| MERCOURI | Melina, actress and first female minister for culture of Greece (8) |
| REVEREND | Bishop close accepting first female minister (8) |
| ESMOND | Jill --, actress and first wife of Laurence Olivier (6) |
| CURIE | First two-time, and first female, Nobelist |
| JODIE | ___ Whittaker, new Doctor and first female in the role (pictured left) (5) |
| ATHENIAN | Socrates, Melina Mercouri or Constantin Costa Gavras, for example (8) |
| BONASERA | Melina Kanakaredes in CSI:NY, Stella ... (8) |
| ARBOREAL | Tree-Melina pest surrounded by sea? (8) |
| BROTH | The one and the other about right for culture of bacteria (5) |
| PETRIDISH | It's used in laboratory for culture of microorganisms (5,4) |
| DAVIDLAMMY | Labour MP for Tottenham; Minister of State for Culture from 2005-07 (5,5) |
| CHRIS | And 13 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 1997-2001 (5,5) |
| LAMMY | David ?, Labour MP for Tottenham; Minister of State for Culture from 2005-07 |
| OVERFED | Retired female minister into dictionary is stuffed! (7) |
| SERVICEWOMAN | Female minister? She's a fighter (12) |
| MANAGINGDIRECTOR | MD's staff opposed to grand female minister |
| DIRECT | Blunt little female minister putting men off |
| WHITTINGDALE | John ___, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2015 (12) |
| CHRISSMITH | Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 1997-2001 |
| SMITH | Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 1997-2001 (5,5) |
