Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings (2024)

A medium strength Jumbo, and another with a solid showing of fine clueing. Seems we’re on a good little run of these.

Now that the competition deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If a recent Jumbo has darkened your day then, well, that could just be the weather. I mean, have you not been outside at all these last nine months? “Biblical” doesn’t even cover it. (…he says, editing this a week later sitting in glorious sunshine. I’ll take it.) Anyway, if you’re a bit stuck then you might want to take a butchers at my Just For Fun page, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.

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

LP

Across clues

1. Dependable pudding – and its eating? (9)

Answer: FOOLPROOF (i.e. “dependable”). Solution is FOOL (i.e. “pudding”) followed by PROOF (i.e. “and its eating”, a play on the phrase “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”).

6. Keen servant to cross stone wall once confining him? (4,6)

Answer: EAST GERMAN (i.e. Berlin “Wall once confining him”). Solution is EAGER (i.e. “keen”) and MAN (i.e. “servant”) all wrapped around or “crossing” ST (a recognised abbreviation of “stone” weight), like so: EA(ST)GER-MAN.

12. Small turtle eschewing soft ground (7)

Answer: TERRAIN (i.e. “ground”). Solution is TERRAPIN (i.e. “small turtle”) with the P (i.e. “soft”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo) removed or “eschewed”.

13. Beginning to think, philosopher provides clothing collection (9)

Answer: TROUSSEAU (i.e. “clothing collection” – Chambers has: “the clothes…collected by a bride for her marriage”). Solution is T (i.e. “beginning [letter] to think”) followed by Jean-Jacques ROUSSEAU (i.e. 18th century “philosopher”).

14. Oceanid trapping men in the underworld (5)

Answer: DORIS (i.e. “oceanid”, specifically “a genus of nudibranchiate gastropods, shell-less molluscs with a plumy tuft of gills on the back” (Chambers). Well, there you go, Dorises. Now you know). Solution is OR (i.e. “men”, specifically the Other Ranks of the British Army) placed “in” DIS (i.e. “underworld” – we’ve seen this a few times in Jumbos; Chambers has: “a name for the god Pluto, hence, the infernal world”), like so: D(OR)IS.

16. Dunce securing prize thus for science branch (12)

Answer: ASTROPHYSICS (i.e. “science branch”). Solution is ASS (i.e. “dunce”) wrapped around or “securing” TROPHY (i.e. “prize”) and SIC (i.e. “thus” in Latin), like so: AS(TROPHY-SIC)S.

17. One breaking promise backed goddess to bring new life (10)

Answer: REGENERATE (i.e. “bring new life”). Solution is RENEGER (i.e. “one breaking promise”) reversed (indicated by “backed”) and followed by ATE (i.e. Greek “goddess” of mischief), like so: REGENER-ATE.

19. Top of the Bill? (5,9)

Answer: CHIEF CONSTABLE. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “the Bill” to be slang for the police.

22. Respect sappers guarding position, so to speak (2,2,4)

Answer: AS IT WERE (i.e. “so to speak”). Solution is AWE (i.e. “respect”) and RE (i.e. “sappers”, slang for the Royal Engineers of the British Army) all wrapped around or “guarding” SIT (i.e. “position”), like so: A(SIT)WE-RE.

24. Influence result (6)

Answer: EFFECT. Solution satisfies “influence” and “result”.

25. Anagram at start to clue terribly old document (5,5)

Answer: MAGNA CARTA (i.e. “old document”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “terribly”) of ANAGRAM AT and C (i.e. “start [letter] to clue”).

26. Puzzle concerned with public transport (5)

Answer: REBUS (i.e. picture “puzzle”). Solution is RE (i.e. “concerned with”) followed by BUS (i.e. “public transport”).

29. Brussels refusal to adopt right language (4)

Answer: NORN (i.e. “language” – over to Chambers again: “the old Norse dialect of Orkney and Shetland”). Solution is NON (i.e. “Brussels refusal” – the pedant in me would say there are a few languages spoken in Brussels, but French seems to be the lingua franca) wrapped around or “adopting” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: NO(R)N.

30. Butcher’s service fantastic, baker finally admitted (8)

Answer: MASSACRE (i.e. “butcher”). Solution is MASS (i.e. religious “service”) followed by ACE (i.e. “fantastic”) once wrapped around or “admitting” R (i.e. “baker finally”, i.e. the last letter of “baker”), like so: MASS-AC(R)E.

32. Energy seen in a race – about one mile (9)

Answer: ANIMATION (i.e. “energy”). Solution is A and NATION (i.e. “race”) wrapped “about” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and M (a recognised abbreviation of “mile”), like so: A-N(I-M)ATION.

34. Rearrest upper-class criminal – club’s accountant? (9)

Answer: TREASURER (i.e. “club’s accountant”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “criminal”) of REARREST and U (a recognised abbreviation of “upper-class”).

35. Pilot in bar given nothing you say? (8)

Answer: AERONAUT (i.e. “pilot”). Solution is AERO (i.e. chocolate “bar”) followed by a hom*ophone (indicated by “you say”) of NAUGHT (i.e. “nothing”), like so: AERO-NAUT.

36. Exploited émigrés initially housed in Bucks? (4)

Answer: USED (i.e. “exploited”). Solution is E (i.e. “émigrés initially”, i.e. the first letter of “émigrés”) placed or “housed in” USD (i.e. “bucks” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation, this is a recognised abbreviation of the US dollar, “bucks” being slang thereof), like so: US(E)D.

39. Pipe up? (5)

Answer: RISER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being a vertical pipe in a building.

40. On pole, sea-girt, with sun seen from east in city (3,7)

Answer: LOS ANGELES (i.e. “city”). Solution is LEG (i.e. “on” side in cricket) and N (i.e. “pole”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of “north”) both placed in SEA (indicated by “sea-girt”, a poetic way of describing being surrounded by the sea – not one I knew before, but I rather like the usage) and followed by SOL (i.e. another name for the “sun”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “from east” – this being an across clue), like so: LOS-A(N-GEL)ES.

42. Horse leading man home (6)

Answer: HEROIN (i.e. “horse”, slang thereof). Solution is HERO (i.e. “leading man”) followed by IN (i.e. “home”).

44. Removal of water from shower in day time (8)

Answer: DRAINAGE (i.e. “removal of water”). Solution is RAIN (i.e. “shower”) placed “in” D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”) and AGE (i.e. “time”), like so: D-(RAIN)-AGE.

46. Abbey left as not demolished where Fairfax triumphed (6,2,6)

Answer: BATTLE OF NASEBY (i.e. “where Fairfax triumphed” in 1645, inflicting upon the Royalists a heavy defeat and thus putting into motion the end of the First English Civil War). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “demolished”) of ABBEY LEFT AS NOT.

48. Cuts courses involving bunk? (10)

Answer: ENTRECOTES (i.e. “cuts”, specifically “a steak cut from between two ribs” (Chambers)). Solution is ENTRÉES (i.e. dinner “courses”) wrapped around or “involving” COT (i.e. bed or “bunk”), like so: ENTRÉ(COT)ES.

49. Folk performer and comedians working with Three Rs? (6,6)

Answer: MORRIS DANCER (i.e. “folk performer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of COMEDIANS and RRR (i.e. “Three Rs”).

53. Jumblies’ craft is returned the night before (5)

Answer: SIEVE (i.e. “Jumblies’ craft”, referring to Edward Lear’s poem in which the Jumblies went to sea in a sieve). Solution is IS reversed or “returned” and followed by EVE (i.e. “the night before”), like so: SI-EVE.

54. Plain ties with green buckles (9)

Answer: SERENGETI (i.e. a “plain” in Tanzania). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “buckles”) of TIES and GREEN.

55. Foreign banker a common character? (7)

Answer: ORINICO. Solution satisfies “foreign banker”, “banker” being a playful reference to a river – the Orinoco is the fourth largest river in the world, flowing through Colombia and Venezuela. Solution also satisfies “a common character”, in this case one of the Wombles wot lived on Wimbledon Common.

56. Delightful deity embodying love all right (6,4)

Answer: PRETTY GOOD (i.e. “all right”). Solution is PRETTY (i.e. “delightful”) and GOD (i.e. “deity”) wrapped around or “embodying” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), like so: PRETTY-G(O)OD.

57. Drunken idiot sounded very much together (5-4)

Answer: TIGHT-KNIT (i.e. “very much together”). Solution is TIGHT (i.e. “drunken”) followed by a hom*ophone (indicated by “sounded”) of NIT (i.e. “idiot”).

Down clues

1. Duke crossing river before all others (5)

Answer: FIRST (i.e. “before all others”). Solution is FIST (i.e. “duke”, slang thereof, as in putting up one’s dukes) wrapped around or “crossing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: FI(R)ST.

2. Eggs parasites laid outside high chief’s chamber (4,6)

Answer: OVAL OFFICE (i.e. “chief’s chamber” in the White House). Solution is OVA (i.e. “eggs”) followed by LICE (i.e. “parasites”) once wrapped around or “laid outside” of OFF (i.e. “high” or tainted), like so: OVA-L(OFF)ICE.

3. Is it Manx cat sitting atop monument? (8)

Answer: PANTHEON (i.e. “monument”, specifically “a temple of all the Gods, especially the rotunda erected by Hadrian at Rome” (Chambers). Can be used more generally to describe “a general burial place or memorial of the great dead” (Chambers again)). Solution is PANTHER (i.e. a big “cat”) with its last letter removed (playfully indicated by “Manx”, a variety of cat with no tail – I liked this a lot when I twigged it) and the remainder followed by ON (i.e. “atop”), like so: PANTHE-ON.

4. Doomed Antarctic explorer fed on exceptionally large seals? (5)

Answer: Captain Lawrence OATES (i.e. “doomed Antarctic explorer” who sacrificed himself, uttering the famous last words “I am just going outside and may be some time”). Solution is ATE (i.e. “fed on”) placed in or “sealed” by OS (i.e. “exceptionally large”, a recognised abbreviation of “outsize”), like so: O(ATE)S.

5. Lunch for example comes before tea in pecking order (4,5)

Answer: FOOD CHAIN (i.e. nature’s “pecking order”). Solution is FOOD (i.e. “lunch for example”) followed by or placed “before” CHA (i.e. “tea”) and IN. Nicely worked.

6. Language Beardsley used occasionally (4)

Answer: ERSE (i.e. “language”, “formerly, and still occasionally, the name given by Lowland Scots to the language of the people of the West Highlands, as being of Irish origin” (Chambers)). “Used occasionally” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of BEARDSLEY.

7. Spit in the food? (6)

Answer: SKEWER. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “spit” to be another word for SKEWER. Another clue I rather liked.

8. Muscle, too much shown by English-American gladiator? (7,7)

Answer: GLUTEUS MAXIMUS (i.e. bum “muscle”). Solution is GLUT (i.e. “too much”) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), US (ditto “American”) and MAXIMUS (i.e. central character of the film “Gladiator”. Again, very cool).

9. Special occasion when message arrives from China? (3-6,3)

Answer: RED-LETTER DAY (i.e. “special occasion”). The clue also satisfies “when message arrives from China”, playing on LETTER being a “message” and RED being the colour associated with communism, the Chinese Communist Party being the sole ruling party of “China”. You get the idea.

10. Flying home, atmosphere foul (7)

Answer: AIRBASE (i.e. a “flying home”, or a site in which aircraft is housed). Solution is AIR (i.e. “atmosphere”) followed by BASE (i.e. “foul”).

11. Randomly select a man to freshen up the carpets? (5-5)

Answer: STEAM-CLEAN (i.e. “to freshen up the carpets”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “randomly”) of SELECT A MAN.

15. Writer’s point supportive of saint, nevertheless (9)

Answer: Robert Louis STEVENSON (i.e. “writer”). Solution is N (i.e. compass “point”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “north”) placed at the end or “supportive of” – this being a down clue – ST (a recognised abbreviation of “saint”) and EVEN SO (i.e. “nevertheless”), like so: ST-(EVEN-SO)-N.

18. ARP signal everyone understood (3,5)

Answer: ALL CLEAR (i.e. “ARP signal”, ARP being a recognised abbreviation of “air-raid precautions”). Solution is ALL (i.e. “everyone”) followed by CLEAR (i.e. “understood”).

20. Playing well, accompanying King’s Singers (9)

Answer: INFORMERS (i.e. “singers” or grassers). Solution is IN FORM (i.e. “playing well”) followed ER’S (i.e. “king’s”, specifically Edwardus Rex made possessive).

21. Sewer in Main Street runs through dining-room (10)

Answer: SEAMSTRESS (i.e. “sewer”). Solution is SEA (i.e. “main”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation – this is another word for the high sea) followed by ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs” used in a number of ball games) once both placed in or “through” MESS (i.e. military “dining-room”), like so: SEA-M(ST-R)ESS.

23. Female relative, super-polite, concealing enmity at first (5-5)

Answer: GREAT-NIECE (i.e. “female relative”). Solution is GREAT (i.e. “super”) and NICE (i.e. “polite”) all wrapped around or “concealing” E (i.e. “enmity at first”, i.e. the first letter of “enmity”), like so: GREAT-NI(E)CE.

27. Yellow butterfly is absolutely filled with colour (9)

Answer: BRIMSTONE (i.e. “yellow butterfly”, quite common apparently). Solution is BRIMS (i.e. “is absolutely filled with”) followed by TONE (i.e. “colour”).

28. Socialise with ugly Romeo, cavorting in irreverent manner (14)

Answer: SACRELIGIOUSLY (i.e. “in irreverent manner”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cavorting”) of SOCIALISE, UGLY and R (“Romeo” in the phonetic alphabet).

31. Bond dated, but powerful feller (8)

Answer: CHAINSAW (i.e. “powerful feller” of trees). Solution is CHAIN (i.e. “bond”) followed by SAW (i.e. “dated” romantically).

33. 38 of 47s perhaps appearing in Alien (12)

Answer: ESTRANGEMENT (i.e. “38”, the solution to 38d being SEPARATION). Solution is STRANGE MEN (i.e. “47s”, the solution to 47d being WEIRDO) all placed “in” ET (i.e. “alien”, ignoring the misleading formatting, this is a recognised abbreviation of “extra-terrestrial”), like so: E(STRANGE-MEN)T.

34. Current temperature raised with inflammation and fatigue (9)

Answer: TIREDNESS (i.e. “fatigue”). Solution is I (i.e. being a recognised abbreviation of an electrical “current” used in physics) and T (a recognised abbreviation of “temperature”) all reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue) and followed by REDNESS (i.e. “inflammation”), like so: (T-I)-REDNESS.

37. Explore northern city and tolerate rowdy brawl (10)

Answer: DONNYBROOK (i.e. “rowdy brawl”, taken from the fair at Donnybrook, Dublin, which ran from the 13th century to the mid-19th century). Solution is DO (i.e. “explore”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”), then NY (i.e. “city”, specifically New York) and BROOK (i.e. “tolerate”).

38. Wrecked on a sea trip in Split (10)

Answer: SEPARATION (i.e. “split”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wrecked”) of ON A SEA TRIP.

41. Sociable old pirate brought in abstaining totally (9)

Answer: EXTROVERT (i.e. “sociable”). Solution is EX (i.e. “old”) followed by ROVER (i.e. “pirate”) once first placed “in” TT (i.e. “abstaining totally”, a recognised abbreviation of “teetotal”), like so: EX-T(ROVER)T.

43. Derivative and tasteless film-making process? (8)

Answer: OFFSHOOT (i.e. “derivative”). Solution is OFF (i.e. “tasteless”) followed by SHOOT (i.e. “film-making process”).

45. Nocturnal creature with an illness that needs attention? (3,4)

Answer: ANT BEAR (i.e. “nocturnal creature”, another name for a giant aardvark). Solution is AN followed by TB (i.e. “illness”, specifically tuberculosis) and EAR (i.e. “attention”).

47. Odd fish in barrier across river as before (6)

Answer: WEIRDO (i.e. “odd fish”). Solution is WEIR (i.e. “barrier across river”) followed by DO (i.e. “as before”, a variant form of “ditto”).

50. Sorry about official decision barring learner (5)

Answer: RUING (i.e. “sorry”). Solution is RULING (i.e. “official decision”) with the L removed (indicated by “barring learner” – L being a recognised abbreviation thereof, e.g. on L-plates).

51. Conservative hooligan showing political muscle? (5)

Answer: CLOUT (i.e. “political muscle”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by LOUT (i.e. “hooligan”).

52. Mabinogion character: sup up! (4)

Answer: ENID (i.e. “Mabinogion character”, from Geraint and Enid, one of the Three Welsh Romances of the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh stories). Solution is DINE (i.e. “sup” – can be taken as a shortened form of “supper”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue).

Stinker time, and a goodie to boot. I believe this is the setter who likes to use all the letters of the alphabet in the grid and nearly every trick in the book when writing the clues. Can’t knock the effort, there. Some of the misdirection was top-notch too: clueing OF FEET as “pedal”, for example, or COL as “Mustard”, after a certain character in Cluedo. Very cool.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Pedal across river in pursuit of cold-drink container (9)

Answer: COFFEE POT (i.e. “drink container”). Solution is OF FEET (i.e. “pedal”) wrapped around or placed “across” PO (a “river” in Italy popular with Jumbo setters). This is all then placed after or “in pursuit of” C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” used on water taps), like so: C-(OF-FEE(PO)T).

6. Sportsman I hit when running who’s been put off his race? (13)

Answer: MISANTHROPIST (i.e. someone “who’s been put off his race”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “when running”) of SPORTSMAN I HIT.

13. Put back, in touching scene (5)

Answer: RESET (i.e. “put back”). Solution is RE (i.e. “touching” or regarding – think email replies) followed by SET (i.e. “scene”, e.g. a movie set).

14. Food fanatic hurt by obstruction (3,6)

Answer: NUT CUTLET (i.e. “food”). Solution is NUT (i.e. “fanatic”) followed by CUT (i.e. “hurt”) and LET (i.e. “obstruction”, an archaic variant meaning).

15. Setter must have say, reflecting where ego comes from? (7)

Answer: GELATIN (i.e. a “setter” or “glue, prepared from albuminous matter, e.g. bones and hides” (Chambers)). Solution is EG (i.e. “say” or for example, from the Latin exempli gratia) reversed (indicated by “reflecting”) and followed by LATIN (i.e. “where ego comes from”), like so: GE-LATIN.

16. Acknowledgement that doctor’s up in his practice? (3,4,2,7,6)

Answer: YOU KNOW MY METHODS WATSON. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being a quote from a number of Sherlock Holmes stories. “Up”, on this occasion, is another word for being versed or well-informed. That’s about it, I guess.

18. Living death, say, of old fool consuming variable amounts (8)

Answer: OXYMORON (i.e. “living death, say”, the solution being a phrase of contradictory terms). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and MORON (i.e. “fool”) all wrapped around or “consuming” X and Y (i.e. “variable amounts” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as variables or unknowns), like so: O-(X-Y)-MORON.

20. Turn to trivial attraction? Yes, if NY ultimately overrated somehow (8)

Answer: DISNEYFY (i.e. “turn to trivial attraction”, after a fashion. Chambers has this, if it’s any clearer: “to present or process the history of, or facts concerning (a site, etc) by means of video films or other visual aids, especially simplistically for the convenience of the tourist, instead of encouraging exposure to the actual environment”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of YES IF NY and D (i.e. “ultimately overrated”).

21. The end of cabbage-moth, its wings clipped back (5)

Answer: OMEGA (i.e. “the end” or conclusion, after the last letter of the Greek alphabet). “Its wings clipped” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, removing the outer letters of CABB(AGE-MO)TH, while “back” indicates the solution has been reversed.

23. Awkward, with tennis shot rebounding short (6)

Answer: BOLSHY (i.e. “awkward”). Solution is LOB (i.e. “tennis shot”) reversed (indicated by “rebounding”) and followed by SHY (i.e. “short” of the required amount), like so: BOL-SHY.

24. Do you understand article extracted from ancient bit of Morse code? (6)

Answer: GEDDIT (i.e. “do you understand”). Solution is AGED (i.e. “ancient”) with the A removed (indicated by “article extracted from…” – an article being a word like a, an or the) and the remainder followed by DIT (i.e. “bit of Morse code”), like so: GED-DIT.

25. Celebrate with band, having relations over (5,2,2)

Answer: WHOOP IT UP (i.e. “celebrate”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) followed by HOOP (i.e. “band”), then IT (i.e. “having relations”, a euphemism for nookie, congress, the beast with two backs, getting one’s oats, playing hide-the-sausage, having a knee-trembler and generally the whole of Monty Python’s Nudge, Nudge sketch. If you’re still in the dark then ask your parents) and UP (i.e. “over” or finished).

28. Wages to take in combination with one’s printed currency (5,5)

Answer: PAPER MONEY (i.e. “printed currency”). Solution is PAY (i.e. “wages”) wrapped around or “taking in” PERM (i.e. “combination”, short for permutation) and ONE, like so: PA(PERM-ONE)Y.

