| ALTERS | Shifts and stumbles, starting late (6) |
| SUDDEN | "___ shifts and changes are no bad preparation for political life." (Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist) (6) |
| TRIPOD | Stand and stumble. Do wobble (6) |
| FALTER | Note change and stumble (6) |
| WOBBLE | Totter and stumble, losing head after whiskey (6) |
| TRIPUP | Run lightly on to the scene - and stumble |
| ENIGMA | Starting late, imagine tricky puzzle (6) |
| TUSKED | Elephant is requested, starting late, following workers (6) |
| ASSIST | Help musician starting late (6) |
| GREECE | Country match starting late by church (6) |
| EARNER | Employee, beginner starting late (6) |
| RAMMED | Very busy swot starting late, middle in Latin (6) |
| INTERN | Season starting late, November, for US student (6) |
| UNREAL | Incredible run spoilt by deal starting late (6) |
| URGENT | Critical that dog starting late reaches man (6) |
| OTHERS | Starting late, irritates the rest (6) |
| OUTLET | Store's solicitor, starting late, interrupted service (6) |
| REAGAN | Manager, starting late, agitated old US President (6) |
| RABIES | When starting late, children should gain resistance against disease (6) |
| IGNORE | Disregard Italian gentleman starting late (6) |
