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12a Guardian - dearie me - has outright rubbish leaders (5) ....r. Hints welcome.
Is it me or is it harder than usual today? 🤔

"leaders" = first letters of preceding words to put
after 3 letter word to express "dearie-me" .
I don't think the answer is an exact synonym for "guardian"
Yes it seems difficult today. It took me a while to get properly started.

Appreciated Holmes. Tis tricky today. Managed about half but it's slow going 😬

Finished it, but that was hard going. I wondered if there is a new setter - several clues felt much more clunky than usual.

Almost done but struggling to understand a couple in the bottom left.

24ac discussions utter shit - knock off (5).

Have T?L?? and assuming 'talks' but no idea why from the cryptic part clue?

25 dn filth produced by corporations on the rise (4)

Have ??U? and thinking smut or scum but can't work it out from the clue?

24d I have smut based on corporation = tum/paunch. But a lot of the clues today v weak/obscure. Am struggling with 7a price to be paid having managed to get a bit (getting end away). Any help welcome

7 Ransom - price to be paid. Ran, managed and Som(e), a bit, getting end away/losing the last letter.

Thank you Malone 😃

Maxus - 24a TALKS. UTTER plus the S from shit, with HIT missing (knock off)

5d alliance prepared for a holiday broadcast (4). Am thinking pact but can't see why 🤔