We have a first application that was submitted on 20th February, that is now over 11 weeks! We fly on Saturday! After a massive amount of being on hold (more than 16 hours in total) and submitting many emails to various people we have been told that we will have the passport on Wednesday! Fingers crossed!
My only advise is that anyone who is approaching the 10 weeks for a first passport start chasing early and don’t accept the constant fobbing off that you will get!! If you get to talk to someone be aware they are clueless and powerless!