Enigmatic Variations 1633 18dn by BOTOX

What a preamble! With a hint from 18dn – a name around more than half the perimeter – 6 clues with definitions and word play differing by one letter – the six selected can spell a collaborator and the six rejected a colour. Then change the name to a new four word form – add a bar in the bottom row – then find a two word synonym of an answer and shade it in the colour.  Makes no sense at all at first reading. But that is the nature of the beast.

As always – solve the clues and it will start to make sense. Though it took some time to finally complete the end game. A classic piece of misdirection in my opinion

From 2dn around the perimeter we get the unclued name REGINALD KENNETH DWIGHT, better known as Elton John and who has to become SIR ELTON HERCULES JOHN to give him his full name and title.

This means you must add a bar in SETH as the H turns to an N and would make a non-word.

What of the six well we have TAUPIN as the collaborator (Bernie) and YELLOW the colour immortalised in Yellow Brick Road

Leaving Brick road to end or not as the end really is because the word ASTRONAUT actually becomes ROCKET MAN (A recent film of his life and song)

Interesting stuff – Thanks Botox

3dn was an interesting construction but is correct by Chambers as the bard uses it to mean stands under!

Key * Anagram; DD Double definition; Rev. reverse; DD Double definition; underline definition

Joint

8 Did new test years apart (5) TY
RESAT (Did new test) (years)*B = RESAY
22 They assist aged Mr O’Connor (5) IE
AIDES (They assist) ae(aged) + Des(Mr O’Connor) = AEDES
2 Fish beyond River Rhine (4) LN
eel(fish) after r (river)= REEL REEN (Rhine)
23 Zwinglianist’s conception of Earth (4)LA
zwinGLIAnist GLIA GAIA(Earth)
25 Racetrack releases a hare (4)OU
ascot(racecourse) – a = SCOT SCUT (hare)
5 Cut off Member of Parliament cycling (3)WP
LOP (Cut off) Owl (Member of parliament cycling) = LOW

YELLOW and TINAUP (TAUPIN)

Across

6 Bairn with skin not right on toes? It’s swelling (10)
Oe(Bairn) + derma(skin) – r(right) + (toes)* = OEDEMATOSE

11 New sort of nastier solidified fat (7)
(nastier)* = STEARIN

12 Force one to get fruit to cover tree, putting foot in it (9)
seed(fruit) around poon (tree) around f (foot)SPOONFEED

14 Market sci-fi film (4)
DD TRON

16 Outstanding tenor joins Domingo & Pavarotti? (4)
due (outstanding) + t (tenor) = DUET

17 Like 14 old dons collectively, one goes far (9)
as (like) + tron (14) + AUT (old dons collectively) = ASTRONAUT becomes ROCKET MAN

21 Parasite‘s Latin change given backing of physicist (7)
As (Latin change) + Rev. Dirac (physicist) = ASCARID

23 In the past, discharge two thirds of hiccup (4)
glitch(hiccup) – ch (two thirds) = GLIT

24 Cleverly admitting immigrants at borders? Boo! (4)
Hs (cleverly – in this sense) around is (immigrants at borders) = HISS

26 Ancient Italian family’s sign on beach at Monaco? (6)
Med (Mediterranean) + Ici (here) = MEDICI

27 Caledonian entrances dogs after taking their lead off (6)
dingoes(dogs) – d (lead off) = INGOES

28 Official list of curtains within range (6)
end (curtains) in aga(range) = AGENDA

29 Potentially the second or fourth man (4)
(the s)* = SETH

Down

1 Heartlessly attempt to secure surplus rope (8)
foray(attempt) – r (hearlessly) around rest(surplus) = FORESTAY

3 Old-timer’s wonderful child understands a lot of illicit drugs (6)
son (child ) under as in stands under? gear (illicit drugs) – r (a lot of) = GEASON

4 One returns with Botox for celebrity (4)
Rev an (one) + me (Botox) = NAME

7 The bar ends oddly having taken refreshment (5)
ThE bAr EnDs = TEAED

9 Calming and restful around noon (9)
soothing(restful) around m (noon) = SMOOTHING

10 Go, then with jets (when stripped) use this? (5)
bid (go) + et (jest when stripped) = BIDET

13 Hand over church bunting? (5)
Fin (hand) + ch (church) = FINCH

15 Embraced person, a little involved? (7)
bod (person) around some (a little) = BOSOMED

18 Singular performance… the very last in Sweden… finally saying farewell (6, two words)
solo (singular performance) + n (last in Sweden) + g (finally saying) = SO LONG

19 Dutch excluded from time limit (6)
duration (time) – du (dutch) = RATION

20 Error to board primitive locomotive at terminus of Paddington? (6)
sin (error) in ur(primitive) + e (locomotive at terminus) = URSINE