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Phil,

24a - 1st word is a homophone/'say' of a specific "fish" then 2nd word a generic term for "pork and beef" minus the "sheep's heart" - definition is "settings for plates".

Thanks Brendan

Thanks Chris

I don't like Boatman either. I did get 11ac and I think I've got 2d. Ah I see it now.

Thank you Brendan, you confirmed one of my choices for 14ac. But I can't see the complex anagram in 15d. I'm short of crossers here. I've assumed the definition is strictly. Am I right? I have an answer for 20ac but am not confident I've got it right. And I still have to get 16d. Grrr

15 is a flawed clue - the anagram indicator is in the wrong place.
it's COME P TELLY anagrammed

Just got 16d and 20ac

Thanks Roof,

15d - anagram of a 4 letter and 5 letter words in the clue + "first of personalities" - definition is "strictly" as in 'thoroughly' or 'totally'

Brendan, I have a good excuse for not getting your reference @3...I know absolutely nothing about the show in question. :-) Stopped watching (USA) TV in 2010 and never heard about it from external sources.

No problem Geeker, It wasn't my thing either but my late father used watch it religiously and even vote every week without fail, as such I'd get to see it from time to time and was aware that the now deceased Len Goodman had a 'particular' way of saying "seven" when awarding that score - as such it became something of a catchphrase:-)

Apologies to Chris. It was you not Brendan who alerted me to the complex anagram, which I did get, after getting 16d and 22ac. This just left me with 23d and 26ac. I've got answers for both of them, but cannot parse either of them. I can't see what Tango has to do with 23d and my answer to 26ac "covers the floor", but bears no relationship to the rest of the clue. I couldn't parse 6d either.

But I haven't been happy with a number of the answers - 5d, 15d. I don't think they meet the definitions.

My FOI was 9ac, LOI was 26ac and my COD, the only one to bring a smile, was 24ac.

I shall look forward to next week's holiday special, though I'm not sure when I'll find time to tackle it. Lots of cooking to do.

Happy Christmas to you all

Just got 26ac. Silly me.