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Not far in but I have to say this already looks like another genius puzzle by Brockwell. I've no idea how he comes up with the themes but the way the clues hang together is superb. Very enjoyable so far.

I note in 5d that depending on which ‘occasional’ letters you select, two gods are available. I got the wrong one originally which led me to a very different part of London in 4a.

Well, the much-praised 7d is too clever me, I'm not sure what the meaning of the clue is ! Any hints welcome.

Jono@12 I have A _O _ _ _ crossword for 5d, are these correct? I cannot see how it works...

Neville17
Defn 1st word, word play splits 3 and 4. For 3 letter word, think what Canal+ implies. 4 letter part is an anagram.

You're right, Justsolve, it's an occasional and an anagram, I'm not sure where "abandoned" comes in

Thanks Neville, got it!

Neville 7d starts to make sense as soon as you think about what nationality Canal+ is. That should give you the first 3 letters them the last 4 are an anagram.

Or at least that is how I parsed it!

Thanks Buzzybee and Justsolve. Since I live in the country in question you'd think I'd have got the Canal+ part, but in my defence I don't use it!

Stuck on 2 (maybe 3) in the NE.

12a "aubergine emoji" means nothing to me (indeed or any other emoji except smiling face!) I can see a word that fits my crossers and means "more salacious (roughly). How does it work.

I have a god for 5d, but don't see the parsing.

6d I have the first 3 letters parsed, but Thom Yorke also doesn't mean anything to me, though I expect Yorke gives the last letter.
Any pointers, please?

Also, why is 9 needed in 22a?