano”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by URL (i.e. “place for [web]page”, short for a Uniform Resource Locator) then a homophone (indicated by “sound”) of IT’S A.

11. 3 lovers of trendy music and books in need of foreign friend (11)

Answer: HIPPOPOTAMI (i.e. “3 lovers” – the answer to 3d is SWAMP. Another one that is too vague for my liking). Solution is HIP (i.e. “trendy”) followed by POP (i.e. “music”), then OT (i.e. “books”, specifically the Old Testament of The Bible) and AMI (i.e. “foreign friend” – the French for “friend” being “ami”). Next!

12. Grass is overheard identifying conspirator (5)

Answer: Titus OATES, who fabricated a plot to kill Charles II (i.e. “conspirator”). “Is overheard” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of OATS (i.e. “grass”). A well-worked clue, but I’d no idea who this was. (Pats Google gently.)

16. Book is bio my foster father and I twice reworked (1,5,7,2,4)

Answer: A BRIEF HISTORY OF TIME (i.e. a well-known “book” by Professor Stephen Hawking). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “reworked”) of BIO MY FOSTER FATHER, I and I (indicated by “I twice”).

19. Monitor calls on regulator to support women’s group (7)

Answer: WIRETAP (i.e. “monitor calls”). Solution is RE (i.e. “on”, i.e. about – think email responses) and TAP (i.e. “regulator”) both preceded (indicated by “to support” – this being a down clue) by WI (i.e. “women’s group”, specifically the Women’s Institute), like so: WI-RE-TAP.

21. It’s something in S Africa to catch wild bears with nets (9)

Answer: STEENBRAS (i.e. “it’s something in S Africa to catch”, namely a kind of fish. Big buggers too, if Google Images is any judge.) “Wild” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of BEARS and NETS. The wordplay was fairly obvious, but only gotten once I’d solved all the intersecting letters.

22. Way of paying complete with pen and pad, finally (2,4)

Answer: IN KIND (i.e. “way of paying”). Solution is INK IN (i.e. “complete with pen”) followed by D (i.e. “pad, finally”, i.e. the last letter of “pad”).

23. Pass papers on, and empty textbook, immediately (1,4,4)

Answer: I DON’T KNOW (i.e. “pass”). Solution is ID (i.e. identification “papers”) followed by ON, then TK (i.e. “empty textbook”, i.e. the word “textbook” with all of its middle letters removed) and NOW (i.e. “immediately”).

24. Like some metal to get hold of annually? (7)

Answer: COPPERY (i.e. “like some metal”). Solution is COP (i.e. “to get hold of”) followed by PER Y (i.e. “annually”, with Y being a recognised abbreviation of “year”, i.e. per year).

25. Put out of pub, ancient one associated with The Sun’s top journalist (7)

Answer: PHRASED (i.e. “put”). Solution is PH (i.e. “pub”, specifically a Public House) followed by RA (i.e. “ancient one associated with the sun” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation – referring to the sun god Ra) then S (i.e. “the sun’s top”, i.e. the first letter of “sun” – a nice bit of recycling) and ED (i.e. “journalist”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of an “editor”).

27. Potentially even state celebration should involve one (6)

Answer: PARITY (i.e. “potentially even state”). Solution is PARTY (i.e. “celebration”) wrapped around or “involving” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: PAR(I)TY.

29. Shift from English – earlier try to abandon science (7)

Answer: CHEMISE (i.e. “shift”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) with CHEMISTRY (i.e. “science”) placed “earlier” once the TRY has been removed (indicated by “try to abandon”), like so: CHEMIS-E.

31. Middle-of-the-road leader on the right dismissed hawk (6-5)

Answer: MORTAR-BOARD (i.e. “hawk” – this can be a board upon which plasterers hold plaster or mortar while they work. Hmm. You learn something every day in this game.) Solution is MOR (a recognised abbreviation of “middle-of-the-road”) followed by STARBOARD (i.e. “on the right [of a ship]”) once its initial letter has been removed (indicated by “leader…dismissed”), like so: MOR-TARBOARD.

33. Still to determine its outcome? (5,6)

Answer: PHOTO FINISH (i.e. “outcome”). Solution riffs on how photographs or “stills” are used “to determine” who won a race. You get the idea.

35. European city hall condemned, rightly (9)

Answer: ETHICALLY (i.e. “rightly”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “condemned”) of CITY HALL, like so: E-THICALLY.

37. A mathematician’s large audience excited (9)

Answer: EUCLIDEAN (i.e. “a mathematician’s”, i.e. pertaining to the Ancient Greek mathematician Euclid). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “excited”) of L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and AUDIENCE.

40. Wretched uprising, frequently coming in place of protest? (7)

Answer: ROOFTOP (i.e. “place of protest”). Solution is POOR (i.e. “wretched”) reversed (indicated by “uprising” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or allowing to “come in” OFT (i.e. “frequently”), like so: RO(OFT)OP.

42. Excursionist, one setting off? (7)

Answer: TRIPPER. Solution satisfies “excursionist” and “one setting off [an alarm]”.

43. Confined to bed – but no more stories? (5,2)

Answer: LYING UP. Solution satisfies “confined to bed” and “no more stories”, i.e. no more lies.

44. Missile briefly guided northwards, and across France (6)

Answer: EXOCET (i.e. “missile”). Solution is COXED (i.e. “guided”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “northwards” – this being a down clue) and followed by ET (i.e. “and across France”, i.e. the French for “and”), like so: EXOC-ET.

45. Edged forward and picked up bouquet? (5)

Answer: NOSED. Solution satisfies “edged forward” and smelled, i.e. “picked up bouquet”.

48. Exam’s ending with long, hard paper (5)

Answer: MACHE (i.e. “hard paper”). Solution is M (i.e. “exam’s ending”, i.e. the last letter of “exam”) followed by ACHE (i.e. “long”).

51. Cheer swift runner coming up – not quite to the echo (3)

Answer: RAH (i.e. “cheer”). Solution is HARE (i.e. “swift runner”) with the E removed (indicated by “not quite to the echo” – echo being E in the phonetic alphabet) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “coming up” – this being another down clue).

A welcome one-off switch to the 27×27 jumbo grids of old as The Times celebrates 90 years of their cryptic crossword. This one was very well done, with a lot of clues and solutions themed around the number 90 or the year 1930 or crosswords in general.

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. A little housekeeping before we jump in. If you have a previous Times Jumbo Cryptic that’s showing a few gaps then my Just For Fun page is the place to head. If horror stories are your bag then I have a few Reviews knocking about the place, and even a story of my own.

Right, that’s enough gabbing. To the answers! Meanwhile, after rattling out over 4,000 words of solutions over the last however many hours, I’m going to place these aching fingertips of mine into an ice bath. TTFN!

LP

Across clues

1. The number for today’s 45? (5,8,2,3)

Answer: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU (i.e. a song or “number”). The solution to 45d is TIMES CROSSWORD, and this puzzle celebrates its 90th birthday. The first of many themed clues.

10. Ninety-ton load originally transported with great diligence (8)

Answer: INTENTLY (i.e. “with great diligence”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “transported”) of NINETY, T (a recognised abbreviation of “ton”) and L (i.e. “load originally”, i.e. the first last of “load”). Themed.

16. Miss, perhaps, loch, with fog to the west (5)

Answer: HAZEL (i.e. “miss, perhaps”, i.e. a girl’s name). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “loch”) with HAZE (i.e. “fog”) placed before or “to the west” of it, like so: HAZE-L.

17. Came out with partner once requested? (9)

Answer: EXCLAIMED (i.e. “came out with”). Solution is EX (i.e. “partner once”) followed by CLAIMED (i.e. “requested”). Note the XC in the solution, being the Roman numerals for 90.

18. Drag couple, pushing wife back (3)

Answer: TOW (i.e. “drag”). Solution is TWO (i.e. “couple”) with the W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) sent to the “back”.

19. Carbon copy perfectly covers a composition (7)

Answer: TOCCATA (i.e. “composition”). Solution is CC (i.e. “carbon copy”) placed in or “covered by” TO A T (i.e. “perfectly”) and followed by A, like so: TO-(CC)-A-T-A. An easier get thanks to this solution appearing relatively recently in puzzle 1417.

20. Times cryptic has bagged large one (9)

Answer: MILESTONE. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cryptic”) of TIMES wrapped around or “bagging” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and followed by ONE, like so: MI(L)EST-ONE. In the general context of the puzzle, the Times crossword can be said to have passed a significant milestone. Good clue!

21. Piano master given one month by notorious landlord (11)

Answer: Sergei RACHMANINOV (i.e. “piano master”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and NOV (i.e. “month”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of November) both preceded “by” Peter RACHMAN (i.e. “notorious landlord”, who exploited and threatened his tenants to such an extent that his name became synonymous with the practice), like so: RACHMAN-I-NOV. Helpfully, today’s Times feedback column contained a piece on the accepted spelling(s) of Rachmaninov. Which was nice.

23. See, in singular working method, way to extend playtime (3-2)

Answer: SLO-MO (i.e. “way to extend playtime”). Solution is LO (i.e. “see”, as in “lo and behold”) placed “in” between S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) and MO (i.e. “working method”, or Modus Operandi), like so: S-(LO)-MO.

24. Flash detective with Latin touch (7)

Answer: MODICUM (i.e. “touch”). Solution is MO (i.e. “flash”, both descriptive of a short period of time) followed by DI (i.e. “detective”, specifically a Detective Inspector) and CUM (i.e. “with Latin”, i.e. the Latin for “with”).

25. In short, why you can’t ring chemist (5)

Answer: Alfred NOBEL (i.e. “chemist”). Solution is NO BELL (i.e. “why you can’t ring”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “in short”).

26. Forward social security packs for one (5)

Answer: SASSY (i.e. “forward”). Solution is SS (a recognised abbreviation of “social security”) placed in or “packing” SAY (i.e. for example or “for one”), like so: SA(SS)Y.

28. Advance payments: one way to get by (7)

Answer: SUBSIST (i.e. “to get by”). Solution is SUBS (i.e. “advance payments”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”).

29. “Meet in Colorado” – I like this clue! (4,6)

Answer: COME ACROSS (i.e. “meet”). Solution is CO (a recognised abbreviation of “Colorado”) followed by ME (i.e. “I” from the point of view of the setter) and ACROSS (i.e. “like this clue”, this being an across clue).

