Pabulum

‘23A/27A!’ (four words in total) is a command in ODQ (minus one word) written by one gifted 12A concerning another. Unclued down lights are words linked with the latter that have obeyed the command. 36A suggests the commander’s name in English.

At 2D/22A is a 3D of an 18D with his 30D friend called 24A. The 18D, whose surname the title suggests, famously worked all round 39A (two words), which he thought should be renamed 4A which it now is.

Within seven unclued lights are spelled out the ingredients of the eighth, which solvers must shade. The unclued lights are suggested by surplus words in eight clues. Across 1 Old men with tastes in small cakes (8) 9 Son in new trial practising beforehand (10) 14 Hogarth’s greatest painting? (3) 16 Cross composer snubbed poet (6) 17 Toodle-pip to old Jeeves? (5) 18 Fierce predator heard in pine forest (5) 22 Who might make you sturdier footwear?

In February, a noted 1A, 6A and 36A left us. His name (two words) is an anagram of 23A/7D (both real words). 39A and 21D/17D cryptically suggest the titles (one of six words, the other of two words) of two of his best known works.

‘1A/36A/1D/4D’ (five words in total) is an extract from a song about the escape of 21D/15D (three words in total). Remaining unclued lights tell when and whence the escape occurred.

A ship is the theme. Clockwise round the perimeter from 39 appear a type of event followed by the names of three such events she attended with distinction and the name of her most famous passenger (6,3,8,5,2,4,3,4,9,8). Unclued lights give her nickname (a pair) and her final role.

‘4D!/18A/3D!’ (four words in total) is a quotation from a tale by the author of 9D (three words). Remaining unclued lights give the names of the two protagonists of the tale and that of the 24A in which it was told.

‘31D’ is a line thrice uttered by the victim of ‘37A/34D/9D’ where his 14A grew. Remaining unclued lights give his name and how he was addressed by his son (two words) and the name of his son’s tragic friend.

Clockwise round the grid from the square between 6 and 7 runs a quotation which could have referred to the three unclued lights, and its source (7,2,3,3,5,3,3,7,4,3,2,5,5). Across 9 Top part is the place to go in ships (5) 10   Wild party girl cycling (4) 11   Ex-president twice cut back tropical plants (5) 12   Unbounded profusion bewildered lunatic (7) 13   Article on devilish debonair Michael Gove?

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?

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?

Clockwise round the grid from 1 run the final words (3,6,4,3,6,3,8,4,3,4,2,6) of a poem. Two unclued lights (one of two words) are also taken from the poem, whose author’s surname appears as a clued light which must be shaded. Across 9 Canon meeting King and Queen?

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.

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.

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?

This is Pabulum’s last regular puzzle, though he will continue to appear from time to time. Two pairs of unclued lights give examples of the theme word. Remaining unclued lights each contain a thematic element: a relevant name (6) will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.

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.

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.

‘10/30’ (4,1,4,3,2,4) is the first line of a song whose tune, originally called ‘1D’ (6,2,1,5), was composed by a future 40D/2 and was often played by 39/6. The song’s title explains 34. The composer’s surname will appear diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded.

The same word appears as eight headwords in Chambers. Unclued lights indicate what they mean. The word will appear in the completed grid and must be shaded.