29. Wryneck is a curse for one in the audience? (4)

Answer: JYNX (i.e. “wryneck”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “for one in the audience”) of JINX (i.e. “a curse”). This was made somewhat easier by me asking “okay, what the hell is a wryneck?”, looking it up in my Chambers and seeing it is “a member of a genus of small birds (genus Jynx)”. I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

30. Religious court to risk row involving husband (4,3)

Answer: BETH DIN (i.e. “religious court”). Solution is BET (i.e. “to risk”) and DIN (i.e. “row”) all wrapped around or “involving” H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”), like so: BET-(H)-DIN.

32. Violent storm nearly closed navy yard? Not regularly (7)

Answer: TORNADO (i.e. “violent storm”). Solution is TO (i.e. of a door “nearly closed”) followed by RN (i.e. “navy”, specifically the Royal Navy) and ADO (i.e. “yard not regularly”, i.e. every other letter of YARD NOT).

34. Round, empty space a copper’s left for cell (4)

Answer: OVUM (i.e. reproductive “cell”). Solution is O (i.e. “round”) followed by VACUUM (i.e. “empty space”) once the A and CU (chemical symbol for “copper”) have been removed or “left”, like so: O-VUM.

35. Assiduously if cheesily punned? (10)

Answer: CAERPHILLY, a variety of “cheese”. Clue plays on the solution being a hom*ophone of CAREFULLY (i.e. “assiduously”).

38. Later round mine fails to explode (9)

Answer: SEMIFINAL (i.e. “later round”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to explode”) of MINE FAILS.

39. Is French star briefly producing Godless book? (6)

Answer: ESTHER (i.e. “Godless book” – apparently the Book of Esther is one of only two books of The Bible that doesn’t mention Him Upstairs). Solution is EST (i.e. “is French”, i.e. the French for “is”) followed by HERO (i.e. “star” of the story) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: EST-HER.

40. Host needing bedsit around Notting Hill for one (6)

Answer: ROMCOM (i.e. “Notting Hill for one” – other romantic comedies are available, so I’m told). Solution is MC (i.e. “host” or Master of Ceremonies) with ROOM (i.e. “bedsit”) placed “around” it, like so: RO(MC)OM.

43. Old priest cheated when clinching game (5)

Answer: DRUID (i.e. “old priest”). Solution is DID (i.e. “cheated”, as in doing someone) wrapped around or “clinching” RU (i.e. “game”, specifically Rugby Union), like so: D(RU)ID.

45. Old jail is empty, indeed (8)

Answer: HOLLOWAY (i.e. “old jail”, closed in 2016). Solution is HOLLOW (i.e. “empty”) followed by AY (i.e. “indeed” or aye).

47. Bill’s partner often eliminates cross females in culinary contests (4-4)

Answer: COOK-OFFS (i.e. “culinary contests”). Solution is COO (i.e. “bill’s partner often” after the phrase “bill and coo”, an informal phrase describing lovers’ intimate talking and kissing) followed by K.O.S (i.e. “eliminates” or Knocks Out) once wrapped around or “crossing” F and F (both recognised abbreviations of “female”), like so: COO-K.O.(FF)S.

49. Picture Greek going as a result of it? (3,7,2,4,6)

Answer: THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE (i.e. “picture”, in this case a 1994 movie starring Nigel Hawthorne). The remainder of the clue plays on how KING GEORGE is an anagram (indicated by “THE MADNESS OF”) of “Greek Going”.

52. Port from military canteen not available after one (7)

Answer: MESSINA (i.e. an Italian “port”). Solution is MESS (i.e. “military canteen”) followed by N/A (i.e. “not available”) once first placed “after” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: MESS-(I-N/A).

53. Work that’s both hard and I bet shattering (3,6)

Answer: THE HOBBIT (i.e. “work”, in this case a novel by J.R.R. Tolkien). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “shattering”) of BOTH, H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) and I BET.

54. One from the Middle East, not long back (5)

Answer: OMANI (i.e. “one from the Middle East”). Solution is IN A MO (i.e. “not long”) once reversed (indicated by “back”).

55. Be alert! The first hunter possibly has returned? (5,4,4)

Answer: WATCH ONE’S BACK (i.e. “be alert”). Solution also playfully satisfies “the first hunter possibly has returned” – a hunter being a type of watch protected by a metal case, the ‘S in the solution becoming a contraction of “is”.

56. Hear about girlfriend holding party after film triumph (3,4,2)

Answer: GET WIND OF (i.e. “hear about”). Solution is GF (a recognised abbreviation of “girlfriend”) wrapped around or “holding” DO (i.e. slang for a “party”) once this has been placed “after” ET (i.e. “film”, our old friend ET: The Extra-Terrestrial) and WIN (i.e. “triumph”), like so: G((ET-WIN)-DO)F.

Down clues

1. One preparing The Trotters, perhaps, to go through at end of season? (5,4)

Answer: CURRY COMB (i.e. “one preparing the trotters, perhaps”, specifically “a plastic or rubber brush used for currying horses” (Chambers), playing on a variant meaning of CURRY. Chambers also suggests this ought to have been a single word, not that it would have helped!) Solution is COMB (i.e. trawl or “go through”) placed after or “at end of” CURRY (i.e. “season”).

2. Pilots conceal error in method of achieving height (7,4)

Answer: FOSBURY FLOP (i.e. “method of achieving height” pioneered by Dick Fosbury, an American high jumper who revolutionised the sport with this technique). Solution is FOS (i.e. “pilots” or Flight Officers) followed by BURY (i.e. “conceal”) and FLOP (i.e. “error”).

3. Tidy last of autumn leaves, with none remaining? (5)

Answer: EATEN (i.e. “with none remaining”). Solution is NEATEN (i.e. “tidy”) with the first N (i.e. “last [letter] of autumn”) removed or “leaving”.

4. Longed to hold court when making deal? (8)

Answer: PINEWOOD (i.e. “deal” – a variant meaning being “a fir or pine board of a standard size” (Chambers)). Solution is PINED (i.e. “longed”) wrapped around or “holding” WOO (i.e. to “court” someone), like so: PINE(WOO)D.

5. Grumpy’s spurned by cold nymph (6)

Answer: TETHYS (i.e. sea “nymph” of Greek myth). Solution is TETCHY’S (i.e. “Grumpy’s”, read as “Grumpy is”) with the C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” already covered in 1a) removed or “spurned”, like so: TETHY’S.

6. Unruly mob issued Republican fliers (10)

Answer: MOUSEBIRDS (i.e. “fliers”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unruly”) of MOB ISSUED and R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republicans”).

7. Writer from NZ, honestly, is rubbish (12)

Answer: Aleksandr SOLZHENITSYN (i.e. “writer”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rubbish”) of NZ HONESTLY IS.

8. Remarkably, if periodically on foot, few delays (7)

Answer: NOTEDLY (i.e. “remarkably”). “Periodically” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of ON FOOT FEW DELAYS.

9. Malpractice taking a heavy toll? (7,7)

Answer: HIGHWAY ROBBERY. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, taking “toll” to mean a tax paid to drive along a section of road.

10. Having no siblings? What’s more jolly! (4,3)

Answer: ONLY TOO (i.e. “jolly” or very). Solution is ONLY (i.e. “having no siblings”) followed by TOO (i.e. additionally or “what’s more”).

11. Preface, extremely short, chap’s withdrawn (11)

Answer: INTROVERTED (i.e. “withdrawn”). Solution is INTRO (i.e. “preface”) followed by VERY (i.e. “extremely”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “short”), then TED (i.e. “chap’s” name), like so: INTRO-VER-TED.

12. Heavily defeat, causing upset in tie (4)

Answer: TONK (i.e. “heavily defeat”). Solution is KNOT (i.e. “tie”) reversed or “upset” – this being a down clue.

17. Amphetamine around a displaced person is something unwelcome (3,5)

Answer: BAD PENNY (i.e. “something unwelcome”). Solution is BENNY (slang for an “amphetamine” tablet) wrapped “around” A and DP (a recognised abbreviation of “displaced person”), like so: B(A-DP)ENNY.

19. The Dutch maybe with a life to envy! (5,4)

Answer: OTHER HALF (i.e. “the dutch” – ignoring the misleading capitalisation, this is co*ckney rhyming slang for a wife, supposedly short for duch*ess of Fife. We’ve seen this a few times in Jumbos, but not for a little while). Solution also satisfies someone “with a life to envy”, as in how the other half live.

22. Pole, one travelling around in pursuit of good breeding stock (4,4)

Answer: GENE POOL (i.e. “breeding stock”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “travelling around”) of POLE ONE placed after or “in pursuit of” G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”), like so: G-ENEPOOL.

25. Waterproof cover to get bigger daily (3,5)

Answer: WAX PAPER (i.e. “waterproof cover”). Solution is WAX (i.e. “get bigger”) followed by PAPER (i.e. “daily”).

26. Field attack often using knight’s primitive weapon (9)

Answer: PITCHFORK (i.e. “primitive weapon”). Solution is PITCH (i.e. “field”) followed by FORK (i.e. “attack often using knight” – over to Chambers again: “in chess, to attack (two pieces) simultaneously”).

27. To be received on board coach, he had to be wasted! (2,4,3,5)

Answer: GO DOWN THE DRAIN (i.e. “to be wasted”). Solution is GO DOWN (i.e. “to be received”, as in going down a storm) followed by TRAIN (i.e. “coach”) once wrapped around or having “on board” HE’D (a contraction of “he had”), like so: GO-DOWN-T(HE’D)RAIN.

28. Confined to bed, I sat upright, lifting cast off (3,5)

Answer: PUT ASIDE (i.e. “cast off”). “Confined to” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “lifting” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue –like so: B(ED I SAT UP)RIGHT.

31. He worked with one fine Basque ruler’s famous visitor (5,2,5)

Answer: QUEEN OF SHEBA (i.e. “ruler’s famous visitor”, the ruler being King Solomon). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “worked”) of HE, ONE, F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine” used in grading pencils) and BASQUE.

33. Lodger when speaking knows Italian, apparently (6,3,2)

Answer: RUMOUR HAS IT (i.e. “apparently”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “when speaking”) of ROOMER (i.e. “lodger”) followed by HAS (i.e. “knows”) and IT (a recognised abbreviation of “Italian”).

36. Second row to result from security at hospital? (4,7)

Answer: LOCK FORWARD (i.e. “second row” in a rugby scrum). When written as LOCK FOR WARD the solution playfully satisfies “security at hospital”.

37. After end of tea break catch folk not fully prepared (2,4-4)

Answer: AT HALF-co*ck (i.e. “not fully prepared”). Solution is A (i.e. “end [letter] of tea”) with an anagram (indicated by “break”) of CATCH FOLK placed “after” it, like so: A-THALFco*ck.

41. Wrong opinion one’s to contradict, interrupting rather loudly (9)

Answer: MISBELIEF (i.e. “wrong opinion”). Solution is I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one’s”) and BELIE (i.e. “to contradict”) both placed in or “interrupting” MF (i.e. “rather loudly”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of mezzo-forte used in musical lingo), like so: M(I’S-BELIE)F.

42. Behind can be rested on twig? No chance! (6,2)

Answer: FORGET IT (i.e. “no chance”). Solution is FOR (i.e. “behind” or in favour of) followed by GET IT (i.e. “twig” or realise).

44. Reservoir I’m disgusted to find almost dry? (7)

Answer: DAMPISH (i.e. “almost dry”). Solution is DAM (i.e. “reservoir”) followed by PISH (i.e. “I’m disgusted”).

46. Reflecting determined, true character of Hamlet (7)

Answer: LAERTES (i.e. “character of Hamlet”. If you know it, you know it). Solution is SET (i.e. “determined”) and REAL (i.e. “true”) all reversed (indicated by “reflecting”), like so: LAER-TES.

48. Tall touring basketball players refuse to go there (3,3)

Answer: BIN BAG (i.e. “refuse to go there”). Solution is BIG (i.e. “tall”) wrapped around or “touring” NBA (i.e. “basketball players”, the National Basketball Association of the US), like so: BI(NBA)G.

50. Mustard perhaps in that is revolting cause of illness (1,4)

Answer: E-COLI (i.e. “cause of illness”). Solution is COL (i.e. “Mustard perhaps”, referring to Colonel Mustard in a game of Cluedo) placed “in” IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, from the Latin id est). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “revolting” or uprising – this being a down clue), like so: E(COL)I.

51. Duck sounds like cat with its tail up (4)

Answer: SMEW (i.e. a sea “duck”, apparently). Solution is MEWS (i.e. “sounds like a cat”) with the last letter or “tail” moved “up” to the beginning – this being a down clue – like so: MEW(S) => (S)MEW.

Another Bank Holiday Jumbo. (May is such a cruel month for my poor typing fingers, all two of them.)

While the previous Jumbo was a hard act to follow, I must highlight and show my appreciation for the setter’s effort in filling the grid with so many long single-word solutions. Indeed, the only phrases you’ll find in the grid occupy the two longest solutions. Very cool.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Reportedly assume lupine identity in ancient English poem (7)

Answer: BEOWULF (i.e. “ancient English poem”). Solution comprises hom*ophones (indicated by “reportedly”) of BE A WOLF (i.e. “assume lupine identity”).

5. Flexible mould used by cobblers in film (7)

Answer: PLASTIC (i.e. “flexible”). Solution is LAST (i.e. “mould used by cobblers”, a variant meaning notably used in grid 1646 in a clue yielding THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS) placed “in” PIC (i.e. “film”, short for picture), like so: P(LAST)IC.

9. Become tense when argument goes in several different directions (7)

Answer: STIFFEN (i.e. “become tense”). Solution is TIFF (i.e. “argument”) placed “in” S E and N (i.e. “several different directions”, recognised abbreviations of south, east and north respectively), like so: S(TIFF)EN.

13. In front at last, hungry for such an injection? (11)

Answer: INTRAVENOUS (i.e. variety of “injection”). Solution is IN followed by T (i.e. “front at last”, i.e. the last letter of “front”) and RAVENOUS (i.e. “hungry”).

14. Readers initially commit a sin, somehow identifying Byron’s style (11)

Answer: ROMANTICISM (i.e. “Byron’s style”). Solution is R (i.e. “readers initially”, i.e. the first letter of “readers”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of COMMIT A SIN, like so: R-OMANTICISM.

15. Good entertainer, one writing for another (5)

Answer: GHOST (i.e. “one writing for another”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by HOST (i.e. “entertainer”).

16. Dutch navigator engaging quiet chap once working in bar (7)

Answer: TAPSMAN (i.e. “chap once working in bar” – all my dictionaries would beg to differ, suggesting the solution would instead be a TAPSTER. Chambers has for TAPSMAN “a servant in overall charge of others; chief of a company of drovers”, which doesn’t sound the same). Solution is Abel TASMAN (i.e. “Dutch navigator”) wrapped around or “engaging” P (i.e. “quiet”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “piano” in musical lingo), like so: TA(P)SMAN.

17. Engraver using illegal aid in most of added material (9)

Answer: INSCRIBER (i.e. “engraver”). Solution is CRIB (i.e. “illegal aid”, or copying another’s work) placed “in” INSERT (i.e. “added material”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “most of”), like so: INS(CRIB)ER.

18. Story originally read during specific game at Hampstead location? (3,7,2,3,6)

Answer: THE CRICKET ON THE HEARTH (i.e. “story” by Charles Dickens). Solution is R (i.e. “originally read”, i.e. the first letter of “read”) placed “during” THE (i.e. “specific”), CRICKET (i.e. “game”) and ON THE HEATH (i.e. “at Hampstead location”), like so: THE-CRICKET-ON-THE-HEA(R)TH.

23. Further evaluate soldiers taking a couple of ships round East (8)

Answer: REASSESS (i.e. “further evaluate”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by A, SS and SS (the latter two “a couple of ships”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “steamship”) once these have been wrapped “round” E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”), like so: RE-A-SS-(E)-SS.

25. Basic device for securing electric cable, say (6)

Answer: STAPLE. Solution satisfies “basic” and “device for securing electric cable, say”.

27. First-class addition to dessert, perhaps (7)

Answer: TOPPING. Solution satisfies “first-class” and “addition to dessert, perhaps”.

30. Hoard of money picked up by listeners (5)

Answer: CACHE (i.e. “hoard”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “picked up”) of CASH (i.e. “money”).

32. Stole across border, one in a former country (7)

Answer: BOHEMIA (i.e. “former country”). Solution is BOA (i.e. “stole” or garment) wrapped around or placed “across” HEM (i.e. “border”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: BO(HEM-I)A.

33. Woman in Holy Writ displaying sagacity? Not so (9)

Answer: OTHERWISE (i.e. “not so”). Solution is HER (i.e. “woman”) placed “in” OT (i.e. “Holy Writ”, basically the Old Testament of The Bible) and WISE (i.e. “sagacity”), like so: OT-(HER)-WISE.

35. Admiral finally leaves River Plate, manoeuvring armed vessel (9)

Answer: PRIVATEER (i.e. “armed vessel”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “manoeuvring”) of RIVER PLATE once the L (i.e. “Admiral finally”, i.e. the last letter of “Admiral”) has “left”.

36. Financiers swapping area for love? That’s crazy! (7)

Answer: BONKERS (i.e. “crazy”). Solution is BANKERS (i.e. “financiers”) with the A (a recognised abbreviation of “area”) “swapped for” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), like so: B(A)NKERS => B(O)NKERS.

37. Singer mostly dressing formally? (5)

Answer: ROBIN (i.e. “singer” or songbird). Solution is ROBING (i.e. “dressing formally”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “mostly”).

38. When a milk supplier is most essential to begin with? (7)

Answer: TEATIME. The solution satisfies the solution as a whole, taking TEA to be a cuppa, but also comprises TEAT (i.e. “milk supplier”), I M and E (i.e. “is most essential to begin with”, i.e. the first letters of “is”, “most” and “essential”).

40. Lamb, so-called, following American girl (6)

Answer: AMELIA (i.e. “girl’s” name). Solution is ELIA (i.e. “Lamb, so-called”, an alias of 19th century poet and essayist Charles Lamb) placed after or “following” AM (a recognised abbreviation of “American”), like so: AM-ELIA.

41. Liqueur, a new one, prepared for a speaker (8)

Answer: ANISETTE (i.e. “liqueur”). Solution is A followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), then I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) and a hom*ophone (indicated by “for a speaker”) of SET (i.e. “prepared”), like so: A-N-I-SETTE.

44. Lions turn up at end of a summer: a warning against vanity (5,5,6,1,4)

Answer: PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL (i.e. “a warning against vanity”). Solution is PRIDE COMES (i.e. “lions turn up”) followed by BEFORE A FALL (i.e. “at end of a summer”, FALL being another word for autumn).

48. Circus performer’s two-wheeled vehicle unknown in new site (9)

Answer: TRAPEZIST (i.e. “circus performer”). Solution is TRAP (i.e. “two-wheeled vehicle”) followed by Z (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) once placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “new”) of SITE, like so: TRAP-E(Z)IST.

50. Eccentric group concealing drug in Arthur’s place (7)

Answer: CAMELOT (i.e. King “Arthur’s place”). Solution is CAM (i.e. “eccentric” – funny how this comes round like buses. I can’t be bothered to go into it again so excuse me while I copy and paste this lot from grid 1670 last month. Chambers has: “in mechanics, an irregular projection on a revolving shaft or rotating cylinder, shaped so as to transmit regular movement to another part”. “Eccentric” meanwhile is “with the axis to one side, not at the centre”) and LOT (i.e. “group”) all wrapped around or “concealing” E (i.e. “drug”, slang name of ecstasy), like so: CAM-(E)-LOT.

53. Tragic lover, Aussie native, touring Maine (5)

Answer: ROMEO (i.e. “tragic lover” of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet). Solution is ROO (i.e. “Aussie native”, informal name for a kangaroo) wrapped around or “touring” ME (US state abbreviation of “Maine”), like so: RO(ME)O.

54. Perplexing male acting a lie? That’s out of order (11)

Answer: ENIGMATICAL (i.e. “perplexing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “that’s out of order”) of M (a recognised abbreviation of “male”) and ACTING A LIE.

55. Disloyal educator muzzling Republican round America (11)

Answer: TREACHEROUS (i.e. “disloyal”). Solution is TEACHER (i.e. “educator”) wrapped around or “muzzling” R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and followed by O (i.e. “round”), then US (i.e. “America”), like so: T(R)EACHER-O-US.

56. Some metropolitan trickery to do with sacred writings (7)

Answer: TANTRIC (i.e. “to do with sacred writings”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: METROPOLI(TAN TRIC)KERY.

57. Portrait painter keeps young lady, as permitted by law (7)

Answer: LEGALLY (i.e. “as permitted by law”). Solution is Peter LELY (i.e. 17th century “portrait painter”) wrapped around or “keeping” GAL (i.e. “young lady”), like so: LE(GAL)LY.

58. Like fatty substance primarily located deep in Scottish river (7)

Answer: TALLOWY (i.e. “like fatty substance”). Solution is L (i.e. “primarily located”, i.e. the first letter of “located”) and LOW (i.e. “deep”) both placed “in” TAY (i.e. “Scottish river”), like so: TA(L-LOW)Y.

