Cryptic clues
ACROSS
1 When Barnet manager let the side down? (3,4,3) 6 Alternative band added clause to include new musician for handling crank? (5,7) 14 Score twice for final outcome (3,6) 15 Energy powder knocked back for striking effect (5) 16 Obsolete former colour (no longer used) (7) 17 Awful, flaky model’s a creature of legend (10,7) 18 The end for, eg, Speedy Gonzales, small and mischievous (5) 19 Ally using encryption to conceal weapon pointed towards west (7) 21 Poorly rates unknown substitute (6) 22 Access divinity programme (8) 24 Heading off, speechless with anger, having taken it? (7) 26 One is after revolutionary massage — they’re heavenly! (8) 27 Commercial division’s directionless (6) 30 Student of form favoured dog, maybe, following the races excitedly (8,3) 32 Identify as communist when union’s being held under siege (11) 33 Addiction to horse? This gear might be appropriate (6,5) 35 Oil company adjusted ratios for better distribution system (11) 37 Comedy creator previously getting the bird (6) 38 Tall plant from Tennessee containing spliff (4,4) 39 Pub worker maybe taking order for spirit (7) 42 Dodgy viagra no good, causing severe damage (8) 44 U.S. weapon China introduced to Vietnam (6) 46 More dull, crushing bores cornering you in the Louvre (7) 48 Private meal from which duke’s excluded (5) 49 Talking rook might be one! (12,5) 51 Commercial watchdog to pass judgment generally (2,1,4) 52 Number’s occurring with frequency (5) 53 Aggravate complaint, swallowing pill regularly (9) 54 Horse has position behind second in field, being as far from start as finish? (12) 55 Prominent Greek in favour of America possessing Middle East (10)
DOWN
1 Tale of Ratty’s home, perhaps, and where the bread’s kept? (4,7) 2 Pointlessly correct to the same thing (5) 3 Yank stuff in a camera out (9) 4 Stable worker cornered by rake is a dish (7) 5 A set of steps with bee in flower (7) 7 Revised version of Blue Fur Moth — A Practical Guide (4,2,5) 8 Fall on mutual’s holding after rise (6) 9 Lower arm when queen enters, then you must rise (8) 10 This setter and latest in endless series of editors getting vintage spirits down (2,3,8) 11 Half of food in kebab’s condemned (4,3) 12 Leftist holding a metal event full of despised creatures (3-8) 13 Determined leader of Arabs not in Iran’s camp (10) 20 En masse, holding caps? (3-6) 23 Rex’s X-ray perhaps put in this private language (3,5) 25 Your lug on top is grubby (6) 26 Frightfully pacy horse pulled up, seeing rodent (8) 28 Irish woman set up needles (9) 29 Beat politician with legislation arising (6) 31 Staying execution to have a few drinks? (7,6) 33 Bring up tiger rug, tattered and munched (11) 34 Article to knock Brussels — habitual response meant to make one feel better (11) 35 Drunken tenants had a ball in the afternoon (3,7) 36 Not letting up, note decoded? (11) 40 Ideal state’s ending up with fate in control bypassing human intervention (9) 41 A thousand pounds on small underwear (8) 43 Pacific nation head installing alternative technology in universities (7) 45 Spanish performer runs after dull performance (7) 46 Tree climber, work very good, picked up amount of money (7) 47 Woolly left embraced by African nation after rejecting right (6) 50 “Skip advertisement” pressed by Apple consumer (5)
ACROSS
1 Place of detention for military prisoners (10) 6 Amiability (12) 14 Compulsive, all-consuming (9) 15 Thing inserted (5) 16 Strew about (7) 17 NI in full (8,9) 18 Undecorated; clear (5) 19 Imagine to be guilty (7) 21 Story published in parts (6) 22 Expelled foreigner (8) 24 Stretchy (7) 26 Sword with curved blade (8) 27 Heraldic silver (6) 30 Part of government department dealing with a particular activity (11) 32 Such as ‘British’ or ‘French’ (11) 33 Organised team supporter (11) 35 Pardon, absolution (11) 37 Mark over some German vowels (6) 38 Such as gnu or eland (8) 39 Rules of language (7) 42 Prospering (8) 44 Shapeless lump (6) 46 City of south Wales (7) 48 Ancient Italian (5) 49 Assumption for planning purposes (7,10) 51 Very foolish (7) 52 Be (5) 53 Connecting conductor (9) 54 Liquid that destroys bacteria (12) 55 Skilful management of national affairs (10)
DOWN
1 Aircraft’s velocity with respect to the earth (11) 2 Valuable thing (5) 3 Not trustworthy (9) 4 Substance such as hydrogen peroxide (7) 5 Taxonomic group (7) 7 Qualification, proviso (11) 8 Make longer (6) 9 Make untidy (8) 10 Not suitable (13) 11 Selected passage (7) 12 Strictly, precisely (11) 13 Harmful action (10) 20 Walking route between floors (9) 23 Ornamental garden area (8) 25 Selected (6) 26 (Of corn) not yet reaped (8) 28 Surface of the skin (9) 29 Pugilism (6) 31 Process of getting round something (13) 33 Revoke (an order) (11) 34 Impressive or persuasive orator (11) 35 Sources of illumination at front of stage (10) 36 Data manipulation program (11) 40 Not at all interested (9) 41 In an unspecified location (8) 43 Corpse; relics (7) 45 Settlement, remittance (7) 46 As early as possible (7) 47 Take into custody (6) 50 Language of southern Africa (5)