| LORDBYRON | Wanton broody lover not content with new man, "2 and 18" to 5 - sad 26 27 - 21 Across |
| CENTER | Position of the square that completes the phrases in 14- and 16-Across, and in 2- and 18-Down |
| MIME | 18 to 5 ___ I am restricted by illness (4) |
| COASTTOCOAST | Freewheel from 18 to 5 across? (5-2-5) |
| THEWINDOW | I'd owt that's troublesome with wench and 26 27 on a 21, as song by 26 27 (3,6,7) |
| MANCUNIAN | Male copper with new man from Manchester (9) |
| LONGDATED | For years taken out by lover, not ready to be settled? |
| HITCHCOCK | Film great only 26 27, problem geezer (9) |
| EXTORTION | Blackmail former lover not bothered about riot developing (9) |
| CIGAR | Actor only 26 27, unable to light up though, just not winning (5,3,2,5) |
| BUTNO | Actor only 26 27, unable to light up though, just not winning (5,3,2,5) |
| CLOSE | Actor only 26 27, unable to light up though, just not winning (5,3,2,5) |
| GUARDDOGS | What 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 25, 26, 27 Across and 1, 3 Down do for means of defence (5,4) |
| KEIRHARDIE | Man with unkempt red hair that is 27 21 leader (4,6) |
| SKANKING | Having a knees-up dance to reggae or something similar, with new man |
| OTTO | Alfred's "Spider-Man 2" (and "Spider-Man: No Way Home") role |
| ROBERT | ___ Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson's co-star in Chef, Iron Man 2 and the Avengers movies (6) |
| TENSE | Maybe perfect schoolmate not content with full marks? (5) |
| DOWNTOEARTH | Humble...or a hint regarding the last 4-6 letters of 26-, 27- and 29- |
| EARNED | Listener with new man being brought in (6) |
