One clued light is suitably dressed having taken notice of the title. By extension, all the unclued lights would be, if they took the same precaution (and would then be confirmed in Chambers). Ignore two accents. Across 7 US battle giving quiet backing to spring festival (6) 12 Dava Sobel’s novel is
Each of seventeen clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter. The extras spell the first four words of a saying (in ODQ). The remaining seven words of the saying are supplied by 37 of the puzzle’s clues. Solvers must highlight a concealed item (six letters)
The crossword is of the usual barred pattern and is symmetrical whichever side is uppermost. The Across clues are presented in order and precede the Down clues. Three solutions are hyphened, and one is of three words. Solvers are required to insert the bars; clue-numbers are not required. — Former Foreign office abroad revealed in
45/11 (seven words) is part of a quotation (in ODQ7) from 13/34D. Remaining unclued lights, all real words in Chambers, must be filled to display two items for which the quotation is entirely inappropriate. Collins confirms 6A. Across 1 Grouchy papalist speaking (4) 6 Intimidate French socialists with touchy bent (8, two words) 12 Playing
Six unclued lights are synonymous with one unclued light which, according to a quotation in ODQ, is 38 43 (five words). The key light is integral to the name of the quotation’s author, which must be highlighted. Across 1 Boats, bad in parts, seem abandoned (14, two words) 9 Joke about current revelry
The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as a pair, are of a kind. Solvers are called upon to highlight another unclued light which forms three quarters of a clued solution. Across 11 Scribbled notes recalling fine state (7) 12 Continue with drama with small jackets (6) 14 Starkey’s pair of spectacles? (5)
The TITLE (36) gives WORDS (34) that, if combined, ANAGRAMMATISED (42) and suffixed to DUMP, defined by 7, 10, 12 and 22, produce the PSEUDONYM (8) ‘Dumpynose’. DUMP appears in the fifth row of the grid and was to be shaded. First prize Annabel Gaba, London NW6 Runners-up Charles Hastings, Upper Woolhampton; Lucy Mo, Withington,
‘1A (four words)!’ is a quotation suggesting the link between the other seven unclued lights (all real words). The domain of the screamer is a clued light and must be shaded. Across 11 Ailing I lie abed a couple of times and weaken (10) 14 Suit Australian stored in home county (6) 17 Student wrenched
‘ALAS, POOR YORICK’ (4) is an utterance by HAMLET on discovering the SKULL of the JESTER (11). Six unclued lights are features of a skull. First prize Susan Tims, Sutton Coldfield Runners-up Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland; Mike Underwood, Auvillar, France
Each of twenty-four clues comprises a definition part and a hidden consecutive jumble of the answer including one extra letter; the extras spell five words identifying an event, which could result in 14 7. Another possible result is given by the lights symmetrically opposite to 14 7. Definitions of the components of these results are
The across unclued lights are MORRIS marques and the down unclued lights are AUSTIN ones. The title is an anagram of AUSTIN and MORRIS. (Bullnose at 26 Down was a Morris marque, hence the wording in the clue — ‘misplaced’ as a Down solution instead of Across.) First prize Chris Butler, Borough Green, Kent Runners-up
The unclued lights (three of two words), individually or ‘19D’, are of a kind, represented in Brewer. Ignore all accents. Across 1 Buy a shirt? It’d be wrong for such appearance (12, two words) 10 Not supporting one with sex appeal, on reflection (4) 14 Material salesman (3) 15 Reserve
The ten unclued lights were all types of ants and were therefore defined by 7D. First prize B. Taylor, Bolton Runners-up Neville Twickel, Shipston-on-Stour, Warks; M. O’Hanlon, North Berwick, Scotland
The 36 gives 34 that, if combined, 42 and suffixed to the word defined by each of 7, 10, 12 and 22, produce a 8. The defined word appears hidden in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Parties have a nap then start Olympic event (14, four words)
AND could be found in the grid connecting NAME & ADDRESS, HERO & LEANDER, and BANGERS & MASH, so 19 and 21 were connected by THE and had to be GOD SAVE and KING. First prize P.L. Macdougall, London SW6 Runners-up Roderick Burgess, Cantsfield, Canforth, Lancs; Sheelagh Abbots, Chirk, Wrexham
One unclued light is an utterance prompted by a discovery. One unclued light is the occupation of the person to whom the discovered item belonged; the remaining unclued lights are features of the item. The name of the speaker, concealed in one column, and the item itself, concealed in another, must be highlighted. One unclued
The twenty words revealed in the perimeter squares and the four 10-letter words can all be paired with both BLACK AND WHITE (hence the title). First prize Patricia Gibbs, Mountsorrel, Leics Runners-up Gemma Le Marquer, Twickenham, Middlesex; Hilda Ball, Belfast
One unclued Across light can be paired with the remaining unclued ones: similarly with the unclued Down lights. Across 12 Holes in supertanker, wrecked off North Cambodia (9) 15 Turning mad — silent strip (9) 16 Sickly marine after backing old Spanish province (6) 20 Approach shot goes round deserted vehicle (7) 21 But that