Crossword

Eight unclued lights are of a kind.

Two works, 1A/8 (four words in total) and 27/36, are by authors born in 25 and 17 respectively. Two other unclued lights give their forenames: a further relevant name will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded. Ignore an apostrophe.

The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind. Across 1              Awards for very large Cadillacs, say (6) 11            Dave, Keith and I reviewed viceroy’s territory (10) 14            Basque cap with pillowcase on end of cot (5) 15            During performance, steal a jumper (7) 18            Healthy food on the golf course (6) 22            Scottish 37 destroyed sledge (6) 25            Heart of the justification for isle (5) 26            Suave young socialite is lost, commentating on TMS?

Four unclued lights are of a kind and the remaining four can be arranged to indicate what unites them.

Unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters in 14 unclued lights spell out PEEP – THE SPECTATOR CHARACTERS RECREATE REST. One such light is hyphened and another comprises two words.

The unclued lights become phrases, verifiable in Brewer, when their first (or, in one case, last) undefined word is added. One normal solution (also thematic in a way) includes the red and yellow names. Ignore all accents.

The unclued lights give various things which two lovers took or used on their journey. These include two of three words (one split over two lights) and one of two. The name of one lover is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted. Ignore two accents.

7D (two words), performed by 40A (two words), suggests the other unclued lights, which are all similarly amended forms of words of a kind. A final ‘7D’, itself a thematically appropriate word, must be highlighted in the final grid. Across 1               Actor, you said, departed with a hook (8) 8               Young bird from e.g.

The unclued lights form four trios each associated with one of four theme words which solvers must discover and which do not appear in the grid. The 27 unchecked letters of these unclued lights for the wholly irrelevant comment: SO, DOC, CHARM EVELYN, GIRL FROM BBC.

The eight unclued lights are of a kind. Across 1               One slandering and misrepresenting our claimant (11) 7               Purpose of Maoism oddly forgotten (3) 11            Trees concealing old furrow (6) 13            Bitterness of soldier on the radio (7) 15            Signature is tamper-proof, to some extent (5) 17            Sturdy or, conversely, broken?

Nine unclued lights (including two of three words and three of two with one in short form, ignore an apostrophe) have been seen on 35. A clued light gives a further example also in short form and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.

The unclued lights (one of three words and two of two words), individually and one pair, can be verified in conjunction with the same headword in Brewer.

Four pairs of unclued lights are all similarly linked.                 Across 5               Mark sample of class essays (6) 9               I’m beginning to like hot chap’s twinkling of an eye (10) 14            Beginning of oxidisation on iron container?

Clockwise round the grid from the square between 3 and 4 run the names (forename and surname) of four eminent victims (7,8: 5,8: 6,7: 5,6) of a deadly 7 who left us this year. 26 gives the 7’s forename and 32 is a synonym of his surname. Across 8    Dramatic Duchess of Cornwall, say, rushed outside (5) 9    Singer breaking rules (6) 10    Run from libertine boy punches (7) 12    A great many almost sound relieved (4) 14    Drudge what’s charred and bloke head off (10) 15    Great king and maybe Macbeth both shaved in the cool air (8) 18    Face of Aladdin?

The unclued lights are of a kind and are listed in Chambers. Across 1    Dry duck takes in energy drink (8) 6    Least exciting exam takes a minute (6) 10    Place for improvement?

Unclued lights (one hyphened, two of two words) have something in common. Ignore one accent. Across 1    I hand round a mostly poor-quality coarse fibre (8) 6    Urge to chase round and round behind lobby (6) 12    Appear unhappy about choppy sea tending to wrinkle (6) 14    Very healthy backing by old sports fan (6) 17    Get sick in lung (not heart): in turn, it’s to do with brain tissue (5) 18    Keystone, one of five around circle (5) 20    More like Heep, not fat?

34/28/19 (five words) is a quotation verifiable in the ODQ from 23 (two words) which suggests how to complete the perimeter (six words).

The unclued lights, two of which accommodate two theme words, can be sorted into four trios of related words, each forming a reducing chain of 6, 5 and 4 letters. Across 11    Disentangle one French composer (7) 14    Department having some bargain dresses (5) 16    Annoying children – crazy right through (5) 19    Surfer returned French hooter at 1.10 (7) 21    Something penned by Lehar, I assume?

The ten unclued lights comprise five pairs, as implied by the title. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe.         Across    1    Leaves evening party, returning by church (8) 12    Rag Conservative, reluctant after defeat (10) 13    Sad rake unpleasant with no love in sight (6) 15    Nice No. 1’s changed, according to singers?

Seven unclued lights are connected by an eighth. Elsewhere, ignore one acute accent and one apostrophe.