Spectator 1853

[Lezapping]

Some help with hints & clues for the following, please!

12a: Teatime for friarbird?(10, hyphened): ??U????O??
18a: Plant snake acepted repelled rhino(9): ????R??U=sucurujus?
24a: Botanist reviewed greens(6): ???H?R??
32a: Series featuring Mama's choker(9): ????H?R??

DOWN
2d:???N??
3d: ???A?
9d: ??T?
11d??R???

28d: ?????NG
35d???ON

Thanks in advance for setting me on the right track!

[kayakamina]

18a Asp is the snake

24a Anagram of greens

32 Ser is the abbreviation of series

2d Headline minus a letter

3d Noah is a patriarch

9d TA are volunteers (territorial army)

11d A habit is a dress

28/35 Part of the theme

Are you sure you are up to tackling this type of crossword?
We like to help especially someone starting out.

Good luck

[kayakamina]

I omitted 12a concentrate on the 'time ' element and remember a 'co$k' is a bird .

$ = C for the censor!

[kettledrum]

For help with guessing the theme - as well as the clue in the title, it is also relevant that the date of this puzzle is today - 1st March . ( I know it's already been available on-line since Thursday ! )

[Tichfield]

Another little bit of help.

35d is a two word answer.

[Lezapping]

Many thanks, Kayakamina, for the hints...Only 32a is still giving some trouble despite the hint about SER=abbreviation of series. But, know also that I have been doing "traditional" puzzles and cryptics for some time now and have been faring quite well. I must admit, though, that the type a la Spectator is much different and as I go along, I am getting the hang of it. With people like you who are willing to help novices in this type of puzzle, I am sure to become a pro like you! Many thanks again!

[midazolam]

another word for mama inside SER = choker

[shaneystar2]

I took series to be ER ...Emergency Room ( on the tele )
mother'S (mama 'S ) +ER..... S>>>mother..ER
I suppose it's not the correct way to look at it but hey ho !