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Thanks Brendan, Mathi re 19D.
I got the “says Anne” link pretty quickly through the ‘according to’ clue, but it’s the reference to ‘auditorium’ I don’t get.
Is this another way of saying the answer ‘sounds like’ something? Maybe I’m being too pedantic!

Hi Percy,

"In the auditorium" along with "picked up", "on the radio", 2to audience" etc. are all indicators of a homophone type clue. They crop up very frequently in cryptic crosswords so it's worth remembering the various ways setters clue them.

What on earth is going on with 21d ?
Is it really the give away that it seems; if so what is the relevance of the last three words in the clue?

The rest of the puzzle most enjoyable.

Here’s a good list of homophone indicators I found useful (just for starters)... https://www.crosswordunclued.com/2009/02/homophone-indicators.html

21d is a “double reverse inclusion” (I just made that up), but it’s an inclusion and a reverse inclusion in one clue if that makes sense

Thanks Jono, that's a useful list to have.

Hi Coffindodger,

21d - I'm sure your answer is correct. The "however things go" means the answer can be read both from left to right and from right to left in "Gog and Magog" - the last four letters of "(M)agog" and in reverse from Gog a(nd).

Thanks Jono and Brendan.
You have removed the scales from my eyes ! I see it now - but still think it is a bit of a weak clue from Everyman.

Thanks all of you. I've been following your threads now for about 8 weeks and working things out with your nudges and hints. Today. though it took me 3 hours and some strong coffee, I managed to complete without too much help.

Prospero et al.
Thanks for the valiant attempts to parse 8d, but it just doesn't work.
If it's an anagram where's the anagrind?
Is "in" an inclusion indicator? If not, what tells you to leave it out of the fodder?
This clue effectively says "all the bits are there, with a few vague instructions; just throw them up in the air and fit them in with the crossers. I'm sure you'll solve it".
Irritating.

I'd also appreciate some help explaining 13d.
What's the "group on top" all about?

Hi Quocunque,

13d - S(econd) with a 4 letter "group on top" of it.