Having recently blogged a SHED puzzle from the Guardian, this DOGBERRY was also very enjoyable.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 1 | MUSTER: ER after MUST |
| 4 | CHAMPION: H in CAMPION |
| 9 | HERNIA: IN reversed in HERA |
| 10 | PART-SONG: PARTS + ON (broadcast) + G |
| 12 | GRIDLOCK: GRID (framework) + LOCK (secure) |
| 13 | SPRITE: R in SPITE |
| 16 | BULLDOG: BULL (herbivore) + DOG (carnivore) |
| 21 | PAGE: double definition |
| 25 | CLOUDY: LOUD in CY (city limits) |
| 26 | HEAT RASH: HE + A TRASH |
| 28 | UPSTAIRS: anagram of A PURISTS |
| 29 | SCHISM: MS (manuscript, reversed) around CHIS (plural of Greek letter Chi) |
| 30 | FALSETTO: FAL (river in Cornwall) + SET TO |
| 31 | POMMEL: double definition (part of a saddle; part of a gymnastics horse) |
| Down | |
| 1 | MAHOGANY: A HOG in MANY |
| 2 | SURBITON: anagram of IRON BUST |
| 6 | METAPHOR: PA (reversed) in anagram of MOTHER |
| 7 | ICONIC: C in IONIC |
| 8 | NUGGET: GUN (reversed) + GET |
| 11 | SCOURGE: CO (commanding officer) in SURGE |
| 14 | BLOATER: L in BOATER |
| 17 | MANDRAKE: MAN + DRAKE (both male bipeds) |
| 18 | PARADIGM: A DIG in PARM(a) (Italian city lacking a) |
| 19 | BECHAMEL: BE (live) and H (hogshead) in CAMEL |
| 23 | MORSEL: MORSE (from Colin Dexter) + L |
| 24 | STUCCO: anagram of CUT COS(t) (no end) |
| 27 | TROT: double defintion (brief form of Trotsky) |
Ironically you’ve missed out the one I couldn’t solve (until I got BLOATER, anyway) – GANGWAY across the middle. ‘On horseback?’ for ‘after GAN (NAG <=)’ was very naughty.
I actually had BULLION (bull and lion overlapping) at 16ac, which I still think just about works, although I agree your answer is more likely.
Strange you say that about 16ac because I too had BULLION at first but changed my mind in the process of blogging.