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https://www.dropbox.com/s/m766po9e1dc3hk3/Listener4644.pdf?dl=0

Thanks tatters : )

Much appreciated, tatters.

Given blank grid, lots of clues with answers longer than grid entries and clashes, this looks like a 'cold solve 3/4 of the clues before you can get anywhere' stinker. Hopefully I'm wrong....

Too right, SH. I have cold solved all but a handful of the clues and haven't entered a single answer yet. The jigsaw element seems to me like an obstacle too many at this stage.

The guidelines for setters suggest that any puzzle where well over half the clues have to be solved before any meaningful progress can be made on the grid will be rejected. Hmmm....

Aha! Post enlightenment! But I agree with you, SH.

I’ve found that all carte blanche Listeners need well over half of the clues to be solved before starting entry, so I’ve never taken that guidance seriously. But this was a vey well crafted puzzle, with generous clueing, and came together quickly once one saw what was going on

Agreed, Quisling, it does all come together nicely when you twig the theme. And yes, generous clueing for the most part. Personal preference perhaps, but 95% clues solved without a single definite entry is really pushing it for me. That said, the neatness of the implementation was exemplary and I came away happy, despite Aedites' ears no doubt burning for a good long long while!

Very, very close to conceding with nothing entered and not a clue what I was looking for. The "can be arranged" part of the instructions was particularly daunting, suggesting the clashes would have to be anagrammed. But the bottom right hand corner came to my rescue and both the theme words and the structure became crystal clear, with enough wow! factor to make the initial long slog worthwhile.
A rare example of the endgame being massively helpful in resolving ambiguities and speeding progress to the end.