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2467: Girl talk

From our UK edition

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 girl, outside in the morning, is wandering (5)14 Fabric — some linen? — on inventory (5)15 One clad in extra silk (5)16 Service of diplomat in Serbia (6)21 Difficult situation having coarse flax by joint (8)22 Descent, using a rope, perhaps, taking time (7)24 Still one that’s in the Skoda range (4)25 Beastly noise a problem for calligrapher?

2464: Topsy-turvy

From our UK edition

  14 which is unclued below, but is clued elsewhere, has to be divided into three components (one a Spanish imperative), each of which is linked with a trio of unclued lights. Across 1 US soldier with Christmas novelty among my low-value ornaments (11) 7/40 Bowler on Anglo-French 10s (6) 11 Fruit, almost a pound, once topped (6) 13 A liberal ruler admits a palace in Spain (7) 17 They never give up being essayists (6) 18 Fuel vessel having head of heater out of commission (5) 20 Wrong about the girl (6) 21 Large rodent, diffident, on borders of Peru!

2461: Hot off?

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (individually or four pairs) lead to a word or phrase which includes a thematic component. Across 1 Shetland viol berceuse regularly appearing for Zoroastrians (7)6 New guest admitting the French Dravidian speakers (7)11 Group of eight with leader of orchestra around court (6)14 Audibly criticise Aubrey’s sheep run (5)15 Online greeting accepted in City Road (5, hyphened)16 Peg bringing cheer indoors.

2458: Bardicarum

From our UK edition

The unclued Across lights are of a kind, as are the associated Down ones. Across 1 Friendship revealed by American Dream endlessly renewed (11)7/40 Chubby girl’s crime? (6)13 Harem guards regularly return fuchsias, as if gone astray (7)15 Banker in Berlin spending a lot?

2455: Shadow boxing

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (two of two words and one hyphened), individually or as three pairs are of a kind. The red squares, when correctly arranged, reveal an associated name (6,6) which solvers must include when submitting their solution. Across 1 Cut of meat, peas and cole stewed (8)6 Whiteness of church garment at start of ecclesiastical celebration (6)13 Educated woman consumes a dish from India (5)14 Artist speaks, reportedly, to Queen (7)15 Scotsman’s extremely heavy blow (10)20 Bananas and brazils (4)22 Unmarried girls, often distressed, oddly less mad (7)23 Direct approach (4)24 French artist taking tea around one vessel (7)26 Those who are sound asleep?

2452: Comme on dit

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (five of two words and one of three) should be paired to reveal four expressions verifiable in Brewer. Ignore one accent. Across 10 Plant setter left, it being covered in resin (5)11 Hardy bay tree? Obviously not (6)12 Bioethical problem of 150 willing to participate with 18 (7)16 Central American distributed narcotics – a fool (10, two words)17 Be subject to stress pointlessly (8)20 Purple stonecrop – otherwise almost rosé, in France (5)21 The very nature of German city church (7)22 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip have no love for old coins (5)24 Several parishes with services starting mid-week (3)27/18 Positive evidence of porcine acupuncture?

2449: Stateless

From our UK edition

Eight thematic words (one of two words), which solvers have to discover and whose two-letter abbreviations form the anagram I’M IRISH-CAVAN-YORK, do not appear in the grid, as the title suggests, but each can be linked with one of the unclued lights. Two unclued lights are of two words, another includes an apostrophe and a fourth is hyphened. Across 1 Petty to conceal TV (11, two words)7 Quarrel about sovereignty (3)13 Wonky furniture, if left out, becomes more wonky (7)15 Girl having the same name – new one (5)16 Sprinkle last bit of pepper into casserole (5)17 Ethnic artist spies on learner (6)18 Backs around 8s (5)20 He imposes taxes making the French sink (6)21 Go and get the chef out. He’s disappeared!

