The seven clues below have to be interpreted cryptically and are then entered in the grid where they will fit. (In 10 Down, alphabetical order takes precedence in one unchecked letter.)
AL (12, two words)
EARTH (10)
IF (7)
L (9, three words)
RI (11, three words)
STEW (8, two words)
WAND (5, two words)
Across
1 Showily virile Scot by house (5)
4 Note flaps ordered for old overshoes (9)
11 Dismal day at the back (5)
12 Canal by the German forest in the north-east (7)
15 American long time in employment (5)
16 These old coins are suggested by insignificant Scottish fellows (6)
22 Sideways walk across bridge (7)
25 Hair-style from Russian city (4)
27 Landmark near the Bull Ring having deterioration beneath, reportedly (7)
28 Sapper, busy, responding to stress (8)
33 Gossip, greedy, regularly a fish-eater (6)
34 Bums on new seat, broken (5)
35 Port holding good game (5)
37 Casually visits to abandon wickedness (7, two words)
38 Poet moving gently dropping article (5)
39 The stupidity of yoof drunk with Merlot (10)
41 Chain letters? (5)
Down
1 Rule of thumb of odd Romanies up working (13, two words)
4 Heartless publisher having to throw out novelist (6)
5 Working hard is somewhat platitudinous (4, two words)
6 It’s excellent when cut on antique leaflet for a wallet (7)
8 Write mournfully with a third of elegantly detailed design overturned (8)
10 Blow-pipes? (13)
13 Stopping places in Durban for oranges (7)
15 Revised account about pud and tea (6)
17 (2 – 0) + 250 + 55 + 250 = ____? (6)
18 Its leaves provide fodder for two birds (6, two words)
19 Notes choristers being spoken of (7)
20 Cockney houses and burrows (6)
23 A very English mass with song and prayer (8, two words)
29 Jack receiving every bit of delivery (6, two words)
30 Small fruit shoots (6)
32 Drank up in store (5)
36 Prison outside of Gaelic school (4)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 4 March.
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