31. Running to ground, maybe, voracious predator turning on swallow (8)

Answer: DOWNFLOW (i.e. “swallow”). This feels a bit weak to me – I’d argue swallowing is a positive action and a downflow to be passive. I could also be overthinking this. Either way, watch out. My solution is DOWN (i.e. “running to ground, maybe” – if you are running prey to ground then you are downing them) followed by WOLF (i.e. “voracious predator”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “turning”), like so: DOWN-FLOW.
[EDIT: Thanks to Mick in the comments for offering a better explanation of this one. The operative phrase here is “running to ground, maybe”, not “swallow”, as in water flowing or running down to the ground. The solution is therefore DOWN (i.e. “swallow”) placed before WOLF, as described above. – LP]

33. Grand performance’s finale for circus clown (7)

Answer: AUGUSTE (i.e. “circus clown”). Solution is AUGUST (i.e. “grand”) followed by E (i.e. “performance’s finale”, i.e. the last letter of “performance”).

35. Cricket team after hotel (5)

Answer: INDIA. Solution satisfies “cricket team” and “after hotel”, referring to the phonetic alphabet where Hotel is H and India is I.

37. Hard test occurring at regular intervals (5)

Answer: HORAL, which describes something happening every hour (i.e. “at regular intervals”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in pencil grading) followed by ORAL (i.e. “test”). One gotten through the wordplay, if I’m honest.

38. Children’s doctor lacking energy to work out (4)

Answer: SUSS (i.e. “to work out”). Solution is children’s author Dr SEUSS (i.e. “children’s doctor”) with the E removed (indicated by “lacking energy”, E being a recognised abbreviation of “energy”). A small nod to the theme, given how solvers suss cryptic clues.

39. Touching, moving letters from dog trainer (2,6,2)

Answer: IN REGARD TO (i.e. “touching [on]”). “Moving letters from” indicates anagram. Solution is anagram of DOG TRAINER.

41. Hot, wearing kit attached to mat – it’s 90 degrees! (5-5)

Answer: RIGHT-ANGLE (i.e. “it’s 90 degrees” – a nod to the puzzle’s theme again). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hot”) placed in between or “wearing” RIG (i.e. “kit”) and TANGLE (i.e. “[to] mat”), like so: RIG-(H)-TANGLE.

43. Extravagant Times clue for “Einstein”? (7,8)

Answer: NAUGHTY NINETIES, referring to the 1890s, not the comparatively staid 1990s. Anyway, “extravagant times” – ignore the misleading capitalisation. “Clue for ‘Einstein’” indicates the solution forms a cryptic clue for “Einstein” – an anagram of NINETIES, with “naughty” being an anagram indicator. Clever stuff. I like it.

46. Some of our best, and biggest, friends win dosh and flourish, unexpectedly (5,10)

Answer: IRISH WOLFHOUNDS (i.e. “some of our best, and biggest, friends” – referring to dogs being man’s best friend and how Irish wolfhounds are big old buggers. I’m not much of a dog person, but I have always had a soft spot for Irish wolfhounds. I’d get one but its kennel would be bigger than my house.) “Unexpectedly” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of WIN DOSH and FLOURISH.

49. Singles that are old: at least 90 (5-5)

Answer: FORTY-FIVES (i.e. “[vinyl record] singles that are old” – ask your parents, kids). Solution also satisfies “at least 90”, 90 being the first multiple of 45. Another nod to the puzzle’s theme, there.

53. Country girl left a party held by Queen Victoria (2,8)

Answer: EL SALVADOR (i.e. “country”). Solution is ELSA (i.e. “girl”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) and A DO (i.e. “a party”) once it has been placed in or “held by” VR (i.e. “Queen Victoria”, or Victoria Regina), like so: ELSA-L-V(A-DO)R. After clean missing GABON in last week’s puzzle, I was pleased to quickly nail this one.

54. What solvers are keen to fill? Not quite keen, on reflection (4)

Answer: GRID (i.e. “what solvers are keen to fill”). Solution is DIRGE (i.e. “keen” – an alternative definition describes this as a “lamentation over the dead” (Chambers)) with the last letter removed (indicated by “not quite”). The remainder is then reversed (indicated by “on reflection”). Another good clue, and another small nod to the theme.

56. Live outside Rugby by backward out-of-town area (5)

Answer: EXURB (i.e. “out-of-town area”). Solution is BE (i.e. “live”) placed around or “outside” of RU (i.e. “rugby”, specifically Rugby Union) and X (i.e. “by”, as in the multiplication symbol), and the whole reversed (indicated by “backward”), like so: E(X-UR)B. One gotten solely through the wordplay. Cool word, though.

58. Film for setter? (5)

Answer: LAYER. Solution satisfies “film” and “setter”, as in one who sets or lays something.

60. For a song in Italian, what a carry on! (7)

Answer: CHEAPLY (i.e. “for a song”). Solution is CHE (i.e. “in Italian, what”, i.e. the Italian of “what” – thank goodness for Google Translate, eh, folks?) followed by A and PLY (i.e. to make one’s way or “carry on”).

62. Sanction attendant to find a place for 45, most days (4,4)

Answer: BACK PAGE (i.e. “a place for 45, most days” – another themed clue, the solution to 45d is TIMES CROSSWORD, which is often found on the back page of the newspaper). Solution is BACK (i.e. “sanction”) followed by PAGE (i.e. “[boy] attendant”).

63. Explains and edits a clue after revision (10)

Answer: ELUCIDATES (i.e. “explains”). “After revision” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of EDITS A CLUE. Another nicely worked little nod to the crossword theme.

66. Charged to company blessed person’s expenses! (7)

Answer: ONCOSTS (i.e. “expenses”). Costs, then. Anyway, solution is ON (i.e. “charged”) followed by CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”) and ST’S (i.e. “blessed person’s”, being a recognised abbreviation of “saint” made possessive).

68. Sudden attack, somewhat uncivil, ungentlemanly (5)

Answer: LUNGE (i.e. “sudden attack”). “Somewhat” indicates solution is hidden in the clue, like so: UNCIVI(L UNGE)NTLEMANLY.

70. Place mostly full of parasites to get caught in (5)

Answer: LOCUS (i.e. the “place” of something). Solution is LOUSY (i.e. “full of parasites”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “getting” C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in several ball games), like so: LO(C)US.

71. Roughly holds sibling’s body (7)

Answer: CHASSIS (i.e. “body”). Solution is C (i.e. “roughly”, as in a recognised abbreviation of “circa”) followed by HAS (i.e. “holds”) and SIS (i.e. “sibling”, being a shortened form of “sister”).

73. Mostly when jumbo appears easy, oddly is gratifying (5)

Answer: SATES (i.e. “is gratifying”). Solution is SAT (i.e. “mostly when jumbo appears” – keeping with the theme of the puzzle, this refers to a shortened form of Saturday, when the Times Jumbo is usually published) followed by ES (i.e. “easy, oddly”, i.e. the odd letters of EASY). Another good clue!

74. It’s change you must accept from extremely lovable female carer! (5,6)

Answer: LEGAL TENDER (i.e. “it’s change you must accept”). Solution is LE (i.e. “extremely lovable”, i.e. the first and last letters of “lovable”) followed by GAL (i.e. “female”) and TENDER (i.e. “carer”). Another good ‘un.

76. Plant from study picked up at front of shop (4,5)

Answer: REED GRASS (i.e. “plant”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “picked up”) of READ (i.e. “study”) placed in “front of” GRASS (i.e. to “shop” someone to the police).

78. Like 9 and 0, for instance – neither one thing nor the other to Shakespeare (3-4)

Answer: ODD-EVEN. Solution satisfies “like 9 and 0, for instance” (I’ll let the debate about whether 0 is an even number rage elsewhere) and “neither one thing nor the other to Shakespeare”, referring to a quote from Othello about midnight: “at this odd-even and dull watch o’ the night”.

79. House-sitter concealing a plot (3)

Answer: MAP (i.e. “plot”). Solution is MP (i.e. “house-sitter”, specifically a Member of Parliament who sits in the House of Commons) wrapped around or “concealing” A, like so: M(A)P.

80. (Ad)dressing down? (7-2)

Answer: TALKING-TO. Solution satisfies “dressing down” and, without the hyphen, “addressing”.

82. One appearing in drag – one in Pirandello? (5)

Answer: LUIGI “Pirandello”, Italian dramatist. No, me neither. Solution is LUG (i.e. “drag”) with I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) “appearing in” it and then followed by another I (ditto “one”), like so: LU(I)G-I. The second “in” seems unfairly misleading here, suggesting solvers also squeeze the second I into LUG. Either way, not a classic.

83. Senior women, old, long in post, going back (8)

Answer: DOYENNES (i.e. “senior women”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and YEN (i.e. to yearn or “long” for) placed “in” SEND (i.e. “[to] post”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “going back”), like so: D(O-YEN)NES.

84. What’s seen end of Romanov – our one irrefutably cryptic! (8,10)

Answer: FEBRUARY REVOLUTION (i.e. “what’s seen end of Romanov [dynastic rule in Russia]”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cryptic”) of V (i.e. “end of Romanov”, i.e. the last letter of “Romanov”) and OUR ONE IRREFUTABLY. Nicely played.

Down clues

1. Gases with unpleasant smell in flat (2-3)

Answer: HO-HUM (i.e. uninteresting or “flat”). Solution is H and O (i.e. “gases”, specifically chemical symbols for hydrogen and oxygen) followed by HUM (i.e. “unpleasant smell”).

2. Revolutionary poser with unknown values being tried for Brain-teasers’ World (9)

Answer: PUZZLEDOM (i.e. “brain-teasers’ world” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is MODEL (i.e. “poser”) followed by Z and Z (i.e. “unknown values” – setters love referring to X, Y and Z in their solutions as “unknowns”), then UP (i.e. “being tried”, i.e. being up in court). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “revolutionary”), like so: PU-ZZ-LEDOM.

3. Bag for yellow sock lay abandoned (4,3)

Answer: YOLK SAC (i.e. “bag for [egg] yellow”). “Abandoned” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SOCK LAY.

4. Fateful day when leader’s abandoned pair flanking demo? (4,2,5)

Answer: IDES OF MARCH (i.e. “fateful day” for Julius Caesar). Solution is SIDES OF MARCH (i.e. “pair flanking demo”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “leader’s abandoned”).

