I've got the same problem - lots of letter I. I don't think things will be clear until we have finished the first part of this crossword. Onwards and upwards........Keep in touch with how you're doing.
Again the first part of A (which goes upto "people of fashion") is one of the three clues consisting of wordplay only. I didn't manage to solve any of these until I had worked out the theme!
At long last, I have actually completed the grid, and got the theme and the participants' names. I still can't solve the unclued entries, or see the thematic device.