Down clues

1. Newlywed collecting last of stuffing for game (6)

Answer: BRIDGE (i.e. card “game”). Solution is BRIDE (i.e. “newlywed”) wrapped around or “collecting” G (i.e. “last of stuffing”, i.e. the last letter of “stuffing”), like so: BRID(G)E.

2. Detached settlement’s blooming mail! (7)

Answer: OUTPOST (i.e. “detached settlement”). Solution is OUT (i.e. of flowers, “blooming”) followed by POST (i.e. “mail”).

3. Unsuitability of steps a nun contrived (9)

Answer: UNAPTNESS (i.e. “unsuitability”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “contrived”) of STEPS A NUN.

4. Fast-moving naval task force (5)

Answer: FLEET. Solution satisfies “fast-moving” and “naval task force”.

5. Likelihood programme of courses will exclude you and me (8)

Answer: PROSPECT (i.e. “likelihood”). Solution is PROSPECTUS (i.e. “programme of courses” at, say, a university) with the US removed (indicated by “exclude you and me”).

6. A service sent up for tea (5)

Answer: ASSAM (i.e. Indian “tea”). Solution is A followed by MASS (i.e. religious “service”) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “sent up” – this being a down clue), like so: A-SSAM.

7. City taken in by conductor on tour (7)

Answer: TORONTO (i.e. “city”). “Taken in by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: CONDUC(TOR ON TO)UR.

8. Ladies in panel carry out supporter with sign (14)

Answer: COMMITTEEWOMEN (i.e. “ladies in panel”). Solution is COMMIT (i.e. “carry out”) followed by TEE (i.e. golf ball “supporter”), W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and OMEN (i.e. “sign”).

9. Ageing nurse once looking down on eastern perfume (9)

Answer: SENESCENT (i.e. “ageing” – one I knew from casually researching a silly story idea. There’s a small jellyfish, turritopsis dohrnii, that is technically immortal in that it has the ability to revert to its polyp form when sick, old or exposed to some degree of stress. Through the wonders of modern science, a secret government gene-splicing operation hidden in RAF Marham, a dash of radioactive waste and a generous suspension of belief this would inevitably lead to the UK being overrun by immortal Lovecraftian Godzillas or something. I’ll accept my Booker now, thank you). Solution is SEN (i.e. “nurse once”, specifically a State Enrolled Nurse) followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “eastern”) and SCENT (i.e. “perfume”).

10. More distant old firm supported by former monarch (5)

Answer: ICIER (i.e. “more distant”). Solution is ICI (i.e. “old firm”, Imperial Chemical Industries) followed by ER (i.e. “former monarch”, Elizabeth Regina).

11. Frivolous person initially finds freedom, we hear, before gallows (15)

Answer: FLIBBERTIGIBBET (i.e. “frivolous person”). Solution is F (i.e. “initially finds”, i.e. the first letter of “finds”) followed by a hom*ophone (indicated by “we hear”) of LIBERTY, then GIBBET (i.e. “gallows”), like so: F-LIBBERTI-GIBBET.

12. Ancient Egyptian leader upset about demonstration (7)

Answer: NOMARCH (i.e. “ancient Egyptian leader” – cheers, Bradfords! Chambers has: “the governor of a nome”, a nome being “a province or department, especially one in ancient Rome or modern Greece”) Solution is ON (i.e. “about” or regarding) reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by MARCH (i.e. “demonstration”).

19. Ridiculous anger gripping little brother or sister (7)

Answer: RISIBLE (i.e. “ridiculous”). Solution is RILE (i.e. to “anger”) wrapped around or “gripping” SIB (i.e. “little brother or sister”, i.e. a shortened form of “sibling”), like so: RI(SIB)LE.

20. English fellow in dark fur, worthy of respect (9)

Answer: ESTIMABLE (i.e. “worthy of respect”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”) followed by TIM (i.e. “fellow’s” name) once placed “in” SABLE (i.e. “dark fur”), like so: E-S(TIM)ABLE.

21. Capital raised to keep a monarch (7)

Answer: EMPEROR (i.e. “monarch”). Solution is ROME (i.e. “capital” of Italy) reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “keeping” PER (i.e. “a”, as in lottery tickets being two pounds a pop), like so: EM(PER)OR.

22. Nutter taking two addictive drugs (8)

Answer: CRACKPOT (i.e. “nutter”). When written as CRACK and POT the solution also satisfies “two addictive drugs”.

24. Adjustment at Italian comic’s ground (15)

Answer: ACCLIMATISATION (i.e. “adjustment”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “ground”) of AT ITALIAN COMIC’S.

26. Initiator of action involving port authority in dispute (9)

Answer: PLAINTIFF (i.e. “initiator of [legal] action”). Solution is PLA (i.e. “port authority”, specifically the Port of London Authority) followed by IN and TIFF (i.e. “dispute”).

28. Chap protecting eagle circling small island (8)

Answer: GUERNSEY (i.e. “island”). Solution is GUY (i.e. “chap”) wrapped around or “protecting” ERNE (i.e. a sea “eagle”) once this has itself been wrapped around or “circling” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”), like so: GU(ERN(S)E)Y.

29. Chap involved with a true claim relating to drugs (14)

Answer: PHARMACEUTICAL (i.e. “relating to drugs”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “involved”) of CHAP and A TRUE CLAIM.

31. Raised bar? This person’s hard to pin down (7)

Answer: EVASIVE (i.e. “hard to pin down”). Solution is SAVE (i.e. “bar” or excepting) reversed (indicated by “raised” – again, this being a down clue) and followed by I’VE (i.e. “this person’s”, i.e. a contraction of I HAVE), like so: EVAS-I’VE.

34. Exclamation of praise from woman holding up book (7)

Answer: HOSANNA (i.e. “exclamation of praise”). Solution is ANNA (i.e. “woman’s” name) placed after or “holding up” – down clue again – HOS (i.e. “book”, in this case a recognised abbreviation of the Book of Hosea in The Bible), like so: HOS-ANNA.

39. Self-centred, became accepted in swinging cities (9)

Answer: EGOTISTIC (i.e. “self-centred”). Solution is GOT (i.e. “accepted”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “swinging”) of CITIES, like so: E(GOT)ISTIC.

42. Look thoroughly for listeners where flights are accommodated (9)

Answer: STAIRWELL (i.e. “where flights are accommodated”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “for listeners”) of STARE WELL (i.e. “look thoroughly”).

43. Jesting duke unknown to keep luxury car (8)

Answer: DROLLERY (i.e. “jesting”). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “duke”) and Y (i.e. “unknown”, already covered in 48a) all wrapped around ROLLER (i.e. “luxury car”, slang for a Rolls Royce), like so: D-(ROLLER)-Y.

44. Forbearing person in doctor’s waiting room? (7)

Answer: PATIENT. Solution satisfies “forbearing” and “person in doctor’s waiting room”.

45. Given support, register build-up of work (7)

Answer: BACKLOG (i.e. “build-up of work”). Solution is BACK (i.e. “support”) followed by LOG (i.e. “register”).

46. Move falteringly over river, one in SE Africa (7)

Answer: LIMPOPO (i.e. “river, one in SE Africa”). Solution is LIMP (i.e. “move falteringly”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “over” used in cricket) and PO (i.e. a “river” in Italy – a spot of recycling).

47. Like keen equestrians losing heart in N London district (6)

Answer: HORSEY (i.e. “like keen equestrians”). Solution is HORNSEY (i.e. “N London district”) once the middle letter or “heart” has been “lost”.

49. Man in army corps climbing round back of hill (5)

Answer: ELMER E. Fryar (i.e. “man in army corps” notable for being posthumously awarded the US Medal of Honor during World War II). Solution is REME (i.e. “army corps” – more recycling – these are the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers of the British Army) reversed (indicated by “climbing”, down clue yada yada yada) and wrapped “round” L (i.e. “back of hill”, i.e. the last letter of “hill”), like so: E(L)MER.

51. Roadside accommodation army doctor hired going north (5)

Answer: MOTEL (i.e. “roadside accommodation”). Solution is MO (i.e. “army doctor”, or Medical Officer) followed by LET (i.e. “hired”) once reversed (indicated by “going north”, down clue etc), like so: MO-TEL.

52. Time to do something about India, it’s implied (5)

Answer: TACIT (i.e. “implied”). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by ACT (i.e. “to do something”) once wrapped “about” I (“India” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: T-AC(I)T.

A rather enjoyable Jumbo this week, I thought, and one featuring a good number of well-worked clues. Probably the best Jumbo we’ve had for a while, in my less-than-humble opinion.

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

Thanks again for your patience and input. Till next time (i.e. in a minute or two, given this was a Bank Holiday) stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Toast last drink (7,2)

Answer: BOTTOMS UP (i.e. “toast”). Solution is BOTTOM (i.e. “last”) followed by SUP (i.e. “drink”).

6. “The Greatest” wingers from Goodison stand in a row (5)

Answer: ALIGN (i.e. “stand in a row”). Solution is Muhammad ALI (i.e. “The Greatest”, so he’d claim) followed by GN (i.e. “wingers from Goodison”, i.e. the first and last letters of “Goodison”).

9. Stay twenty four hours in Paris, very new surroundings (7)

Answer: SOJOURN (i.e. to “stay twenty-four hours”). Solution is JOUR (i.e. “twenty four hours in Paris”, i.e. the French for “day” – a spot of recycling there) placed in or “surrounded” by SO (i.e. “very”) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: SO-(JOUR)-N.

13. Iceberg rolls, killing one Cape diver (5)

Answer: GREBE (i.e. “diving” bird). Solution is ICEBERG reversed (indicated by “rolls”) and with the I and C removed (indicated by “killing one Cape” – I being Roman numeral “one”; C being a recognised abbreviation of “cape”).

14. Vivid chart recalled Channel Islands (7)

Answer: GRAPHIC (i.e. “vivid”). Solution is GRAPH (i.e. “chart”) followed by CI (a recognised abbreviation of “Channel Islands”) once reversed (indicated by “recalled”), like so: GRAPH-IC.

15. Wandering in pursuit of black bird (9)

Answer: BRAMBLING (i.e. “bird”). Solution is RAMBLING (i.e. “wandering”) placed after or “in pursuit of” B (a recognised abbreviation of “black” used in chess), like so: B-RAMBLING.

16. Cheap accommodation ultimately dodgy, the loo shut off (5,6)

Answer: YOUTH HOSTEL (i.e. “cheap accommodation”). Solution is Y (i.e. “ultimately dodgy”, i.e. the last letter of “dodgy”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “off”) of THE LOO SHUT, like so: Y-OUTHHOSTEL.

17. Bar nicely renovated hosting European male hip hop act (6,5)

Answer: PUBLIC ENEMY (i.e. “hip hop act” – it’s always refreshing to see something more modern in Jumbos. It shows it doesn’t have to be Rachmaninoff or Berlioz every week). Solution is PUB (i.e. “bar”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “renovated”) of NICELY once wrapped around or “hosting” E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) and M (ditto “male”), like so: PUB-LICEN(E-M)Y.

18. Republican lodged in a bogus religious retreat (6)

Answer: ASHRAM (i.e. “religious retreat”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) placed or “lodged in” A and SHAM (i.e. “bogus”), like so: A-SH(R)AM. Seen this a few times in Jumbos now, making this an easier get.

19. Subjects against abandoning senses of rights and wrongs? (8)

Answer: SCIENCES (i.e. “subjects”). Solution is CONSCIENCES (i.e. “senses of rights and wrongs”) with the CON (i.e. “against”) removed or “abandoned”.

21. Senior churchman once a reformed character (3,3)

Answer: NEW MAN (i.e. “reformed character”). When the solution is written as John Henry NEWMAN the solution also satisfies “senior churchman once”. Seriously though? You stick this guy in when you could have had Paul frickin’ NEWMAN in your Jumbo?! Cool Hand Luke, man, come on! Jeez, what a waste.

25. Brilliant Independent covering church feature (8)

Answer: INSPIRED (i.e. “brilliant”). Solution is IND (a recognised abbreviation of “independent”) wrapped around or “covering” SPIRE (i.e. “church feature”), like so: IN(SPIRE)D.

26. Somehow thinks wife cheated, invoking puzzled query (4,3,7)

Answer: WHAT THE DICKENS (i.e. “puzzled query”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of THINKS, W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”) and CHEATED.

28. Some Rt Hon gentleman getting minimal coverage down under (5)

Answer: THONG (i.e. “minimal coverage down under”, and something you do not want to see me in. Nor I for that matter. Eew). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: R(T HON G)ENTLEMAN.

29. Empty beer jug for tea maker (6)

Answer: BREWER (i.e. “tea maker”). Solution is BR (i.e. “empty beer”, i.e. the word “beer” with all its middle letters removed) followed by EWER (i.e. “jug”). This clue has been lifted almost wholesale from grid 1652 back in January. Disappointing, but seemingly a trend now with Jumbos.

30. Book of verse, indeed, just opened by idiot (6,4)

Answer: VANITY FAIR (i.e. “book” by William Makepeace Thackeray). Solution is V (a recognised abbreviation of “verse”), AY (i.e. “indeed”, shortened form of “aye”) and FAIR (i.e. “just”) all wrapped around or “opened by” NIT (i.e. “idiot”), like so: V-A(NIT)Y-FAIR.

33. Cover tip of finger in fresh guacamole (10)

Answer: CAMOUFLAGE (i.e. “cover”). Solution is F (i.e. “tip of finger”, i.e. the first letter of “finger”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “fresh”) of GUACAMOLE, like so: CAMOU(F)LAGE. Nicely worked.

35. Cave reached when crossing river (6)

Answer: GROTTO (i.e. “cave”). Solution is GOT TO (i.e. “reached”) wrapped around or “crossing” R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”), like so: G(R)OT-TO.

36. I must visit doctor, working somewhere in the field (3-2)

Answer: MID-ON (i.e. “somewhere in the field” in a game of cricket). Solution is I placed in or “visiting” MD (i.e. “doctor”, specifically a Doctor of Medicine or Medicinae Doctor) and followed by ON (i.e. “working”), like so: M(I)D-ON.

38. Strangle Will in chaotic hand-to-hand combat (3-2,9)

Answer: ALL-IN WRESTLING (i.e. “hand-to-hand combat”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “chaotic”) of STRANGLE WILL IN.

40. Blood sport, day one: endless avarice (8)

Answer: PEDIGREE (i.e. “blood”). Solution is PE (i.e. “sport” or Physical Education) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “day”), I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) and GREED (i.e. “avarice”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “endless”), like so: PE-D-I-GREE.

42. Walked daintily around ground (6)

Answer: MINCED. Solution satisfies “walked daintily around” and “ground”, say, meat.

43. Greek god sat for artist, covering one leg (8)

Answer: POSEIDON (i.e. “Greek god” of the sea). Solution is POSED (i.e. “sat for artist”) wrapped around or “covering” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again) and followed by ON (i.e. “leg” side in cricket), like so: POSE(I)D-ON.

44. Formal accessory page Henry wears fitting perfectly (3,3)

Answer: TOP HAT (i.e. “formal accessory”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “page”) and H (ditto “Henry”, a unit of measurement) both placed in or “wearing” TO A T (i.e. “perfectly”), like so: TO-(P-H)-A-T.

47. Inspirational sister moved priest with task (11)

Answer: TERPSICHORE (i.e. “inspirational sister”, one of the nine muses of Greek mythology). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “moved”) of PRIEST followed by CHORE (i.e. “task”), like so: TERPSI-CHORE.

50. Teller of tellers? (4,7)

Answer: BANK MANAGER. Clue plays on two definitions (one playful) of “teller”: one being a bank worker, the other being someone telling another what to do. Another nicely worked clue.

52. Four opening large uniform chest producing a lot of money (9)

Answer: LUCRATIVE (i.e. “producing a lot of money”). Solution is IV (i.e. “four” in Roman numerals) placed in or “opening” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) and CRATE (i.e. “chest”), like so: L-U-CRAT(IV)E.

53. Under control, remove phosphorous and boron from copper zinc alloy (2,5)

Answer: IN CHECK (i.e. “under control”). Solution is PINCHBECK (i.e. “copper zinc alloy”) with the P and B removed (indicated by “remove phosphorous and boron from…” – P being the chemical symbol of phosphorous and B being that of boron). Blimey, it’s like this week’s setter saw me comment last month that using HEMISTICHES to help hide EUPHEMISTIC in a clue was flexing, this after a previous setter managed to hide MAHATMA GANDHI in a clue, and they thought “Oh, yeah? That’s nothing. Watch this…” In a weird way – especially considering how quickly I reach for the pitchforks whenever an exotic solution pops up – I’m rather loving all this cruciverbal showboating.

54. Idiot stealing article from continental port (5)

Answer: TWERP (i.e. “idiot”). Solution is ANTWERP (i.e. “continental port”) with the AN removed (indicated by “stealing article from…” – an article being a word like a, an or the).

55. Continue film franchise (5,2)

Answer: CARRY ON. Solution satisfies “continue” and “film franchise”.

56. Element of technical language judge dismissed (5)

Answer: ARGON (i.e. chemical “element”). Solution is JARGON (i.e. “technical language”) with the J removed (indicated by “judge dismissed” – J being a recognised abbreviation thereof).

57. Deeply troubled auditor men tediously cut down to size (9)

Answer: TORMENTED (i.e. “deeply troubled”). “Cut down to size” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, removing the outer letters from AUDI(TOR MEN TED)IOUSLY.

Down clues

1. Loose goods stored in compartment (5)

Answer: BAGGY (i.e. “loose”). Solution is G and G (both a recognised abbreviation of “good”) placed or “stored in” BAY (i.e. “compartment”), like so: BA(G-G)Y.

2. Treating Sheffield chums to a classic performance at The Crucible? (3,7,2,5)

Answer: THE duch*eSS OF MALFI (i.e. a Jacobean tragedy by John Webster, and hence potentially a “classic performance at The Crucible”, a theatre in “Sheffield”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “treating”) of SHEFFIELD CHUMS TO A. Another well-worked clue.

3. Maybe sweaty husband enters having too much on his plate? (11)

Answer: OVERHEATING (i.e. “maybe sweaty”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “husband”) placed in or “entering” OVEREATING (i.e. “having too much on his plate”), like so: OVER(H)EATING.

4. In America, civilians perhaps turning up to register for the dole (4,2)

Answer: SIGN ON (i.e. “register for the dole”). Solution is NON-GIS (i.e. “in America, civilians perhaps”, i.e. those not in the army) all reversed (indicated by “turning up” – this being a down clue), like so: SIG-NON.

5. Complain about neckwear Charlie’s wearing in rehearsal (8)

Answer: PRACTICE (i.e. “rehearsal”). Solution is CARP (i.e. “complain”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and followed by TIE (i.e. “neckwear”) once wrapped around or “wore by” C (“Charlie” in the phonetic alphabet), like so: PRAC-TI(C)E.

6. Vulnerable area which mother didn’t bathe? (8,4)

Answer: ACHILLES HEEL. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. In Greek mythology, Thetis dunked the infant Achilles in the river Styx in an attempt to make him immortal, but didn’t think about the bit she was holding.

7. Legal disqualification of secretary in Machu Picchu? (10)

Answer: INCAPACITY (i.e. “legal disqualification”). Solution is PA (i.e. “secretary” or Personal Assistant) placed “in” INCA CITY (i.e. “Machu Picchu”), like so: INCA-(PA)-CITY.

8. Arrest former pupil, a rich and powerful man (5)

Answer: NABOB (i.e. “a rich and powerful man”). Solution is NAB (i.e. “arrest”) followed by OB (i.e. “former pupil” or Old Boy).

9. Said to include one working in position (9)

Answer: STATIONED (i.e. “in position”). Solution is STATED (i.e. “said”) wrapped around or “including” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again, again) and ON (i.e. “working”, again), like so: STAT(I-ON)ED.

10. A wry BBC joke turned out to be a bit of nonsense (11)

Answer: JABBERWOCKY (i.e. “a bit of nonsense” from Lewis Carroll). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “turned out”) of A WRY BBC JOKE.

11. Join a trade union (5)

Answer: UNITE. Solution satisfies “join” and “a trade union” of the UK.

12. City of Northern Aragon’s premier painter? (6)

Answer: NAGOYA (i.e. Japanese “city”). Solution is N (a recognised abbreviation of “northern”) followed by A (i.e. “Aragon’s premier”, i.e. the first letter of “Aragon”) and Francisco GOYA (i.e. “painter” who was indeed from Aragon). One nailed solely from the wordplay, but I did quite like this one.

18. Helen’s lover to box out of bounds nobleman (10)

Answer: ARISTOCRAT (i.e. “nobleman”). Solution is PARIS (i.e. “Helen’s lover” in Greek myth) TO and CRATE (i.e. “box”) with the first and last letters removed from the phrase as a whole (indicated by “out of bounds”), like so: ARIS-TO-CRAT.

20. Quiet whiskies reportedly bringing on sentimentality (8)

Answer: SCHMALTZ (i.e. “sentimentality”). Solution comprises hom*ophones (indicated by “reportedly”) of SH! (i.e. “quiet”) and MALTS (i.e. “whiskies”).

