Sat Tel Prize xword 26546

[chokkie]

Is it me or is today's crossword harder than usual? I've been sitting here looking at it for about 45 mnutes and have only done a few clues. Perhaps I'm missing something ... e.g. quite a few empty spaces ....
Would therefore appreciate a bit of help, please, this morning ...
8a kind fellow put in appearance (6) ??m???
20a the unending lust bothered private eye (6) s?e???
17d husband inside greatly troubled with apathy (8) ??????g?

Many thanks, Chox.

[bibblebub]

17d lethargy

[bibblebub]

20a sleuth

[bibblebub]

8a humane

[chokkie]

Thanks so much, BB - you've been a great help ... chox.

[bibblebub]

my pleasure

[bitsbits]

i agree-really hard today

[chokkie]

I;'ve managed to do a bit more, but the top left hand corner is still a problem.
Ho hum ...
Chox.

[chokkie]

I'm about to give up in disgust this morning ....
7a lack of consumer interest (8) ???????a
3d rex travelling round low part of the West Country (6) ???o?r

Thanks, Chox.

[tyrepill]

7a Anorexia
3d Exmoor

[chokkie]

Thanks so much, tyrepill. Just 3 more left ...
9a domestic manager does not have a way to cook (4) ?t??
2a bird from third line (4) ?r??
18d teetotaller left cheese out that's crumbly (7) ?r?d?l?

Thanks folks,

[tyrepill]

18d Bri(tt l)e

[ljg1997]

we only have 2 answers!!

[tyrepill]

2d C row

[chokkie]

Hmm, now that changes what I've got for 21a "Baths with serum extracted from snake (10). I thought it was "nightadder", but if 18d is "brittle", then 21a changes to:
?i?h?a?t?r

Any thoughts - what a shocker today!

[tyrepill]

21a Bushmaster....anag "baths serum"

[chokkie]

Finally finished this ... feels like I've been doing it for a week .... thanks so much to everyone for their help and indirect encouragement to get it finished. Off shopping now! Chox.