| SECRECY | Confidence in battle of the Home Counties? (7) |
| SURREY | One of the home counties, site of Box Hill and parts of the North Downs (6) |
| ESSEX | One of the home counties, site of the world's longest pleasure pier (5) |
| WON | Came in first in battle of the bands |
| EMMASTONE | Actress who got to know the real-life Billie Jean King while portraying her in "Battle of the Sexes": 2 wds. |
| BERKSHIRE | One of the home counties, site of Eton College, Windsor Castle and Ascot Racecourse (9) |
| EMMA | Billie Jean in "Battle of the Sexes" (2017) |
| RIGGS | King's opponent in "Battle of the Sexes" |
| KENT | One of the Home Counties (4) |
| HERTFORDSHIRE | One of the home counties (13) |
| OMNIBUS | Refuse collector in battle of the big boys brought up major 23 (7) |
| STEVE | He plays tennis player Bobby Riggs in Battle of the Sexes, - Carell (5) |
| CHESSSET | All it needs is the board to engage in battle of wits (5,3) |
| LOSES | Gets licked, in battle of bands |
| TRIVIALPURSUIT | Spiritual virtue nearly developed in battle of wits (7,7) |
| POLENTA | Dish in Battle of Lepanto? (7) |
| STRAW | Jack ---, a leader in the Peasants' Revolt, also the name of the Home Secretary 1997-2001 (5) |
| AZHARALI | Former captain of Pakistan's ODI and Test sides who retired from Test cricket following the completion of the home Test series against England in 2022 |
| RUINOUS | Ball game in the middle of the home is destructive (7) |
| WOOD | Makeup of one of the homes of the Three Little Pigs |
