Crossword

Unclued lights give two lines of a poem, their author and a relevant location.

In one square in each quarter of the grid, across and down entries clash (leave these squares blank). From these eight letters four unclued lights (mutual anagrams) can be formed, each defined by one other unclued light.

The unclued lights are of a kind. One of them consists of two separate theme-words juxta-posed: one is of two words and two have to be paired. The letters in the red squares spell another theme-word and the letters in the yellowsquares can be arranged to form yet another (two-word) theme word. Across 1 Realise she can be awkward (6) 11    Pedro’s ‘See you later’ makes Oates laugh (5,5) 14    Bravo, gents, maybe May’s first flower (5) 18    Sky lad mixed polyester resins (6) 19    Bristle at small letter (4) 22    38 with mould in relief (6) 24    Obtain oil that’s for cooking the chop? (9) 25    European birds in the housetops?

Two of the eight unclued entries, appropriately placed, were likened to two others by a name hidden in the grid. The other four unclued entries are thematic. Unchecked letters could be arranged to spell ‘NO VAIN OAP MISBELIEVER, HIM’.

Twelve unclued entries can form six new words (not in the grid) Across 4 Each Chrome browser’s opening changes online site for self-validation? (4,7) 12    No charge for these new dancing routines (9) 13    Goblin at last living in tree trunk (5) 14    Cover turned over, novel is Catch-22?

The unclued lights, all but one being two or more words and some could include a hyphen, are of a kind.

The unclued lights have an award-winning feature in common.

Three pairs of unclued lights suggest three four-letter words which share the same last three letters but together form 40A-25D only. Solvers must shade the clued light that contains those three letters. Across 11    Lady also studied endlessly (6) 13    Cat televised a medic on board fishing boat (7) 15    Deed of Beatle (5) 16    Kiwi Queen of Crime spoils husband (5) 17    Wild Wyoming women ignored Will’s public disgrace (6) 21    Semi-aquatic beast needs groovy river (5) 22    Mound-birds fashioned piles keeping eggs very hidden (7) 27    Hearing result of being talked about somewhere?

The unclued lights share a common feature, while two trios from among the clued Down solutions do so to a lesser extent. Ignore an acute accent.

Nine unclued lights form three triplets, each related in a different way to the tenth. 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?

Solvers may find it helpful to Mix and Match the 12 unclued entries.

The unclued lights are of a kind on line. Across 4 PC and Noddy seen in trouble.

Unclued lights, singly or correctly paired, are of a kind.  One light does double duty. Across 1    Son becomes aware of cutter (6) 5    One who digests fish first (6) 10    Ancient Briton’s edged axe (4) 11    I don’t approve of expert?

Fourteen unclued lights comprise seven pairs. Across 7 Looked for nothing when leader makes a U-turn?

Nine unclued lights (with one doing double duty) can be arranged into a possible quiz show announcement with the word lengths: 2,4,3,7,6,3,7,7,2,4,2,4,4,2,4,5. The three remaining unclued lights are possible answers. Elsewhere, ignore one accent. Across 4 Democracies do wrong without desserts (3,6) 9 English artist having month involved with 38 (6,4) 11    Evaluate report for show (5) 12    Colonist who pays the bill?

The unclued lights are of a kind. Across 12    Sun ruined helter-skelter without cover (9) 13    Lizard found in Wagamama! (5) 15    Screen role I transformed into (9) 16    Rabbit’s discovered in delay at terminus (6) 20    Quietly thatched house and made watertight (7) 21    Oddly, his leg is pulled by Cupid! (6) 22    Location of small storm (6) 26    In with ugly bruiser (4) 27    Recalled child’s little digits (3) 28    Are offstage?

A word can be prefixed by six unclued lights so as to form new words (including two place names). 9D is a pertinent piece of poetry (five words). Solvers must shade the appropriate unclued light. Across 1 Pepper makes host back off (5) 6 Butterfly and weathercock fool about (7) 11    Small fly buzzing round yellow plant (10) 13    With head of arrow no good, perhaps 75-year old is returning missile (9) 15    Paint waterfall about noon (4) 16    Prosecutor up to fitting cubic blocks (7) 17    Film star Richard talked of secluded retreat for antelope (7) 18    Fish?

The unclued lights, including a pair and six of two words, form an association which a normal entry clearly suggests.

Unclued lights (two of two words) refer to works in the same genre by a closely associated pair. Across 1 In store, old copper pipe (8) 7 Moves swiftly, caught in foam (5) 12    Woman claimed win after slimming (6) 16    Evidence of wound almost frightening (4) 17    Scots fabric, affectedly pretty line (5) 18    Fool punches porky girl (6) 22    A little pressure from jemmy dumping weight on motorway (8) 23    Lecture now held regularly in Berlin, certainly (6) 24    Why is match cancelled? Another drink!

We welcome the duo called Madrigal to the compiling team this week. The unclued lights (including four of two words) can be arranged to provide a quotation (in ODQ) and its author. Across 10    Learn of American through grammar school covers (6,4) 12    African country’s note covering one rule (6) 13    First-rate head polled children (3-5) 16    Song featured in Top of the Pops, almost every week  (5) 17    Instrument Luke played on the railway with energy (7) 18    Newcomer, one that yearns in Scotland?