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Brendan, I parsed 16a with the surname of a comedian https://tinyurl.com/mt74pyfh
That crosses with the correct solution to 14d.
I don't know the comic publication. 😀

And I only learned of the comedian through solving crosswords! 😀

I think the comedian is a coincidental red herring. Nothing in the clue indicates a comedian should be involved, and it would leave the second word totally unclued. It's just what I suggested a few posts back.
(And the surface didn't make a lot of sense either!)

Chris, agreed the comedian is coincidental and not in wordplay. I was just replying to Bob's question.

I think we're talking at cross purposes Geeker. Yes. the first word of 16a is the name of a well known female comedian but Bob hasn't yet been able to solve it and so, given that he said the crossing letters of the first word can make a 'comic' (rather than a comedian), I've surmised, perhaps incorrectly, that the 3rd letter of his 14d is an O, which would give Beano.

Thanks to everyone for trying to help. I've just re-read a Blandings Castle story, and yet still spelled it wrong. Back to the drawing board. And yes, I was thinking of the rival to the Dandy!

Thanks again all. Finished now. Not easy, but clever and funny.