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One key is repeated, indicated separately. Time runs across the bottom of the grid.

Got it. Thanks very much. That was fun.

Need some hints/nudges on 27d, 28d, and 2d please

27d. Defn 1st 2 words after removal of letter, word play rest (nude means remove " dressing")
28d. Remove extra word, defn last word
2d. Defn 1st word, remove 3rd word, homophone of 2nd word

Thanks Glyph, that was fun, despite the side effect of yet another earworm.

I'm pretty sure I have everything I need to submit, and yet I haven't figured out how the ousted words fit into the scheme of things. Any ideas anyone?

Ha - ignore me. It just dawned. Doh...

Sitrcrispin, I think some of the ousted words go with one element of the theme/phrase, others with another.

Congratulations sircrispin.

I haven't been able to identify the 7 keys. I have the four word 'framework' (which has no verb) but I can't make out the rules that these letters 'obey'.

Hi Illippu, I suspect you are nearly there. But you are wrong with 'four word".

The framework is five letters, spelt out by the first part of revealed (extra letter) instruction.

The second part of the framework might look like gibberish until you remember a familiar childhood mnemonic, which (and I hope this is not too much of a giveaway) includes the word "fruit".

From there on in it's just a hard slog with a magnifying glass and a bit of Googling...

I hope this helps, but I do worry I just make things more difficult for everyone by trying to be over-subtle!

Thanks.

Looks like the extra letters **have to be** 17 (30 minus 7 minus 6). If they don't form 4 words, then I have got them wrong.