Crossword solution

BUTTONS AND BOWS (1A) is a song in the film THE PALEFACE (10), sung by BOB HOPE (27). Other unclued lights are buttons (7, 12, 31) and bows (16, 39, 40).

The unclued lights can be preceded by GREEN which had to be shaded in green, as indicated in the solution grid.

The perimeter quotation is from L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between, in which Leo, Marian and Ted are the main characters.

SHAKESPEARE — indicating the action required to create 9, 11, 32, 18 plus 24, and the puzzle’s title — is the name of Matthew Arnold’s poem from which the perimeter quotation is taken.

The unclued lights reveal ELEVEN (five English and six Scottish) league football teams (3/38, 4/1D, 10, 14, 18, 18/28, 19, 26, 27/1D, 28, 36 {City}). 1 Down has to become ROVERS. First prize Margaret Shiels, Edinburgh Runners-up Sandra Speak, Dursley, Gloucestershire; Roderick Rhodes, Goldsborough, N.

Oscar WILDE (35) described hunting as THE UNSPEAKABLE IN FULL PURSUIT OF THE UNEATABLE (1A, 14, 30, 42), and the huntsmen are John PEEL (12), JORROCKS (R.S. Surtees) (19) and Siegfried SASSOON (Memoirs of a Foxhunting Man) (28).

To create entries at 5, 9, 20, 29D and 41, answers to clues in italics become TREE-HUGGERS (15), embracing sallow, fig, argan, oak and dita. Definitions of the entries are 16, 12, 8A, 3 and 35. First prize Gerry Fairweather, Layer Marney, Essex Runners-up Lewis Corner, South Fremantle, Western Australia; C. & A.

FIRST, the ‘starter’ solution at 10 Down, can be linked with the other unclued lights, with it also appearing twice in ‘First things first’. First prize P.E. Berridge, Gosberton, Lincolnshire Runners-up John C. Edwards, Ightham, Kent; Professor Colin Ratledge, Beverley, E.

The works were Striding Folly (anagram of 11/22), Whose Body? (36/1D), The Nine Tailors (2/48), Strong Poison (9/30) and Gaudy Night (17/46). DOROTHY L. SAYERS (diagonally from the SW corner) was to be shaded. Title: anagram of LORD PETER WIMSEY who features in all five works. First prize Mark Rowntree, London SE10 Runners-up Mrs S. Macintosh, Darlington, Co. Durham; G.S.

WILD HORSES, the title of a track on STICKY FINGERS (1D) by the ROLLING STONES (12), defines the other unclued lights. First prize C.G. Millin, Ramleaze, Wilts Runners-up John Angel, Woodbridge, Suffolk; J.

The unclued lights can be preceded by JACK.   First prize Margaret Lusk, Preston, Lancs Runners-up P.D.H.

In line with 10A, other unclued lights were anagrams of US states: 17A ILLINOIS; 29A MARYLAND; 35A UTAH; 7D TEXAS; 9D OREGON; 18D MINNESOTA; 33D MAINE. First prize Paul Davies, Reading, Berkshire Runners-up D.P. Shenkin, London WC1; Mrs J.

The starred words in the clues are EYE, RAIL, SAGE, SNAP, TRAP, HIDE, NUTS, GUN, EE. They combine with nine of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac, the others appearing at 26D and 38A. The Chinese New Year began on 8 February. First prize R.N.

The unclued lights are some of the Wombles of Wimbledon COMMON, paired at 25/21, 31/16 and 35/10. First prize Belinda Bridgen, London NW8 Runners-up Kenneth Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; C.H.

The play was Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Tennessee Williams. The characters were BRICK (1A), DOCTOR BAUGH (7/5), MAE (20), BIG MAMA (37/41), BIG DADDY (37/39D), GOOPER (45) and REVEREND TOOKER (10). CAT (6th row) and A HOT TIN ROOF (7th row) were to be shaded. Title: Maggie (Brick’s wife) was the only main character not named in the grid: she was the CAT to be shaded. First prize David Carpenter, Sutton Coldfield Runners-up Tom Richards, Wolfscastle, Pembrokeshire; D.G.

Corrections of misprints give A GRECIAN URN. The POET (23) reporting its message (perimeter + 4 30) is KEATS (42). First prize M. Threasher, Winscombe, Somerset Runners-up Philip Dacre, York; Frances Whitehead, Harrogate, N.

The unclued lights are DOGS from the classics, legend or of noted people.

WARREN MITCHELL (42/43), STAR (39) of stage and screen, died on 14th November 2015. He won an Olivier Award as Willy LOMAN (25) in DEATH OF A SALESMAN (18A/16) and a BAFTA TV Award as Alf Garnett in TILL DEATH US DO PART (10/18A/15). ALF GARNETT (diagonally from the first row) was to be shaded.

Each partial answer indicated by a clue in italics is KNOCKED INTO A COCKED HAT (5 39). Resulting entries at 1D, 4. 25 and 30 (in which the hats are lum, terai, lid and tile) are defined by 3, 24, 11 and 32. First prize Peter Wood, Heanor, Derbyshire Runners-up P.

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.