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Geeker, apologies if you already know this but a little context might be useful ...

For 21 years the Everyman was set with regular aplomb by the wonderful Allan Scott who retired in 2015. Then, on Allan's recommendation (I think), the torch was passed to the also well-respected Colin Gumbrell, but he retired in 2019. Regulars may well remember that for the next few weeks and months there followed what can best be described as a "mixed-bag" as editors tried desperately to fill those admittedly large shoes.

Speaking purely from a personal viewpoint, I began my cryptic puzzle solving journey with the Everyman, which is why I still have such an affection for it and why, for the albeit brief period that it lost its way, post Scott and Gumbrell, I found it so disheartening. But it's also why I'm now so happy, because the quality has been of a consistently high level for quite a while.

I don't know whether the Observer now used one specific setter or choose from a pool but, regardless, the Everyman is once again the joy that it always used to be:-)

well put brendan #11....to me the Everyman is a familiar Sunday institution...in good company with walking the dog, popping into a local and a long, lazy breakfast...usually a fair and doable challenge, and very much appreciated....

Thanks, Brendan. I was unaware of the background / context. Much appreciated.

Like mathprofrockstar I also found this on the easy side due to recognising the grid before I started and so expecting the alliterations. My husband is a big 1a fan too which got me off to a flying start with 1a as FOI. LOI was 18d as it took me a while to recognise what type of cut it was and I needed the crossers for the penny to drop. My COD was 8d for the misdirection.

Thanks Culmer, that sounds like a great way to spend a Sunday:-)

Brendan, your history with the Everyman is similar to mine, nicely put. I must be on good form today. Wordle in 3, Codeword in 2’30s and this went in very easily thanks mainly the the long alliterative clues and what felt like a good number of anagrams. I noted this is a slight variation on the grid Everyman has used previously for alliterations, where 1a and 26a are 13 in length and 1a is split 6,7.
As mentioned in another thread it’s the Times 5,000th cryptic today so I will go in search of a copy!
Cheers all

Interesting spot from Culmer regarding the corners. Not sure what you'd call them ... 'nearly-grams'?
Just one quibble. 'Wanting' seems to be used in a peculiar way in a couple of clues. I always thought it indicated some letters should be deleted from an anagrist, but here it simply seems to indicate the definition. Or am I missing something obvious (which is more than likely)?

I generally enjoyed this Everyman, as mentioned a nice Sunday morning level I thought

My only issue is I'm struggling to parse 16d, unless the first word can be spelt with an i ? I have a word with an e

something amiss there...the first word has no 'i'

Yeah I think you have 16A wrong Warden... see post #2 if you want the parsing (well answer, tbh) for that.