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Many thanks Ged for your explanation. I wrote my comment before I'd read pages 2 and 3 on the forum. I shall now try to work out which clues need which letters added. I gather that I add the letter before doing the anagram. I assume there is a definition for the word before you add the letter and then anagram a word that is undefined.

I think I've got it now. I just need to see if I can actually solve any clues.

P.S. Why does tag mean party in 17d?

It's a male party ...

Its Stag party roof.....
It took me a while to work out the instructions and that ( a ) started in 7....... I had it in 1..... I understand many solvers frustration but once you get the hang of it a know its going to take the holiday weekend to solve, then it is nearly enjoyable...

Thanks Ged, that explanation of where the 26 letters go works well and fits with the W in 17d. Beginning to enjoy this now.

I’ve come here for help having made some headway but am very frustrated that there appears to be no help in determining which word to use when given a choice of anagrams. 1d in the 2nd grid and 21d in the 1st grid being 2 examples.
I have no crossing letters in 1d although I know which letters to anagram
I have 21d as ?O?E?

I agree with others’ comments that this is a good puzzle spoiled and am on the verge of giving up.

Salix - the only help I could get for the anagrams was from the crossers. For both 1 and 11 in the RH diagram, I went for the more 'obvious' word (i.e. I hadn't thought of the alternative), which stitched me up for a while. I'm now left with two incomplete entries (20 on the LHS and 14 on the RHS), both of which are anagrams of answers I can't get plus a letter. So 14 is _A_E_ with an F somewhere... ho hum.

I always buy The Times on a bank holiday weekend!!

"So 14 is _A_E_ with an F somewhere..."
Are you sure about that because I've got an 'R' where your 'A' is. I've got 5d RHS as a large plucked string instrument.

I have the same as halloway

Halloway and Zozozo: how right you are. I was so relieved to find an answer for 5 that I paid no attention as to how to spell it. Cheers for picking that up.