Direct one to channel, orally. (8)
I believe the answer is:
straight
'direct' is the definition.
(I know that direct can be written as straight)
'one to channel orally' is the wordplay.
'one to channel' becomes 'strait' (strait is a kind of channel).
'orally' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'strait' is a homophone of 'STRAIGHT'.
(Other definitions for straight that I've seen before include "Uncurved" , "In a direct line" , "Without deviations or curves" , "not gay" , "Poker hand of five consecutive cards" .)