| OUTOFPLACE | Unfit so not in the first three |
| INTHESTICKS | Sits around in the kitchen, so not 'in the smoke'? (2,3,6) |
| COMINGNOWHERE | Arriving at present in this place, but not in the first three (6,7) |
| FOURTH | Hut for characters not in the first three (6) |
| OUT | Not correct so not in play (3) |
| OUTOFPROPORTION | Unbalanced, so not in for a bit ... |
| OLDHAT | So not in |
| PASTA | Food item not in the first section of the dictionary? (5) |
| STORM | Alter ego of Ororo Iqadi T'Challa, nee Munroe, in the X-Men series, played by Halle Berry in the first three films |
| ZAK | This opening batter from England had a relatively poor series with the bat in the first three Tests of the ongoing series versus India. (3) |
| RESHOWN | Not in the first place original, have broadcast again (7) |
| RESERVE | Retain one not in the first team (7) |
| PASTONESBEST | When not in the first flush, after lunchtime is wisest |
| OUTOFORDER | Letters in an anagram are so not working! (3,2,5) |
| EUROVISION | Ruin voice, so not about to be involved in this contest? |
| UNPLACED | Wasn't appointed to an office. In fact, wasn't in the first three (8) |
| STATHAM | Jason, English actor who played Frank Martin in the first three parts of the Transporter film franchise (7) |
| PLACED | Set down when ran in the first three |
| DAMIAN | Actor Lewis, who starred in the first three seasons of |
| TAKEPLACE | Happen to finish in the first three (4,5) |
