Cryptic crossword No 1,406

It's been a long time coming, and my profuse thanks to Coot for the test solve and the major rework that eventuated. All errors are my own. This was submitted to the S&B (Sloggers and Betters - or Setters and Bloggers) meeting this weekend in York as an absentee attendee. I'm not sure if it appeared there but a blog of the solution has just appeared on the 15 squared website. More explanation to follow.

Thanks jugular - this did make it to York, where I solved it yesterday in a small team. We were ultimately defeated by a couple, but when the final penny dropped it was very impressive. Bravo! The whole thing is the star rather than specific clues, but I was particularly taken by 4d

Thanks jugular. This is a very impressive construction. I gave this a good go, but it got the better of me, I suspect because I’ve barely tried puzzles with special instructions, so not used to the level of uncertainty or the kinds of things I should be looking out for! As such, I missed the PDM that would have helped me solve more. I was full of admiration on reading your notes. Great stuff. And having now seen what’s gone into this, I’d agree with Amoeba, the whole thing is the star.

Hi jugular. A quick note on here as I have commented on the 225 blog. A neat idea - even if you have attributed it elsewhere - and well executed though it is might tough to spot and would have been a resounding fail had I attempted it without the far greater solving abilities of those with whom I teamed up on Saturday. Thanks. PM

Goodness me that's an impressive feat of cluing jugular, novel idea or not - it certainly beat me, though that's not saying much! Among the clues, 20a, 5d, 23d were my favourites, although I agree that the overall idea is most impressive.

Well, jugular, I solved it, but not without a fair degree of frustration as the thematic clues resisted all attempts to decode their mysteries and the SE corner held out against my increasingly desperate attempts to get some help on 18d. Once I got an idea of that, though (a stray inspiration particle, I suspect), everything started to fall into place very fast. Well done for the fine implementation of a remarkable idea.

An amazing puzzle and most satisfying too! Unfortunately I spoiled the trick for myself by running into the 225 post before realising this was on MyC so solved with an understanding the SI, but I still thoroughly enjoyed myself. Particular favourites were 17a (nice), 24a (very neat), 25a (likewise), 4d (nice construction), 5d (neat), 6d (lovely) and 15d (neat)...

Wow, Jugular. I really don't know what to make of this. It went well over my head, but then TPG managed a quadruple pangram without me spotting even a single one, so no surprise there! Even after the event with your notes it took me a while to work out what was going one! So well done on your devilish construction, but huge admiration to those who cracked it. I wasn't one 😢 😃

This is fantastic, best of yours I’ve done I think! Lovely PDM at the last minute (18d was my penultimate one in!) and much fun going back over the finished grid. And I agree with Fez about 18d. Bravo 👏