Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

A real LOL when the penny drops with this one.

Much enjoyed, thanks eXtent.

I had a full grid in fairly good time, and I understood the message from the extra letters, but it took an age to get the last bit. Now I feel daft.

Ditto Biggus, I was tying myself in knots trying work out what letters replaced the themed ones until the light finally dawned 💡

Yes, took me a while too, caused by me looking for something more subtle - a 'hint'of something and a singular 'it' - as stated in the preamble

Thanks to eXtent. Arranging all the **** was quite an achievement, I thought.

Filling the grid, 80%, penny not dropping! Help with 8d would be nice.
And 16a.
8d Local truants upset leader of coven (7)
16a Reveal fur's essential oil to the audience (5) Begins with O.
Clues may contain one extra word.

16 O1tter, fur, sounds like (to the audience) Ottar, essential oil. The 'reveal' is extra.

8 Mitches,local truants. Witches, leaders of coven turns the W upside down (upset) to become M.

Generous 'hints', Malone?

If Lumen had asked for 'hints;, I'd happily have given them - and normally that's all I give anyway. 'Help' is not as restrictive a word.