Cryptic crossword No 2,229

Thanks Mallimack - and welcome back. Good stuff - quite challenging in parts as is expected! Got the theme via title and 10a 31a though needed a bit of Googling for the full details ... 17d 25d nicely done and #3 beautifully (and helpfully!) worked in. Faves include 1a, 5a, 19a, 31a, 4d, 8d & 22d. 15a cleverly done too. Spoilery observations follow ...

Thanks Mallimack, that wasn't quite as tough as I'd feared once a few of the thematics dropped, though a handful were very chewy indeed and I had to reach for both Chambers and Bradfords before the end! I particularly liked 5a, 2d, 6d and 20d. Minor spoilers in reply ->

I found this quite tricky, Mallimack, but - perhaps like Henri - not *quite* as devilish as expected - though the hidden them was, I'm afraid, unknown to me. Fez has picked up on a few issues - but certainly spotted more than me! My bigger ticks were for 5a, 19a, 24a, 31a, 1d (prob my COTD), 3d, 22d and 25d. Thanks. PM