Philip Pirrip, that seedy character (3)
I believe the answer is:
pip
'philip' is the definition.
(can be a nickname for Philip)
'pirrip that seedy character' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'character' could be 'pi' (pi is a kind of character) and 'pi' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'p' remains which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pip that I've seen before include "Mark of rank" , "Just defeat; apple seed" , "tiny bit of fruit" , "Defeat at the last moment - . . . at the post" , "Palindromic fruit seed" .)