22. Old king wildly threatened with large axe briefly (9,3,5)

Answer: ALEXANDER THE GREAT (i.e. “old king”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of THREATENED, LARGE and AXE once the latter has had its final letter removed (indicated by “briefly”).

23. Coarse abuse upset labour clergyman (6)

Answer: VERBAL (i.e. “coarse abuse”). Solution is LAB (a recognised abbreviation of the “Labour” party) and REV (i.e. “clergyman”, short for reverend) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: VER-BAL.

24. Sharp alpha male, whimsical Australian mostly on the inside (10)

Answer: ASTRINGENT (i.e. “sharp”). Solution is A (“alpha” in the phonetic alphabet) and GENT (i.e. “male”) all wrapped around or having “on the inside” STRINE (i.e. “whimsical Australian”, or “a jocular name given to Australian English in terms of its vernacular pronunciation” (Chambers), supposedly after how an Aussie would pronounce “Australian”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: A-(STRIN)-GENT.

27. Considers sounding out routes to the summit (6,2)

Answer: WEIGHS UP (i.e. “considers”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “sounding out”) of WAYS UP (i.e. “routes to the summit”).

31. In my opinion, low-down character of Shakespeare’s work (6)

Answer: IMOGEN (i.e. “character of Shakespeare’s work”, namely Cymbeline). Solution is IMO (shortform for “in my opinion”) followed by GEN (i.e. “low-down” or information). Another I got from the wordplay alone. Shakespeare leaves me stone cold.

32. African on CBS rubbished English philosopher (7,5)

Answer: FRANCIS BACON (i.e. “English philosopher”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rubbished”) of AFRICAN ON CBS.

34. Wasteful convent initially failing to collect tax by first of April (11)

Answer: UNNECESSARY (i.e. “wasteful”). Solution is NUNNERY (i.e. “convent”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “initially failing”) and the remainder wrapped around CESS (i.e. obsolete UK word for a “tax”, remembered from a couple of weeks ago) and A (i.e. “first [letter] of April”), like so: UNNE(CESS-A)RY.

36. Met Estonian’s renovated split-level home (11)

Answer: MAISONNETTE (i.e. “split-level home”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “renovated”) of MET ESTONIAN.

37. Penny and Heather admitting Daisy is laying it on a bit thick, perhaps (10)

Answer: PLASTERING (i.e. “laying it on a bit thick”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “penny”) and LING (i.e. “heather”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation) all wrapped around ASTER (i.e. “daisy”, ditto), like so: P-L(ASTER)ING.

39. Cut sauce which has been thickened (9)

Answer: REDUCTION. Solution satisfies “cut” and “sauce which has been thickened”.

41. Dismal signal from conductor (8)

Answer: DOWNBEAT. Solution satisfies “dismal” and “signal from conductor”.

45. Style of writing with a tendency to lean to the right? (6)

Answer: ITALIC. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, given italics are slanted characters.

46. One likes to drag small donkey over river (6)

Answer: SMOKER (i.e. “one likes to drag” on a ciggie). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) followed by MOKE (i.e. slang for a “donkey”) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “river”).

48. Competitive driver, one in fancy car (5)

Answer: RACER (i.e. “competitive driver”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “one” as a playing card) placed “in” RR (i.e. “fancy car”, in this case a Rolls Royce. Presumably this is after their logo but none of my dictionaries list it), like so: R(ACE)R. Solution appeared back in September in grid 1634 along with a very similar clue, making this an easier get.

49. Last character used to symbolise the resistance? (5)

Answer: OMEGA. Solution satisfies “last character” of the Greek alphabet, and “used to symbolise … resistance” in physics.

51. Quick police operation featuring Robocop finally (5)

Answer: RAPID (i.e. “quick”). Solution is RAID (i.e. “police operation”) wrapped around or “featuring” P (i.e. “Robocop finally”, i.e. the last letter of “Robocop”), like so: RA(P)ID.

A medium strength Jumbo that was okay but didn’t leave too much of a lasting impression on me, other than being another one of those ISRAELI/DISRAELI Jumbos. How tedious. More on that later.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Expert in family trees got lineages mixed up (11)

Answer: GENEALOGIST (i.e. “expert in family trees”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “mixed up”) of GOT LINEAGES.

7. Tribute in vacuous Hello! publication by European (6)

Answer: HOMAGE (i.e. “tribute”). Solution is HO (i.e. “vacuous hello”, i.e. the word “hello” with all the middle letters removed) followed by MAG (i.e. “publication”) and E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”).

10. Difficulties of a couple in Spain? (4)

Answer: ADOS (i.e. “difficulties”). Solution is A followed by DOS (i.e. “couple in Spain” or the Spanish for “two”).

14. Useful information on public profile (7)

Answer: OUTLINE (i.e. “profile”). Solution is LINE (i.e. “useful information”, informally – Chambers supports it deep into the definitions) placed “on” or after OUT (i.e. made “public”), like so: OUT-LINE.

15. Short frame cut mostly from a certain metal (7)

Answer: STANNIC (i.e. “from a certain metal”, or “relating to tin in its quadrivalent state” (Chambers). Ah, of course. It was on the tip of my tongue). Solution is STAND (i.e. “frame”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder followed by NICK (i.e. “cut”) once the last letter has also been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: STAN-NIC.

16. Possible requirement for sad story being discussed (2,5)

Answer: AT ISSUE (i.e. “being discussed”). When written as A TISSUE the solution also satisfies “possible requirement for sad story”.

17. Collected works by author abridged for festival (6,7)

Answer: CORPUS CHRISTI (i.e. “the ‘festival’ in honour of the Eucharist” (Chambers)). Solution is CORPUS (i.e. “collected works”) followed by Agatha CHRISTIE (i.e. “author”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “abridged”).

18. Something prompting you to grab a rest (9)

Answer: REMAINDER (i.e. the “rest”). Solution is REMINDER (i.e. “something prompting you”) wrapped around or “grabbing” A, like so: REM(A)INDER.

19. Regularly on it, managed to get drunk (5)

Answer: OILED (i.e. slang for being “drunk”). Solution is OI (i.e. “regularly on it”, i.e. every other letter of ON IT) followed by LED (i.e. “managed”, say, a team).

21. Queen welcomes in philosopher supported by old politician (4,6)

Answer: MARK ANTONY (i.e. “old politician” of the Roman Empire). Solution is MARY (i.e. a “queen”) wrapped around or “welcoming” Immanuel KANT (i.e. “philosopher”) along with ON (i.e. “supported by”, positionally), like so: MAR(KANT-ON)Y.

23. Finally, stir in fizzy tonic and lemon flavouring (6)

Answer: CITRON (i.e. “lemon flavouring”). Solution is R (i.e. “finally stir”, i.e. the last letter of “stir”) placed “in” an anagram (indicated by “fizzy”) of TONIC, like so: CIT(R)ON.

25. Wearing suit a lot (2,6)

Answer: IN SPADES (i.e. “a lot”). Solution is IN (i.e. “wearing”) followed by SPADES (i.e. “suit” in a deck of playing cards).

26. Making products from oil – some pretty rich, possibly (14)

Answer: PETROCHEMISTRY (i.e. “making products from oil”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “possibly”) of SOME PRETTY RICH.

29. Have groups of friends succeeded? (7)

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

30. Outgoing former partner fought to drop last of charges, right? (9)

Answer: EXTROVERT (i.e. “outgoing”). Solution is EX (i.e. “former partner”) followed by STROVE (i.e. “fought”) once the S has been removed (indicated by “to drop last [letter] of charges”). This is all then followed by RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, as in Rt Hon), like so: EX-TROVE-RT.

31. Writer of poetry in rhyme, primarily (5)

Answer: HOMER (i.e. ancient Greek “writer of poetry”). Solution is HOME (i.e. “in”) followed by R (i.e. “rhyme primarily”, i.e. the first letter of “rhyme”).

32. Bookish PhD beset by desire to make a comeback (5)

Answer: NERDY (i.e. “bookish”). Solution is DR (i.e. “PhD” or Doctor of Philosophy) placed in or “beset by” YEN (i.e. “desire”) once reversed (indicated by “to make a comeback”), like so: NE(RD)Y.

34. Doctor rules out taking diazepam in the end for shaking (9)

Answer: TREMULOUS (i.e. “shaking”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of RULES OUT wrapped around or “taking” M (i.e. “diazepam in the end”, i.e. the last letter of “diazepam”), like so: TRE(M)ULOUS.

37. Small note accompanying love letter from overseas (7)

Answer: OMICRON (i.e. “letter from overseas”, specifically the Greek alphabet). Solution is MICRO (i.e. “small”) and N (a recognised abbreviation of “note”) both placed after or “accompanying” O (i.e. “love”, a zero score in tennis), like so: O-(MICRO-N).

39. Hacks maybe look forward to lectures (14)

Answer: EXPECTORATIONS (i.e. “hacks” or coughs). Solution is EXPECT (i.e. “look forward to”) followed by ORATIONS (i.e. “lectures”).

41. Gifted show-off’s debut incorporating extravagant dances (8)

Answer: GAVOTTES (i.e. “dances”). Solution is GAVE (i.e. “gifted”) and S (i.e. “show-off’s debut”, i.e. the first letter of “show-off”) all wrapped around or “incorporating” OTT (i.e. “extravagant” or Over-The-Top), like so: GAV(OTT)E-S.

43. Extremely dry sandwiches are not pleasant to eat (6)

Answer: DAINTY (i.e. “pleasant to eat”). Solution is DY (i.e. “extremely dry”, i.e. the first and last letters of “dry”) wrapped around or “sandwiching” AINT (i.e. “are not”), like so: D(AINT)Y.

44. Boar about to eat insect and a large bear (5,5)

Answer: GIANT PANDA (i.e. “large bear”). Solution is PIG (i.e. “boar”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and wrapped around or “eating” ANT (i.e. “insect”). This is all followed by AND A, like so: GI(ANT)P-AND-A.

45. Workers sited principally alongside river (5)

Answer: STAFF (i.e. “workers”). Solution is S (i.e. “sited principally”, i.e. the first letter of “sited”) followed by TAFF (i.e. a “river” in Wales).

48. Very notable time period inspiring each TV serial (4,5)

Answer: SOAP OPERA (i.e. “TV serial”). Solution is SO (i.e. “very”) and ERA (i.e. “notable time period”) all wrapped around or “inspiring” A POP (i.e. “each”), like so: SO-(A-POP)-ERA.

49. Texan law enforcer let a greenhorn off (3,4,6)

Answer: THE LONE RANGER (i.e. “Texan law enforcer” of American TV). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “off”) of LET A GREENHORN.

51. Healthier-looking police officer in more uncivilised surroundings? (7)

Answer: RUDDIER (i.e. “healthier-looking”). Solution is DI (i.e. “police officer”, specifically a Detective Inspector) placed “in” or “surrounded” by RUDER (i.e. “more uncivilised”), like so: RUD(DI)ER.

52. Former PM, heading away from Haifa, perhaps (7)

Answer: ISRAELI (i.e. “from Haifa, perhaps”). Solution is Benjamin DISRAELI (i.e. “former PM”) with the first letter removed or “heading away”. Poor helmsmanship from the puzzle editor again. You can literally go back two pages in the Saturday Review and see DISRAELI in the grid from a couple of weeks ago, achieved through the inverse of this clue. We’ve had this whole lazy ISRAELI <= => DISRAELI construction so many times since I started writing these posts it seems we’re just going to have to put up with it until all the other Times setters have had a go.

53. One digging a verse about Roman goddess (7)

Answer: MINERVA (i.e. “Roman goddess” of wisdom). Solution is MINER (i.e. “one digging”) followed by A and V (a recognised abbreviation of “verse”) once the latter two have been reversed (indicated by “about”), like so: MINER-(V-A).

54. Mythical Queen accomplished nothing (4)

Answer: DIDO (i.e. “mythical queen” and founder of Carthage). Solution is DID (i.e. “accomplished”) followed by O (i.e. “nothing”).

55. Cleaner emptied out sluice harbouring nasty smell (6)

Answer: SPONGE (i.e. “cleaner”). Solution is SE (i.e. “emptied out sluice”, i.e. the word “sluice” with all its middle letters removed) wrapped around or “harbouring” PONG (i.e. “nasty smell”), like so: S(PONG)E.

56. Person hunting for a certain gift? (6,5)

Answer: TALENT SCOUT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Not much else to say about this one, unless I’m missing something clever.

Down clues

1. Endlessly bad-tempered old comedian (7)

Answer: GROUCHO Marx (i.e. “comedian”). Solution is GROUCHY (i.e. “bad-tempered”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: GROUCH-O.

2. Botany experts – people barely seen around a lake (11)

Answer: NATURALISTS (i.e. “botany experts”). Solution is NATURISTS (i.e. “people barely seen”) wrapped “around” A and L (a recognised abbreviation of “lake”), like so: NATUR(A-L)ISTS.

3. So long as deception’s ingrained, everything’s unclear at first (5)

Answer: ADIEU (i.e. “so long”). “At first” indicates the solution is derived from the first letters of “As Deception’s Ingrained Everything’s Unclear”.

4. Economist working with a proven means of excessive counterbalancing (16)

Answer: OVERCOMPENSATION (i.e. “excessive counterbalancing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “working”) of ECONOMIST and A PROVEN.

5. They protect popular web browsers without using force (8)

Answer: INSURERS (i.e. “they protect”). Solution is IN (i.e. “popular”) followed by SURFERS (i.e. “web browsers”) once the F has been removed (indicated by “without using force” – F being a recognised abbreviation of “force”), like so: IN-SURERS.

6. Obvious mum or dad can support tutors lacking faith at heart (11)

Answer: TRANSPARENT (i.e. “obvious”). Solution is PARENT (i.e. “mum or dad”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – TRAINS (i.e. “tutors”) once the I has been removed (indicated by “lacking faith at heart”, i.e. removing the middle letter of “faith”), like so: TRANS-PARENT.

7. Rough indication partly showing where dinghy comes from (5)

Answer: HINDI (i.e. “where dinghy comes from” – Hmm. I don’t think I’ve seen etymology used in a clue before). “Partly showing” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ROUG(H INDI)CATION.

8. American chose fresh European pasta dish (8,6)

Answer: MACARONI CHEESE (i.e. “pasta dish”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “fresh”) of AMERICAN CHOSE followed by E (i.e. “European”, already covered in 7a).

9. Good stuff, I say, gets an award (6)

Answer: GRAMMY (i.e. “an award” in pop music circles). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by RAM (i.e. “stuff”) and MY (i.e. “I say”, both exclamations).

11. Requisite bit of info about English team close to disaster (11)

Answer: DESIDERATUM (i.e. “requisite” – I don’t think there’s enough overlap here. Chambers has the solution as “something desired or much wanted”, and the clue as “required; needed; indispensable”. They’re not the same. Other dictionaries may differ, of course). Solution is DATUM (i.e. “bit of info”) wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), SIDE (i.e. “team”) and R (i.e. “close to disaster”, i.e. the last letter of “disaster”), like so: D(E-SIDE-R)ATUM.

12. Formally admit sport is overcome by greed? (5,2)

Answer: SWEAR IN (i.e. “formally admit”). Solution is WEAR (i.e. to “sport”) placed in or “overcome by” SIN (i.e. “greed”, an example thereof), like so: S(WEAR)IN.

13. Hot sauce seeing one tear up multiple times (4-4)

Answer: PIRI-PIRI (i.e. “hot sauce” – yum!) Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and RIP (i.e. “tear”) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and repeated (i.e. “multiple times”), like so: (PIR-I)-(PIR-I).

20. Self-introduction from journalist in sarcastic, seriously funny programme? (7)

Answer: DRAMEDY (i.e. “seriously funny programme” – oof, could this be the apotheosis of awful portmanteau words? I mean, “ginormous” has squatted for so long in the English language that it’s almost become acceptable. “Chillax”, meanwhile, has thankfully gone the way of the dinosaurs. “Sheeple”, while bad, at least serves a purpose as it quite often says more about the person using the word than the word itself. Oh, wait, I forgot about “edutainment” (immediately throws up)). Solution is AM ED (i.e. “self-introduction from journalist”, specifically an editor) placed “in” DRY (i.e. “sarcastic”), like so: DR(AM-ED)Y.

22. Body revealed by some actors on stage (5)

Answer: TORSO (i.e. “body”). “Revealed by some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: AC(TORS O)N. A little untidy this. When hiding the solution in clues, setters don’t often leave straggler words (in this case “stage”). A minor quibble.

24. Play dealing with rep coming to an end? (5,2,1,8)

Answer: DEATH OF A SALESMAN (i.e. “play” by Arthur Miller). Another where the solution satisfies the clue as a whole. Nothing much else to say, really.

25. Instant message notification sound able ultimately to have an effect (7)

Answer: IMPINGE (i.e. “to have an effect”). Solution is IM (a recognised abbreviation of “instant message” – ask your parents, kids) followed by PING (i.e. “notification sound”) and E (i.e. “able ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “able”).

27. Basic undergarments are what you and yours have! (1-6)

Answer: Y-FRONTS (i.e. “basic undergarments”). The remainder of the clue plays on how “you” and “yours” are both FRONT-ed by Ys.

28. Sweeping statement is inelegant, or contrived to conceal answer (14)

Answer: GENERALISATION (i.e. “sweeping statement”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “contrived”) of IS INELEGANT OR all wrapped around or “concealing” A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”), like so: GENER(A)LISATION.

31. Awful building largely embodies design only occasionally used (7)

Answer: HEINOUS (i.e. “awful”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “building”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “largely”) and the remainder wrapped around or “embodying” EIN (i.e. “design only occasionally used”, i.e. every other letter of DESIGN), like so: H(EIN)OUS.

33. Soldiers briefed to accept also being shouted at (11)

Answer: REPRIMANDED (i.e. “being shouted at”). Solution is RE (i.e. “soldiers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army) followed by PRIMED (i.e. “briefed”) once wrapped around or “accepting” AND (i.e. “also”), like so: RE-PRIM(AND)ED.

35. Where students learn about where they can get cheap drinks? (5)

Answer: UNION (i.e. “where [students] can get cheap drinks”). Solution is UNI (i.e. “where students learn”) followed by ON (i.e. “about” or regarding).

36. Upset during second show is all-pervasive (11)

Answer: OMNIPRESENT (i.e. “all-pervasive”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) and MO (i.e. “second” or a short time, short for a moment) all reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue) and followed by PRESENT (i.e. to “show”), like so: (OM-NI)-PRESENT.

38. Little bounder took a rag and ran out (3-8)

Answer: RAT-KANGAROO (i.e. “little bounder”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of TOOK A RAG and RAN.

40. Liberal cleric on vacation’s caught attending colourful festival (8)

Answer: CATHOLIC (i.e. without capitalisation, “liberal”, as in “opposite to exclusive” (Chambers) No, me neither). Solution is CC (i.e. “cleric on vacation”, i.e. the word “cleric” with all its middle letters removed – a bit of a penchant for this week’s setter) wrapped around or “catching” AT HOLI (i.e. “attending colourful festival” – Holi is the one where they all chuck coloured powder around), like so: C(AT-HOLI)C.

42. Cousin unexpectedly starts to appear less withdrawn (8)

Answer: UNSOCIAL (i.e. “withdrawn”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “unexpectedly”) of COUSIN followed by A and L (i.e. “starts to appear less”, i.e. the first letters of “appear” and “less”), like so: UNSOCI-AL.

43. Wanted gentleman caught in act (7)

Answer: DESIRED (i.e. “wanted”). Solution is SIR (i.e. “gentleman”) placed or “caught in” DEED (i.e. “act”), like so: DE(SIR)ED. Strange to have this and 11d in the same grid.

46. Suitable clothing in respect of an insect that bites (4,3)

Answer: FIRE ANT (i.e. “insect that bites”). Solution is FIT (i.e. “suitable”) wrapped around or “clothing” RE (i.e. “in respect of” – think email replies) and AN, like so: FI(RE-AN)T.

47. The French going on journey behave without restraint (3,3)

Answer: LET RIP (i.e. “act without restraint”). Solution is LE (i.e. “the French”, i.e. the French for “the”) followed by TRIP (i.e. “journey”).

49. Carry across final slice of ginger cake (5)

Answer: TORTE (i.e. “cake”). Solution is TOTE (i.e. “carry”) wrapped around or placed “across” R (i.e. “final slice of ginger”, i.e. the last letter of “ginger”), like so: TO(R)TE.

50. Relatives from Northern Territory – in Australia! (5)

Answer: AUNTS (i.e. “relatives”). Solution is NT (a recognised abbreviation of “Northern Territory”) placed in AUS (ditto “Australia”), like so: AU(NT)S.

A toughie this week. I won’t give it the coveted label of “stinker” on account of all the obscure trash in the grid. This is just a cheap way of making the puzzle harder. Still, at least there was some good clues to be had, so it wasn’t all bad. [EDIT: “were”, not “was”. Good grief, Poll, where do you think you’re from? Bleedin’ West ‘Am or sumfin’? – LP]

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Unappealing uniform son dons every 24 hours (9)

Answer: UNSIGHTLY (i.e. “unappealing”). Solution is U (“uniform” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) once placed in or “donning” NIGHTLY (i.e. “every 24 hours”), like so: U-N(S)IGHTLY.

