The Times - Cryptic December 25 2019 Crossword Puzzle Solution

The Times - Cryptic - Times Cryptic No 27543
Clues	Answers
Activity leading to funeral: sense upset in the heart	CORTEGE
Backed some police operations involving men with guns now and then	SPORADIC
British city Metro, not entirely something you’d expect to fill with water	BATHTUB
Carry sixteen letters uphill	TOTE
Chap coming back without a tree	ELM
European problem in speech reflected on Greek character	EPSILON
Feel source of money in this place is keeping son in work	ATMOSPHERE
Fool expected to seize power	DUPE
Given good things? Not so much in the plant area	BLESSED
His luck failed with English and similar subjects	SUCHLIKE
Journalists going after fraudulent money-making in sports equipment	racket press
Most of vague sermon ultimately not suitable for ceremony	UNCLEAN
Mostly decisive about island emergency	CRISIS
Mysterious quantity of film probing most of region	ARCANE
One conjectures eggs will turn up in this nest ultimately	THEORIST
One targeted by Cupid’s weapon, we hear	BEAU
Other great plays gripping one, ultimately?	theatre-goer
Pivotal point thoroughly reduced? A little reduced	FULCRUM
Represented as an edible line in confectionery	aniseed ball
Rest on quality item on beach	BREAKWATER
Rubbish story not involving a rabbit	TATTLE
Satisfy school about European Union contribution to French newspaper	FEUILLETON
Sound in a particular field? Not entirely unresolved	MOO
Sporting contest in progress, involving physical exercise	OPEN
Stop work on prison	CAN
Story provided by the Schubertian songs	LIEDER
Sun now, perhaps __ then rain?	MONSOON
Symbolic child __ I’m in church, making a return	TOTEMIC
There’s a wavering around most of back lighting effect on the moon	EARTHSHINE
Time for one area to be recalled	AGE
Ultimately false number in singer’s equivalent figure	alter ego
Version of a simple and cute set of messages for the future	time capsule
The Times - Cryptic - Times Quick Cryptic No 1512
Clues	Answers
Ace puzzle offers surprise	AMAZE
Affected material finally deleted	TWEE
Anguished expression from serious expert	GRIMACE
Brownish colour very good in ocean	SEPIA
Colossal Scotsman in sports car	GIANT
Cool food generating some publicity?	FANFARE
Distant meteor to break up	REMOTE
Hector on tower guarding this city	TORONTO
Hunter about to cross Spanish river	ORION
Kinky setter in nude __ not curious?	UNINTERESTED
Local site for missile launch?	OCHE
Lucky escape, then a grin perhaps	near thing
Mature answer good by news boss	AGED
Musical drama?	song and dance
News has spread about Zorro's skill	SWORDPLAY
Notice nothing causing fuss	ADO
Popular action? Certainly!	INDEED
Practical husband with boy	hands-on
Round dispenser?	GUN
See! That catches animal!	LASSO
Senior woman rough on needy	DOYENNE
Shoe in box for delivery	OXFORD
Snake? Stormy petrel eats one!	REPTILE
Still one sees legendary highlander	YETI
Time Magazine, maybe, a disposable paper	TISSUE
Trained dog to keep at home __ not this one!	DINGO