Times Jumbo 1060 (26 Oct 2013)

I find it difficult to give a solving time for jumbos as I very rarely get the time to sit down and do one in its entirety. Instead I tend to do a few clues here and a few there in short bursts. My journey to work these days involves a 10 minute bus journey, then a 10 minute train journey, followed by a 10 minute tram journey, so I tend to pick at the puzzle during these. I can say that this seemed about average difficulty for a jumbo.

There were a few good clues here. I particularly liked the misdirection in 11d so that gets my COD. I also liked the 'rag-doll' idea in 13d. There was a mistake in 29d though, which a few people in the forum picked up on.

cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (--)*, and removals like this

1	BASALt - i.e. forming a base.
4	MIDAS TOUCH = I'D in MAST + OUCH
9	C(A + N)UTE
14	APHRODITE = HIT about ROD all inside APE
15	OUTER HEBRIDES = (TREE + BIRD-HOUSE)*
16	CO + O + L + ANT
17	SYLLABLES - cd
18	BAR + ON
19	CURRENT AFFAIRS - dd - a play on the word AFFAIRS
22	AC + CLA(I)M
25	OLIGARCHIC = (RA + GI + LO) all rev + CHIC
27	TROLLEYBUSES = (LESS TROUBLE)* about citY
30	RIOTS = PATRIOTS with (APT)* removed
31	IN EQUITY - Equity being the actors' union
32	SWINDLER = DeaL in SWINE + R
35	HUMIDIFY = MIDI (south of France) in HUFFY (resentful) with one F (fine) removed
36	MO + ON BEAM
37	IS + AA + C - Isaac being the son that Abraham was prepared to sacrifice in the Book of Genesis
39	UNRECONCILED = (ON CIDER UNCLE)*
41	MAINTAINER = MAIN ENTERTAINER (leading singer) with the ENTER (record) removed
43	Enterprise + GOT + RIP (final message)
45	CENTRAL HEATING - the word HEATING can literally be found at the centre of acHE AT INGle
48	CRESS - hidden
49	CROSS + OVER
51	SCARCER = SCARER about Crows - semi-&lit
53	ELECTROCUTION = ELECTION about (COURT)*
54	INAUGURAL = (LURING A)* about AU
55	TATTOO - dd
56	DEAD CENTRE - dd
57	SEED + reformatorY
Down
1	BRA + N + CH
2	SCHOOL UNIFORM - cd
3	LOOFA = A + FOOL all rev
4	MOISTEN = MEN about (I + ST) after O
5	DEEP-SEA DIVER - cd
6	SHOPLIFT = (OP (work) + L (pounds)) all in SHIFT (time on duty)
7	OSTIA = initials of Offer Such Taste In Ages)
8	CARELESSLY = CAR + (LESS in ELY)
10	AEROBIC = OB (old boy) in (A + ERIC) - An eric (or eriach) is a fine paid by a murderer to his victim's family, in old Irish law. I didn't know that.
11	UNDER (working for) + PASS (exam success) - 'way below the level of others making progress' was an excellently disguised definition
12	ESSENe - an Essene is a member of an ascetic Jewish sect that was around at the time of Christ.
13	NEWSPAPERWOMAN - cd
20	RHAPSODIC = (PARISH DO)* + Curate
21	I + RR + IT + A + NT
23	MISERICORD = (ICIER DORMS)* - A misericord is a room in a Benedictine monastery where the monks were allowed to eat meat.
24	COUR(THOU)SE
26	CHIEF INSPECTOR = (FRICTION + SPEECH)*
28	BON VIVANT = B + (NOT)* about (V + IVAN)
29	EUROPEAN = EUAN (Irishman) about ROPE (onions) - I'm guessing this is a mistake by the setter. Euan is undoubtedly a Scottish name, not an Irish one. A quick glance through the famous Euans listed in Wikipedia reveals eleven Scots, four Englishmen, a couple of Kiwis, and a few more just listed as British. But certainly no Irishmen.
33	LEARNING CURVE - cd
34	METALLURGIST = MET + LURGy in (A + LIST)
38	DISC(L)O + SURE
40	ROOS(EVE + L)T
42	PRO + VI(N)CE
44	R + IS + O(TT)O
46	EUSTACE = EST (is French) + ACE (expert) all about U
47	FRILLY = FRY (Youngsters, as in small fry) about ILL
48	C(REP)T
50	SPIED = PIE in (S + D)
52	A + NeGUS