6. African country to the west importing some empty food container (7)

Answer: NOSEBAG (i.e. “food container” for a horse). Solution is GABON (i.e. “African country”) reversed (indicated by “to the west” – this being an across clue) and wrapped around or “importing” SE (i.e. “some empty”, i.e. the word “some” with all its middle letters removed), like so: NO(SE)BAG.

10. Shot through part of hotel? (5)

Answer: LOBBY (i.e. “part of hotel”). Solution is LOB (i.e. a throw or “shot”) followed by BY (i.e. “through”).

13. Parties in parliament prepare for war between sides (13)

Answer: HOUSEWARMINGS (i.e. “parties”). Solution is HOUSE (i.e. “parliament”) followed by ARM (i.e. “prepare for war”) once placed “between” WINGS (i.e. “sides”), like so: HOUSE-W(ARM)INGS.

14. Swan around with Parisian in boring Med resort, making money once (9)

Answer: NINEPENCE (i.e. “money once”). Solution is PEN (i.e. a female “swan”) reversed (indicated by “about”) and followed by EN (i.e. “Parisian in”, i.e. the French for “in”). These are then placed in or “boring” NICE (i.e. “Med resort”), like so: NI(NEP-EN)CE.

15. King in jumper, say, returned fashion adornment for crown (7)

Answer: TOPKNOT (i.e. “adornment for crown” – can refer to a hairstyle, fake hair or a knot of ribbons plonked on one’s noggin). Solution is K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess) placed “in” between TOP (i.e. “jumper, say” – other garments are available) and TON (i.e. “fashion”, a variant meaning I’ve only ever seen used in Jumbos) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “returned”), like so: TOP-(K)-NOT.

16. Bread and some butter eaten by president briefly (7)

Answer: CHAPATI (i.e. “bread”). Solution is PAT (i.e. “some butter”) placed in or “eaten by” CHAIR (i.e. “president”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “briefly”), like so: CHA(PAT)I.

17. Dogged right back has trouble with gutless England (7)

Answer: TRAILED (i.e. “dogged”). Solution is RT (a recognised abbreviation of “right”, as in the title Rt Hon) reversed (indicated by “back”) and followed by AIL (i.e. “trouble”), then ED (i.e. “gutless England”, i.e. the word “England” with all the middle letters removed), like so: TR-AIL-ED.

18. Devour nuts, entertained by those running the Grand National courses (4,8)

Answer: HORS D’OEUVRES (i.e. “courses”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “nuts”) of DEVOUR placed in or “entertained by” HORSES (i.e. “those running the Grand National”), like so: HORS(DOEUVR)ES.

20. Could one be accepted as eccentric? (5,5)

Answer: SPACE CADET. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being an “eccentric” person, but the clue is also an anagram (also indicated by “eccentric”) of ACCEPTED AS.

23. Ultimately founder in drink? (5)

Answer: DROWN. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also formed by R (i.e. “ultimately founder”, i.e. the last letter of “founder”) placed “in” DOWN (i.e. to “drink”), like so: D(R)OWN.

24. Retreating, I left old, short rifle in military campaign (9)

Answer: GALLIPOLI (i.e. a “military campaign” of the First World War). Solution is I followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “left”), then O (ditto “old”) and PILLAGE (i.e. to “rifle”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”). This is all then reversed (indicated by “retreating”), like so: GALLIP-O-L-I.

25. Dog given large drink retires somewhere secluded (5,2)

Answer: CURLS UP (i.e. “retires somewhere secluded”). Solution is CUR (i.e. “dog”) followed by L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) and SUP (i.e. “drink”).

26. Tendency to stuff goods roughly into long ship (11)

Answer: PIGGISHNESS (i.e. “tendency to stuff”). Solution is G and G (i.e. both “goods”, G being a recognised abbreviation thereof) and ISH (i.e. “roughly”) both placed “into” PINE (i.e. to “long” for). This is all then followed by SS (i.e. “ship”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of a steamship), like so: PI(GG-ISH)NE-SS.

28. Being indecisive, I’m going to holiday houses (11)

Answer: VACILLATION (i.e. “being indecisive”). Solution is I’LL (i.e. “I’m going to”, a contraction of I WILL) placed in or “housed” by VACATION (i.e. “holiday”), like so: VAC(I’LL)ATION.

30. Rightist sent out guards opposed to ancient ruler (11)

Answer: CONSTANTINE (i.e. “ancient ruler”, 4th century Roman emperor). Solution is CON (i.e. “rightist”, short for Conservative) followed by an anagram (indicated by “out”) of SENT once wrapped around or “guarding” ANTI (i.e. “opposed to”), like so: CON-ST(ANTI)NE.

32. Act to keep walls of cell, say, in a tidier state (11)

Answer: DECLUTTERED (i.e. “in a tidier state”). Solution is DEED (i.e. “act”) wrapped around or “keeping” CL (i.e. “walls of cell”, i.e. the first and last letters of “cell”) and UTTER (i.e. “say”), like so: DE(CL-UTTER)ED.

34. New aim to limit danger, mostly, in ruler’s domains (7)

Answer: IMPERIA (i.e. “ruler’s domains”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “new”) of AIM wrapped around or “limiting” PERIL (i.e. “danger”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mostly”), like so: IM(PERI)A.

36. Embarrassed-looking Conservative in left-wing stronghold once (3,6)

Answer: RED SQUARE (i.e. “left-wing stronghold once”). Solution is RED (i.e. “embarrassed-looking”) followed by SQUARE (i.e. “conservative”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation).

38. Star group periodically accepts crossword setters (5)

Answer: CETUS (i.e. a constellation or “star group”). Solution is CET (i.e. “periodically accepts”, i.e. every other letter of ACCEPTS) followed by US (i.e. “crossword setters”, from the point of view of the setter).

39. Nothing stops sister getting article in part of phrase (4,6)

Answer: NOUN CLAUSE (i.e. “part of phrase”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”) placed in or “stopping” NUN (i.e. “sister”) and followed by CLAUSE (i.e. “article” in, say, a contract or will), like so: N(O)UN-CLAUSE.

41. One possibly potted in party, after poet hosts wicked one (8,4)

Answer: BILLIARD BALL (i.e. “one possibly potted”). Solution is BALL (i.e. “party”) placed “after” BARD (i.e. “poet”) once wrapped around or “hosting” ILL (i.e. “wicked”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: B(ILL-I)ARD-BALL.

45. Stick around because this is found in fruit (7)

Answer: GLUCOSE (i.e. “this is found in fruit”). Solution is GLUE (i.e. “stick”) wrapped “around” COS (informal form of “because”), like so: GLU(COS)E.

46. Person entertained during contest drinking tea, mostly (7)

Answer: INVITEE (i.e. “person entertained”). Solution is IN (i.e. “during”) and VIE (i.e. “contest”) once wrapped around or “drinking” TE (i.e. “tea, mostly”, i.e. the word “tea” with its last letter removed), like so: IN-VI(TE)E.

47. Mike loathing holding clubs in scrap (7)

Answer: MODICUM (i.e. a small amount or “scrap”). Solution is M (“Mike” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by ODIUM (i.e. “loathing”) once wrapped around or “holding” C (a recognised abbreviation of “clubs” used in card games), like so: M-ODI(C)UM.

49. David’s wife is the lady plugging city travel firm (9)

Answer: BATHSHEBA (i.e. King “David’s wife”). Solution is SHE (i.e. “the lady”) placed in or “plugging” BATH (i.e. British spa “city”) and BA (i.e. “travel firm”, British Airways), like so: BATH-(SHE)-BA.

50. Musician finally playing with leading orchestra is conveying no warmth? (3-10)

Answer: NON-CONDUCTING (i.e. of a material “conveying no warmth”). Solution is N (i.e. “musician finally”, i.e. the last letter of “musician”) followed by ON (i.e. “playing”) and CONDUCTING (i.e. “leading orchestra”).

52. Ruminant’s dash to the left of delta (5)

Answer: ELAND (i.e. a variety of antelope, i.e. “ruminant”). Solution is ELAN (i.e. “dash”, vigour or style) placed before or “to the left of” – this being an across clue – D (“delta” in the phonetic alphabet).

53. For medics, filter calls about unknown drug (7)

Answer: DIALYSE (i.e. “for medics, filter”). Solution is DIALS (i.e. “calls”) wrapped “about” Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns) and followed by E (i.e. “drug”, slang name of ecstasy), like so: DIAL(Y)S-E.

54. Expels police officer confiscating one’s stuff (9)

Answer: DISGORGES (i.e. “expels”). Solution is DS (i.e. “police officer”, specifically a Detective Sergeant) wrapped around or “confiscating” I’S (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one” made possessive) and GORGE (i.e. to “stuff”), like so: D(I’S-GORGE)S.

Down clues

1. Release article in Le Monde on problem (7)

Answer: UNHITCH (i.e. “release”). Solution is UN (i.e. “article in Le Monde”, Le Monde is a French newspaper so this is the French for “a” – an article being a word like a, an or the) followed by HITCH (i.e. “problem”).

2. Foil, no good, wrapping new grape variety (11)

Answer: SCUPPERNONG (i.e. “grape variety” from North Carolina, named after the river apparently. Yeah, me neither). Solution is SCUPPER (i.e. to “foil”, for example, Professor Badguy’s dastardly plans for world domination using just the inside of a biro, a small sachet of baking soda and a 5V battery; ultimately shutting down and blowing up his vast poison gas factory that had been cunningly disguised as an abandoned and conveniently flammable shopping mall, all the while assisted but eventually betrayed by a clothes-averse swimwear-model-cum-quantum-physicist called Ophelia Norks. Die In A Bit, coming soon to a cinema near you!) followed by NO and G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) once “wrapped” around N (ditto “new”), like so: SCUPPER-NO-(N)-G.

3. Place for putting dope’s clothing on (5)

Answer: GREEN (i.e. “place for putting” in golf). Solution is GEN (i.e. info or “dope”) wrapped around or “clothing” RE (i.e. “on” or regarding – think email replies), like so: G(RE)EN.

4. Little piggy imbibing wine and snack food (7)

Answer: TOASTIE (i.e. “snack food”). Solution is TOE (i.e. “little piggy”, colloquially) wrapped around or “imbibing” ASTI (i.e. “wine” variety), like so: TO(ASTI)E.

5. What for a Spaniard is very flipping delicious! (3)

Answer: YUM (i.e. “delicious”). Solution is MUY (i.e. “what for a Spaniard is ‘very’”) reversed (indicated by “flipping”).

6. The setter’s two relatives climbing Indian mountain (5,4)

Answer: NANDA DEVI (i.e. “Indian mountain”). Solution is I’VE (i.e. “the setter’s” or a contraction of I HAVE from the point of view of the setter) followed by DAD and NAN (i.e. “two relatives”). The whole is then reversed (indicated by “climbing” – this being a down clue), like so: NAN-DAD-EV’I. Bradford’s was deployed here without hesitation. That’s not to say this was a hasty action, though. Mercy, no, don’t think me so shallow. This was a decision that had been reached having previously spent decades measuring the value of knowing every mountain in the world against the value of going out and meeting people. Every day leading up to this Jumbo a tug-of-war had been contested throughout my mind. Do I dedicate a significant and unrecoverable portion of my life to learning and re-learning the names and locations of every mountain in the world, perchance they should appear in a cryptic crossword or two, or do I go out and meet people, get drunk, talk rubbish, play pool, screw around, get into scrapes and generally immerse myself in the whole messy business of life? Frankly, given that, you’re lucky I still know what an Everest is.

7. Do some hip swinging in band? Always (6)

Answer: SASHAY (i.e. “do some hip swinging”). Solution is SASH (i.e. “band”) followed by AY (i.e. “always” or forever – another cryptic crossword staple, this is an archaic variant meaning of “aye” Chambers would have you believe is something said these days in Scotland or the North East. Well, I grew up in County Durham and frequently return there to visit family and friends and I can confidently say I’ve only ever heard “aye” used in an affirmative sense. Can’t speak for them lot up in Northumberland, mind…).

8. German city that is close to Berlin blocking charge by silly would-be ruler (6,6,7)

Answer: BONNIE PRINCE CHARLIE (i.e. “would-be ruler” who, born in exile, journeyed to Scotland in 1745 and led an attempted Jacobite invasion of England. It got as far as Derby before running out of steam). Solution is BONN (i.e. “German city”) followed by I.E. (i.e. “that is”, from the Latin id est) and N (i.e. “close to Berlin”, i.e. the last letter of “Berlin”) once placed in or “blocking” PRICE (i.e. “charge”). This is all then followed by CHARLIE (i.e. a “silly” person), like so: BONN-IE-PRI(N)CE-CHARLIE.

9. Some incite neglect about dealing with make-up (7)

Answer: GENETIC (i.e. “dealing with make-up”). “Some” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “about” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: IN(CITE NEG)LECT.

10. Exciting performer in Hollywood area pranced wildly (3,6)

Answer: LAP DANCER (i.e. “exciting performer”). Solution is LA (i.e. “Hollywood area”, Los Angeles) followed by an anagram (indicated by “wildly”) of PRANCED, like so: LA-PDANCER.

11. Asian with collar up clearing vessel, almost (11)

Answer: BANGLADESHI (i.e. “Asian”). Solution is NAB (i.e. to “collar” someone) reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by GLADE (i.e. “clearing”) and SHIP (i.e. “vessel”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “almost”), like so: BAN-GLADE-SHI.

12. Profit that is invested by unknown land’s banks (5)

Answer: YIELD (i.e. “profit”). Solution is I.E. (i.e. “that is”, already covered in 8d) placed in or “invested by” Y (i.e. “unknown”, already covered in 53a) and LD (i.e. “land’s banks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “land”), like so: Y-(IE)-LD.

16. Aria and curtain call save failing opera (10,9)

Answer: CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA (i.e. “opera” by Pietro Mascagni – that’s a nope and a nope from me, but you’ll probably recognise bits of its Intermezzo – 1:20 onwards in particular, if you fancy a listen below). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “failing”) of ARIA and CURTAIN CALL SAVE. If you imagined me effing and blinding over this one, you’d be right, but I have to admit this was an excellent clue.

19. Provider of a filling dinner only half set out on time (7)

Answer: DENTIST (i.e. “provider of a filling”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out” again) of DIN (i.e. “dinner only half”, specifically the first half) and SET followed by T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”), like so: DENTIS-T.

21. Need pasta cooked for Mediterranean spreads (9)

Answer: TAPENADES (i.e. “Mediterranean spreads” apparently “made from capers, anchovies and black olives, seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice” (Chambers). Sounds rather nice, to be fair). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “cooked”) of NEED PASTA.

22. Maybe crow or rook beset by modern ailment (6)

Answer: CORVID (i.e. “maybe crow”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “rook” used in chess) placed in or “beset by” COVID (i.e. “modern ailment”, lest we forget), like so: CO(R)VID.

23. Noticed oddball penning irrational drawing (9)

Answer: DEPICTION (i.e. “drawing”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “oddball”) of NOTICED wrapped around or “penning” PI (i.e. an “irrational” number in maths), like so: DE(PI)CTION.

24. Wife of William S, say, raised hell (7)

Answer: GEHENNA (i.e. “hell” – over to Chambers for this one: “the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, in which the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch, and to which, at a later time, the refuse of the city was conveyed to be burned; hence hell (Bible)“). Solution is ANNE H (i.e. “wife of William S”, referring to Anne Hathaway and William Shakespeare) and E.G. (i.e. “say”, from the Latin exempli gratia) all reversed (indicated by “raised” – this being a down clue), like so: GE-H-ENNA. One remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance if I’m honest.

25. Contrive dull, occasionally somewhat revolutionary plot (7)

Answer: COLLUDE (i.e. “plot”). “Somewhat” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “revolutionary” indicates the solution has been reversed, like so: CONTRIV(E DULL OC)CASIONALLY.

27. Partner said why date’s gone wrong, initially (6)

Answer: STEADY (i.e. “partner” or an informal reference to a regular boyfriend or girlfriend). Solution is Y (i.e. “said why”, i.e. the letter Y spoken) with an anagram (indicated by “gone wrong”) of DATE’S placed before it or “initially”, like so: STEAD-Y.

29. Queen’s servant, say, given a bunch of coppers for stomach remedy (7)

Answer: ANTACID (i.e. “stomach remedy”). Solution is ANT (i.e. “queen’s servant, say”) followed by A and CID (i.e. “bunch of coppers”, the Criminal Investigation Department).

31. Turn up and sell a potty in perfect condition (2,4,5)

Answer: NE PLUS ULTRA (i.e. “perfect condition” – Latin, of course. Sine qua non for The Times). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “potty”) of TURN UP and SELL A.

33. Possibly, job for a Persian sailor without contract (3-8)

Answer: RAT-CATCHING (i.e. “possibly, job for a Persian”, a variety of cat). Solution is CATCH (i.e. to “contract” a disease) with RATING (i.e. “sailor” – over to Chambers again: “the class of any member of a crew; a sailor of such a class”) wrapped around or “without” it, like so: RAT(CATCH)ING.

35. Once again, went over grass borders in a mood (9)

Answer: RECROSSED (i.e. “once again, went over”). Solution is REED (i.e. “grass”) wrapped around or “bordering” CROSS (i.e. “in a mood”), like so: RE(CROSS)ED.

37. Receipt of fruit with dry area inside (9)

Answer: QUITTANCE (i.e. a “receipt”). Solution is QUINCE (i.e. “fruit”) wrapped around or having “inside” of it TT (i.e. “dry”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “teetotal”) and A (ditto “area”), like so: QUI(TT-A)NCE.

40. A retired teacher with lower energy, one making cuts (3-4)

Answer: AXE-HEAD (i.e. “one making cuts”). Solution is A followed by EX-HEAD (i.e. “retired teacher”) once the first E (a recognised abbreviation of “energy”) has been “lowered” a notch – this being a down clue – like so: A-(E)X-HEAD => A-X(E)-HEAD.

42. Sections of navy blue American painter put upside down (7)

Answer: ARMADAS (i.e. “sections of navy”). Solution is SAD (i.e. “blue”), AM (a recognised abbreviation of “American”) and RA (i.e. “painter”, specifically a Royal Academician) all reversed (indicated by “put upside down” – this being a down clue), like so: AR-MA-DAS.

43. Travel northwards through trees in French city (7)

Answer: LIMOGES (i.e. “French city”). Solution is GO (i.e. “travel”) reversed (indicated by “northwards” – this being a down clue) placed in or “through” LIMES (i.e. “trees”), like so: LIM(OG)ES. It was at this point I found myself imagining the shame and agony of this week’s setter every time the poor soul had to use an English word in their grid. There, there, Ptolemy. You got through it.

44. Diarist lifting foot smoothly (6)

Answer: EVENLY (i.e. “smoothly”). Solution is John EVELYN (i.e. “diarist”, no me neither) with the last letter or “foot” knocked back a couple of notches or “raised” – this being a down clue – like so: EVELY(N) => EVE(N)LY.

45. Outburst of laughter, say, welcomes British film star (5)

Answer: Clark GABLE (i.e. “film star” of Hollywood’s Golden Era). Solution is GALE (i.e. “outburst of laughter, say”) wrapped around or “welcoming” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: GA(B)LE.

48. Knock down duck and gander (5)

Answer: DECKO (i.e. “gander” or look-see). Solution is DECK (i.e. to “knock down”) followed by O (i.e. “duck” or zero score). Another remembered from its previous Jumbo appearance.

51. Pair performing pirouettes to get instrument (3)

Answer: OUD (i.e. Arabic stringed “instrument”, a bit like a lute). Solution is DUO (i.e. “pair performing”) reversed (indicated by “pirouettes”).

A relatively straightforward one for Bank Holiday Monday. Unusually for me I had this one licked in under an hour, albeit not fully parsed. Still, get me, eh? (Puffs out chest for maximum peaco*ckery.)

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Realised what could be said of Scotland – but not home town (11)

Answer: CAPITALISED (i.e. “realised”, say, a profit). The rest of the clue plays on how “Scotland” has a capital letter, while “home town” does not.

7. Doing fair by niece, one who will gain from will? (11)

Answer: BENEFICIARY (i.e. “who will gain from will”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doing”) FAIR BY NIECE.

13. Check uranium found in part of mine (5)

Answer: AUDIT (i.e. “check”). Solution is U (chemical symbol of “uranium”) placed “in” ADIT (i.e. “part of mine” – we had this one only a few weeks ago, being “an opening or passage, especially into a mine” (Chambers)), like so: A(U)DIT.

14. Persistent white tern always is around (7)

Answer: ETERNAL (i.e. “persistent”). “Is around” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: WHIT(E TERN AL)WAYS.

15. Boy I trick, say, over ending a race (9)

Answer: GENOCIDAL (i.e. “ending a race”). Solution is LAD (i.e. “boy”), I, CON (i.e. “trick”) and E.G. (i.e. “say”), all reversed (indicated by “over”), like so: GE-NOC-I-DAL.

