Cheesecracker

2677: What’s in a name?

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)

2663: CTRL+SHIFT+S

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

2659: Splitting the atom

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

2653: Order! Order!

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

2644: Joinery

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

2636: Happy ever after

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

2630: Souvenir

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

2623: Half-day closing?

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

2618: Chain gang

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

2608: Support

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

2603

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)

2585: Happy Anniversary

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

2573

  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

2561: PORTS

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

2552: ????

Eight unclued entries comprise four pairs whose thematic ordering is provided by 3, 31, 37 and 41.   Across 1 Deft, dry in denial (5) 6 Bitter unit – British back in charge (7) 11 Criminal or liar with cult having three cells (10) 13 Distress furniture suitable for oils? (9) 15 Talks, say, regularly,

2540: Recycling components

Eight unclued lights, arranged symmetrically, comprise two quartets, one of which makes the other go round.   Across 1 How much poor Matthew has aged (14, three words) 11 What’s got blowers regularly engaged? (5) 13 Cheeky make-up (5) 14 Nothing fresh about first social reformer (7) 15 Some change local larder outside flat (10)

2525: Prime Times

Elements of four symmetrically disposed unclued lights confirm the 5 Down. Enumerations indicate lengths of clues’ ‘full’ solutions.   Across 1 People are pruning every European tree (6) 6 Cook cut gooey rock cake (7) 11 Bishop leaving foundation unaltered (4, two words) 12 Skywriting? (9, two words) 14 Radical Left holds back boy (5)

2510: Prom session

Twelve symmetrically disposed unclued entries comprise three distinct interlinked quartets.   Across 1 Precise conjecture about coin-flip, oddly (8) 6 Peter out back, eating square meal (6) 10 Hit round ring – rim of upper drum (6) 11 Tiny baby consumed by gas (7) 12 Pedestrian holds back directions to Wick (5) 14 Advert I

2491: Recycling

Ten unclued lights comprise a septet with a common theme. Across 1 Running article perhaps subject to trial? (7) 5 Again flick back whip (6) 9 Has Olympian formerly lost heart? (4) 11 Ham risotto moulded with cup (10) 12 Muse caught by crude backing (4) 14 Net damages BBC owe (6) 16 Parisian to

2480: Warning

Solvers should heed a warning when deducing ten symmetrically placed unclued lights (two of three words and one of two words). Across 1 Poet entertaining Round Table (5)4 Together, brutes briefly help the old order (9)11 Live international back on a roll (6)12 Sting seen in church right by jetty (7)15 Oddly enough, Chloe broke