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I haven't actually seen it yet. I just went out to get The i but none of my local newsagents are open, neither is Waitrose! (When I was younger my friend and neighbour used to get up and go to our local shop do his paper round at around 5.30am! - what's happened!?)

Anyway, I'll go back out in an hour or so but thought I may as well start a thread:-)

I have returned - Inquisitor in hand:-)

I've only had a cursory glance but it's safe to say that "Remedial Action by eXternal" is going to take some working out!

I'm finding this much tougher than last week.

14a was my FOI which has led me to the 'titular character of a work' - I think!!

Steady progress here. Having got 1d and 2a I think I'm pretty sure who the remedial action involved. Still a way to go though.

14a being my FOI made me spend way too long trying to make the epic poem by STR work!

I think I've got the right work now though and have a completed grid but am having trouble with the definition for 17a, which I've got ending in 'C' and an adjective rather that a noun.

Also, I have answers which I'm pretty sure of for 3d, 6d, 10d and 18d but can't work out the parsing.

Hi Brendan, 3d check the first 3 letters in Chambers + 'emptied' idiotic. 6d and 10d still to do, 18d the a is demoted from 2nd place in a word that means sturdy. 17a alternative letters + abbrev for account. I was puzzled but lo...Chambers says 'inflammation of...'
14a was your FOI? Still haven't worked it out...ah...have now I think. I guess 'told' means sounds like?

17a indeed an adjective (def is last 3 words)
3d - 3 letter word for c-p followed by next word "emptied"
6d - two meanings (extra word in clue)
10d - also extra word in clue. Containment of the usual abbrev for college.
18d - simple abbrev of "about" moved down.

Hi Brendan and granama... You can do this if I can because you are much quicker than me usually. I have a completed grid but still looking for the column requirements...I may be back...

Hi Granama,

I'm looking at the first 3 letters of 3d and can't see anything relating to 'cattle' or cattle-pen' - just the young of an animal or a beginner?

14d You got it - and can you see why I went off on a 'Rime of the.....' wild goose chase:-(

The young animal is it.

There are quite a few column candidates in the grid - I looked for a way to make the highlighting work (it's pretty obvious what's required and it really cuts the options down).