I needed 1 minute over my target 10 for this one which I think was entirely due to 6dn as my last one in. On reflection it all seems quite straightforward but I shall be interested to find out what others made of it.
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]
| Across | |
| 1 | Showing no respect, in spite of everything (10) |
| REGARDLESS - Straight definition with a cryptic hint | |
| 8 | Prague hostelry, we’re told, will offer desk to register (5-2) |
| CHECK-IN - Sounds like [we're told] Czech inn (Prague hostelry) | |
| 9 | Friend joins mother in Spanish city (5) |
| PALMA - PAL (friend), MA (mother) | |
| 10 | Pet turning up near ship (4) |
| PUSS - UP reversed [turning], SS (ship) | |
| 11 | Robbery involves Mafia leader who seeks pleasure? (8) |
| HEDONIST - HEIST (robbery) contains [involves] DON (Mafia leader) | |
| 13 | Course, no longer popular, in RE (5) |
| ROUTE - OUT (no longer popular) contained by [in] RE. If anyone's not aware of it, RE in this context stands for Religious Education. | |
| 14 | Melody occurring in anthem endlessly (5) |
| THEME - Hidden [occurring in] {an}THEM E{ndlessly}. 'Endlessly' more usually indicates {deletion} so its presence here may be intended as a rather cunning misdirection from the hidden construction. | |
| 16 | Uncivilised drinking places I found near heart of Chicago (8) |
| BARBARIC - BAR BAR (drinking places), I, {chi}C{ago} [heart of] | |
| 17 | Retreat by Prime Minister and a Conservative faction (4) |
| CAMP - PM (Prime Minister) + A + C (Conservative) reversed [retreat] | |
| 20 | Turf out a hundred boarding European plane (5) |
| EJECT - C (a hundred) contained by [boarding] E (European) + JET (plane) | |
| 21 | Stool is specially made for piano player, perhaps (7) |
| SOLOIST - Anagram [specially made] of STOOL IS | |
| 22 | Two women together are poison (10) |
| BELLADONNA - BELLA + DONNA (two women together) aka deadly nightshade, but I understand it can also be used therapeutically in the treatment of certain conditions so it's not always a poison. | |
| Down | |
| 1 | In summary, picked up speed after start of race (5) |
| RECAP - R{ace} [start], PACE (speed) reversed [picked up]. Another example of misdirection here as 'picked up' would more usually indicate a homophone, but in this clue it signals reversal. | |
| 2 | Equerry's girl, awfully wild creature (4,8) |
| GREY SQUIRREL - Anagram [awfully] of EQUERRY'S GIRL | |
| 3 | Incline to be a playboy? (4) |
| RAKE - Two meanings, the first commonly encountered in theatres where stage and seating may be 'raked' to give the audience a better view. The other rake is a man who leads a self-indulgent, promiscuous life-style as illustrated in the series of paintings and engravings by William Hogarth called 'A Rake's Progress'. | |
| 4 | Songbird left in trap (6) |
| LINNET - L (left), IN, NET (trap). As mentioned in the song made famous by Marie Lloyd. Altergever nah: My old man said "Foller the van, And don't dilly dally on the way". Off went the van wiv me 'ome packed in it, I walked behind wiv me old cock linnet. But I dillied and dallied, dallied and I dillied Lost me way and don't know where to roam. Well you can't trust a special like the old time coppers. When you can't find your way 'ome. | |
| 5 | Encourages university players initially joining in soccer etc (8) |
| SUPPORTS - U (university) + P{layers} [initially] contained by [joining in] SPORTS (soccer etc) | |
| 6 | Nothing but repetition? Rather regular repetition, perhaps (12) |
| ALLITERATION - ALL ITERATION (nothing but repetition?) and a definition by way of illustration | |
| 7 | Trotskyist extremists featuring in story that's idle gossip (6) |
| TATTLE - T{rotskyis}T [extremists] contained by [featuring in] TALE (story) | |
| 12 | Witty banter about article Peter Strange has penned (8) |
| REPARTEE - RE (about), anagram [strange] PETER containing [has penned] A (article) | |
| 13 | Dangerous disease among animals: is bear affected? (6) |
| RABIES - Anagram [affected] of IS BEAR | |
| 15 | Type of fuel ceases to work well, oddly deficient (6) |
| DIESEL - DIES (ceases to work), {w}E{l}L [oddly deficient] | |
| 18 | Bread is mine — thank you (5) |
| PITTA - PIT (mine). TA (thank you) | |
| 19 | Welsh boy in pale denims (4) |
| ALED - Hidden [in] {p}ALE D{enims}. We have two straight hidden-word clues today which is contrary to one of the Times puzzle conventions. | |