Talking Scouse by Lato

Puzzle explanation

Extra letters from wordplay spelt out "think sequentially". Paired unclued entries suggested two or three consecutive letters of the alphabet, as follows: the basics = ABC; brilliant, slang = DEF; clarified butter = GHI; airline company = KLM; countrywide survey = NOP; fourth part = QR (ie, quarter); German car = VW; maths variables = X, Y, Z. There was no J in the grid or the clues. The name STU (a homophone of "stew" = scouse) completed the alphabet.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation [extra letter]
Across
1 MEGABIT MEG + A BIT
4 CAMBRIC CA + MB + RIC(h)
7 AMELANCHIER (CHARLIE MEAN[T]) *
8 AIL [H]AIL
9 THRU RUTH *
11 IMMIT M in (I + MIT)
12 YELPER REPLY < around E
13 SÉANCE SEA + N[I]CE
15 TEXT T + EXIT − I
17 ANI IAN *
19 ZAIRE (A + Z) < + I[N] RE
21 AUBRY (BUY (c)AR) *
23 CHATTI C + HATTIE − E
24 RUBIES RUB + I[K]E’S
26 ANTAE A + N(o)T + AE
29 ATE TE(d) after A
30 SUMO SUM[S] + O
33 ISLET IS + L[E]ET
35 FOUR-OAR FOU + ROAR
37 EROS (lett)ER OS(tensibly)
38 EAR NEAR − N
39 SHAKILY S[Q] + K in HAIL + (da)Y
40 HANDLES HAND + LES
Down
2 ALUM CALUM − C
3 T-CARTS (RAT C[U]TS) *
4 CHINESE SEEN * after CHI
5 AIRY FAIRY − F
6 RAN R[E]AN
10 STENTS S + TENTS
14 EQUUS QU in SUE <
16 TAHA (A + H + A[N]T) <
18 FRIAR TUCK FRI[T] + AR + TUCK
20 ÉTAGE [I]E + (GET A) *
22 YENS DOYENS − DO
23 CRISIS C[A]R + ISIS
25 BLET (ta)BLET(s)
27 HUSAYN SAY in HUN
28 AVERIL [L]AV + IRE < + L
31 YESES SE[L]SEY <
32 ROUL LUXOR < − X
34 LEWD W in LED
36 ORA O’ + RA[Y]
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