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A nice puzzle ... but the alteration to the perimeter EITHER produces a second abbreviation OR the two letters go in a checked cell. The only explanation which doesn't introduce this uncertainty is if the entry at 20 is not regarded as an abbreviation. A pedantry too far?

Hi cockie, I agree and Chambers does give 20a as an abbreviation. Perhaps (un)checked is a typo.

As an afterthought, after making the alteration all of the the altered cells are "technically" unchecked. Perhaps the preamble could have been better worded.

I'm sticking with the double making a 4-letter word. I'm embarrassed to see that, after posting my first query, I still have an answer unsolved (although with only one letter missing it was east to overlook). 29 eludes me, as I can't see where the changed letter goes. Is the def the first few words, or the last few?

Hi again cockie, although I don't submit I also put the double letter in the 1st cell of 26a.
29a. in => on.

I have made a reasonable ( for me ) start on this in between preparing for a meeting tomorrow but I have far more down answers than across. Apart from definites I think I know the answers to a further four across ones but just need to find the altered letter in each clue to confirm them. I intend playing with this on the train tomorrow but would appreciate a pointer as to where the name for the group ends and the fifth character's name begins. Apart from that is the unclued answer at 30 across a name of Germanic origin?

Hi alwayspuzzled, 30a surname tends to be associated with Germany but not the nationality of this character. 6d misprint is the 1st letter of the 5th character.

Thank you for that Ginge. I now have the group ending in I and the first five letters of the fifth character as Banch. At least I now have something to work on tomorrow.

Hi again alwayspuzzled, your last letter of the group looks wrong as does the 2nd letter of the 5th character. Hopefully you'll look back in before tomorrow.

Thank you for that Ginge. It will give me something to ponder once I am on the train.