The Spectator 2590 -Pabulum

[Matakari]

Good morning, I’m stuck on the following for which I would appreciate answers, thanks!
ACROSS:
16 Tinware company backed predator (6) : ?????A
20 Bovine in old poem digs up underground stem (7) : ??????H
24 Author noticed a probable 36 in Shakespeare (7) : ?A?????
DOWN:
11 Moderately stunted cardinal shuts a small low window (9) : ?????NIB?
15 Ancestor of magnificent Man Friday? (7) : ?????P?
21 Chairman hugging honey with capital gets cross in Rio (8) : ??M?L?C?

[cashier]

20 Rhizome rhime (old poem) round zo (alternative spelling of dzo)

[Neveracrossword]

16 Ocelot
24 Handsaw
11 Mezzanine
15 Grandpa - Grand PA

[JJ109]

21 Mameluco (child of European & South American / Rio ref)= (Chairman) Mao "around" Mel (honey),,,,,but

I am struggling to parse the"uc"
melu maybe honey/nectar etc, but I don't have a Chambers. C could be capital

[roslyn251254]

uc - upper case - capital

[JJ109]

Thanks Roslyn

[Farrwest]

Can I join this post by asking what the answer is to 42a Fellow cockney wall builder? (6) Thank you

[novalis]

Famous wall builder between England and Scotland with H dropped as per Cockney accent.

[Neveracrossword]

Farrwest, that one was answered last night - Adrian, fellow, sounds like Hadrian (to Cockneys, dropping the aitch) who built a wall between England and Scotland.

[JJ109]

(H) Adrian

[Farrwest]

Many thanks novalis,NACW & jj109. Now I can go to work on 36d!

[Matakari]

Thanks, all, just about four more to complete the grid, and then to tackle 36d!

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, thanks. Although this one was tricky, lots of answers have been given. The thematic stuff is good fun, it'd be great if you did that and enjoyed it!

[Matakari]

Good afternoon,NACW, just a few more to complete the grid before going on to the theme, thanks in advance!
8d Tarry road needs work (4) : S?O? ( STOP )
10d Ailment only German nursemaid catches (6) : A??R?A ( ANURIA )

And still lost in spite of hints for these two:
2d Crowd from Costa Rica with one absent (5) : CR?T?
13d Excited Romeo and nice Juliet about to jabber? (8) : ?N???T?R

[novalis]

Yes to the first two. 2 down does not contain any vowels and for 13 down you need the person who would vaccinate you against a disease.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, we're going to struggle if the hints don't help you - you'll be back to seeking batches of answers in no time!

[hankir]

21. Chairman is Chinese and honey = mel.
I am stuck on:
13d. Excited Romeo and nice Juliet about to jabber? (8) ?N?E?T?R
Thanks.

[Matakari]

Many thanks, Novalis and NACW, I've got the grid filled now and am about to grapple with the notorious 36d which should prove interesting!

[hankir]

Thanks Novalis. Did not see your hint for 13d.
Now done.

[novalis]

Think medical jabber.