‘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.
Across
1 Rave over wrestling tournament (5)
4 Wolf conquering war god frightens away (6,3)
10 Autoclaved plastic with small cavities (10)
11 Doctor came in as Uncle Sam’s sickly (6)
12 Tess’s husband or French activist poet (7)
15 Snarl from grey dullard (5)
16 Fare on tinware for forty (6)
22 Maybe saboteur had sabotaged earlier (8)
23 Cynical type sermon at no time enthralled (7)
24 Fish is eaten (4)
25 Authentic Brazilian sugar (4)
27 Anglers cross about wayfarers (7)
29 OK musical (8)
32 Rascal Oundle refused once (6)
34 Sound of kittens some women tamed (5)
35 Some colibri outside French commune (5)
38 Fruit of quality and honey beside (10)
39 Dr Ali and I, besotted with art, like Merc’s logo (9)
40 Dashing chap lecturer ordered about (5)
Down
1 Cosmetic enhancement of Tempe? (6,4)
2 Antenatal procedure Omani developed (5)
4 Female Amerinds talked about cane sugar (7)
5 Odd pair of cruciverbalists master unsound puzzles (10)
6 Roisterers hawkers head off (7)
7 Wise men always aboard ship (5)
8 Measurer of eelworm FT splashes (9)
13 Silver shrub leafy on the outside (7)
15 Good painter, one cherished by monarch: Sutherland? (6)
17 Swimming after Romeo girl makes dry land (5,5)
19 Arbor housing Bornean ape and French sandpiper (6,4)
20 Hostess wearing new ring (9)
21 Bathroom’s not too tight for great musician (6)
26 Lout bishop that’s dead tried to influence (7)
28 Grandchild upset fruit drink (7)
30 Old nose-band in museum lacking part (6)
33 Awful papa bounds about (5)
Download a printable version here.
A first prize of £30 and two runners-up prizes of £20 for the first correct solutions opened on 13 October. 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 2722, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
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