Across
Broadcast Ella Fitzgerald? (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
A cryptic hint supports the main definition. Ella (following on from a name-check at 2ac yesterday) was famous for scat, defined by Collins as a type of jazz singing characterized by improvised vocal sounds instead of words. I can’t find any support for SCATTER as a noun with reference to this so it’s a play on words and doesn’t qualify as a double definition. I love many types of jazz but I can’t stand scat.
Why pull a face on the radio? Spectacular fail! (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Aural wordplay [on the radio]: “why” + “pout” (pull a face)
Calculator's standard on decline (5,4)
The first British martyr from Scotland originally? (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Saint Alban was indeed the first English martyr. His entry in Collins goes on: He was beheaded by the Romans on the site on which St Alban’s Abbey now stands, for admitting his conversion to Christianity. The second part of the clue provides another way to the answer based on ALBA as the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland (this has come up here a couple of times recently) so a person from Alba might at a pinch be said to be ALBAN. As for the Saint, despite the suggestion in the clue, he certainly didn’t come from Scotland and was actually a Roman citizen.
Plays outside in small box, perhaps; pressure on to keep dry (6,7)
Patronise monarch heartlessly, overwhelmed by worry (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
QU{e}EN (monarch) [heartlessly] contained [overwhelmed] by FRET (worry). ‘Fri-quent‘ (visit) rather than’ ‘Free-quent’ (often).
Penny says to collect large walking aid (3,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
P (penny), EG + EG (says – say x 2) containing [to collect] L (large). Sadly the humorous song on the subject is now spoiled forever by association.
Decline to get rid of American memorial (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{a}TROPHY (decline) [to get rid of American]
Intended leaving European country, frankly (3,2,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
M{e}ANT (intended) [leaving European] , OMAN (country)
Remarkable X-ray editor ran is fake (13)
17? A child (5)
Make rough old woman wail when leading couple ejected (9)
Secretly look around motor racing track's entrance for health programme (4,3)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PEEK (secretly look) reversed [around], F1 (motor racing) T{rack’s} [entrance]
Equal working conditions (2,5)
Down
Elite soldiers start to show impertinence to Green Beret (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
SAS (elite soldiers – UK Special Air Service), S{how} [start to…]. The Green Berets are US army special forces and are mentioned here to indicate that the answer is an American word.
A paper handkerchief is being discussed (2,5)
Reportedly that place is belonging to that person (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Aural wordplay [reportedly]: “there” (that place). I regard using the plural to refer to the singular ungrammatical but it’s all too common these days in order to avoid gender pronouns.
Heavy defeat initially exposed United's direct style of football (5,3)
Anger about second letter from Merrick Garland (6)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
WRATH (anger) containing [about] {M}E{rrick} [second letter from…]. I never heard of this guy but apparently he was US Attorney General 2021-2025 under Biden. Yet more American stuff which seems to be increasingly prevalent in Times crosswords in recent months.
Stick with lap dancing before gaining work experience from this (9)
Examination about small section in ring road (7)
Perhaps Thomas Brown unusually keen to drink alcohol (4,6)
Rank those people on boat, which is wrong (3,3,4)
Harry found her appalling at first — that's without precedent (7-2)
Chief in California turned up on a list (8)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CA (California) then ON + A + TIP (list) reversed [turned]. From the Italian, but now valid as an English word apparently.
Abandoned cat in tree beginning to eat biscuit (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
Anagram [abandoned] of CAT contained by [in] OAK (tree), E{at} [beginning to…]
Mother, charming individual, cycling in expensive area of London (7)
Smart bishop not mistaken (6)
Woman possibly read ultimatum, but not from start to finish (5)
Glorify going topless? Not so much (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
{b}LESS (glorify) [going topless]
Type letters or click words in the clue