| EATLIKEAHORSE | Punches champ so, absorbing a lot? |
| PICASSO | Films so absorbing a Cubist pioneer |
| TABULAR | Sailor absorbing a lot of nonsense, like many statistics? (7) |
| DRUID | Ancient priest, theologian, absorbing a lot of damage |
| SPONGE | What's so absorbing in the cookery book? (6) |
| EATLIKE | Punches champ so? (3,4,1,5) |
| AHORSE | Punches champ so? (3,4,1,5) |
| SCOTTHORNE | Alan, 2016 Wychavon champ (*so tench rot!) (10) |
| AMATI | A musical note absorbing a true master violinmaker (5) |
| PARTYANIMAL | Role - mainly getting drunk - absorbing a person seeking a good time? |
| ABRAHAM | A composer mostly absorbing a patriarch (7) |
| CAPTAINAHAB | Crown and money absorbing a wicked Biblical King, a tragic character |
| TARANTELLA | Swiss hero absorbing a tirade over a lively dance |
| TEARFULLY | Those like yourselves initially absorbing a reprimand with a wet face (9) |
| BEAD | Part of garden absorbing a spot of water (4) |
| LEMONADE | French paper absorbing a drink (8) |
| ORPHEAN | Gold prospector's instrument absorbing a man of music (7) |
| SERIFS | Times, say, shows these unpaid workers absorbing a newspaper (6) |
| ONETIME | Historic opera company absorbing a little upset (3-4) |
| ONETWO | Radio network absorbing a series of blows (3-3) |
