Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Late to this, so don't know if anyone still out there.
Finished BLH corner, stuck elsewhere.
38d Japanese family crest encapsulating identity (5) ????N
24d Possible to express painted porch picture (8) ??????LE
6a Shame! Archetypal dog trick backfired (6, 2 words) SIT BOY ?
8d Frenchman held up in operations (7) ???N?R?
25a Mark has eight of these being confident when cycling (4) ??E?
As always any help appreciated

could 38d be NIPON

38d is Mid On. It's one of the eight special answers and there is no definition in the clue. Yes, it's two words or hyphenated, not 5 letters. It's one of many mistakes in this puzzle. Enigmatic Variations is notorious for them.

I thought it was spelt NIPPON (japanese). Poor old Crackbilly must have thought everybody was ignoring him. They are real stinkers!

I thought of midon as mon is a japanese crest. It didn't dawn on me to split it.

Thanks Leapy, Orson & rossim.
This has been a big help - now penny has dropped on theme for eight thematics.

Late to this.....by 1 day! Still plenty of time :-(

Yes MICKY666, you are right - probably best to exercise a bit a patience before throwing questions out. I have worked most of these out now

Have got the theme and just two clues still to solve. Can anyone help me with 21ac and 16d.

i have the theme and some of theshaded area but no idea about 1a and 1 and 2d can i have somehelp pleaes.