Twenty 9-letter items form a circular chain in which each item recycles eight of its letters into the next one. Eight of the items are unclued entries, seven are words which must be removed from clues before they can be solved, and five are thematic items. One of the thematic items and one of the unclued entries are two-word phrases. The thematic person’s surname must replace one answer in the grid (leaving real words).
Across
1 Police officer is against re-folding this firm (6)
7 Fairly generical diminutive outside right (6)
12 Queen accepts conclusions of her heir and no mistake (5)
16 Place certainly including earth? (6)
20 Tiny swimmer new in swimming league (7)
21 Something hot or cold, it’s said (6)
22 Birds, none outside Russia? (6)
24 I’ll cry foul before I see script written by Boris (8)
26 Expounder of Muslim law not following traditional treatment (4)
27 Partially religious priest (3)
28 Have time to disappear in Ipswich? (3)
29 Tablets not initially prescribed for them? (4)
32 Having nothing to wear is automatic? (8)
34 Exemplary, like a hermit’s meal? (6, two words)
35 Abandon former model (6)
37 Most open section for area of bathroom fitting (7)
39 Waste energy in featured areas (6)
43 Half of score stuck in church organ (5)
45 Do folk recognise musician? (6)
46 Sausage rolls are McDonald’s least favourite (6)
Down
1 Minstrel’s limited range (4)
2 Dramatic scene as mammal soars above field for all to see (7)
3 Callas eschewing money for her performance (4)
4 Raise to equal status some pointless wordplay? (7, two words)
5 _______ Argentina could be nice with less rioting (8)
6 Whatever glorified Wall Street, say? (6)
8 Bank raised payment after run (4)
9 I’ll trade pants like a drug on the market, presumably? (8)
10 In Southampton, a liner...
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