Two performers, having lost time, expected any minute? (3)
I believe the answer is:
due
'expected any minute?' is the definition.
(due any minute now)
'two performers having lost time' is the wordplay.
'two performers' becomes 'duet' (I've seen this before).
'having lost' indicates named letters should be taken away.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'duet' with 't' taken away is 'DUE'.
(Other definitions for due that I've seen before include "Entitlement" , "Payable; deserved" , "Appropriate - fee - now owing" , "Expected; appropriate" , "Scheduled to arrive" .)