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The unclued lights are of a kind; the ones Across are one theme, and those Down (one of two words) on another related theme. Solvers must highlight another ‘Down’ theme-word hidden diagonally in the final grid. Across 1 Patching tatty topper for bed (8) 12 Triumphant delight returning pie to roofless depot
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The unclued Down lights (individually or as a pair) are of a kind in short, as are the unclued Across lights (one of two words) all paired. In short together, they reveal the title of this puzzle. Across 1 Chap on a demo who is on the boundary (8) 10 Exaggerated
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The unclued lights are some of the words highlighted in Chambers 2011 which were unfortunately omitted from the 2014 edition of the dictionary owing to a printing misunderstanding. First prize Simon Fletcher, Twickenham, Middlesex Runners-up Chris Butler, Borough Green, Kent; Rowan Priestman, Burpham, Surrey
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Chambers 2014 is certainly not recommended this week theme-wise! But Chambers 2011 is. Across 1 Cuckoo born to South Australian ox that’s extinct (12) 10 Lure cut according in arty style (4) 14 Some old film category starts from next year (3) 15 Selfish actions making priest go mad
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The unclued lights (including 10/1A) are operas by Giuseppe Verdi (whose name in translation is Joe Green). First prize Dr Simon Shaw, Goosnargh, Lancs Runners-up E.C. Wightman, Menston, W. Yorks; Hugh Thomas, Ixworth, Suffolk
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The unclued lights (one of three words and two of two words), individually or as a pair, are of a kind. Across 5 Bit of tiffin is hardly perfect (6) 12 Fail to see active service (5) 13 Waistcoat cloth that’s not in ablutions (8) 16 Beer mug in
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First prize Roly Harris, London N1 Runners-up Michael Collins, Petts Wood, Kent; Clare Reynolds, London SE24; Tony Mouzer, Shard End, Birmingham Additional runners-up G.E. Bell, Hexham, Northumberland; Hugh Dales, Dysart, Fife; J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere; Jenny Staveley, Kingsdown, Bristol; H.V. Machin, Gateford, Nottinghamshire; Lorraine James, Llanwrda, Dyfed
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A first prize of £100, three prizes of £25 and six further prizes of the Chambers Book of Great Speeches (hardback) will be awarded for the first correct solutions opened. The first four prizewinners will, in addition, each receive a bottle of champagne. Entries to: Christmas Crossword, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP by
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Answers to clues in italics — stramash (1A), pasteboard (33) and lineated (36) — are treated as in the ROMAN (15A) custom of SUOVETAURILIA (1D), involving the SACRIFICE (4A) of a sheep, a pig and an ox, to create entries defined by 32, 21 and 22. First prize David Henderson, Almonte, Ontario Runners-up Chris
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Each unclued light is somehow related to a clued one. Elsewhere, ignore an acute accent. Across 4 Clone 33 recreating the Crocodile (11, two words) 11 Athlete taking Scottish miser to freemason’s son (9, two words) 13 Danger cut — touching heartless pedestrian (11) 14 Kiss nag (4) 15
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The unclued are locations on SKYE, ‘The Misty Isle’ (solutions at 15 and 31). ISLE does double duty in 15/31 and 31/33. The title suggests ‘Over the sea to Skye’, the isle now being linked to the mainland by a bridge. V/W at 41 Across refers to the alternatives Waternish and Vaternish. First prize D.P.
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Two unclued lights describe the location of the others, individually or as a pair. One of these unclued lights does double duty. One square must contain a beetle showing possible alternatives to one of the unclued lights. Across 11 Tipsy grannie raking it in (7) 12 Skilling worker put sign outside (6,
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The unclued lights are ROMAN CROWNS. First prize Philip Hawkins, Wirksworth, Matlock, Derbyshire Runners-up G.H.Willetts, London SW19; Chris Edwards, Pudsey, Leeds
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The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer. Across 1 Poet has overdose first (5) 6 More than one figure of speech is about Roman soldier (7) 11 Where to eat, relax and gossip once about god (10) 15 Note this colour for French artist (4) 16
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The unclued lights are abbreviations of seven English and one Welsh county, which themselves are inflected headwords in Chambers. (Consequently, Hants at 35 Across was disallowed) First prize Christina Casement, West Harting, Hampshire Runners-up R.C. Teuton, Frampton Cotterell, Nr Bristol; Jane Smith, Beeston, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
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The unclued lights are of a specific kind. Additionally each is a legitimate inflected headword in Chambers. Elsewhere, ignore one acute accent and an apostrophe. Across 4 By the way, black weapon is a valuable curio (9, two words) 9 C.O.O.L.E.R. characters in the mail? (10, two words) 12 Types
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The unclued lights are BUTTERFLIES (as is the ‘comma’ in the title). The pairs are 7/34A, 13/24, 33/6 and 35/25. First prize Sheila Beesley, Coventry Runners-up J. Caldwell, Winster, Windermere; Kim Conchie, Falmouth, Cornwall
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The unclued lights (one hyphened, one of two words), individually or as four pairs, are of a kind. Across 4 Small thief accepting a lead album for cuttings (9) 10 Photographer’s kit cases with 40 systems (10) 11 Composer from Harlem, composed (6) 12 Unscrupulous member of the French
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The unclued lights are COMPOSERS whose surnames start with the letter C. First prize C.R. Haigh, Hassocks, West Sussex Runners-up Kenneth Robb, Linlithgow, West Lothian; Dr R.L.H. Barnard, Emsworth, Hampshire
