| JOISTS | It was a charmless Christmas for Josephine, in short, but she'll get some support from these. (6) |
| ANTIHERO | To her Ian may appear as a charmless character |
| ADJOIN | Connect with father coming back to find Josephine in (6) |
| NETTED | Have to take in a road-race, in short, but still scored (6) |
| COMPLY | Go along with using guest ticket, in short, but don't let on, they say |
| VANESSA | Kirby who played Josephine in 2023's "Napoleon" |
| GOTOPIECES | I get scoop about Europe, in short, but can't cope with it (2,2,6) |
| ISLAND | Christmas, for example, in Ireland, for instance (6) |
| SMEARS | Charmless characters regularly withdrawn in summer at risk (6) |
| WINTER | It arrives just before Christmas, for many |
| CLAUDE | "Christmas for Children Who No Longer Have a Home" composer Debussy |
| ABRUPT | Short but a pair? (6) |
| BELONG | Don't be short, but fit in well (6) |
| STOCKY | Short but well-built (6) |
| LISSOM | Ultimately girl is a bit short but nimble |
| SCHOOLMASTER | Too charmless, possibly, for a teacher |
| EMPRESS | Title for Josephine |
| SCIET | She'll get it, she'll understand (4th conj.) |
| FIFI | Nickname for Josephine (4) |
| AMASS | Gather it's what people may go to church at Christmas for (5) |
