| HOLM | Actor whose roles included David Rizzio, Charles L. Dodgson, Polonius, Bilbo Baggins and Pod Clock (4) |
| ALICE | Henry Liddell's daughter who inspired Charles L Dodgson (5) |
| STING | Elven sword found by Bilbo Baggins and passed on by him to Frodo (5) |
| STUART | Family name of Mary, Queen of Scots whose husband Lord Darnley was implicated in the murder of her private secretary David Rizzio (6) |
| DARNLEY | Lord -; title of Henry Stuart, husband of Mary, Queen of Scots implicated in the murder of David Rizzio before being murdered himself at Kirk o' Field (7) |
| CLAM | Marine mollusc in the class Bivalvia along with the cockle, blue muscle, queen scallop, edible oyster and pod razor (4) |
| CAST | Follower of out and pod |
| TRI | Precursor to angulate, cycle and pod (3) |
| LA | Legal drama starring whose cast included David Schwimmer, William H. Macy and Lucy Liu (1,1,3) |
| ITSAKNOCKOUT | Game show whose presenters included David Vine, Eddie Waring, and Frank Bruno |
| WORLD | Natural -; wildlife series whose narrators have included David Attenborough, Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt and Stephen Fry (5) |
| IRELAND | EU country whose thief rabbis have included David Rosen and Gavin Brody (7) |
| DUO | Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee or Nemo and Dory, e.g. |
| NEOCLASSICISM | Art movement whose leading figures included David and Canova (13) |
| SENNA | Yellow-flowered plant of the legume family (Fabaceae) whose dried leaves and pods produce a laxative (5) |
| RINGBEARER | Position assumed by Frodo Baggins and, in a way. by each of this puzzle's theme entries |
| GRIMM | Fantasy police procedural drama whose stars included David Giuntoli (5) |
| BAYWATCH | Lifeguard action drama whose stars included David Hasselhoff (8) |
| OPIE | Cornish artist noted for portraits and depictions of historical scenes, such as The Murder of Rizzio |
| BILBOS | The hobbit character Mr. baggins, and namesakes |