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Regarding the aptness of the 'musical' synonym:

There is a headword in Chambers starting with T, an adjective, one of whose definitions is 'musical'. Then there is another headword starting with T - very nearby - whose definitions include the first headword. So by the cryptic clue law of transitivity of synonyms :-), the second headword is also a synonym for musical.

I'm not quite sure why, but the SE corner caused me most difficulty, and I used the members to help complete the clues. Therein lay a difficulty - and irritation, perhaps, which used to afflict the TLS before Peter took over editing. Many of the members have alternative spellings, depending on which language you used, and the longest of them is a particularly pesky case. Knowing that might be of use to anyone still trying to hammer this into submission
Still, all done and dusted (in bits over several sessions. It obviously couldn't be done, but it would have been nice to end up with real words dotted around the grid.

I agree Zabadak, real words at the end would have been nice. Given it was impossible, I’d have welcomed a final instruction to erase the non-thematic area. Perhaps Dysart decided against this because then it wouldn’t be strictly necessary to solve all the clues?

Can I get a pointer to complete my theme words. I have those in row 5 to 12 inclusive. One in each. Do some have two? As I only have 55 cells do far!
I'm not asking for answers but to know if they continue to be just one word and central.

Hi Lumen,

There is only one theme word in each row, but, given that you change one entry in each across clue, you can see how some theme words could be very long - and central.

Lumen, don't forget that the thematic location is part of the thematic area.
Some people have posted about not being able to find the "two others" in the grid. My interpretation of the preamble is that the CLUES contain references associated with the 12 members of the group, and also references associated with two others NOT in the group, i.e. not included in the grid because they aren't found in the thematic location. (Having said that, I can find only one of the two other references, but two references in different clues to the same group member... D'oh!)
Thanks once again to all who posted hints here. I had a bad case of "parsing tunnel vision" with quite a few clues which wasn't resolved by leaving the puzzle a few days and going back to it.

Does anyone know what happens when Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, as it does this year? Is there no Listener that week — meaning there are only 51 puzzles in 2021 — or is it published on another day? (Asking for a friend...)

The last time Christmas Day fell on a Saturday was 2010, and according to the Listener site there was no puzzle that day. Whether that'll happen again is anyone's guess.

Thanks for advice, brendan and Jif. I am finished with 91 cells. But can't see what the shape is meant to be! And even more intriguingly, can't see why what I have in row 3 (7 letters) is there instead of what I expected (9 letters).

I'm surprised you haven't been asked to clarify how you're counting your thematic items, lumen.
Your earlier mention of 55 cells from rows 5 to 12 inclusive, doesn't add up. Similarly, a 7 letter or 9 letter thematic would be wrong for row 3 (I'm wary of getting involved where numbers are concerned because I'm very easily confused in this respect - but I'm struggling to see how your numbers could possibly be right if you've got the correct thematic items).
As you're not asking for answers I can't give any - but there are a few pointers earlier in the thread should you need them (or am I completely missing your point?)..

Thanks drxx for trying.
I am looking for theme word relating to love 9 letters in row 3, but it seems to lead to a 7 letter word related to her.
My rows 5 to 12 actually totals 56 and I think they are right! Plus 12 in row 13.