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18d is just an anagram, though well concealed

Jono: Interesting info on 9A but, as I haven't googled old Torq, I suspect the answer is too obscure. Rather than give me a hint; is this a fair clue?
I cannot parse 16, 22 but I'm sure I've got it right, so I'll dig through the forum for hints, but if there aren't any, please would someone add one?
8A alerted me to the theme and after that I was OK although 6A eluded me for a while and the penny dropped just a minute ago.
Keep up the good work everone.
Thanks.

Hi Jen’
I think 9a is fair. The final four letters reversed are the name of a Spanish inquisitor.
16,22 is one of the themed characters outside (defending) two words for ”the homestead” and one letter for “university”.

A pretty obscure inquisitor, though jono. The reversed name is much more well-known.

Thanks Jono; I think the identity of 9A's GI is, IMHO, a little too obscure for GK so one is forced to google GIs in general.
Just realized that I also cannot parse 21A although I really am sure I've got it right. If The first word is supposed to mean 'leg' then I don't get it (UK slang?).
Anyway, no rush, I can wait for 225.

...in fact I think the reversed one might indeed have been what Paul intended - the old lady could have been individually reversed? The unreversed one is far too obscure to be fair (I had to drill down throgh Google to find him!)

For 21, yes "leg". Think Tour de France, for example.

Thanks ChrisE: Yes, of course, silly me (slap on the head).

I almost always have trouble with Paul puzzles, and this was no exception, even though I am well-versed in the theme. Used to watch the original as a child, and have recently seen the Netflix series 27a. Even with all that, the wordplay in several proved elusive.

But enough of that. I can’t believe it hasn’t been done yet, but I didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition.

Well done mprf 😁