Possible Clues:

• VIP initially unable to move
• Ruler having imperial measure dividing a metric one
• Top banana
• - Cobra; - crab; - post; - prawn
• eg Wenceslas
• Civil rights pioneer divided at the beginning and end of nine answers in this puzzle
• They're close, close to getting top man
• Card, draughts piece
• Most important chessman
• Might make merry with 33 down