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I agree with others that this was a tough one. I still can't get 26a: 90% unemployed? The head's going to get fired - E-T-U-L-. And 23d Peanuts and bread pleasant that one's ignored: -I-T-N-E. Any help appreciated.

23 pittance

Pittance is peanuts

26 enthused

90% unemployed = tenth used
(t)enthused= fired up

If 90% is unemployed then there is a TENTH USED, take off the head ("head goinng") leaves ENTHUSED = fired with enthusiasm

The bread is PITTA with NCE (pleasant is nice with one removed is NCE) gives PITTANCE =peanuts

You must have got 7 Down wrong - this is PROTECTRESS - expert is PRO(fessional) with TEC (= detective) and TRESS (= lock of hair)

Duckb
Please can you give letter counts in future.
Your 26 looked as though it should have been a 9 letter word, not 8.
Thanks

Thanks brackendale. I actually found the phrase "safe conduct projectile" while searching on the web! Somehow seemed more likely than "protectress": but no wonder I couldn't complete 26 across.