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.......of course, given my form of late, these parsings come with a big "caution" sign:-)

Thanks, Brendan, but I'm still lost. I had 9d figured the way you wrote, and I see the word for head, but I couldn't find the word for hit. It's believable though. As for 8a, that's another story. I knew that had to be the wordplay, but I still don't see the word for dopes, unless it's dopes as in stupid, and the word is very slang. I didn't think of radical as in chemistry for 5d though. Thanks again.

No problem,

8a - you're right that its "dopes" as in idiots - think of "d.... the elephant"

9d - the word for "hit" is in Chambers and the definition of "mouse" (not the furry little creature) is way down the list in Chambers

Thanks again, Brendan. Was not familiar with that medical degree. I did find the definition of mouse. Who knew there were so many? I particularly like "A small lead weight used in inserting a sash cord into a window frame." I learn so many new words from the Listener.

Ditto MPRS 😉

Slightly off topic but Shark related so thought this was as good as anywhere.

Just doing his Magpie puzzle, and filled it in and got the message. Just have a potentially dumb question - do you have to complete the other puzzle to finish the Shark one?

Brendan, re your earlier question on place-names in Norfolk, I hadn't heard of the village you mentioned but the county has a varied list of interesting pronunciations! Wymondham is Windem, Happisborough is Haysbruh, Salle is Saul, Stiffkey is Stooky (took, not too), Sydorstone is Siston so obviously Hindolveston is Histon. Sadly many of the younger generation have gravitated to Norwich to be replaced by non-locals so I fear these oddities won't be with us much longer. No help for solving the Listener, I know, but just snippets of useless but fun information.

Hi Bazotto,

Thanks for that, it's quite an array of unusual pronunciations, though I noticed that people only seemed to have a faint accent.

Candledave. Short answer is yes. See my post 96

Thanks Simon, done it now, absolutely brilliant stuff and loved the red herring