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...although i might include 1a

Ah! I didn't think of looking for diagonals, so I had 9 (without 1a) also. Haven't spotted them yet, though.

Yikes. I had 15, but assumed the letters didn't have to be consecutive. Some read right to left and bottom to top, but are in a single row or column.

Hi aristo et al, I just assumed they had to appear in order since I haven't heard of "it, the theme" before and so I've no idea of how it worked in practice.

aren't these things normally consecutive if you ignore any dark squares.
if it's non - consec' - would you count the last column as 3 reading bottom to top?
will have to think on it.

Hi Trevor, I may have picked up aristo wrongly but I took his comment to mean 4 consecutive squares containing 2 "n" s, an "i" and an "a" in any order.

However, as much as I enjoyed this puzzle crossword wise, I'm settling for my 12 "Nina" s (other than 1a) as I've no wish to transform it into a "Wordsearch" puzzle which I can't abide, generally.

Mattrom is correct. I'm positive the preamble meant straight lines as horizontal & vertical.
The number is verified by 40 D; it's the artist's trademark:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Hirschfeld#Nina
Some humour in paragraph 4.

Fair point syzygy, I did say the theme was alien to me, however in puzzles such as "the listener" messages are quite often "hidden" diagonally and in themed shapes such as "circles".

from the preamble, i don't see why diagonals or 1 across don't count?
anyways, my feeling is 12 - same as Ginge - but i am including 1 across.

4 upsydowny's (i think ginge made this 5?)
5 leftright's (including top line)
...and a few diagonals (left to right)
2 down,
1 up

the wind is howling and the pub shut earlyish so i would like more ale but i'm still half- cunt.