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A challenging grid-fill (almost - I still lack what would be 4D). I have 5 of the clashes and can see 3 surnames, but (apart from all being possibly members of a profession) I can see no connection. And the perimeter eludes me. Presumably the 5-letter keyword is in the bottom so that the others can form a chain. Anybody got any ideas?

What would be 4 dn - Try including 'and' into 'average' to give an unpopular type.

Thanks - your suggestion looks fine until I try to fit it into -O-Y. While there may be a clash there's no possibility of its being 6 letters. I can't solve the first of the "to be ignored" clues either. Trying to run into the sand after a taxing, but satisfying, grid-fill. Again.

"and" is excluded from the "unpopular type" to produce the grid entry at 4d. the "y" you have from the across entry is a clashing letter. keyword is where you have suggested. a couple of the other clashing letters are in the perimeter.

Ah, yes, not so tricky after all. Having now resolved that "26A" isn't RAKE, which seemed entirely reasonable, I can now sit down to finding the 6th of the professional people, and to solving the earlier of the two "ignored" clues. How many letters does it have?

Five letters.

Has anyone got the final step which includes the two highlighted squares?

They really should be circles.

As ever, I am confused (too easily done I'm afraid) where the preamble says "clues are given in the normal order" does that mean.....all the across clues first and then all the downs? Or, 1,2,3 etc. being the downs and the first across would then be no.11??
Many thanks

Normal order as in across clues first, followed by the down clues.