Spectator 2560

[Matakari]

Good evening, Pabulum again for me with a theme that looks attainable, but some clues for which I need answers to reach there. Thanks in advance!
ACROSS:
17 Beastly battle royal boa lost of late (8) : ???????S
( Thought of an anagram with boa and royal.)
23 Show cleric centre of Suez (5): ????E ( Padre )
31 Crow’s home perhaps in regularly pruned tree by water (5): T??E?
41 Drink’s sound measure (4) : ??E?
43 Old master from my French art (3) : ME?
DOWN:
36 Death of old PM is upsetting (5) S??E?

[Tilly2]

31 tepee.

[roslyn251254]

17a anagram of battle royal minus boa ...defn of late

[hankir]

23 revue
36 sleep?

[roslyn251254]

23 cleric ...usual one REV ...+ centre of sUEz

[roslyn251254]

43 mes

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I hope the batch of answers gives you a real way into this one. You're 'I'm getting the hang of this' seems to apply to about one in 10 puzzles! I know you don't seem to mind this slow progress, I'm trying to galvanise you into action.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, roslyn et al for the great help. 41 (A), thanks!
41 Drink’s sound measure (4) : ??E?

[Neveracrossword]

Meet

[Matakari]

Thanks, NACW!

[Neveracrossword]

You're welcome, Matakari.

PS I'll throw you a party when you get to 25% of the puzzles done unaided, one a month should be doable soon!

[solidair123]

41a Meed ??

[Neveracrossword]

That sounds better, Solidair - thanks!

PS I hope Matakari sees this before he sends his entry in.