Mince Pie by Nutmeg

Puzzle explanation

The puzzle’s theme was mixtures or confused collections, hence the use of a variety of clue types. The wordplay-only clues gave types of mixture: MEDLEY, BLEND, MINGLE, STEW, OLIO, ASSORTMENT, MÉLANGE, MESS. The corrections to clue misprints spelt out MIXED BAG; the letters omitted from grid entries gave COCKTAIL. THe first letters of extra words were jumbled to make HIGGLEDY and the last letters formed PIGGLEDY, so HIGGLEDY-PIGGLEDY was written under the grid. In the title, “pie” referred to a mixed state or confusion.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Misprints; extra word Answer (omitted letters) Explanation
Across
1 Delhi ALOO A + LOO
4   HOT(C)HPOT(C)H H(erbs) in HOTPOT + H
11   MEDLEY LEY after MED
12   TUBAE TUB + A(r)E
13 ar(M) RADIUSES (RA STUDIES) * − T
15   STATICAL (CAT’S TAIL) *
16 fl(I)es TSETSE SETS in ET <
17   BLEND B(ruta)L + END
18 gold TOMS 2 meanings
21   S(O)NANTS S + NANTES − E
23   BREWER BRER around WE
26   (C)REED homophone of READ
27 A(X)is ATLAS ALAS around T(hree); ref. first and second vertebrae
28   MINGLE (ELGIN − I) < after MI
31 elderly IMAGINAL (MAN AILING) * − N
33 Cran(E)’s SERIEMAS SERIES around MA
34   (K)INGED IND around EG <
35 grasp ENSURE ((P)ERU’S NE(arly)) <
36   STERLETS STER(n) + LETS
37   STEW WETS <
Down
1 long AMRIT AM + RIT(e)
2   (T)ODDLE (c)ODDLE(s)
3   OLIO FOLIO − F
5 Car(D) OYSTER (conv)OYS TER(rify)
6   TREADS (Pilo)T + READS
7 young PUPILAR UP < + PI(l)LAR
8 (B)lue OBSCENE OB SCENE
9   TARANTELLA (AREN’T AT ALL) *
10   HER(A)LD HELD with R,L for L
14   ASSORTMENT (MEN + (rampar)T) after (OR in (A + S + ST))
15   (I)SSUE SUES with the last letter moved to the top
19   MÉLANGE ME around (ÉLAN + G(o))
20 Pr(A)nce SWAGGER S + WAGER around G
22 hole NAIL 2 meanings
24   RENEGE ENGINEER * − IN
25 illegal IMARET I + MARE + T(own)
27   A(L)IBIS A + IBS around I
29 Ran(G)e’s GAMUT ((M + A) in TUG) <
30   ENSEW E(dmund) + N,S,E,W
32   MESS (Ti)M(e d)E(po)S(it)S
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