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I'm still struggling in the eastern region. Tips for 18ac and 21dn would be useful please

dylan:
18a - Definition is first three words, "plant's had" is missing a letter and gives one letter for the wordplay.

21d - 3 letter "Clear of all charges" in 4 letter "stand"

Many thanks SH, your tip confirming my answer but now understanding it.
A final request - I know the replaced letter required in 23 across but unable to fathom the restored letter needed to enable solving (or where it goes). I promise not to pester again.

Immediately following my post I saw the letter to be restored for solving 23 across. Big thank-you once again SH.

Unstuck, if I've understood your query, it is a vowel added to the last letter of the clue to create an anagram indicator.

Can someone explain the parsing of 40 across, please.

Thank you setter for a challenging 'full weekend' solve (for me, anyway).

EsPeBe

I think chopped = ate

What, no reference to Klaatu??

Rhsl, thanks for your hint at # 31. I have finally crawled over the line!

Thank you espebe for confirming what I eventually sussed as the letter to be restored in the appropriate word.

Post 47 goes to far and would have been cause for removal earlier.
I would like to say however, that the thirteen cells should only be ten, according to the co-creator.