A perimeter containing six members of a larger set with something omitted (teh same thing) from each one. 11 additional words in clues hinting at the theme with 4 unclued answers also guiding. Very clear – well not really.
As always start with the clues and some sense will come.
The four unlcued entries SAVING and AMAZING came first hinting at GRACE allowing KELLY and DARLING to follow.
The additional words spelled out BRIGHTON COP.
The combination of teh two directing us to Sunday night ITV or more accurately novels by PETER JAMES. A large majority of which have DEAD in the title (answer to 26dn to be highlighted in the final grid)
The perimeter starting from bottom left avoiding the word DEAD:
- DEAD IF YOU DON’T
- NOT DEAD ENOUGH
- DEAD SIMPLE
- DEAD MAN’S GRIP
- STOP THEM DEAD
- NOT DEAD YET
A fairly consitent theme in these books DEAD
Thanks Kruger – nice and relaxing. I did like 36ac
Key * anagram; DD double definition; underline definition; Rev reversed
Across
9 A lot of islands in Asia once lost after latest of tsunamis struck (7)
(asia once – s)* = OCEANIA
10 Unnamed individual, rejected from army, no nationalist (6)
Rev. hidden arMY NO NAtionslist = ANONYM
11 US agents’ provisions withdrawn (5)
Rev. scran (provisions) = NARCS
B 13 Language inclusive to American business (4)
inc (inclusive) + a(American) = INCA
R 14 African in a reportedly regal setting (8)
(in a regal)* = ALGERIAN
16 New (but not very) Christmas carol (4)
novel (new) – v (very) = NOEL
17 Excited call, the second from Donald, accepted by First Lady (4)
o (second from Donald) in eve (first lady) = EVOE
I 19 What draws attention when initially covering 12 spots of colour (6)
oi (what draws attention) around cell (12) = OCELLI
24 Parasitic plant beginning to daunt stranger (6)
d (beginning to daunt) + adder (stranger) = DODDER
27 Legume acceptable in half of cultivated area beside house (4)
u (acceptable) in garden (area beside house) – den = GUAR
G 28 Box in truck from Perth reversing into rear end of Glaswegian’s Audi (4)
Rev, ute (truck from Perth) + I (end of Audi) = ETUI
30 Persistently occupies the thoughts of alumnus opposing out-dated taxes (8)
ob (alumnus) + sesses (out-dated taxes) = OBSESSES
H 33 Crofter’s barren homestead in part of Shetland (4)
DD YELL
34 Nice thoughts: Burnley’s no 1 being dismissed from beside ground (5)
(eside – b)* = IDEES
35 Force at first rarely harms superfluous ornaments (6)
f(force) + r (at first rarely) + ills (harms) = FRILLS
36 Curmudgeon from GB, in Australia, has fellow standing in for a day (7, two words)
old dart (curmudgeon from Australia) swapping f for d = OLD FART
Down
1 Fish from the south – an environmentally distinctive species (4)
Rev dace (fish) = ECAD
2 Verne’s outrageous audacity (5)
(verne)* = NERVE
T 3 Peacekeepers suppressing uprising – the worst parts give renewed vision of terrorists (6)
un (peacekeepers) + rev lees (worst parts) = UNSEEL
4 Scottish town supporting husband to raise an outcry (6)
alloa (Scottish town) after h (husband) = HALLOA
O 5 Celebrated obtaining blood (4)
DD SANG
6 Fashionable joint starts to endorse really authentic Ethiopian bread (6)
in (fashionable) + j (joint) + era (starts to endorse really authentic) = INJERA
7 Wavy-patterned fabric greater in importance, l assumed (5)
more (greater in importance) around I = MOIRE
8 Murderous King can only save one knight errant (6)
(can only – n)* = LYCAON
12 Radio transmitter a disappointment to listeners (4)
Homophone of sell (disappointment) = CELL
N 15 First of injections to numb clear part of eye (4)
I(first of injections) + rid (numb) = IRID
18 Badly made shorthand character used in printing (6, two words)
(made)* + sh (shorthand) = EM DASH
C 20 Some construction work removing entrance to hills in South Africa (4)
bergs (hills in South Africa) – b = ERGS
21 Part of watch from province incomplete (6)
Alberta(province) – a = ALBERT
22 Injury to US medic is hampering front of neck in the end (6)
is around n (front of neck) + ukt (in the end) = INSULT
O 23 Monkey overcome by plague? Obviously nonsense! (6)
Hidden plaGUE NONsense = GUENON
25 Not despairing, at last Geordie fabricated imitation gold (6)
(Geordie – g)* = OREIDE
26 Daughter attending top hospital discharged directly (4)
d + head (top) – h )hospital) = DEAD
29 Handle Indian pony without introductory pair of reins (5)
tat (Indian ;pony) around re (first pair of reins) = TREAT
31 Indifferent appeal for aid gets nothing (4)
sos (appeal for aid) + o (nothing) = SOSO
P 32 Criminal poses in the manner of leader of pack (4)
per (in the manner of) + p (leader of pack) = PERP