Across
Torch is initially held for waving (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
BRAND (torch), IS, H{eld}. I was concerned about this until I found that ‘brandish’ can be a noun defined as (an act of) brandishing, so it follows that it can also be defined as waving.
Heathen almost incarcerates old duke in temple (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PAGA{n} (heathen) [almost] contains [incarcerates] O (old) + D (duke)
Queue to leave when stuck in bumptious social gathering? (8,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TAIL (queue) + PART (leave) contained by [stuck in] COCKY (bumptious)
Dreaded police succeeded in state allowing no change (6)
Lie low we're told by Scottish explorer in green space (4,4)
Italian friend crossing delta in kayak? (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PAL IN ROME (Italian friend) containing [crossing] D (delta). Definition by misleading example!
Rest last of vertebrae in nuchal region (4)
Continent lives recalled among group forgoing alcohol (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
IS (lives) reversed [recalled] contained by [among] AA (group forgoing alcohol – Alcoholics Anonymous]
Associate successfully completed replacing outbuilding with church (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
‘Accomplished’ (successfully completed) becomes ACCOMPLICE when ‘shed’ (outbuilding) is replaced with CE (church)
Very keen to grasp fabulous wit (8)
Quarrelsome carpenter (6)
County nuts get near senior NCO (5,8)
Subordinate action attributed to freedom of movement (2-4)
Weird rites, secretive veils — like nuns perhaps (8)
Down
Cheese: artist devours it when circling function (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RA (artist) contains [devours] IT, then containing [circling] COT (function – cotangent]
Demand from cineaste: set to be rebuilt (11)
Horrified grimace right away showing stress (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{r}ICTUS (horrified grimace) [right away]. Rhythmical or metrical stress.
Weary remark from drunk taken around English house (5-2)
Blackball news boss: paper giving unrealistic hope (4,5)
Swimmer seen in Ghasri periodically (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
G{h}A{s}R{i} [periodically]
Outing Democrat — one in beaten party (3,4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
D (Democrat), then I (one) contained by [in] anagram [beaten] of PARTY
Might time's character be so described in Ariosto? (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
T (time) is the PENULTIMATE letter in Ariosto. I used ‘reveal’ on this one having got nowhere by checking to see who Ariosto was, thinking he might have some bearing on the matter. Only after revealing the answer did I understand what was going on here.
Spooner's no drink in the pot for this creature? (9)
He'd often check blue pens make the grade (7)
That female feeding rook calls for some nuts (7)
Yen withdrawn from somehow atypical City resource? (7)
Structures making use of bars belonging to US composer (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CAGE’S (belonging to US composer – John Cage)
Trouble's coming up in Parliament (3)
Type letters or click words in the clue