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took me an age to get 27 - never heard of the thematic part.

Prospero, did you mean 25?

I’ve completed the grid, but not sure if I can parse all of them....
Did appreciate the non-themed answer at 17a!

Wow! That took a while and certainly got my brain back in gear today. Even with "the 17" things didn't fully fall into place with some of the across clues until my usual second attempt "penny drop" moments.

COD? Difficult to pick one this week but I'll go for 4 down just because of the time I took staring at it and the groan that it elicited when things dropped into place.

Doesn't look like there's anyone around at the moment so I can't offer assistance except to say that getting all the "downs" first will make life much easier. So thanks Picaroon for the challenge :-)

I got 18a quickly, and hence 17a, but I don't think I can be bothered to slog through the rest.

sorry mattrom - 25 ... had to grasp small was part of the definition!

I thought it could have been a good puzzle but the game was given away too easily. Then it just became a case of getting as many downers as possible and filling in the blanks.

Not sure about 18a, maybe a few years ago.

Each to their own but I really enjoyed this! The theme helped with a couple of the crossers but I can’t parse 24ac. There seems to be a sub-continental themer in there but then I can’t square the rest of the clue with the four letters that surround it.

The country is the final 5 letters of the entry with the S moving east [to the right]

Ahh thanks Tatters! I see it now.