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Oh, and I see that this has been mentioned a few times, but even after considering all the comments made I still cannot reconcile the definition of 1a with the answer, despite poring through the full OED definitions for both words! Can anyone indicate which sense of each word intersects with the other? Or is this clue maybe just a stretch too far?

In Chambers one definition for 1a is concourse, so presumably course is the definition in the clue, but as discussed, this seems quite a stretch.

ODE:

"course (also course of action) - a procedure adopted to deal with a situation."

"?????? - a course of action [which is turned to]." The last four words have necessarily been paraphrased.

All solved and very clever. Many thanks to all. Still don’t understand 21d. The definition is clear, but not a clue on the word play. I’m assuming which the missing letter is but still can’t see how it works. Also stumped by the Tesco clue (sorry, don’t have puzzle in front of me. Think it was 34a?)

21d parses 2,4. The 2 is a standard abbreviation for the first word after extra letter is removed.

34a is a subtractive anagram. Remove one from in Tesco

21d: The first two letters of the answer are an abbreviation for the first word in the clue, minus a letter. The last four letters are a synonym for gloss over. See Chambers for both. A pretty obscure word play!
34a: For the word play, remove 'one' from 'in Tesco' and the remaining letters are an anagram of the answer.

34a - it's an anagram of "in Tesco" after "one" has been removed.
21d - I think we're far enough along to say that this is a clue from which a letter needs to be removed.

Many thanks all. Should have seen the Tesco one. Never heard of the 2- or 4-letter word/abbreviation in the other, so that’s another school day for me…

Thanks spoffy, darla, I'm unpersuaded and think it's definitely a stretch too far. A concourse isn't a course, and the course of action meaning of the answer is not directly attested by BRB (or OED, interestingly). There were a few other stretchy definitions too.

If anyone can address my nudge requests for 1d, 4, and the fifth letter, that would be really helpful.

1d is the reversal of a 7 letter word meaning more rapid less its first two letters A and R (or R and A)