Puzzle 26 is 6A 18 40 1A 27 40 6A 41 6A 37 40 24 10 40 6A. Across 11 Three-sided rig with natural fitting (10) 13 Ribald cop breaking PC’s temporary storage? (9) 15 At heart, the Lion joined by a Lamb (4) 16 Round wooden peg in face having twofold symmetry (7) 17 Endorsement secured by small firm backing antenatal centres (7) 19 Spanish fascist pals hating faults (10) 21 Article on about financial backer (5) 28 Old guide finally dies – RIP when lowered?
Three unclued lights are a musician (two words) and a quotation of his (four words), which suggests the other six unclued lights, all anagrams of words of a kind (one of two words). Across 8 Delaying intro, ace ruler (4) 11 Posh earl pokes you abroad in part of eye (6) 12 Bill eating corn in earnest (5) 17 I’m leaving rupees for Turkic speaker (5) 18 Cat heard in forest (5) 19 Sally’s Samoyed’s caught rabies (5) 21 Mist by lake in wood (5) 22 A hobo, on line, snaps here (5) 24 Energy field in Greek colony (4) 26 Tour of e.g.
The unclued lights are of a kind. Two solutions are initials. Across 1 Officers’ training school – place to write music – cello arrangement with two notes (5,7)10 Fertile Spanish plain, say, in Virginia (4)12 Moorland bird that pesters the female?
The unclued entries share a definition. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Chap primarily revered among classic characters (5)12 Barrow dropping us with United in gallery to cause a commotion (10)13 Put a stop to women leaving a vessel I cast off (9)14 Fine for Cantona?
Six unclued entries (4, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 3 words) give a proverb (verifiable in ODQ), and the remaining unclued entries (one of two words) give examples of a noun therein. Across 1 Spelt ‘sorry’ with an E in (5)4 Triangular prism arranged by bouncers I rejected (5,4)11 I party, and not outside – not outside (6)12 Ghana keeps a big person bound (7)14 King advanced prince for local governing body (5)15 Trendy dog to suffer (5)16 Shutter obscuring viewfinder? (6)22 Idiot’s survey of masses of Earth?
The unclued lights (one of two words) may be paired, one past and one present. Across 1 USA dealt out compliments (8) 11 It’s still a healthy drink in spring! (7,5) 14 Go on to take legal action (7) 18 Parallel grooves are first adjusted (6) 23 Irritable, like our cats and dogs?
Five unclued lights are connected with one partner, four with the other. Another links both.
Unclued lights provide three definitions each of a whole word and of its two syllables. Solvers should highlight the word where it appears on this page. Across 1 In clinic came up against a barman (7)6 Walker and cyclist on stone (7)12 Polishes round back of altar in hallowed places (7)14 Bird in casserole with two eggs?
The unclued lights display a common feature, different in each example. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe. Across 1 Tracks birds (5) 4 Top gear when cornered? (6,3) 9 So democrat organised convoys (10) 11 Unfinished old sailing boat in Sri Lankan city (5) 12 Expert model offer (7) 14 Capable assistant at office? (5) 15 Some Tosca villain’s nitpicking complaint (5) 21 Too chill – put out waterproof material (8) 22 Top professional’s critique of performance before opening night (7) 24 Mark from outside edges of scimitar (4) 25 Foolish folk back hot-tubs (4) 27 Weather report?
Eight unclued lights spell out the second half of a poem: ‘8 (4,5) 37; 1D (6,4); 39 (3,6) 40; 10 (3,5,2) 24 25.’ The title cryptically suggests its author.
Six unclued lights (one of two words) are of a kind. The remaining three must be filled to display what connects the original six (13, two words). Across 12 Old Rodin bust covered? (6)13 Goal to mingle with rich ruler (8)14 Horns from my province (5)16 Reply from setter breaking lance (6)19 E.g. Macron’s cheek, it’s said (4)20 Complain over fabulist (4)22 I’m going to exercise round one tree (6)23 Knight with airs saves energy in verses (9)29 Isles always in Comoros’s borders (4)30 Nymph’s hot in green (4)32 Head bishop ignored? Not again!
