The unclued lights are of a kind; the ones Across are one theme, and those Down (one of two words) on another related theme. Solvers must highlight another ‘Down’ theme-word hidden diagonally in the final grid.
Across
1 Patching tatty topper for bed (8)
12 Triumphant delight returning pie to roofless depot (10)
14 Mad sex rejected in country out East (7)
15 Make tactical plans of restoration of great sites (10)
16 Burrowing creature and friends of Mr Toad? (7, two words)
20 Month from a calendar’s final three (4)
22 Oppressive individual’s awake, endlessly (7)
23 Fast or slow, endlessly (4)
24 Ambassadors restricted qualification (7)
26 Captain’s butterfly (7)
30 Half the game is satirical (4)
34 Massenet opera’s cut in 31 (4)
36 Flier missed his very last chance, we’re told, eating last piece of nut (7, two words)
39 In France, she is able to return car (7)
40 Adolescent runs in with wooden antique (5)
41 Like suites in small group ((10, hyphened))
42 Follows on smoothly into those guest-rooms (6)
43 Till cold, remains by stand (8, two words)
Down
2 Refining Esso into nuclides (8)
3 Haul from vault, mostly (5)
5 Warned of broken treadle (7)
6 Farmyard obstruction not lifted (6)
7 Top shearer is an impostor (6)
8 Star plant vain kinsmen supply regularly (5)
9 Requiring changes to static engines (13)
11 Islander, gaunt and thin, seen amid damaging rains (9, two words)
17 Some fish in France for Hawaiian dish (3)
18 Raquel from Barry, we’re told (5)
21 Rough old cheap cigarette’s not good (5)
25 Cockney’s desperate situation shows his sprightly demeanour (8)
27 Eyes in Greenock (3)
28 False acacia providing trimming on a gown in abundance, for starters (7)
29 Books about sea salt (7)
32 Amplifier receiving university capital (6)
33 Upright members removing fellow from joints...
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