We will have to agree to disagree on “beat up on”. Only ever heard this phrase in US films and TV programmes. Never heard a Brit use it.

You make a good point Colin. I did not realise the puzzle blogger received specific email updates. I have worked in IT for thirty years but this is the only blogtypething I have ever bothered with as it is a bit more than the usual inane look-at-me solipsism.

Still not sure of the WHY for 15,16 and 17.

Don’t want to steal the thunder of the assigned solver but hate to see one in pain – et. al is literally ‘and the others’

Disagree that 20 is in any way American

Thought it was a creative utterly fair puzzle – more please Mr B.

Can anyone explain why:

15 is INITIAL
17 is LETTERS
16 is ALPHABET

I assume the above are correct but cannot work out why.

A few other annoyances:

20 – Surely this is a dreadful Americanism which is not used in the UK. Maybe a bit of yoof
culture from the young (I believe) Brendan.
19 – Does ENGAGE actually mean to reserve ? Sort of in terms of reserving a service when
you engage a service supplier but it seems very odd to me.
23 – Where does the LATE come from ? Does it mean “others” or “etal” backwards.

I still cannot work out the link either (must be a stupid Friday). Initial letters is fine for Ateen/Rbitrates/Ugene/Mpathic etc but what about DELTA and RHODESIA. English AND Greek letters possibly ?

I can see that might be the case with RHOdesia and DELTA and PIpe but whereabouts in that alphabet are EUS or EMP ?

All help gratefully received.

Never heard of him.

Using NUMBER of the beast rather than NATURE and EMIRITA rather than EMERITI made it just a little difficult to fit something into _H_R_A_/B_C_R_.

Might have helped if I had actually written INTRODUCE in the grid but I cannot write neatly on a SWS bouncy-train !!!

John