Across
Pam's disco dancing is somewhat erratic (9)
Go on to gatecrash very pathetic party (5)
Up with the lark? He's famous for it! (7,8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
For this cryptic clue one needs to know that The Lark Ascending is amongst Ralph Vaughan Williams’s most famous works. Personally I don’t like it although I admire much of his other music.
Wanderer heading west loaded with Eastern spirit (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
NOMAD (wanderer) reversed [heading west], containing [loaded with] E (Eastern)
Mint in silver wrapping I ate at the outset as defence (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
AG (silver) containing [wrapping] POLO (mint), then I, A{te} [at the outset]. ‘Polo – The Mint with the Hole’ – a leading UK brand of confectionary since 1948.
Such as The Hollies' perennial hits? (10)
One aiming at a fast buck or deer (4)
Earth to become fine with time (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SET (fine – in good order; all set), T (time). Dangerous territory this as I think I was called out on it on a previous occasion, but as far as I’m aware the only animals that live in a SETT are badgers. According to Chambers their hole can also be called an ‘earth’, but ‘earth’ is more usually associated with foxes.
Leave, having failed intake exam (4,2,4)
Fairground Attraction song adopting American English (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CAROL (song) containing [adopting] US (American) + E (English)
Mathematician prompt to withdraw cover (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CUE (prompt) reversed [to withdraw], LID (cover}. My LOI, and even after I’d biffed it I struggled to see the first bit of parsing.
Raj account switching deposits again into Agra's banks (1,7,2,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Anagram [switching] of DEPOSITS AGAIN contained by [into] A{gr}A [‘s banks]. The classic novel by E.M. Forster and the only one of his major works that I have never read. I have seen the film though.
Ruff partner, always reflecting when holding spade finally (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
EVER (always) reversed [reflecting] containing [holding] {spad}E [finally]. A type of sandpiper, the female of the ruff (Philomachus pugnax).
Like one of those 24 hour bugs? (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Cryptic. ‘Ephemera’ is a fever that lasts only a day. Certain insects such as the mayfly are sometimes termed ‘ephemera’ because of their very short life-span (typically 24 hours) and I guess some people might class them as bugs.
Down
Worked hard, putting aside pounds deposited in the bank (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
S{l}AVED (worked hard) [putting aside pounds – l as in l.s.d.]
Entertainment venue playing REM etc ad nauseam? (9,6)
Mum overcomes Jack in honourable, good golf game (3-5)
Delicate shot racket struck at the finish (4)
Ape gets ringing noise outside tank — runs away (10)
Only fish landlady gutted (6)
Drink with retired setter maybe after installing old copper insulator (7,8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
DRAUGHT (drink), EX-CLUER (retired setter maybe) containing [installing] D (old copper – l.s.d again – a penny)
Oscar winner Charles's cycling assault (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
This is my first opportunity in a blog to try out Shabbo’s advice on ‘cycling’ clues as posted here last Tuesday. Quote: I have been told that when you see “cycling”, you should write the letters of the word in a circle and then start from each letter in turn travelling clockwise until you find the solution. Try it. It works! Many thanks to Shabbo for the tip! The Oscar winner is Charles Laughton, so LAUGHTON’S (Charles’s) cycling gives us this: Laughton was nominated for ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’ on three occasions but won the Oscar only once in 1933 for The Private Life of Henry VIII. The other two nominations were for Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957).
Hotshot lawyer on mag finally getting stuck into a couple of beers (5,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
LEG (on – cricket), then {ma}G [finally] contained by [getting stuck into] ALE + ALE (a couple of beers). Apparently ‘legal beagle’ is also a valid term.
Where unchallenged professor might relax? (4,5)
Bevan almost succeeded to get on top of mass disorder (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ANEURI{n} (Bevan) [almost], S (succeeded), M (mass). Read about the politician Nye Bevan here if you wish.
Follow us heading north in unspoiled surroundings (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
US reversed [heading north] contained by [in] PURE (unspoiled)
Attract Liberal, in a manner of speaking (5)
Carve cross, removing each end (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{t}ETCH{y} (cross – angry) [removing each end]
Type letters or click words in the clue