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And I have just realised that "The" is optional, it took me far too long to solve the fourth themed clue because the pedant in me would always call them The__________.

I hate these type of puzzles! Any hints for 12 across would be appreciated. As for the rest, I have no idea where to start...

Docrum, the scripture is unlikely to be heard in your local church, mosque or synagogue.

Docrum - one of my last in, new to me. Parses as 4 (anagram of I had) around 4 (slightly loose, IMV, synonym for sponsorship).

Cheers! Yes, new one for me too.

Are some groups? I assumed all individual as the ones I have are. But someone mentioned The. Also I have only one gender. Are there some of both? Gave up hours ago as both bored but may look later.

Thank you

Hi everyone

I've finally read through all the clues and like many of you thought I'd start with the numbered clues. I haven't got the theme and think from the comments here it will be beyond me. Is it singers, songs or records?

Like many of you I went down the rabbit hole of 4d and I think I must have got 14ac wrong as I now have ?R?H for 4d.

I've numbered all my thematic clues 1-14, but have been very annoyed to find many of them must be split across the grid as there isn't a 13 letter space for my new number 14 and there are far more 4 spaces than thematic answers. I am very logical so started by working out how many spaces of different lengths to fit the thematics.

I also have the strange last letters for 23ac and can't come up with anything that will fit.

Perhaps I could have hints for a couple like 66ac and 69ac to open up the grid for me.

Meanwhile my best wishes to Chris for his golden wedding celebrations.

Snowhite, yes some groups, including the most famous but an pretty obscure tune unless you have heard of the Overlanders…

roof - yes, some clues must be split - for instance, I realised after hours of trying to fit it in, both 22s make up one word of an answer - the draws a line one. 69 - anagram minus L + "no good". 66 - take first letter off a word for really badly - definition: with justification.

Coincidentally, one of the unnumbered part ones also appears in today’s Independent Cryptic.