Possible Clues:

• As a rule, an extended wet spell, by the sound of it
• Giving Gone Girl new review in his extended period at the top
• 'The wet spell continues for ages for royalty (4,5)'
• Victoria had it without a drought, by the sound of it
• As a rule, the wet weather, by the sound of it, continued for a stretch (4, 5)
• Sounds like the constant wet weather Queen Victoria had
• Sounds as if Victoria had to endure a continued wet spell