Across
Highland service provided carnet for exchange student (6,7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
MASS (service) IF (provided) anagram* of CARNET L (student)
Tool for gripping shellfish, pointed at the front (5)
Undertones performed like this - drunk, one failing to sing? (5,4)
Note bold soirée uncovered everything for performance (10)
Resigned from the French newspaper (4)
Back in Birmingham's first beat club (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
IN reversed B~ LICK (beat, as in ‘the Proteas licked the Green and Yellows’); back in the day before, very sensibly, someone named them the 1-9 irons, wedge etc, we had all sorts of weird clubs, including the niblick and the mashie niblick.
Told fibs about first-class head of state that's acted as intermediary (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
AI S~ in LIED
Endless merry-go-round of US party (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
CAROUSEl; CAROUSEL is an American merry-go-round
Comedy act, very new, excites (5,2)
Hairy chap selecting news value periodically? (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
nEsS vAlUe; cue Alan Bennett and his ineffably brilliant parody of a sermon https://youtu.be/QOuceDR7NcQ?si=fwEq92W_vZl7r0n_ Not a word wasted, even if many are repeated. Are repeated.
Bachelor studies brilliant, featuring university accompaniment to main course (5,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
B READS U in ACE
One swimming in lochs if drowsy must turn around (9)
Header disallowed in dismal game featuring dozens of cards (5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
sOMBRE; from my brief scan of the Wikipedia page, this game was/is typically played with 40 or 52 cards
Greece: my next island hopping escape (9,4)
Down
One has ice cream prepared in a dish (8,6)
Bank starts to suspend card and refuse payment (5)
Immune to influence, Victor props up dodgy prime debt instruments (10)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
PRIME* V IOUS (debt instruments)
Mama who sang clubs wearing fine, long robe (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
[Mama] CASS C (clubs) in OK (fine); I wore a scarlet one when I was an angelic treble at prep school, sometimes with my rugby shorts underneath
Unspoilt ancient city in old SA province (7)
Criminal's caught out swindler (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
cROOK
English soccer team at home in The Den? (9)
Wearing kit, Italian club set to play Partisan side (6,8)
Yes, heartless blond Conservative admits "made up fantasy" (5,5)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
YeS in FAIR TORY
Song from pub singer King famously (9)
Having a job, longing to spend yen (7)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
yEARNING
Conference side failing to finish attack (5-2)
Peacekeepers fight to get out? (5)
Move gradually along ridge, letting go of line (4)
I haven't cracked this one yet — but Times for the Times have:
lEDGE
Type letters or click words in the clue