| RONBURGUNDY | Anchorman character who's credited with writing the 2013 book Let Me Off at the Top! My Classy Life and Other Musings: 2 wds. |
| BARNEYSTINSON | How I Met Your Mother character who's credited with writing the 2008 book The Bro Code: 2 wds. |
| LESLIEKNOPE | Parks and Recreation character who's credited with writing the 2011 book Pawnee: The Greatest Town in America: 2 wds. |
| SMARTBOMB | Be stingy with a fortune? You might let me off! |
| MRS | "The Rebellious Life of ___ Rosa Parks" (2022 documentary based on a 2013 book) |
| IBEGYOURPARDON | Come again and let me off, please |
| LEANIN | 2013 book subtitled "Women, Work, and the Will to Lead" |
| OWLET | I spotted a young bird of prey which had started off at the top of a tree on the outskirts of Worle, but then three gulls came and it flew off (5) |
| LEEK | Plant that's glossy but chopped off at the top (4) |
| BINNACLES | Parts of ship's black crests peeling off at the top (9) |
| LOSEONESTEMPER | Spooner lets me off when pinching the first bit of egg flip |
| SUN | Chinese general and strategist credited with writing the 13-chapter military treatise The Art of War in the 5th century BC (3) |
| TZU | Chinese general and strategist credited with writing the 13-chapter military treatise The Art of War in the 5th century BC (3) |
| HOMER | Ancient Greek poet credited with writing the Iliad and the Odyssey (5) |
| STURLUSON | Icelandic historian and poet credited with writing the Younger (or Prose) Edda, c. 1220 (6,9) |
| LAOTSE | Philosopher credited with writing the "Tao Te Ching" |
| ADALOVELACE | English mathematician credited with writing the first computer programme in 1842/43 (3,8) |
| BERRA | Yankee Yogi who's credited with saying "When you come to a fork in the road, take it" |
| DANDRUFF | Daniel goes to medic before joining paramilitaries - it's a bit flaky at the top! (8) |
| WILLFERRELL | Actor whose Anchorman character was honored with the Ben & Jerry's flavor Ron Burgundy's Scotchy Scotch Scotch: 2 wds. |
