Clockwise round the grid from the square between 3 and 4 run the names (forename and surname) of four eminent victims (7,8: 5,8: 6,7: 5,6) of a deadly 7 who left us this year. 26 gives the 7’s forename and 32 is a synonym of his surname.
Across
8 Dramatic Duchess of Cornwall, say, rushed outside (5)
9 Singer breaking rules (6)
10 Run from libertine boy punches (7)
12 A great many almost sound relieved (4)
14 Drudge what’s charred and bloke head off (10)
15 Great king and maybe Macbeth both shaved in the cool air (8)
18 Face of Aladdin? (5)
19 Oz’s blue razorbill wheels over one boat’s stern (7)
20 Old steps good to go up (5)
22 Medic’s day of celebration primarily (3)
25 A cook spelling trouble (3)
29 Cruel king demigod deserted (5)
31 At this place strangeness is natural (7)
33 Aquatic Jacques about to eject his water (8)
34 A shirt seen inside only we rumly make stormproof? (10)
36 Cruel person, twisted therefore (4)
37 US boxer, one visiting most of N African state (7)
38 Fruit champion chicken gobbled (6)
39 Climber way across east side of Sinai (5)
Down
1 Dry bar hides last of beer (4)
2 Marine plants shelter flipping canaries (10)
3 Bill introduced to stop us torturing people (7)
4 Rust or its colour in classy ring (5)
5 Prelate rocking her chair (8)
6 Old-womanishness unusual in Italy (7)
11 Short distance on railway (5)
13 In tent behold hole (5)
16 Horse painter escapes venomous snake (3)
17 Composer fences with Catriona (10)
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