Unclued lights (including one of two words) suggest a section of a sequence whose final member will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.
Across
1 Theseus at last goes in to batter brute (5)
4 Crossed children’s author dogged by pressman (9)
9 Alkaloids exist with the smell of ale (almost) (10)
11 Head king some laird raved about (5)
12 Screech from awful person rebuffed and upset (7)
14 Positive aristo shows a prized example (5)
21 Shallow type has leak outside (8, hyphened)
22 Old statesman once closer to HM and earl (7)
24 Number on high old headland (4)
25 Colour one neglected bus shelter (4)
27 African leaders are sharks indeed (7)
28 Where sailors go with soldiers in toppers (8)
34 Classy youth taken round special estates (5)
35 German system adopts horologist’s measure (5)
37 Particular sailor nearly always interrupts (7)
39 Certain believers no one man is shaking (10)
40 Imaginary lines very present in Iceland (9)
41 Mountain pass sustains live jujube tree (5)
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in