5. What could be long under end of snout (5)

Answer: TACHE, a contraction of “moustache”, i.e. “what could be … under end of snout”). Solution is ACHE (i.e. to “long” for) placed “under” T (i.e. “end of snout”, i.e. the last letter of “snout”), like so: T-ACHE. Another clue nicely played.

6. Tirade sent up charity race (8)

Answer: DIATRIBE (i.e. “tirade”). Solution is AID (i.e. “charity”) reversed (indicated by “sent up” – this being a down clue) and followed by TRIBE (i.e. “race”), like so: DIA-TRIBE.

7. Regularly sampled syrup, my, that’s tasty! (3)

Answer: YUM (i.e. “that’s tasty”). “Regularly sampled” indicates the solution is derived by taking every other letter of SYRUP MY.

8. What solver may refer to when looking up identical medical conditions (7)

Answer: OEDEMAS (i.e. “medical conditions”). Solution is OED (i.e. “what solver may refer to”, specifically the Oxford English Dictionary) followed by SAME (i.e. “identical”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “when looking up” – this being a down clue), like so: OED-EMAS. One gotten purely through the wordplay.

9. Many Times newspaper plugs unsettled one (5)

Answer: OFTEN (i.e. “many times” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Solution is FT (i.e. “newspaper”, specifically the Financial Times) placed in or “plugging” an anagram (indicated by “unsettled”) of ONE, like so: O(FT)EN.

11. Locals show up in nanoseconds! (7)

Answer: NATIVES (i.e. “locals”). Solution is EVITA (i.e. musical “show”) which is reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and placed “in” NS (a recognised abbreviation of “nanoseconds”), like so: N(ATIVE)S.

12. A case perhaps for charging, out of old tax, interest on deposit (6,7)

Answer: EXCESS BAGGAGE (i.e. “a case perhaps for charging”). Solution is EX (i.e. “old”), followed by CESS (i.e. “tax” – a new one on me, but it’s there in the dictionary), then BAG (i.e. “interest”, as “reading horror stories is my bag”) and GAGE (an archaic word for a pledge, i.e. “deposit” – another new one on me). Another solution with the numerals XC (i.e. 90).

13. Is to cease manufacturing warm coats for mothers-to-be? (3,6)

Answer: TEA COSIES (i.e. “warm coats for mothers-to-be” – this refers to a popular phrase “shall I be mother” when someone’s pouring a cuppa). “Manufactured” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of IS TO CEASE.

14. 1930 for Chinese show in Birmingham with parts exchanged… (4,2,3,5)

Answer: YEAR OF THE HORSE (i.e. “1930 for Chinese”). Solution is HORSE OF THE YEAR (i.e. “show in Birmingham”) with the YEAR and HORSE “parts exchanged”. Another nod to the puzzle’s theme.

15. …This year keen for some cricket? (6-6)

Answer: TWENTY-TWENTY. This seems a triple-header, being “this year” (i.e. 2020), “keen” (relating to 20-20 vision, perhaps) and “some cricket” (being the popular short-short form of the game). Most of these Jumbo Cryptics will be collected and republished in a few years’ time, so this clue might not work so well in future.

22. Insensitive request for a ring – receiving different sort (7)

Answer: CALLOUS (i.e. “insensitive”). Solution is CALL US (i.e. “request for a ring”) wrapped around or “receiving” O (i.e. a “different sort” of ring), like so: CALL-(O)-US.

24. Host nabbing posh family to help out (4,2)

Answer: MUCK IN (i.e. “to help out”). Solution is MC (i.e. “host”, specifically a Master of Ceremonies) wrapped around or “nabbing” U (i.e. “posh”, being a recognised abbreviation of the upper class – another favourite tell of some setters) and followed by KIN (i.e. “family”), like so: M(U)C-KIN.

25. Overheard refusals to touch kid’s hankie (4,3)

Answer: NOSE RAG (i.e. “hankie”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “overheard”) of NOES (i.e. “refusals”) placed beside or “touching” RAG (i.e. “[to] kid”).

27. Only be doing this having put away volume (4)

Answer: SOLE (i.e. “only”). Solution is SOLVE (i.e. “be doing this” from the point of view of us solvers when faced with this clue) with the V removed (indicated by “having put away volume” – V being a recognised abbreviation of “volume”).

30. Crawling out, mostly quiet (5)

Answer: AWASH (i.e. “crawling”). Solution is AWAY (i.e. “out”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”) and followed by SH (i.e. “quiet”), like so: AWA-SH.

32. Feeds small numbers at college, in High School (4-3)

Answer: NOSH-UPS (i.e. “feeds”). Solution is NOS (i.e. “small numbers”, i.e. a contraction of the word “numbers”) followed by UP (i.e. “at college” – another favourite of some solvers) once it has been wrapped around or placed “in” HS (a recognised abbreviation of “High School”), like so: NOS-H(UP)S.

33. The last word? Just what one needs? Yes, primarily (7)

Answer: AMENITY. Pure guess this, as I’ve no idea what the setter is playing at here. Amenity is a pleasantness or pleasing characteristic, neither sense of the word I can seem to crowbar into this clue. You might want to take this with a pinch of salt. My solution is AMEN (i.e. “the last word”) followed by IT (i.e. “just what one needs” – I mean, yeah, kinda, I guess I see it, but…) and Y (i.e. “yes, primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “yes”). There’s probably some quotation or something clever I’m missing that sheds light on this.

34. A game for the 45’s birthday party? (6)

Answer: CLUEDO (i.e. “a game”). The solution to 45d is TIMES CROSSWORD, so, when read as a CLUE DO – a do being a “party” – then the solution satisfies the clue.

36. There are stories from Welshman appearing in The Times etc (7)

Answer: DAILIES (i.e. newspapers such as “The Times etc”). When read as DAI LIES the solution also satisfies “stories from Welshman”.

40. Derby game involves four sort of shooting (5-2)

Answer: DRIVE-BY (i.e. “sort of shooting”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “game” as in something gamy or gone off) of DERBY wrapped around or “involving” IV (i.e. “[Roman numerals] four”), like so: DR(IV)EBY.

42. In turning up sibyl, a monastery’s deviant (7)

Answer: ANOMALY (i.e. “deviant”). “In” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, while “turning up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: SIB(YL A MONA)STERY’S.

43. Less likely to spot one putting on one’s coat? (7)

Answer: NONDRIP. Solution riddles on people being less likely to be dripped on or “spotted” when “putting on” a coat of non-drip paint. That’s it, unless I’m missing something especially clever. Shouldn’t this solution have been hyphenated?

44. Removed from board, sulked (6)

Answer: HUFFED. Solution satisfies “removed from [draughts] board” – according to my Chambers, to huff is “to remove from the board for failing to make a possible capture” (blimey, who knew draughts was so complicated?) – and “sulked”.

45. This enigmatic item’s put out along with news (5,9)

Answer: TIMES CROSSWORD (i.e. “this”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “enigmatic”) of ITEM’S followed by CROSS (i.e. “put out”) and WORD (i.e. “the news”), like so: TIMES-CROSS-WORD. A more obvious nod to the puzzle’s theme.

47. 1930, where fifty percent of history is still (4,4,5)

Answer: HALF PAST SEVEN (i.e. “1930” as shown on a twenty-four-hour clock). Solution is HALF (i.e. “fifty percent”) followed by PAST (i.e. “of history”) then ‘S (a contraction of “is” – not keen on this, but there you go) and EVEN (i.e. “still”). Another themed clue.

48. Base bachelor quite keen for 90-minute affair (8,4)

Answer: FOOTBALL GAME (i.e. “90-minute affair”). Solution is FOOT (i.e. “base”) followed by B (a recognised abbreviation of “bachelor”) and ALL GAME (i.e. “quite keen”). Another themed clue.

50. Disturbances after polling bringing change in Russia (7)

Answer: ROUBLES (i.e. “change in Russia”). Solution is TROUBLES (i.e. “disturbances”) after the first letter has been removed (indicated by “polling” – the act of cutting the tops of trees).

51. Ticked over five hundred large – that is five hundred – boxes! (5)

Answer: IDLED (i.e. “ticked over”). Solution is D (i.e. “[Roman numeral] five hundred”) and L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) placed in or “boxed” by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. er… “i.e.”) and D (again, “five hundred”), like so: I(D-L)E-D.

52. Emergency or upset thus besetting teacher (6)

Answer: CRISIS (i.e. “emergency”). Solution is SIC (i.e. “thus”) wrapped around or “besetting” SIR (i.e. “teacher”) and the whole reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue – like so: C(RIS)IS.

55. Might the setters pull a fast one? (7)

Answer: DOGSLED. Solution riddles on setters being a breed of dog, though I’m not entirely sure they’d be able to pull a dogsled with much speed! That’s it, unless I’m missing something clever.

57. Stick with this game – a version you’re still saddled with? (7,4)

Answer: BICYCLE POLO. Another riddly clue, this time riffing on how you would have a “stick with this game”. Bikes have “saddles”, as you’d have with horse-based polo. You get the idea.

59. Examine origins of special crossword at ninety (4)

Answer: SCAN (i.e. “examine”). “Origins of” indicates the solution is derived by taking the initial letters of SPECIAL CROSSWORD AT NINETY. Another themed clue.

61. Fervently, finally celebrated elite puzzling across 90 years (9)

Answer: EXCITEDLY (i.e. “fervently”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “puzzling”) of D (i.e. “finally celebrated”, i.e. the last letter of “celebrated”) and ELITE wrapped around or placed “across” XC (i.e. “[Roman numerals for] 90”) and then followed by Y (a recognised abbreviation of “years”), like so: E(XC)ITEDL-Y. Another themed clue.

64. Conductor’s inaction’s outrageous (9)

Answer: Arturo TOSCANINI (i.e. “conductor”). “Outrageous” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of INACTION’S. One I knew, weirdly!

65. Want to leave mark on financial institutions (8)

Answer: SCARCITY (i.e. “want”). Solution is SCAR (i.e. “to leave mark”) followed by CITY (i.e. “financial institutions”).

67. Offend Anglicans, passing round half of lewd gag (7)

Answer: SILENCE (i.e. “gag”). Solution is SIN (i.e. “offend”) and CE (i.e. “Anglicans”, i.e. the Church of England) wrapped “round” LE (i.e. “half of lewd”, specifically the first half of “lewd”), like so: SI(LE)N-CE.

