Apologies for the slight delay on this one.
Nothing contentious, but some nicely worked clues in my opinion, in particular 8D and 53A.
Nothing contentious, but some nicely worked clues in my opinion, in particular 8D and 53A.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 LEWES - L(arge), EWES = sheep | |
| 4 ACCOMPLICE - ACCOMPLI(sh) = manage, C.E. = church | |
| 9 PHYSIC - P(oorl)Y, SIC(k) = ill, around H(ospital) | |
| 14 GREAT APES - GRAPES = fruit, around EAT = tuck in | |
| 15 CONSERVATOIRE - OVERREACTIONS* | |
| 16 MOLDOVA - MOLD sounds like MOULD = fungus, OVA = eggs | |
| 17 FORMATTER - FOR = to deal with, MATTER = stuff | |
| 18 UNFED - UN(i)F(i)ED = made one, with i = eye removed twice | |
| 19 CRADLE SNATCHER - double definition, the second mildly cryptic | |
| 22 HIS NIBS - double definition, the second mildly cryptic | |
| 25 ELEVEN PLUS - ELEVEN = team, PLUS = bonus | |
| 27 INSOUCIANTLY - (NOISY LUNATIC)* | |
| 30 OGLES - (go)OGLES = looks up, with go = energy removed | |
| 31 IN THE AIR - ON THE AIR = to start broadcasting, with O = over, replaced by I = one. About is the definition | |
| 32 JURASSIC - JUIC(e) = current, around R(iver) and ASS = animal | |
| 35 EURYDICE - EU(ropean), RY = railway, DICE = gamble | |
| 36 BETA TEST - B.S.T. = summer-time, around E(s)TATE = car | |
| 37 LARVA - LAVA = hot stream, around R(ight) | |
| 39 ESCAPE CLAUSE - ESCAPEE = fugitive, around CLAUS = Santa | |
| 41 APPRENTICE - APP = one on phone, RENT = let, ICE = freeze | |
| 43 NOVELLA - NOEL = Christmas, around V(ery), followed by alternate letters in LoAf | |
| 45 CALLED TO THE BAR - CALL = cry, (TO BED HEART)* | |
| 48 TAROT - TART = sharp, around O = nothing | |
| 49 MELODRAMA - MELOD(y) = tune, RAM = sheep, A(nswer) | |
| 51 INCISES - sounds like INN = pub and SIZES = measures | |
| 53 UNITED NATIONS - cryptic definition where country club is a club of countries rather than a club in the country | |
| 54 INCOMMODE - INCOME = what I live on, around MOD(est) | |
| 55 BOLEYN - (BY NOEL)* | |
| 56 PRESIDENCY - (DENY PRICES)* | |
| 57 TOKEN - TOKE = puff, N(ew) | |
| Down | |
| 1 LEGUME - EMU = bird, GEL = set, all reversed | |
| 2 WHEELER-DEALER - double definition, the second mildly cryptic | |
| 3 SET TO - SETT = paving stone, O = roundabout | |
| 4 APPEASE - APPEA(r)S = seems, with R = king removed, E(dward) | |
| 5 COSI FAN TUTTE - (TACITUS OFTEN)* | |
| 6 MACERATE - LACERATE = cut, with M = thousand replacing L = fifty | |
| 7 LINDA - hidden in appareL IN DAinty | |
| 8 CHESTERTON - CHEST = trunk, (m)ERTON = Oxford college. G.K. CHESTERTON wrote the Father Brown books, so Brown was his | |
| 10 HOT TUBS - HUBS = centres, around O.T.T. = extravagant | |
| 11 SKINFLINT - SKIN = fell, F(orce), LINT = dressing | |
| 12 CREED - (s)CREED = concrete floor | |
| 13 OVER THE COUNTER - OVERT = apparent, H.E. = Governor, COUNTER = parry | |
| 20 DRESSED UP - double definition | |
| 21 HANNIBAL - HAN(d) = give, NIB = writer, A, L(ine) | |
| 23 SKYSCRAPER - SKYE = island, around SCRAP = fight, (wa)R | |
| 24 JEROME KERN - JERK = yank, around O = nothing and ME, alternate letters in jEeRiNg | |
| 26 PRINCE CHARMING - PR = publicity, IN, C.E, and CH = churches, ARMING = preparing | |
| 28 AT A GLANCE - A, TAG = label, LANCE = pierce | |
| 29 REVERSAL - (SEVERAL, R(uns))* | |
| 33 SURGICAL SHOCK - SURGICAL = a sort of spirit, S(mall), HOCK = wine | |
| 34 PERPETRATION - PER = a, PET = loved one, (o)RATION = speech | |
| 38 CALCULATOR - (CALL, ACTOR, U(sing))* | |
| 40 COVER GIRL - COVER = report on, GIRL = her | |
| 42 RELAPSED - DESPA(i)R = hopelessness, around LE = the (in) French, all reversed | |
| 44 LOTTERY - POTTERY = Stoke factory, with the initial letter changed | |
| 46 TWITCHY - TW(o) = couple, ITCHY = unable to keep still | |
| 47 ASTERN - ASTER = daisy, (chai)N | |
| 48 THUMB - double definition | |
| 50 DROSS - D(aughter), ROSS = Scottish thane | |
| 52 COMET -COME = turn up, T(ime) | |