Unintentionally funny man taking bow in illusionist (5)
'illusionist' is the definition.
(spoon-bender is a type of illusionist)
'unintentionally funny man taking bow' is the wordplay.
'unintentionally funny man' becomes 'Spooner' (Reverend Spooner comically mispronounced things).
'taking' is an insertion indicator.
'bow' becomes 'bend' (I've seen this in another clue).
'spooner' enclosing 'bend' is 'SPOON BENDER'.
'in' acts as a link.
'bow in illusionist' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'unintentionally funny man taking' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'man' could be 'p' (abbreviation for pawn, a chess piece or 'man') and 'p' is located in the answer.
'taking' could be 'on' (eg one taking drugs is 'on' drugs) and 'on' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'so' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for spoon that I've seen before include "Piece of cutlery" , "Wood formerly" , "may create a stir" , "A runcible item of cutlery?" , "SECOND PART OF 15" .)