Could you help me out. Would you believe stuck on 1 across, this is all I need to finish off the top corner.
Reassuring, turning up to protect stronghold (10)
So far the letters are -²O- ³* - ⁴ R – ⁵ I – ⁶ G.
These are from the down clues
2. Result?Middle East has to support dismissed officer(7) O UTCOME
3. Deaf, backward Frenchman admitted being, in fact, renowned(5)asterisk
4. Poor skier reaching dead end took chance (6) R ISKED
5. Hanger-on coming and going depending on weather (6) I CICLE
6. Unusually largely built, it attracts viewers (7) G ALLERY

[Wol] It worked after a gin. It doesn't now.

I presume it's Comforting... Coming (turning up) surrounding (to protect) fort (stronghold)

And the asterisk one being FAMED - "deaf" backwards containing M. for M'sieur

GIII and MF]thank you for your help, I may be back :)

"Framework lacking direction for satirical poet" S-L-T-N

[MF] The name SKELTON [the poet] springs to mind - as in 'framework' = skeleton, without the directional 'E' - but that would mean your letter clue is out of line.. Just a thought.