Solving time: 78:10 according to the online timer, but probably about an hour in reality, as I was interrupted for about 20 minutes and forgot to pause it.
That time for me for a jumbo is pretty quick, and I did find it quite a straightforward solve. As a result I’ve got no particular comments to make about it, so I’ll go straight into the clues.
cd = cryptic def., dd = double def., rev = reversal, homophones are written in quotes, anagrams as (–)*, and removals like this
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | CELEBRITIES = CE + (LIBERTIES)* |
| 7 | VACATE = A + CAT all in VE |
| 10 | VERB – hidden – club can be a verb, but diamond cannot. |
| 14 | REMIXED = XI rev in REMED |
| 15 | CURACAO = “You are” in CACAO – The island of Curaçao used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles until 2010, and is now a separate country under Dutch control. It’s probably best known for its blue liqueur. |
| 16 | BRA(DA)WL |
| 17 | CONGRESSIONAL = (ALSO CENSORING)* |
| 18 | S + PEAR + MINT |
| 19 |
|
| 21 | RESTA(R)TING |
| 23 | RE(MAN)D – MAN is “bishop, perhaps” as in the chess piece, RED is “cardinal” as in the colour |
| 25 | STING(R + A)Y |
| 26 | CORN + I + SH(PAST)IES |
| 29 | MIN + ORCA |
| 30 | NIGH + T(W)EAR |
| 31 | GENII – If Gen is Genesis, then Gen ii must be its second part. A genius can be a spirit, apparently. |
| 32 | TIBIA = A BIT rev about I |
| 34 | T(RIM)ESTER – although trimesters are more usually associated with pregnancy than academia |
| 37 | TRANC(H)E – I’m nont convinced that ‘being in a trance’ is necessarily the same as being ecstatic. |
| 39 | MASS PRODUCTION – dd |
| 41 | INTERNET – cd – not particularly cryptic though, as I suspect these days, the primary meaning of surfing is browsing the internet rather than riding waves. |
| 43 | UN + IS ON |
| 44 | BROAD SHEET – dd |
| 45 | DROSS = SO rev in DRS (‘workers in practice’ = doctors) |
| 48 | DALAI LAMA = A + MALI + A + LAD all rev |
| 49 | SERVICE (on a tennis court) + CHARGE (in a legal court) |
| 51 | RED CARD – dd |
| 52 | IN DOUBT = (BUT I NOD)* |
| 53 |
|
| 54 | O(RY)X |
| 55 | B + LIMEY – British sailors were known as ‘limeys’ by their American counterparts due to the propensity to carry limes on long voyages for their high Vitamin C content. |
| 56 | TEMPERAMENT = TEMPER (medium) + “MEANT” although I’m not sure where the A comes from. |
| Down | |
| 1 | CAR |
| 2 | LA + MENTATION |
| 3 | BO(X)ER – I’d not come across The Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists before |
| 4 | INDUS + TRIAL ACTION |
| 5 | ITCHIEST = (ETHICIST)* |
| 6 | STR(IN + GAL)ONG |
| 7 | VOCAL = LOCAL with L (50) replaced by V (5) |
| 8 | CROSS + ONE + SHEAR + T |
| 9 | T + ABLE + T |
| 11 | EG + ALIT + ARIA + N |
| 12 | B + ELATED |
| 13 | FA(I)RNESS |
| 20 | NIGERIA = REGIN |
| 22 | TENET = E |
| 24 | OPERATING + THEATRE |
| 25 | SYMPTOM – hidden |
| 27 | S/N + ID EST |
| 28 | ANTIQUARIAN = (QUAINT)* + ARIAN |
| 31 | GOA HEAD |
| 33 | BASTILLE DAY = TILLED (worked) in BA + SAY |
| 35 | EXTRA – dd (a wide is an extra in cricket) |
| 36 | TROUSER SUIT = (TOURIST)* about USER |
| 38 | C + ON TOUR + LINE – alternatively, a Tory travelling round could be a CON TOUR, take your pick. |
| 40 | PRO + DIG + A + L |
| 42 | SERIATIM = (ITS AIM)* about ER – not a word I knew, but it seemed the only plausible arrangement of the letters. |
| 43 | UND(ERG)O |
| 46 | S(L |
| 47 | H AND E + L |
| 49 | SADLY = (LADY’S)* |
| 50 | HAIFA = HAI |
A bit of nit-pickery: Strictly speaking, the sailors weren’t carrying limes for their Vitamin D, since they didn’t yet know about vitamins; they were carrying them to prevent scurvy.