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Thanks for that.

Super thanks rogissimo, I'd wondered that but was trying to make a container out of the 2nd half of the clue, doh!
Fun crossword

Hi ethereal
Sorry, I’d failed to spot that you’d already asked about the loaf - I’d have answered much earlier if I had. Sorry for the delay!

Maybe it’s the mood I’m in but beyond the satisfaction of building the answers, I didn’t find this one a particularly entertaining solve. The theme was of minimal help to me, despite getting 22a early doors. I have limited knowledge in that subject area, but gained a bit by looking up potential candidates from the across answers. I wonder if sticking so rigidly to the theme limited the setter’s creativity here.

I think the answer to 21d is referring to the first part a substitute for a meatloaf. This sort does exist it seems, but the nut one is better known - it was often mocked in the 1970s.

I still have 3d and 7d to go. Some help would be welcome please.

Hints in this forum have been very helpful as per usual thanks!

21d "loaf" is slang for "head" or ????.
3d "staff" is a verb. The artist is famous for his "foreshortening"!
7d is a rather ugly 2 word expression for "regarding".

Hi FemmeNoire,

3d - First three letters are from "staff" (as a verb) follwed by an anagram/"sacked" of "agent" - definition is "Italian artist" (a specific one)

7d - Is hidden reversed/"up" in the clue, it's a Latin term meaning "touching" (as in 'concerning')

Hi Brendan et al

As usual I started rather later than most of you (I've been busy making my first batch of Christmas puddings) and first read through revealed only one answer -10ac. I actually got 22ac but couldn't see the parsing, but thanks to the hints, I now have a few more. I'm no cosmologist, but I'm hoping answers will come for the rest. I did at least get the artist in 3d. I'd never heard of 23ac.

Please can I have hint for 2d and 12d.

Hi femmenoire, I tend to agree that the theme wasn’t particularly useful in solving the clues, but it served as fun end game of sorts.
Cheekily, I note the progression from a half moon last week to a full one today! ;)

Hi Roof,

Christmas pudding sounds delish - lets hope we all get a Christmas this yea😁

2d - 4 letters for "perfect" as a verb around/"circling" an anagram/"rocks" of "isle on" - definition is "eagles maybe" (in a sporting sense)

12d - 5 letters for "Italian footballers" (a specific team) + single letter for "British" + 4 letters for "grass" - definition is "produce a cross" (nothing to with football)

Thanks Brendan

I managed to get 12d when I thought of the only Italian football team I've ever heard of. But I'm still stick on 2d. I don't do sport, so thinking of sporting eagles has defeated me.

I've been googling constellations and stars, but so far it hasn't helped me .

A hint for 11ac might help.