69. Old German prince’s shocking treatment, in part after rising (7)

Answer: ELECTOR (i.e. “old German prince” – no, me neither). Solution is ECT (i.e. “shocking treatment”, specifically Electroconvulsive Therapy) placed “in” ROLE (i.e. “part”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “after rising” – this being a down clue), like so: EL(ECT)OR. One gotten from the wordplay alone. I suspect the next five things I read will be coincidentally stuffed full of electors.

72. Writer in The Guardian, or in Le Monde (7)

Answer: Maya ANGELOU (i.e. “writer”). Solution is ANGEL (i.e. “guardian” – ignore the misleading capitalisation) followed by OU (i.e. “or in Le Monde”, Le Monde is a French newspaper, the French for “or” is “ou”. Another gotten solely from the wordplay and a quick check on Wikipedia.

75. Drinks picked up with ear drop (5)

Answer: LAPSE (i.e. “drop”). “Picked up with ear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of LAPS (i.e. “drinks”).

76. Like a difficult jumbo, not like the others? (5)

Answer: ROGUE. Solution satisfies “like a difficult jumbo”, as in a rogue elephant, and “not like the others”. Another themed clue.

77. Twig, at last, Times Cryptic Number One’s being recalled! (5)

Answer: SCION (i.e. “twig”). Solution is S and C (i.e. “at last, Times Cryptic”, i.e. the last letters of “Times” and “Cryptic”) followed by NO (a contraction of “number”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) once they have been reversed (indicated by “being recalled”), like so: S-C-(I-ON). Another themed clue.

81. Field of grass bound to need cutting (3)

Answer: LEA (i.e. “field of grass”). Solution is LEAP (i.e. “bound”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “to need cutting”).

One for the “okay” pile, spoiled for me thanks to a couple of irritating clues. Then again, it might just be me being grumpy. Either way, you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them.

Before any of that, though, a spot of housekeeping. If you’ve come to grief at the hands of a recent Times Jumbo Cryptic then you might find enlightenment in my Just For Fun page. While I’ve got you here, I’ll also take this opportunity to thrust a few mostly horror-related book reviews under your nose, and even a short story, because I’m self-interested nice like that.

That’s all, folks. You can scroll down now.

LP

Across clues

1. Foodstuff succeeded with the best amongst us? (4,5)

Answer: SOUR CREAM (i.e. “foodstuff”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “succeeded”) followed by OUR CREAM (i.e. “the best amongst us”).

6. Fake pictures provided here for Jean and Alan (10)

Answer: ARTIFICIAL (i.e. “fake”). Solution is ART (i.e. “pictures”) followed by IF (i.e. “provided”), then ICI (i.e. “here for Jean”, Jean is a Frenchman’s name, the French for “here” is ICI) and AL (shortened form of “Alan”).

12. Part of UK without long road, strip in capital (7)

Answer: NAIROBI (i.e. “capital” of Kenya). Solution is NI (i.e. “part of UK”, specifically Northern Ireland) placed around or “without” AI (i.e. “long road”, specifically the A1 motorway) and ROB (i.e. “strip”), like so: N(AI-ROB)I.

13. Source of alcohol, two hits left at the end (5-4)

Answer: PUNCH-BOWL (i.e. “source of alcohol”). Solution is PUNCH and BLOW (i.e. “two hits”) with the L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”) placed “at the end”.

14. Man on pitch backing team to be secure again (5)

Answer: REFIX (i.e. “secure again”). Solution is REF (i.e. “man on pitch”, specifically the referee) followed by XI (i.e. ” team”, specifically the Roman numerals for eleven) once it has been reversed (indicated by “backing”), like so: REF-IX.

16. Poet expresses grief vocally in modern development (6,6)

Answer: MILTON KEYNES (i.e. “modern development”). Solution is John MILTON (i.e. “poet”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “vocally”) of KEENS (i.e. “expresses grief”).

17. He requests appeal, one about to break safe (10)

Answer: PETITIONER (i.e. “he requests”). Solution is IT (i.e. “[sex] appeal”) followed by I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and ON (i.e. “about”, as in “this book is on the subject of…”), all wrapped in or “breaking” PETER (a slang name for a safe – I remembered this usage from a previous puzzle), like so: PET(IT-I-ON)ER.

19. Home help with pets is arranged for evildoer (14)

Answer: MEPHISTOPHELES (i.e. “evildoer”). “Arranged” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of HOME HELP and PETS IS. Another I remembered from a previous puzzle.

22. Swallowing drug, hassle at an end for peers (3,5)

Answer: AGE GROUP (i.e. “peers”). Solution is AGGRO (i.e. “hassle”) wrapped around or “swallowing” E (a recognised abbreviation of the “drug” ecstasy) and then followed by UP (i.e. “at an end”, as in “your time is up”), like so: AG(E)GRO-UP.

24. Like director’s second try to knock out Western (4,2)

Answer: TAKE TO (i.e. “[to] like”). Solution is TAKE TWO (i.e. “[film] director’s second try”) with the W (a recognised abbreviation of “Western”) removed (indicated by “to knock out…”).

25. Alcohol reporter’s failed to notice in a haze (6,4)

Answer: SCOTCH MIST (i.e. “haze”). Solution is SCOTCH (i.e. “alcohol”) followed by a homophone (indicated by “reporter’s”) of MISSED (i.e. “failed to notice”).

26. Agile new figure, not feminine (5)

Answer: NIFTY (i.e. “agile”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”) followed by FIFTY (i.e. “[numeric] figure”) with the first F removed (indicated by “not feminine” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “feminine”), like so: N-IFTY.

29. Possibly spots daredevil (4)

Answer: RASH. Solution satisfies “possibly spots” and “daredevil”.

30. Trash, always separate (8)

Answer: DISSEVER (i.e. “separate”). Solution is DISS (i.e. “[to] trash”) followed by EVER (i.e. “always”). One gotten through the wordplay.

32. No longer stocking fruit that’s past it (3,2,4)

Answer: OUT OF DATE. Solution satisfies “no longer stocking fruit” and “past it”.

34. Bound to keep Hanoverian king in a state of distress (9)

Answer: CHAGRINED (i.e. “in a state of distress”). Solution is CHAINED (i.e. “bound”) wrapped around or “keeping” GR (i.e. “Hanoverian king”, specifically the initials for Georgius Rex) like so: CHA(GR)INED.

35. Dissolute clergy look around for sweet stuff (8)

Answer: GLYCEROL (i.e. “sweet stuff”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dissolute”) of CLERGY followed by LO (i.e. “look”, as in “lo and behold”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “around”), like so: GLYCER-OL.

36. Stop pouring wine, having enough now for starters (4)

Answer: WHEN (i.e. “stop pouring”). “For starters” indicates the solution is derived by taking the initial letters of WINE HAVING ENOUGH NOW. Nicely worked.

39. Make confused request about Italian playmaker (5)

Answer: BEFOG (i.e. “make confused”). Solution is BEG (i.e. “request”) placed “about” Dario FO (i.e. “Italian playmaker” – no, me neither), like so: BE(FO)G.

40. Obstruct clerk maybe storing one statue (10)

Answer: FILIBUSTER (i.e. “obstruct”). Solution is FILER (i.e. “clerk maybe”) wrapped around or “storing” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and BUST (i.e. “statue”), like so: FIL(I-BUST)ER.

42. Indian’s rule about summer month, reversing car (6)

Answer: JAGUAR (i.e. “car”). Solution is RAJ (i.e. “Indian’s rule”) wrapped “about” AUG (i.e. “summer month”, specifically August) and the whole “reversed”, like so: JA(GUA)R.

44. Are they adapted for the chase? (8)

Answer: CHEETAHS. “Adapted” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of THE CHASE. In the context of the clue, cheetahs can be said to be well adapted for the chase, being a bit nippy. Nice clue.

46. Striving to enter agreement, clever for sure (14)

Answer: UNQUESTIONABLE (i.e. “for sure”). Solution is QUEST (i.e. “striving” – should that have been “strive”?) placed in or “entering” UNION (i.e. “agreement”) and followed by ABLE (i.e. “clever”). Not great.

48. Caul nun put awry with no respect for time (10)

Answer: UNPUNCTUAL (i.e. “with no respect for time”). “Awry” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CAUL NUN PUT.

49. Carry a dog with hip injured for medical procedure (12)

Answer: CARDIOGRAPHY (i.e. “medical procedure”). “Injured” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of CARRY A DOG and HIP.

53. Musician’s muted then, touring ring road (5)

Answer: SORDO (i.e. “musician’s muted”, i.e. muted in musical lingo). Solution is SO (i.e. “then”) wrapped around or “touring” O (i.e. “ring”) and RD (a recognised abbreviation of “road”), like so: S(O-RD)O. One gotten from the wordplay.

54. Belief of US parent guarding wayward minors (9)

Answer: MORMONISM (i.e. “belief”). Solution is MOM (i.e. “US parent”) wrapped around or “guarding” an anagram (indicated by “wayward”) of MINORS, like so: MO(RMONIS)M.

55. Meal which a large driver might need, it’s said (4,3)

Answer: HIGH TEA (i.e. “meal”). “It’s said” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of HIGH TEE (i.e. “which a large driver might need” – driver, in this case, referring to a golf club).

56. People’s mood around English seaside resort (10)

Answer: FOLKESTONE (i.e. “seaside resort”). Solution is FOLK’S TONE (i.e. “people’s mood”) wrapped “around” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: FOLK(E)’S-TONE.

57. He brings in crop top during race by river (9)

Answer: HARVESTER (i.e. “he brings in crop”). Solution is VEST (i.e. “top”) placed in or “during” HARE (i.e. “[to] race”) and then followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: HAR(VEST)E-R.

Down clues

1. Spades work on the land in silence (5)

Answer: STILL (i.e. “in silence”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “spades” used in card games) followed by TILL (i.e. “work on the land”).

2. Medics run into spacecraft experts without force (10)

Answer: UROLOGISTS (i.e. “medics”). Solution is UFOLOGISTS (i.e. “spacecraft experts”) with the F removed (indicated by “without force” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”) and replaced by R (a recognised abbreviation of “run”).

3. Chirpy sorts caught disease (8)

Answer: CRICKETS (i.e. “chirpy sorts”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “caught” used in a number of ball games) followed by RICKETS (i.e. “disease”).

