Did this a week late, having missed the weekend in question. It was fairly straightforward, probably because it seemed to have far fewer cryptic clues than usual, and mostly clear definitions, however what would have been a pretty quick time actually turned out to be a DNF (without aids) as I drew a blank on 9D and gave up on it. It was a word I had never come across and one I dont think I would have put in with any confidence from the wordplay either. Probably my fault for the gap in the knowledge base, but seemed a little annoying!
| Across |
| 1 | PALMTOP - PAL=friend, M=minutes, TO, P=power |
| 5 | CAMPER VAN - CAMPER=more affected, VAN=vanguard=ground breakers |
| 10 | BARB - BARBER=hairdressers, removing the ER=hesitation |
| 14 | POWDER COMPACT - POWER=authority, around D=democrat, then COMPACT=agreement |
| 15 | ANDANTINO - AND=also, ANTI=against, NO(tes)=a couple of notes |
| 16 | MODIGLIANI - I NAIL GI = I catch soldier, returning, by MOD=ministry of defence, for the painter. |
| 17 | PROLIFERATE - PRO-LIFE = anti abortion, RATE=measure |
| 18 | MEDOC - OC=officer commanding, after MED=sea |
| 19 | DIDGERIDOO - DID GERI DO = "was girl able to perform" , O=old |
| 21 | AMOEBA - first letters - A M(icro-org) O(f) E(xtremely) B(asic) A(natomy) |
| 23 | CORALLITE - OR=men, ALL=completely, inside CITE=name |
| 25 | SLO-MO - LO=look, inside S,MO = two seconds |
| 26 | UNDYING - UNDRYING = paint that wont harden, without the R=runs |
| 28 | IRRESPONSIBLY - (possibly err in)* |
| 31 | ALEXANDRA - ALE=drink, X=kiss, AND=with, RA=artist |
| 33 | EXTRICATE - EX=former partner, ATE=needled, about TRIC(k)=endless peculiar habit |
| 35 | OVERSTATEMENT - OVER=throughout, STATEMENT = bank record |
| 37 | PROTEGE - ROT=rubbish, EG=say, in PE=gym exercises. |
| 38 | CROSS - double def |
| 40 | GUINEA PIG - GUINEA = african nation, PIG = something really difficult |
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| 42 | SECTOR - SEC =dry, TOR = rocky peak |
| 44 | MASTERMIND - hidden in (michael)MAS TERM IN D(urham) |
| 46 | HENNA - H=hard, ANNE=girl, reversed. |
| 48 | EMANCIPATION - (operatic)* around MAN=peter grimes, for example. Def is "one making free". |
| 50 | HOITY TOITY - HOY = call to attend, TOY = play, both around IT, for "arrogant" |
| 52 | IMPRECISE - IMP = unruly child, (cries)*, then (bottl)E |
| 53 | DERMATOLOGIST - (a modest girl to)* |
| 54 | RILL - (d)RILL = bore without first letter. |
| 55 | DETERGENT - DETER GENT = put man off |
| 56 | KEY WEST - KEY = most important, W(id)E ST = wide street with I'd removed. |
| Down |
| 1 | PIPE - PI = very religious, over (a)P(s)E = apse being cleared out regularly. A churchwarden is a type of PIPE. |
| 2 | LOW LOADER - (well O road)* |
| 3 | THE LINCOLNSHIRE POACHER - (hero he'll pinch nice roast)* |
| 4 | PICKLED - PICK = best, LED = under control, |
| 5 | COMMANDEERS - (men comrades)* |
| 6 | MEATINESS - EATIN(g) = taking food mostly, in MESS = soldiers canteen. |
| 7 | EAT UP - HEAT UP=warm, without the H= but not hot. |
| 8 | VIA DOLOROSA - VI=six, ADO=fuss, LO=see, ROSA=girl |
| 9 | NUDNIK - my last/never one in!! I have literally never heard or seen the word before so was onto a loser from the start! Even the wordplay is not that helpful as it is a big jump to KIND 'UN from agreeable one for the reversal. |
| 11 | AGITATE - TA=terriers, in A GITE = french holiday home |
| 12 | BOOMERANG - BOO=sound of disapproval, RANG=resounded, around ME |
| 13 | INTERMEDIATE TECHNOLOGY - (get in on the act, more yield)* |
| 18 | MACHINE - CH=church, in MAINE=new england state. |
| 20 | ISOZYME - I=one, SO=very much, Z,Y=unknowns, M=mass, E=energy. |
| 22 | GUJERATI - JUG=prison, reversed, then (irate)* |
| 24 | IDOLATER - I DO = I perform, LATER=subsequently |
| 27 | INDIE - IN=fashionable, DIE=pop off |
| 29 | RETRO - (terro)* where the anagrist was endless terror. |
| 30 | BLOWOUT - LOW= of inferior quality, inside BOUT=ill turn |
| 32 | ANTIGUA - hidden in (gi)ANT IGUA(na) |
| 34 | ENCHANTMENT - N CHANT = new song, in E=english, MENT=sounds like MEANT=intended. |
| 36 | SIGNIFICANT - SIGN=crab (zodiac), IF IT, outside CAN=tin. |
| 37 | POSTERIOR - POSTER=large bill, I=one, O=round, R=right. |
| 39 | SURCHARGE - SURGE=big rise, around CHAR=cleaner. |
| 41 | PINSTRIPE - PINS=spike's, TRIPE=nonsense. Capitalised Spike in the surface probably a nod to Mr Milligan. |
| 43 | CHAPPAL - CHAP=man, PAL(e)=unfinished light coloured, for the slipper |
| 45 | DRY DOCK - DRY=hardline conservative (as in wets and dries), DOCK=cut |
| 47 | UPWIND - UP=risen, WIND=snake |
| 49 | RADAR - RADA = drama school, R=its head (first letter) |
| 51 | STET - last letters of (beatle)S, (las)T (liv)E (concer)T |