16. Away without money and not inclined to drink (9)

Answer: ABSTINENT (i.e. “not inclined to drink”). Solution is ABSENT (i.e. “away”) wrapped around or placed “without” TIN (slang for “money”), like so: ABS(TIN)ENT.

17. Disillusioned with meter debit out of control (10)

Answer: EMBITTERED (i.e. “disillusioned”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out of control”) of METER DEBIT.

20. Invention of a cold snack (4,3)

Answer: PORK PIE. Solution satisfies “invention” or lie, as in the co*ckney rhyming slang, and “cold snack”.

22. American specialised soldier regularly leads (7)

Answer: MAJORED (i.e. “American specialised” or studied at a US university). Solution is MAJOR (i.e. “soldier”) followed by ED (i.e. “regularly leads”, i.e. every other letter of LEADS).

24. Ineffective medicine’s rank smell (7)

Answer: PLACEBO (i.e. “ineffective medicine”). Solution is PLACE (i.e. “rank”) followed by BO (i.e. “smell”, or Body Odour).

25. Assess girl with stringed instrument keeping in key (8)

Answer: EVALUATE (i.e. “assess”). Solution is EVA (i.e. “girl’s” name) and LUTE (i.e. “stringed instrument”) once wrapped around or “keeping” A (i.e. musical “key”), like so: EVA-LU(A)TE.

26. Feat of splashing cash with compliment (14)

Answer: ACCOMPLISHMENT (i.e. “feat”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “splashing”) of CASH and COMPLIMENT.

28. Old piece of key found in Tube (5)

Answer: DUCAT (i.e. “old piece” or coin). Solution is A (i.e. musical “key” again) placed “in” DUCT (i.e. “tube”), like so: DUC(A)T.

29. Did revolt spread beyond port? (6)

Answer: RIOTED (i.e. “did revolt”). Solution is TED (i.e. “spread” – the TED spread is “a measure of the difference between the value of three-month US Treasury bills and three-month Eurodollar futures contracts” (Chambers). One of those everyday terms, then) placed after or “beyond” RIO (i.e. a “port” in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro), like so: RIO-TED.

30. Toothpaste certified prepared without nitrogen (10)

Answer: DENTIFRICE (i.e. “toothpaste”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “prepared”) of CERTIFIED wrapped around or placed “without” N (chemical symbol of “nitrogen”), like so: DE(N)TIFRICE.

33. I’m pleased nice hero is pious (5-5)

Answer: GOODY-GOODY (i.e. “pious”). Solution is GOODY (i.e. “I’m pleased”) followed by GOODY (i.e. “nice hero”).

35. At first believe old butcher’s lamb tender (2-4)

Answer: BO-PEEP (i.e. “lamb tender” of nursery rhyme). Solution is B (i.e. “at first believe”, i.e. the initial letter of “believe”) followed by O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and PEEP (i.e. “butcher’s” – more co*ckney rhyming slang, this time butcher’s hook = look).

37. Visitor from east sheltering in wind (5)

Answer: GUEST (i.e. “visitor”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “east”) placed “in” GUST (i.e. “wind”), like so: GU(E)ST.

39. Where location of Portsmouth harbour entrance is irrelevant (6,3,5)

Answer: BESIDE THE POINT. Solution satisfies “irrelevant”, and “where location of Portsmouth harbour entrance is” – one of the few places in Jumbos I’ve actually been to! Fun fact: Portsmouth Point used to be abbreviated to “Po’m P” in ships’ logbooks, and so was born the nickname “Pompey”.

41. Diatribe’s answer resounded in tone (8)

Answer: HARANGUE (i.e. “diatribe”). Solution is A (a recognised abbreviation of “answer”, as in Q&A) and RANG (i.e. “resounded”) both placed “in” HUE (i.e. “tone”), like so: H(A-RANG)UE.

44. One dug out new underground room (7)

Answer: DUNGEON (i.e. “underground room”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “out”) of ONE DUG followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “new”), like so: DUNGEO-N.

45. Movement that’s annoyed feral cat taking time out (7)

Answer: FLOUNCE (i.e. “movement that’s annoyed”). Solution is FERAL and OUNCE (i.e. “cat”, the snow leopard) once the ERA (i.e. “time”) has been “taken … out”.

46. Wide area of plant endlessly filling river (7)

Answer: EXPANSE (i.e. “wide area”). Solution is PANSY (i.e. “plant”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “endlessly”) and the remainder placed in or “filling” EXE (i.e. an English “river”), like so: EX(PANS)E.

47. Banning or backing me visiting pubs? (10)

Answer: EMBARGOING (i.e. “banning”). Solution is ME reversed (indicated by “backing”) and followed by BAR-GOING (i.e. “visiting pubs”), like so: EM-BAR-GOING.

49. I am receiving treatment for itching (9)

Answer: IMPATIENT (i.e. “itching”). When written as I’M PATIENT the solution also satisfies “I am receiving treatment”.

53. Conductor’s to study in Italy initially (9)

Answer: Arturo TOSCANINI (i.e. “conductor”). Solution is TO, SCAN (i.e. “study”), IN and I (i.e. “Italy initially”, i.e. the first letter of “Italy”).

54. Country road Tim found in car with never an end (7)

Answer: CROATIA (i.e. “country”). Solution is ROAD and TIM both placed “in” CAR once the last letter of all three has been removed (indicated by “with never an end”), like so: C(ROA-TI)A.

55. Without protection Zunis and Utes stick together (5)

Answer: UNITE (i.e. “stick together”). Solution is ZUNIS and UTES once the first and last letters of each has been removed (indicated by “without protection”, like so: UNI-TE.

56. Harmonises decorations in a make-over (11)

Answer: COORDINATES (i.e. “harmonises”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “in a make-over”) of DECORATIONS.

57. Business listing has unnerved hotel workers (6,5)

Answer: YELLOW PAGES (i.e. “business listing”). Solution is YELLOW (i.e. “unnerved”) followed by PAGES (i.e. “hotel workers”).

Down clues

1. Fruit nipper peeled, marked with spots (4,5)

Answer: CRAB APPLE (i.e. “fruit”). Solution is CRAB (i.e. “nipper”) followed by DAPPLED (i.e. “marked with spots”) once the first and last letters have been removed (indicated by “peeled”).

2. What gets one over uninspiring Atlantic voyage? (10,8)

Answer: PEDESTRIAN CROSSING (i.e. “what gets one over” the road). Solution is PEDESTRIAN (i.e. “uninspiring”) followed by CROSSING (i.e. “Atlantic voyage”).

3. Time two notes to be played together (5)

Answer: TUTTI (i.e. “to be played together” in musical lingo). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by UT and TI (i.e. “two notes” of the sol-fa scale – UT was later superseded by “doh”).

4. Polygraph machine – electrode’s involved with it (3,8)

Answer: LIE DETECTOR (i.e. “polygraph machine”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “involved”) of ELECTRODE and IT.

5. It seemed about the season to plant corn? (8)

Answer: SEEDTIME (i.e. “the season to plant corn”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “about”) of IT SEEMED.

6. Coat put on essential lifting device taking little energy and time (6,6)

Answer: DONKEY JACKET (i.e. “coat”). Solution is DON (i.e. “put on”) followed by KEY (i.e. “essential”), then JACK (i.e. “lifting device”), then E and T (recognised abbreviations, or “little” forms of “energy” and “time” respectively).

7. Hungarian composer’s band accepting a piece of music very well (4,6)

Answer: BELA BARTOK (i.e. “Hungarian composer”). Solution is BELT (i.e. “band”) wrapped around or “accepting” A and BAR (i.e. “piece of music”). This is all then followed by OK (i.e. “very well”), like so: BEL(A-BAR)T-OK.

8. What’s black chess piece (not king) (5)

Answer: NIGHT (i.e. “what’s black”). Solution is KNIGHT (i.e. “chess piece”) with the K removed (indicated by “not king” – K being a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess).

9. Handle issue in characteristic style (11)

Answer: of the three words that fit (FINGERPOINT, FINGERPAINT and FINGERPRINT) I’m plumping for FINGERPRINT (i.e. “characteristic style”). Can’t say I’m entirely sold, but I guess the setter is playing on a FINGERPRINT being a characteristic of someone, in that fingerprints are supposedly unique among people. Solution is FINGER (i.e. to “handle”) followed by PRINT (i.e. publication or “issue”). Not a classic.

10. Track events repeated regularly and aptly hard (5,4)

Answer: CYCLE PATH (i.e. “track”). Solution is CYCLE (i.e. “events repeated regularly”) followed by PAT (i.e. “aptly”) and H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils).

11. Assistant dropping unknown from lead of Mozart opera (4)

Answer: AIDE (i.e. “assistant”). Solution is ZAIDE (i.e. “Mozart opera”, unfinished apparently) with the Z removed (indicated by “dropping unknown from…” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in solutions as unknowns).

12. I agree about large dog’s cry of pain (4)

Answer: YELP (i.e. “dog’s cry of pain”). Solution is YEP (i.e. “I agree”) wrapped “about” L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”), like so: YE(L)P.

18. Enticing green genie to work life-altering change (7,11)

Answer: GENETIC ENGINEERING (i.e. “life-altering change”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “to work”) of ENTICING GREEN GENIE.

19. Most noble of connections garnered by elite regularly (8)

Answer: LOFTIEST (i.e. “most noble”). Solution is OF and TIES (i.e. “connections”) all placed in or “garnered by” LT (i.e. “elite regularly”, i.e. every other letter of ELITE), like so: L(OF-TIES)T.

21. Birds in City of London street (7)

Answer: POULTRY. Solution satisfies “birds” and “City of London street”.

23. Exhausted and wiped out, broken by pressure (8)

Answer: DEPLETED (i.e. “exhausted”). Solution is DELETED (i.e. “wiped out”) wrapped around or “broken by” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: DE(P)LETED.

27. Good ancient arable land fine for valuable cover (4,4)

Answer: GOLD LEAF (i.e. “valuable cover”). Solution is G (a recognised abbreviation of “good”) followed by OLD (i.e. “ancient”), then LEA (i.e. “arable land”) and F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”, again used in grading pencils).

28. One who works hard to reveal remains of cairn? (8)

Answer: DOGSBODY (i.e. “one who works hard”). When written as DOG’S BODY the solution also satisfies “remains of cairn”, a variety of Scottish terrier.

31. What helps one see travelling dandy going round well-dressed (3,4)

Answer: FOG LAMP (i.e. “what helps one see travelling”). Solution is FOP (i.e. “dandy”) wrapped “round” GLAM (i.e. “well-dressed”), like so: FO(GLAM)P.

32. Reportedly lamenting parrot eating grand Ipomoea (7,5)

Answer: MORNING GLORY (i.e. “ipomoea” – not quite sure why it was capitalised). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “reportedly”) of MOURNING (i.e. “lamenting”) and LORY (i.e. variety of “parrot”) all wrapped around or “eating” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”), like so: MORNING-(G)-LORY.

34. Show Belgian port’s terminus perhaps exporting diamonds and sulphur (11)

Answer: OSTENTATION (i.e. “show”). Solution is OSTEND STATION (i.e. “Belgian port’s terminus perhaps”) with the D and S in the middle removed (indicated by “exporting diamonds and sulphur”, D being a recognised abbreviation of “diamonds” used in card games, S being the chemical symbol of “sulphur”), like so: OSTEN-TATION.

36. Instrument’s power level is over quiet (6,5)

Answer: PLAYER PIANO (i.e. “instrument”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”) followed by LAYER (i.e. “level”) and PIANO (i.e. “quiet” in musical lingo).

38. Obtained work that is having reduced tax and lose it (2,2,6)

Answer: GO TO PIECES (i.e. “lost it”). Solution is GOT (i.e. “obtained”) followed by OP (i.e. “work”, short for opus), then IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”, after the Latin id est) and CESS (i.e. an obsolete word for a “tax”, short for assess) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “reduced”), like so: GOT-OP-IE-CES.

40. Man Dr Dale treated for state of unconsciousness (9)

Answer: DREAMLAND (i.e. “state of unconsciousness”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “treated”) of MAN DR DALE.

42. Chosen Republican regularly teases voter (9)

Answer: ELECTRESS (i.e. female “voter”). Solution is ELECT (i.e. “chosen”) followed by R (a recognised abbreviation of “Republican”) and ESS (i.e. “regularly teases”, i.e. every other letter of TEASES).

43. Hand in money in Brazil for pardoning (8)

Answer: REMITTAL (i.e. “pardoning”). Solution is MITT (i.e. “hand”) placed “in” REAL (i.e. “money in Brazil”), like so: RE(MITT)AL.

48. Ground corn’s right stuffed into marrow (5)

Answer: GRIST (i.e. “ground corn”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) placed “into” GIST (i.e. “marrow” or essence of something), like so: G(R)IST.

50. Trick’s beginning with bottom card of winning suit (5)

Answer: TRUMP (i.e. “card of winning suit”). Solution is T (i.e. “trick’s beginning”, i.e. the first letter of “trick”) followed by RUMP (i.e. “bottom”).

51. Somewhat exotically having a shell-like nature? (4)

Answer: OTIC (i.e. “having a shell-like nature” – taking “shell-like” to be slang for the ear). “Somewhat” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: EX(OTIC)ALLY.

52. Very large centre in Toulouse city (4)

Answer: OSLO (i.e. “city” in Norway). Solution is OS (i.e. “very large”, short for outsize) followed by LO (i.e. “centre in Toulouse”, or the middle letters of “Toulouse”).

Another middling Jumbo for me that went a little too tenuous at times. 8d was very good, though.

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

Thanks for your continued patience and input. Till next time (i.e. in a minute or two), stay safe out there kids.

LP

Across clues

1. Reply unexpectedly, with solution to defend (6,4)

Answer: ANSWER BACK (i.e. “reply unexpectedly”). Solution is ANSWER (i.e. “solution”) followed by BACK (i.e. “to defend”).

6. Quick tongue, yet serpentine, in two parts? (7-5)

Answer: LICKETY-SPLIT (i.e. “quick”). Solution is LICK (i.e. to “tongue”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “serpentine”) of YET, then SPLIT (i.e. “in two parts”), like so: LICK-ETY-SPLIT.

14. Children’s animation featuring popular kids (7)

Answer: BAMBINI (i.e. “kids”, plural of bambino, from the Italian). Solution is BAMBI (i.e. “children’s animation” from Walt Disney) wrapped around or “featuring” IN (i.e. “popular”), like so: BAMB(IN)I.

15. Creative type, one filling hot dog? (7)

Answer: PAINTER (i.e. “creative type”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) placed in or “filling” PANTER (i.e. descriptive of a “hot dog”), like so: PA(I)NTER.

16. Role model’s pain of having missed birdie, coming up short? (7)

Answer: PARAGON (i.e. “role model”). Solution is PAR AGONY (i.e. playfully descriptive of some “pain of having missed birdie” in golf) with the last letter removed (indicated by “coming up short”), like so: PAR-AGON.

17. Exquisite red (4)

Answer: RARE. Solution satisfies “exquisite” and “red”, the colour of undercooked meat. Too loose for my liking.

18. Evidence of painful experience in banging performance? (6)

Answer: TATTOO. Solution satisfies “evidence of painful experience” – not my scene, but I’m always impressed by a good tattoo. I went to a Guana Batz gig a few months ago. If they had frontman Pip Hancox’s full upper-body tattoo as a long-sleeved T-shirt I’d have bought their entire stock. Solution also satisfies a “banging performance” of drumming.

20. European chap in battle that is uglier on the flanks (8)

Answer: MONSIEUR (i.e. “European chap”). Solution is MONS (i.e. “battle” in the First World War, been used in a few Jumbos now) followed by IE (i.e. “that is”, i.e. “i.e.”!) and UR (i.e. “uglier on the flanks”, i.e. the first and last letters of “uglier”).

24. Eccentric Wars of the Roses lot, queen and king, proving this? (6,4,2,5,2,4)

Answer: THERE’S NOWT SO QUEER AS FOLK, a phrase summing up the “eccentric” nature of people. Solution is an anagram (indicated by “eccentric”) of WARS OF THE ROSES LOT, QUEEN and K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess”).

25. Sage parent admits something going to her head? (7)

Answer: MAHATMA (i.e. a wise or “sage” leader). Solution is MAMA (i.e. “parent”) wrapped around or “admitting” HAT (i.e. “something going to her head”), like so: MA(HAT)MA.

26. Vehicle for hire, a racer not cleared of old rubbish (4-1-3)

Answer: RENT-A-CAR (i.e. “vehicle for hire”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “rubbish”) of A RACER NOT once the O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) has been removed or “cleared”.

27. Sailor married to girl in sci-fi film (6)

Answer: AVATAR (i.e. “sci-fi film”). Solution is TAR (i.e. informal reference for a “sailor”) placed after or – loosely – “married to” AVA (i.e. “girl’s” name), like so: AVA-TAR.

29. Gather enthusiast confronting family is an impertinent riddler (8,6)

Answer: SQUIRREL NUTKIN (i.e. “impertinent riddler” of Beatrix Potter’s book, The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin). Solution is SQUIRREL (i.e. “gather”) followed by NUT (i.e. “enthusiast”) and KIN (i.e. “family”).

31. Democrat, national leader once (8)

Answer: DISRAELI (i.e. UK “leader once”, he was prime minister in the 1800s). Solution is D (a recognised abbreviation of “Democrat”) followed by ISRAELI (i.e. “national”). I suppose it’s been a year, but it’s no less disappointing to find yet another Times setter who cannot look beyond this obvious construction. See grids 1604 and 1595 for previous examples. Ho hum.

34. Bull or cow? Horse close (4,4)

Answer: GREY SEAL (i.e. “bull or cow”, male and female of the species respectively). Solution is GREY (i.e. variety of “horse”) followed by SEAL (i.e. to “close”). A bit random.

36. Caught in bombardment, general’s sacred object (10,4)

Answer: FISHERMAN’S RING (i.e. “sacred object” – over to Chambers: “a signet ring, with the device of St Peter fishing, used in signing papal briefs”. The ring is used to seal documents. A new ring is cast for each Pope, with the previous ring either destroyed or damaged in some way to prevent further use). Solution is William Tec*mseh SHERMAN’S (i.e. “general’s”) placed “in” FIRING (i.e. “bombardment”), like so: FI(SHERMAN’S)RING.

39. King spotting game likely to crack? (6)

Answer: CRISPY (i.e. “likely to crack”). Solution is CR (i.e. “king”, specifically Charles Rex) followed by I SPY (i.e. “game”).

41. Cook with waiters at hairdressers in conversation? (8)

Answer: BARBECUE (i.e. “cook”). Solution comprises hom*ophones (indicated by “in conversation”) of BARBER QUEUE (i.e. “waiters at hairdressers”).

43. Act nine or younger, daughter! (7)

Answer: PRETEND (i.e. “act”). Solution is PRE-TEN (i.e. “nine or younger”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).

46. Unfortunate position, awaiting platform alteration? (3,5,4,2,3,6)

Answer: THE WRONG SIDE OF THE TRACKS. Solution satisfies “unfortunate position” in life, and, playfully, with a little recycling, “position, awaiting platform alteration”.

47. Very soon gold chain added to kitty (8)

Answer: TOMORROW (i.e. “very soon”). Solution is OR (i.e. “gold” in heraldry) and ROW (i.e. “chain”) all placed after or “added to” TOM (i.e. male “kitty”), like so: TOM-(OR-ROW).

48. Longchamp favourite hurdling as racehorse (6)

Answer: CHASER (i.e. “racehorse”). Solution is CHER (i.e. “Longchamp favourite” – Longchamp is a racecourse in Paris, so this is the French for “dear” or “favourite”) wrapped around or “hurdling” – really stretching it now – AS, like so: CH(AS)ER.

49. Setter, ‘orrible character (4)

Answer: AGAR (i.e. “setter”, a jelly derived from seaweed used to host bacterial cultures, among other uses). Solution is HÄGAR with the H dropped (indicated by “’orrible character” – Hägar the Horrible is a syndicated cartoon strip with some serious reach, some 1,900 newspapers over the years if Wikipedia is anything to go by).

53. Bit of a shock? Incorrect exclusion of workforce (7)

Answer: LOCKOUT (i.e. “exclusion of workforce”, typically enforced by factory owners on their employees). Solution is LOCK (i.e. “bit of a shock” of hair) followed by OUT (i.e. “incorrect”).

54. Where shopper may be brewing (2,5)

Answer: IN STORE. Solution satisfies “where shopper may be” and “brewing”.

56. Either way, it’s exalted (7)

Answer: DEIFIED (i.e. “exalted”). “Either way” is an indication the solution is a palindrome.

57. Traveller across the sky, path’s shown up in height… (7,5)

Answer: HALLEY’S COMET (i.e. “traveller across the sky”). Solution is ALLEY’S (i.e. “path’s”) and COME (i.e. arrived or “shown up”) both placed “in” HT (a recognised abbreviation of “height”), like so: H(ALLEY’S-COME)T.

58. … trail on which I am transported, shimmering with light! (10)

Answer: IRIDESCENT (i.e. “shimmering with light”). Solution is SCENT (i.e. “trail” or clue) placed “on” or after I RIDE (i.e. “I am transported”), like so: (I-RIDE)-SCENT.

