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But one of them doesn't seem to lie within the theme.

raggedy - if grid fill is correct - only one clash lies 'within' the description of the theme. Adding the values of this clash will give a total which when divided by 26 will leave a remainder - and this is the value that gives you what to replace in every other clash

There are two thematic items that I see as not being (physically) a part of the description of the theme, which I think is 3, 8, 4, as mentioned earlier in the thread . Of these I have used the four-letter one that is (again physically) within the description of the theme. When I follow the instructions I end up with a letter that seems completely random. I'm not great at maths but this is simple arithmetic and I can't see that I have gone wrong. So is the reasoning of my choice above wrong?

This seems to be proving more difficult than I saw when solving. Hopefully not giving too much away - but the 'description of the theme' is not as you mentioned (3,8,4) ... Your second and third digits would be correct...

still failing on 6a and 9d - can someone provide a hint please - then i can join the discussion on the endgame :-)

6A first word definition - word play - counter + 3 articles ( 1,3,1)
9D last word definition (video based) - word play synonym for head missing base + usual title for a certain gender schoolteacher 'raised'

thanks crates - so easy when you know, although is accepted really needed in 6a?

I'm not sure it's 3 articles. Perhaps it is a for accepted, then 2 articles.

Yeah agree - obviously there for the 'smoothness' of the clue - On first work-through I was trying desperately to incorporate 'accepted' into the answer ...

I'm sure you are correct - Although would be 2 articles + accepted - That would fulfil the brief ... (but guess without nominating number of articles would work with/without 'accepted') -