11/22, 36/1D, 48/2, 9/30 and 17/46 combine to form anagrams of the titles of five works (four of two words, one of three) by a writer whose name will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded. Across 1 Moll producing sauce or gravy (5) 6 Jolly sister shampooing (7) 12 Small box of rolled gold (4) 14 Mythical beast in the old tree (4) 15 Wild time in Sunshine State (5) 18 One yearning aloud for past master (4) 19 College cat quivering like a jellyfish?
In eight clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal the title (two words) of a track on 1D (two words) by the 12 (two words). The title in question defines the other unclued lights.
The unclued lights (one of two words, and one of three) when preceded by the same word (which has to be discovered) reveal words (in one case, a non-word which is almost a foot) or phrases all of which are listed in Brewer, with some also listed in Chambers. Ignore all hyphens. Across 7 Losing core of drive, rant and go off line (6) 11 Not starting continental deer, say, or veal dish (10) 13 Sudden increases of bitterns’ calls (5) 14 Employing you, I hear, even in espionage (5) 15 Sign away big business arrangement — there are the overheads!
The transformation is 10A (three words), which suggests the other unclued lights, including one of two words and one hyphened.
In the clues, the 9 stars represent omitted words (one of which is a dialect variant of another). Those 9 words, along with 12 others which form a set, must be used to complete the 11 unclued entries, which include four two-word phrases and four hyphened words, and are all in Chambers. Across 1 Government taken in by inhabitants — more than one lied (5) 4 Brook disappointment eventually after Malteser’s crunched (9) 11 Primate, somersaulting, ’ad something to stand on? (6) 12 Private * and expert pilot (7) 14 Prop to walk stiffly (5) 15 Amazon leaves a sign of autumn?
The unclued lights (one of two words), individually or as three pairs, are of a kind. Across 9 Aussie’s error with fine paintbrush. Correct! (10, hyphened) 11 Ten-nil reverse.
Unclued lights (including one of two words and three pairs, 37 doing double duty) are characters in a play. A representation (fourteen letters) of its title appears in the completed grid and must be shaded. Across 12 Short of money Rameau composed airs (5) 13 Understanding uni, long historic, admitting pupil teacher (6) 14 Conically roofed edifice on Australian street beside pub (9, two words) 17 Let rip!
Each of eleven clues contains a misprinted letter in the definition part. Corrections of misprints spell the source (three words) of a message reported by a 23 whose surname is an unclued light. The message in question (eighteen words, in ODQ) occupies the perimeter – reading clockwise from the top left corner – and two unclued lights.
The unclued lights, one of two words, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 1 After the outskirts of Barnsley, overtake on road round town (6) 7 Series for bikers? (6) 13 Regularly burn options and release (5) 14 Like a Peruvian, having completed filming?
The first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the Chambers Dictionary of Great Quotations (2015) go to the following. The first four prizewinners also each receive a bottle of champagne. First prize Andrew Dymond, London SE24 Runners-up Mrs P. Bealby, Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland; David Norwood, Puddletown, Dorset; Roderick Burgess, Cantsfield, Carnforth Additional runners-up Jacqui Sohn, Gorleston-on-Sea, Norfolk; F.A.
Last year we lost a popular 39 of stage and screen. 18A/16 (four words in total) and 10/18A/15 (five words in total) are titles linked with the 39. 25 is the name16, while the remaining unclued lights give the name of the 39. A closely linked name (two words) will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded.
Clues in italics are cryptic indications of partial answers. In each case, the indicated part must be 5 39 (five words in all) to create the full answer to be entered in the grid. Definitions of the resulting entries are supplied by unclued lights. Across 1 Film second struggle (5) 6 Riding from base left by soldier? (8) 12 Proclaim payment, engaging former top spies (10) 13 New advance in enlightened state with ace hospitals (9) 14 Turkey acceptable in marketplace (4) 15 Heather in nunnery missing energy of office work (8) 16 Gold, ounce in firm palm (6) 17 Bearded knight seized by dread deserted (5) 21 Turning saucy, are people boring?
The unclued lights, (two of two words), individually or as two pairs, are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer 19th edition. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 11 Jersey, perhaps, one’s left with (6) 12 Bangers for men like Ben Gunn (7) 14 Poor Ben repressing shout of joy for girl shedding tears (5) 15 Donne is out facing a side that’s short (5, two words) 16 Unusual countdown — not out — an endless milk supply?
Along the top and bottom rows of the grid runs a seasonal quotation of 11 words. 81 clues contain a superfluous word; the initial letters of these words in clue order spell out another seasonal quotation of 21 words; ignore the apostrophe. Other unclued lights (five of two words, one of three), singly or linked, give the surnames of the two authors, the works from which the quotations come, and titles of six other works by each author. Any initial ‘The’ in titles is in all cases omitted. The final unclued light is the name of a work not by, but based on, one of the authors, and should be highlighted.
In each of eight clues, one letter has been cut from the definition part; the cut letters spell a word that defines each of four unclued lights. In each of five clues, one letter has been added to the definition part; the added letters spell a word that defines each of four unclued lights. The words spelt by the cut and added letters, when linked by 17, form a doubly hyphened term whose definition in Chambers includes the puzzle’s title. One unclued light consists of two words.
The unclued lights (all of two or three words, some hyphened and all confirmed in Chambers) can be arranged into a consecutive sequence. Each light includes a different word which has to be represented in just one unchecked square. Across 4 General beginning to network as a gamble whenever in charge (11, hyphened) 11 Very keen on plan outside platform (7) 13 Vehicle in France is a decrepit crate (9, two words) 14 Symbols of a Stoic philosophical principle (5) 19 Relative crushes (7, two words) 21 First half of game in one’s own home (4) 23 Rouses, getting active by noon during Northern holiday (7) 24 Queen’s French degree (4) 25 Food for cattle – almost kilo each, roughly (7, hyphened) 30 Peevish about truffle (7) 31 Spoke – on the phone?
The title suggests a pair of unclued lights which identify the common feature of the others. Solvers must shade the pair. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe.
One unclued light is a publication (two words). The others are relevant figures (all in Chambers) who appear in a form suggested by the publication’s title.
This week’s puzzle breaks away from the traditional thematic puzzle. Instead, here is an alphabetical jigsaw for solvers to tackle. Clues are presented in strict alphabetical order of their solutions which begin with the letters indicated from A through to Z. Solvers have to assign each solution to its correct place in the grid. A He discriminates about spirit (6) A Embryonic formation developed Naomi (5) B Telephoned by a criminal — that’s unacceptable (13, three words) C Professional in Eire after trouble with work unit (10, two words) C One Q stamp (4) C Two left in front of stagecoach (6) D Satisfaction from starting Doc’s enigmatic clue (7) E Give support to Cockney’s losing nag?
1/44 (eight words in total) is part of a question (in ODQ) minus a word exemplified by the other unclued lights (one hyphened). The title suggests a further example (eight letters) which will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded.
