Clifton Fadiman wrote that cheese was ‘MILK’S LEAP TOWARDS IMMORTALITY’ (3/4/18). The remaining unclued lights (16, 21, 25, 35, 44 and 1) are cheeses. FADIMAN (diagonally from the 13th row) was to be shaded. First prize Roland Rance, London E17 Runners-up Eileen Robinson, Sheffield; J. Smithies, Guernsey
Six unclued lights, the sixth spelt in its original way, are members of a team proclaimed dramatically at a venue given by the remaining pair. The proclaimer and team leader appears diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Minister and unknown independent in conflict (5) 9 Eyelid
The perimeter quotation is from L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between, in which Leo, Marian and Ted are the main characters. First prize Robert Hirst, Twineham, West Sussex Runners-up Peter Moody, Portchester, Hampshire; Willie Hamilton, Exeter
Six unclued lights are examples of ‘3/4/18’ (four words in total, ignore an apostrophe), a quotation (in ODQ) whose author’s surname (7) will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 11 Tony and Charlie amid ducks beside Yellow River (7) 12 Men declaimed European decree (6)