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Thanks both

gitto as regards entering the answers, I got started by looking at the 3rd column and thinking about what 'larger-than-life' character I had to put where in order for the 3d answer to 'fit'. Then similarly for the 11 character down answer.

Ignore my post at 156 wrt column 7 as I have just discovered that I had the wrong bloody answer. I have now filled the grid with 14 clashes, BUT one is in column 7 row 9 which looks wrong. Please confirm my fears

Thanks for the help with the current clue both of you. I would never thought of that definition in a month of Listeners.

I suspect many solvers (like me) will be at this stage. I have a full grid with clashes and the 19 letter phrase to spell what is kept in the grid but haven’t got a clue what to do next. Where are these larger than life characters, what do I do with the ignored letters……..? Any help with climbing the next stage of Everest would be appreciated!

Make that 13 clashes now that I have spotted that the answer can be spelt 2 ways - it is little wonder that I was struggling to correctly parse the clue, but all is good now. Still waiting for a PDM so I do not know if the 3rd letter in column 2 goes in row 3 or 5. I only have 2 blank cells.

Just checked on line and I can get a straight jacket for £16.94, which I obviously need as I now see that I have 3 blank cells.

Gitto, there are no clashes in Row 9. I echo Blakwhole's tip in that it's probably easier to think about what larger-than-life character will fit where the clashes are. There are no doubt many approaches to this, but as I said in an earlier post, it helps enormously if you enter the "ignored" letters in a different colour in the grid. You may then be able to identify what these characters are, and with that in mind you can fill most of the grid without worrying about the clashes until later.

I hope this makes sense - it is extraordinarily difficult to offer hints to a grid of such complexity without giving the game away!

PS Yes there will be some blank cells before you do the final stage. It would have been nice for that to have been mentioned in the preamble!

Having clawed my way to a full grid last night, I took a fresh look this morning - following loge's advice about putting shared ignored letters in another colour. Sure enough I found the characters, what a let-down! After such a slog I had been expecting Gods of Olympus, legendary giants from Norse mythology - not this bunch. I may find something better to do than finish this off.

Too right, Planks. I try not to be snobbish about these things, but for the work involved I have expected the characters to be some titans of human endeavour!