The unclued lights (1A, 1D, 6A/33, 13, 18, 32 and 38/24) are seven of the ‘Twelve Curious CUSTOMS Worth Reviving’, as listed in Brewer 19th edition. First prize J. Bielawski, Liverpool Runners-up Neil Mendoza, London W11; K.J. Williams, Kings Worthy, Winchester
The unclued lights, (two of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer 19th edition. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 11 Jersey, perhaps, one’s left with (6) 12 Bangers for men like Ben Gunn (7) 14 Poor Ben repressing shout of joy for girl shedding tears (5)
The unclued lights include the words ONE to NINE which had to be entered as figures 1 to 9 in unchecked squares. First prize C.W. Hastings, Upper Woolhampton, Berks Runners-up Brenda Widger, Bowdon, Altrincham, Cheshire; Paul Jenkinson, Zollikon, Switzerland
The unclued lights (all of two or three words, some hyphened and all confirmed in Chambers) can be arranged into a consecutive sequence. Each light includes a different word which has to be represented in just one unchecked square. Across 4 General beginning to network as a gamble whenever in charge (11, hyphened) 11 Very
First prize Mrs M. Purdie, Ceres, Cupar, Fife Runners-up Nick Hussey, Overton, Hampshire; K. Parekh, Wayne, Illinois
This week’s puzzle breaks away from the traditional thematic puzzle. Instead, here is an alphabetical jigsaw for solvers to tackle. Clues are presented in strict alphabetical order of their solutions which begin with the letters indicated from A through to Z. Solvers have to assign each solution to its correct place in the grid.
The unclued lights are CHEESES. First prize M. Taylor, Eskbank, Midlothian Runners-up D.G. Page, Orpington, Kent; Katherine Griffin, Winchester, Hants
The unclued lights, either individually or as a pair, are of a kind. Ignore one accent. Across 4 Read tea-leaves with nettle and flour ingredients (11, two words) 12 Rejected English found in pithy sayings (6) 14 Silent block (5) 19 Spare book (7) 21 Pay some Brazilian temp (4) 24 Ex-giant, literally (4)
The unclued lights are FRENCH DÉPARTEMENTS, with five of them placed in the grid at their correct administrative number: 2, 3, 25, 36, and 39. First prize Gordon Hobbs, Woodford Green, Essex Runners-up Rowan Priestman, Burpham, Guildford; J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere
The unclued lights, five of which are correctly numbered, are of a kind. Ignore one accent. Chambers does not include the solution at 29D. Across 01 Have nothing to do with letter read out to John — needs amending (13, five words) 09 European dormouse cutting 42 thematically (4) 11 Countrywomen
The word pyramid runs from CAN at 7A, then 35, 36, 30, 5, 2, 21D, 19 to CONSIDERATE at 1A. First prize John Sparrow, Padbury, Bucks Runners-up Andreas Fabian, Dunsden, Oxon; John Newell, Kingston upon Thames
The unclued lights (one of two words and another hyphened) can be arranged to form a word pyramid of 3 to 11 letters, adding one letter and making an anagram step by step. Across 11 Demands performances from the past? (6) 13 Totally obsessed having cleared the plate (7, two words)
The unclued lights (paired at 14/38. 23/17 and 34/2) are SPECTATOR journalists or contributors. First prize Dr David Jerwood, Keighley, W. Yorkshire Runners-up Michael Moran, Penrith, Cumbria; Trevor Evans, Drulingen, France
The unclued lights (two of two words), individually or as pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 9 Aromatic fragrance from front half of royal residence (4) 11 How embroiderers’ work fell apart — without any trouble (10) 12 The best spinners? (4) 16 Loved one
The unclued lights are heraldic terms. First prize Simon Horobin, Kidlington, Oxon Runners-up Mick O’Halloran, Dunsborough, Australia; John Roberts, Cheltenham, Glos
The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Elsewhere, ignore two accents. Across 1 Transfers year-groups (7) 11 Mushroom in cooker and much of the basmati (6) 12 Neighbours character’s hangers-on (7) 14 No Parking in island for Persian king (5) 15 Gamble on a lake
The unclued lights are all preceded by GREAT to form the phrases that can be confirmed in Brewer. (The clue at 40A suggests GREATEST LIE, also listed in Brewer). First prize Leslie Mustoe, Hitchin, Hertfordshire Runners-up Rhiannon Hales, Ilfracombe, Devon; Andrew Vernalls, Milton Common, Thame, Oxfordshire
The unclued lights (two of three words and two of two words) can be preceded by the same word and all are defined in Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Across 10 Terrorist regularly misses the mark (4) 12 Canons once disturbed harmony (10) 14 Distinctive doctrine of Paris Match (3)
The unclued lights include at least four Os (IV Os), and other clued solutions contain two or three. OROONOKO at 6D is the novel and has five Os. First prize David Warren, Gorey, Co. Wexford Runners-up J.E. Pugh, Cardiff; S.J.J. Tiffin, Cockermouth, Cumbria
The unclued lights (one hyphened and another a novel which is listed in Chambers Crossword Dictionary) display a similar feature — a few of the clued solutions do so too, though to a lesser extent. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. Across 1 Slim, young, lithe person – hot! Just tops! (5) 6 Hosting
