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Anyone doing this? I have the message and 8 of 9 modifications and can't work out what's going on! Some of the modifications seem related to one instance of the message, others, err, not so much.

Last one to do is 39a Rotter bent ring on collar (4)

The answer seems obvious but the modification seems different in a particular way.

Also don't see the parsing of 31d Annals of fortified Island (5)

Hints gratefully received!

Hi granama,
I did this at the weekend, and although I enjoyed it, I had a few quibbles
39a is one of three answers where the modification is removal of repeat letters i. e. avoiding 'repetition'.
Together, this and the other two modification methods reference a 60s radio show.
31a is a straight answer, 'fasti'.

I assume you have the answer for 39Ac. I modified it in a similar way to 1Dn (separate removals).

I still haven’t clicked what’s going on. I have the ‘hint’. I need help with 21Ac and 16Dn. I believe they are both one of the nine gimmicks. I have grid entries for both but would like the pre-modified answers. Any help Granama1?

Thanks Muraria. I'm going to have to look at some of my modifications again. I have 3 that are obvious changes of direction, so to speak, several that falter somewhat and some that seem to bear no relation. One might fit the periodic table!

I've seen this theme before I'm sure.

Thanks Muraria. I’m missing 21Ac and 16Dn. I have found 3 hesitations, 2 repetitions and 2 deviations. So I assume I’m looking for another repetition and another deviation…?

H1982 re 1d I took 4 consecutive letters as the modification. (It's an anagram).

I have 21a as a normal clue (hidden, reversed). 16d is modified the poet is generic, Scandinavian, the partners are as in Bridge and black is the usual. The result is a hoss. 😊

Hope that helps. 👍

H1982, 21a is a straight clue. Definition in Chambers implies parts of a plant not of a body.
For 16d you need to know that a skald is a poet.

Thanks - sorted now. However, I now need to find the 9th gimmick word…

Well, it's all done. Finally twigged the repetition bit. I do find some of the clues a bit odd. eg 3d One reports on tails. (8) Why is tails plural? I suppose if you assume 'kind' on the end it sort of works but I find it a v strange clue...which usually means I've parsed incorrectly!

Ho hum...now for the new Magpie! 👍

I have repetitions in 10d, 36a and 39a, deviations in 1d, 16d and 34d, and hesitations in 1a, 6a and 29d