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I found this to be quite a straightforward solve but a lot of fun nonetheless, and it continues the good run of Everyman's we've had of late.

My FOI was 4a and that was followed by the two long symmetrically placed anagrams.

I didn't notice any odd or unusual words or phrases, perhaps with the exception of 24a but I don't think it will cause any problems and is more likely a sign of my limited vocabulary.

COD - There were quite a few witty and well constructed clues but I'm going to pick 22a for its smooth surface.

Please feel free to leave a comment and/or ask for a hint if you get stuck.

Thanks to Everyman for a fun crossword.

Stay safe:-)

I agree. Finished but cannot fully parse 6d and 11d

Hi Edc,

6d is a straight anagram and 11d is an alternate letters/"every so often" of words in the clue.

Thanks. 6d was a typi for 8d ... but exactly the same parsing as 11d. Duuuuh

Good morning all. Enjoyable one today. Not too tricky I agree. My CoD is 1d, though I liked 8d - simple and makes sense. Good luck to others. Have just returned to UK from Austria, by road, through Switzerland, completed lots of forms, transitted France on full tank of petrol coming nowhere near other humans. Not been informed ONCE or advised or given any information about 'rules'. Very poor management.

I've never heard of 5d, but fortunately it was a "primarily". My favourite was 1a, for the misdirection.

One of the few occasions when I like a 'primarily !

I think I've finished but I'm struggling with the "we're told" in 23D. Would "has talents" be better than "is crooked"?

you may not have the right answer, david. crooked is fine. i'm not happy with clue, though, as the other part of the name is almost always used when one word is used

Re 24A -- I had issues with that one too, to such an extent that it was my LOI, even though it parses perfectly. It's pretty obscure and doesn't even appear in the latest edition of the Concise Oxford (although it is in Chambers). 23D's a pretty ropy homophone, too. On the other hand, 1D is very neat, and it's great to see 5D getting a mention -- lovely place.