Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Correction to preamble : for 26ac, read 28ac. Seems there is no editorial checking whatsoever.

Can anyone confirm that the extra words for the two further thematic modifications are 'PRAYER' and 'BARREL ORGANS' ? The closest definition I can see for the first is 'PLEA'.

That's what I have as well Meursault. I have a contender for prayer in 1ac but am totally stumped by the down answer -so could be wrong

Got it! Prayer and barrel organs it is.

I'm failing to see the method by which the answers are thematically modified according to actions of the husband/wife. I assume it has something to do with the male/female names embedded in the associated grid entries. What am I missing, please?

Only letters 2-5 can be modified in 1ac since letters 1 and 6 don't appear in JASPER DELETION (alternatively only letters 7 & 8), but I don't have a prayer with either.

Demeter, it's substitution of a part of the clued answer by a name in order to form a new word matching the definition of one of the extra words

Demeter, look at what the names replace. For myself, I have a full grid, and understand the six modifications. However, I'm stuck with the two further ones. If 1ac is changed, then letter in Square 1 is replaced, but it's not listed in JASPER DELETIONS. Suggestions please

Yeah, I did think about the replaced bits ('XONY', 'GEANT' etc), but can't see what these represent.

It is GEANTR. I found the letters in 28ac as particularly suggestive