Crossword

The unclued lights (one hyphened) are of a kind, confirmed in Chambers. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.   Across 1 I returned with note and wave to Bletchley Park expert (11, hyphened) 11 Tried and kept in control in the past (6, three words) 13 Goes off for a while (7) 16 Women’s painting first seen returning by tube (5) 17 Ask individual hence (6) 18 Colonel Lyndhurst’s bird (5) 20 Amateur left, watching train (6) 21 Like a judge with tattered robes (5) 22 Excited, once, in river, surrounded by upland (7) 29 Stretch or bird!

Clockwise round the peri-meter go two lines of a topical verse, thirteen words altogether. (The barred off square divides the lines.) The other unclued lights are some possible collectors’ items.

Six unclued lights are the names of traditional English county towns with one letter misprinted so as to form new words. The correct letters could give 26, examples of which are 1A, 17 and 22A. Across 7 Sound of kitten in hiding-place (3) 11 Mechanical playwright heard E strings (6) 13 Aberdonian angler with chatter about fish (7, hyphened) 15 Short course is wanting (5) 16 Ruby gutted a grouse (5) 18 River one’s learning about (5) 23 Parrot flying round English magistrate (7) 30 Slack student (no saint) began to play (5) 31 Left out courtesan returned and showered vigorously (6) 33 Lighter plough (5) 35 Rainy?

The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer.   Across 4 High-handed relation in discussion first (11)11 This amphibian would need Marvel to make vanilla ice cream (9)12 Auxiliary doctor taking pulse (5)14 Ancient Glaswegian notice covering centre of Mull (4)15/38 Office facility managed 25C (6, two components)19 Nothing wrong, honest – it’s just a unique attempt (7, hyphened)22 Suddenly books one Routemaster, say, back (6)23 Small house and comfy home. No kidding!

7 Down has wordplay to only half its grid entry. The undefined part is the first word of a 9-word description, in ODQ. Ignore all hyphens. The unclued lights can be arranged to form the full description.   Across 1 Good over – nearly more than one, in truth (6) 7 Strain to keep daughter in plaits once (6) 11 Studied alternative for second endorsement (10) 13 Dickens was upset (5) 14 Delicate but not frequently moving supply (5) 15 Ultimately explosive danger, if it goes off?

Each solution contains one letter at least once, always omitted in the cryptic wordplay of each clue. This letter and its number of appearances in the completed grid mark this week’s landmark. Two solutions are hyphened, five of two words and one of three. The red squares disclose Doc’s family celebration on 3 April.

The unclued lights, including three proper nouns (two of two words), consist of three groups of three words of a kind. Together, the three groups suggest a title; the author (seven letters) must be highlighted in the completed grid. Brewer confirms the thematic elements not in Chambers.

The unclued lights are all non-words, but each can be resolved into a pair of thematic solutions.

Six unclued lights (three of two words) are of a kind, associated with the 16’s 11s, and overseen by 28. Elsewhere, ignore a grave accent.   Across 10 Some money held back for bananas (4) 12 16’s members who may face hostility, even crimes, perhaps? (10) 14 Use leverage to get private information (3) 17 Newly demilitarised losing demerits is epic (5) 18 Index of sad ladies, distraught with two sons shot down (7) 22 Quick to admit each trouncing of 16’s enemy?

Clockwise round the grid from 3 run seven dramatis personae; unclued lights give anagrams of two more. The play’s title will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Ignore two apostrophes.

Four unclued lights of a kind, one of two words with an apostrophe, include the theme word. The remaining unclued lights (one as a pair), all but the literary solution at 41 Across verifiable in Brewer, can be linked with this theme word. Elsewhere, ignore one accent.

The unclued lights have something in common. None is a real word.   Across 1 Promoted male only editor eclipsed (8) 8 Four blood groups maybe, or one group (4) 11 In brief affair, my girl headed off cutting turf (12) 12 Force president to accept Liberal myth (5) 14 Cheerless and tense inside drink factory (7) 15 Special order for Scots post (5) 17 Palm stem hollow? It floats (5) 18 Dotted i missing from coil?

Two contrasting film stars allegedly said ‘1A’ (five words) and ‘49/27’ (six words in total). Remaining unclued lights (including one of three words and two pairs) give the birthplace of one and the place where the other died and the titles of two films in which they starred. Solvers must shade the two clued lights that give their surnames. Fifteen special clues include a definition and a hidden letter mixture of the light. Ignore two apostrophes and two accents.

Unusually this week, one unclued light includes the theme word which can also be linked with all the other unclued lights, which include a pair. One light is made up of two words, -another of three. Ignore an apostrophe. 33D requires solvers to imagine that an apostrophe s is there, too! Brewer confirms the theme. Ignore two accents. Across 10 Albert Einstein embraces Art Deco designer (4) 12 We go out with menial female vassal (10) 15 Policemen drinking port sullied shortened garments (8, two words) 17 Could be a beret without gold plate (5) 18 Capital extremely tense after cold weather (7) 19 Fits of anger with or without touch of dudgeon (6) 22 What the in folk have, of course!

Ten unclued lights comprise a septet with a common theme. Across 1 Running article perhaps subject to trial? (7) 5 Again flick back whip (6) 9 Has Olympian formerly lost heart? (4) 11 Ham risotto moulded with cup (10) 12 Muse caught by crude backing (4) 14 Net damages BBC owe (6) 16 Parisian to go across one French river (6) 17 Readily faint when wife leaves (4) 20 Mean to involve London College of Energy? (7) 21 Supplementary rent, one I returned (7) 23 About to go on a rank island (7) 24 Old flat back in a pre-renewal state?

The unclued lights are all words of a kind arranged into anagrams (all are confirmed in Chambers: one is a proper noun and one is hyphened). The clued light which suggests this activity must be highlighted in the completed grid.

Each of the unclued lights, (four of two words), individually or as a pair can be linked with an unclued name suggested by the title, all verifiable in Brewer. Across 4 Wide support for the chair, one seen on TV?

The unclued lights (one of two words), when paired, have something in common. Across 5 Fly eggs not at all good on head (6)9 Parasite, one not dead, by coincidence (10, two words)14 Stick one swears mildly by (3)16 A chant newly set Hebrew scripture (6)17 One worn by Virginia? Excellent (5)18 Squirted with water, prophet almost died (5)20 Medical specialist is in old sect (7)22 A way to travel, by bike?

At the Spectator Christmas PARTY(90) the TREE (42D) has a FAIRY (22), a STAR (78) and TINSEL strewn around (41, 42A, 50). The STARTER (or 81) is followed by 30 and 75 {3,3}. The TURKEY has come from France (67D), the GOOSE is accompanied by 20 and 31D, and the 102’s are followed by 15, 62, 104 and 109. The PUDDING has 3d’s in it (84). DRINKS (49, 58 {5-4} and 106) are then mixed at 91, 1A and 70, respectively. The table’s centrepiece is an ANGEL (114) and three items (54, 56 and 57) are placed in front of the STABLE. Entertainment by the DAMES (29/94 and 37A {5,4}) is followed by GAMES (12, 46 and 89) and three personalities (64, 88 and 116) from a daily CAROL. 50, 100 and 115 are the first words of three other CAROLS. All these solutions are not clued further.

December 12th was the birthday of two famous men. Unclued lights (including one of five words, one of two words and a pair totalling four words) give their surnames, two examples of each one’s work, and the birthplace of one. The birth-place (7) of the other will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Ignore two accents.