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There may be an extra letter in the wordplay
33a Divine power ahead of first letter to Corinthians? (7) (extra possibly C)
40a Frenchman's from city near Orleans to go round the houses (6)
D??O??

I have 33a now

40a.
I believe to go round is the def
I don't know why the houses.
First part of the clue is the word play.

40a - De ('from in French) followed by city near Orléans minus its last letter gives 'to go round the houses'. (Mind you, I'm not 100% confident as the city in question isn't that near to Orléans!)

Ive ground to a halt after a couple of hours but I'll have another go now before the chaos (sorry - the 'family festivities') start later...

I have 40a too now

Just 28a left now : For example, boyish optimism rector expressed (4) ?ALE
The extra is O

Male, boyish? From 'Morale', with the R, rector removed, and the O being extra.

Thank you Malone ... thought it must be male but couldn't see the wordplay.
Enjoy your Xmas day!