4. Sentry regularly maintaining redcap’s a dead man (5)

Answer: EMPTY (i.e. “a dead man” – referring to the informal name “dead men” given to empty beer bottles or cans – not one I’ve used myself, but it’s there in the dictionary). Solution is ETY (i.e. “sentry regularly”, i.e. every other letter of SENTRY) wrapped around or “maintaining” MP (i.e. “redcap” – a nickname for Military Police), like so: E(MP)TY. Tricky bugger!

5. Move daintily, satisfied about a food mixture (9)

Answer: MINCEMEAT (i.e. “food mixture”). Solution is MINCE (i.e. “move daintily”) followed by MET (i.e. “satisfied”) once it has been placed “about” A, like so: MINCE-ME(A)T.

6. Long hours in one’s embrace (4)

Answer: ACHE (i.e. to “long” for). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hours”) placed in ACE (i.e. “one” in cards), like so: AC(H)E.

7. Digger may have one phone, ringing bank (6)

Answer: TROWEL (i.e. “digger may have one”). Solution is TEL (i.e. “phone”, as in an abbreviated form of “telephone”) wrapped around or “ringing” ROW (i.e. “bank”), like so: T(ROW)EL.

8. By the way, you’ll find this bit of pie rank (7,7)

Answer: FILLING STATION (i.e. “by the way, you’ll find”, referring to how you’ll find filling stations at the sides of roads). Solution is FILLING (i.e. “bit of pie”) followed by STATION (i.e. “rank”).

9. Nick raving lunatic with iron blade (7,5)

Answer: CARVING KNIFE (i.e. “blade”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “lunatic”) of NICK RAVING followed by FE (chemical symbol of “iron”), like so: CARVINGKNI-FE.

10. Too welcoming female working for Spaniard (7)

Answer: ALFONSO (i.e. “Spaniard”, i.e. a Spanish man’s name). Solution is ALSO (i.e. “too”) wrapped around or “welcoming” F (a recognised abbreviation of “female”) and ON (i.e. switched on or “working”), like so: AL(F-ON)SO.

11. Name remote switches for gauge (10)

Answer: ANEMOMETER (i.e. “[wind] gauge”). “Switches” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of NAME REMOTE.

15. King rising excitedly to hype desert plant, say (9)

Answer: XEROPHYTE (i.e. “desert plant, say”). Solution is REX (Latin for “king”) reversed (indicated by “rising” – this being a down clue) and followed by an anagram (indicated by “excited”) of TO HYPE, like so: XER-OPHYTE. Cool word.

18. Allow Henry coats of armour gamely? It suggests no go (8)

Answer: LETHARGY (i.e. “it suggests [having] no go”). Solution is LET (i.e. “allow”) followed by H (a recognised abbreviation of “henry”, a unit of measurement used in physics – ignore the misleading capitalisation – a new one on me, I’ll admit) and then the first and last letters (indicated by “coats of”) ARMOUR and GREATLY, like so: LET-H-AR-GY.

20. Handle fish on southern British river (9)

Answer: PIKESTAFF (i.e. “handle”). Solution is PIKE (i.e. “fish”) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “southern”) and TAFF (i.e. “British river”).

21. Sets of animals go off, one perhaps on horse (10)

Answer: PACKSADDLE (i.e. “one perhaps on horse”, referring to an item of riding gear). Solution is PACKS (i.e. “sets of animals”) followed by ADDLE (i.e. “[to] go off”).

23. What cooks have is pretension when cooking (3,7)

Answer: TIN OPENERS (i.e. “what cooks have”). “When cooking” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PRETENSION.

27. Second cry goes up – it’s very illuminating (5,4)

Answer: FLASH BULB (i.e. “it’s very illuminating”). Solution is FLASH (i.e. “second”, both short periods of time) followed by BLUB (i.e. “cry”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “goes up” – this being a down clue), like so: FLASH-BULB.

28. Good to stop paper’s error, which shows a trend (4,2,3,5)

Answer: SIGN OF THE TIMES (i.e. “trend”). Solution is SIN OF THE TIMES (i.e. “[news]paper’s error”) wrapped around or “stopped” by G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: SI(G)N-OF-THE-TIMES.

31. See Bill grabbing country drifter (8)

Answer: VAGABOND (i.e. “drifter”). Not 100% on this one, so watch out. I get that V is “see” (being a recognised abbreviation of “vide”, Latin for “see” – I’ve seen this in a few puzzles now) and BOND can be “bill”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation. The wordplay would suggest “country” is then placed between these (indicated by “grabbing”), like so: V-(AGA)-BOND, but I can’t see why AGA would be “country”. Nothing’s jumping out at me in my Chambers or Oxford. My Bradford’s is dry on this one too, plus AGA isn’t a recognised three-letter code for a country. Even Wikipedia shrugs its shoulders. So, yeah, jiggered.
[EDIT: Thanks to Steve in the comments for bailing me out of this one. The country in question was GABON, with AD (i.e. short for advertisement, i.e. “bill”) wrapped around it. V was as I had it above. The solution is therefore V-A(GABON)D. One of those ones where I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. Thanks again, Steve! – LP]

33. Murder story in book woke Peter? (8,4)

Answer: BRIGHTON ROCK (“murder story” by Graham Greene. Solution is B (a recognised abbreviation of “book”) followed by RIGHT ON (i.e. “woke”) and ROCK (i.e. “peter” – ignore the misleading capitalisation – it’s not backed up by my Chambers or my Oxford but it is listed in my Bradford’s – I guess as a shortened form of saltpetre, spelled saltpeter in the US).
[EDIT: Hat-tips to a number of commenters who highlighted that Peter = Rock on account of a quote from the Bible, specifically in Matthew 16:18. Thanks, all! – LP]

34. Swiss bank firm plugging reductions for youthful members (3,6)

Answer: CUB SCOUTS (i.e. “youthful members”). Solution is UBS (i.e. “Swiss bank”) and CO (a recognised abbreviation of “company”, i.e. “firm”) placed in or “plugging” CUTS (i.e. “reductions”), like so: C(UBS-CO)UTS.

37. Gardener cultivated runners around May, oddly (10)

Answer: NURSERYMAN (i.e. “gardener”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cultivated”) of RUNNERS which is wrapped “around” another anagram (indicated by “oddly”) of MAY, like so: NURSER(YMA)N.

38. Vehicle producer in decline? True, so we hear (10)

Answer: WAINWRIGHT (i.e. “vehicle producer”). “So we hear” indicates homophone. Solution comprises homophones of WANE (i.e. “in decline”) and RIGHT (i.e. “true”).

41. Delicate silk initially that French put on some Protestants (9)

Answer: SQUEAMISH (i.e. “delicate”). Solution is S (i.e. “silk initially”, i.e. the first letter of “silk”) followed by QUE (i.e. “that French”, i.e. the French for “that”) then AMISH (i.e. “some Protestants”).

43. South American dictator briefly seizing lead in Latin American game (8)

Answer: PINOCHLE (i.e. “American [card] game” – backed up by my Oxford, but Wikipedia begs to differ, suggesting the game was only popular in America, not invented there). Solution is Augusto PINOCHET (i.e. “South American dictator”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder wrapped around or “seizing” L (i.e. “lead in Latin”, i.e. the first letter of “Latin”), like so: PINOCH(L)E.

45. Greenery some pasture’s part of (7)

Answer: ESPARTO (i.e. “greenery”). “Some” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: PASTUR(E’S PART O)F. One gotten from the wordplay and a quick check in my Chambers.

47. One involved in puzzling over style (6)

Answer: HAIRDO (i.e. “style”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed or “involved in” HARD (i.e. “puzzling”) and followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket), like so: HA(I)RD-O.

50. Object that’s not quite proper (5)

Answer: DEMUR (i.e. “[to] object”). Solution is DEMURE (i.e. “proper”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “not quite”).

51. Old man’s half-hearted sales pitch (5)

Answer: PATER (i.e. “old man”). Solution is PATTER (i.e. “sales pitch”) with one of the middle Ts removed (indicated by “half-hearted”).

52. Learner given literary work that’s a rich source of material (4)

Answer: LODE (i.e. “rich source of material”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”) followed by ODE (i.e. “literary work”).

Another good one this week – probably the best one in quite a while, with several well-worked clues and a couple that raised a titter. More like this please, setters!

You can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them useful. Before we jump in, please excuse me while I get the old lemonade stand out for a bit. If you dig on horror stories then you might want to swing by my Reviews page, where I’m (slowly) working my way through Stephen Jones’s Best New Horror series. (I’ll have a review of BNH12 shortly after posting this, as it’s been a while.) I’ve even stuck one of my own stories on here somewhere. If you’re here for the answers to a few past Times Jumbo Cryptics, then my Just for Fun page is the place to head.

Right then, to the answers!

LP

Across clues

1. Feel wobbly and empty, sick inside (9)

Answer: VACILLATE (i.e. “feel wobbly”). Solution is VACATE (i.e. “[to] empty”) with ILL (i.e. “sick”) placed “inside” like so: VAC(ILL)ATE.

6. New charger perhaps needs constant plugging in to central point (5)

Answer: FOCAL (i.e. “central point”). Solution is FOAL (i.e. “new charger perhaps”, referring to a young horse) wrapped around or “plugging in” C (a recognised abbreviation of “constant”), like so: FO(C)AL.

9. It’s no use if it’s flat as a pancake? (7)

Answer: BATTERY. Solution satisfies “it’s no use if it’s flat” and “as a pancake”, typically made from batter. One of several clues that made me smile when I clocked the solution.

13. Minister taking on Brussels after U-turn – it’s a bit of theatre (5)

Answer: REVUE (i.e. “it’s a bit of theatre”). Solution is REV (i.e. “minister”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “Reverend”) followed by EU (short for the European Union, often informally referred to as “Brussels”) which is reversed (indicated by “after U-turn”), like so: REV-UE.

14. Shady relative joining leader of anarchist resistance (7)

Answer: UNCLEAR (i.e. “shady”). Solution is UNCLE (i.e. “relative”) followed by the initial letters or “leaders” of “anarchist” and “resistance”, like so: UNCLE-A-R.

15. Opener of Irish county’s team (9)

Answer: CORKSCREW (i.e. “opener”). When read as CORK’S CREW the solution also satisfies “Irish county’s team”.

