| LAPSING | Errant mate returned to confess (7) |
| LAPTOP | Trophy mate returned to PC |
| CHILLED | Ant's TV mate returned over the hill and relaxed (7) |
| LETTINGOFFSTEAM | Excusing errant mates or blowing one's top? (7,3,5) |
| STEAM | Errant mates possibly let off (5) |
| SLAP | Mates returned to strike (4) |
| SINKING | Declining to confess, holding something to write with |
| GROWNUP | Big enough to confess to a bit of graft (5,2) |
| KNEELED | Got ready to confess, maybe |
| TELLOFF | Scold leaving post to confess (4,3) |
| LIEDOWN | Gave a false statement, to confess the rest |
| BROWNIE | Benevolent helper to confess stuffing cheese |
| OWNUPTO | Pout won, in effort to confess (3,2,2) |
| BLOWNUP | Pupil to confess after bishop exploded |
| OWNGOAL | The team's mistake was to confess an aim (3,4) |
| DEWLAP | Two mates returned, hanging by the neck (6) |
| COMECLEAN | Appeal to a domestic help to confess |
| ABURNINGSHAME | Awful pity, having to confess to arson? |
| ADMIT | To confess or to let in (5) |
| DENY | Refuse to confess to, as charges |
