Independent on Sunday 1,881/Deri

A fine cryptic from Deri for the Sunday Independent slot. I enjoyed this one very much: a good variety of subject matter and tight clueing throughout.

Abbreviations
cd cryptic definition
dd double definition
cad clue as definition
(xxxx)* anagram
anagrind = anagram indicator
[x] letter(s) removed

definitions are underlined

Across

1 Who’s in pub besetting teetotal European?
BATTER
An insertion of TT and E in BAR. The insertion indicator is ‘besetting’. It’s cricket: the batter is in, until he’s out.

4 Corks regularly seen around Fitzgerald’s booze-filled rooms?
CELLARS
An insertion of ELLA [Fitzgerald] in CRS for the odd letters of CoRkS. The insertion indicator is ‘seen around’.

9 Massive fan of sci-fi endorsing Banks
FIEND
Hidden in sci-FI ENDorsing.

10 Be attracted to eccentric with a will
LIKE CRAZY
A charade of LIKE and CRAZY.

11 John Cleese’s latest two characters complete special BBC radio show
LOOSE ENDS
A charade of LOO, SE for the last two letters of ‘Cleese’, END and S. The Radio 4 show that’s been going since 1986.

12 Sleeps around, initially eschewing drug
SPIKE
A charade of KIPS reversed and E for the initial letter of ‘eschewing’. ‘Drug’ in its verbal sense, of SPIKING a drink.

13 Turn over waffle
GO ON
A charade of GO and ON.

14 Pinch Mini
LITTLE
A dd. ‘Add a pinch of cumin.’

16 Room accommodating squatters?
GYM
A cd.

19 Height of Boeing occasionally overlooked
BEN
The odd letters of BoEiNg. Think Ben Nevis.

21 Roasting chicken, having removed its head
EARFUL
[F]EARFUL

22 Youth essentially brightening poet’s evening
TEEN
A charade of T for the central letter of ‘brighTening’ and EEN. From Romeo and Juliet (Act 1, Scene 2)

Romeo: Good e’en, good fellow.
Servant: God gi’ good e’en. I pray, sir, can you read?

It’s also seen, of course, in Halloween (All Hallows Evening).

25 Son finishing off dull hour in school lesson
MATHS
A charade of MAT, H and S.

26 Get a shirt undone — one buttoned-up
TIGHT-ARSE
(GET A SHIRT)* with ‘undone’ as the anagrind.

27 Broadcast satisfactory, assume a haughty manner
PUT ON AIRS
A charade of PUT ON AIR and S.

28 Partly flat, Hindu’s wooden weapon
LATHI
Hidden in fLAT HIndu. A cad.

29 Party brought about noise next to golf course
PUDDING
A charade of DUP (the Northern Irish political party) reversed, DIN and G for the NATO/phonetic alphabet ‘golf’.

30 Neither finishing much, each having twisted part of gut
CAECUM
A reversal of EAC[H] and MUC[H]. The sac forming the first part of the large intestine, which houses the appendix.

Down

1 Incoherent talk from a loud female on feeding baby cut short
BAFFLEGAB
An insertion of A, F for the musically ‘loud’, F for ‘female’ and LEG for ‘on’ in BAB[Y]. The insertion indicator is ‘feeding’. More cricket: the ‘on’ side is the LEG side. The ‘off’ side is, well, just the off side. Which is less use to crossword setters.

2 Tool REM deployed for musical effect
TREMOLO
(TOOL REM)* with ‘deployed’ as the anagrind.

3 Dust devils? Large maybe, then small
EDDIES
A charade of EDDIE [Large] and S. The reference is to the comedian, one half of Little and Large.

4 Patisserie items are wrapped in piece of cling film
CAKES
An insertion of A for the surface area unit ARE (as in hectare) in C for the initial letter of ‘cling’ and KES, the Ken Loach film based on the novel by Barry Hines.

5 Rugby player huffs over tight formation
LOCKSTEP
A charade of LOCK and PETS reversed. ‘He’s in a pet/huff.’ Both are slang words for a sulk; neither hits the spot like the Derbyshire equivalent, mard. ‘He’s in a reet mard.’

6 Shocking, American’s scorn undermining male in support group
AMAZING
A charade of M inserted into AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and ZING. The insertion indicator is ‘in’. ZING is, I learned today, AmEng for ‘scorn’ or ‘criticise’.

7 E.g. exhausted live stand-up comedian from Liverpool?
SAYLE
A charade of SAY and L[IV]E. Referring to Alexei SAYLE.

8 More close-fitting silken pants I must wear with Romeo
SLINKIER
An insertion of I in (SILKEN)* followed by R for ‘Romeo’ from the NATO/phonetic alphabet. The anagrind is ‘pants’; the insertion indicator is ‘must wear’.

15 Like a rough gust, high on the rocks
THUGGISH
(GUST HIGH)* with ‘on the rocks’ as the anagrind.

17 Habit of guy, beginning to moan when interrupted by flipping alarm
MANNERISM
An insertion of SIREN reversed in MAN and M for the initial letter of ‘moan’. The insertion indicator is ‘when interrupted by’.

18 Beatles movie mostly set on island somewhere in Finland
HELSINKI
A charade of HEL[P], SINK and I.

20 Scored ten at Old Trafford in the end — fantastic!
NOTATED
(TEN AT O D)* with ‘fantastic’ as the anagrind.

23 Unpredictable Clapton perhaps covering Supergrass?
ERRATIC
An insertion of RAT in ERIC. The insertion indicator is ‘covering’.

24 McCartney possibly excellent right away
STELLA
STELLA[R]

25 Tidy mess made by Englishman in Australia, as it were
MOP UP
A reverse clue thingy: MOP UP could lead to POM, the Australian term of endearment for one of their founding fathers. Usually preceded by ‘whingeing’. But we love each other in a special way. Mostly.

26 Weak and ultimately disappointing cup of tea
THING
A charade of THIN and G for the final letter of ‘disappointing’.  ‘Today’s crossword wasn’t my thing/my cup of tea.’  Actually, it very much was, so thank you to Deri for it.