Crossword Genius

Helping first worker to support Charlie (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

assistant

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

'first worker to support charlie' is the wordplay.
'first' becomes 'ist' (ist resembles 1st).
'worker' becomes 'ant' (worker is a type of ant).
'to support' says to put letters next to each other (in a down clue, some letters hold others up).
'charlie' becomes 'ass' (both can mean a foolish person).
'ist'+'ant'='istant'
'istant' put after 'ass' is 'ASSISTANT'.

(Other definitions for assistant that I've seen before include "Attendant, helper" , "help required?" , "Deputy, subordinate" , "Aide, helper" , "one helps out" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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