Independent 9,101 / Scorpion

<dun>E (“close to” means last letter only) in GORGE (=swallow eagerly); the reference is to the ukulele-playing English actor George Formby (1904-61), and not the town in Merseyside!

CA (=about, i.e. circa) + PU<n>CH (=strike with fist; “heartlessly” means middle letter dropped) + IN (=wearing, having on); a capuchin is a hooded cloak, such as one worn by a capuchin monk

SALT (=crewman, sailor) + <c>I<t>R<o>E<n> (“removing odd bits” means only even letters are used); a saltire is an armorial emblem in the form of a St Andrew’s cross

L<ookout> (“head of” means first letter only) in <as>CETIC (=perhaps hermit; “as missing” means letters “as” are dropped)

The first letters (“openings of”) F<ire> E<scape> give Fe, the chemical symbol for iron

KIN (=family) + G<uest>S (“wings for” means first and last letters only); the word “family” seems to do double duty as part of both the definition and the wordplay

TA (=(much) appreciated, i.e. thank you) + U (=you texting, i.e. SMS shorthand for “you”); tau is a letter of the Greek alphabet, hence “overseas character”

LEAN (=to recline) in EOR (ROE=caviar, for example; “knocked back” indicates reversal); the reference is doubtless inter alia to Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1204), queen consort of Henry II

MALTESE<r> (=sweet; “tailless” means last letter dropped); a Maltese dog is a very small spaniel with long silky hair

R (=king, i.e. rex) + ED (=Edward)

RO (OR=soldiers, i.e. Other Ranks; “turned over” indicates reversal) in <hug>UEN<ots> (“centre for” means middle three letters only)

Homophone (“giving statement”) of “row’s” (=bank’s)

Double definition: the reference is it British architect Norman Foster (1935-)

WEE (=a relief; cf. to relieve oneself) + PIN (=to fix) + G<own> (“front of” means first letter only); the “tear” in the definition refers to crying, not ripping!

VI (=six, in Roman numerals) + C (=hundred, in Roman numerals) + TO + RIA (AIR=broadcast; “taken over” indicates reversal)

ARK (=large boat) + [ME + T (=time)]

SEN<i>OR (=older); “son (=S) replaces unit (=I, i.e. for one)” means letter “s” replaces “i”

LANK (=limp, as adjective) in SRIA (AIRS=parades, as verb; “upset” indicates vertical reversal)

S (=semi) + EMI (=record company, i.e. Electrical and Musical Industries)

MC (=entertainer, i.e. master of ceremonies) + KEN (=understanding, knowledge) + N<arcotic> A<ddiction> (“the origins of” means first letters only); & lit.; I assume that the reference is to British hypnotist and self-help guru Paul McKenna (1963-)

SP (=odds, i.e. starting price) + EC (=territory of financiers, i.e. the City of London, East Central)

OCE (ECO- =green, environmental; “picking up” means vertical reversal) + LOT (=piece of land)

Hidden (“some”) and vertically reversed (“over”) in “misS BUS IN IMpropriety”; mini-subs are small submarines used for underwater exploration

K<itche>N (“emptied” means all but first and last letters are dropped) + <p>O<t> (“content” here means middle letter only) + RR (=clergyman, i.e. Right Reverend)

PAW (=hand, in slang) in SN (=tin, i.e. chemical symbol)

LORD (=my!, cor!) + O (=old) + SIS (=relative, i.e. sister); lordosis is abnormal curvature of the spinal column

TIA (AIT=small island; “reflecting” indicates reversal) in TERRY (=Wogan, i.e. Irish broadcaster); the Tertiary Period is a long period in geological history

W (=week) in [OUT (=public, i.e. disclosed) + EAR (=attention)]

REMOTE (=electronic accessory, e.g. for TV); “changing lead” means first letters changes, here from “r” to “d”

IGN (N=new + GI (=fighter, i.e. soldier); “rising” indicates vertical reversal) in SEE (=butcher’s, as in to have a butcher’s at)

N (=new) + <f>ORM (=class; “not following (=F)” means letter “f” is dropped

E<i>M<i> (“regularly” means alternate letters only are used) + MY (=crossword setter’s, i.e. Scorpion’s)