Eight entries – only four of which comprise one word – possess titular properties. Across 11 Playful killer whales swimming, not terribly well, lacking energy (7) 12 Former parking cut in safe English city (6) 13 Question in National Curriculum test exercises (6) 14 Section of relatively revolutionary musical (5) 15 Wheels finally augmented by
Twelve unclued entries can form six new words (not in the grid) Across 4 Each Chrome browser’s opening changes online site for self-validation? (4,7) 12 No charge for these new dancing routines (9) 13 Goblin at last living in tree trunk (5) 14 Cover turned over, novel is Catch-22? (7) 15 Observe small branch (4)
Solvers may find it helpful to Mix and Match the 12 unclued entries. Across 12 Wild West films rate so badly (6) 13 Head over after a 1960s/70s space programme (6) 14 Nucleus of eruption in jail occupying volunteer officers at first (7) 17 Shed set back on eastern end of The Oval (7) 18
Fourteen unclued lights comprise seven pairs. Across 7 Looked for nothing when leader makes a U-turn? (6) 12 Medical instruments deal with something breaking old cast (9) 13 Maybe Queen’s speech is without purpose, on reflection (5) 15 Shot bird left, eaten by parasite (9) 16 Twins, perhaps extremely amoral, notable (6) 21 European dictionary
Eight unclued lights (two of two words) advise solvers ‘3D 38A is 9D, 32D 32D-17A, when 6A 44A 31D’. Across 1 Don’t at first knock small amount of liquid (Scotch) (4) 12 Last, as do picture capture and future exposure (6) 13 What’s in deadly new compound (8) 14 Burn short jacket (5) 15
Down clues and entries are normal. Across clues have normal definitions but wordplays that omit a single letter from each answer, whose enumeration is given, and whose reduced form must be entered in the grid. Read in clue order, omitted letters spell out an Organic Message. Download a printable version here. Across 1 Mistress fixed
Unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters in 14 unclued lights spell out PEEP – THE SPECTATOR CHARACTERS RECREATE REST. One such light is hyphened and another comprises two words. Across 1 Bundle of stuff needing time (7) 5 Dubious party assumes American power (7) 9 Church, with Old English exterior, from which arrows are launched (4)
The ten unclued lights comprise five pairs, as implied by the title. Elsewhere, ignore one apostrophe. Across 1 Leaves evening party, returning by church (8) 12 Rag Conservative, reluctant after defeat (10) 13 Sad rake unpleasant with no love in sight (6) 15 Nice No. 1’s changed, according to singers? (8) 18 Where the
The twelve unclued lights comprise six symmetrically placed ‘split atoms’. Across 5 Fruit devastation, not the first linked to difficulties (8) 10 Disregard Italian bloke, shunning introduction (6) 11 Adherent of government line disheartened only celebs (8) 12 Tea offered by curt Cromwellian? (4) 14 White metal club 37 holds (6) 18 Cunning son, extremely
Twelve symmetrically placed, unclued lights (one hyphened) appear in a form suggested by a word that may be linked to their original forms (all normal words). Their unchecked and mutually cross-checking letters together spell out CRIPPLING LINKMEN DINING IN. Across 1 Bridges crossing American and Asian boats (7) 6 Spanish plateaux framed in rocky seam
The unclued lights can be joined to form six pairs. Across 6 No intro to US showbiz approach? (7) 11 Left earlier than usual in mere sport (4) 12 Whiteness of marital bed, only partly (6) 14 Again announce gusto outside bar (9) 17 Translated phrase, Latin, gets round (7) 18 Something stuck
Twelve unclued lights may be grouped into three quartets and their unchecked letters spell out ask engineering-academy.gov.uk; each quartet comprises two natural pairs. All unclued entries are normal words, one is in Merriam–Webster and one is thematically linked to its quartet via a Broadway musical. Across 1 Maybe PC speed unit cut after unexpectedly taking
The 37 and 38 evoke 16D 22A/26, once 19 26, the 19 being 6 at the 41 5, 41 26 and 41 13. Across 1 Language school opened by Republican state (8) 11 Repeatedly check bones in historical operation (10) 14 Sweet red Dutch headwear (8) 16 US city king boxes to
29 29-36’s 14 13 31 25 1D 2 24, in which 1 Down and 24 are each non-words that concatenate two real terms. Unchecked, unclued letters spell out SEXY DUTCH X-MAG. Across 1 Fling marauder off base, across main road (7,6) 9 Husband going inside can slim (4) 11 Distinguished mayor’s robing
Eleven unclued entries may be connected from 38 to 17, their unchecked letters spelling out CHAIN’S PAIRS, WE AGREE? Across 1 Maximum animosity reported (4) 3 Vineyard by cross (4) 5 Losing starter, rubbish service is behind (6) 9 Again communicate on mobile in van (10) 16 Mostly free car
Ten symmetrically placed un-clued lights can be entered given consistent support. Across 1 Left old murder victim in slip (5) 10 An historic fancy Greek vestment (10) 11 Snowdrift BBC DG once reported (6) 14 Runs into show behind dimwit (5) 15 Good spicy food omitting cold fish offal (5) 16 On a pump, perhaps
Puzzle 26 is 6A 18 40 1A 27 40 6A 41 6A 37 40 24 10 40 6A. Across 11 Three-sided rig with natural fitting (10) 13 Ribald cop breaking PC’s temporary storage? (9) 15 At heart, the Lion joined by a Lamb (4) 16 Round wooden peg in face having twofold symmetry (7)
An anniversary (1A, three words) today offers ten unclued entries, all of whose unchecked and cross-checking letters spell out HAHA! DRY GINS ASSURING TRASHY ANAGRAMS. Across 9 State welcome hosted by Oscars (4) 11 Stanza in excessive, unending Ave Maria delaying mass (6,4) 12 Bash old boy, a grass (4) 18 Pulling evenly, stripped part of
22 5 42 14 25 31: 29-40, 10-26. Across 1 Hidden by grass, squad joined after separation (8) 9 Most of scenery framed by brainbox movie maker (10) 16 Will’s interest in America essentially sprang (6) 17 Region outside northern stadium (5) 18 Dread being tense after fringe cut by bishop (5) 20
Six unclued entries comprise systematically ordered non-words thematically linked by a normal entry, itself unclued. Across 1 Awaiting consideration, poor hippie teen holding nothing back (2,3,8) 11 Most of back pain almost leaves (7) 12 Some over-50s right about Hindu music? (5) 14 Small section of foreign letter penned by French novelist (6) 16
