Iq 1658

[hankir]

I made a mistake and posted this under EV 1658.
Some answers are given there, courtesy of ProfessorMaisie.

ProfessorM, your 38a hint leads to 4 letter answer, is that correct?
Although "N" appears from a down clue.
I had 3d after I posted but did not know how to parse it. So thanks.

I have answers to 16d, 19d but no idea what letters move.

[ProfessorMaisie]

No, hankir - that's the first part (2nd part = MENT).
16 move from 'sor(t)ed' to 's(t)ored'
19 ... from '(h)eart' to 'eart(h).'

[ProfessorMaisie]

... for 16 - not sure if you know about the UK's Sun newspaper?

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM.
Who would not know a Murdoch paper? James just left the company.

The heart to earth transfer works either way. Take heart from men or take e from men.

So far I have two blank cells. How many are there?

[ProfessorMaisie]

Yes, hankir - there are a couple of sly twists like that. I think we've discussed Ifor's cruel streak before (and there's a fair bit of the dark side in this puzzle).
I'm still wondering why there's a 'final grid' mentioned in the preamble - that would normally suggest an intermediate stage, but I can't see one!

For blanks you need a total of 4 (they're symmetrical within their rows).

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM.
I have the 4 cells in top half.

[Lewap]

Can anyone give me a hint on where to find the 25 cells to shade?

[ProfessorMaisie]

Lewap (if you're still looking) there's a word ladder rising up from the theme word at the bottom to the theme word at the top - change one letter each time.