All unclued entries are, unusually, not all unclued; all are different and there are no proper nouns. A repeated cryptic clue fixes not only once such entry, but also the central 2x2 block and, as a result, another such entry. Ignore one accent. Doc writes: we welcome Cheese-Cracker to the compiling team.
Eight unclued entries (two of two words, one hyphened) form a folk rhyme used as the basis for the first lines of a work whose title is the other unclued entry (hyphened). Its author (5 cells) must be highlighted. Elsewhere, ignore two or three apostrophes and an accent. Across 1 Needing complex course, my job’s on the line (12, hyphened) 10 Seaman jailed by extremely benign officer (4) 12 Suspect fresh angle will show solar phenomenon (10, two words) 14 Quadruped found in centre of cowboy’s rope (3) 15 More than one ancient stole prayer books (8) 17 Is consecrating old priest leaving marks?
The unclued lights (five of two words, two pairs and a singleton) are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 11 Ore obtained by worker underground, a trainee (7) 12 DJ due to broadcast around ten (6) 16 Bound by discretion, one is silent (5) 19 Quandary of back-cover girl (7) 21 Bridge closure? (4) 23 In France the one certain time for relaxation (7) 24 Second bird in winter nest (4) 25 Setter’s quick riposte around the end of June — does it get on your nerves?
We recently lost a fine 13, whose legacy includes 10 (two words) and 9 (two words), and four other unclued lights (including one of two words and a pair). A further two unclued lights combine with a clued one to give an anagram of the 13’s name (two words); the clued light must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.
Unclued lights are a set of literary 40s. Their creator is hidden in the grid and should be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 1 How ducks eat, billions in valley (6) 7 In college, record time to take degree (6) 11 Garden visitor, immature female, tiny size (10) 13 Cleave small, timid mammal (5) 14 Freeman’s compliance with new role (5) 15 Awaiting insurance, ripped off?
The seven clues below have to be interpreted cryptically and are then entered in the grid where they will fit. (In 10 Down, alphabetical order takes precedence in one unchecked letter.
The first three or four letters of eight unclued lights (including one proper name) form a set said to be safe for 1A. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.
1D (two words) 15 10 26 né 21 died on 2 February. Most famous for 7A 37 and 14, he was also in 1A (two words)’s 24. Doc writes: This year some new compilers are joining the team. Today we welcome La Jerezana. We hope that solvers will enjoy the challenges which our new compilers will be offering.
The unclued lights, two of two words and the remainder when paired, are of a kind. Across 1 No fellow for mixing! (8, two words) 8 Over the channel I have left the Bastille, say (4) 12 Garbage has been the empties (5) 14 Seals cases (7) 16 Care costing less than a shilling (4) 17 Overheard boy get down to pray (5) 18 Is leaving Rhodesia, troubled. How sad (6, two words) 22 As a literary quintet getting on thus? (8) 24 Joined the union later!
According to Brewer, a five-word phrase was used to describe a creature, but applies also to a three-word fictional character. The unclued entries, one doing double duty, comprise the phrase, the creature, his victim, the character, and the author’s surnames. Across 1 ‘Poacher’s instruments’ mean whisky (8, hyphened) 6 A jockey’s is shorter than a cricketer’s or swimmer’s (6) 11 Somehow I trust in operating system — as do we?
Unclued lights, all confirmed in Chambers or Collins, are three sets of four words of a kind, each set relating differently to a theme word which must be shaded in the completed grid. Across 11 Religious devotee keeping a church in shade (6) 12 Sloth in tangles in New Zealand trees (6) 13 Country moving forward area for us in Jamaica (5, doubly hyphened) 17 Muppet grabbed by squirrel-monkey (4) 18 Physicist’s ally, one protecting university (5) 19 Ending operation led by twit (7) 23 Message from paperweight?
The unclued lights can be paired in some way or other. One is of two words.
Unclued lights (six of two words, one of three), correctly linked, make ten members of a seasonal set, one light doing multiple duty. Ignore one hyphen and two apostrophes. Nineteen across clues contain a superfluous word; initial letters of these words in clue order form the full name of the creator. The name of the genre is hidden in ten squares in the grid and should be shaded. A first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of Secret Service Brain Teasers by Sinclair McKay (Headline) will be awarded for the first correct solutions opened. The first four winners will each also receive a bottle of champagne. Entries by 14 January to: Christmas Crossword, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP.
‘12/15’ (six words in total) is a quotation (in ODQ) suggested by the remaining unclued lights (two hyphened), whose fifth and sixth letters might give A NUN AMBROSIA. The surname of the quotation’s author will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded.
Two unclued lights give the name of a location and another a means of arrival and -departure. Other unclued lights give the names of the party arriving, including one who joins them at the location, and none who leave them there. The three instances of a certain letter appearing in the grid must be written in red, just as in the original.
Three unclued lights featured the remaining ones, two of two words, the others paired. Two of them do double duty. Elsewhere, ignore one circumflex.
The theme is two historic people who were contemporaries. Unclued lights give their forenames, places of birth and death and occupations. A geographical feature (5) linking the two will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. The solutions at 22 and 27 share the same two unchecked letters.
Unclued lights, singly or correctly paired, are of a kind, as given in Chambers. Ignore one apostrophe. Across 5 Maiden admitting born overseas originally, not in Danish city (6) 11 Author’s note on leader of band (6) 13 Sort of thinking muscle real troublesome (7) 15 Old royal servant, one that looks to captivate women (5) 16 Tragic heroine misses artist, not in office yet (5) 17 Tropical veg regularly feed herbivores (6) 18 A rector ruined can’t function (6) 21 One taken in by eccentric vagrant (5) 22 Shelf with enough strength after soak (7) 28 Wild about education, like the US government?
The unclued lights, one of two words, and the others when paired are of a kind. One individual unclued light does double duty. Across 1 Women’s painting seen initially returning by tube (5) 4 Look about, right and left, in a jaunty manner (9) 9 Home I leave — priests’ centre’s defining acts of wickedness (10) 11 Give address that’s fancy, not new (5) 12 Porcelain broken, lacking no true copy (7) 16 Trojan horse finally gains access to a stable backwards (6) 21 What is going beyond The Pale?
Three unclued lights make up a nine-word quotation. Remaining unclued lights are of a kind. Across 1 Norway blocking the euro perhaps till now (8) 8 Excuse one departing French city (4) 12 Bill the Spanish for Jew’s harp?
