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The unclued lights are of a kind. Across 1 Vegetables brunettes prepared with bass and asparagus tip (6, 5) 7 Small flat’s ready (3) 11    Instrument panel from aunt’s Skoda collapsed in accident, initially (6) 13    Nearly caught out – that’s wrong (7) 15    Big hit, getting caught – 50 and dismissed (5) 16    Youthful age giving support to province (5) 17    Claim from member in dailies, now and again (6) 18    Juliet’s predecessor, one needing first aid, on reflection (5) 20    Measure about 11 tuns (2,4) 21    Who courted regularly in Shropshire town?

The unclued lights (five of two words, three singletons and a pair) are of a kind. Across 11    Carpet from Moor includes touch of red, then russet, umber and green (9) 13    Portly chap!? (5,6) 14    Season limited, it has to be said (4) 15    Rehab symptom of drunkards, topers and sots, to start with (3) 18    Foreign curios having energy – a toxic mix (7) 19    Win majority for Brexit result, apparently?

The unclued lights (including a pair) are of a kind and are located in the yellow squares (two words) when they are read in order along the rows. Across 1    Weight gain shed in horse-drawn carriage (5)4    Fighter in the ring plagues German hounds (5,4)10    ‘Kill mother’ that’s title of text address (6,4)11    Unreal doctor dealing with nerves (6)12    A feudal change that’s sincere over the border (7)14    Endlessly view bottom that’s fat (5)15    Coach to the height of perfection (5)16    Softer and smoother increase.

The unclued lights, all verifiable in a section in Chambers, are of a specific kind. Across 5 Small tree, one a pretentious person brought back (6) 10    Aerial pond adapted for fish in an aquarium (5,5) 17    Takes back onto the staff latter half of Leicestershire Cooks (7) 18    Renault changed gear (7) 20    Evidence of Fall in the Rockies? (8) 25    Stiff paper, way-out neckwear? (3) 28    TV cook Harriott from NE Islay (7) 29    Note: 50 per cent reduced, after setback (3) 31    Is it found down the Strand?

The set of 26 clues leads to solutions beginning with A to Z, one per letter, which then have to be fitted into the grid wherever they will fit. The numbered clues are normal. A Like carrier, off course (6) B Instrument from Juliet at ferry port, cycling (5) C Court case condemned Glitter (9) D Overdid a little drink – date is off (10) E Bird at 36 lough (4) F Loud isn’t very soft (5) G Cricketer Joel’s stores (7) H Worker lost diamonds alone in Star Wars (3,4) I Flag girl’s husband from Cork, say (5) J Port and orange (5) K King missing Queen at German monastery (7) L Resounding soccer win repulsed singer (6) M Spread you love or hate!

The initial letter of all 24 Across solutions (whether clued or unclued), when read in clue order, reveal six examples of a quartet. Their significance is explained by the unclued lights when arranged in the correct order, with an apostrophe included. Across 5 Intimate talk that covers tea-pot and Minet (4,4) 9 Long-term jobs for support workers out East (7) 10    Irish waters, look! So horrible!

The unclued lights (two of one word and the remainder consisting of two separate components) can be arranged into two similar sequences.

The unclued lights, (which include two paired words, and three of two words, one of which is not listed in Chambers, and two hyphened), bear a common feature, different in each case, and 13 and 41 are even more so! Across 4 It’s a pain to us Brits!

There is a total of 12 unclued lights in this puzzle, six appearing singly as normal, with the other six appearing as a duo in three longer solutions, and five of them are associated with 20. All are verified in Chambers.

The unclued lights can be arranged to form an unbroken chain with the last three letters of one word becoming the first three of the next one.

The unclued lights (one of three words), individually or as three pairs and a trio) are of a kind, one doing double duty, and all but one are from the same source. Ignore any possible definite article and one apostrophe. Across 1 African fox regularly takes fish to intrude on territory (8) 6 Stir former partner with call (6) 11    Publican with a decorative plant (5) 13    Gulpers out on a spending spree (7) 14    OT patriarch points to taxes (6) 17    Islander giving small book to another (8) 21    Feet ends pose problems!

The unclued lights (two of two words and two hyphened) are of a kind and all are listed somewhere in Chambers 13th edition. Across 11    A learner with rheum oozing from the shoulder (7) 13    Clear thinking here rebuilding terminal by Dover with deliveries cancelled (5,4) 14    Switch sides of black sword (5) 16    Many craft, seaborne, included (5) 19    Shakespearean character returned as seductive woman (7) 21    W.G.

Seven unclued lights (two of two words) precede and four follow a word defined by the title and all are verifiable in Brewer. Across 1    Last of rowers having to cut down blade (5)4    Church feature spoilt RC chateau (5,4)11    Lectern’s Roman standard (5)12  More macho Walford family (7)14    Schumann variations on four notes – one doubled (5)15    Italian wine store empty?

The unclued Across and Down solutions are of two kinds, entered accordingly: five are of two or three words.

The unclued lights consist of seven themed categories A to G (with G being interpreted very loosely) which are highlighted in yellow in the grid. Each themed category leads to six unclued theme words A to F, one of two words and another hyphened. Across 11    Bishop always upset item in bar (5) 13    Drink Church of Scotland finally banned (3) 16    Knight upset silver hay-cart (6) 18    Friends from abroad three-quarters down the list. That’s wrong (5) 20    Walk in west and east parts of Paris (4) 26    After parking drink in enclosed area (4) 29    Corrie character not born in France taking extra time (4) 30    Seabird seen during the pm?

The unclued lights, (when taken as an individual, three pairs and one trio), are of a kind, verifiable in Chambers (13th edition). Across 10    Father Gold froze thematically (4) 12    Awkward bra stealer can be nicked (10) 14    An indefinitely large number of alcaics – not odd!

The unclued lights, one of two words, entered individually or as two pairs, are of a kind. Across 4 Media broadcast about 12 that’s cheap and practically useless (1,4,1,5) 11    Letters being sent to distant branch (7) 12    Medium range paintings (6) 13    Passing nurse in van (9) 14    Join princess having kiss (5) 21    Roman numeral from cross against heads of two icons (4) 23    Having abandoned shelter, Loch Ness Monster shocked army personnel (3-4) 24    A new version of Black Beauty?

The unclued lights can be arranged to grow from 3 to 11 letters in length, each being an anagram of its predecessor and an extra letter. Across 7    Equipment for Bell, Athey and Trescothick initially (3) 13    Male folk star’s alarming words (7) 15    Pipe valley running through Britain (5) 16    Reportedly remained stolid (5) 17    Middle of emails edited (6) 18    Nameless President has time on the loo (5) 20    Brainboxes managed to infiltrate spy agency (6) 21    Thorpe, terrified somewhat of safe-cracker (5) 22    Doddery, maybe, when dancing in Aviemore?

21 solutions in the grid are represented as follows: A B C d H I K L m N O p r s t U v W X y z. They have to be fitted into the grid jigsaw-fashion. Across 12    German novelist from the Wiesbaden area (5) 14    Single within the boundaries of Headingley, dearie (5) 16    Moving into gear, I start (9) 17    Young ewe runs from two dozen (6) 21    Exercise wearing a piece of armour, but not fighting (2,5) 22    Groups of atoms in clue order  (6) 25    Devotee making an impression, taking that female in (8) 30    Article of faith explained (3) 34    Rocky situation?

The unclued lights (one hyphened and one of two words) each bear a common feature.