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BB re 18, it’s a composite (aka compound) anagram. Not a common device in blocked grids.

In a subtractive anagram the clue gives you the anagram fodder and what needs to be subtracted from it in order to generate the answer.

In a composite anagram the answer (more often than not indicated by “this” in the clue) plus other fodder from the clue can be used to form an anagram of another word from the clue (as here).

For those who remember Brockwell’s puzzle of a couple of weeks ago which was a tribute to “Eddie” the dog, you can read more about Eddie in the Guardian editor’s blog here…

https://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/crossword-blog/2026/jul/06/crossword-editors-desk-farewell-to-eddie

Yes, this is tricky ... try as I might I can't parse 4d or 5d, although I think I have the right answers, and I'm not seeing 21a at all. Can anybody help please?

Hi neville
I've not parsed 4d either, and am not sure I've got it right.
5d parses as 5,3. definition "suggestion".
21a is an anagram

4d is a 4 letter word for mixed up, inside of which goes a 2 letter girlfriend and 1 first letter.

Thanks jono. I did in fact have the middle letter wrong.

Thanks ChrisE, Jono - I was almost there with the anagram! But 4 still seems very tortuous.

Without some of hints on this site I wouldn’t have finished. FOI 24a LOI 12a(also COD). Other COD 10a (new word for me) 7/1d 15d. Still can’t under how to parse 25a and 22d.

I think 25 is 7 letter word for “cashier” (think supermarkets) with the first two letters moved to the end, inside an anagram of “fine”.

22d is hidden in the clue