Across
What may contain mild defect, nothing more for Spooner? (4,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Spoonerism of “mere bug” (only a small problem, defect nothing more).
Not fed on bananas very much (2,3,2)
OK to occupy hotel (not much food when sharing a cell) (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
H (hotel) + A BIT (not much) + TABLE (food), where the bold letters ‘t’ overlap in one square (share a cell).
Further to the right, further down (5)
What's laid back and unfeeling taking diamonds off retired woman (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
AS (what, as in ‘I do what/as my teacher says’) reversed (laid back), then HARd (unfeeling) minus ‘d’ (diamonds) also reversed (retired).
Injury-time recovery from one's side? (9)
One badly wants to keep butterfly enclosure (8,6)
Edge of pound coin assigned this, originally Latin as agreed? (5,2,7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
written on the edge of a pound coin, apparently meaning ‘as agreed’ in Latin. Literally meaning ‘decoration and safeguard’, the inscription (decoration) on the edge of coins was originally to prevent obvious clipping, or removing metal from, the coin, thus devaluing it (safeguard).
Numbers following it, odd cult is minding one's back (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
the book of the OT preceding Numbers, anagram of (odd) CULT IS, containing (minding) a reversal of (back) I’VE (one’s).
Foul now, unfit for consumption (2-3)
How house and home end up empty? (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
‘house’ and ‘home’ both end up IN AN ‘E’.
A right puritan disturbed by very bad English (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PRIG (puritan) containing (disturbed by) VILE (very bad), then E (English).
Complex figure destined to take position beside God (7)
Change of ends for rowing crew in late shift (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
EIGHT (rowing crew) + IN, but swapping the ends (first and last letters of the phrase, ‘E’ and ‘N’). A ladies ‘undergarment’ is literally a ‘shift’, NHO.
Down
Pardon received by supreme order (6)
I will shackle introduction of merchandise but not stop trade (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
EGO (I), containing (will shackle) the first (introduction) of Merchandise with BAR (but not).
Possibly unable to start a fire without peer (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
cryptic hint.
See red mug on ledge upset after a jerk (2,9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
GOB (mouth, mug), then SILL (ledge) reversed (upset) after A, then TIC (jerk).
Once called for a woman, or rather for somebody who listens (3)
Lopped branch remains after incineration (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
mEMBER (limb, branch) minus the first letter (lopped).
Feature of knitted — but not crocheted — garment (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
‘knitted’ contains a DOUBLE-T, but ‘crocheted’ only a single.
Female soldiers plough Clarkson's land? (8)
Antiques got smashed, didn't they? (3,8)
Testing start for Antonelli, opening out of the pits? (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
first letter of Antonelli, contained by (opening) EX-MINING (out of the pits).
Waiving fine, FA reportedly suspended City (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
fA minus (waiving) ‘f’ (fine), then a homophone of (reportedly) “delayed” (suspended).
A delicacy one's served as a result of being in charge (7)
Wearing down hare, say, tortoise finally leads (7)
Spent summer in St Tropez supporting blind partner? (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
ÉTÉ (summer, in French, in St Tropez) underneath (supporting) EFF (partner of blind, as in ‘effing and blinding’).
It's criminal taking a newspaper (5)
Vegetable, like any other, going individually for a song, it seems (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
I think this refers to any vegetable (like any other) being sold cheaply (going for a song) per item (individually), or for ‘1p each’, or P EA.
Type letters or click words in the clue