The unclued lights, five of which are correctly numbered, are of a kind. Ignore one accent. Chambers does not include the solution at 29D.
Across
01 Have nothing to do with letter read out to John — needs amending (13, five words)
09 European dormouse cutting 42 thematically (4)
11 Countrywomen who work in resorts (10)
12 Regularly assaulted coming to auction (4)
14 Passes degrees (6)
16 Maybe the phoenix by one or two toadstools (5)
17 Duran Duran’s lead singer backed inventor (5)
21 Relatively speaking, very much like the dew (7)
23 Bridle at port’s loveless sweetheart (7)
24 Brutally killed backing some colonial subterfuge (5)
27 A bobby-dazzler remains in Southern Sea, in France (7)
30 Fugitive’s key to a leak (7)
32 Hardly the headgear that’s worn around work (7, hyphened)
37 Scoundrel with no time for gaffe (5)
40 Cine peters out in hearts of US eruptions (10)
42 A blushing leaseholder (13, two words)
Down
01 Bank’s not streamlined (5)
04 A rocket from the head (5)
05 Eccentric duke in two events — the first upset (7)
06 Apparently a noblewoman, brave, topless and unable to hear (7)
08 Vowel rhyme showing aeons scan awkwardly (9)
10 Copper enters rebuilt tool-room, causing eyes to swivel (10)
13 All together, just after service on the radio (7, two words)
15 Clyde ran out to remove dirt with solvent (8, hyphened)
18 In France, you must embrace ditsy officer — not loud. Oh yes, it is! (10)
21 Home Counties area with cases giving palliative drugs (9)
22 Pop singer having strap — that is just for starters (6, two words)
26 Composer spilt retsina (7)
28 Provide wrong info about AD times (7)
29 One pecan chewed, causing breathing problems (6)
33 Welcome weeping (5)
34 Eternalist’s even stroke (5)
35 Sea-ear daughter removed from window (5)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 12 October. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers Dictionary instead of cash— ring the word ‘Dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2230, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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