Crossword Genius

Extremely smart guide backing number one by council worker? (6,7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

street sweeper

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'council worker?' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'extremely smart guide backing number one' is the wordplay.
'extremely' says to hollow out the word (remove centre letters).
'guide' becomes 'steer' (synonyms).
'backing' says the letters should be written backwards.
'number one' becomes 'weeper' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'smart' with its middle taken out is 'st'.
'steer' reversed gives 'reets'.
'st'+'reets'+'weeper'='STREET-SWEEPER'

'by' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for street sweeper that I've seen before include "Road cleaner" , "council worker" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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