Keep variety star in control (8)
I believe the answer is:
restrain
'keep' is the definition.
(I know that keep can be written as restrain)
'variety star in control' is the wordplay.
'variety' is an anagram indicator.
'in' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'control' becomes 'rein' (synonyms).
'star' anagrammed gives 'stra'.
'stra' going into 'rein' is 'RESTRAIN'.
(Other definitions for restrain that I've seen before include "use handcuffs?" , "Hold back, tether" , "Keep back" , "Keep under control" , "Tie up - arrest" .)