24a Plead with first two of chorus that are out of step in ballet (7) N - T - E - T I'm pretty sure of the letters, but I can't see anything in the clue associating this. Driving me crazy.
Thanks to the two of you. I had PRESERVATION for 7d instead of PRESERVATIVE. PRESERVATION didn't quite work, but I just thought that it was another (unfortunately all too common) error that seem to appear these days.