2357: Half a Drum

Unclued lights make five pairs with something in common.
 

Across

Most popular

Martin Narey

How I was punished for breaking the conspiracy of silence on grooming gangs

1    Fragrant nuts announced (5)
4    Neat workers secure line for pole holding basket (9, hyphened)
9    Unsuitable papal rooms exchanged (10)
11    Incitement to hold round dance (5)
15    Proud to pull tons (5)
21    I waited outside as daughter went for some clothes (8)
22    Secret group, leaderless, keeps a team away from main branch (7)
24    Buffalo product, hot, full of goodness? The opposite (4)
25    What were piped away by force out of huge quantities (4)
27    Cudgel knocks out sick Irish girl (7)
28    Arrange to fight new timetable: I lost (8)
33    Owl’s nose? (6)
34    After college, a chap finds Gaelic club (5)
37    Truly sorry, empty, to make return journey (7)
38    Coarse rush as top of bill last to appear (5)
39    Fine misery created if these blew up? (10, two words)
40    Goes without wife into bar, a rare thing (9, two words)
 

Down

1    Two books about prophet, each against sign of the cross? (13, two words)
2    Obsessive refusal to open strong spirit (6)
3    As victim, my resistance overcomes trickery (6)
4    Bound Opera North to bar outsiders (6)
5    Start address to writer? (4)
6    Relaxing, having nothing wrong in work record (7)
7    Wine temperature fine (5)
10    For the moment, shot heron isn’t hurt (13, four words)
13    Have confidence in south, lacking energy to tour Britain (7, two words)
17    Version of gene entirely useless to the heart (6)
18    Stock of sheep relish gambolling (6)
19    Slight suspicion about duke’s liberality (7)
26    Small potatoes, old Greek coins (7)
29    Material for skeleton: it is found in part of face (6)
31    Adjust two descriptions of abrasion (6)
32    Language, fundamental sort of English (5)
36    Meeting of firm vowel and consonant symbol (4)
 
A first prize of £30...