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No, puzzled is the anagram indicator. It's not a girls name. I can think of at least 6 words that would fit; only three of them from the anagram, though, and only one of those is right!

Got it, but I don't watch Alan Partridge so didn't get that tip.
Guessed the second word, and then the penny dropped.

Well that was certainly a mental workout!

Puzzled by 1a. The only word that fits is a proprietary brand, fairly easy to guess once I had all the crossers, and I can reverse-engineer the anagram, but I can't for the life of me see how the definition works?

1d took a while for the penny to drop, very good clue I thought when I finally clicked!

I know that true cruciverbalists never use such words, but I actually swore out loud when I had the 15 down for 22 across!

1a: it is a number medication that numbs.

That was a fair challenge and enjoyable. Like many here got virtually nothing on the first read through, but it gradually revealed itself. FOI 24, LOI 6 ( which was me being a bit dense and focussing on nag for the horse) COD 22, mainly for the Betty/Scott link

Possibly the best prize for a very very long time. So many great clues it's difficult to pick a COD but I think I'm going 18a with maybe 5a as a close second. Thanks to Picaroon for a cracking puzzle.

Hi everyone

Just started, read all the across clues and got zilch, but now off to the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival, so will try and crack the down clues to get a foothold.

Be back later.

Roof, when I was a nipper we’d walk along the beach at Budleigh to the Otterton river and try and throw stones over the river to land on the cliff in the other side. I imagine it’s different now. Then we’d walk to Otterton for cake

After reading this thread I've filled in the top half but I'm missing most of the southeast corner and 24D, 27A. I just worked out why 1A is correct while writing this post!

Good to see 2 mathematicians so far though!

Any hints on which Betty and Scott I should be thinking of?