Tougher than yesterday's (15 minutes) but entertaining nevertheless. 19dn caused problems but when the penny dropped it was awarded my COD. Those with a greater depth of experience in the pronunciation of male Scotish names are invited to comment at 21dn.
Definitions underlined, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition, deletionsCROSSED OUT
Definitions underlined, cd=cryptic definition, dd=double definition, deletions
| Across | |
| 1 Workers’ representative betrays extremely tense protégé (4,7) | |
|    SHOP STEWARD - Betrays (SHOPS), (T)ens(E), WARD. | |
| 8 First-classcream on dessert, for example (7) | |
|    TOPPING - dd. | |
| 9 Perfect joy, being a composer! (5) | |
|    BLISS - dd - the second being Sir Arthur. 1891–1975, British composer; Master of the Queen's Musick (1953–75). His works include the Colour Symphony (1922), film and ballet music, and a cello concerto (1970). | |
| 10 It’s clear I could become practical (9) | |
|    REALISTIC - Anagram (could become) of ITS CLEAR I. | |
| 12 Fuss made by duke in a circular letter (3) | |
|    ADO - Duke (D) inside a (A) and circular letter (O). | |
| 13 Left beside a large gate (6) | |
|    PORTAL - Left (PORT), a (A), large (L). | |
| 15 Songs originally sung among tropical trees? (6) | |
|    PSALMS - (S)ung inside PALMS. | |
| 17 Sleep in vessel coming from the East (3) | |
|    NAP - Vessel (PAN) backwards. | |
| 18 Former pitmen hold key: students hope to satisfy them (9) | |
|    EXAMINERS - Former (EX) pitmen (MINERS) holding the musical key A. Musical keys are often used to mop up any spare letters in the parsing between A and G. | |
| 20 Dissolute son visiting Cornish resort (5) | |
|    LOOSE - Son (S) inside LOOE. | |
| 22 Prickly plant bishop found beside walk (7) | |
|    BRAMBLE - Bishop (B), RAMBLE. | |
| 23 Open to attack from French, leave more of field unprotected? (11) | |
|    DEFENCELESS - From in French (DE), leave more of field unprotected (FENCE LESS). | |
| Down | |
| 1 Brown pigment Greek character dropped in tidal water (5) | |
|    SEPIA - Greek character (PI) in SEA. | |
| 2 Begin to hold forth about one alcoholic drink (9) | |
|    ORIGINATE - Hold forth (ORATE) around one (I), GIN. | |
| 3 They’re seen where builders may be working, say (6) | |
|    SIGHTS - Homophone of sites. | |
| 4 Decline apparent in Web browser (3) | |
|    EBB - In w(EB B)rowser. | |
| 5 A great worry for a girl (7) | |
|    ABIGAIL - A, BIG, AIL. | |
| 6 Girl’s mad, being deprived of property (12) | |
|    DISPOSSESSED - Girl's (DI'S), POSSESSED. | |
| 7 Grand pastels oddly like Uncle Sam’s flag (4-8) | |
|    STAR-SPANGLED - Amagram (oddly) of GRAND PASTELS. | |
| 11 Chastise actors beginning to irritate spectators (9) | |
|    CASTIGATE - Actors (CAST), (I)rritate, spectators at a stadium (GATE). | |
| 14 Censure concerning senior academic receiving oxygen (7) | |
|    REPROOF - Concerning (RE), senior academic (PROF) holding oxygen (O). | |
| 16 Burns religious leader initially endured? (6) | |
|    RABBIE - RABBI, (E)ndured. | |
| 19 English doctor on American board? (5) | |
|    EMBUS - English (E), doctor (MB), American (US). Rather than being some new form of emery board I hadn't heard of this turned out to be hopping on a bus - (military) to cause (troops) to board or (of troops) to board a transport vehicle. | |
| 21 Age of a Scotsman, do we hear? (3) | |
|    EON - Hopefully my Scottish friends can assist here - I've tried all ways to pronounce IAN (the 'usual' crosswordland Scotsman) but can't work it around to how I pronounce eon (maybe there's a second way of pronouncing this?). The name could be EUAN or something similar which sounds like eon. | |