Apologies for the delay, lost internet connection on Sunday and didnt recover until today. Thought about typing up on the phone, but couldnt really bring myself to do that. The puzzle itself was straightforward. Didnt know HIGH TEST or VICHY, but these were easy to get from wordplay/checkers.
Hopefully this sneaks in late enough not to get in the way of Jimbos daily swan song.
| Across |
| 1 |
GLOSS OVER – LOSS inside GOVER(nment) |
| 6 |
CENTAVO – (once VAT)* |
| 10 |
WATCH – double def |
| 13 |
RETINOL – IT inside LONER, all reversed |
| 14 |
SMARTIE – (tries)* outside MA = degree |
| 15 |
TOTEMIC – TOTE = bear, MIC(e) = smaller creatures, mostly |
| 16 |
GENERAL PRACTITIONER – GIP with the I removed, is GP, which expands as per answer. The whole is an &lit. |
| 17 |
PIE – PI = very good, E = english |
| 18 |
NOTING – NO TING = lacking bell sound |
| 20 |
SCORCH – COR(e) = mostly whats essential, in SCH = school |
| 21 |
DISCOVERY – DISCO = nightclub, VERY = dead, as in “dead clever” |
| 23 |
CASHEW NUTS – WE reversed, after CASH = bread, then NUTS = crackers |
| 25 |
TEACHERLESS – TEARLESS, around C(ollege) HE = fellow |
| 29 |
AXIOM – X = times, A = article, reversed, IOM = Isle of Man = island |
| 30 |
AVERMENT – MEN = people, inside AVERT = stop |
| 31 |
AGREES TO – (so/e great)* |
| 34 |
SNAPPIER – photographer might SNAP the PIER at Blackpool |
| 36 |
DILIGENT – DI = inspector, LIT = fired up, outside GEN = info |
| 37 |
ADORE – (b)A(n)D (f)O(u)R (m)E(n) |
| 39 |
CAPARISONED – PARIS = Trojan prince, ONE, inside CAD |
o
| 41 |
GANGSTA RAP – GAG = crack, STAR = celebrity, A, P = piano, around N |
| 43 |
CANTONESE – CAN = canadian, TONE’S = accent’s, E = oriental. |
| 45 |
PERUSE – PERU’s = country’s, E(conomic) |
| 47 |
SCHEMA – S = suceeded, CHE = revolutionary, AM = american, reversed |
| 49 |
ORE – ORE(gon) |
| 50 |
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED – MISS = girl, I, ON = working, ACCOMPLISHED = expert. |
| 52 |
BROWNIE – I.E. = that is, after BROWN = toast |
| 53 |
BLERIOT – BLE(w), RIOT |
| 54 |
RATTING – RATING, outside T |
| 55 |
READE – READE(r) |
| 56 |
DWELT ON – WELT = mark, inside DON = teacher |
| 57 |
REDACTION – ED, ACTION, after R(eporters) |
| Down |
| 1 |
GARAGING – RAG = kid, I, inside GANG |
| 2 |
OFTEN – hidden – (inter)NET FO(llowed), “up” indicating the reversal |
| 3 |
SANDRINGHAM – AND = with, RING = band, inside SHAM = unreal |
| 4 |
VILELY – VI(ew), LELY |
| 5 |
RESTRUCTURED – RUC = former police force, TUR(f)ED, all after REST = others |
| 6 |
CHANCER – CHAUCER, with middle letter changed |
| 7 |
NOTWITHSTANDING – NO TWIT (hence sensible), STANDING = seeking election, after H(ustings). |
| 8 |
AMERINDIAN – N = note, inside A MERIDIAN = a circle |
| 9 |
OCTANTS – OCT = several weeks, ANTS = workers |
| 10 |
WATERCOURSE – Vichy is a type of water, COARSE sounds like COURSE |
| 11 |
TIMEPIECE – PIECE for TIME, might be an article for a US magazine |
| 12 |
HACKERY – (t)HACKER(a)Y |
| 19 |
TSARINA – (artisan)* |
| 22 |
TWEAKERS – WEAKER = less effective, inside ST = street = way, reversed |
| 24 |
SEMI INDEPENDENT – (t)IMES, reversed, INDEPENDENT, both being papers |
| 26 |
HIGH TEST – HIGH = school, TEST = exam, did not know the gas, but apparently it is the same as HIGH OCTANE |
| 27 |
SHOWER – double def, the first being “a person showing” |
| 28 |
BARSAC – BARS = taverns, AC = appellation controlee |
| 32 |
STORAGE – OR = gold, in STAGE |
| 33 |
DENNIS POTTER – (pinter doesnt)* |
| 35 |
PERFORMANCE – PERFORCE, outside MAN |
| 37 |
ANARCHISTIC – ARCH IS, inside ANTIC |
| 38 |
UNRELIABLE – UNE = french individual, LIABLE = likely, outside R = right |
| 40 |
PONDEROSA – (arose)* after POND |
| 42 |
CARDIGAN – DIG = really like, after CAR, then AN |
| 43 |
CLOBBER – double def |
| 44 |
EAST END – (f)EASTED, around N |
| 46 |
RUCTION – (in court)* |
| 48 |
SPARED – (padres)* |
| 51 |
HEIDI – HE = ambassador, IDI (amin) is the despot |
I didn’t know TWEAKERS = (specifically) “screwdrivers” and the only reference I can find is under “Tweaking” in wikipedia.
I’m pretty sure the “gas” in 26dn is petrol, as in “step on the gas” (the setter has usefully included a question mark at the end of the clue).