If you had stuck one of these groups in another grid it would have been great but having four groups which have in essence the same theme makes for an easy grid.

That should have been true, but it still beat me! Why connected? But good one!

Oli & the Wiz. I thought it was either going to be very easy or impossible. It depends if you get the first connection and then you are away. They are all connected because they are all in the sky... sort of.... ish..

Thanks Blues! Great idea,my brain just not quick enough!

I saw Sun but got distracted by thoughts of Marilyn and page three and missed the others ( as you probably intended). Cunning!

Marilyn... Marvellous.

Smasher.

Just for a tip:
Koala Marsupial Dingo shorten it to Marsupial.
Grammar School boy shorten to Grammar School
Costa Rican Coffee shorten to Costa Rica
A Very Near Thing shorten to Near Thing
The Art House Theatre shorten to The Art House.
Some of the words are not needed

Mr. Tips all the words may not be needed, and of this we can both agree although it is simply an observation on your behalf, however I decided when I was typing the clues that a surfeit of words was exactly what was required which is an equally valid but different opinion. Regardless I thank you anyway.

In all my time at the UN I've never been so disappointed with anything. Shame on you!