Crossword Genius

Rod is a character, by all accounts (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cue

'rod' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'character by all accounts' is the wordplay.
'character' becomes 'q'.
'by all accounts' shows a homophone (sound like) ('by all accounts' can mean 'we hear').
'q' is a homophone of 'CUE'.

'is a' is the link.

(Other definitions for cue that I've seen before include "Catchword" , "A snooker ball striker" , "Signal to players" , "line in speech" , "Snooker player's stick" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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