[V8] Key won't release from steering lock

[M h]

Thanks, all, for the replies so far.  It seems many of us have encountered some or all of these problems at some point or other.
It's helping to jog my memory from over 4 years ago.

If I understand this right....
In around '91/92, Audi introduced an enhanced security on the shift mechanism of the auto.  Shiftlok2 or some similar name. It's a steel cable linking the shift lever to the steering lock barrel. In PARK, the key can be removed as normal. Out of PARK, the key cannot be removed.  I remember from the '92 press car that I dismantled that it had this fitted.  It was damaged, too; working until I tried to remove it all, whereupon a little tab or other piece of metal broke off.  This tab is part of the mechanism that the cable connects to. As far as I'm aware, it's a 'fail safe' break.  If it breaks, at least the key can still be removed.  I think.

However, on the Toxic Toad, the aftermarket alarm installation has been such that damage is everywhere.  It may well be that something is interfering here.  It was working 2 weeks ago.
With the other switch issue, I need to get in there and sort it. Manually finding the 'run' position is not as easy as it should be. I have somewhere the old locks from the dismantled car, so that may help.