Spectator 2580

[Matakari]

Good morning, a pretty straightforward clue-solving exercise for Doc's offering.
I'm stuck on the last two for which I would appreciate help. Thanks in advance!

40 ( A ) They form banks during picnic, irritatingly ( 5 ) : ?IR??
6 ( D ) Organised stay around Irish isles and uninhabited Scottish one (8):
??RA????

[Tilly2]

6d Taransay....anagram of Aran and stay

[Tilly2]

40...think of clouds

[Matakari]

Many thanks, Tilly2, I've got the clues covered now and am having
a go at the perimeter themed solutions as well as the unclued pairs that all look somewhat tricky like underworld, grim up north, roy's rolls...But I'm not sure they are right and am still trying to figure out how they match with one another...

[jazzgirl]

Trim up north ;)

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, glad you got on so well with most of Doc's puzzle. You could feel you're at a disadvantage with the thematic stuff, but no more so than many of us!

[novalis]

Thanks to a well-connected contact I had a private tour round the old set at rhe Quay Street studios many years ago.

[Tilly2]

I haven't watched it for at least thirty years!

[johnpiper]

well i now have the pub located!
were you correct matakari do you think in your suggestions for the bottom row of the grid?

[Neveracrossword]

Yes, I hope Matakari read Jazzgirl's correct version of one of his (unclued) entries...

[johnpiper]

yes i spotted that
Do you think that 17A and 21A are a pair and would 17A start with a C?

[Neveracrossword]

Johnpiper, no to both of your questions!

[novalis]

17 across starts with P and is paired with 33 down. 21 across is paired with 37 down.

[Tilly2]

17ac starts with p

[Matakari]

I am grateful for jazzgirl's correction and massive hint to one of my
unclueds. With some googling thereafter, all the answers appeared as though by enchantment! Thanks again, jazzgirl!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, I'm glad you got some 'enchantment', assisted or otherwise, from this puzzle. Even though I didn't like it at all, I'm quite happy if someone else did!

[hankir]

This is a British theme and I had never heard of the theme.
By sheer luck, I found most of the unclueds. The word Inn should have appeared somewhere for 4d, 30a.

The long one in the first row eludes me. It starts ?R and ends AL?; 14 letters. Help with that one appreciated.

[Neveracrossword]

Say it with flowers, Hankir. I'm sure Wiki will give you it in the blink of an eye! It's two words.

[hankir]

Thanks NAC.
Adding the word florist did the trick.
There is A to Z list. Clicking on first letter of the florist does not show the name.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Hankir, I was glad when this one was over!

[Matakari]

This unpaired has slipped through the net and has got me stumped! Some help to put the puzzle to rest would be appreciated! Thanks!

17 ( A ) PRIM? / 33 ( D ) ?ONER