Across
Star players given gold (6)
Chum protecting artist, thus providing cover (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PAL (chum) with RA (artist) SO (thus) inserted.
Commendation, when leader leaves, brings uplift (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PRAISE loses its leading P.
Agent certain to carry round gun after end of war (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SURE (certain) has R (end of war) O (round) GAT (gun) inserted.
A lot of money offered by a specialist mag for material (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I’d never heard of this, so had to check it out after doing the wordplay; Mrs P hadn’t heard of it either, which is unusual where fabrics are concerned. BOMB is a lot of money; A ZINE is a specialist mag, usually online.
Number receiving satisfactory sign (5)
Silly fellow ignoring wife or partner (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
WALLY loses W for wife.
Defensive position of British PM falling short, intended to be heard (10)
Past Socialist turning Conservative becomes offensive (10)
Go away, only half firing (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
half of SHOO-TING.
Firm facing endless shame to go under? (3,2)
Turk? A national abroad (9)
Switching off, making room for love and silence (5,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SHUT DOWN = switching off; insert O for love; silence here as a verb.
Criminal division on the home front? (5)
Transfixed, like an extra on stage? (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
a spear-carrier is a term used for any extra on stage, although it can be a real spear-carrier as in Aida, for example.
A few lines from the Home Counties that may stand (6)
Down
Spooner's prohibited string as stuff for packagers (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Here, the Rev. William Archibald Spooner is saying BARRED CORD for prohibited string.
Describing shock of aimless drifting (7)
Letters in some message mostly taken the wrong way (6)
Quiet advocate for a flushing out of the old order? (5)
Pole should be freer — too tight (8)
Hamper in hut left half abandoned (7)
Hotelier has this — it may be associated with room service for breakfast? (3-2)
Hopeful type with venom, I rave (8)
Monarch visiting school's grounds (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TRAIN’S = school’s, insert ER for monarch.
Most tricky ordeal in which one is faced with a bit of a dilemma? (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ordeal = TEST, insert HORN (you need two for a dilemma) and I for one.
Maker of ripples? A toothy reptile gobbles it (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A GATOR (toothy reptile) swallows IT.
Demonstrate again, bringing rebuke (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
if you re-prove something, you show it again.
One making lock secure? (7)
Sweet person of means starts to express emotion (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
a TOFF being a man of means, E E being the initial letters of express emotion.
Reasons for rejecting upper-class eccentrics (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CAUSES = reasons, delete the U = upper-class.
Duck? Eager to eat it! (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
AVID = eager, insert O, zero, a duck.
Type letters or click words in the clue