From our UK edition
Unclued lights (in red) are the characteristics of ‘the period’, from the opening sentence of A Tale of Two Cities. The highlighted words are part of the same quote, appropriately occupying the first line of the grid. First prize R. Snailham, Windsor, Berkshire Runners-up M.
From our UK edition
Thematic names are 1A/22 and 25/34, author of The Double Helix: A Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA. Thematic phrases appear in the shape of a double helix with mirror symmetry around the grid’s central axis. First prize Hugh Dales, Dysart, Fife Runners-up P.
From our UK edition
An unclued light is a name shared by two persons, one of whom is fictional. Remaining unclued lights give names connected with one or other of these persons. Solvers must shade the shared name. Elsewhere, ignore an apostrophe and two accents.
From our UK edition
Unclued lights are names of PARLIAMENTS.
From our UK edition
Clockwise round the grid from 11 run three trios (8,4,6,5,9,3,5,8,4), each trio combining to suggest the same word. A trio of unclued lights combine to give a relevant activity (hyphened) and the remaining unclued light gives a relevant name verifiable in Brewer.
From our UK edition
The name was The Spectator. THESP (SARAH BERNHARDT: 37/19), EC (EAST CENTRAL: 36/20), TAT (HEMPEN MATTING: 5/15) and OR (LOGIC CIRCUIT: 35/31).
From our UK edition
Clockwise round the grid from 21 runs a timely quotation (9,5,3,5,2,7,3,11,5) (in ODQ) followed by the initials of its author, a 2/5. The source is 18/17. Across 8 Plump for some drinks and a sandwich (5) 9 Law-officer fills ditch for president (6) 10 Passé person knows Beatrix by name (7, hyphened) 12 Classy beaver possibly circling Beehive State (4) 14 Architect produces TV show (10) 15 Not one famous aviator, not one, develops mould (8, two words) 20 Black and gold date plant (6) 22 Piece of poetry in Pabulum’s book (4) 24 Nine bushels of dough or blubber?
From our UK edition
Clues with misprints were 16, 22, 24 and 34 Across and 2, 3, 6, 26, 31 and 36 Down. Corrections spelt WELLINGTON. Unclued lights were: Oceanian capitals (1A and 8A); Wellington’s battles (18A and 13D); beef dishes (7D and 19D) and types of boot (37A and 38A). First prize Mrs L. Ashley, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex Runners-up Chris Butler, Borough Green, Kent; Andrew J.
From our UK edition
Four pairs of unclued lights suggest the constituent parts of a name (two words). Elsewhere, ignore three accents.
From our UK edition
Seven unclued lights were names of VERSE-MEN (22) minus one letter: VI(R)GIL (1A), BRO(O)KE (15A), BRID(G)ES (16), DON(N)E (9), S(P)ENDER (21),(W)HITMAN (30) and PO(U)ND (34D). Title: Hard(y). First prize Mrs C. Turner, Highgate, London Runners-up F. J.
From our UK edition
Clockwise round the perimeter from 3 run the titles of three items (1, 6, 3, 1, 4, 2, 1, 4, 1, 4, 3, 4, 5, 6, 3, 4) from the same source, the title of which is epitomised by the four unclued lights. Ignore two apostrophes. Across 8 Slowly cycling with a bouquet?
From our UK edition
Seven unclued lights (all real words) are names of 22 (hyphened) minus one letter. The missing letters give GROWN-UP. Across 4 Game Charlie (athletic chap with a heart problem) (9) 10 Pro shinned nastily getting painkillers (10) 11 Rosy Lee and fellow almost dance (6, hyphened) 12 Secure university members axed watchman (7, two words) 14 Toast and honey?
From our UK edition
Clifton Fadiman wrote that cheese was ‘MILK’S LEAP TOWARDS IMMORTALITY’ (3/4/18). The remaining unclued lights (16, 21, 25, 35, 44 and 1) are cheeses. FADIMAN (diagonally from the 13th row) was to be shaded. First prize Roland Rance, London E17 Runners-up Eileen Robinson, Sheffield; J.
From our UK edition
Six unclued lights, the sixth spelt in its original way, are members of a team proclaimed dramatically at a venue given by the remaining pair. The proclaimer and team leader appears diagonally in the completed grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent. Across 1 Minister and unknown independent in conflict (5) 9 Eyelid injured fixing jerk’s wheel (10, two words) 11 God cardinal had cheered (5) 14 Treacherous Scots not wearing blue (5) 15 Fine leapers must clear tops of houses (5) 16 Stick in this place east of Hoosier State (6) 21 Being from Iceland with mobile home?
From our UK edition
The perimeter quotation is from L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between, in which Leo, Marian and Ted are the main characters.
From our UK edition
Six unclued lights are examples of ‘3/4/18’ (four words in total, ignore an apostrophe), a quotation (in ODQ) whose author’s surname (7) will appear diagonally in the grid and must be shaded. Elsewhere, ignore an accent.