Writer of a new soap set around central Harlesden (5)
I believe the answer is:
aesop
'writer' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'soap set around central harlesden' is the wordplay.
'set' indicates anagramming the letters (instruction to set the letters).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'central' indicates the central letters.
The centre of 'harlesden' is 'e'.
'soap' is an anagram of 'asop'.
'asop' placed around 'e' is 'AESOP'.
'of a new' is the link.
This may not be correct. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for aesop that I've seen before include "his writings were fabulous" , "story teller" , "Poses as ancient Greek writer" , "Classic fable writer" , "Fable-teller" .)