16. Back after divorce in a flash (5,6)

Answer: SPLIT SECOND (i.e. “in a flash”). Solution is SECOND (i.e. “[to] back”) placed “after” SPLIT (i.e. “divorce”). A repeat from last week, which is a little disappointing.

17. Exactly where to press? (2,3,6)

Answer: ON THE BUTTON. Solution satisfies “exactly” and “where to press”.

18. Court maintaining right of possession for customer (6)

Answer: CLIENT (i.e. “customer”). Solution is CT (a recognised abbreviation of “court”) wrapped around or “maintaining” LIEN (i.e. “right of possession”), like so: C(LIEN)T. Another repeat from last week with rather a similar clue, which is a little more disappointing.

19. Quickly take off Mel’s bra after fiddling with catch at first (8)

Answer: SCRAMBLE (i.e. “quickly take off”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “after fiddling”) of MEL’S BRA and C (i.e. “catch at first”, i.e. the first letter of “catch”). A clue that scans rather well.

21. Angel dust haul abandoned by a copper (2,4)

Answer: PC PLOD (i.e. “copper”). Solution is PCP (a drug with the street name “angel dust”) followed by LOAD (i.e. “haul”) once the A had been removed (indicated by “abandoned by a”), like so: PCP-LOD.

25. Took off gripping comedian in the end, receiving undemanding pap? (8)

Answer: SPOONFED (i.e. “receiving undemanding pap”). Solution is SPOOFED (i.e. copied or “took off”) wrapped around or “gripping” N (i.e. “comedian in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “comedian”), like so: SPOO(N)FED.

26. Ruthless traders like places with tourists (5,9)

Answer: ASSET STRIPPERS (i.e. “ruthless traders”). Solution is AS (i.e. “like”) followed by SETS (i.e. “places”) and TRIPPERS (i.e. “tourists”). Another clue that scans really well.

28. Gourmand leaving starter to get thin (5)

Answer: REEDY (i.e. “thin”). Solution is GREEDY (i.e. “gourmand”) with its initial letter removed (indicated by “leaving starter”). Another good ‘un.

29. I’ll be seized by hallucinatory experiences after knocking back mescal? (6)

Answer: SPIRIT (i.e. “mescal” – other booze is available). Solution is I placed in or being “seized by” TRIPS (i.e. “hallucinatory experiences”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “after knocking back”), like so: SPIR(I)T. Again, good!

30. Gets into difficulty at dance that stays open late? (6,4)

Answer: CORNER SHOP (i.e. “that stays open late”). Solution is CORNERS (i.e. “gets [one] into difficulty”) followed by HOP (i.e. “dance”).

33. Bronze pater with child bust (5,5)

Answer: THIRD PLACE (i.e. “bronze [medal]”). “Bust” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of PATER and CHILD.

35. Go along with scam by scoundrel (6)

Answer: CONCUR (i.e. “go along with”). Solution is CON (i.e. “scam”) followed by CUR (i.e. “scoundrel”). Another clue that scans well.

36. Party to identify with opposition? (5)

Answer: BEANO (i.e. “party”). When read as BE A NO the solution also satisfies “identify with opposition”.

38. On the other hand, I may be captivated by startled hooting call of birds (14)

Answer: ORNITHOLOGICAL (i.e. “of birds”). Solution is OR (i.e. “on the other hand”) followed by I once it has been placed in or “captivated by” an anagram (indicated by “startled”) of HOOTING CALL, like so: OR-N(I)THOLOGICAL.

40. Raise a miserable, tailless entrant for Crufts? (8)

Answer: COCKAPOO, a cross between an American cocker spaniel and a miniature poodle (i.e. “entrant for Crufts”). Solution is COCK (i.e. “raise” – wahey!) followed by A and POOR (i.e. “miserable”) once the last letter has been removed (indicated by “tailless”), like so: COCK-A-POO. A rather fitting clue.

42. Ruins girl entering high society with gentleman after rejection (6)

Answer: DEBRIS (i.e. “ruins”). Solution is DEB (i.e. “girl entering high society”, i.e. a recognised abbreviation of “debutante” – something I remembered from a previous puzzle) followed by SIR (i.e. “gentleman”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “after rejection”), like so: DEB-RIS.

43. Macho types going topless by day? Correct (8)

Answer: EMENDATE (i.e. “[to] correct”). Solution is HE-MEN (i.e. “macho types”) with the initial letter removed (indicated by “going topless”) and followed by DATE (i.e. “day”), like so: EMEN-DATE.

44. I would love to interrupt hostile folly (6)

Answer: IDIOCY (i.e. “folly”). Solution is I’D (a contraction of “I would”) followed by O (i.e. “love”, being a zero score in tennis) once it has been placed in or “interrupting” ICY (i.e. “hostile”), like so: I’D-I(O)CY.

47. State legislator and detective ringing space station repeatedly, before one (11)

Answer: MISSISSIPPI (i.e. “[US] state”). Solution is MP (i.e. “legislator”, specifically a Member of Parliament) and PI (i.e. “detective”, specifically a Private Investigator) wrapped around or “ringing” ISS and ISS (i.e. “space station repeatedly”, ISS being the International Space Station) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) like so: M(ISS-ISS-I)P-PI.

50. Unorthodox religions embraced by established church advisor (11)

Answer: CONSIGLIERE (i.e. “advisor”, especially to a Mafia godfather). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unorthodox”) of RELIGIONS placed in CE (i.e. “established church”, specifically the Church of England), like so: C(ONSIGLIER)E.

52. Put slant on appeal: one’s encapsulated by Lewis’s girl (9)

Answer: ITALICISE (i.e. “put slant on”). Solution is IT (i.e. “[sex] appeal”) followed by I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) once is has been placed in or “encapsulated by” ALICE (i.e. “Lewis [Carroll]’s girl”), like so: IT-ALIC(I’S)E.

53. Literary festival town collecting listeners’ gossip (7)

Answer: HEARSAY (i.e. “gossip”). Solution is HAY (i.e. “literary festival town”) wrapped around or “collecting” EARS (i.e. “listeners”), like so: H(EARS)AY.

54. Places for audio visual experience (5)

Answer: SITES (i.e. “places”). “Audio” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of SIGHTS (i.e. “visual experience”). Another good clue.

55. Taser perhaps hurt one (4,3)

Answer: STUN GUN (i.e. “Taser perhaps” – other brands are available in your local self-defence superstore). Solution is STUNG (i.e. “hurt”) followed by UN (i.e. “one”, as in a young ‘un or a wrong ‘un).

56. Sample of titbit as temptation? (5)

Answer: TASTE (i.e. “sample”). “Of” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: TITBI(T AS TE)MPTATION.

57. Star to write signature and stuff (9)

Answer: PENTAGRAM (i.e. “star”). Solution is PEN (i.e. “to write”) followed by TAG (i.e. “signature”) and RAM (i.e. “[to] stuff”).

Down clues

1. Corrupting influence of Lenin initially on Russia (5)

Answer: VIRUS (i.e. “corrupting influence”). Solution is VI (i.e. “Lenin initially”, referring to the initials of his forenames, Vladimir Ilyich) followed by RUS (a recognised abbreviation of “Russia”). Another good clue.

2. King endorsed this polite refusal (5,12)

Answer: CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. Clue refers to Martin Luther “King’s endorsement” of civil disobedience during the civil rights movement in the United States. Solution is CIVIL (i.e. “polite”) followed by DISOBEDIENCE (i.e. “refusal”).

3. Place property to get commission (11)

Answer: LIEUTENANCY (i.e. “commission”). Solution is LIEU (i.e. “place”, as “in lieu of”) followed by TENANCY (i.e. “property”).

4. Perception of area combined with space (6)

Answer: ACUMEN (i.e. “perception”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) followed by CUM (i.e. “combined with” in Latin) then EN (i.e. “space”, referring to a printer’s term for a space that is the width of an “n”).

5. Invade enclosure with fish (8)

Answer: ENCROACH (i.e. “invade”). Solution is ENC (a recognised abbreviation of “enclosure” used in formal correspondence) followed by ROACH (i.e. “fish”).

6. Shrink underwear? Could be a revealing error (8,4)

Answer: FREUDIAN SLIP. Solution satisfies “could be a revealing error” and, humorously, “shrink underwear”, referring to famous psychiatrist or “shrink” Sigmund FREUD. Well, I thought it was funny.

7. Cook could be on top of ratings – such a one? (6,4)

Answer: CORDON BLEU, a chef or “cook” of the highest excellence (i.e. “on top of ratings”). There’s probably something clever I’ve missed here.
[EDIT: Thanks to zouzoulap in the comments for shedding light on this one. “Cook” turns out to be not only the operative word of the clue but an anagram indicator, specifically of COULD BE ON and R (indicated by “top of ratings”, i.e. the first letter of “ratings”). Cleverly disguised. I like it! – LP]

8. Sparked up around Jersey etc – it’s legal (5)

Answer: LICIT (i.e. “legal”). Solution is LIT (i.e. “sparked up”) wrapped “around” CI (i.e. “Jersey etc”, referring to the Channel Islands), like so: LI(CI)T.

9. Glance up captivated by stripper, one working in pub? (9)

Answer: BARKEEPER (i.e. “one working in pub”). Solution is PEEK (i.e. “glance”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and placed in or “captivated by” BARER (i.e. “stripper”), like so: BAR(KEEP)ER.

10. It may be useful for coverage of present time to publish Times, say (6,5)

Answer: TISSUE PAPER (i.e. “it may be useful for coverage of present”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by ISSUE (i.e. “to publish”) and PAPER (i.e. “Times, say”).

11. Water bird lifted out of detergent (5)

Answer: EGRET (i.e. “water bird”). “Lifted out of” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue. There is no reversal indicator, however, which is a bit off. Anyway, you can see the solution reversed in the clue, like so: DE(TERGE)NT.

12. Unknown number in flight going off course (6)

Answer: YAWING (i.e. “going off course”). Solution is Y (i.e. “unknown number” – setters love using “unknown” to represent the letters X, Y or Z in their solutions) followed by AWING (i.e. “in flight”).

18. Players getting restricted food allocation having nuts taken away (10)

Answer: CASTRATION (i.e. “having nuts taken away” – being the massive child I am, this made me chuckle when I got it and it still makes me chuckle as I type this). Solution is CAST (i.e. “players”) followed by RATION (i.e. “restricted food allocation”). Excellent clue!

