Four unclued lights are of a kind and the remaining four can be arranged to indicate what unites them. Across 1 Woman with vintage Italian dress in racecourse (8) 6 Attack mischief maker with plastic gnu (6) 10 Electrical components in versatile robots (12) 11 Almost all wickerwork repelled essential oil (5) 13 Vehicle levy
Unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters in 14 unclued lights spell out PEEP – THE SPECTATOR CHARACTERS RECREATE REST. One such light is hyphened and another comprises two words. Across 1 Bundle of stuff needing time (7) 5 Dubious party assumes American power (7) 9 Church, with Old English exterior, from which arrows are launched (4)
The unclued lights become phrases, verifiable in Brewer, when their first (or, in one case, last) undefined word is added. One normal solution (also thematic in a way) includes the red and yellow names. Ignore all accents. Across 1 Players or cast, cast out – literally (6) 7 Cyndi Lauper release with live backing in
The unclued lights give various things which two lovers took or used on their journey. These include two of three words (one split over two lights) and one of two. The name of one lover is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted. Ignore two accents. Across 1 In a way, round university stifle speech
7D (two words), performed by 40A (two words), suggests the other unclued lights, which are all similarly amended forms of words of a kind. A final ‘7D’, itself a thematically appropriate word, must be highlighted in the final grid. Across 1 Actor, you said, departed with a hook (8) 8 Young bird from e.g. Spain
The unclued lights form four trios each associated with one of four theme words which solvers must discover and which do not appear in the grid. The 27 unchecked letters of these unclued lights for the wholly irrelevant comment: SO, DOC, CHARM EVELYN, GIRL FROM BBC. Across 9 Political meeting providing currency on top of
The eight unclued lights are of a kind. Across 1 One slandering and misrepresenting our claimant (11) 7 Purpose of Maoism oddly forgotten (3) 11 Trees concealing old furrow (6) 13 Bitterness of soldier on the radio (7) 15 Signature is tamper-proof, to some extent (5) 17 Sturdy or, conversely, broken? (6) 18 French here
Nine unclued lights (including two of three words and three of two with one in short form, ignore an apostrophe) have been seen on 35. A clued light gives a further example also in short form and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Stupid gents boy cleaned out (5) 10
The unclued lights (one of three words and two of two words), individually and one pair, can be verified in conjunction with the same headword in Brewer. Across 10 Where to find H or C readily available (2,3) 11 Rashford without minute deposit on the cornea (5) 13 Gold miners circling Lochnagar, say (5)
Four pairs of unclued lights are all similarly linked. Across 5 Mark sample of class essays (6) 9 I’m beginning to like hot chap’s twinkling of an eye (10) 14 Beginning of oxidisation on iron container? (3) 17 One who chooses mixed ramen (5) 18 Of sound mind, regularly returns wearing gold ring (5) 20
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,
The unclued lights are of a kind and are listed in Chambers. Across 1 Dry duck takes in energy drink (8) 6 Least exciting exam takes a minute (6) 10 Place for improvement? (8,4) 11 Man of note could break galley up – regularly (5) 13 Snapshot taken last month around Ohio for US novelist
Unclued lights (one hyphened, two of two words) have something in common. Ignore one accent. Across 1 I hand round a mostly poor-quality coarse fibre (8) 6 Urge to chase round and round behind lobby (6) 12 Appear unhappy about choppy sea tending to wrinkle (6) 14 Very healthy backing by old sports fan (6) 17
34/28/19 (five words) is a quotation verifiable in the ODQ from 23 (two words) which suggests how to complete the perimeter (six words). Across 10 Dissolute old peer’s lament (7) 12 Satisfied noise, leading around kings (4) 13 Queen hugs almost dehydrated girl (8) 14 Veep cycling in stubble field (6) 15 Chilled time with
The unclued lights, two of which accommodate two theme words, can be sorted into four trios of related words, each forming a reducing chain of 6, 5 and 4 letters. Across 11 Disentangle one French composer (7) 14 Department having some bargain dresses (5) 16 Annoying children – crazy right through (5) 19 Surfer returned
The ten unclued lights comprise five pairs, as implied by the title. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe. Across 1 Leaves evening party, returning by church (8) 12 Rag Conservative, reluctant after defeat (10) 13 Sad rake unpleasant with no love in sight (6) 15 Nice No. 1’s changed, according to singers? (8) 18 Where the
Seven unclued lights are connected by an eighth. Elsewhere, ignore one acute accent and one apostrophe. Across 1 British bishop packing pickles in hampers (7) 6 Creep made dull mates all shed clothes (7) 11 Jack and John, married and flourishing (6) 12 Brings out daywear oddly shunned by male models (7) 14
The unclued lights, four of two words, two individually or six pairs bear a common feature. One of the words does double duty, and another appears in two forms. Ignore three accents in the completed grid. Across 1 Criminal having cheese biscuit that’s not bad (4-7) 7 Found in cage in tribunal
The unclued lights, which include one of four words, one of three words, two of two words, comprise a quotation in ODQ. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe. Across 1 A wicket for Jasper’s cousin (5) 6 Small capitals backed capital of dross (7) 16 Safe to give criticism, but not about daughter (7)
The twelve unclued lights comprise six symmetrically placed ‘split atoms’. Across 5 Fruit devastation, not the first linked to difficulties (8) 10 Disregard Italian bloke, shunning introduction (6) 11 Adherent of government line disheartened only celebs (8) 12 Tea offered by curt Cromwellian? (4) 14 White metal club 37 holds (6) 18 Cunning son, extremely
