Solving time: 8 minutes
Mostly straightforward for me, but how did you all do?
As usual definitions are underlined in bold italics, {deletions and substitutions are in curly brackets} and [anagrinds, containment, reversal and other indicators in square ones]. I usually omit all reference to positional indicators unless there is a specific point that requires clarification.
 Across |
|
| 1 | Show presenter in broadcast starring me! (10) |
| RINGMASTER | |
| Anagram [broadcast] of STARRING ME | |
| 7 | Untrustworthy in bed, perhaps? (5) |
| LYING | |
| Two definitions of sorts | |
| 8 | Heading for California, company following different boat leaves (7) |
| TOBACCO | |
| Anagram [different] of BOAT, C{alifornia} [heading for…], CO (company) | |
| 10 | Wine in port I spoiled, certainly not bottled (5,4) |
| PINOT NOIR | |
| NO (certainly not) contained [bottled] by anagram [spoiled] of IN PORT I | |
| 12 | Some tiger, a terrifying animal (3) |
| RAT | |
| Hidden in [some] {tige}R A T{errifying} | |
| 13 | Catch parent out (6) |
| ENTRAP | |
| Anagram [out] of PARENT | |
| 15 | Man on board thrown vital rope, finally (6) |
| CASTLE | |
| CAST (thrown), {vita}L + {rop}E [finally]. We all know that purists say ‘rook’, but ‘castle’ is also valid as confirmed by all the usual dictionaries. | |
| 16 | Object assisting rowers, primarily? (3) |
| OAR | |
| O{bject}+ A{ssisting} + R{owers} [primarily] | |
| 17 | Chilean surprisingly screens commercial for Mexican dish (9) |
| ENCHILADA | |
| Anagram [surprisingly] of CHILEAN contains [screens] AD (commercial) | |
| 20 | Rubbish vehicle reversing — that’s driven across fields (7) |
| TRACTOR | |
| ROT (rubbish!) + CART (vehicle) [reversing] | |
| 22 | From birth, that is removed from girl’s back (5) |
| NATAL | |
| NATAL{ie} [‘that is’ removed from girl’s back] | |
| 23 | Cleaner words a pope used (4,6) |
| SOAP POWDER | |
| Anagram [used] of WORDS A POPE | |
| Down |
|
| 1 | Power drops, it’s said (5) |
| REIGN | |
| Sounds like [its said] “rain” (drops). I wasn’t sure of the equivalence here, but Collins has: reign (noun) – royal power, authority, or rule; sovereignty | |
| 2 | Frightening prospect arming the jerks (9) |
| NIGHTMARE | |
| Anagram [jerks] of ARMING THE | |
| 3 | In helmet, rookie underground (5) |
| METRO | |
| Hidden [in] {hel}MET RO{okie} | |
| 4 | Reserve diver (3) |
| SUB | |
| Two meanings – substitute player in sport / submarine | |
| 5 | It’s only a part, but about right (7) |
| EXCERPT | |
| EXCEPT (but) containing [about] R (right) | |
| 6 | Applauded on leaving, exhausted (7,3) |
| CLAPPED OUT | |
| Two definitions of sorts | |
| 9 | Where knives and forks are laid is up for discussion (2,3,5) |
| ON THE TABLE | |
| Two definitions of sorts | |
| 11 | Fake ID general set straight (9) |
| REALIGNED | |
| Anagram [fake] of ID GENERAL | |
| 14 | Huge blow to a party supporting Royal Navy (7) |
| TORNADO | |
| TO, RN (Royal Navy), A, DO (party) | |
| 18 | Freight in vehicle, move away (5) |
| CARGO | |
| CAR (vehicle), GO (move away) | |
| 19 | Change rope with top sliced off (5) |
| ALTER | |
| {h}ALTER (rope) [with top sliced off] | |
| 21 | First kitty up-ended (3) |
| TOP | |
| POT (kitty – pool of money) reversed [up-ended] | |
DNF
Well set for a decent time before getting stuck on REALIGNED, CASTLE (where I spent far too long looking for the anagram) and a failure to get LOI EXCERPT.
Defeated by EXCERPT and CASTLE otherwise relatively straightforward if a little sluggish.
Simply beyond a rank amateur like me but enjoyed the mental workout. Off to lie down now 😁
Thanks for your kind concern, Invariant, which is much appreciated. Fortunately such comments rarely appear in this friendly forum but after 17 years I can take it when the occasional brickbat comes in my direction. You may have gathered that TfTT administrators rarely intervene, but sometimes there comes a point when this one feels he has to say something in response to persistent unsubstantiated negative comments about the quality of the puzzles presented to us.
Kind regards, J
[PS: I shall remove these comments when they have served their purpose]