... highlighting done but I haven't a scooby what assistance the message from the extra letters was supposed to provide. Thanks anyway Shirley and Happy Easter
Likewise: rapid gridfill, quick spot of the necessary highlighting - but totally baffled by the message from the across clues, despite it being internally coherent. I’ll have to wait for the published solution to clarify that. Thank you, Chalicea.
Jack - I got the message eventually and it did confirm the highlights. Try moving the last word of the message up to be the 4th word of the message and it may make more sense
I too found the grid fill rather straightforward other than I am flummoxed by 18a. I have the message - now just my normal Saturday morning grid stare to complete.