Cryptic crossword No 164

Quite tricky. I liked 19a, 30a and 31a. Didn't really understand 20a or 24a.

Thanks plumbwizard, I enjoyed this. To echo Skirwingle, I found this tricky - a combination of some intricate wordplay and unfamiliar words. Favourite clues were 1a, 14a and 28d. Spoilers below...

This was enjoyable. I particularly liked 13a, 31a, 5d, 13d (it took me ages to grasp how it worked – a real A-ha! moment), 21d. I can’t make up my mind whether 20a is extremely ingenious or (to use an expression which apparently only exists in English) “too clever by half”. Probably the former. It passes the test which Ximenes in one of his more sensible and less arbitrary moments advances, which is that when you have got the answer, you know from the clue that it it's correct [SPOILERS BELOW]

Should also have said there is a theme hidden in this puzzle. Some of the solutions refer to two-word 10s of a Victorian hero. There are five examples in all. Will be intrigues to see if anyone manages to spot them all...

Hello, just spotted this today - well done for getting it done so quickly, I've managed three clues in the same time! Found it difficult, didn't finish without looking at your notes (but then, whose fault is that?) Couldn't see the def for 5 but then spotted the misdirection. 18 and 19 were great anagrams and liked the surface for 25. I don't get 20 and can't see a theme but, after discussing homophones in the masterclass, laughed at 24!