Pathing
In this grid, there are two lovers who cannot directly reach each other. You can help her safely reach him by following the path hidden in the clues.
In 15 of the clues, the wordplay yields an extra letter. These give directions; start at her, and follow the instruction of the clue that crosses her. After some steps, you will reach another one of these clues, at which point you start following its letter instead. Repeat until you reach him and reunite the two.
In 11 of the other clues, the clues themselves are missing a letter that needs to be added in before solving. These missing letters, in clue order, describe the lovers (both in the grid and in reality).
The remaining 4 clues are normal, but share a clue element that may help you find the lovers in the grid.
When you have drawn the path out, note down the 'crossroads' where you went from following one clue's letter to anothers'. In order, these junctions describe what we might consider each lover as nowadays.
Across
| 1 | Top 10 missing from mixed PE assembly (6) |
| 5 | Delivery person to take care of partner after November passes (7) |
| 10 | Die, perhaps, breaking in one's demons (6) |
| 11 | Family fain to start later, after daytime (8) |
| 12 | Intended as an alternative to Quorn (4) |
| 13 | Go ahead; freedom surrounds death, somehow (4,3,3) |
| 14 | Hides valley's herd (5) |
| 16 | Retiring, fastidious son to take off hat in tense situation (5-3) |
| 19 | Often in Vienna, Wagner foully seeking retribution (8) |
| 21 | Severe fight on board (5) |
| 23 | Retired hero jams in a commune, except for hunting dog (5,5) |
| 25 | Current train holiday (4) |
| 26 | House members set Paul off (8) |
| 27 | Finish giving out love (6) |
| 28 | Alpha male took on safe job; cycling round in a state of disbelief (7) |
| 29 | Maybe get fresh canines with the pop first (6) |
Down
| 2 | Repair 11, putting 5 back for table maker (9) |
| 3 | Joyfully shut out orgy club without leaders? (5) |
| 4 | Offer up stuffing; otherwise, brownie (6) |
| 6 | In grand, mirrored surrounding, tango after one's getting going (8) |
| 7 | Escape from hard work using fake louse (6,3) |
| 8 | Beats loud invalid after frauds twice discovered (5) |
| 9 | Hesitate to aid oaf in letter topper (6) |
| 15 | Spoil dog until getting partner with latitude (9) |
| 17 | Stiffen the rent the day about halfway through the month (9) |
| 18 | Sign of new river splits main problem with perfect transitions (8) |
| 20 | Sister simply is not fair (6) |
| 22 | Being enthusiastic about trig function gets nerd beaten up (6) |
| 24 | Assume Oscar leaves for a change (5) |
| 25 | Gently push Mark's number over French man (5) |
