Crossword Genius

Damn inspiring old programme (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

course

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'programme' is the definition.
(programme of study)

'damn inspiring old' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'old' could be 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English) and 'o' is located in the answer.
'damn' could be 'curse' (synonyms) and 'curse' is located in the leftover letters.
This accounts for all the letters.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for course that I've seen before include "Direction taken or intended, as in race" , "Pursue - career - run - series of lectures" , "Layer (of bricks)" , "Route or meal segment" , "Mode, of action say" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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