Down clues

1. Botanical garden a nuisance, corporation bringing in bulldozer finally (9)

Answer: ARBORETUM (i.e. “botanical garden”). Solution is A, BORE (i.e. “nuisance”) and TUM (i.e. “corporation” – I’ve said this a few times now, but “corporation” is pure catnip for Times setters; the word is an archaic reference to a pot belly) all wrapped around or “bringing in” R (i.e. “bulldozer finally”, i.e. the last letter of “bulldozer”), like so: A-(R)-BORE-TUM.

2. Pile on the Thames in use, a few others scattered to the north (8,5)

Answer: SOMERSET HOUSE (i.e. an impressive “pile on the Thames” that was designed to accommodate a number of societies and public offices). Solution is USE with SOME (i.e. “a few”) and an anagram (indicated by “scattered”) of OTHERS both placed before it, or “to the north” – this being a down clue – like so: (SOME-RSETHO)-USE.

3. Unholy fiend wiping brow (4)

Answer: EVIL (i.e. “unholy”). Solution is DEVIL (i.e. “fiend”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “wiping brow”).

4. Terminal a bit erratic, containing an alloy (9,5)

Answer: BRITANNIA METAL (i.e. an “alloy” similar to pewter, apparently). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “erratic”) of TERMINAL A BIT wrapped around or “containing” BRIT(AN)NIAMETAL.

5. Nick and Bobby (3)

Answer: COP. Solution satisfies “nick” or to catch, and “bobby”, slang for a policeman.

7. Halfwit forgetting ID, a Greek character (4)

Answer: IOTA (i.e. “Greek character”, the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet). Solution is IDIOT (i.e. “halfwit”) with the ID removed or “forgotten” and the remainder followed by A, like so: IOT-A.

8. Hark! A berk! Empty orchestra playing, hard to ignore – here? (7,3)

Answer: KARAOKE BAR. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole – not only does it describe what one may encounter in such a place, but KARAOKE is also “empty orchestra” in Japanese. Solution is also an anagram (indicated by “playing”) of HARK A BERK and OA (i.e. “empty orchestra”, i.e. the word “orchestra” with all its middle letters removed) once the H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils) has been removed or “forgotten”. An excellent clue. Best of the lot.

9. Nailed by judge, a blighter hanging (8)

Answer: TAPESTRY (i.e. “hanging”). Solution is TRY (i.e. to “judge”) wrapped around or “nailing” – this setter’s containment indicators are really pushing it this week – A and PEST (i.e. “blighter”), like so: T(A-PEST)RY.

10. Show superhero, say, in image on computer (11)

Answer: SCREENSAVER (i.e. “image on computer” – again, pushing it). Solution is SCREEN (i.e. “show”) followed by SAVER (i.e. “superhero, say” – other less fantastical heroes are available).

11. Delinquent criminal has worked to rule (5,4)

Answer: LAGER LOUT (i.e. “delinquent”). Solution is LAG (slang for a “criminal”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “worked”) of TO RULE, like so: LAG-ERLOUT.

12. Defeat war machine (4)

Answer: TANK. Solution satisfies a slang word for “defeat”, and “war machine”.

13. Undercarriage scratched in luxury car, being lower (8)

Answer: LIMOUSIN (i.e. “lower”, or breed of cattle. To “low” is another way of saying mooing). Solution is LIMOUSINE (i.e. “luxury car”) with the last letter or “undercarriage” removed or “scratched”.

19. Huge cable at the back, pull loop to secure it (8)

Answer: TOWERING (i.e. “huge”). Solution is E (i.e. “cable at the back”, i.e. the last letter of “cable”) placed between or “secured” by TOW (i.e. to “pull”) and RING (i.e. “loop”), like so: TOW-(E)-RING.

21. High treble producing great number (6)

Answer: BELTER (i.e. “great [musical] number”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “high”) of TREBLE.

22. Fruit stuffed with half of rice – quite like a regular meal is it? (8)

Answer: SQUARISH (i.e. “quite like a regular meal”). Solution is SQUASH (i.e. “fruit”) wrapped around or “stuffed with” RI (i.e. “half of rice”, specifically the first half), like so: SQUA(RI)SH.

23. Alongside co*cktail, smart bottles (8)

Answer: SKIRTING (i.e. “alongside”). Solution is KIR (i.e. “co*cktail”) placed in or “bottled” by STING (i.e. to “smart”), like so: S(KIR)TING.

28. Girl, briefly detained, got the wrong idea (14)

Answer: MISAPPREHENDED (i.e. “got the wrong idea”). Solution is MISS (i.e. “girl”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “briefly”) and the remainder followed by APPREHENDED (i.e. “detained”), like so: MIS-APPREHENDED.

29. Wisdom in place of heroic stories? (8)

Answer: SAGACITY (i.e. “wisdom”). When written as SAGA CITY the solution also playfully satisfies “place of heroic stories”.

30. Wind best dispersed for couple in boudoir? (4,4)

Answer: TWIN BEDS (i.e. “couple in boudoir”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “dispersed”) of WIND BEST.

32. Top advisor hopeless in emergencies (8,5)

Answer: EMINENCE GRISE (i.e. “top advisor” – over to Chambers again: “someone exercising power in the background, as did Cardinal Richelieu’s private secretary and alter ego Père Joseph”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “hopeless”) of IN EMERGENCIES.

33. Sickly character called out for drink (5,3)

Answer: GREEN TEA (i.e. “drink”). Solution is GREEN (i.e. “sickly”) followed by a hom*ophone (indicated by “called out”) of the letter T (i.e. a “character” of the alphabet).

35. Set on reversing unpleasant situation: think about that (11)

Answer: SUPERIMPOSE (i.e. “set on” top of another). Solution is MIRE (i.e. “unpleasant situation”) “reversed” and placed in or having “about” it SUPPOSE (i.e. “think”), like so: SUP(ERIM)POSE.

37. Drop a brick into modest drink (6)

Answer: SHERRY (i.e. “drink”). Solution is ERR (i.e. “drop a brick”, specifically saying something tactless or indiscreet) placed “into” SHY (i.e. “modest”), like so: SH(ERR)Y.

38. Old musician has piece to play after lifting of short’s stick (4,6)

Answer: FATS DOMINO (i.e. “old musician”). Solution is DOMINO (i.e. a “piece to play” in a game of… um…) placed “after” STAFF (i.e. “stick”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”) and the remainder reversed (indicated by “lifting of…” – this being a down clue).

40. Differing in citadel – or not? (9)

Answer: IDENTICAL (i.e. “differing … not”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “differing” – a little more recycling) of IN CITADEL.

42. Train that’s amazing loaded with liquor (4-4)

Answer: CHOO-CHOO (i.e. “train”). Solution is COO (i.e. “that’s amazing”) wrapped around or “loaded” with HOOCH (i.e. “liquor”), like so: C(HOOCH)OO.

44. Shame seeing recording, evidently blushing over it (9)

Answer: DISCREDIT (i.e. “shame”). Solution is DISC (i.e. “recording”) followed by RED (i.e. “evidently blushing”) and IT.

45. At the crease, openers bagging runs – people unlikely to applaud? (8)

Answer: INGRATES (i.e. “people unlikely to applaud”). Solution is IN (i.e. “at the crease” in a game of cricket) followed by GATES (i.e. “openers”) once wrapped around or “bagging” R (a recognised abbreviation of “runs”), like so: IN-G(R)ATES.

50. Expression of contempt about Liberal nonsense (4)

Answer: BLAH (i.e. “nonsense”). Solution is BAH (i.e. “expression of contempt”) wrapped “about” L (a recognised abbreviation of “Liberal”), like so: B(L)AH.

51. Man say brought up in Helsinki (4)

Answer: ISLE (i.e. “Man[,] say” – other isles are available). “In” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, while “brought up” indicates the solution has been reversed – this being a down clue – like so: H(ELSI)NKI.

52. Beer voucher turned over (4)

Answer: PILS (i.e. “beer”). Solution is SLIP (i.e. “voucher”) reversed or “turned over”.

55. First of all, euphonium and reed organ (3)

Answer: EAR (i.e. “organ”). “First of all” indicates the solution is derived from the initial letters of Euphonium And Reed.

A middling Jumbo this week. I wouldn’t be so mean as to say it was 41a, but it didn’t exactly have me 30a for more either.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Make quite clear what to do at end of holiday? (5,4)

Answer: DRIVE HOME. Solution satisfies “make quite clear” and “what to do at end of holiday”.

6. Vegetables, with lots of people in line for them, we hear, mind them? (2,3,2)

Answer: PS AND QS (i.e. “mind them”). Solution comprises hom*ophones (indicated by “we hear”) of PEAS (i.e. “vegetables”) and QUEUES (i.e. “lots of people in line”). These are separated by AND (i.e. “with”).

10. Radiant with Russian girl returning (5)

Answer: AGLOW (i.e. “radiant”). Solution is W (a recognised abbreviation of “with”) and OLGA (i.e. “Russian girl’s” name) all reversed (indicated by “returning”), like so: AGLO-W.

13. Cold, simple chemical substance losing one electron at first becomes mild (7)

Answer: CLEMENT (i.e. “mild”). Solution is C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold” on water taps) followed by ELEMENT (i.e. “simple chemical substance”) with the first E removed (indicated by “losing one electron at first”, i.e. the first letter of “electron”), like so: C-LEMENT.

14. Cries aloud for the country (5)

Answer: WALES (i.e. “country”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “aloud”) of WAILS (i.e. “cries”).

15. Put name into small newspaper article, curving along the edges (9)

Answer: SCALLOPED (i.e. “curved along the edges”). Solution is CALL (i.e. to “name”) “put into” S (a recognised abbreviation of “small”) and OP-ED (i.e. “newspaper article”), like so: S-(CALL)-OP-ED.

16. Lifelong description of how “rock-a-bye-baby” fell to its death? (4,3,6,2,3,5)

Answer: FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE (i.e. “lifelong”). The remainder of the clue plays on the nursery rhyme: “Rock-a-bye-baby, on the tree-top; when the wind blows, the cradle will rock; when the bough breaks, the cradle will fall; down will come baby, cradle and all”.

17. Singular taxi driver making a crust (6)

Answer: SCABBY (i.e. “making a crust” over a healing wound). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “singular”) followed by CABBY (i.e. slang for a “taxi driver”).

18. This is me at college, before being covered in flour etc (8)

Answer: MEUNIERE (i.e. “being covered in flour etc” – oh come on. 1) You’ve stuck this in the grid on even intersecting letters, _E_N_E_E; 2) the solution is a term only foodies are only ever going to care about, and 3) you appear to handwave away a good chunk of the clue under “etc”, a total nothingburger – Chambers describes MEUNIERE as: “lightly coated in flour and fried in butter, then served in butter, lemon juice and herbs, especially parsley”, which seems a little more than just sticking some flour on it). Solution is ME followed by UNI (i.e. “college”, short for university) and ERE (poetic form of “before”). This one got so far up my nose I decided to dust off this old favourite.

19. Reminder to collect protective gear held up (7)

Answer: PROPPED (i.e. “held up”). Solution is PROD (i.e. “reminder”) wrapped around or “collecting” PPE (i.e. “protective gear”, lest you have forgotten, Personal Protective Equipment. Has this made it into a dictionary already?), like so: PRO(PPE)D.

22. Figure Noah went swimming? Seems reasonable (4,6)

Answer: FAIR ENOUGH (i.e. “seems reasonable”). Solution is an anagram, indicated by “went swimming”, of FIGURE NOAH.

23. Almost attractive at first not before time (6,6)

Answer: PRETTY NEARLY (i.e. “almost”). Solution is PRETTY (i.e. “attractive”) followed by N (i.e. “at first not”, i.e. the first letter of “not”) and EARLY (i.e. “before time”).

27. Like to hear detective who lived in Mexico (5)

Answer: AZTEC (i.e. “who lived in Mexico”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “to hear”) of AS (i.e. “like”) followed by TEC (informal word for a “detective”), like so: AZ-TEC.

29. Recipe for astringent to be put on back (7)

Answer: FORMULA (i.e. “recipe”). Solution is FOR followed by ALUM (i.e. “astringent”, in this case an agent that draws something together, such as the skin) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: FOR-MULA.

30. Great desire of Yankee as a salaryman? (8)

Answer: YEARNING (i.e. “great desire”). Solution is Y (“Yankee” in the phonetic alphabet) followed by EARNING (i.e. “as a salaryman”).

32. O my! – missing from holy book is the nucleus (8)

Answer: DEUTERON (i.e. “the nucleus” of heavy hydrogen). Solution is DEUTERONOMY (i.e. “holy book” of The Bible) with the O MY “missing” from the end.

34. Overdo it regularly with friend of a parricide (7)

Answer: OEDIPAL (i.e. “of a parricide” or murder of a parent. In Greek mythology Oedipus killed his father, not knowing who he was, and ended up marrying his mother. Them wacky Greeks, eh?) Solution is OEDI (i.e. “overdo it regularly”, i.e. every other letter of OVERDO IT) followed by PAL (i.e. “friend”).

36. Loves meeting in the street? Go ahead (5)

Answer: TRYST (i.e. “loves meeting”). Solution is ST (a recognised abbreviation of “street”) with TRY (i.e. a “go”) placed “ahead” of it, like so: TRY-ST.

39. Create storm to find necessary cash (5,3,4)

Answer: RAISE THE WIND (i.e. an informal phrase meaning “to find necessary cash”, apparently. Can’t say I’ve heard it before). Solution also playfully satisfies “create storm”.

41. Tiny policeman is ineffective (3,4,3)

Answer: NOT MUCH COP (i.e. “ineffective”). Solution is NOT MUCH (i.e. “tiny”) followed by COP (slang for a “policeman”).

44. Loiters uncertainly in luxury resort (7)

Answer: ESTORIL (i.e. “luxury resort” in Portugal). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “uncertainly”) of LOITERS.

46. Quietly leaves with order to remove underwear? (5,3)

Answer: SLIPS OFF (i.e. “quietly leaves”). Solution also playfully satisfies “order to remove underwear”.

48. Hostility as I am surrounded by a group of students (6)

Answer: ANIMUS (i.e. “hostility”). Solution is I’M (a contraction of “I am”) placed in or “surrounded by” A and NUS (i.e. “group of students”, specifically the National Union of Students), like so: A-N(I’M)US.

50. Hate run-of-the-mill BBC type messing up patriotic song (6,4,2,3,8)

Answer: BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC (i.e. US “patriotic song”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “messing up”) of HATE RUN-OF-THE-MILL BBC TYPE.

53. Universal train and air travel in the country one imagined (9)

Answer: RURITANIA (i.e. “country one imagined”, or, rather, imagined by Anthony Hope in a number of his novels). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “travel”) of U (a recognised abbreviation of “universal”, the film certificate), TRAIN and AIR.

54. A minor honour (5)

Answer: AWARD (i.e. “honour”). Solution is A followed by WARD (i.e. child or “minor”).

55. Cooking us one nice stew (7)

Answer: CUISINE (i.e. “stew”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “cooking”) of US, I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) and NICE.

56. Parking vehicle first, go for long walk (5)

Answer: TRAMP (i.e. “go for long walk”). Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage) with TRAM (i.e. “vehicle”) placed “first”, like so: TRAM-P.

57. In nervous state, throw coconut perhaps at head (7)

Answer: SHYNESS (i.e. “nervous state”). Solution is SHY (i.e. “throw coconut perhaps”) followed by NESS (i.e. “head”, both promontories).

58. Considered odd, having been eaten by a bear? (9)

Answer: RUMINATED (i.e. “considered”). Solution is RUM (i.e. “odd”) followed by IN A TED (i.e. “having been eaten by a bear”, playfully speaking. To be fair, this did raise a smile when I twigged it).

Down clues

1. Unaware about cold drink (5)

Answer: DECAF (i.e. “drink”, short for decaffeinated). Solution is DEAF (i.e. “unaware”) wrapped “about” C (a recognised abbreviation of “cold”, already covered), like so: DE(C)AF.

2. I can’t stand up straight to deliver patter song (3,3,1,6,4)

Answer: I’VE GOT A LITTLE LIST (i.e. “patter song”, or one where the lyrics are delivered in a rapid fashion, on this occasion a song from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado). Solution also playfully satisfies “I can’t stand up straight”, as in leaning or LISTING. You get the idea.

3. Delightful daughter missing with prospect of being returned? (9)

Answer: ELECTABLE (i.e. “with prospect of being returned” in an election). Solution is DELECTABLE (i.e. “delightful”) with the D removed (indicated by “daughter missing” – D being a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).

4. Beginning two terms of tennis (6)

Answer: OUTSET (i.e. “beginning”). When written as OUT and SET the solution also satisfies “two terms of tennis”.

5. Degas perhaps broken by conflict with key enigmatic man (6,5)

Answer: EDWARD ELGAR (i.e. “enigmatic man”, a reference to his Enigma Variations). Solution is EDGAR (i.e. “Degas perhaps”, other Edgars are available) wrapped around or “broken by” WAR (i.e. “conflict”) and DEL (i.e. “key” on a computer keyboard, short for “delete”), like so: ED(WAR-DEL)GAR.

6. Knights taking great care to protect youngster (8)

Answer: PALADINS (i.e. “knights”). Solution is PAINS (i.e. “great care”) wrapped around or “protecting” LAD (i.e. “youngster”), like so: PA(LAD)INS.

7. A part of Ireland, removing large English grave (7)

Answer: AUSTERE (i.e. “grave”). Solution is A followed by ULSTER (i.e. “part of Ireland”) once the L (a recognised abbreviation of “large”) has been “removed”. This is all then followed by E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: A-USTER-E.

8. Not truly attractive, one way the dawning of love must break in (11)

Answer: DISHONESTLY (i.e. “not truly”). Solution is DISHY (i.e. “attractive”) wrapped around or “broken in” by ONE, ST (i.e. “way”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of “street”) and L (i.e. “dawning of love”, i.e. the first letter of “love”), like so: DISH(ONE-ST-L)Y.

9. Reckless with the cosmetics? (4-5)

Answer: SLAP-HAPPY (i.e. “reckless”). The rest of the clue plays on SLAP being a slang word for make-up.

10. Without leader, orchestra try to keep right tempo (7)

Answer: ALLEGRO (i.e. a musical “tempo”). Solution is HALLE (i.e. an “orchestra” in Manchester) with the first letter removed (indicated by “without leader”) and the remainder followed by GO (i.e. “try”) once wrapped around or “keeping” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: ALLE-G(R)O.

11. Slept again, concealing some small old coins (5)

Answer: LEPTA (i.e. “some small old coins”. An interesting one, this. A lepton has long been a minor coin of Greek currency, stretching back millennia. The name stuck even after Greece joined the Euro, with cents still getting referred to as lepta). “Concealing” indicates that the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: S(LEPT A)GAIN.

12. Regular occasions when being married, say, ends in confusion (10)

Answer: WEDNESDAYS (i.e. “regular occasions”). Solution is WED (i.e. “when being married”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “in confusion”) of SAY ENDS, like so: WED-NESDAYS.

17. Capital assembled in very short order (5)

Answer: SOFIA (i.e. “capital” of Bulgaria). Solution is SO (i.e. “very”) followed by FIAT (i.e. “order” – over to Chambers: “a formal or solemn command”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “short”), like so: SO-FIA.

20. Importantly, no cops interfered with this publication (8,9)

Answer: PORTNOY’S COMPLAINT (i.e. “publication”, specifically a novel by Philip Roth). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “interfered with”) of IMPORTANTLY NO COPS.

21. Chest: one heard having trouble with it? (6)

Answer: COFFER (i.e. “chest”). The rest of the clue plays on the solution being a hom*ophone (indicated by “heard”) of COUGHER (i.e. “one … having trouble with” their chest).

24. Country golf club welcoming wife (6)

Answer: RWANDA (i.e. “country”). Solution is R AND A (i.e. “golf club”, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews) wrapped around or “welcoming” W (a recognised abbreviation of “wife”), like so: R-(W)-AND-A.

25. Formerly holding name Max? (5)

Answer: ERNST (i.e. “Max” – Oh look everyone, Max is back! I knew it wouldn’t take long before another Times setter fell for his charms. If you’re new to Jumbos and don’t know who Max Ernst was – I mean, let’s be honest, this clue has given you Sweet FA to work with – he was an artist. Don’t feel bad for not knowing that, but you might want to keep him in mind as he is forever appearing in Jumbos). Solution is ERST (i.e. “formerly”) wrapped around or “holding” N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”), like so: ER(N)ST.

26. Illegally induce son, delivered by hairpin? (6)

Answer: SUBORN (i.e. “illegally induce”). Solution is S (a recognised abbreviation of “son”) followed by BORN (i.e. “delivered”) once this has first been placed after or “by” U (i.e. “hairpin”, as in the letter’s shape), like so: S-(U-BORN).

28. Smart person wiping chlorine from part of fingernail (5)

Answer: CUTIE (i.e. “smart person”, usually a girl). Solution is CUTICLE (i.e. “part of fingernail”) with the CL removed (indicated by “wiping chlorine from”, CL being the chemical symbol of chlorine).

