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...and hints, large and small.

Well I have a filled grid, eight thematic words and the 5 circled letters and haven't the faintest about the ninth example. I guess the extra words might be of use if I can spot them.

tatters - don’t think the extra words will help.

I just searched through 9 or 10 letter options in Bradfords until I found it.

It might have been quicker gambling the circled letters positions weren't coincidental.

I used them in order, got the ninth but I am none the wiser. I only know that I haven't heard of most of them. Ignorance is bliss.

I used my (now discontinued) Sympathy program to search for an anagram of the 5 circled letters plus 4 or 5 extra letters, That got me home. Wouldn't have got it for a long time otherwise.

It helped that I knew Malva's preference when it comes to themes. I've found most of his puzzle to be light relief in the past, but didn't think this one was easy at all - but still very enjoyable.

Thank you Malva. Good challenge. Not our specialty or
hobby (😉) so didn’t recognise most of them, or the ninth.
Well constructed.

I seem to have two extra words, "look" and "pink", that can fit the last 4 letters of the thematic entry in 7th column - no-one else has mentioned it so I assume I've gone wrong somewhere but can't see where?

Getting the 10 letter answers was a considerable "in" to filling the grid. The end game was pretty staright-forward with a quick reference to Bradfords. I do not understand why the extra words were not helpful as I found them invaluable - each one gives half of each unclued light- in most instances one of the two syllables - AND they allow you to confirm that all of the unclued entries are correct. Now onto the Inquisitor.

Brendan, pink gives the second syllable, the first is an additional word in another clue. Look belongs to the unclued entry that is a single sylllable.