
In one square in each quarter of the grid, across and down entries clash (leave these squares blank). From these eight letters four unclued lights (mutual anagrams) can be formed, each defined by one other unclued light.

Across
6 Endlessly fortunate to go on morning walks (6)
10 No Southern Italian entertains blockheads (11)
11 Irritating, not snidely malicious at first (5)
14 Record recent warning car may carry (1-5)
16 One fanatical about swimmer (4)
17 Miserable and low, new standard (4,4)
22 Strain, not bad at first, coming on well (2,5)
24 Somewhat curious note (3)
26 Length of US railroad (3)
28 Free party night we hear that should catch fire (7)
29 Surprisingly agreed to be disparaging (8)
33 More Scottish tenor in indifferent instruction to players (8)
34 Quickly turned, a little short of courage (4)
35 Rabbi has whip-round for garment (6)
37 Mysterious vault, at first icy cold (7)
38 A flight of birds is ecstasy, seen in the flesh (5)
39 Frogman, decent chap, saves me moving away (11)
40 Lots of small nails (6)
41 What one has on the brain people almost swallow (8)
Down
1 Strut to follow rise in prosperity (4,4)
2 Slowing down before bend for hotel (4)
3 Make detached house fine after middle of June (6)
4 Fabric salesman enters study (6)
5 Peer at awful sock once sported by dandy (8)
6 Solvent’s top quality (7)
8 Turn out in regular uniform in gallery (9)
9 Pick up part of stem as essential oil comes from it (6)
15 Old officers sensing trouble (7)
18 Painful smoke stretched out a mile back (7)
19 With frosty look, take position about collapse (8)
23 In prison, depart shortly for valley (8)
29 Consider getting rid of last plate (6)
30 Left paradise, heading off ferment (6)
31 Steam through battalion, smashed (6)
32 A nearly hot jelly (5)
36 Tiny chap’s power spoken of (4)
Download a printable version here.
A first prize of £30 and two runners-up prizes of £20 for the first correct solutions opened on 21 July. Please scan or photograph entries and email them (including the crossword number in the subject field) to crosswords@spectator.co.uk, or post to: Crossword 2710, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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