Crossword Help Forum
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1. Across - Flames from bonfires you’d vacantly started (10) ....R...D. ?
9. Across - Oh dear:in Asia, soy pod undergoing ‘modification’ (4-1-3) ....-A-...S. ?

26. Across - Misreading of Jude: priest is a joke! (3,7). .E. D.S.R.T ??

Heavy hints welcomed.

1a: definition is "flames"
anagram of bonfires yd

9a: definition is "oh dear"
another anagram of "asia soy pod"

26a: definition is "a joke"
anagram of "jude priest"

1a a synonym for "old flames" anagram involved
9a a synonym for "oh dear" anagram involved
26a synonym for a joke (French) anagram involved

1a Definition = Flames

Anag. Bonfires + Y(ou)D

9a Definition = Oh Dear

Anag. Asia Soy Pod

1a Anagram of bonfiresyd, flames in the romantic sense.
9a Don't know, sorry
26a Anagram of judepriest. French for game of spirit.

Sorted! Many thanks all. In particular French joke... But also loved the Hugh Grant/Notting Hill fence climbing ‘Oh dear’.

My last one - 21D in favour of vociferously delivering a number (4) ?O?R - I assume is a number but the parsing eludes me. Hints please.

Yes, the number (4 letters) sounds like a 3-letter word "in favour of"

Yes, a number. Vociferously means in favour.

Good heavens Ruthie! How did you ever remember that "oops a daisy" line from Notting Hill?