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An ingeniously themed and enjoyable offering from Brockwell, with one or two unfamiliar (to me) words fairly clued.
FOI 1a, a nice easy starter.
LOI 5d
Pick of the bunch for me was the clever 7d.

Thanks to Brockwell, who's becoming a star Prize setter.
Brockwell trademark theme!
In full agreement with roger. Had to google to verify a couple of thematics.

Solving time a hair over Prize median, so on the challenging side but great fun. The NE quadrant was most troublesome but rewarded the effort.

FOI also 1a.
LOI 4, which bewildered me but finally became evident from crossers.

Too many fine clues for a single COD. Prize split (in the order solved) by 24, 14, 11, 6, 7. Long list adds 21, 9, 17, 26, 1a, 8 and 16, so you can tell I thoroughly enjoyed the puzzle.

Well this is weird. I was able to triumphantly write in 25 immediately, which I thought might help me with the theme. However I haven't managed to solve a single other clue so far. I think I need to go for a walk. Possibly too many beers last night.

Plutocrat, with 25 in hand look at 18 next. That should get you started.

Thanks Brockwell.
Got 25 early, only marginally helpful.
Was stuck forever in NE. Getting 7d liberated me.

Likes
22a, 23d, 24a, 6d

COD: 22a

Was reminded of this clue by Coot, in Indy, a couple of months ago:

Urge to bed emoji? (8)

OT:
Indy editor sets the farewell puzzle. Sad.

Geeker, 4 is certainly a tough one for us Yanks. I had to consult a map to confirm.

ilippu OT
Yes indeed: a fine but very sadly themed final offering. I will miss the Indy, but I suppose it will free up 20 mins to half an hour of my day!

4 also my LOI and I’m a local. Agree with Roger about the Canal+ clue, also my favourite.
Thanks to Dan, hopefully he’ll pop in.