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Also, unclued, I've got that Playfair code, which I thought was the first one. I was thinking of the one that is an anagram of The Bard's Coupling.

Orson - check Chambers for your word

Ah, gem94, I didn't expect it to be in the dictionary. Thanks and I can sleep soundly tonight now.

Thanks unclued. Silly mistake on my part, decoding WA as UI, when, of course it should be FU.

Wow! That was a tough one. I've managed to get to the end, but am puzzled as to what it all means. The code words from the anagram make no sense to me, though one word in it does have a reference to the thematic highlighted word. The real title seems to have no reference to anything that I can see. I would be grateful if someone could explain the wordplay for 1,14. I filled them in without having any idea why, apart from the fact that they were the only words that fitted.

The three words in the anagram Playfair I think are a very short description/summary of the competition named in the title Playfair. Then the title Playfair alludes to the highlighted thematic word because of the competition's prize. Maybe I've missed something!

I was led on a wild 28d chase by the initial title, as I thought the theme was going to be the theory about FB and 'the Bard'.

Puzzle all done - what a Herculean struggle it was too - except the answer to 25, which I cannot figure out for the life of me, even with your earlier hint to Mandyrob. I have UDS? from the grid so it must be DO??. So frustrating, a further hint would be most welcome - I hope!

Hairless: 5 letter word for backs less A; Diana DOxx.

I'm still baffled by the wordplay for both parts of 1/34; and I can't find the 2 encoded letters at 9/20, Both clues seem normal.

34 is D [UM] OSE = "I'm thinking" inside "drug fix"
1 the encoding is baNDs but not sure on the wordplay.

9/20 I think is seEN with EN becoming NT.

1 is "set against", reversed, minus INST for 'instant'.