Greetings from Bufo

Puzzle explanation

Clue answers were as shown below. The extra letters (10ac eac, 12ac ros, 29ac ree, 8dn sto, 9dn fir, 14dn sth, 24dn fth) could be arranged into “First of the across three”. Applying this to the triples revealed “Best wishes from Mr Toad” (Bufo is Latin for Toad); no highlighting was required.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
ACROSS
1   BESPIT BES(s) + PIT
6   SHEARS S + HEARS; reference pinking shears
10 t[EAC]ake EAT Initial letters: E(gg) A(nd) T(oasted)
11   EATING H(eating) – H(earts); reference eating apple
12 def[ROS]t ADROIT (ROAD + IT)*
13   SLAG HEAP SLAG + HEAP; heap is Shakespearean for company
15   REGISTERS REG + SISTERS*; EJ was originally Reginald Dwight
17   TOTAL TO + TAL(k)
18   CATHISMAS CAT + HIS MA + S(ing)
20   PRECOCIAL POLICE CAR*
22   ALDER RED < after (A + L)
23   REST HOUSE HOSTEL USER* – L
26   AMENABLE A + MEN + ABLE
29 ag[REE]ing ANCHOR AN + CHOR(e)
31   LUTEIN LUTE + IN
31   PERDU (é)PERDU
32   FAIRYDOM (FROM DAY + I)*
33   TORNADES TOR(n) + SEDAN <
DOWN
1   BEARDS BEARS about D
2   PISTILLATE (L + IT + SIP) < + LATE
3   TETRACT (C(ake) in RAT) after TET
4   WASHHOUSE WAS + HH + OUSE
5   INTIL Homophone IN TILL
7   HAGGIS HAG + GIS
8 di[STO]rt EARTH EAR + THIS – (I + S)
9 bon[FIR]e STAPES APES below ST
14 po[STH]ole DORSET DO + (you)R + SET; reference Poole, in Dorset
15   RICKETIER RICK + E + TIER
16   TREADLES LAD* in TREES; reference plane as a tree
19   MAINPERNOR MAN PRISONER* – S
21   ALICANT ALI + CANT
23   RAFFIA A after (RAFF + I)
24 le[FT-H]ander’s HERO Hidden; reference Hero and Leander
25   CHORUSED USE in CHORD
27   MARDY D in MARY
28   ALBUM A + L(oud) + BUM
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