Crossword

Two unclued lights provide a position and a location (three words). Another entry indicates what happened to the seven unclued holders of the position, to be entered thematically.

The nine unclued lights are all of a kind. Three are of two words. Ignore one apostrophe. Across 11    Contrary French articles entertain leaderless tranche of voters (9) 12    Piece of propaganda follows age-old beliefs (5)  13   GP boss and rep to supply sweets (11) 14    Parroted piece? (4)  18   Fight starts to intensify about lack of space (7) 19    Motto of European farm animals (7) 23    Bats endlessly, defying the odds… Oh boy! First person not out (2,4)  24   Kerfuffle over love (5) 27    Critical wound in casualty (5) 29    Satire events now and then in Oxford?

The unclued lights (including a pair) are of a kind and are located in the yellow squares (two words) when they are read in order along the rows. Across 1    Weight gain shed in horse-drawn carriage (5)4    Fighter in the ring plagues German hounds (5,4)10    ‘Kill mother’ that’s title of text address (6,4)11    Unreal doctor dealing with nerves (6)12    A feudal change that’s sincere over the border (7)14    Endlessly view bottom that’s fat (5)15    Coach to the height of perfection (5)16    Softer and smoother increase.

Within seven unclued lights are spelled out the ingredients of the eighth, which solvers must shade. The unclued lights are suggested by surplus words in eight clues. Across 1 Old men with tastes in small cakes (8) 9 Son in new trial practising beforehand (10) 14 Hogarth’s greatest painting? (3) 16 Cross composer snubbed poet (6) 17 Toodle-pip to old Jeeves? (5) 18 Fierce predator heard in pine forest (5) 22 Who might make you sturdier footwear?

The unclued lights are of a kind. Across 1 Cartoonist has formerly captivated Spain (5) 10    Swayed and quit, sick in the stomach (10) 14    Handles fine fish (5) 15    Have a few days at skate park (5) 16    As support, use skinny leg (4,2) 20    Dancer for one popular in scarlet always (8) 21    A lamb chop?

The unclued lights, all verifiable in a section in Chambers, are of a specific kind. Across 5 Small tree, one a pretentious person brought back (6) 10    Aerial pond adapted for fish in an aquarium (5,5) 17    Takes back onto the staff latter half of Leicestershire Cooks (7) 18    Renault changed gear (7) 20    Evidence of Fall in the Rockies? (8) 25    Stiff paper, way-out neckwear? (3) 28    TV cook Harriott from NE Islay (7) 29    Note: 50 per cent reduced, after setback (3) 31    Is it found down the Strand?

Unclued lights, across single or double entries, one entry used twice, follow a theme which is also thus represented.

The unclued lights are a small fraction of almost 800. Across 12   Oilmen rail about petroleum product (7,3) 13   Came across religious instruction chapter consisting of verses (6) 14   Bleat including angry tirade for this plant? (7) 15   Tea urns of Salvation Army medic, very apt resources, say, for starters (8) 19   Et voilà!

The set of 26 clues leads to solutions beginning with A to Z, one per letter, which then have to be fitted into the grid wherever they will fit. The numbered clues are normal. A Like carrier, off course (6) B Instrument from Juliet at ferry port, cycling (5) C Court case condemned Glitter (9) D Overdid a little drink – date is off (10) E Bird at 36 lough (4) F Loud isn’t very soft (5) G Cricketer Joel’s stores (7) H Worker lost diamonds alone in Star Wars (3,4) I Flag girl’s husband from Cork, say (5) J Port and orange (5) K King missing Queen at German monastery (7) L Resounding soccer win repulsed singer (6) M Spread you love or hate!

Twenty radial lights run from rim to centre, twenty from centre to rim. The circuit next to the outer one contains, clockwise from radial 1, a quotation attributed to the name appearing in the inner ring. The italicised clues contain the definition and a mixture of the solution (beginning at the beginning, or ending at the end of a word) including an extra letter. In clue order, these eight letters provide the source of the quotation. 11 is in Collins. Clues (all six letters) 1 Sick in front of boat – swell! 2 Information of little value is evidence of leak? 3 Weight stirs faulty watches found thereabouts?

A five-letter word (suggested by the title) appears diagonally in the grid and should be shaded. Four unclued lights define it; the other four give examples of it, if regarded as two words. Ignore one accent; 19 Down is in Brewer but not in Chambers.

The initial letter of all 24 Across solutions (whether clued or unclued), when read in clue order, reveal six examples of a quartet. Their significance is explained by the unclued lights when arranged in the correct order, with an apostrophe included. Across 5 Intimate talk that covers tea-pot and Minet (4,4) 9 Long-term jobs for support workers out East (7) 10    Irish waters, look! So horrible!

In February, a noted 1A, 6A and 36A left us. His name (two words) is an anagram of 23A/7D (both real words). 39A and 21D/17D cryptically suggest the titles (one of six words, the other of two words) of two of his best known works.

The unclued lights (two of two words) can be arranged to form the first line of a poem and the name of the poet. Across 1 One reprimanded over nothing is kept apart (8) 6 Chinese way of brewing clear tea with miso (6) 13    Rows hard cycling (5) 14    Medic’s misfortune in morning – a blockage (7) 15    Potentially crossed in game; Jenga club will crumble at last! (10) 16    Extra spicy fajitas for starter?

The unclued lights (two of one word and the remainder consisting of two separate components) can be arranged into two similar sequences.

Seven circles appear in the circuit next to the outer one. Their place is shown in the innermost one (6,4). Radial lights, all (6) except where indicated, read from rim to centre or vice versa, 20 of each.

The 23D 41A, stirred up by 3D and 6A 26D the mother of 29A. Unclued lights identify the protagonist and the poet. Elsewhere ignore an accent. Across 1    Pitman facing very active idol? (7)11    One central to wrong education, is pressed (6)12    Go with new dance – it’s done!

The unclued lights, (which include two paired words, and three of two words, one of which is not listed in Chambers, and two hyphened), bear a common feature, different in each case, and 13 and 41 are even more so! Across 4 It’s a pain to us Brits!

Together, three unclued entries (two of two words) cryptically explain the three other unclued pairs. Solvers must highlight the single clued entry that could provide a further thematic example. Across 1    The power to command text excited umpire (8)6    Draws out English and Italian leaders (6)13    Room at the top for Greek (5)14    Maker of bargains, baronet meets King and Queen (8)17    Long-suffering hospital case? (7)18    I lead thunderous applause initially following organ suite (7)19    Fluid measure requires more ether possibly (9)23    Encroachment into Anchorage (6)30    More than one building muscles on inside of legs regularly (9)32    Fast cars stolen by Poles?

Solvers should highlight the 1D and 13A forms of the 6A 37A in the completed grid, thereby both filling in the otherwise-isolated squares and explaining the significance of the title. Across 1 Piece of music about animal caught in railway carriage (6) 11    Angelic hordes holding divine flower? (5) 12    Anarchic unit in Ambridge exhausted BBC (6) 14    Moon rocket fooled maestri (7) 16    Stars forgetting lines in Bodleian?