Jumbo 752

Across

6

MACE-BEARER (ACE + BEAR in MER) – some fine wordplay and the surface conjures up visions of Cnut.

12

OUTSWIM (OUTS + WI + M) – superb definition with “best” used as a verb.

14

DRIER (DiRtInEaR) – it is always hard to disguise alternate letter clues, but “even bits” was cleverly used in the surface.

16

SKYE BOAT SONG (SNAKES TO GO BY*) – the Skye Boat Song was not that familiar to me so I had to work out the anagram.

17

SUNDERLAND (SUNDER + LAND) – again some clever synonyms used to create a smooth surface.

19

BALMORAL CASTLE (LAB rev. + MORAL + CASTLE) – one of the Queen’s cribs.

24

OUTLET (OUT + LET) – a “let” in tennis being a disallowed service.

25

GOALSCORER (CORE in GOALS + R) – another footballing clue with a smooth surface.

26

NETTA (AT TEN rev.)

29

SULK (SUNK with L for Newt) – the surface is geared towards this meaning of sulk (pet).

32

NANTUCKET (NAN + TUCK + ET) – another well-worked surface.

34

OUTFOUGHT (OU + THOUGHT with F for H) – neat wordplay and another good surface.

36

GNUS (GUNS with UN rev.) – yet again, nice wordplay melds with the surface.

40

TELESCOPED (L in TEES + COPED) – “got by” = coped was tough to spot.

42

OXHIDE (bOX + HIDE)

44

HIT LISTS (HIT + LISTS) – again, the synonyms used deflect the solver with a neat surface.

46

STADIUM OF LIGHT (G in TIMID OUT HALFS*) – the setter must be a 17A fan!

55

AVIATOR (A + VIA + TO + myanamaR) – an & lit. but I do not think the definition reading is that strong.

56

LOCKER-ROOM (LOCK + ROO in ER + M) – “Australian skipper” = roo was great and worked well in the surface.

Down

3

RUM BABAS (RUMBA + BASe)

4

IMAMS (hidden rev. & lit) – the plural form allows a different & lit treatment to “I’m a leader of…”.

6

MARX (RAM rev. + X)

7

COP-OUT (CO + POUT) – CO = conscientious observer.

10

EPITAPH (PI + TAP in EH) – eh = what can be tricky to spot.

20

LITTLE TOE – a cute little cryptic definition.

21

CHOIR STALL – two anagrams for the price of one!

23

ART NOUVEAU (UV in AERONAUT*) – ultraviolet being the dangerous rays.

28

KNIGHTS TEMPLAR –  a reference to Leslie Charteris’ Saint

34

OFF THE MAP (OFF + HEM in TAP)

37

SWEETHEART – the idea here being that “wee” is the heart of sweet.

38

EXALTATION (2 defs.) – an exaltation of larks must be one of the better known collective nouns.

41

OLD FRENCH (OF CHILDREN* minus I)

43

GOLF BALL (cryptic def.) – I loved the “addressed by club owner” part!

45

TANGELO (NEAT LOG*) – simple anagram but not easy to solve with the clever definition.

47

BRANDO – i.e the odd parts of BARDOT could be seen as BR and O.

51

CUTER (CUT + ER) – I know the hospital soap as my other half watches it religiously.