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Have a full grid except for the 4* clues and the 4 unclued, but stuck on how to proceed.
For example, for 7*d I have MERLIN this translates in the Playfair to LFEQKI. However, in my grid I have UC??PE.
This is my first Playfair puzzle.
Surely there is another intermediary step - any gentle hints on what this is would be appreciated

I realise I've misunderstood this - the playfair given is an example only, and the top row keyword needs to be deduced

A good example of deducing a Playfair headword can be found in Dorothy Sayers's "Have his carcase"!

Thanks Chrise all done now

Crackabilly, if you're looking for a good method of deducing a Playfair keyword in future look no further than 'Quinapalus' website. This also has a good word matcher as well.

16a Australian's very good grumble (6)

26a Earlier a girl's animal starts to eat organic nourishment (6)

In Oz, "grouse" means very good?

Thank you - I didn't know that.

And the other is PIG + E + O + N

Thanks once again Nick.