Crossword Genius

Tory interrupting judge, extremely unpopular storyteller (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

raconteur

'storyteller' is the definition.
(I know that raconteur is a type of storyteller)

'tory interrupting judge extremely unpopular' is the wordplay.
'tory' becomes 'con' (abbreviation for Conservative).
'interrupting' is an insertion indicator.
'judge' becomes 'rate' (rating is a kind of judging).
'extremely' suggests removing the centre (letters on the extremes of the word are used).
'unpopular' with its centre taken out is 'ur'.
'con' placed inside 'rate' is 'raconte'.
'raconte'+'ur'='RACONTEUR'

(Other definitions for raconteur that I've seen before include "source of anecdotes" , "anecdotalist" , "one with a gift for relation" , "Skilful teller of anecdotes" , "He tells a good story" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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