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1d - a noted romantic figure once played by Richard Chamberlain on screen. One letter for “century” then the rest is “like a star”.

15a - an English composer, can’t really say any more than the answer is right in front of you.

Very enjoyable today, although for a while I had “weight” for 25ac! Well it was certainly true for 8ac(!), and I thought a “vessel about to set off” weighs anchor. Then I couldn’t find the “t” at the end, then I got the downs, and weight got dripped.

Dropped not dripped! Sausage fingers.

Now done, thank you. FOI 24d. COD 11d

Hi everyone

I started very late today - 6.30pm. Working in garden in morning then
out for a walk with a friend. Got cold and exhausted and brain not in gear. I got a few all on left hand side. Then stuck, so checked forum and it has taken me over an hour to read through the thread solving as I go.
I thought it was all going to composers, so imagine my disappointment when I discovered footballers were included! I've still got several to solve on right hand side including 17ac. I'm no golfer either. And 18d. Any further hints for these would be welcome

17ac - yes it is a golf term for someone with a zero handicap. I suppose you might do this if you were itching to play.

18d - an anagram from the clue surrounding (without) a three letter word for previous. Def is a skin complaint.

Hmm.

Completed in reasonable time with a lot of help from here, didn't really enjoy.

Picaroon is not on my wavelength and I find the wording and parsing hazy at times - examples the "enjoy" part of 11a, and the "desert" of 5d.

FOI: 26a Spooner always comes first.
LOI: 13d Not a particularly hard one, but I'd disregarded it for some reason.

COD: 8a is decent, but I'll give it to 12a - plays with the theme nicely, and I got it quickly, which helps.

Many thanks Richard
Very helpful clues especially for the golfing term. I've only got two left now. 24d and 26ac. I hate Spoonerisms,, so any hints for either would be appreciated.

I have B??? for 24d and T?A???R? for 26ac

I had some difficulty parsing 9ac and 5d, though I think they must be right. My FOI was 10ac and I haven't chosed a COD yet, though 3d must be in line as it took me ages to get this obvious answer.

No sooner posted and fed the cat when the answer to 24d became evident and then 26ac including the Spoonerism.

So many thanks to those who posted helpful clues. I'm done now and off to bed as I'm whacked. and we lose an hour tonight. I look forward to next week's Easter special and hope I manage to start a bit earlier.

Got there at long last, with a ton of help from here - many thanks to all of you, and to Picaroon for a real but very enjoyable stretch. FOI 10A, LOI 9A after I was incredibly slow for the penny drop on 7D, obv a wobbly day today. Many candidates for COD,: 6D, 11A, 13D but I think 16D wins it for a beautifully crafted but valid new word (I was helped in getting 16D because someone in Friday's paper talked about the great film 'Harold & Maude')
I knew of most of the scorers (with some prompting) but this was definitely not the easy ride I had last week.
I mentioned last week the coincidence of a picture-book theme with a Guardian leader about the value of picture books, and my letter commenting on this was published in today's paper!

Oh, a word in reply to Chrise @64, I believe this scorer is known for the speed with which he worked so I don't think 'rapidly' is redundant. Helped me, anyway