Across
If not old, king must be protected by judicious people (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
O (old) then R (king), inside THE WISE (judicious people).
Produced a low, sullen feeling, we hear (5)
Was a criminal almost sent west in Irish town? (5)
One that's battered in sport tussle, completely gutted (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CROQUET (sport) T[ussl]E. Mrs P and I think that croquettes are usually rolled in egg and breadcrumbs before frying, not battered, but maybe the setter does his differently.
Case of academic curiosity, but not in materialism (15)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A[…]C = case of academic, [IN]QUISITIVENESS i.e. “not in”. I wanted to spell this with a Z not an S but it would give me a red square.
Right back loth to make cross (8)
Silky material in the country changing hands (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ANGOLA changes L to R.
Soft fur for boy in school for spells (6)
Dip into awful magazine at last and take issue (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SAG (dip) inside DIRE (awful) then E from end of magazine.
On a visit, he at once concocted a trifle (1,4,2,3,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A DROP IN being a visit, (HE AT ONCE)*.
Business groups organise return of capital after fraud (9)
Note fate's spared nothing in place of iniquity (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SO (a note) DO[O]M = fate spared O.
Harry investing £1000 in bank (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I’m not sure I understand either the definition or the parsing here, so perhaps someone can improve on this. I can see HARRY might mean “ride”, be on top of, annoy, at a stretch and G could be a grand, £1000, and a ridge could (at another stretch) be a bank, but it’s weak.
That man's touring Asian area, these being the high points of his trip? (9)
Down
What Columbo ends with: great series finale (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
“series finale” as it’s the last letter of the Greek alphabet. O the end of Columbo, MEGA for great. Mrs P is a great fan of Columbo.
Large piece of meat concealed around northern lodge (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
N in HID then QUARTER = lodge, give quarters to.
Impatient Republican and I see TV broadcast (7)
That thing I stored in box is most irritating (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
IT (that thing) then I inside CHEST = box.
Involving striptease that's sexy, got stick for undressing (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
go to the naughty step if you put in EROTIC (as I did at first). the three words are “undressed” as above. Is striptease exotic? Seems an odd definition to choose, unless the setter also was thinking about clueing EROTIC which doesn’t parse. EDIT it seems from below comments exotic dancing is a common euphemism for striptease in this context and is in Collins as such.
Woman's family member given lidless serving bowl (7)
Promise to leave rugby goal in grass (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
OATH loses its H which in capital form looks like rugby goalposts.
Velocity in both directions somewhere far from earth (4,5)
Green cornfield cultivated in Kenya periodically (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E Y being periodic letters of Kenya, insert (CORNFIELD)*. It’s allowed in Collins with and without a hyphen.
Performer of rap act with end going wrong (3,6)
Somewhat oafish? Far more breeding's expected here (4,4)
Go off east, following retired policeman? (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
EX PLOD being slang for a retired policeman, then E for east.
Waking from bibulous revelry having lost head (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CAROUSAL loses its first letter.
Appropriate in society, of course (6)
New house put up for Gallic commune (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
N for new, SEMI (house) reversed (put up). Nîmes is an interesting city of 150,000 or so, in Gard in the south of France, known as “the most Roman city outside of Italy” because of its extensive Roman remains. it’s only 24 miles from Avignon so you could visit both and dance “sur le pont“.
Agree this would make Leander less fat? (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
if LEANDER had “No D” it would be LEANER so less fat.
Type letters or click words in the clue