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Sorry - I have the cell and the pence, but could somebody please explain the rest?

Superb clue

King is Rex

A cell, Rex and pence are the component parts.

Well said, Trevor (at present I'm sharpening my horns). Excellent :) final explanation. Good also ginge, Chrise and Jazzy. Thanks for the nice comments. Here is my working:-

1. smashing! = magic!; reprimand = carpet; MAGIC CARPET = air transporter

2. a lock-up = a cell; king’s in a dungeon = a (Rex) cell; coppers = pence (say = e.g. because copper = a coin {not necessarily a penny}). p {a (Rex) cell} ence = PAR EXCELLENCE = (colloq) wicked {Chambers Thes}. Chambers Dictionary has wicked = excellent and par excellence (adv) = as an example of excellence.

3. car(t); lass = bird (slang: Chambers Thes); las(car)s = LASCARS = Oriental sailors (Chambers).

4. ask = bid; Indian chief = I; BIDI = a cheap thin Indian cigarette (smoke)

5. anag(with abuse) of “serial’s afire” = LAISSER-FAIRE (adj) = permissive (first synonym offered in Chambers Thesaurus; alternative spelling of “laissez-faire” in Chambers Dict).

Thanks to both.

Definition a bit cheeky, jolan?

It reminds me of the old question - "Why did Michael Jackson call his album 'Bad'?"
"Because he couldn't spell 'Appalling'!"

not sure that the 'say' was needed at the end? was Aristo at a disadvantage on this (coppers = pence) ?
great clue tho. i didn't get #4 either.

I wonder why you are sharpening your horns, Jolan .
Are you intending locking antlers in the park? Lol

I have to admit I got #4 wrong, I convinced myself "arti" was correct quite early on and didn't look for an alternative

i did consider begi for #4. barking up the right tree but didn't know it.

I got much further than that, trevor - begi, aski (and several others that I seem to have forgotten)