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I predict that this will be a classic Paul Marmite offering. I really enjoyed the challenge, but the GK and specialist knowledge required may well prove a stumbling block for many. Certainly it was an above-average solve time for me, but at least I haven’t lost any sleep because it’s too darned hot in London anyway.
FOI 10, LOI 17, mainly because I initially stuffed up 6 and then spent too long trying to get the wrong letters to work.
COD? I’m going for 8.
Not entirely convinced by 1, but I think I see what’s going on. Brain too tired and fried to nail it completely at the moment.

Thanks for starting the thread.
Agreed on Marmite.
I was about to post the following:

Thanks to Paul for this week's Prize challenge.
There's an obvious theme (or clue-linking device), which was difficult for me due to lack of various GK. And some solutions were unfamiliar words, particularly one intersecting pair. Net result is that I found the puzzle difficult and somewhat of a grind.

Given the (mini?) theme, I'm stunned there were no solutions along the lines of FLACCIDITY.

FOI 5, LOI 3.
Too tired after the ordeal to think hard about COD. 3, 12, 23 and 11 stand out on a brief scan.

Curious whether others found this difficult.

20 is very clever, should have considered it for COD.
Ashamed to say I got it right away, no doubt the result of reading too many tabloid newspapers.

Hi geeker
Given the UK nature of the GK, I’m very impressed that you solved it quickly as you did!

There were some major guesses/leaps of faith, regarding which I'm indebted to Messrs. Google for confirmation.

Considered bailing on the puzzle about a quarter way through, but wanted to be a 2.

Very much in line with all the other comments. Many visits to my main advisors, Guesswork Google and Swearing. Not, to my mind, one of Paul's best.

Should have praised 20. A cracking clue. Mr S very much in evidence once I had parsed it.

Yes, quite a challenge, especially the UK- specific GK. Very Pauline 8A.

Bottom half done.
20a, 22d and 2d/22a are favs.
Difficult grid.
UKGK is overwhelming.

Way too much UKGK for me to handle, and only got through it via hopeful Googling once a theme was detected.

Guessed 20ac once the crossers were available and hope that the meaning lies in events I've wilfully ignored. LOI was 24ac, due mostly to idiocy.