Crossword Genius

Forced to cuddle Oscar, female alleged (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

professed

'alleged' is the definition.
(allege can mean to claim or profess)

'forced to cuddle oscar female' is the wordplay.
'forced' becomes 'pressed' (press can mean to force or coerce).
'to cuddle' is an insertion indicator.
'oscar' becomes 'O' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.).
'female' becomes 'f' (abbreviation).
'o'+'f'='of'
'pressed' going around 'of' is 'PROFESSED'.

(Another definition for professed that I've seen is " Claimed".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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