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As is always the case with Ifor's puzzles I have really struggled with this. I now have a full grid apart from the central cell. Am I right in assuming that is a single letter in keeping with the shaded thematic entries?

yes ...have you got the 2 messages/hints from the extra single words?

Thank you for that confirmation Sudokulover. I have just finished untangling the extra letters from the single words.

I have counted all the clues. I make it 38. I have my dozen, which are definite. So the rest of the clues should equal 26 in total. My messages taken from the extra words in the remaining 26 clues are fairly clear, once you have referenced the key word (5 letters) in Chambers. It is two definitions 5,7 (a finish) and 6,1,6 (a start) = 25. My maths is a bit shaky, but doesn't that leave a floating letter. I've narrowed it down to 14 or 20 down, both of which could produce the letter S :- from WAS or SEE. Is this their cock-up or mine?

No setting error, simply (6,2,6) with the 2 being "as".

Thanks Ginge. As usual, saw the error of my ways by not thinking about anything in particular half an hour after I posted. Apologies to the EV setting & editing team.