OK Here goes.
FJ, three excellent clues giving 66% of ‘sex, drugs and rock n’ roll’, I did struggle, unsuccessfully with 36 - apologies.
Aristo, I think I must have been thinking of the evening meal generally being taken early over the pond…but once you helped me out it was a charming clue.
Mattrom, 4 was a brilliant clue, I should have gone to my Chambers before troubling you. 5 raised a smile.
Malcolm, liked 6 and 7 very much, 7 was Cyclops-esque! Good surface in 23.
Nemo, clever 8, cute 19, nice subtraction in 37 and excellent surface in 39.
ChrisE, you may be right that there’s no space at the top of the podium for 9 but I love a good punchline!
Paul’s 22 completed FJ’s trio, saucy! His 11 was elegantly insouciant and 14 had a great surface.
Hannah served us another portion of supper in 16, an artful subtraction in 18. I don’t quite get the definition in 28, I take it as superannuation but not quite convinced by the usage there. Apologies if I’m being obtuse.
Tyke that was a double definition, not sure if ‘super’ = ‘super-‘ if it’s not pedantic to query that. Loved the supremely topical 38, well, perhaps not quite supremely as he didn’t have the best of Tuesday. Nor the worst I concede.
Pedagogue how did I miss that?! 25 introduced pudding as an anagram indicator - I like it! More food in 27, nice containment; once I saw it 26 was very clever. Nice use of ‘rent’ in 41. PS are you new to this, if yes, hello and welcome, if no then my apologies.
So thanks go to all ten of you word-jugglers. As usual it is a photo finish with more or less everyone in the frame.
My winner isn’t the most complex but it has great surface and an elegant simplicity -
Have dinner with the queen? Wonderful! (5)
So well done
Paul and you can do this unenviable job next week!
Your prize is a blast from the past -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ajEW9kjufM