Friday Cryptic Crossword Game

[Reality Checkpoint]

So I've just discovered that Alison Balsam is another HR 6th Form College alumni and that she went to the Greneway School in Royston that my mother worked at.

Anyway:-

Thar she blows! Start diving - she's beaten! (8)

[irony towers]

Force of nature, with audible urgency, thrashed Scotsman to claim gold (9,6)

[irony towers]

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ N _ / _ _ _ _ _ N

[Reality Checkpoint]

Twice the tail of Hurricane Dorian battered island leaving defunct car (8)

[Reality Checkpoint]

Twice the tail of Hurricane Dorian battered island leaving defunct car (8)

_ _ _ _ _ E _ _

[irony towers]

I think I have this, though I haven't fully penetrated the wordplay.

Miserabilist honcho extremely put out by DeLorean convertible (7,5)

[irony towers]

_ _ O _ _ _ _ / _ O _ _ _

[irony towers]

_ _ O _ _ R _ / _ O _ _ _

[irony towers]

_ _ O N _ R _ / _ O _ _ N

[Reality Checkpoint]

Leonard Cohen album steepling up the charts? (4,7)

[Reality Checkpoint]

Leonard Cohen album steepling up the charts? (4,7)

_ _ A _ / _ _ A _ _ _ _

[Reality Checkpoint]

Leonard Cohen album steepling up the charts? (4,7)

_ _ A _ / _ _ A _ H _ _

[irony towers]

I can see a solution that fits the definition and letter count, though I'd need to be enlightened about the cryptic element.

Dear Heather by international umpire (7)

[Reality Checkpoint]

Steep = dear (as in that's a bit steep)
Ling = Heather

[irony towers]

Thanks for that, RC. In that case I should withdraw my clue on account of recursion.

[irony towers]

How about this instead:

Yesterday's man, who's no longer writing Dear Heather? (4,9)

[Dear Heather by international umpire (7) = DAR + LING]

[Reality Checkpoint]

Paul McCartney mixed wine, more wine and drugs on the road, some kind of record? (3,4.8)

[irony towers]

Reality Checkpoint It seems the thread has become thee-and-me for now, and in a couple of days I'll be away for a week. Something to nudge this one along might be a good idea.

[Reality Checkpoint]

Paul McCartney mixed wine, more wine and drugs on the road, some kind of record? (3,4.8)

_ _ _ / _ O _ _ / _ _ E _ _ _ _ _

[irony towers]

Mr Gascoigne with eight-bar phrase for intro to Red Rose Speedway? (6,6)

[Guy Profumo]

Mr Gascoigne with eight-bar phrase for intro to Red Rose Speedway? (6,6)

If that's what I suspect it is, there's going to have to be a lot of speaking clearly and slowly to explain it after the next clue

[irony towers]

.

[Guy Profumo]

If that's what I suspect it is, there's going to have to be a lot of speaking clearly and slowly to explain it after the next clue

Indeed it was

I'll step away anyway, but carry on people

[irony towers]

Mr Gascoigne with eight-bar phrase for intro to Red Rose Speedway? (6,6)

_ _ _ _ _ R / _ R _ _ _ _

[irony towers]

_ _ M _ _ R / _ R _ _ G _