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I found this to be a fair bit harder than normal and, like with yesterday's Prize, it took me a fair while to get going.

All the usual suspects are present - anagrams, hiddens, charades and initial letters but, in addition, we have an Everyman first this week with 25a which, I think, is an &lit clue - correct me if I'm wrong.

The only clue I can't fully parse is 17d but I am sure of my answer.

COD - Lots of contenders but my favs are the witty 1d, which also has a wonderfully smooth surface and 17d which is obviously meant as a jest so I hope no-one finds it offensive.

Thanks to Everyman for a great way to begin our Sunday:-)

Did you find it trickier than normal or is it just me? I spent last weekend with my siblings, one of whom has since tested positive for Covid, so I could just be under the weather 🤧🤕

Stay safe:-)

I also found this harder than usual. Thanks to Everyman for a well-crafted challenge.
Good spot on the &lit, though I have no idea whether it's the first.
I also noticed two longish hiddens, unusual to me (back when I did the Times puzzles pre-paywall, I got the impression the Times only allowed one hidden per grid).
My COD was also 1d! Runners-up in order 19, 3, 2, 9, 13 and 5.
FOI 9, LOI 14 (write-in but needed Google to verify).
Is there a rhyming pair? Two longish clues end in the same letter but I don't consider it a rhyme.
15a and 18 (often involved in similar wordplay) are a funny coupling. 😊

In the hint category: two long anags across, one down.

BTW, I'm seeing multiple blank lines weirdly inserted into various forum posts, including brendan@1.

Hi Geeker,

I think 6d and 13d are a rhyming pair but, as per usual, I completely missed them first time round!

I'm not seeing any erroneous blank lines but it sounds like something Norah would appreciate hearing about, then she can tell Ash.

Interesting about the Times convention of a maximum of one hidden per crossword - I think Everyman plays by its own rules:-)

Brendan,
I've seen non-Everyman Guardian puzzles including more than one hidden. Don't recall that ever occurring in the Times, but I could be mistaken and haven't seen a Times puzzle in years.
6 and 13 might be a rhyming pair in Boston 😊, but not in most of the USA.

Strangely, I found it slightly easier than most, or at least I finished it quicker than usual. Perhaps 25a is meant as a pun - both &lit and alliterative.

I know they are not universally liked, but I thought the "primarily" clue was one of the cleverest I've seen.

Are you still puzzled by 17d? Isn't it just a two-letter abbreviation + a five-letter flying object? How might it be offensive.

I don't see anything offensive in 17, though I had trouble figuring it out. Perhaps people are walking on eggshells after some dubious material in Paul's Prize yesterday.
Agreed the "first letters" was good. Everyman has been strong with those of late.
I also enjoyed the (slightly) naughty clue.

Hi Brendan (and others),

I agree with rain and for 17d.
This isn’t a rhyming puzzle but an alliterative one - top, bottom and middle.
Yes, I found this harder than normal.

Hi Rainman,

I meant 19d not 17d both as my COD and the clue that some might take exception to - I only say that because people nowadays are so quick to take offence - humour and the ability to take a joke are a becoming a rare and precious thing.

Thanks for the parsing of 17d (and I do mean 17d 😀)

Hi Mystogre,

Interesting about the pronunciation of 6d and 13d. They definitely rhyme the way I pronounce them and Chambers has 13d ending with a schwa and 6d ending with a schwa followed by an R.

Geeker, I can picture a Bostonian pronouncing it in the same way as me, or at least an actor playing someone from there like Johnny Depp in Black Mass or Matt Damon in The Departed:-)

Rats, I missed the alliteration! Should have looked for it given the grid and lack of rhyme. Good job.

Agreed, well played on spotting the alliteration Mystogre:-)