The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word HEADED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
H
E
A
D
E
D
More clues leading to the result HEADED
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Was No. 1 person" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case was no. 1 person = headed.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does HEADED mean?
HEADED adjective- Of a sheet of paper: having the sender's name, address, etc. pre-printed at the top.
- (in combination) Having a head with specified characteristics.
- (in combination) Heading in a certain direction.
- To be in command of. (See also head up.)
- To come at the beginning of; to commence.
- To strike with the head; as in soccer, to head the ball
- To move in a specified direction.
- To remove the head from a fish.
- To originate; to spring; to have its course, as a river.
- To form a head.
- To form a head to; to fit or furnish with a head.
- To cut off the top of; to lop off.
- To behead; to decapitate.
- To go in front of.
- To get in the front of, so as to hinder or stop; to oppose.
- (by extension) To check or restrain.
- To set on the head.