Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

The clues...
Requests for help should normally include the clue itself, the number of letters in the answer, and details of any you already have. Any special instructions or additional information should also be given.
Hints only, please, no answers.

The theme...
Help towards the theme may be sought here. 'Gentle nudges' is, of course, hard to define, but Forum members seem to manage it quite well - giving a little extra nudge, a steer in the right direction, without spoiling the puzzle for others. Any queries or replies which - even inadvertently - reveal too much are likely to be removed.

The Listener is a unique puzzle and should be treated with respect.

Unless I have gone wrong, some of the down entries must be modified before entry. Anyone agree?

No - suggest you reread the preamble as I thought that for a while

As usual with a Sabre puzzle I'm rooting around to justify a single definition with everything else resolved. I have a word that fits the wordplay (just) but it's hyphenated and the clue has it as two words.
My Chambers is pretty old now, and barely holding together (maybe there's been an update with the required def?) anyway, it'll do.

I've looked up the solution which I think you're referring to, drxx, in two different editions of Chambers. In the earlier edition it's hyphenated and in the more recent one it's shown as two words.

Thank you so much, will37 - I'll leave it at that.

Can anyone help with 3a? It's the only one I'm missing.

Personally, I'd have removed 'perhaps' from the Islamist before beheading, but one man's... is another man's freedom fighter, I suppose.

Many thanks, drxx. I was thinking of a river or goddess.

Can i ask - does "insert at random points" include adding letters before the first letter ot after the last letter of the clued word/phrase? I tend to think of insert as "within"