Crossword Genius

Supply help as leading characters (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

alephs

'characters' is the definition.
(aleph is a kind of character)

'supply help as leading' is the wordplay.
'supply' is an anagram indicator (in a supple way).
'leading' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'help' after 'as' is 'ashelp'.
'ashelp' with letters rearranged gives 'ALEPHS'.

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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