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Well, Brendan, in the worst case 26 is the shortest of the 4 constituent pieces. 🤣 I like it because of a really devious plot including that most slippery character https://tinyurl.com/mu8duk3z

Now, when you say 'shortest' Geeker, I take it you mean comparatively. I only mention this because a lady I know told me that, one weekend, she sat through the whole thing in order to please an old boyfriend of hers. Apparently it was the early stages of their relationship and they were trying to show that they could both appreciate the others interests. I can't remember her exact words but it was along the lines of 'it lasted 15 hours but felt like more like15 years'!

Brendan, I mean comparatively. It only takes around 2 hours 30 min with no intermission. The other (later) 3 parts of the cycle each take 5 hours or more including intermissions.

Challenging and some really great clues in this one. FOI was 1a and also COD, which was a pleasing start. Other misdirections successfully misdirected me, esp. the LOI of 22d. 14a was only solved because I remembered a'Cracking the Cryptic' hint as to what to do every time you see a name in cryptic crosswords.

Hi Mogwai, very challenging but making some headway. I just cannot see anyway into 14a!!

HI Samuipete,

14a - This is a literary reference ( I didn't know the character), but there is some clever misdirection in the clue so I suggest you pay heed to the golden rule in solving cryptics - lift and separate.

5 letter anagram/'works' goes around/'inspiring' 5 letter pet name for "Catherine" minus last letter/'not end of Harry' - definition is "Potter antihero"

Brendan - re the Potter character, I spent too long thinking of the wrong writer called Potter.

Good morning all, raced through most of this but am stuck on 1a. I have crossers C-B-L at the start, and I suppose the end is Manuel's catchphrase, but no such word exists in my dictionary!!

Thanks Picaroon
I laughed out loud at 14a, and also loved 26a and 17d.
Not sure about my 4d/12a crossers - can't see the parsing of either of my tentative answers.

Hi neville
Your B is wrong in 1a. The answer refers to a very well known "clown" (though other descriptions might be more apt).