31. A fine fabric, very red (6)

Answer: AFLAME (i.e. “very red”). Solution is A followed by F (a recognised abbreviation of “fine”) and LAMÉ (i.e. “fabric”).

33. Briefing about problem, my answer’s complicated (4,7)

Answer: NEWS SUMMARY (i.e. “briefing”). Solution is SUM (i.e. mathematical “problem”) placed in or having “about” it an anagram (indicated by “complicated”) of MY ANSWER, like so: NEWS(SUM)MARY.

35. Galley slave toiling through passages in literal pursuit? (11)

Answer: PROOFREADER (i.e. “literal pursuit” in publishing). I get the setter is playing on “galley” being a proof copy, and that you’d find “passages” of text in a book, but I think the clue is rather too laboured.

37. Signal for bed, when eating a series of snacks (5)

Answer: TAPAS (i.e. “series of snacks”). Solution is TAPS (i.e. military “signal for bed”, e.g. a bugle call) wrapped around or “eating” A, like so: TAP(A)S.

38. Commando in protected area out of line calling in engineers (5,5)

Answer: GREEN BERET (i.e. “commando”). Solution is GREEN BELT (i.e. “protected area”) once the L has been removed (indicated by “out of line” – L being a recognised abbreviation of “line”), and the remainder wrapped around or “calling in” RE (i.e. “engineers”, specifically the Royal Engineers of the British Army), like so: GREEN-BE(RE)T.

40. Hospital people who are experienced get together affectionately (4,5)

Answer: HOLD HANDS (i.e. “get together affectionately”). Solution is H (a recognised abbreviation of “hospital” used on maps) followed by OLD HANDS (i.e. “people who are experienced”).

42. Very old Roman soldier? (9)

Answer: CENTURION. Solution satisfies “very old” – the word can mean anyone achieving a hundred in any way – and “Roman soldier”.

43. A missing pet’s hard to catch, having fouled dishes (8)

Answer: ASHTRAYS (i.e. “fouled dishes”). Solution is A followed by STRAY’S (i.e. “missing pet’s”) once wrapped around or “catching” H (a recognised abbreviation of “hard” used in grading pencils), like so: A-S(H)TRAY’S.

45. Sort of desk surface: light lunch on it? (4-3)

Answer: ROLL-TOP (i.e. “sort of desk”). Solution is TOP (i.e. “surface”) with ROLL (i.e. “light lunch”) placed over or “on it”, this being a down clue.

47. Take apart one section of roof: nothing in it (7)

Answer: ISOLATE (i.e. “take apart”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again) followed by SLATE (i.e. “section of roof”) once wrapped around or having “in it” O (i.e. “nothing”), like so: I-S(O)LATE.

49. Trap eccentric viewer (6)

Answer: WEBCAM (i.e. “viewer”). Solution is WEB (i.e. a “trap”) followed by CAM (i.e. “eccentric” – we’ve seen it umpteen times in Jumbos now, so this is another to keep in mind. Chambers has: “in mechanics, an irregular projection on a revolving shaft or rotating cylinder, shaped so as to transmit regular movement to another part”. “Eccentric” meanwhile is “with the axis to one side, not at the centre”). If this turns out to be NETCAM, justified by its appearance in some rickety online dictionary from 1999, the kind that used to put a hyphen in “email”, then I’m officially done with Jumbos.

51. Time on boat for rescuing a creature in river (5)

Answer: TARKA (i.e. “creature in river” – I’m going to disagree here. Tarka the Otter was a novel by Henry Williamson – we had it on our bookshelf when I was little – but none of my dictionaries support the use of TARKA to mean “otter”. What’s next? Are you going to expect solvers to deduce NEMO or JAWS from “creature in sea”? I wouldn’t rule it out, but I am not a fan). Solution is T (a recognised abbreviation of “time”) followed by ARK (i.e. “boat for rescuing”, from The Bible) and A.

52. One might believe this Indian died (5)

Answer: CREED (i.e. “one might believe this”). Solution is CREE (i.e. “Indian”, in this case “a member of a Native American tribe living in Montana and parts of Canada” (Chambers)) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “died”).

Oops, another late one. Getting to be a habit, this.

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

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

LP

Across clues

1. Too old? True, about fifty (6)

Answer: OVERLY (i.e. “too”). Solution is O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) followed by VERY (i.e. “true”, archaically) once wrapped “about” L (i.e. “fifty” as a Roman numeral), like so: O-VER(L)Y.

4. European, before spring, mainly trained in ropy footwear (10)

Answer: ESPADRILLE (i.e. “ropy footwear”). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “European”) followed by SPA (i.e. “spring”) and DRILLED (i.e. “trained”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mainly”), like so: E-SPA-DRILLE.

10. One emperor backed follower of another (5)

Answer: RASTA (i.e. “follower of [emperor]”, specifically Heile Selassie, former emperor of Ethiopia). Solution is A TSAR (i.e. “one emperor”) reversed (indicated by “backed”), like so: RAST-A.

14. With stiff upper lip, there’s nothing I demand, squalidly housed (9)

Answer: STOICALLY (i.e. “with stiff upper lip”). Solution is O (i.e. “nothing”), I and CALL (i.e. “demand”) all placed or “housed” in STY (i.e. “squalid” accommodation), like so: ST(O-I-CALL)Y.

15. Innocence not so much seen in barrister’s first feeble point (13)

Answer: BLAMELESSNESS (i.e. “innocence”). Solution is LESS (i.e. “not so much”) placed “in” between B (i.e. “barrister’s first” letter), LAME (i.e. “feeble”) and NESS (i.e. “point”, both promontories), like so: B-LAME-(LESS)-NESS.

16. Imagined odds of perfect finish (7)

Answer: PRETEND (i.e. “imagined”). Solution is PRET (i.e. “odds of perfect”, i.e. every other letter of PERFECT) followed by END (i.e. “finish”). Fast-forward two weeks and you’ll see this solution in today’s Jumbo too (43a, if you’re interested). Aren’t repeats great?

17. Get around or above it at sea (7)

Answer: OBVIATE (i.e. “get around”. Chambers isn’t keen but my Oxford supports it, as in to remove a difficulty). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “at sea”) of ABOVE IT.

18. Fit singular form of Buddhist mystical text, you might think (7)

Answer: TANTRUM (i.e. a “fit” of anger). “You might think” playfully suggests the solution, under certain word constructions for plurals, would satisfy a “singular form of Buddhist mystical text”, TANTRA. You get the idea.

19. Strangely read and act no play after Chekov? That’s a tragedy (6,3,9)

Answer: ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (i.e. Shakespearean “tragedy”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “strangely”) of READ and ACT NO PLAY once placed “after” ANTON (i.e. playwright “Chekov’s” first name), like so: ANTON-YANDCLEOPATRA.

21. Scottish group’s contribution to Gaelic language (4)

Answer: CLAN (i.e. “Scottish group”). “Contribution to” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: GAELI(C LAN)GUAGE.

24. Fool one by one in strike (5)

Answer: IDIOT (i.e. “fool”). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by I (the same) once placed “in” DOT (i.e. to “strike”, slang apparently), like so: I-D(I)OT.

26. Clear stuff from what we hear at church and pass on (8)

Answer: ORGANDIE (i.e. “clear stuff” – over to Chambers: “fine translucent plain-woven cotton dress material with a stiff finish”. Describing this as “clear stuff” is a total nothingburger) Solution is ORGAN (i.e. “what we hear at church”) followed by DIE (i.e. to “pass on”).

27. Two possibilities for movement found in recreational space (8)

Answer: PLAYROOM (i.e. “recreational space”). When written as PLAY and ROOM the solution also satisfies “two possibilities for movement”.

29. Half-hearted pledge about favourite I have that’s on a par with rivals (11)

Answer: COMPETITIVE (i.e. “on a par with rivals”). Solution is COMMIT (i.e. “pledge”) with one of the middle Ms removed (indicated by “half-hearted”) and the remainder wrapped “about” PET (i.e. “favourite”). This is all then followed by I’VE (a contraction of “I have”), like so: COM(PET)IT-I’VE.

30. Don’t leave religious group for what looks like just another branch (5,6)

Answer: STICK INSECT (i.e. “what looks like just another branch”). When written as STICK IN SECT the solution also satisfies “don’t leave religious group”.

32. Doctor clad a rich infant cutely, initially, in what’s fashionable and pink? (7,4)

Answer: RADICAL CHIC (i.e. “what’s fashionable and pink”, being “the trend among socialites of the late 60s and early 70s of mixing with and affecting the views, dress, style, etc of radicals”, while pink can be defined as “a person who is something of a socialist but hardly a red” (both Chambers)). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “doctor”) of CLAD A RICH followed by I and C (i.e. “infant cutely, initially”, i.e. the first letters of “infant” and “cutely”), like so: RADICALCH-IC.

35. Bring in vino in part of house for this activity? (4,7)

Answer: WINE TASTING. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole, but is also NET (i.e. “bring in”) and ASTI (i.e. a variety of wine or “vino”) all placed “in” WING (i.e. “part of house”), like so: WI(NET-ASTI)NG.

37. Hypothesis initially dropped by the firm, open to checking (8)

Answer: TESTABLE (i.e. “open to checking”). Solution is THE with the H removed (indicated by “hypothesis initially dropped”, i.e. the first letter of “hypothesis”) followed by STABLE (i.e. “firm”), like so: TE-STABLE.

39. Yearly cost of accommodation in relation to older pair (8)

Answer: PARENTAL (i.e. “in relation to older pair”). Solution is PA (i.e. “yearly”, short for Per Annum) followed by RENTAL (i.e. “cost of accommodation”).

40. Gather after a celebration in church (5)

Answer: AMASS (i.e. “gather”). Solution is A followed by MASS (i.e. “celebration in church”).

43. Order to dismiss or fire all but the last (4)

Answer: SHOO (i.e. “order to dismiss”). Solution is SHOOT (i.e. “fire”) with the last letter removed (indicated by “all but the last”).

44. Reverse a fixed routine in killing, destroy our violent disruption of society (8,10)

Answer: CULTURAL REVOLUTION (i.e. “disruption of society”). Solution is A RUT (i.e. “a fixed routine”) “reversed” and placed “in” CULL (i.e. “killing”). This is all then followed by an anagram (indicated by “destroy”) of OUR VIOLENT, like so: CUL(TUR-A)L-REVOLUTION.

47. A version of Bible included in set for Cambridge University (7)

Answer: HARVARD (i.e. “Cambridge university”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation. This is Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts). Solution is A and RV (i.e. “version of Bible”, in this case the Revised Version) both placed “in” HARD (i.e. “set”), like so: H(A-RV)ARD.

48. What may be taken innocently with unknown treatment (7)

Answer: THERAPY (i.e. “treatment”). Solution is THE RAP (i.e. “what may be taken innocently”) followed by Y (i.e. “unknown” – setters love referring to X, Y or Z in clues as unknowns).

50. Part of poetic line appearing ahead of time in film past (7)

Answer: FOOTAGE (i.e. “film [of the] past”). Solution is FOOT (i.e. “part of poetic line”) followed by AGE (i.e. “time”).

51. Absurdly, he preselects a competitor in race (13)

Answer: STEEPLECHASER (i.e. “competitor in race”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “absurdly”) of HE PRESELECTS A.

52. Some cut is altogether peculiar to tailor (9)

Answer: CUSTOMISE (i.e. “to tailor”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “altogether peculiar”) of SOME CUT IS.

53. Nincompoop concealing past that’s deeply alarming (5)

Answer: ABYSS (i.e. “that’s deeply alarming” – probably more so the deeply than the alarming). Solution is ASS (i.e. “nincompoop”) wrapped around or “concealing” BY (i.e. “past”), like so: A(BY)SS.

54. Therapist stole gripping film (6-4)

Answer: SHRINK WRAP (i.e. “film”). Solution is SHRINK (i.e. “therapist”) followed by WRAP (i.e. “stole”, both garments).

55. Silly damn emergency – totally evacuated state capital (6)

Answer: SYDNEY (i.e. “state capital”, in this case of New South Wales in Australia). “Totally evacuated” indicates the solution is derived from the first and last letters of SILLY DAMN EMERGENCY.

Down clues

1. Food routes Osage and Hopi interchanged (9)

Answer: OESOPHAGI (i.e. “food routes”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “interchanged”) of OSAGE and HOPI.

2. Personality problem exemplified by Gregory? (11)

Answer: EGOCENTRISM (i.e. “personality problem”). The remainder of the clue plays on how EGO can be found in the CENTRE of “GR(EGO)RY”.

3. With no leaders, elect her in speaker’s position (7)

Answer: LECTERN (i.e. “speaker’s position”, or, rather, what a speaker would stand behind). “With no leaders” indicates the solution is derived by removing the initial letters from ELECT HER IN.

5. Authority to pronounce part of essay’s OK (3-2)

Answer: SAY-SO (i.e. “authority” – “to pronounce” indicates what kind of authority). “Part of” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: ES(SAY’S O)K.

6. Feel divided about values – not half, producing this? (11)

Answer: AMBIVALENCE. The solution (kind of) satisfies the clue as a whole, being the “coexistence in one person of opposing emotional attitudes towards the same object” (Chambers), but is also VAL (i.e. “values – not half”, specifically the latter half) placed “in” AMBIENCE (i.e. “feel”), like so: AMBI(VAL)ENCE.

7. Financial doctrine having Americans go round the bend? (11)

Answer: REAGANOMICS (i.e. “financial doctrine” of the US in the 1980s, after US president Ronald Reagan). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “round the bend”) of AMERICANS GO.

8. Call set up including one who gave noble service (8)

Answer: LIEGEMAN (i.e. “who gave noble service”). Solution is NAME (i.e. “call”) and GEL (i.e. “set”) all reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and wrapped around or “including” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again), like so: L(I)EG-EMAN.

9. English learner getting shock treatment before exam in this kind of college (9)

Answer: ELECTORAL (i.e. “kind of college” in the US, being “the body people who elect the President and Vice President, themselves elected by the popular vote” (Chambers)). Solution is E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), followed by L (ditto “learner” on L-plates), then ECT (i.e. “shock treatment”, short for electroconvulsive therapy) and ORAL (i.e. “exam”).

10. Revolting kind of behaviour on the increase (6)

Answer: RISING. Solution satisfies “revolting kind of behaviour” and “on the increase”.

11. I blunder in transaction with a part of Africa (6,5)

Answer: SIERRA LEONE (i.e. “part of Africa”). Solution is I and ERR (i.e. “blunder”) placed “in” SALE (i.e. “transaction”) and followed by ONE (i.e. “a”), like so: S(I-ERR)ALE-ONE.

12. A state in Eastern US, in short, upset another in East (5)

Answer: ASSAM (i.e. “[a state] in East”, specifically India). Solution is A followed by MASS (i.e. “state in Eastern US, in short”, specifically a recognised abbreviation of Massachusetts) once the latter has been reversed (indicated by “upset” – this being a down clue), like so: A-SSAM.

13. Over an ordeal about love, happy one is combative (12)

Answer: GLADIATORIAL (i.e. “one is combative”). Solution is A TRIAL (i.e. “an ordeal”) wrapped “about” O (i.e. “love, a zero score in tennis). This is all then placed after or having “over” it – this being a down clue – GLAD (i.e. “happy”) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again), like so: GLAD-I-(A-T(O)RIAL).

20. Highly dangerous conflict appropriate for boxer? (8)

Answer: DOGFIGHT (i.e. “highly dangerous conflict”). The rest of the clue plays on a “boxer” being a variety of DOG. That’s about it, unless I’m missing something clever. Seems a bit anaemic.

22. Security worker turned over this ID (7)

Answer: NAMETAG (i.e. “ID”). Solution is GATEMAN (i.e. “security worker”) reversed (indicated by “turned over”). For all intents and purposes this is the same clue and solution as 22a in grid 1661 only last month. It’s bad enough that we get a steady stream of repeated solutions in Jumbos, but to see repeated clues as well is poor.

23. James, say – name used on continent for European schools (8)

Answer: GYMNASIA (i.e. “European schools” – over to Chambers again: “a top-grade secondary school in many European countries, especially Germany, which prepare pupils for higher education, especially in academic rather than vocational subjects”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “say”) of JIM (shortened form of “James”) followed by N (a recognised abbreviation of “name”) and ASIA (i.e. “continent”), like so: GYM-N-ASIA.

25. In which monarch no longer detains old Conservative government minister? (8)

Answer: THEOCRAT (i.e. “government minister”). Solution is THAT (i.e. “which” – man, you could farm the rest of Bitcoin with the amount of energy wasted by writers and grammarians arguing the use of ‘that’ vs ‘which’, especially when the simple addition of a comma is often enough to eliminate any ambiguity. There are bigger things in the world to worry about, peeps) once having “in” ER (i.e. “monarch no longer”, specifically Elizabeth Regina) after this has itself been wrapped around or “detaining” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”) and C (ditto “Conservative”), like so: TH(E(O-C)R)AT. Nicely worked.

28. Brief struggle to secure grand after deductions (8)

Answer: VIGNETTE (i.e. “brief”). Solution is VIE (i.e. “struggle”) wrapped around or “securing” G (a recognised abbreviation of “grand”) and NETT (i.e. “after deductions”), like so: VI(G-NETT)E.

29. Selectively arranges some of the cloth? Doesn’t sound like it (7)

Answer: CURATES. Solution satisfies “selectively arranges” and “some of the cloth” – a curate being “a clergyman in the Church of England, assisting a rector or vicar” (Chambers). I don’t get the “doesn’t sound like it” bit. From the description above, I’d say a curate was very much of the cloth.

31. Confine as in protest, unfriendly state of affairs (6,2,4)

Answer: KETTLE OF FISH (i.e. “state of affairs”). Solution is KETTLE (i.e. “confine as in protest” – it’s certainly a police technique I remember being used to combat the student fee protests of 2010, hemming protesters in and only letting them leave via a specific exit, but has its use been sufficient to warrant a mention in the dictionary? My relatively recent Oxford thinks not) followed by OFFISH (i.e. “unfriendly”).

33. It’s awful ‘cos it’s rude and tacky, ultimately? (11)

Answer: DISCOURTESY. The solution satisfies the clue as a whole (kind of), but is also an anagram (indicated by “awful”) of COS IT’S RUDE followed by Y (i.e. “tacky, ultimately”, i.e. the last letter of “tacky”), like so: DISCOURTES-Y.

34. President having enough academic jobs for all the boys (11)

Answer: CHAIRPERSON (i.e. “president”). When written as a CHAIR PER SON the solution also playfully satisfies “having enough academic jobs for all the boys”.

35. Awed comment about footwear facility, right? One can move things along with it (11)

Answer: WHEELBARROW (i.e. “one can move things along with it”). Solution is WOW (i.e. “awed comment”) wrapped “about” HEELBAR (i.e. “footwear facility” where shoes are repaired) and R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: W(HEELBAR-R)OW. For all intents and purposes the same clue and solution appeared in Jumbo 1592. Weird how I remembered that. I think I’ve been doing these posts for too long.

36. Creativity of gifted travellers in one country (11)

Answer: IMAGINATION (i.e. “creativity”). Solution is MAGI (i.e. “gifted travellers”, the three wise men of the nativity, carrying gifts for the infant Christ) placed “in” I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”, again, again, again) and NATION (i.e. “nation”), like so: I-(MAGI)-NATION.

38. She washes area surrounding Hollywood strip (9)

Answer: LAUNDRESS (i.e. “she washes” clothes). Solution is LA (i.e. “area surrounding Hollywood”, Los Angeles) followed by UNDRESS (i.e. “strip”).

41. In honest fashion on account of being with bank (9)

Answer: SINCERELY (i.e. “in honest fashion”). Solution is SINCE (i.e. “on account of being”) followed by RELY (i.e. to “bank” on an outcome).

42. Series about small person – one finishing up in the theatre? (8)

Answer: STITCHER (i.e. “one finishing up in the [operating] theatre”). Solution is SER (a recognised abbreviation of “series”) wrapped “about” TITCH (i.e. “small person”), like so: S(TITCH)ER.

45. Guy upset about crazy fool’s study of mysterious visitors (7)

Answer: UFOLOGY (i.e. “study of mysterious visitors”, specifically Unidentified Flying Objects). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “upset”) of GUY wrapped “about” another anagram (indicated by “crazy”), this time of FOOL, like so: U(FOLO)GY.

46. French author securing power in university position (6)

Answer: CAMPUS (i.e. “university position”). Solution is Albert CAMUS (i.e. “French author”) wrapped around or “securing” P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”), like so: CAM(P)US.

47. Stocking article and book (5)

Answer: HOSEA (i.e. “book” of The Bible). Solution is HOSE (i.e. “stocking”) followed by A (i.e. “article”, being a word like a, an or the). An easier get on account of it being repeated from a few months ago.

49. From what we hear, this is why you seize a desert plant (5)

Answer: YUCCA (i.e. “desert plant”). Solution is a hom*ophone (indicated by “from what we hear”) of YUCK (i.e. “this is why you seize” or suffer a sudden intense attack of something, presumably in this case a nasty taste) followed by A, like so: YUCC-A.