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Thanks drxx and smartie. That's the grid completely filled (apart from a one-cell unch in the first word on the second row). Such a relief! I only started The Listener last July so found this my hardest grid-fill to date. Now to work through the preamble and end-game. I may be back!

Finished. Thanks for hints - would never have got there without them.
Very very clever.

Thank you everyone. I have finished the grid and have followed the helpful suggestion by djawhufc in post 84 regarding the letter switches. But the result seems to be gibberish and I can't see what I need to do. Am I looking for witches? Are the letters jumbled?
Also, where is the misptint in "18c alternative for the baron, one in a pickle". I have the answer. I think the correct letter is an "I" and even with that I can't see the misprint. I suppose one of my assumptions is wrong but I can't see it.

I think the becomes tie

Hi catkin the misprint is in THE, should be Tie as in cravat ...in the last Across clue. You are not looking for witches. After doing the systematic letter-switching (remember that the switched letters are in the corresponding rows from bottom to top) find the quote by the "washing powder" character ! It is in Act 1 Scene 2 and "in his _ _ _ _ _ (ordinal) speech". The last part will make it clear what you need to look for in this _ _ _ _ _ ish puzzle !

Oh dear! I should have seen "the" to "tie". I have now found the speech and all has become clear. Not a play I have known anything about until now. With the letter transfers, I was assuming 180deg symmetry and so transferred the bottom row to the top and so on. No wonder I had such gibberish.
All done now. Thank you!!

Gordon Bennett!!!!
I fell into every trap laid in the puzzle but have been helped out by all the people here. Finally finished, but would still be at first base if you hadn’t all been helpful. Many thanks.
Now for this weeks......