| SWORDSWALLOWER | Daring performer from south promises to go on hippo, perhaps (5-9) |
| ESCAPE | Certain daring performer, or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| ARTIST | Certain daring performer, or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| UNDERTAKE | Promise to go with you to the grave, perhaps (9) |
| GREY | Part of hippo, perhaps, revealing woolly patch? (4,4) |
| BEHEMOTH | Hippo, perhaps, with its head beset by insects (8) |
| LIGHTUP | Promise to go topless on a horse, and suddenly look cheerful (5,2) |
| SWALLOWER | One taking in small hippo, perhaps |
| AERIALIST | Top performer from USA is a retail hit (9) |
| GEORGEFORMBY | Stuff about English class attributed to performer from Lancashire |
| WOMENSWEAR | Sign promise to go after week's shifts? (10) |
| COMMITONESELF | Definitely promise to go into the asylum voluntarily? (6,7) |
| EXECUTANT | Performer from Utah welcomed by one-time City worker |
| GANGSTARAPPER | Controversial hip hop performer from the 1980s (7,6) |
| TRIO | Group of performers from first to last a great success (4) |
| COSTARS | Fellow performers from central casting coming into Oscars contention (2-5) |
| SWORDSWALLOWERS | Daring performers with blades ... or the starred clues' answers? |
| TRAPEZES | The more daring performers reap them with zest (8) |
| BETROTHAL | Promise to go communist, Prince |
| DROWSING | Nodding, recalled promise to go carolling (8) |
