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The only answer I can come up with for 5d relates to the Yorkshiremen sketch from Monty Python. Am I correct? Seems a bit of a stretch!

I'd also appreciate help with 6d. The only answer that fits seems like the opposite of what roses are, and doesn't seem to have any connection to the first part of the clue.

Found this MUCH harder than usual, and need a lot of help with it. Took forever to get the second word of 1a, and then it seemed too obvious!

1d my FOI and COD.

Fernie, the last two letters of the first word of 9a refer the one of the bible books.

6d is an anagram of two words from the clue (but you have to remove the first letter from one of them).
It’s an extended definition of sorts… roses after they’ve been decapitated might be this?

Read 5d aloud as 2,1,3…

Thanks re 6d Jono - I'd never have worked that one out!

Re 5d, Okay, I get the Yorkshiremen bit when reading it aloud, (I think?!) but I still don't get what mean has to do with the answer.

Thanks Jules et Jon. The anagram clue for 6d means I have an incorrect 1a! Which, when I finally get it, will probably help with 5d also.

Tks for bible ref

Doh! Complete now. Yes, folks Hiawatha is a very red herring!

Thanks brendan, phil10000 and jono

@julesvern — ‘mean’ not as ‘the mean’ or ‘being mean’ but another sense’…

Well that was a slog. Finished earlier but was enjoying the 4-1. Did not spot the 17d hidden for ages so my SE corner was stuck. Did not identify the anagram fodder at 6d. Could not spot the same in 1a. All in all found it tricky, harder than usual. But loved some clues. Agree on the 12a singular anomaly. CoD 4d for me. See you next week.