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ukridge, same here so I've assumed the latter. Occurs elsewhere too.

Ha! Thanks simond9x. I could have done without that extra complication. It maybe explains why the other two 12-letter entries don't seem to work as well.

All done after many hours. One of the most difficult listeners that I've ever completed. As Candledave mentioned a 'letter string' from pairs of the code eventually rang a very distant bell, and that led to the fictitious creature. Wow!

Cockie - the second 12-letter across - not easy to give a hint that isn't saying too much - but I think it's Ok to say that the word play splits into 5+6+1, the 1 being the usual 'base'.

Ukridge it does just say "with one that follows" rather than "the one that follows" so I imagine if the phrase was "eat an apple" then A could be replaced by T, N or P, and equally an A in the grid could be derived from E, T or N.

Long had all the answers but no idea of the theme. I’ve tried to reason it from the opening line business but with no success. If it is obscure then I doubt I know it. A little more help, such as the total number of letters in the four-word description, would have been some aid. I fear this one will remain unfinished.

There was a great clang 20 minutes ago, and I now have the 12-letters boys and the 4-word description (though there is a choice of 2 letters where 3 meets 15, I think. But, even knowing where the description comes from, and what I'm presumably looking for, the 4 other clues remain steadfastly unsolved. So only the halfpenny has dropped.

Doubtless when the other shoe drops (mixed metaphor - sorry) the 3/15 matter will resolve itself

I enjoyed this, but agree that it’s a pretty tough endgame if you don’t know the work. I think the preamble could have been more helpful in that regard.

Is the four-word description to be found in any of the standard reference works, eg ODQ, Brewer?

cockie - you should only have one option that works at the 3/15 crossover

dodgepot - perhaps the preamble could have been more helpful but I don’t think it can be said that Sabre didn’t leave any additional assistance…..