| GANDHI | "You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist." She was the first woman to be prime minister of India. Who is this? |
| GOLDAMEIR | First woman to be Prime Minister of Israel (5,4) |
| PRESSTHEFLESH | Shake hands with a lot of people, like a masseur might do? (5,3,5) |
| INDIRA | The only female to be prime minister of India, _ Gandhi (6) |
| LLOYDGEORGE | The only Welshman to be prime minister of the UK |
| FIST | An open-handed person cannot shake this (4) |
| INACTION | Around island, I cannot shake inertia |
| TINAFEY | "You can't be that kid standing at the top of the waterslide, overthinking it. You have to go down the chute." She was the first woman to be head writer on Saturday Night Live. |
| ETONIAN | Any former pupil of a Berkshire school, 20 of whom have gone on to be Prime Minister (7) |
| AIRPUNCH | A gesture of triumph with a clenched fist |
| SDS | Org. with a clenched fist logo |
| PUNCHES | Strikes with a clenched fist (7) |
| PUNCH | Blow with a clenched fist (5) |
| ARETHAFRANKLIN | Considered the "Queen of Soul," she was the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame |
| MET | Shook hands with (a hint to the first words of the starred clues) |
| COMANECI | She was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic event |
| NICOLAADAMS | She was the first celebrity to compete on Strictly with a same-sex dance partner in 2020 (6,5) |
| TRUDEAU | Surname of father and son who have both been Prime Minister of Canada (7) |
| COLEMAN | She was the first Black woman to stage a public flight in America |
| MARYMAGDALENE | Disciple of Jesus; she was the first to witness the resurrection (4,9) |