20. Settle North and South Carolina, held by English formerly (8)

Answer: ENSCONCE (i.e. “settle”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “north” – ignore the misleading capitalisation) and SC (ditto “South Carolina”) placed or being “held by” E (ditto “English”) and ONCE (i.e. “formerly”), like so: E-(N-SC)-ONCE.

22. Display tool that’ll forecast costs? (8,9)

Answer: OVERHEAD PROJECTOR. Solution satisfies “display tool” and something that’ll project overheads or “forecast costs”. Another that made me smile when I twigged the solution.

23. Sly type overhearing cunning plan will (6)

Answer: WEASEL (i.e. “sly type”). “Overhearing” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of WHEEZE (i.e. “cunning plan”) and ‘LL (a contraction of “will”). (Makes so-so gesture.)

24. Hopes dashed by record held by party lacking skill in political science (10)

Answer: PSEPHOLOGY (i.e. “political science”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dashed”) of HOPES along with LOG (i.e. “record”) both placed in or “held by” PY (i.e. “party lacking skill”, i.e. the word PARTY with the ART removed), like so: P(SEPHO-LOG)Y. I had a feeling this would be a word beginning with “ps”, so luckily it didn’t take much finding in my Chambers.

27. Reveal record miss (8)

Answer: DISCLOSE (i.e. “reveal”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “[vinyl] record”) followed by LOSE (i.e. “miss”).

31. What might indicate direction to Arctic strait (6)

Answer: NARROW (i.e. “strait”). When read as N ARROW, the solution also satisfies “what might indicate direction to Arctic” – N being a recognised abbreviation of “north”. For most of this puzzle, I’d mistakenly had this down as BERING. It didn’t help.

32. To show deference, say, play second fiddle with diminishing level of skill (3,3,6)

Answer: BOW AND SCRAPE (i.e. “to show deference”). Solution also satisfies “play…fiddle with diminishing level of skill”, referring to how one would play the fiddle badly with a bow. Something like that, anyway.

34. Deciding to put off fossil fuel production? (11)

Answer: DETERMINING (i.e. “deciding”). When read as DETER MINING, the solution also satisfies “put off fossil fuel production”.

36. Drastic potential result of global warming’s course (5,6)

Answer: BAKED ALASKA (i.e. “[dessert] course”). Solution riffs on how global warming would cause Alaska to heat up. You get the idea.

37. Party defeats Greens? (4,6)

Answer: SIDE DISHES (i.e. “greens” – ignore the misleading capitalisation). Bloody hell, this took some figuring, especially when you only have the letters _I_E/_I_H_S to work with. The solution is SIDE (i.e. “party”, e.g. one side or “party” of a transaction) followed by DISHES (i.e. “defeats”. I thought this might have been to “dish” someone in a game of eight-ball pool, which is win leaving all your opponent’s balls on the table, but it seems this usage isn’t supported by any dictionary I have. My Oxford did have “to dish” as to soundly to defeat someone, so there you go).

39. Sob, racked with noises showing infatuation (9)

Answer: OBSESSION (i.e. “infatuation”). “Racked” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of SOB and NOISES.

41. Fails to meet to pay for drink (6,2)

Answer: STANDS UP (i.e. “fails to meet”). Solution is STAND (i.e. “to pay for”) followed by SUP (i.e. “drink”).

45. Filth put up with always initially in communications (6)

Answer: EMAILS (i.e. “communications”). Solution is A (i.e. “always initially”, i.e. the first letter of “always”) placed “in” SLIME (i.e. “filth”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “put up” – this being a down clue), like so: EM(A)ILS.

46. African party member lifting vote against (6)

Answer: LIBYAN (i.e. “African”). Solution is LIB (i.e. “party member”, specifically a member of the Liberal Democrats) followed by NAY (i.e. “[a] vote against”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “lifting” – this being a down clue), like so: LIB-YAN.

48. United supporters turning up for typical shambles (5)

Answer: SNAFU (i.e. “typical shambles” – referring to a US Military acronym that stands for Situation Normal All Fucked Up). Solution is U (a recognised abbreviation of “united”) followed by FANS (i.e. “supporters”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “turning up” – again, this being a down clue), like so: SNAF-U. Apologies if you caught some inappropriate language picked up by our dictionaries just then.

49. Fuel contains lead in Laos, one’s gathered (5)

Answer: PLEAT (i.e. “one’s gathered”). Solution is PEAT (i.e. “fuel”) wrapped around or “containing” L (i.e. “lead in Laos”, i.e. the first letter of “Laos”), like so: P(L)EAT.

51. Course of salts? (5)

Answer: EPSOM. Solution satisfies “[race]course” and “salts”.

Here’s my completed grid for this week’s Times Jumbo cryptic, along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. If you have a previous Jumbo that’s given you sleepless nights chewing over a few pesky clues, then my Just For Fun page might help you out. While I’ve got you here, I might as well hawk a few other things to help idle away a quiet half hour, such as my reviews page or a short story. Hey, a guy’s gotta try!

And so to the answers….

LP

Across clues

1. Material provided by trader, £50 being spent by gullible person (10)

Answer: SEERSUCKER (i.e. “material” – not one I’m overly familiar with). Solution is SELLER (i.e. “trader”) with the LL removed (indicated by “£50 being spent” – a cheeky one this: L is the Roman numeral for 50, meanwhile L is also a recognised abbreviation of “pounds”, albeit pounds of weight rather than currency) and the remainder followed by SUCKER (i.e. “gullible person”), like so: SEER-SUCKER. One gotten through the wordplay only.

6. Best performances at athletics stadium in lists of achievements (5,7)

Answer: TRACK RECORDS. Solution satisfies “best performances at athletic stadium” and “lists of achievements”.

14. Native beginning to settle in Lincoln (9)

Answer: ABORIGINE (i.e. “native”). Solution is ORIGIN (i.e. “beginning”) placed or “settling in” ABE (i.e. “Lincoln”, specifically Abraham Lincoln), like so: AB(ORIGIN)E.

15. Top name for chocolate? (5)

Answer: BROWN (i.e. “chocolate”). Solution is BROW (i.e. “top”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”).

16. Son and friend holding City of London area to be remarkably good (7)

Answer: SPECIAL (i.e. “remarkably good”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) and PAL (i.e. “friend”) wrapped around or “holding” ECI (i.e. “City of London area”, i.e. the postcode area EC1), like so: S-P(ECI)AL.

17. Problematic jumbo, one of those things being ignored in Chambers! (8,2,3,4)

Answer: ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, being an obvious problem that people do not wish to acknowledge. Clue riffs on “jumbo” being another word for an elephant, and “chamber” being another word for a room. You get the idea. A clue that reads rather well, given its context.

18. 15 out of practice? (5)

Answer: RUSTY. Solution satisfies “15” – the solution to 15a being BROWN, the colour of rust – and “out of practice”.

19. More than one group in Paris is absorbed by gangs (7)

Answer: SESTETS, which are “groups” of six. The “more than one” indicates the solution is a plural. Solution is EST (i.e. “in Paris is”, i.e. the French for “is”) placed in or “absorbed by” SETS (i.e. “gangs”), like so: S(EST)ETS.

21. Fellow not upper-class embraces girl void of expression (6)

Answer: GLASSY (i.e. “void of expression”). Solution is GUY (i.e. “fellow”) with the U removed (indicated by “not upper-class” – U being a recognised abbreviation for the upper-class) and the remainder wrapped around or “embracing” LASS (i.e. “girl”), like so: G(LASS)Y.

22. Command to surrender one’s arms (8)

Answer: ORDNANCE (i.e. “arms”). Solution is ORDINANCE (i.e. “command”) with the I removed (indicated by “to surrender one” – I being the Roman numeral for “one”).

24. Foolish African dictator, old and twitching (7)

Answer: IDIOTIC (i.e. “foolish”). Solution is IDI Amin (i.e. “African dictator”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and TIC (i.e. “twitching”).

26. Bear, say, getting caught in elaborate trap, oddly (8)

Answer: TETRAPOD (i.e. “bear, say”, along with a sizeable chunk of the animal kingdom). “Caught in” indicates the solution is hidden in the clue, like so: ELABORA(TE TRAP OD)DLY. This was the last clue I solved and took a while for me to spot what was going on. Nicely played.

27. Old city goddess appears in street, looking back (6)

Answer: THEBES (i.e. “old city”). Solution is HEBE (i.e. Greek “goddess” of youth) placed “in” ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) once it has been reversed (indicated by “looking back”), like so: T(HEBE)S.

30. Use video device to show rugby player moving rapidly (4-7)

Answer: FAST-FORWARD. Solution satisfies “use video device” and “rugby player moving rapidly”.

32. Mother has performing career with that US writer (5,6)

Answer: DAMON RUNYON (i.e. “US writer” – no, me neither). Solution is DAM (i.e. “mother”, usually of cattle, horses etc – again, me neither) followed by ON (i.e. “performing”), then RUN (i.e. to sprint or “career”) and YON (i.e. a poetic “that”). Sheesh!

33. Organise office, beginning to end, providing areas for growth (11)

Answer: PLANTATIONS (i.e. “areas for growth”). Solution is PLAN (i.e. “organise”) followed by STATION (i.e. “office”) once its first letter has been placed at the end (indicated by “beginning to end”), like so: PLAN-TATIONS.

35. Adriatic resort almost the best for a very brief period (5,6)

Answer: SPLIT SECOND (i.e. “very brief period”). Solution is SPLIT (i.e. “Adriatic resort”) followed by SECOND (i.e. “almost the best”).

37. Everything serf wanted after end of enslavement (3,3)

Answer: THE LOT (i.e. “everything”). Solution is HELOT (i.e. “serf” – a word I’m wise to now it’s been used a few times) placed “after” T (i.e. “end of enslavement”, i.e. the last letter of “enslavement”), like so: T-HELOT. Another clue that scans really well.

38. Misunderstanding of French hero going round America (8)

Answer: DELUSION (i.e. “misunderstanding”). Solution is DE (i.e. “of French”, i.e. the French for “of”) followed by LION (i.e. “hero”) once it has been placed “round” US (i.e. “America”), like so: DE-L(US)ION.

39. Trendy type greeting Bill, exuding love (7)

Answer: HIPSTER (i.e. “trendy type”). Solution is HI (i.e. “greeting”) followed by POSTER (i.e. “bill” – ignore the misleading capitalisation) once the O has been removed (indicated by “exuding love” – “love” being a zero score in tennis), like so: HI-PSTER.

