Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Can someone explain the wordplay to 26 across please?

Assuming I have not misunderstood the instruction, I have found the 4-word thematic, and notated the single word thematic, so the two clues that I have not answered yet - 12ac and 16ac - may remain unanswered...as their unches are irrelevant.
Not sure how I feel about a crossword that doesn't require all clues to be solved. The answering of 12 and 16 do confirm the information due to their missing letters, but the crossword can be completed without requiring these clues (and others) to be solved..

I probably should have mentioned that as a pro-musician (pianist), I did have an advantage!

Ok - I succumbed and solved them anyway. I couldn't leave them unsolved!

26a - unclued
Lone has extra letter. The remainder gives the first 2 letters. Bards oddly eschewed gives the second 2 letters.

I will not be surprised if there is controversy as to whether the additions go to the left or right!

Lewap sorry but you gave me 26 down!

Unclued,

MODUS OPERANDI DREAD

May help

Thanks Gitto, I couldn’t shake off trying to fit in mode somehow.

So did I !!!!!