[Martha] What, on her first day?

2 above is wrong. Whoops. Try again:
2. Small animal said to be run over by learner driver

[rab] (1) is TAPER (TAP E.R.). Is (3) STRIP THE WILLOW? If so, I'm not sure why.

Pure French romance on the edge (8)
Twisted small mammal eats a chopped nut (6)

[Raak] Is the first one PURCHASE?

[Raak] I suppose the second could be TURNED but that would mean "red" was the small mammal... I suppose a "red squirrel" could work... also, RED hasn't actually eaten (fully enclosed) the chopped nut (TUN) so I'm probably wrong on that.

[Darren] No to both.

[Raak] Wow, must be a bad day for my brain.

[Raak] (1) Yes (3) No

[Raak] Your second one; is it PURFLING?

[Raak] Sorry, I meant the first one, of course.

[Darren] Yes.

[MF]DIVISION was of course correct, wd. I'm a little confused as to what has been solved and what is still outstanding : would someone like to summarise perhaps ?
Meanwhile, here's the next Blobbian clue : Presume the leader is back in place (8)

Unsolved clues include, but are not restricted to,

1. Small animal said to be run over by learner driver (6) (me)
2. It's a selfish pleasure to range before the King with the others in tune (5,3,6) (also me - and Raak was somehow along the right lines, but way off at the same time)
3. Twisted small mammal eats a chopped nut (6) (Raak)
4. Presume the leader is back in place (8) (Blob)

Perhaps no new clues for a while?

Meanwhile, a new Private Eye fell onto my doormat this morning. I'll probably attempt the crossword at the weekend. I do so enjoy the smutty clues.

[Raak] (1) PURLIEUS ?
[rab] (3) SPANK THE MONKEY ? If not, then Coat

Ah - sorry - I now realise that Darren had solved Raak's first (and that mine was wrong) - if I'd read rab's simmulpost then I'd've realised sooner.

[Blob] You're bang on (ahem) with rab's: SPAN (range) K (king) THEM (the others) ON KEY (in tune).

Sorry, couldn't resist it!

Please can someone explain why [hidden answer] ENTICE is the probable solution to this clue 'Person bound to learn to sacrifice pawn and rook to offer temptation (6). Letters E_T_C_ already secured. [The Times Crossword - Weds]. Damned if I can work it out.

[Chalky] Here is the explanation: Person bound to learn=PRENTICE. Sacrifice pawn (P) and rook (R) to leave ENTICE. To offer temptation=ENTICE (straight def). There you go.

Ah - many thanks, kind sir. Didn't realise that PRENTICE was aphetic for APPRENTICE and if I hadn't been so lazy a quick peek in the dictionary would have told me that.

This crossword pretty much did itself last night, but I don't fully understand two of them. (Answers in square brackets).

• Archer's thing? Yes, with or without dash (12) [BULLSHITTING]
• US would-be persuaders of the continuing need for persuaders (3,5) [GUN LOBBY]

The former has an obvious main definition - I don't get the device. The latter looks like a single definition, but I just don't get it.

Meanwhile the same puzzle includes (8) (Geddit?) which should be obvious in the light of our recent discussions.