Eight unclued entries comprise four pairs whose thematic ordering is provided by 3, 31, 37 and 41.
Across
1 Deft, dry in denial (5)
6 Bitter unit – British back in charge (7)
11 Criminal or liar with cult having three cells (10)
13 Distress furniture suitable for oils? (9)
15 Talks, say, regularly, inanely (4)
16 Extremities such as frogs’ legs do (7)
17 Thought mostly about minor inertia (7)
18 American-English custom (3)
19 To wit, PI hires corrupt eastern minister (10)
21 Put out cats, finally having enough (5)
23 Rigorous, way-to-the-right painter (5)
27 Acknowledge heron, moving head (5)
28 Heed unknown once-prominent primate (5)
30 Hotel records the supply (10)
34 Miss end of top copy (3)
36 Material publication by South Africa (7)
38 Ruth is mine, happy at last (4)
39 Top Buddhist a short African boy upset (9, two words)
40 Fan making us hesitant (10)
42 Force unopened lock (5)
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