42. Designer of home – bit of a hole with nothing right (8)

Answer: INVENTOR (i.e. “designer”). Solution is IN (i.e. “[at] home”) followed by VENT (i.e. “bit of a hole”) then O (i.e. “nothing”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”).

44. At end of loud game girl is restrained (6)

Answer: FRUGAL (i.e. “restrained”). Solution is F (a recognised abbreviation of “forte”, which is “loud” in musical lingo) followed by RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union) and GAL (i.e. “girl”). The “at end of ” bit seems a bit redundant, so I might not have this 100% right.

46. Town sending family member round the twist (7)

Answer: SWINDON (i.e. “town”). Solution is SON (i.e. “family member”) wrapped “round” WIND (i.e. “twist”), like so: S(WIND)ON.

48. Hooter’s small cry of pain? (5)

Answer: OWLET, a baby owl (i.e. “hooter”). The “small cry of pain” jokingly hints at an “ow!”, using the suffix -let to indicate a little ‘un.

49. Working group that may be sitting, despite what you may think? (8,9)

Answer: STANDING COMMITTEE (i.e. “working group”). Clue plays on how “standing” and “sitting” are opposites. You get the idea.

51. What’s large and icy, endlessly moving? (7)

Answer: GLACIER (i.e. “what’s large and icy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “moving”) of LARGE and ICY, once the last letter Y has been removed (indicated by “endlessly”). Nicely played.

52. Secret societies? They pick up things (5)

Answer: TONGS. Solution satisfies “secret [Chinese] societies” and “they pick up things”.

53. Loony ran up tree in delight (9)

Answer: ENRAPTURE (i.e. “delight”). “Loony” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of RAN UP TREE.

54. Frenchman understood the thing about article editor dealt with afresh (12)

Answer: RENEGOTIATED (i.e. “dealt with afresh”). Solution is RENE (i.e. “Frenchman”) followed by GOT (i.e. “understood”) then IT (i.e. “the thing”) once it has been wrapped “about” A (i.e. “article”), and finally finished with ED (a recognised abbreviation of “editor”), like so: RENE-GOT-I(A)T-ED.

55. It’s imprudent, not having more than one part, we hear (10)

Answer: INDISCREET (i.e. “imprudent”). “We hear” indicates homophone. Solution is a homophone of INDISCRETE (i.e. “not having more than one part”).

Down clues

1. Head of school was worried – dead body – terribly frightened! (6,5)

Answer: SCARED STIFF (i.e. “terribly frightened”). Solution is S (i.e. “head of school”, i.e. the first letter of “school”) followed by CARED (i.e. “was worried”) and STIFF (i.e. “dead body”).

2. Escape as European heading north, then east (5)

Answer: ELOPE (i.e. “escape [to marry]”). Solution is POLE (i.e. “European”) reversed (indicated by “heading north” – this being a down clue) and followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”), like so: ELOP-E.

3. Most modest learner in expression of frustration over exam? (9)

Answer: SLIGHTEST (i.e. “most modest”). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”) placed “in” SIGH (i.e. “expression of frustration”) and followed by TEST (i.e. “exam”), like so: S(L)IGH-TEST.

4. Customers more or less right? Foremost of trusty shoppers (7)

Answer: CLIENTS (i.e. “customers”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “circa”, i.e. “more or less”) followed by LIEN (i.e. a “right” to hold another’s property) and the initial or “foremost” letters of “Trusty” and “Supporters”, like so: C-LIEN-T-S.

5. When the light goes down, say, with poison being swallowed (7)

Answer: EVENING (i.e. “when the light goes down”). Solution is EG (i.e. “say”, as in “for example”) wrapped around or “swallowing” VENIN (i.e. “poison”), like so: E(VENIN)G. Chalk one to my Bradfords for the poison bit.

7. Deployed soldier had to protect northern state (5,6)

Answer: RHODE ISLAND (i.e. “[US] state”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “deployed”) of SOLDIER HAD wrapped around or “protected” by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), like so: RHODEISLA(N)D.

8. Insincere talk about country’s division (6)

Answer: CANTON (i.e. “country’s division”). Solution is CANT (i.e. “insincere talk”) followed by ON (i.e. “about”).

9. Herb’s woman (8)

Answer: ROSEMARY. Solution satisfies “herb” and “woman”. Also my benefactress for a few reference books used in these blog posts. (Tips hat.)

10. Acting before moving home, maybe, one deals with financial matters (8,5)

Answer: CLEARING HOUSE. Solution satisfies “acting before moving house” and “one deals with financial matters”.

11. Stops wickedness after period of monarchy, not good (5,2)

Answer: REINS IN (i.e. “stops”). Solution is SIN (i.e. “wickedness”) placed “after” REIGN (i.e. “period of monarchy”) once the G has been removed (indicated by “not good” – G being a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: REIN-SIN.

12. Lousy essay son’s penned badly in period not taken seriously? (5,6)

Answer: SILLY SEASON (i.e. “period not taken seriously”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “lousy”) of ESSAY SON wrapped around or “penning” ILL (i.e. “badly”), like so: S(ILL)YSEASON.

13. Taken away, being scatterbrained (10)

Answer: ABSTRACTED. Solution satisfies “taken away” and “scatterbrained”.

20. Well-presented fruits eaten by quiet zoo animal? (9)

Answer: SHIPSHAPE (i.e. “well-presented”). Solution is HIPS (i.e. “fruits” of a rose) placed in or being “eaten by” SH (i.e. “quiet”) and followed by APE (i.e. “zoo animal”), like so: S(HIPS)H-APE.

23. Supporting one of Ireland’s heads, offering a solution (8)

Answer: FORMALIN (i.e. “solution”). Solution is FOR (i.e. “supporting”) followed by MALIN (i.e. “one of Ireland’s heads”, and the most northerly part of the island of Ireland, it says here). Chalk another one to my Bradfords here.

25. Minister – scoundrel and mischief maker (6)

Answer: CURATE (i.e. “minister”). Solution is CUR (i.e. “scoundrel”) followed by ATE (i.e. “mischief maker”, referring to Ate, the Greek goddess of mischief).

26. Rips around socks? Hard to avoid that in prickly plants (3,5)

Answer: TEA ROSES (i.e. “prickly plants”). Solution is TEARS (i.e. “rips”) placed “around” HOSE (i.e. “socks”) once the H has been removed (indicated by “hard to avoid” – H being a recognised abbreviation of “hard”), like so: TEAR(OSE)S.

28. Ostracised son sent to bed, young lout as was (9)

Answer: BOYCOTTED (i.e. “ostracised”). Solution is BOY (i.e. “son”) followed by COT (i.e. “bed”) and TED (i.e. “young lout, as was”, short for a Teddy boy).

29. Tin deposited on long grass (6)

Answer: SNITCH (i.e. “grass”). Solution is SN (chemical symbol of “tin”) followed by ITCH (i.e. to yearn for or “long”).

31. Offer made by generous tailor is no good at all (3,3,7)

Answer: FIT FOR NOTHING. Solution satisfies “offer made by generous tailor” and “no good at all”. A clue that scans rather well.

33. State of bewilderment in domesticated and wild animals gets one quibbling (11)

Answer: PETTIFOGGER (i.e. “one quibbling”). Solution is FOG (i.e. “state of bewilderment”) placed “in” PET (i.e. “domesticated…animal”) and TIGER (i.e. “wild animal”), like so: PET-TI(FOG)GER.

34. Social activity after nine maybe, old tribe attending church (6,5)

Answer: SQUARE DANCE (i.e. “social activity”). Solution is SQUARE (i.e. “nine maybe”, referring to the square of 3) followed by DAN (i.e. “old tribe [of Israel]” – I remembered this from a previous puzzle) and CE (i.e. “church”, specifically the Church of England”).

35. Smart head – one concealed lack of generosity (10)

Answer: STINGINESS (i.e. “lack of generosity”). Solution is STING (i.e. “smart”) and NESS (i.e. “head”, as in the geographical feature) wrapped around or “concealing” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: STING-(I)-NESS.

36. Ten men raged, out to create disorder (11)

Answer: DERANGEMENT (i.e. “disorder”). “Out” indicates anagram. Solution is an anagram of TEN MEN RAGED.

40. Oration of Greek character delivered with insolence – listener’s choice (9)

Answer: PHILIPPIC (i.e. “oration”, and a particularly angry one at that). Solution is PHI (i.e. “Greek character”, specifically the twenty-first letter of the Greek alphabet) followed by LIP (i.e. “insolence”) and PIC (i.e. “listener’s choice”, i.e. a homophone of the word PICK). Another I remembered from a previous puzzle, if I’m honest. Hmm. Looks like I’d spelled it incorrectly back then too. (Facepalms oneself.)

41. Spar bends on rough trip (8)

Answer: BOWSPRIT (i.e. “spar [of a ship]”). Solution is BOWS (i.e. “bends”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “rough”) of TRIP, like so: BOWS-PRIT.

43. Scoundrel is outwardly conceited, inwardly wicked (7)

Answer: VILLAIN (i.e. “scoundrel”). Solution is VAIN (i.e. “conceited”) placed “outwardly” of ILL (i.e. “wicked”), like so: V(ILL)AIN. Another clue that reads well.

45. Hannibal? Carthaginian finally making a stand (7)

Answer: LECTERN (i.e. “stand”). Solution is “Hannibal” LECTER, a character featuring in several Thomas Harris novels, followed by N (i.e. “Carthaginian finally”, i.e. the last letter of “Carthaginian”).

46. Old city captured by fantastic Masai warrior (7)

Answer: SAMURAI (i.e. “warrior”). Solution is UR (i.e. “old city”, a favourite of setters) placed in or “captured by” an anagram (indicated by “fantastic”) of MASAI, like so: SAM(UR)AI.

47. Popular phrase – snare for a bloke, almost (6)

Answer: MANTRA (i.e. “popular phase”). Solution is MAN-TRAP (i.e. “snare for a bloke”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “almost”).

50. End of the short uprising, break from hostilities (5)

Answer: TRUCE (i.e. “break from hostilities”). Solution is E (i.e. “end of the”, i.e. the last letter of “the”) followed by CURT (i.e. “short”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “uprising”, this being a down clue), like so: TRUC-E.