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Thanks, Brendan. I'm not doing the puzzle and didn't bother checking Chambers as I'd met the word before - but I've just realised I don't know if the Guardian puzzles have a standard authority/reference. I've now checked, the word (with that meaning) is in my Chambers and Oxford, but not in Collins.

Hi everyone
I wrote a message yesterday, but then lost it and couldn't get back on the site.
I started even later than usual yesterday and it took me a long time to get into it. Despite getting 1d and 21 down, I've got completely stuck now. Can I have some hints for 8ac and 26ac.
8ac Who grabs waitress's bottom? Of course, I don't know (8)
I have ?N?????R
26ac Red gender-fluid clothes for cash payments (8)
I have T?????E?
I have no idea what the definition is in each case.

8a def 'one who grabs'...(waitres)s followed by an informal term for 'naturally', followed by a 2 letter word meaning 'I don't know'

In 8a, the definition is grabber.
In 26a, red means a popular communist. The definition is cash payments.

26 A five letter word meaning gender-fluid around a 3 letter communist

Clever puzzle! I nearly gave up but got there in the end...

Agreed! Delightful puzzle, but I took an inordinate amount of time to finish. Paying attention to the theme might have helped...