Crossword Genius

Comic, Eagle, keeping one enlightened (5,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

ernie wise

'comic' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'eagle keeping one enlightened' is the wordplay.
'eagle' becomes 'erne' (erne is a kind of eagle).
'keeping' is an insertion indicator.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'enlightened' becomes 'wise'.
'erne' enclosing 'i' is 'ernie'.
'ernie'+'wise'='ERNIE WISE'

(Other definitions for ernie wise that I've seen before include "The short, straight one" , "comedian" , "funny little man" , "deluded TV playwright" , "Member of comedy duo" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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