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PS Yes, I'm fine now, thanks Roof.

I parsed 1d slightly differently. I read it as a four-word sentence (1 + 2 + 1 + 3), that is equivalent to the last four words of the clue.

1d I had as D from the clue plus 2 (constitutes), 1, 3. Works either way

Yep, sorry guys, you're right - that makes much more sense:-)

After getting diddly squat for ages I nearly gave up so thanks for the hints and encouragement everyone.

I am stuck with 17d “Following success in theatre turned up to watch very famous dancer (7)” and 18d “Our existing declaration limited cricket side — lose, in effect (4,3)”
Also 25a “ Cricket side at Oval smoothly added to score (6)”. Not sure what the cricket side means and it has come up twice in the same crossword!

Many thanks Brendan. I was annoyed as at one time 12ac was the only one I got and now of course it is wrong. However, I found the correct answer for it and 14d. My incorrect 12ac also misled me with 7d, but I've got that now. I have still to get 6d. I think I have it now. And 11ac falls in to place.

I also got 1d and I've made a wild guess at 8ac, though I can't parse it. I have a dead (19C) statesman. I've also made some progress on the southwest corner. I've guessed at 21ac a word meaning top. I thought I'd got 22d, but cannot solve 25ac. for which I have ?E?F?O. So I may be wrong there.

Not much progress on south east corner and 4d, but I'll keep at until scandi noir.

I'm only stuck on 24d and 26a, any hints would be much appreciated.

Roof, think about the two cricket sides for the first part of the word. Then the whole word is a musical term.

Thanks Roof.

8a - Yes, C19 statesman is correct. Parsing is single letter "one" then "unfortunate king's" then 2 letter "identity" all reversed/the wrong way

25a - Your F is wrong. It's 3 letter "cricket side" then AT then single letter "oval" - definition is "smoothly added to score" a music term

21a - Yes, definition is "top" - 3 letter "religious school in East" then 3 letter "with missing head" (literally do what it says)

22d - 2 letter "assessed intelligence" goes around 2 letter "part/unit of army" - definition is "country" a specific one.

Enjoy your Scandi Noir:-)

Hi Docrum,

24d - Single letter "area" + IN from the clue then single letter "eastern part of Honshu" - definition is "indigenous people"

26a - 7 letter "men committed to union" around single letter "new" - definition is "funds".