The unclued lights (one of three words), individually or as three pairs and a trio) are of a kind, one doing double duty, and all but one are from the same source. Ignore any possible definite article and one apostrophe.
Across
1 African fox regularly takes fish to intrude on territory (8)
6 Stir former partner with call (6)
11 Publican with a decorative plant (5)
13 Gulpers out on a spending spree (7)
14 OT patriarch points to taxes (6)
17 Islander giving small book to another (8)
21 Feet ends pose problems! (8)
25 Small flat’s ready (3)
26 Head over heels, finally fall in love (3)
29 Pay all one’s debts for bench in court (6,2)
34 Jalapeno pepper from cooking utensil used in country (8)
36 Fabric Dame Lipman suggests (6)
38 Oration about province (7)
40 Large knife making two small cuts (5,3,4)
42 Where unheeded comments fall having safeguarded new dug out (4,4)
Down
1 Moral philosophers with dram for Christmastide, maybe (9)
2 Ten leaving island temple (4)
3 Street repairs entail second exam (6)
4 Only pretend to influence (6)
5 Cavers in trouble – nearly all see deep crack (8)
7 Locksmith is not quite plump (5)
8 Note gun-metal is adapted like a natural covering (10)
9 Islamic ruler turning up in three medallions (5)
12 Below stairs employees around small taverns (8)
15 Moonlight, perhaps – some falls on a table (6)
18 Northern saga about Iron Age Yukon, now and then (10)
19 Allows it to pass, as Elsa does in Frozen (4,2,2)
20 Top-level luminary keeps hide for writing (6)
22 Delays impressions describing unique selling point (9)
24 Leg veins of injured sea elephant let out (8)
27 Triumph again with Irish novelist’s broadcast (7)
31 Glum medic with Ena Harkness, say (6)
33 Classical actor and English actor’s forename (5)
37 Duck, brightly coloured, coming up river (4)
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A first prize of a £30 John Lewis voucher and two runners-up prizes of £20 vouchers for the first correct solutions opened on 30 March. Please scan or photograph entries and email them (including the crossword number in the subject field) to crosswords@spectator.co.uk, or post to: Crossword 2743, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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