The Times 27324

[TioMateo]

3 Answers, but I need help with the parsing :-

King who sang by accident's heard in three countries (7) B?N?L?X The answer is BENELUX. I get "three countries" and that LUX if homophonic with luck's ("accidents"), why is BENE the "King who sang"?

Do bird? Third time, not second, for conman. (7) T?I?T?R. The answer is TWITTER, which presumably represents "Do bird?". A Twister could be a conman but, if the "s" is to be changed to a "t" (time instead of second), it is the fourth letter being changed, not the second. ???

Somewhat overwhelmed by Balmoral, maybe, finding the place haunted. (7) H?B?T?T. The answer is HABITAT. I get A BIT(Somewhat) overwhelmed/contained by HAT (Balmoral), and even that HABITAT is a "place". But how does "haunted" fit in?

[Neveracrossword]

The place haunted = haunted metaphorically, the place you visit regularly, your habitat.

[bobbinwales]

it is the fourth letter being changed, not the second- did you mean the third?

[bobbinwales]

ben E King -drifters

[bobbinwales]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32547474#:~:text=Born%20Benjamin%20Earl%20Nelson%2C%20he,in%20the%20US%20in%201959.

[bobbinwales]

I think changing an S for a T gives us a third letter T in Twister changing it to Twitter

[TioMateo]

Thanks bobbinwales. Yes I did mean to write "third" instead of "second". So how come it is the fourth letter that is changed and not the third (which seems to be the instruction) - unless, of course, the parsing is actually something totally different. What do you think?

[bobbinwales]

see above- crossed posts

[TioMateo]

Sorry bobbinwales - I hadn't seen your final comment when I sent mine in. Yes, I think your explanation makes good sense. Thank you.