[MF] Looks like ISOLA to me (in France). Not sure about the complete analysis, though.

Could you help me out. Would you believe stuck on 1 across, this is all I need to finish off the top corner.
Reassuring, turning up to protect stronghold (10)
So far the letters are -²O- ³* - ⁴ R – ⁵ I – ⁶ G.
These are from the down clues
2. Result?Middle East has to support dismissed officer(7) O UTCOME
3. Deaf, backward Frenchman admitted being, in fact, renowned(5)asterisk
4. Poor skier reaching dead end took chance (6) R ISKED
5. Hanger-on coming and going depending on weather (6) I CICLE
6. Unusually largely built, it attracts viewers (7) G ALLERY

[Wol] It worked after a gin. It doesn't now.

I presume it's Comforting... Coming (turning up) surrounding (to protect) fort (stronghold)

And the asterisk one being FAMED - "deaf" backwards containing M. for M'sieur

GIII and MF]thank you for your help, I may be back :)

"Framework lacking direction for satirical poet" S-L-T-N

[MF] The name SKELTON [the poet] springs to mind - as in 'framework' = skeleton, without the directional 'E' - but that would mean your letter clue is out of line.. Just a thought.

...'cos it's ephemerae, not ephemeral. How very annoying. And well done.

Alright, this is bugging me: Speedy French money? Betsy is.(7) No letters found I'm afraid.

Someone just filled me in: Mercury. Ahduhduhduh.

IMOLA racetrack :o(

Duh :-(. But there is a track called Isola, too.

At last! An Everyman I've been able to complete over a cuppa... not managed that for a while.

I'm jealous. Our crosswords are just boring trivia questions.

Kayl] Okay i can see why Speedy/Mercury might fit, but can't see the relevance of the rest of it I am afraid.

Speedy Frenchy Money.
Quick Argent.
Quicksilver.

Betsy = Elizabeth
Elizabeth = Queen
->Freddie Mercury.

Kayl - that is a really bad clue. So the answer isn't really in the clue. I hate that. Wherever did you find that one > ?

An utterly evil friend gave it to me, he swares it's from an American magazine.

I've been trying some of these at thinks.com... ouch ouch ouch. If anyone knows a site with some beginner-level puzzles, I'd appreciate it. :)
Anyway, this one stumped me: React badly when embraced by one scientist or another (14) -- the answer is BACTERIOLOGIST... the definition makes sense, and I understand 'react badly', but how does the rest of it fit?

Oh... I get it now. d'oh.

Answer: CHUCK OUT (or at least, -H-C- OUT). But why?

The OED's 5th definition of "chuck" is food. And if you're 'out' you might have made an error, I guess.

Chuck = 'throw': Out = 'away': 'Chuck = 'food'(e.g. chuck wagon): Out = 'error' (e.g. misalignment) - Looks like a double bubble at a guess?

Don't think so; just 'chuck out' = 'throw away' (single, definitional clue).