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Yes, a quick solve. A couple of groans (7d and 16d). A couple I didn't like - the definition in 15d suggests a greater level than the solution, and I didn't like the "film" in12a.
I had to Google onychophagists!
Despite 13a immediately ringing a bell, I didn't see the theme until told there was one here.

Lucertola, The clues which gave me the theme were 13a, 11a and 4d.

Thanks, Smudge. I'm either overthinking again or just plain stupid coz I still don't get it!

lucertola
You would need to have read the book (or, for more completeness, seen the film) to pick up the many references

Hi Lucertola
The subject of the theme appears (approximately) in 28, 26, 24d.

Thank you all for the hint on the theme - everything then pretty much fell into place! I'm only still puzzling over 1D which I'm sure is blindingly obvious, but not to me for the moment .... any hints please?

Ah - got it

Neville - it made me wonder briefly whether there might be a side order of Jonathan Livingston Seagull (very much the same era I think), but probably not.

Thanks, Rogissimo. Now I see it. Never read the book or saw the film. Never heard of any of the characters except the brown one so I guess I was caught in a bramble bush from the start. I'll hop it now. Thanks again.

Aah, so 10a isn't a missprint