| RANCID | Is going bad, but still managed to lead detectives (6) |
| DROOPED | Was evidently tired, but still managed to knot the odd rope (7) |
| SPEARHEAD | Heard apes managed to lead an attack (9) |
| ROTTING | Too much in the circle is going bad (7) |
| TRANQUIL | Still managed to snuggle into quilt, when drunk (8) |
| CLEARED | Settled the bill, yet still managed to make a profit (7) |
| ROTTER | Bad lot, or one going bad? |
| EGGNOG | Alcoholic concoction, say, going bad without one (6) |
| SOLEMN | Lemons or melons going bad? Either way, it's serious (6) |
| NAUGHT | Nothing bad but ultimately unsatisfactory (6) |
| LAWFUL | Headline, very bad but permit ed (6) |
| ROASTS | Says it's bad but cooks it (6) |
| LANOIRE | Cole Phelps is the lead detective in this video game by Rockstar |
| DROPOFWHISKEY | Lead detective has new proof, as one of those in the pub is shot (4,2,7) |
| GRIMACED | Pulled a face for very serious hotshot, lead detective (8) |
| LUND | The Killing's lead detective (4) |
| IANSTCLAIR | Lead detective played by David Morrissey in Sherwood (3,2,5) |
| ICARUS | He failed to fly high, bad but not too atrocious (6) |
| AWFUL | It is very bad, but legal, to be beheaded (5) |
| LEADASTRAY | Corrupt deal going bad? (4,6) |