2446: Spring time

From our UK edition

Each clue defines the full solution to which the letter-count refers. However, the cryptic wordplay leads to the grid entry, after one letter has been omitted each time it appears in the full solution. The omitted letters in clue order reveal a relevant timely phrase which solvers should include with their entry. Across 1 Helped top-class lad (8) 4 150 sects accepting alternative maths aids (11) 10 Any reply sorted about church theft? (12, two words) 11 Eccentric fellow returns the French novel (7) 12 Sit astride stump (8) 14 Tooth-shaped, partly bent, oily (7) 15 Hired jeans regularly provide fabric (6) 16 Holes in English slab overturned (7) 22 Rock from joiner and his lad in Kent? (9) 23 Thou arranges — in extra brief?

2443: Middle of the road

From our UK edition

The unclued lights are of a kind. Chambers does not include 17D.   Across 4 New cabinet door which bears information (11) 11 Depict England captain Illingworth after drink (7) 12 Unploughed land where member takes in bad air (6, hyphened) 13 In France, he is in school, for the most part (9) 14 Good wild party and very dangerous (5) 19 Flight, first to arrive along take-off strip (7) 23 See and hear connection working (7) 24 Money for short part of a chapter (4) 25 Sleeping attire could be almost these! (7, hyphened) 30 Mass VII arranged for Indian religion (7) 31 Cape familiar to the matador? (4) 32 Tailed horse and bull one night in March (7) 35 He contradicts judge — worried? True!

2440: Dizzy tiny blonde

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (as four pairs and a singleton which includes an abbreviation and apostrophe) are of a kind. 36 is an acronym and 10 includes an accent. Solvers should highlight a further themed title of two words hidden separately in the final grid.   Across 1    Sheriff’s officer’s wild spat during argument (8) 12    Land on tree; mother has pronounced dead first (10, two words) 13    English work about wing flap (6) 14    24 change of heart for this bishop (7) 15    Girl in The Crown that’s on her knees (8) 18    Pair paid the bill on both legs?

2437: Sketchy

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (two of two words, one of which includes an apostrophe) are of a kind. Where alternative final letters occur, M and O are to be used, not T and I.   Across 11    Carpet salesman finished right at the front (7) 12    Rode at front, elevated as aid to driver (6, hyphened) 16    Superior meal, seconds not required (5) 19    Negative terminal coated roughly with touch of hydrochloric (7) 21    Look closely for perimeter of perimeter!

2434: Eat it!

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (two of two words), individually or as one pair, are of a kind.   Across 9    City call that reverberates (4) 11    A bouncer from evil European, reportedly (9, two words) 12    The Times with leaders only advocating German economic safeguards (4) 17    Explosive sounds of large swallows (5) 20    Petty quarrel – one with a student about room (7) 21    Scully’s partner hiding love for modeller?

2431: Pride of place

From our UK edition

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!

2428: Tracks to the isles

From our UK edition

The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.

2425: Herein

From our UK edition

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 suit showing spirit (5) 16         Question and answer about Long Island’s decline (5) 17         Active Liberal in breeding establishment backed the big folk!

2422: 40 furlongs

From our UK edition

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 found regularly (5) 15    Be determined by timeless article a very long time (7, two words) 17    Bringing ashore fish and it’s boxed!

2419: Figures in place

From our UK edition

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.

2416: Silence

From our UK edition

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 (7) 18    Five hundred flourishing trees. Not here, surely?

2413: Sign here please

From our UK edition

The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer.   Across 11    Oil-well cap adjusted as ornamentation (10, two words) 13    Some entertainer, dynamic, but socially inept (5) 14    Horseman’s additional clause (5) 15    Half-scores I have in short are nerve-racking (7) 18    Wicket that is most unplayable for a batsman? (6) 19    Jack’s heard something in church (4) 22    Len rummaged in the locker with gusto (6) 24    O, Gorblimi — it’s a mess — it’s a tangle (9) 25    Cross beams?

2410: Alphabetical jigsaw

From our UK edition

Clues are presented in strict alphabetical order of their solutions. Solvers have to assign the solutions to their correct places in the grid jigsaw-fashion.