Crossword Help Forum
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The convention seems to be that proper nouns are allowed.

The preamble does allow for each grid entry being a real word or name.

Having answered 28 clues, I am now tentatively entering letters.
I have the song and the when.

Is the sum of the letters in the entry for 1d, 189?

If so, i am baffled as to what goes in 15a.

Hints for 3a, 3d(i), 9a, 16a and 14d would be appreciated.

23a looks like def in first 2 words, but I don't follow wordplay...

Thanks in advance!

lewap - again, I hope this isn't too detailed - it's a really tough puzzle, it's Sunday pm, and I'm hoping to help!
3a - this is an anagram. Torres wrote a book about the character - this character is the answer, and 'Al' played the role in the film.
3d(i) - You have to merge a word meaning 'chip' with PIN to generate 'one at last'. Think shoes!
9a - definition last 2 words. Wordplay 2 hands with a 'stripped' word meaning 'all' in the middle
16a - Look up the film. Who played Tom C's 'nemesis'? Add 2+2 to this to complete wordplay. Answer Wagnerian.
14d - anagram after taking out 'regularly eleven' from what is 'anagrammed'. Def is whole clue.
23a - yes. wordplay is 2-letters reversed inside 4 letters + Tesla.

189: no

3a: Torres is an author
3d(i): the definition is at the end of the clue
9a: the definition is at the end of the clue
16a: some film knowledge is required. "flyers" is not what my knowledge of the answer would have suggested, but is justifiable.
14d: a sort of anagram
23a: Yes. Look for a word meaning 'character', rather indirectly

Thanks JB and iratus.
Just figured out the 12th column, so it looks like it's crumbling!

Only 4 clues to solve and I'm floundering. Any help on 8,13(i) & 13(ii) across and 16 down would be gratefully accepted. Also is the unclued entry in row 3 made up from 1 + 4 letters?

I've decided that the row 3 entry is 5 letters, not 1+4.

Gitto

8 - two (different) 3-letter words for the same "sensory appendage" with 1-letter "quiet" bdeteen them. (It may help with part of the answer to think of the OK Corral!)
13i - 5-letter word for "thrush" which incoveniently doesn't appear under "thrush" in Bradford's but is listed under "bird" + "essential" letter of "diagnosed". Definition is last 6 words.
13ii - def. is an Irish name. 5 letters for "on his own" inside abbreviation for "motor yacht".
16 - 4-letter word for The World (figurative rather than literal) + 1 letter for "section" with IVR for Thailand inserted. Definition is "men".

Thankyou Will37, now just got to piece it all together.
8a is obvious when you see it, but I hate &lit clues.
16a I just kept looking at the grid and foolishly assumed the answer was 5 letters not 6!
13(i) would never of got that without looking at birds in Bradford's.
13(ii) Spent hours trying to make Patrick work - should have thought again.