Hi Candledave. Yup I have the list in front of me. The half I do have is a slightly different spelling from the original. I expect I'm missing something obvious but was starting to think there's an error in the printed version of the crossword!
Granama1, if you are referring to the specification that I think you are, the 'different spelling ' is a missing ending. That ending is the second half of the pair.
I enjoyed last week's but this cold solving is beyond my skill set at present. I've made reasonable progress with the down clues but the across clues are eluding me. So the theme is still a complete mystery! Any help with the first across and first down clue might help. Just knowing which bit is the definition would shut down a few rabbit holes! Thanks
All done. I found a lot of the clues very difficult and, initially, had three incorrect extra words in the Downs, which threw the ending for a while. Knowing which columns it had to be helped me backtrack and find the correct words. Very clever construction. I only have one outstanding query. I know the extra letter from the 7th Across clue starting "Maybe" but I can't see how it's derived from the clue.
First across clue - the answer is slang, the one 'in trouble' is female.
First down - '(to) compere' + 2 letters for 'truly'/really, around 'd' (first 3 words for the def).
The extra letter is from the last word of the 'Maybe...' clue.
Thanks, drxx. Given that the whole clue is almost an &lit, I can now see the end bit but still not the rest of the wordplay. Iām missing something. Initially, I had used a different vowel and definition until the extra letters told me I was wrong.