Cryptic crossword No 979

This is intended as aversion therapy for anyone who objects to randomers in puzzles! Spoiler in reply...

Very nicely done, Coot. The surface theme is well carried off - especially the first three acrosses. Nothing random about them! Lots I could tick - it's cleanly and fairly clued throughout imho. Favourites amongst them include 10a, 13a, 15a, 26a, 27a, 2d, 5d, 13d, 19d and 28d. Great fun. Thanks. PM

Hi Coot. Great fun! You beat me to it, I was about to publish a very similar crossword. (I have taken the chance on having names in all the clues). The clue balance is fine, clever to get names hidden otherwise. Lots of good clues, faves were 10a, 15a(always nice to see a cycling clue) and7d(made me laugh) Thanks T Ps always nice to learn new word 23d!

Lots of fun, thanks Coot - I tend to find names stick out a bit in a standard puzzle, but having it as a theme was a nice twist & you did well to get the balance of clue types as well. Podium was 25a, 17a, and 29d.

There's nothing for me to say that hasn't already been said, really, so I'll just echo everyone else and agree that, yeah, if you're gonna start dropping names, you may as well go all the way! Virtual ticks went against 15a, 22a (a nice "Jack"), 26a (absolutely adore the surface with its cute little comedy moment!), 2d, 3d (what a nifty, surface-appropriate way of handling that type of clue) & 14d. Thanks for the puzzle!

Thanks Coot, very nicely done - particularly liked the choice of names in the opening three :-) Other faves include 15a, 22a, 26a, 2d, 13d, 14d & 24d. Thanks again!

Well-executed theme, Coot! I quite liked 22a and 25a. I did spot something that I'm not sure about, which I'll put in the reply.

Oh I do love a good surface theme. And they’re not easy! (am grinding my way through one at the moment) … some super clues here, especially the exquisite run of 25a, 26a and 27a. It all took me two visits, and I had to bung-and-check the first part of 30a, but a very satisfying solve. Thanks! 😁

As themes go, this is a thing of wonder Coot! Brilliantly managed and never forced! Really well done.

Great puzzle, Coot - a really neat idea and well executed making it tons of fun to solve! I particularly liked 10a (clever construction), 12a (cute), 17a (neat), 18a (neat), 20a (fun), 25a (lol), 26a (very nice, made me laugh), 27a (cute), 31a (neat), 1d (smooth), 2d (fun), 7d (likewise), 14d (very neat), 16d (nice) and 29d (nice def) - thanks!

Nice puzzle Coot! Another excellent handling of a theme… name drops for 26a - scenario made me laugh - 18a 25a 7d and 14d. Thanks

Late to this but nice one, Coot - entertaining theme! Faves were 30a, 13d, 28d