Without being too unfair, this seemed a fairly nondescript puzzle. There were a fair few clue constructions/answers that I had seen before, so it didnt take much time. There were a few general knowledge gaps that needed filling, but the other parts of the clues and/or the checkers made them gettable.
| Across |
| 1 |
CHINOS – CH=check, IN=wearing, OS=very large |
| 4 |
HOPPING MAD – PIN=join, GM=general manager, after HOP=dance, then A D=duke |
| 10 |
ATTIC – A=area, TT=dry, IC(y)=mostly cold |
| 14 |
GINGER NUT – GINGER = colleague of Biggles, NUT=eccentric type. Didnt know the former, but seemed likely. Ginger Hebblethwaite apparently |
| 15 |
INTENSIVE CARE – INTENSIVE=demanding, CARE=maintenance |
| 16 |
TARNISH – TAR=sailor, SH=quiet, crossing NI=northern island |
| 17 |
STATURE – STATUE=bust, around R=radius |
| 18 |
TOPICAL – (coalpit)* |
| 19 |
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX – cryptic-ish tongue in cheek type clue |
| 21 |
DEEP – P=parking, after DEE=river |
| 24 |
SACKS – double def |
| 26 |
ACID RAIN – (india car)* where “most of” and “reduced” denote the reduction in the two anagrist words. |
| 27 |
ADELAIDE – double part, I struggle to say definition, more like double general knowledge!! Had no idea of the Rossini Opera, Adelaide of Borgogna, so had to put this in from checkers. |
| 29 |
CHEMIN DE FER – CHE(f)=restaurant cook, short, M=male, IN=elected, DEFER=put off |
| 30 |
STICK INSECT – STICK=stay IN, SECT=order |
| 32 |
WHITE SPIRIT – WHITE=chess player, SPIRIT=attitude |
| 35 |
CLEAN SHAVEN – CLEAN=orderly, HAVE=own, inside SN=tin |
| 37 |
LISTENER – ST=stumped, E=english, inside LINER=passenger ship |
| 39 |
SEPARATE – APES=copies, reversed, before RATE=speed |
| 40 |
RECAP – RE=touching, CAP=ceiling |
| 43 |
PORT – double def |
| 44 |
BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL – THE EIGHT=the rowing crew, BALL=formal dance, all after BEHIND=losing |
| 47 |
LUCKNOW – LUCK=success, NOW=immediately |
| 48 |
HOEDOWN – DOWN=floor, after HO(l)E |
| 50 |
REAUMUR – hidden in (bu)REAUMUR(dered) |
| 51 |
PRIME MINISTER – PRIME=brief, MINISTER=clergyman |
| 52 |
THE BOARDS – THE(n)=afterwards, briefly, BOARDS=gets on |
| 53 |
NANNA – N=name, ANNA=Dido’s sister |
| 54 |
SPEARHEADS – (parade shes)* |
| 55 |
STOLID – S=point, TO, LID=cover |
| Down |
| 1 |
COGITATES – C=about, O=old, GIS=soldiers, around TATE=gallery |
| 2 |
INNER CIRCLE – INNER=secret, CIRCLE=society |
| 3 |
OBELISK – (bloke is)* |
| 5 |
OATES – A TES(t)=brief examination, after O=oxygen |
| 6 |
PHILANDERER – P=penny, HER=that woman, around I(s)LANDER=Bermudan, perhaps, without the last letter of hints. |
| 7 |
NET CURTAINS – TEN=number, reversed, then CURTAINS=the end |
| 8 |
MONTEREY – TER(m)=short period, inside MONEY=wealth |
| 9 |
DRIFTWOOD – (did for two)* |
| 10 |
ALEPPO – (pop)* after ALE=beer |
| 11 |
THATCHERITE – CHE=revolutionary, RITE=ceremony, after THAT=which |
| 12 |
CREEL – C(onge)R, EEL=fish |
| 13 |
ON THE UP AND UP – double def |
| 20 |
SPITFIRE – TIPS=leans, reversed, FIRE=shoot |
| 22 |
PRESTON – PRESTO=quickly, N=name |
| 23 |
CLINCHER – (chr-nicle)* |
| 25 |
SHIVERED – REV=clergyman, I, all reversed, inside SHED=outhouse |
| 28 |
LITERATE – L=line, ITERATE=say again |
| 29 |
COWSLIP – COW’S LIP = neat border. not sure about the S here, but neat as plural or possessive just about works I guess |
| 31 |
KINDERGARTEN – (reading ten K)* |
| 33 |
INSTRUCTION – IN, ST=street, RUCTION=uproar |
| 34 |
TRENDSETTER – TREND=course, SETTER=crossword compiler |
| 35 |
CRASH COURSE – COURSE=way, after CRASH=accident |
| 36 |
VICE ADMIRAL – (livid camera)* |
| 38 |
EIDELWEISS – (isles weed)* |
| 41 |
POLARISED – PO=river, RISE=hill, inside LAD=boy |
| 42 |
HIGH FIVE – HIGH=important, FIVE=cardinal |
| 45 |
THAW OUT – HAW=fruit, inside TOUT=solicitor |
| 46 |
ANGELA – ANGEL=financial backer, A |
| 47 |
LUPIN – LIN(e)=curtailed row, around UP=winning |
| 49 |
NOTED – NOTE=record, D(ankworth) |
(Ong’ara, Nairobi)