Some might say my clues are cruel and heartless, but I’d like to think not. The solution to this crossword is in this image. The clues are explained in the following video, then there are a few words about the theme after that.

Signature clue at 18D, and obligatory cricket references at 10A and 12A. This puzzle has a message going clockwise around the perimeter, from the top-left corner, as uttered by a certain tortured angst-ridden adolescent many moons ago. I still think it’s funny, and so here’s the full story: