Toughie No. 49 — cryptic crossword

A toughie puzzle: 38 clues on a 15×15 grid. Solve it online — check your answers as you go, ask for a hint, and read how each clue works once it is solved.

Across

Death Star exploded, giving an early advantage (4,5)
Foam from odd parts of soup dish (4)
Arrival time concealed in secret application (3)
Story of the gospels, son, shows natural gifts (7)
Ginger, the communist leader (7)
Expert in favour (3)
Lofty mount the self-righteous will not climb down from (4,5)
Delight in vocal support (5)
Top deal negotiated for one that will lose its tail (7)
Long steps to dress it up, wrongly (7)
Classic kestrel captures the most poorly (7)
Shows less age, somehow! (7)
Greeting at the entrance, love (5)
Chair duly rebuilt, powered by fluid (9)
Before this place loses its head (3)
Kim's too confused, having misunderstood (7)
Run over and out of control! (7)
Bolt, seen inside the atmosphere (3)
Steamy bit of Wessex yarn (4)
Miners sit uneasily with members of the government (9)

Down

The chat rambling on gets an axe (7)
Reported everything, for instance, to the editor (7)
Match hour with nothing on — swimming to music, in short (7)
Truant clutching a ball, quick to take things in (9)
A number conjured out of the ether (5)
Cocktail from the team vehicle (7)
Intensify with daughter where the water's over your head (4,3)
Look: celebrity on ecstasy (5)
Loves commercials wrapped round rock (6)
Withdraw from the stall, depressed (5,4)
Plan for the plotter to be curtailed (6)
Select a fresh note for the keyboard instrument (7)
Nature study spoiled by a coy ogle (7)
Rubbers concealed by cameras, ersatz or not (7)
Blow up general in disarray (7)
Backs damaged goods (7)
Songs buried in Bulgaria's archive (5)
Laugh at Kipling's boy, an Eastern physician (5)

More: Toughie cryptic crosswords.

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