| CARTILAGE | Skill I learnt initially in prison which some find hard to swallow |
| LACTOSE | Stuff some find hard to digest |
| ARTICHOKE | Vegetable culture I find hard to swallow (9) |
| WORDGAME | Expression leads to amusement, which some find puzzling |
| TINCAN | Thug initially in prison getting food container (3,3) |
| PORRIDGE | Time in prison which may be easy to swallow (8) |
| BIRD | Time in prison, which may fly by |
| NORARIG | Elasticated hooklink set-up, fish find hard to escape (*roaring) (4,3) |
| MUTTANDJEFF | Cartoon characters Cockneys find hard to hear? |
| ABILITY | Skill I kindled in a boy, nothing less (7) |
| PARTIALLY | Skill I required during friendly, to a certain extent (9) |
| MARTIAN | Skill I observed in chap describing another planet |
| SPANDAU | Berlin prison which housed Nazi war criminals (7) |
| CLINK | The _, Southwark prison which operated from the 12th century until 1780 (5) |
| RIGID | Equipment I would find hard (5) |
| GROG | Find hard stuff (that is, out of Gorgie) (4) |
| RHINESTONES | A German river is where you find hard ones that are gem-like |
| CASTLESINTHEAIR | Actors find hard new realities shattering unrealistic dreams (7,2,3,3) |
| TRIPARTITE | Dance with skill, I note, having three elements (10) |
| LATRINE | After training, I learnt where to go in the barracks (7) |
