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 additional information or special instructions should be included.
Hints only, please, no answers.

The theme...
Requests for help with the theme may be made here. The 'help' given should be just enough to steer a solver in the right direction, not anything that would spoil the puzzle for others. Aim to give a pointer, a nudge, not anything overly revealing. Any queries or responses which, even inadvertently, reveal too much are likely to be removed.

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

PS Even though the puzzle isn't available until late afternoon, this opener thread may appear on Friday mornings - it depends on how busy my day is going to be!

Interesting title

I'm not there yet but already the title is taking on significance. Grid stare tomorrow!

I found this very hard - the endgame works out fine, but some of the clues along the way push the boundaries of fairness to breaking point (I think).

Couldn't agree more drxx. Apart from the several clues that I cannot parse, eg 12,39,35,21 etc., I am struggling to find the two pairs of letters to swap. Logic tells me that it has to be symmetrical in the grid to the final requirement of the preamble.

gitto - symmetry isn’t directly relevant to the swapping of the letters

Sorry - if you already have the last piece sorted, then you are right re symmetry

Perhaps you're making the mistake that held me up for a while, gitto - looking for a single swap (one pair for another)? Anyway, it's not an obscure result (unlike quite a few of the definitions}.
Not that I didn't enjoy the challenge - I did (especially the neat endgame).

I have removed four bars and got the phrase and the two names but I am left with one non-word in the final grid. Does that tally with your solutions drxx and CD?

Scrub my last post - just being thick as usual.