Weekend Quick Cryptic 80 - 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 Phil's 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. 

LONDON MEETING LAST SATURDAY. We had a great get together with 19 people attending. You can see some pictures from the gathering here.

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

Hints and tips...

Some hints and tips:

• 4A - The James referred to is a film star who died tragically young.
• 9A - the '?' indicates something cryptic is going on.
• 13A - and he said he was a donut.
• 21A - there is an unusual anagram indicator in the clue.
• 6D - It's not the peninsula that's in Africa.

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 Furnished with a wardrobe (6)
FITTED – Double definition, the second a cryptic hint, i.e. a fitted wardrobe.
5 Cereal, and how to process it we're told (6)
MILLET – Sounds like MILL IT (how to process it).
8 James, a senior clergyman (4)
DEAN – Double definition, the first the film star James Dean most famous for Rebel without a Cause who died tragically young in a road accident.
9 Pets withdraw? (4,4)
STEP BACK – A reverse cryptic where the answer is a clue to “Pets”. The “?” indicates something unusual is going on with the clue.
10 Raced crazily on road - disciplinary measure is the outcome (3,4)
RED CARD – (Raced)* [crazily] RD (road).
11 Doctor unwell - it could be boring (5)
DRILL – DR (Doctor) ILL (unwell).
13 Fail totally, as JFK once did (2,2,3,4)
GO TO THE WALL – The Berlin wall. Where he said he was a donut.
16 Angry when Blackbeard is beheaded? (5)
IRATE – {p}IRATE (e.g. Blackbeard) [beheaded]. The “?” here indicates a definition by example.
18 Florida solicitor is prostrate (4,3)
FLAT OUT – FLA (Florida) TOUT (solicitor).
21 Burst Maud's bubble with these Indian accompaniments (8)
POPADUMS – POP (burst) (Maud’s)* [bubble]. An unconventional anagram indicator, but it goes well with “pop”.
22 Cheat endlessly tortured - it's a pain (4)
ACHE – (Chea{t} [endlessly])* tortured.
23 Have a go at fishing equipment (6)
TACKLE – Double definition.
24 Firm stance that enemy adopts disgusts you to begin with (6)
STEADY – Initial letters [to begin with] of Stance That Enemy Adopts Disgusts You.
 
Down
2 The lettuce that sunk the Titanic! (7)
ICEBERG – Double definition, the surface being a bit whimsical, hence the “!”.
3 In Brighton I consumed a stimulant (5)
TONIC – Hidden in BrighTON I Consumed.
4 Ted cries uncontrollably, but that's another matter (8)
DISCRETE – (Ted cries)* [uncontrollably].
5 Get together - I'm bereft at times (4)
MEET – Alternate letters, [at times] of I’M bErEfT.
6 Fifty head to peninsula - it's in Africa (7)
LIBERIA – L (left) IBERIA (peninsula containing Spain and Portugal).
7 Two score in Roman numerals, by the sound of it, are outstanding (5)
EXCEL – Sounds like XL (forty, or two score), [in Roman numerals].
12 Liars set out - those without daft ideas (8)
REALISTS – (Liars set)* [out].
14 Two birds - or just one (7)
TITLARK – TIT and LARK (two birds).
15 "City ? That's disgusting" press chief chortled (7)
LAUGHED – LA (city) UGH (that’s disgusting) ED (press chief).
17 Red River meets with German's approval (5)
RIOJA – RIO (river) JA (yes in German; German’s approval).
19 Deal with angry speech I won't get involved in (5)
TRADE – T{i}RADE (angry speech) without the I.
20 Unclothed? Returning in red underwear! (4)

NUDE – Reverse hidden, [returning in], in rED UNderwear.