Cryptic crossword No 552

Hello Gobbo! I'm a slow solver so commenting before I've finished, but enjoying it so far and have definitely picked up on the theme! If it wasn't for 3d and maybe a couple others I'd have said you'd been looking forward to getting this one out the door for a while (haven't we all, etc...)

Well I don't mind admitting this took me three bites and over an hour to finish with some rare (for me) use of the check button, and I almost gave up but the surfaces and references kept dragging me back. Nice to see you back here Gobbo, it's been a while since your last, please don't keep us waiting so long again.

Thanks, Gobbo. I think. That was a really tough one. I found some of the definitions pretty chewy and did not know all the allusions. Theme hard to miss. Thanks. PM

Nice to see another Gobbo puzzle. Like Postmark I hope there'll be more soon. I found parts of this tough but heaps of fun, which is all the more impressive given it must have been prepared fairly quickly. Spoilery further comments below...

Wow, that’s some puzzle Gobbo! I had to return a number of times and ultimately resort to reveals (and your notes) but lots to like and admire. 3D my COTD.

Thanks for the puzzle Gobbo, that was a tough'un! Some fun surfaces throughout, I particularly liked 11a21a, 19a, 31a, 3d, 9d and 26d.

Some very funny clues in this Gobbo, thanks! There’s also some seriously clever wordplay that completely misled me - I’m looking at 15d in particular! So I needed quite a bit of help at times, but v enjoyable. Top laughs for 3d 4d 5d etc combo. Other favourites were 26a and 23d 9a. Thanks