Across
Post spy outside English royal house (11)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PLANT (post), AGENT (spy) containing [outside] E (English). The line of English kings from Henry II (1154) to the death of Richard III (1485). Now that I’ve come to write the blog I can’t think of an example where ‘post’ and ‘plant’ are interchangeable. Can anyone help me out please?
Nip backwards and forwards serving fizzy drink (3)
Tailored thing you and I regularly assume at first when retiring (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Anagram [tailored] of THING, WE (you and I) then R{egularly} + A{ssume} [at first] reversed [when retiring]. &lit.
Headland backing on east German city (5)
Ideal article on posh tropical headgear (7)
Diabolical cast in a play (7)
Buccaneer finally turned libertine (5)
A new piece of advice regarding hors d'oeuvre (9)
Wide boy in poem always after tennis equipment (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RACKET (tennis equipment), E’ER (in poem ‘always’)
Silence about limits of unusual prison (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
GAG (silence) containing [about] U{nusua}L [limits of…]
Child in game extremely curious about boxer's slanting script (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
IT (child in game) + C{uriou}S [extremely] containing [about] ALI (boxer). In a game of tag, ‘It’ is the child whose turn it is to chase and try to touch another.
Key singers upset following lines using celebs only (3-4)
African country reflecting about mother's ruin (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
RE (about) + GIN (mother’s ruin) reversed [reflecting]
Like protective layer originally required to stop widespread disease (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
R{equired} [originally] contained by [to stop] EPIDEMIC (widespread disease). Referring to a protective layer of skin or tissue.
Pulse ideally occurring at periodic intervals (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{i}D{e}A{l}L{y} [occurring at periodic intervals]
Acerbic representation of Maori cousin (11)
Down
Time to abandon bet? That's a joke (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PUN{t} (bet) [time to abandon]
Trouble in the past overwhelming centre of Zagreb (5)
Birds ultimately flaunt it over rodents (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{flaun}T [ultimately], IT, MICE (rodents)
Good to get involved again: it should bear fruit (9)
Scandinavian goddesses, and not Poles (5)
Support premier accepting Republican crown (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
TEE (support) + TOP (premier) containing [accepting] R (Republican)
So a plant's unexpectedly situated behind a hooter (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Anagram [unexpectedly] of SO A PLANT’S. ‘Hooter’ is slang for the nose. According to SOED this dates from the mid 20th century and I wonder if it was coined by Galton & Simpson in the 1950s when they started writing for Tony Hancock, as that’s where I first heard it.
Spreader of alarm, one who sells grass? (11)
Subscriber runs in without a plan? (11)
A modification accepted by both sides in Russian port (9)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A, then CHANGE (modification) contained [accepted] by R + L (both sides)
Soak up air circulating in strange animal enclosure (9)
European king in ceremony connected to American state (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
E (European), then R (king) contained by [in] RITE (ceremony), A (American)
Sailing ship in strong wind about to cross lake (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
GALE (strong wind) + ON (about) containing [to cross] L (lake)
Direct course of ox, perhaps (5)
Encountered going north, work up speed (5)
Healthy food: price reduced by 25 per cent (3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
COS{t} (price) [reduced by 25 per cent]. Lettuce.
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