Be My Guest by Mr E

Puzzle explanation

The two normal clues were 27ac (cut it) and 2dn (half). The instructions regarding the upper left square given by these and the initial letters of extra words in the other clues were “cut it out, cut it in half, keep half, enclose half with your name on it”. The theme, revealed by the doubled-up letters, is “contesseration”. No particular shape was required for the submitted half.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer Explanation
Across
2 operations HARNESS HARDNESS – D
7 underworld SAMUEL AS < + MU + EL; reference meaning of name
8 terribly SLUICING (I + C + I) in SLUNG
10 institution TOGON TIGON in (AN + E); reference Antigone, a tragedy
11 news-stand CREMATION MERC < + (INTO A) *
13 kills ASPIDISTRA IRIS ADAPTS *
18 Eager ROAM O/A in RM
19 eldest CLIO C + LIONESS – NESS
21 party BESTSELLING BELLING about (ST in ES)
22 elders LENTAMENTE (TEN LAME + TEN) *
24 northern COMES BY COY about ((S + B) after ME); the writer = me
27 [none] CUT IT I’ in CUTT(y)
28 coat AUBERGE AUBERGINE – IN
29 lackey THEORY (f)OR in THEY
30 ordered ORDINEE (DINE + E) after OR
31 sugar EDDO Hidden
32 eastern PESTERER (ER about STERE) after P
Down
1 wines ASSOCIATE AS + SO + A [are] in CITÉ; reference Nancy in France
2 [none] HALF (FLASH – S(tealth)) *
3 intentions RUIN MARBLE MERLIN RUB A *
4 ten NECTAR NEAR about CT; “near” is left-hand in UK
5 Hurok SUN-GOD SUNG + OD
6 yellow SEGNO SP [spelling] + SEGNO < gives SPONGES
9 offend JET-SETTERS JET + SETTERS; reference crossword setters
12 urn ITALIOTE I + (A TOILET) *
14 regular SOLEMN SOLE + MAN – A
15 naturally PARTNERED PART + NEREID – I
16 almost DISEMBARK ((E + MB) after IS) in DARK
17 mandatory TOGETHER TO GET HER(e)
18 Everyone RELOCATE ATE after (REL + OC)
20 Old INVITEE IN + VITE + E(vent)
23 northern FUGIE Homophone (FEW GEE)
25 ill SHOO SHOOT [interjection] – T; definition is the interjection “off!”
26 taxing OBOE (h)OBOE(s)
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