Express Skeleton

[Buick88]

Stuck now on the bottom few!!!
17a) A??E???...Claims made by fool about rest,,,ALLEGES (why?)
23a) I??????...Journalist statement? Wow!
24a)S?N?A...Girl cutting sound off was inside
26a)S??????...Bizarre Parisian's on concrete

[dannyk13]

Asserts
Impress
Sonia
Surreal

[Gill55]

Assesses, Impress and Surreal, not sure about the girl

[fiction-factory]

definitely Asserts

[fiction-factory]

^ASS (fool) around anagram of REST, i think, Gill

[Buick88]

Thank you...just not sure about...
19d) REEVE or RHEME

Thanks for all your help xxx

[Gill55]

Parse Sonia please

[Mamyalynne]

Clue for 19?

[Gill55]

I put asserts (having a senior moment) what about the Sonia

[fiction-factory]

Maybe there is a word missing from the clue?

[klazomaniac]

Soni(c) +(w)A(s)

[Gill55]

No, I have finished it now but trying to see how you get Sonia?

[cashier]

24 Soni(c) and inside of was is a

[rodders123]

19d) reeve (pheasant)

[fiction-factory]

Thanks klaz- I was assuming SONAR rather than sonic. Yours is perfect

[Gill55]

Thanks. Just like to know how to get them. Have won it three times over the last 10 years, 2 £25 and one £100 so keep trying.

[klazomaniac]

I know you would have got there FF :-)