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Thanks dsc and Brendan. So a synonym for fruits rather than a type.

Thanks for your answer but I am no clearer. There is another column for hints so wouldn't people who just want hints go there? It's very confusing. Why wouldthere be 2 columns?

I don’t make the rules. The Listener is the only puzzle on this site allowed two threads. Some people, a minority, just wish to discuss the puzzle generally, with no hints or answers. They are on the “No answers” thread. Others, the majority, require help, but usually very gentle hints. They don’t want answers spelt out or the theme given away. They go on this thread. A small minority require direct answers or to be told the theme, and they don’t have a natural thread. It is usually possible for them to get the assistance they require on here without spoiling things for those who only want gentle or oblique hints. So that is the current status quo. I agree the names are confusing. They should perhaps be “No hints” and “Hints but no answers”

It says 'slightly more generous hints to the theme' at the start of the thread and, as Dysart has made the preamble as opaque as possible, here goes -
You need an anagram of the circled letters (4+3) to point you towards a particular part of the grid which then requires the same treatment (resulting in a much longer anagram).

Thanks Tatters etc as ever. I have a full grid but cannot parse 4 down. Presumably an obscure word.

4d isn't obscure -it's a 4 letter composer inside a (modern) 3 letter light.

Just like 3d then??

Thanks tatters (sorry, wrong number) 4d - 2 letter word for 'by' reversed + usual 4 letters for 'favourites'... and it is an obscure word for pieces of emboidery (sorry, again).

Further to the discussions about Answers given in this thread, I set out below my post from early September.

The two Listener threads will not be renamed in the foreseeable future, there is is nothing wrong with the headings of the two threads, you just have to use each thread for its intended purpose.

Remember “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.”

Thread from 5 September

After a month’s trial, the two Listener threads seem equally popular so I have decided that they will continue as they are for now but rename the Answers thread to
‘LISTENER 8888 – ANSWERS (only if requested individually)’.

I have been informed that there has been some sniping in the 'LISTENER 4574 ANSWERS ONLY' thread because Answers were given. I would remind you all of the preamble and notes in my original thread

“This thread is dedicated solely to ANSWERS, if you want an answer to any clue in the Listener, then please post your request in this thread.

Answers should only be given when requested for an individual clue. Please do not post lists of answers, they will be deleted.”

I will reiterate that the Answers thread is not an excuse for multiple Answers to be given, they should be given very sparingly and only in response to individual requests. If you do not want to see Answers, then keep away from the Answers thread, it’s as simple as that.

As regards the Theme - help with the theme shouldn't stray into just detailing what's needed. Other puzzles/threads work well with hints, large and small.

I’m not discussing the rights and wrongs of answers being given, the internet is awash with answers, the Crossword Solver site does what it says on the tin – it helps users solve crosswords.

AND no more sniping please about Answers being given in the Answers thread. “

My post on the other thread said that I was happy with my grid - what a plonker I am, as I had the wrong answer to 37a!! That caused me severe problems with a) Satisfactorily parsing 37a and 38d and b) applying the instruction to the relevant location. In a rare moment of lucidity I realised the error of my ways and have now completed this masterpiece. I will now move onto the "I".................with hopefully a lot less grid staring involved.