As you'd expect, it's not exactly topical (7)
I believe the answer is:
typical
'topical' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'as you'd expect it's not exactly' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'not exactly' could be 'ca' (circa) and 'ca' is found in the answer.
'it' could be 't' (abbreviation. e.g. in 'tis) and 't' is located in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for typical that I've seen before include "Exhibiting the characteristics that identify a category" , "Representative of a class" , "Emblematic" , "Characteristic (of someone/something)" , "Normal" .)