Across
Scoundrel's behind pretentious talk in clip (7)
Historic warrior — one with a strange attitude seems initially to retreat (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I (one) + A + RUM (strange) then + A{ttitude} + S{eems} [initially], all reversed [to retreat]
Plant with grass turned over around it, attended by bird (5,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TURF (grass) reversed [turned over] containing [around] IT, then REE (bird). NHO REE as the female ruff or reeve, and the definition couldn’t have been less helpful but fortunately the combination of checkers and enumeration led me inevitably to the correct answer.
Confused answer covers this French commune (5)
H is found in fifteen consecutive letters in code (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
H contained by [found] E TO S (fifteen consecutive letters). I’ve seen ‘atom’ clued along similar lines more than once so I spotted the device immediately.
Lawyers about to take part in song (9)
Retracts blade roughly, showing damage from conflict (6-7)
Prospective wealth he has left to marine? It's a shocking event (8,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ELECT (prospective), RIC{he}S (wealth) [he has left}, TO, RM (Royal Marine)
Try to hear what happens in autumn, though not at first (9)
Scoundrel to go down after intervention by University (5)
Area of New Zealand not initially hosting new dance (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{O}TAGO (area of New Zealand) [not initially] containing [hosting] N (new)
Rest before quick meal (9)
Artist joining the writer and family for a small dish (7)
Novice's first use of firearms not good in religious establishment (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
N{ovice’s} [first], {g}UNNERY (use of firearms) [not good]
Down
Ineffectual chap — deceptive character extracting pounds (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
B{l}UFFER (deceptive character) [extracting pounds]. Most usually found in the expressions ‘old buffer’ or ‘silly old buffer’.
Ludicrous barrel blocking fluid haulage (9)
American lawyer raised challenge about a source of information (4,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
DA (American lawyer), then TEST (challenge) reversed [raised] containing [about] A
US soldier welcoming a coarse Italian patriot (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
GI (US soldier) containing [welcoming] A + RIBALD (coarse)
Special attention for this point? (5)
A blemish covered by old woman's make-up (7)
Right fuss involving one form of communication (5)
Suggestion pub open around start of evening (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
INN (pub), UNDO (open) containing [around] E{vening} [start of…] evening
Snape is gutted Harry strained regarding uphill task (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Anagram [strained] of SNAPE IS H{arr}Y [gutted]. I dredged this up from memory eventually having met it in previous puzzles but unfortunately I couldn’t remember the spelling and made the wrong 50/50 choice over the placing of Y and I. Another unfair anagram clue to an unfamiliar word.
Sauce prepared again, essence not originally being included (9)
One choosing empty life in particular part of national activity (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
L{if}E [empty] contained by [in] SECTOR (particular part of national activity)
Bunch in Society very much enthralled by food (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
S (society) + SO (very much) contained [enthralled] by TUCK. I didn’t find the word ‘bunch’ in any of the dictionary definitions – they mostly mention ‘tuft’ – but I guess it’s close enough.
Waterproof garment, medium type, mostly (7)
Church location most suitable to house religious figure (6)
French life missing one French name for poison (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
V{i}E (French for ‘life’) [missing one], NOM (French for ‘name’)
Rifle given popular outlaw's name (5)
Type letters or click words in the clue