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Well spotted with "are" Peterm, I did check Collins but missed it.

The footnote is ambiguous, it seems to mention both dovies and davies as answers.

I was thinking of 25dn. Since when is redeal a non-dictionary compound?

On 33ac, I haven't got the latest Chambers, but I assume that both davies and dovies are not in it. I can't find dovies (or dovey) in the version I've got. Davies doesn't appear to be in the OED (but dovey is).

What I mean Peterm is that I assume dovies is the OED word and Davies the proper name, both are mentioned in the footnote but only one appears in the grid...so AZED could be referring to red-ear as an answer even though it isn't THE answer?

I see what you mean ixion. But surely the proper name is at 36ac? Where does that leave Davies?

Ah, good point Peterm, I'd forgotten about that one...time to take another look!

I was hoping that the latest Chambers has davy, plural davies, but that's probably wishful thinking!

Hi in 14d and across

Did you enter ironer and iris

Actually if "davies" was in the OED the footnote would make sense...then April Fool could be removed and the puzzle would read "stroppy scots chap" on the first two lines.

I've been entering letters to spell April fool but your idea seems better

dja - if you go with leaving the letters of April Fool in, yes - ironer & iris.

ixion - the online OED gives davy as a noun: "A vulgar shortening of affidavit..." but it's not clear that there is a valid plural.

My version of Chambers does not give dovey, but this does appear in the online OED: "A term of affection: Little or dear dove".

So I think dovey is the word referred to in the footnote.

But it may not be...