Yes by Lato

Puzzle explanation

Thematic entries were linked with post-war prime ministers at Downing (depressing) Street (place in Somerset), using their first, last or nicknames and the extra words in clues. The details, in chronological order, are shown in the second table below. Blair Witch (26ac film, Tony) and the remaining name, Eden (Anthony), both link to “Project” which had to appear under the grid. The title was suggested by the TV series Yes, Prime Minister.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
1   DEPRESSING Special clue DRESSING about EP
9   RUIN RUN about I’
10   ANDORRA SANDRA (Bullock) about OR – S
12   PEKE Homophone (PIQUE)
13 cockatoo TIER Homophone (TEAR)
15   KNEELING (ELI + N) in GENK <; n = natus, for “born”, is in Collins English Dictionary
18   DOSE DOE about S
22   PAEAN R in NEEP <
24   CHEEKY CHEESY, K for S(tory)
25   SCLIM ’S + CLIMATE – ATE
26 film OHIO OHO about I; Columbus is city therein
29 Worthless SAMP SAP about M
31 singer EVIL LIVE <
34   EOSIN (IS ON (tabl)E)*
35   PLACE Special clue P + LACE
36 Professor RUMBLES MB in RULES
37 know-all TRY TORY – O
38   IN SOMERSET Special clue MET SENIORS*
Down
1   DROP DR + O’ + P(hilosophy)
2   EUGE EUGENE – N – E
3   EGALLY LARGELY* – R
4 tenders SECT SET about C(ontractor)
5   INTEGRA TEARING*
6   GO MAD DOG < about MA & lit
7   ARRIS RAIL A + R + R + ISRAEL, I for E
8   YATTER (RE + T’ + TAY) <
10   AKIN A + KIN(g); reference chess
11   ADOS SODA <
14 song RASP RAS + P
16   NEIGHBOUR (O + EDINBURGH)* – D
17 pudding ETCH (f)ETCH
19   USK DUSK – D
20   EACH TEACH – T
21   REMAKES K in SEAMER <
23   ELEVENS EVENS about LE
24 Grouse CITS C + IT + S
25   SCRAPE SCRAP + E
27   ORIBI (I’ + BIRO) <
28   IMPS PIMP’S – P
30   PLUM LUMP, P to start
32   IDÉE IDE(m) about E
33 Fruit LAST Two definitions

Thematic Information

Entry Extra word “Answer” Prime Minister
INES Fruit (33dn) Clementines Clement Attlee
ROBERT Professor (36ac) Robert Winston Winston Churchill
(Eden Project) Anthony Eden
NURSES tenders (4dn) Macmillan nurses Harold Macmillan
SMART know-all (37ac) smart Alec Alec Douglas-Hume
PICKETT singer (31ac) Wilson Pickett Harold Wilson
HENS Grouse (24dn) heath hens Edward Heath
CRACK Worthless (29ac) jimcrack Jim Callaghan
MAY song (14dn) Maggie May Maggie Thatcher
MITCHELL cockatoo (13ac) Major Mitchell John Major
WITCH film (26ac) Blair Witch (Project) Tony Blair
BETTY pudding (17dn) Brown Betty Gordon Brown
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