Hi, G. As usual, if I can't see what's required virtually instantly, I just don't bother with the post-solution 'shenanigans', since they rarely have anything much to do with solving cryptic crossword clues.
Accordingly, I can't offer much help other than a suggestion about the shortened name which seems to fit in with the title. It starts in the cell labelled 4 and reads diagonally down to the right. (You don't say whether you'd got that or not.)
Not sure whether the 'characters' are people or letters and thought "the basics" - if that is indeed one of the pairings - might be the three R's...RRR.
Over to you and good luck.