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Is anyone doing this? If I could solve another couple of across clues, it might help me to work out the down entries. 2 consecutive letters must be removed from each clue before solving ( leaving real words)
9a "reducer of short riddles, fixed without top comic"

I think they're maybe DL, 14a would also be helpful....bands in a set playing to the highest in range (7) Are y and o the extras?

Hello Marca,

Extra letters in 14a are EY

Thank you both. More thinking!!

Hankir, I have most of those apart from 27. 35a the extra letters are LE and there is a resulting anagram. 11a extras are er.

Hi Marca,

The extra letters in 35a are EL, not LE

I have had the theme since Sunday and know what letters need to be removed from each of the across clues, all of which does not mean that I have solved over-many of them. What is really puzzling me is the reference to "consistent" removals from down answers before entry because in some cases the first letter is removed and in others it is not. I tried working on removing the letters contained in the theme but that rules out 17 down. A nudge/shove in the right direction would help please.

Hello Alwayspuzzled,

In the down answers certain same letters in the same order are removed from each answer (they are not always consecutive). You then have to remove one more letter consistently. Look at the theme word and divide it up until you find another word which will tell you which letter to remove.

Good answer, PLD. I still need a bit of help 5a. White hall originally trusted protecting independence (6) a?l??? And 9a reducer of short rides fixed without top comic (10) ?eo?i?is??

Hi Marca,

5a definition is white. Think hot drinks.
9a definition is reducer. Anagram ("comic") of some of the other words adjusted a bit