2529: Formerly

The unclued lights (five of two words which include three apostrophes) can be preceded by the same word, all confirmed in Chambers and/or Brewer.

Across

11 A record bill, getting a pack animal (6)

12 Earthling beginning to excavate rock formation (7)

14 What contains oxygen and is able to girdle the Earth? (5)

15 Oddly, St Thomas in porticos (5)

16 Currency unknown to ethnic group abroad (6)

17 Jock’s meant to have decided without son (6)

21 Fabric dealer removes power from ambitious governmental worker (7, hyphened)

24 Moving into gear, I start (9)

Most popular

Druin Burch

Lucy Letby and the killer nurse I worked with

29 Small change for a European banking system, once (7)

30 Performance – tear one into shreds (9)

32 Lead and tin train tracks (6)

35 Equipment to determine liquid’s density having website, reportedly (5, hyphened)

36 Police department catching villain at last with a stinger (5)

38 Interference in stable (6)

39 Hot-tempered and awfully sleepy around noon (7)

40 In Germany, they must have seen new school of painting (7)

Down

1 Waves spoil small rooms, we’re told (7)