Iq 1785

[hankir]

There is an extra letter in each clue.

1. Star announced ruin without work (4)
2. Incompetent study in parts is clearly true (10)
3. Enjoy getting involved with queen insect’s release (10)
4. Censor allowed profound short stories (6)

Does the first word start in cell 1 of Row 1?

Thanks.

[ProfessorMaisie]

'ru[i]n' - IDLE (3x clues - sounds like 'idol'/'run' = like an engine/'without performing work')
DEN + 'i[n]' - 'parts' = separates UNABLE
REL(inqu)ISH (inse[c]ts)
DELETE (stor[i]es) - 'profound' = DEE(p)

[ProfessorMaisie]

...that first one is just a homophone followed by a very long definition.

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM.

The first 8 extra letters give me a name from a country north of us.
Second name is from Italy it seems.
Not sure what the significance is yet.
I am going to start the grid fill with top left corner. Will see if it works.

Is telco in Airs broadcast EE? Have never heard of it.
The first row has two blank cells.

[Neveracrossword]

EE is the second largest mobile network in the UK. It's part of the BT group.

PS There won't be two blank cells in the top row, once you start fitting things in...

[hankir]

Thanks NAC.
First two answers are 6 and 8. So 14. Grid has 16 cells in each row.
Two down clues must begin in Row 1.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Hankir. Yes to the Down clues using up the spaces in that row.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Don't get hung up on the Canadian, hankir - this one has a different first name (you need the 3rd word for the theme - 5 letters, C????).

[hankir]

Thanks NAC.

[hankir]

ProfessorM, have not solved the first three clues of that five letter word C??CK. But making slow progress.
Know what the word is and picture of that object shows the colors.

[ProfessorMaisie]

For the first '[c]over' means both parts are reversed (and there are 2 different musical notes involved) def 'repeating.'
'chi[l]d' = RATED for the next one.
A word for 'exceptional' with t+y (from 'turkey') removed or, 'c[o]ast off' (the def is 'at a point').

The endgame is specific to the puzzle and doesn't appear in any online versions I could see - so I had to do the maths (and if I can do it I'm sure you'll do it in a fraction of the time, hankir).

[hankir]

Thanks ProfessorM. Chid = Rated and word for At a point are both new to me.
So far the grid looks good.