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Hi Rainman,

You're absolutely right - this is what happens when I try to answer queries on here, complete today's IQ and watch a repeat of Game of Thrones season 7 all at the same time:-)

Brendan, I don't know how you keep it up, but we all appreciate it.

Thank you Rainman, I really appreciate that:-)

Brendan/Rainman - thanks for parsing 19/25 for me. I got the answer fairly early, but just couldn't work out the why. There's always one like that! Keep it up chaps.

And thanks to all posters for not usually giving too much away. I like to read this thread sparingly and am always disappointed when I feel I have been spoon fed the answer, rather than just pointed in the right direction.

I agree! I got so stuck today, this forum was a godsend! Took an absolute age to get the theme even after having a number of the clues, I still haven’t got 20d even though I have 23 and all the crossers. Where am I going wrong?! Also can’t get24a but think that’s just a mental block.

I liked it overall, fav clues were 7a (raised a smile) and 11d. Was on my own today as husband away so quite pleased I got so far - with endless scrolling through the comments here!

Night all and thanks as always!

Thanks Roof@85, I thought Lonnie Donegan would strike a chord with some here. Who needs Eurovision?

Hi Anyotherbizniz, hi Noeyedeer,

Thanks for that, it's always difficult to tread the line between helpful hint and spoiler, but I think the posters on this blog get it right more often than not.

24a - Is just a straight anagram - I was a bit puzzled by the definition but Chambers gives it "as progress with" so fair enough.

20d - Look at all the words that fit that letter pattern and you'll see one that could be an anagram indicator - then look up that word with 23d in the dictionary and it will give you a collective name for the theme words.

Agree 7a was funny - where kennel empty - excellent:-)

Got 20d! What a relief!! Thanks to the comment about beef earlier!!

Back again

Just six left now including 20,23 and 14d. It may help if I could solve 20ac and 22ac.

I have ??O?? for 20ac and M??? for 22ac, but no idea for either. A hint for both would help.

20a is a homophone, definition "dessert"