2367: When pigs fly

Five unclued lights form a quotation from a work concerning the 18 of 19, 15A and 23. The 18’s name will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.

Across

Most popular

Martin Narey

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

4    Placidity of English queen nearing Ross and Cromarty town (9)
9    Dumb mimickings parish rioters bandied (10)
11    Old statesman from Burundi following woman around (5)
12    Fishy young goddess snubbed arriviste (7)
14    Refined gent eats over in the same place (5)
16    Classy hawk takes kip in Kelso (6)
21    People and prophet largely like a bunch of grapes (8)
22    What stimulates enthusiasm? (7)
24    Related little ladies stripped (4)
25    Mood of Loretta leaving Lima (4)
27    She’s left things in hospital ship Ireland bound (7)
28    Dutch artist improved deficient material (8)
33    Hireling skipping outside rocks and rocks (6)
34    One person’s unit (5)
37    Keyboard from Sri Lanka and about four from Germany (7)
38    Festival numberless knaves ruined (5)
39    Dance with sweetie and not twirling Elinor (10)
40    Brief exchange about unending rebel (9)

Down

1    No-show by most of idiot servants if chatting (13, hyphened)
2    Spinner puts out India in record time (6)
3    Headgear displayed by aristo apparently (6)
4    Shifting sand dunes worried worker (6)
5    Letter hack heard about (4)
6    American almost fanatical about coffee (7)
8    Pairing of dancing Pansy with sibling (8)
10    ‘Truer gherkins are pickled’ I protest (13, hyphened)
13    Bear nibbled cabbage outside reception room (7)
15    No good Hellene that’s smoked in Hawick (6)
17    Chapel beginning to obsess secret member (6)
20    Gallop through life (6)
26    They make good advanced cosmetics (7)
29    Musical works conductor listened to (6)
30    Small elephant’s gene (6)
31    Tom possibly close to divine goddess (6)
36    Struggle embedding new climber (4)

A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 30 July.