8  A section, it's said, speak up for bringing an end to hostilities (5,4)

12 Brew ale in a field (3)

14 Curve found in star chart (3)

15 Hip scarcity makes one focus on the mind (11)

16 Best flyer held up sleeve (3)

17 It's complicated to give a speech after the Spanish tequila bomb chasers (9)

18 Half of this gift basket is meat! (3)

19 The title is within, as I recall (3)

23 Sorry to say that endless diary fad has returned (6)

24 Flowers for a girl, Marge (5)

25 Unimaginative gifts turn out to be hits (5)

26 Getting to grips with horse with nasty sprain internally (8)

28 Closeted blasphemer gets to come out (6)

30 Questioned being assigned a job without any time (5)

31 I put frocks through the wringer to provide support (5,2,3)

33 Bistro astounds by unveiling Sunday menu (5)

34 Go away, or lug Ann about (3,5)

36 For starters, all mince pies have currents (3)

38 That's an obsolete format, friend (3)

39 Dictatorship of crooked actuary holding company back (9)

40 I believe that we hear a farewell (3)

41 Formerly toiled every second (3)

42 Famously irrational Eastern cuisine (3)

43 Taking hold of eggs with clipped wing (9)

44 Broken arm will leave a mark (3)

45 Wood has snapped (3)

46 Table places southeast (two-time leaders) ahead of Yorkshire marshland (8)

47 Six headless cattle handy when pulling a sleigh (5)

50 Make a living off 42 or 58a? (4,1,5)

52 Transport found in science fiction protects one's neck (5)

53 He wrote 70's book (6)

57 Company block America's green... (8)

58 ... money from macabre adverts (5)

59 Catholic taking the Anglican establishment out to wine and dine (5)

60 You deserve to be punished, knocking back Rennies without direction... (6)

61 ...it's not right to break wind at large (3)

63 Stock is a cross between two eggs (3)

64 Popular 22 jocks yearn for ... (5,4)

65 ... one of three French birds (3)

66 Someone who's had too many 2, perhaps, is useful when exposed to the elements (11)

67 Shining example of 8d ... (3)

68 ...who use chaos to get the girl... (3)

69 ... and are sold by modern South African chap (9)

70 Thatcherism's far from this red wealth redistributor (6,9)

 2  Continental capital begins to grow, served by Turkey (8,7)

 3  I gain a light skimmed variety from the cowgirls they sing about (5,5,1-7)

 4  Writers attempt lists without learning (9)

 5  Stretching, arrives at far-off locations (7)

 6  Inventor of razor goes nought to 200 in the morning (5)

 7  Helpers having elevenses un-seen (5)

 8  Take pics of her majesty for tabloid, e.g. (5)

 9  Cot initially bought at great expense can entertain two or three who like pegging (and it comes with a box) (8)

10 Repeater can be fruitful in autumn (4,4)

11 Resident of number 10 sees four fifths of party gone at general election (9)

13 Songbird dynasty putting on a turn (9)

20 Missing cone reconstruction can teach us a thing or two (10)

21 Snow formation has every other dork in fits (5)

22 Tree sounds very cosy (3)

27 Broadcast of Brynner diary is a festive treat ... (4,3)

29 ... e.g. The King And I stuns, Rent I'm moved - they make such wonderful sounds (7,11)

32 Food lover's uric acid retention enthralls foremost resident medical examiner (7)

35 Badly timed to get left out (7)

37 "I'm mean", dramatise fake news outlets (10,5)

38 Spoil any used attic hat stripped of a red flower (10)

39 Naval officer will endlessly look favourably on Alabama (7)

46 Queen's zig zag, forcing a way through (9)

48 Singular charlatan loses nothing in contest (5)

49 An eccentric would serve it with cheese (9)

51 Double-Ds concealed loosely by a tree make a lovely, cuddly present (5,4)

54 Without American English, genius tenors would be right back where they came from (8)

55 Barely managing to dispose of unclothed kings (8)

56 One of two girls who hang around together these days (3)

58 Chocolate cake is like a drug - heroin, that is! (7)

61 ...or quickly taking ecstasy at dinner (5)

62 It's criminal to have idly eaten figs initially... (5)

63 ...beginning with fruity stone (5)