Crossword

2486: Ghost companions

In this anniversary year, unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. Ignore four accents. Across 1 Regularly curse wee coming back through opening in baby’s clothing (9)6 Foreigner married in Kent (5)11 Irritable, graze on a little yoghurt (8)13 Problem walking beside British Colonel (5)14 Land comedian at hospital with temperature (6)15

2485: Triplets

The unclued lights (all but one either hyphened or of two words) share a distinctive feature. Across 1 Fun and games of conservative leader amongst those opposing him (6) 7 Cost out red herald’s tunic, once (6) 13 Less convincing Debussy composition …. (5, two words) 16 … and which gets first directed badly by

2484: Troubled

The unclued lights are of a kind. Across 9 Go in with force, showing initiative (10) 14 Cast is enormous, but not good (3) 16 China’s new restrictive measures (6) 17 Girl showing leg in meadow (5) 18 Best buddies regularly skipped study (5) 20 Mites and ticks from a vehicle by Cretan mountain (7)

2483: In my soup

Unclued lights are defined by extra words in ten clues and are anagrams of ten of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. Across 9 Medic with hate for compound medication (4)12 Leper snubbed lethargic Arab (5)13 Mark is very into Islay’s liquor (5)14 A software user acquiring flash technology (5)16 Rugged harrier names ruthless smuggler

2482: Perm all five

The unclued lights (one of two words) display a common feature, different in each case. Across 1 Fundamentalist group keeps imprisoning old lady (5) 6 Runs out of banners for ships (8) 14 This slow match at Ibrox, when second-rate, would lack edge (4)15 Nosy parker holds son captive (8) 16 About a pound, one

2481: Octet

19 across (two words) is commonly associated with an octet. Each member of the octet defines one further unclued light. Across 11 Masseur also kneaded old reptiles (11)12 Country’s northern frogs, newts etc with no acid measure (7)13 Tease one brunette, vacuous crone (6)16 Very great network’s backing Sturgeon (7)17 Personify old emperor and knight,

2480: Warning

Solvers should heed a warning when deducing ten symmetrically placed unclued lights (two of three words and one of two words). Across 1 Poet entertaining Round Table (5)4 Together, brutes briefly help the old order (9)11 Live international back on a roll (6)12 Sting seen in church right by jetty (7)15 Oddly enough, Chloe broke

2479: Shielded

The unclued lights (one of two words and one hyphened) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 10 United in love, writhing, it produces seed (5) 11 Lady Taverner takes sanctuary more than once (5) 14 Gather the harvest, measure spoken about, then cut (6) 15 If at odds, get an intermediary (5) 17

2478: Namesakes

Clockwise round the grid from 3 run three song titles (totalling 13 words) with 3D/16 (five words in all) giving a fourth. The lyrics of the first two songs were written by someone sharing a surname with the lyricist of the other two. This name (6) will appear in the completed grid and must be

2477: Rendezvous

The unclued entries, all across, are unconnected words from Chambers. Each requires a letter added to render them thematic, and these letters, in order, give a hypothetical venue where they could all then meet. Across 8 Give a hand to a grand opera (4)11 Where Raleigh studied El Greco, and Ollie messed about (12, two

2476: Playtime

The ten unclued lights (one of two words and hyphened) consist of two themes which can be resolved into five playful pairs. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 10 Source of painting old archdeacon found in spring (10)12 Display and make lace as well (6)13 Richard Murphy, it’s said, is a tyrant (8)17 Tending to wear

2475: Poem VI

Unclued lights are ten words taken from a poem quoted in ODQ. The poet’s name (two words) will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 1 Raise a fuss about street urchins (8) 11 Mercury, say, in the sky (7) 12 Joanna shrinks following advance of insects (5) 13 Musician’s fine

2474: Love me do

31 3 worked for the 43 of 21. The 43 of 34 got him for 24 35 and sent him to 28 (two words). He finally gave in to 15 (two words). Ignore three accents and one apostrophe. Across 1 Fish barrel, a deep sound from it (8, two words) 6 Gambling cartel admits Poles

2473: May

The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind. Across 12 To make sense of Sun puzzle, many go on and on (10)14 17 regularly discloses gun? (3)15 One fated, cruelly, to have no ear? (8, hyphened)17 A medic’s morning tipple? (5, two words)19 We’re told Roman king suffers ruin (6)22 Rallying cry

2472: All-inclusive

An 11-word quotation (in ODQ) reads clockwise around the perimeter from square 1. Other unclued lights are names of a kind. A final thematic name (5) associated with the source of the quotation must be highlighted in the completed grid.   Across 14 Incompetent person of great status (7)15 Rapidly put away card, not large

2471: Inky

The unclued lights can be associated with an undisclosed quality. All associations can be found in Brewer and/or Chambers. Alphabetical order takes precedence for the solution at 36D. Across 9 Having broken rule outside, detective begins to feel guilty (10)14 Stiff paper, way-out neckwear? (3)18 Cox for Hereford, perhaps? (5)20 Choose in calamitous situation whence

2470: Express route

The unclued lights from 1 Down to 44 are of a kind with 4 overrunning a barline into 22. Ignore their four accents. The highlighted squares, read in order row by row reveal the theme and are a translation of the puzzle’s title. Across 1 Most splendid former capital with bombed site (8)5 Upmarket magazine

2469: Breadth

Unclued lights are anagrams of Shakespearean characters. These lights are defined by surplus words in eight clues. Across 1 Recreational areas exhibit special advantages (13, two words) 9 Athletic blue bound by IOU? As if! (7, three words) 11 Muddling along with me, my monkey and ape matter (7) 14 How Wasps may be: Anglo-Saxon

2468: Noah entry?

Eighteen clues contain deficient wordplay, the missing elements of which, when highlighted, confirm the theme. Across 1 Party with a previously haughty man (6) 6 Waste disposal initially declined (7) 11 Small braces (4) 12 Dog has a drink outside well (5, 4) 13 Boozer hugging a member’s tree (5, 3) 14 Old coins from

2467: Girl talk

Ten of the eleven unclued lights are of a kind and consist of singleton of two words, three pairs and a trio. The eleventh unclued is thematic when paired with an anagram of the five highlighted red letters. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe and an accent. Across 4 Talked of mark on potato magazine (9)11 Little