How do I solve 3 down in Times Cryptic 29545?

Question

Accepted Answer

3 down reads "Somewhat concerning end to programme supporting loathsome individual, say" (2,1,6 letters); the answer is TO A DEGREE. It's a letter-selection clue: take specific letters from a longer source. 'First of' means the opening letter, 'extremely' means first + last, 'regularly' means every other letter, 'oddly' / 'evenly' means odd or even positions. The full step-by-step breakdown is on this page.

Somewhat concerning end to programme supporting loathsome individual, say (2,1,6)

3D — Somewhat concerning end to programme supporting loathsome individual, say (2,1,6) — TO A DEGREE