The unclued Across lights were of a kind, as are the unclued Down lights now. All are verifiable in Brewer under 16. Across 4 Team go over to Irish monument (6,5)11 Train pass daughter’s lost (7)12 Delicate and light, keeping in time (6)13 Colluding with ancient tribe’s hilarious escapades (2,7)19 Band’s origin (7)21 Get together in time-share (4)23 Milky tea, call for change (7)25 Chatterbox not quiet – noisy type (7)32 1980s Austin model having some art form (7)34 Could be Dover – or not!
The nine individual unclued lights form three sets of three, each set related to a theme word in a different way. The theme word is hidden in the grid and should be highlighted. Across 5 Most appropriate page in a quiz (6)10 I’m praised for moving to retain university committee (10)12 Queen is taking a line to get tough (6)13 City that lies between Pakistan and Bulgaria (8)16 Bug is hanging on the wall (5)17 In recess, is earth to be put on dead sheep? (7)25 Bird’s leg bone stripped (3)26 In wood, cat chewed energy biscuit (7)28 One top player receiving kiss, no longer a man?
Seven unclued lights (all real words) are 36s minus one letter. A further 36 formed from the omitted letters will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.
The unclued lights (one of two words, two singletons and four pairs) are of a kind in green. Across 1 Fair blood relation in awful surroundings hardly seen (4,7) 7 Equipment for Bell, Athey and Trescothick initially (3) 13 Light US railroad truck is a timeless barrow boy’s truck (7) 15 Head of Government in control when in office? (5) 16 Oil hostilities cut short by mufti’s decree (5) 17 Show criminal the cooler! (6) 18 Repaired snare and nets (5) 21 Crazy baby’s John (5) 22 Some problem (piracy) for Honduran currency (7) 27 Cryptically cast mimes (4,3) 29 Arcade piece is just for show (5) 32 Letters for the sextons’ rooms (5) 34 Criminal neologist? (6) 36 One on the case?
All the unclued lights can be followed by the same word. Elsewhere, ignore three accents. Across 12 Positive Belgian forward cutting in has chances (10)13 Nabs informer admitting pressure (6)18 Memorial to fish-keeper ignores a question about Frank? (9)19 Flap about a kid whose name maybe on TV? (9)20 This monster turns 22, nearly (4)21 Blade that’s regularly perplexed (4)27 In home, navy lamps may be so called (6)30 Boring experience providing inspiration for smoker (4)32 Ready reckoning when many are watching (5,4)34 Ordinary one I help to get drunk?
Five of a kind (including two of two words) can be derived from the letters of 26/27, 40/41, 46/47, 3/34 and 10/39 (all real words). 32/12D suggests mispronounced praise of the theme. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.
To start off the New Year, the unclued lights (one of two words) share a common feature.
Two unclued lights are a title (three words) and its creator (two words). Remaining unclued lights are four names and eight titles (either singly or paired, including two each of two, three and four words and one of five words), each name being associated with two of the titles. The theme word connecting them all must be highlighted in the grid. Across 11 Skill securing character hard food (5) 16 Bishop leaves drunkenly with flowing movement (6) 17 Gently affected superiority in card game (5) 19 Husband loves wrong clothes?
An anniversary (1A, three words) today offers ten unclued entries, all of whose unchecked and cross-checking letters spell out HAHA! DRY GINS ASSURING TRASHY ANAGRAMS. Across 9 State welcome hosted by Oscars (4)11 Stanza in excessive, unending Ave Maria delaying mass (6,4)12 Bash old boy, a grass (4)18 Pulling evenly, stripped part of a bone (5)20 Chap trouble is concerning trousers (7)21 Goddess harbouring worry about mistress (7)24 Hint of allspice lacking in sausage ragout (5)25 Reluctant Liberal associated with profanity (5)30 Grave talk about a collector of filth?
