Weekend Quick Cryptic 65 - Solution

My fellow TimesforTheTimes contributors Phil Jordan, Sawbill and I are continuing to produce Quick Cryptic crosswords to fill the gap left by the Saturday Times not having one. The plan is for us to take turns, publishing one a fortnight, and this week it's my turn. 

You can find a link to the crossword here and the answers below. Feel free to leave any comments or questions here as you would do on TfTT. You can find an index to the complete series of crosswords here.

Before looking at the answers, if you would like some additional help, click the label below.

Hints...

Some hints and tips:

• The title is the second line of the traditional Christmas song "Christmas is coming" hinting that there are some thematic answers that relate to the period running up to Christmas.
• 18A is inspired by the Fast Show meme "Does my bum look big in this?" and refers to a style of trousers.
• 5D requires knowledge of a children's rhyme.
• 8A is a reverse cryptic, where the answer is some wordplay that is a clue to "Verdi".
• At Christmas time you might roast 22As on 20A.
• The thematic answers can be described as a 12A 4A.
• In 21D "cycling" is a wordplay indicator that refers to putting the letters of the word in a circle and starting with a different letter.

And click on this label to get the solution.

Solution and explanation of the answers...

Definitions underlined in bold italics, (Abc)* indicating anagram of Abc,  {deletions} and [] other indicators.

Across
1 Man-eating monster returns in another gorefest (4)
OGRE – Hidden backwards [returns in] anothER GOresfest.
4 Organised and clear record of forthcoming appointments (8)
CALENDAR – [Organised] (and clear)*.
8 Get rid of clue for "Verdi" (5,3)
DRIVE OUT – A reverse cryptic… (drive)* [out] could be a clue for Verdi.
9 Almost, but not quite, time for bed (4)
NIGH – All but the last letter of, [not quite], NIGH{t} (time for bed).
10 Lots of old pairs of trousers (4)
BAGS – Double definition.
11 Sources of crude artwork somewhere in Somerset (3,5)
OIL WELLS – OIL (painting; artwork) WELLS (somewhere in Somerset).
12 Arrival of butcher and vet (6)
ADVENT – [butcher] (and vet)*.
14 Listen out for this Christmas decoration (6)
TINSEL – (Listen)* [out].
16 Weapon search after eldest son is reported (3,5)
AIR RIFLE – AIR sounds like [is reported] HEIR (eldest son) RIFLE (search).
18 Such bottoms look bigger in some trousers (4)
BELL – A whimsical cryptic definition based on the Fast Show meme “Does my bum look big in this?” referring to bell-bottom trousers.
19 Drink you and I consume at home (4)
WINE – IN (at home) inside WE (you and I).
20 Military order for some blazing logs (4,4)
OPEN FIRE – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint. Used for roasting..
22 Horse box has fastening to secure bolt (8)
CHESTNUT – CHEST (box) NUT (fastening to secure bolt). The clue’s a bit of a chestnut too!
23 Tall plant found among giant reeds (4)
TREE – [found among] gianT REEds.
 
Down
2 Judy's floral decoration? (7)
GARLAND – Double definition referring to the famous actress.
3 Some twelve score members of Christmas workforce (5)
ELVES – Hidden in (some) twELVE Score.
4 Soft murmuring sound from Bill's companion (3)
COO – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint (bill and coo).
5 Piglet needing several toilet stops on the return journey (6,3)
LITTLE TOE – Cryptic definition based on the traditional rhyme used when counting toes: “This little piggy… went wee wee wee wee all the way home”
6 Grandmother eager to get cotton fabric (7)
NANKEEN – NAN (Grandmother) KEEN (eager).
7 A new setter for The Guardian? (5)
ANGEL – A N (new) GEL (setter). A definition by example indicated by the ?
11 No longer having nowt, moved away from London (3,2,4)
OUT OF TOWN – OUT OF (No longer having), (nowt)* [moved].
13 Students heading off to become breadwinners (7)
EARNERS – {l}EARNERS (students) without the first letter [heading off].
15 Increase the size of general supply (7)
ENLARGE – (general)* [supply].
17 National flag seen over hotel (5)
IRISH – IRIS (flag; which is a sort of iris) [over] H (hotel in the NATO phonetic alphabet).
18 Extremely blonde fellow's first Italian suit (5)
BEFIT – Outer letters, [extremely], of B{lond}E, F{ellow) [‘s first] IT (Italian).
21 Have some cake, perhaps, with tea after cycling (3)
EAT – TEA [after cycling], i.e. moving the letters cyclically -> EAT