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And Smiley is a reference to a fictional character in novels, television and film.

16a is a four letter "spies" and a two letter "operation" around a one letter "resistance", all reversed

Thanks Simon H and Acton High Street. I can confirm that I would never have got them.
1a is imho very hard for an Everyman
The only Smiley i could think of was the emoji/emoticon or whatever it is called.

Thanks actonhighstreet.
I don't think I would ever have got that one.

Coffindodger@20,
A ‘Nina’, in crosswords and elsewhere, is something hidden in the text or image. Often in crosswords in can be hidden in the unchecked letters. The term derives from the American artist Al Hirschfeld who was renowned for hiding the name of his daughter, “Nina”, in his artworks.

Thanks to Geeker for pointing us to the setter. He's almost a friend. A pity he wasn't asked whether he reads the forum.

I have now read on and he does!

Thanks to all the tips I’m just stuck on a 4 letter 21d! I have -a-e but just can’t see it.

Hi Pippa,

21d - single letter "day" + plus a 3 letter contraction of "Everyman (ha)s" - definition is "dingy drinking den"

Your A is wrong (have you mixed up the A and I in 24a?

Ah thank you. I have indeed mixed them.