Across
Friend kept back after school scripture lesson: it increases pressure (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
<=ROSS ("friend") [ kept back ] after Comp. (comprehensive "school") + RE (religious education, so "scripture lesson") Ross is Ross Geller, one of the "friends" in the American TV show "Friends", played by David Schwimmer.
Substitute rejected pads (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ rejected ] <=PAWS ("pads")
Bishop playing slow sport with Jack (5)
See VIP opt to play high hat (9)
With nothing to lose, goes to the dodgy parts of town (8)
Returning note following a case of ‘fair dos’ (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ returning ] <=SO ("note") following A + [ case of ] F (ai) R
A government called to answer a criminal charge (7)
Force girl to keep one tipsy (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
MIA ("girl") to keep I (one) + LIT ("tipsy")
Trace of sewage found in abandoned septic tank (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ trace of ] S (ewage) found in *(septic) [anag: abandoned ]
Strong desire with artist returning for sculpture (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
CRAVING ("strong desire") with RA (artist) returning becomes C(AR)VING
A German bearing last of gifts for her? (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
A + G (German) + NE (north-east, so "bearing") + [ last of ] (gift) S
Most graceful Soviet letters regularly focus with Putin (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
S (o) V (i) E (t) L (e) T (t) E (r) S [ regularly ] + [ focus ] of (pu) T (in)
Newsreader briefly struggles with little fish (9)
Apathetic Labour's leader in bed (5)
Pitcher throwing last of balls from gutter (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ last of] (ball)S from (s) EWER ("gutter")
Tailless fish rolled in seed, nuts and cooked in breadcrumbs (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ tailless ] <=(POLLAC (k), rolled ) in *(seed) [anag: nuts ]
Down
Island copper gets qualification (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
Cu (chemical symbol for "copper") gets BA (Bachelor of Arts, so "qualification")
Jaws was back, with Bond’s boss replacing head of Spectre (3)
Examination in Art is erroneously withdrawn (5)
Poet’s old love choked by nerve gas (7)
Creature arisen, upset after prince cracks eggs (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ arisen ] <=MUSS ("upset") after P (prince) cracks OO (eggs)
Where in Lancashire fans make such a noise? (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
I presume the setter is suggesting that in a "Lancashire" accent, WHERE sounds like WHIRR
Bullies ultimately keen to break media injunctions (5-5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
[ ultimately ] (kee) N to break PRESS GAGS ("media injunctions")
Troops run shelters to follow drug dealer (8)
Devil's features shaved top to bottom (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
SHORN ("shaved") with (its) top (letter)moved to bottom becomes HORN-S
Drive a taxi, reversing round church in drunken scenes (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
<=(ELAN ("drive") + A + CAB ("taxi"), reversing ) round Ch. (church) A bacchanale is a musical composition, often depicting drunken revelry.
Fake daughter removed from Sir Tom podcast (8)
Gets toupee in case of thinness (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
WIG ("toupee") in [ case of ] T (hinnes) S
Jenny entertained by draws in Scottish cups (7)
Side salad of eel has slice of cucumber on top (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
*(eel has) [anag: salad of ] has [ slice of ] C (ucumber) on top
He follows Nick, losing task finally: a comfortable position (5)
Brass instrument, large and cylindrical (5)
He died pinching a loaf (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
HE + D (died) pinching A
Mountain with friend pushing Penny to the bottom (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Fifteensquared have:
PAL ("friend") with P (penny) pushed to the bottom becomes AL(P)
Type letters or click words in the clue