Crossword

2433: House and garden

Across unclued lights (one of two words) combine with down ones to suggest the surnames of four famous English painters; the puzzle’s title suggests the name of a fifth. The fifth letters of these names form STARS. Elsewhere, ignore three accents.   Across 11    Leading soldier and cardinal are to stick together (6) 13    Uncouth

2432: Getting dry

Unclued lights (one of two words) give an event, its organiser, some participants, its winners, and the prizes.   Across 1    Stamp hard — everyone notices (8) 8    Men caught by a great beast (4) 13    Men impressed to receive hired waistcoats (6) 14    Elephants’ cup final? (7, two words) 15    Most frightening decay, in

2431: Pride of place

The unclued lights (two of two words) be paired and are linked by an anagram of the four letters in the yellow squares. Brewer verifies the theme.   Across 1    No stamp confused Pat. Could be him! (7) 6    Optical expert’s endless worry returning item for camera (7) 12    Gave notice of danger of now

2430: Petite traveller

19 October marks a milestone (hinted at by 19/26/20) for a person whose real forenames are given by 1A (three words). The other unclued lights (including two of two words, one being a toponym) suggest the titles of four of his works while the puzzle’s title suggests the title of a fifth. His real surname

2429: Homo

7A can be linked to nine unclued lights (three of two words, one of which repeats 7A) – in five cases as a prefix, in four cases as a suffix.   Across 7 Fifth of November and no old penny for the guy (3) 11 Engineer’s ancient letter stored by British Library (6) 13 Directions

2428: Tracks to the isles

The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.   Across 1           Groups of helpers providing accompaniments to pop-singers (8) 5           Trembling like fish (6) 14         Some weekend supplement (3) 16         Lionel wrecked ornamental metalwork (6) 17         Pack animal in a shopping plaza

2427: In other words

The unclued lights are of a kind, all confirmed in Chambers or Oxford. A portmanteau word (7) defining this phenomenon (verified in Oxford) must be highlighted in the completed grid. Ignore two accents.   Across 1    Fazed soldier losing face before VE Day (8) 8    Book musical with delayed start (4) 12    Playing records with

2426: Her love

The unclued lights (including one of three words, two of two words, and a pair) are names for or are connected with a character. Two further four-letter names hidden in one row must be highlighted.   Across 1    Discharge sailor to work out (7) 6    New mums with potential addition (7) 11    Bravo, cool dude (6, two words)

2425: Herein

The unclued lights (two individually, both of two words, one an abbreviation, and five pairs) are of a kind. One further theme word appearing every third week should be highlighted.   Across 1           Men Prescott battered in dispute (11) 7           Liquid — mostly light red (3) 11         Beat about the ears? (6) 15         One in a

2424: Poem V

1A (four words) and 44 (four words) are quotations from the first verse of a poem (in ODQ). Five remaining unclued lights are examples of 1A, while 44 might be a comment on the other four. The poet’s initials will appear upwards in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 9    Food for

2423: Redheads

Eight unclued lights are of a kind.    Across 1    Place to take off sari, pants and slip (8) 8    Theatre oddly chucked out piano and mouth organ (4) 13    Barman mixing vodka and rum without hesitation (6) 14    Facade metaphorically protecting the scholarly world (7) 15    Stand our ground round buildings (8) 19    Exercise,

2422: 40 furlongs

The unclued Across lights are of a kind, as are the unclued Down ones, all verifiable in Chambers.   Across 7    Awkward tiff before mid-July is spasmodic (6) 11    Passionate entreaty from injured courier, around last month (10, three words) 13    Older noble initially gallant during those times (5) 14    Stock Exchange certificate St Paul

2421: Tina

‘40/37/1A’, as he has been called, was born in 28 (two words) and died in 30/36. He was a reluctant ‘guest’ at 16’s twenty-seventh birthday party. 22 and 40 combine to form an anagram of the name of one of his works, while the puzzle’s title suggests the name of another. His surname appears as

2420: Crafty

Four unclued lights are thematic and are defined by two others. They are found in The 21 and 2 (also the singular of a fifth unclued light). Another unclued light is partly thematic, yet another was a high officer, whilst a final pair show status. One clued light is an abbreviation.   Across 11    Thankless daughter

2419: Figures in place

The unclued lights (individually or one pair) are of a kind. But, before entry into the grid, all but one has to be adapted figuratively speaking, so that one or two characters appear in an unchecked square.   Across   4    Most Britons could become members of a band (11) 11    I’ll join regiment under

2418: Sweet

Unclued lights are of a kind, including one of two words, all listed in Chambers or Oxford (the required spelling of 12 across is given by both dictionaries). One clued light can be rearranged to form a possible two-word description of each unclued light and must be highlighted. Across 1    A certain confusion with church

2417: Six Nations

One of the unclued entries (two words) can be followed by each of the others (two of three words, one of two words), according to Brewer.   Across 1    Clean turns into crashes – rash? (8) 8    What goes up, to go down like a lead balloon? (4) 14    Sinn Fein resisted revolutionary drinks (7)

2416: Silence

The unclued lights share a common feature at least once, different in each case.   Across 7    Liechtenstein test about roses and orchids, say (6) 13    Dot’s second kiss (5) 14    Paragons left out for plans (5) 15    Shave with iodine in Eastern part of China (7) 17    Right to hold gun overturned? Confirmation’s needed

2415: The limit

1A (hyphened) suggests a word which, with changes to its 7D 33, becomes the four other words (including a name) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (including a pair). The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.   Across 7    Outburst of song from tailor (3) 11    Lid of fryer accepted

2414: Matchplay

Seven unclued entries had the same relationship to an eighth (appearing as the two other unclued lights).   Across 1    Tease females after tea (5) 9    Misrepresentation of man in notes from St Paul? (10) 11    Celebrated beginnings of little individuals, in a way (5, hyphened) 12    Plonkers heading off abroad for a breather (7)