Cryptic crossword No 2,686

Very nice! Unusual grid design helped - some answers had a lot of crossers 😁 18a was a blast from the past! 😆 Also liked 16a (great example of that device in a coherent surface), 35a, 5d and 19d. Minor additional comments in the reply. Thanks!

A few eyebrows here and there, but lots of fun too. Plenty of gateway clues to get into the grid. 👏 for 19d.