Underdog By Chalicea

[Matakari]

Requesting some hints for the following, please:

ACROSS:
1 Criminal adopting plan to snare (7)
B????T? ( BANDITS ? )
6 Period of indulgence in activity securing gold (6)
( PARDON? )
16 Wrote a spy novel (9)
T???A????
45 Ed's to encircle backsliding workers in remote regions (6)
???E??S

DOWN:
20 Bird's classy car (6)
R??LEC
35 Indigenous northern dweller's mounting bleating sounds (4)
SAA?

[blaris]

20d r..ler, not c

[blaris]

35d, bleating sounds (2nd most obvious answer) , ie sheep sounds backwards

[Nical]

Are any of these affected by the thematic stuff? I think you forgot to mention the 'undefined' part in your last lot.

[ProfessorMaisie]

1 - 3 letter 'snare' inside 4 letter (slang) for 'criminal' [thematic - no def].
6 - 4 letter 'period of indulgence in activity (=holiday) around 2 letters for 'gold' [thematic - no def].
'WROTE A SPY' anag [thematic - ditto].

[Nical]

Thanks, PM. The full information is always useful - but not always given!

[ProfessorMaisie]

45 tricky to hint at Spenser's idiom - it's the reverse of the Cornish word for 'tourists' [also found in an ??? colony].

[ProfessorMaisie]

I think Matakari is expecting someone who's already done the puzzle might help, Nical - otherwise, there's a load of extra typing to do!

[ProfessorMaisie]

...just to be clear, Matakari - you're suggestions for the first two are wrong (you're looking for a proper noun for one of them).

[ProfessorMaisie]

sorry, 'your'!

[Nical]

Thanks, PM. I mentioned it only because there was no indication of thematic stuff in the last list of clues Matakari gave. I feel it's a little unfair on AB solvers, a helpful bunch - but not always psychic (if they haven't already done the puzzle.)

[ProfessorMaisie]

You're right, Nicol - 'some might be wordplay only' would have helped a lot.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Nical (sorry) I'm all thumbs today.

[Nical]

Thanks, PM - I'm a bit blunt at times... but I do like fairness!

[Matakari]

Many thanks to all for enlightening me!