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and 17 def.free/liberate
hidden in the clue minus M

I hardly ever solve this in full and todays fails were 3d,20a and 21d
I had rote for 21d but couldn't see the headache bit but couldn't think of anything else .

Got 23a but can't parse it

Very slow solve for me today, and didn’t get 26a (struggled to make a London location work). Ah well. Lots to enjoy though, thanks to Everyman.

Loubyloo, read your answer for 23a backwards

@Loubyloo
21d starts with B. def. to drill

druh6sm - for 6, think of a famous (fictional) spy

Davel -I googled frut thinking it must be an obscure word for a wally . That's another one wrong !

Not being part of the early brigade, I benefited from the hints about 3d in this week's posts and this unlocked the rest for me (eventually). A testing crossword with more complex parsing. Satisfying, nevertheless, with 17a my COD.
When I started doing Everyman in the '60s, I had to wait until the following week to fill in the gaps and then work out the wordplay and parsing (as well as learn some new words and usage!). Thanks Everyman and fellow posters.

Any hints about the parsing of 13d please?

Thanks

coffindodger @28
2, then 5 around 3 letters for "American cape"

I tried to work Cod in, but it's not there!