Crossword Genius

Girl with horrid cheap mag (5-8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

penny-dreadful

'cheap mag' is the definition.
(term for a cheap serialised story or comic book)

'girl with horrid' is the wordplay.
'girl' becomes 'Penny' (woman's name).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'horrid' becomes 'dreadful'.
'penny'+'dreadful'='PENNY-DREADFUL'

(Other definitions for penny-dreadful that I've seen before include "Cheap and sensational novel" , "Cheap storybook" , "Melodramatic paperback novel" , "Cheap melodramatic novel" , "Sensational paperback novel" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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