The unclued lights (one hyphened and one of two words) each bear a common feature.
Across
7 Rodent, second seen in store (6)
12 Old Scottish borrowers who show respect about sons (9)
13 Rookie driver owns leading assets capital (5)
16 Bedcovers obtained from Chester’s shopping arcades lacking a touch of elegance (6)
20 Broadcast with singer heard at Brize Norton or Cosford (3,4)
21 An animal doctor admitted company – turned up with bird (6)
22 He has a dog but is driving without a conductor (3-3)
26 Not long until graduates leave one in the woodwind (4)
27 Chess grandmaster reflects his homeland somewhat (3)
28 Fresh out of Pinewood (3)
29 Once paint medium in ravine (4)
32 Former MP Grieve has afternoon on Caribbean island (8)
34 Wild, raging fire has gutted castle (6)
35 Dried fruit exists in wet weather (6)
37 Restless film-maker comes back, having gone outside (7)
39 Those with good memories for bank holiday crosswords, say (6)
43 Forty winks during it would seem unnatural (5)
44 Type of mirror that is right for vaudeville actor (9)
45 Former editor’s hold. Not half! (6)
46 Earlier on had year at convent (6)
Down
1 Summons dwarf regularly to get sex (4)
2 The arms of Ulster embarrassed worker (3,4)
3 Always in the vernacular (4)
5 Poor handsomer loveless farm employee (8)
6 On the radio, dreich 24 hours is top class (5,1)
8 Boy or girl will drink and kiss (4)
9 Island breed for Lio and Lyn, apparently (4,4)
10 Ornamental orange tree becoming very large with time (5)
11 Raconteur or tattler (4-6)
14 Give a clear statement supporting exchange of emails (9)
17 Duplicated and skedaddled (3,3)
18 One Brahms arrangement of Trees (9)
23 Names showing no themeword (6)
25 From corrie in Snowdonia to outskirts of Chepstow and three-quarters of the heart of the country (3,5)
33 Dismissed one of many at Wimbledon, we’re told (6)
36 1300 hours, in agreement (2,3)
38 Forbid some of the five tombolas (4)
40 Energy at the heart of Cambridge and Oxford, for starters (4)
41 A bit sprightly, we hear (4)
A first prize of £30 and two runners-up prizes of £20 for the first correct solutions opened on 15 September. 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 2718, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Allow six weeks for prize delivery.
Download a printable version here.
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