| LAURELANDHARDY | Note Universal about to secure bold double act |
| PRESSURE | Publishing house contacts Universal about Persuasion (8) |
| BLOCKVOTE | Unions' privilege to be in disarray, about to secure victory (5,4) |
| XMAS | Member of jazz group about to secure month's holiday (4) |
| GADGET | Wander about to secure thingummy (6) |
| SNAILMAIL | Fleet about to secure introduction of marine post (5,4) |
| ANGELICA | Sponsor about to secure one plant |
| SPECIFIC | Particular fictional genre about to secure record turnover |
| CORE | Owner-occupier's about to secure centre (4) |
| SPHERE | Female about to secure first of plays for Globe (6) |
| TOPOS | Basic concept of drunkard about to secure work |
| SATIETY | Result of eating for one, about to secure end of feast |
| OXFORDBAGS | City's about to secure trousers (6,4) |
| CLOCK | About to secure timepiece (5) |
| NAIL | One with nothing about to secure (4) |
| ONEMANBAND | Working daughter about to secure reputation, setting up solo enterprise (3-3,4) |
| NEWENGLANDER | Geordie soccer manager about to secure someone from Manchester or Cambridge? (3,9) |
| CLOSETOTHECHEST | About to secure strongbox, where one may 8, giving nothing away (5,2,3,5) |
| CLOCKWATCHER | Fielder about to secure wicket? This one's waiting for the right moment (5-7) |
| LITTLE | '80s double act taken to extremes? (6 and 5) |
