Possible Clues:

• Ring wife being entertained by eccentric playwright
• One won't put a toe in the water? Lower away, as it were!
• Person who is excessively fearful, lacks courage
• Author of 'Private Lives'
• Gutless type whose encounter was briefly filmed
• Noel ..... composed musical 'Bitter Sweet'
• Yellowbelly
• No bold battle with the fish around
• One chicken-hearted
• Noel ......, composer of ''Bitter Sweet''