Crossword Genius

A passion arising in celebrity circus performer (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aerialist

'circus performer' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'a passion arising in celebrity' is the wordplay.
'passion' becomes 'ire' (ire is passionate anger).
'arising' says the letters should be written backwards.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'celebrity' becomes 'alist' (I've seen this before).
'a'+'ire'='aire'
'aire' back-to-front is 'eria'.
'eria' inserted within 'alist' is 'AERIALIST'.

(Other definitions for aerialist that I've seen before include "trapeze artist" , "Trapeze acrobat" , "Highly-regarded performer" , "skier" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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