19.5 — Cryptic Cruciverbalism Solution

PROTAGONISTS
REDPROMOREAP
EPEEMORNINGR
VOICEDNESSIE
IOMADLYTHEME
OMONROVIAAPE
UPNSEWINGBOX
SHESMEEKOALA
PAYPOSTPRNIM
ALCOVENAGATP
ROORAMADANEL
ESPELIMINATE

Clue answers:

ACROSS

1. *THE = PROTAGONIST'S
10. RED (homoph. READ)
11. PRO + MO
12. REAP (anag. PEAR)
13. E(PE)E
14. *CLUE = MORNING
15. VOICED (hidden)
16. NESS + I.E.
20. MADLY (M + LADY anag,)
22. TH(EM)E
24. MONROVIA (anag. VAIN MOOR)
28. APE (APEX - X)
30. UP + N
31. S + E + WING
32. BOX (2 defs.)
33. SHE (ASHE - E; def. refers to film She (1984))
34. SMEE (SEEMS rev. - S)
35. KO + A LA
37. PAY (YAP rev.)
38. *ANSWER = POST
40. NIM (anag. MIND - D)
41. ALCOVE (anag. VOCAL + E)
43. NAG (2 defs.)
44. AT + P
45. ROO (homoph. RUE)
46. RAM + A + DAN
47. ESP (initials & lit.)
48. *THIS = ELIMINATE

DOWN

1. *FINAL = PREVIOUS
2. REPO (PER rev. + O)
3. ODE (ODIE - I)
4. ARMED (DREAM anag.)
5. *A = GOOD
6. NONET (NO TEN anag.)
7. IRIS (SIR I rev.)
8. TAG (2 defs.)
9. SPREE (hidden)
11. PE(CA)NS
17. SEA (homoph. SEE)
18. IMPOLITE (IMP + anag. ELIOT)
19. OMPHALOS (SHAMPOO anag. around L)
20. M(ONE)Y
21. LOWE (homoph. LOW)
23. HAG (2 defs.)
25. REMO + VAL
26. *TO = VIETNAM
27. IN + K + PAD
29. *IS = EXAMPLE
32. BAN + AN + A
34. SPORE (ang. ROPES)
36. ORGAN (2 defs.)
37. PARE (homoph. PAIR)
39. SEMI (LIMES rev. - L)
42. COP (2 defs.)

Eight of the clues (*ed above) are single all-caps words instead of the usual cryptic clues. These words can be arranged to spell THIS IS A CLUE TO THE FINAL ANSWER and when the answers are arranged in the same order they spell ELIMINATE EXAMPLE GOOD MORNING VIETNAM PROTAGONIST'S PREVIOUS POST which is a cryptic clue for EX + CRETE. The final answer is EXCRETE.