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Hopefully not over-revealing, but there are a couple of ways to interpret the preamble re: numbers of clues in each group. You’re not looking for a 33 letter phrase.

Dylan, 8d. def. is 'grand'. The 'sugar tycoon' lived in England in the nineteenth century.

Dylan, for 13 the definition is at the beginning after adjustment as per the preamble. For 23 the definition is almost half the clue again after adjustment. I think that’s as far as I can go without having the wrath of Norah called down on me.

I took a while to “get on the wavelength” and wondered if this would be a dnf. But once tuned in the emerging message triggered a PDM and it all came together neatly. One slight niggle was that the instruction to “extend” the highlighting felt a bit vague but I assumed that simple was best and went with a straight line. Thanks to Axes.

Could someone please help with the parsing of 23a and 28a?

I'm finding the instructions to be decidedly unhelpful! I have the thematic shape, the cells to be highlighted and the two straight lines. However, "extend this highlighting to where the group originates", is baffling me. To me, there is a source and a creator, am I overthinking things or just misunderstanding what is intended. It seems obvious what to do, but like I say, the instructions don't help much'

Gitto, re 23 I think I’ve gone as far as is fair at this stage in post 13. As to 28, if you have the shape you’ll know which aspect of the preamble applies. Read the word play accordingly; definition is at the end but remember that there is more than one N.

This dim solver has a full grid and has - or thinks he has - understood the 10 special clues. From them he has a list of 10 words, wholly unrelated to anything. What is he missing?

Try googling your first, eighth and last as a trio.

Thanks, j a. As I have remarked before I can’t wait for a thematic puzzle based on Bruckner symphonies.. Maybe I should set it. Struggle on, jockie.

A well constructed puzzle although we dispute that the shape is in the right place.

Thanks, Axes.