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A bit of light relief from today's themed Grauniad.
FOI: 18d
LOI: 24a
COD: 14d

Excellent puzzle, more outstanding clues than I can list. Very challenging for an Everyman.
Stalled out on 2 clues in SE quadrant: 16 (second word) and 25. Will set aside and revisit tomorrow...maybe I can enter some more no-hopers in WPR. 🤣

Second part of 16d & 25a are very similar (kid's junk food choices)

Challenging is the word, Geeker! I found this a real grind with hardly any straightforward clues. All fair enough in the end though, aside from 23A, which I've stared at for half an hour and still none the wiser, despite having the answer. Can anyone parse? (The only - extremely tenuous - solution that occurs to me is that function is a misprint and should be junction, but I'm really clutching at straws there!)

Function is correct … but abbreviated

23: Defn "curry" (though that seems a tad inaccurate), parses as 3 (math. function), 4 (one opening), 1 (I).

The theme here has become something of an end of year tradition for Everyman. See last year’s 4,027 and before that 3,975.

Thanks Geeker. Another maths term that I've long forgotten (and probably never knew it was a 'function' in the first place) ... 🙄

Thanks, jono. I didn't remember that. I will say this one didn't really feel like an Everyman without the rhyming pair.

Geeker, I had trouble with the SE section myself. Not surprised 16 gave you fits; it's a very British expression - the whole thing, plus the second word is British slang for money. I've seen it a few times before so it finally dawned on me.