In nine clues, cryptic indications omit reference to parts of answers; these parts must be highlighted, to reveal a definition applicable to each of the five members of the perimeter cordon, reading clockwise, and two unclued lights. Letters in corner squares and those adjacent to them could make TEAM NEAR GAPS. Two of the perimeter’s occupants are hyphened, one doubly so.
 

Across

11    Whip stopped receiving resistance (5)
12    Hateful person answering poster? (4)
13    Drive back vicious brute (5)
14    Clubs run into trouble with a new synthetic fibre (7)
15    Vehicle is, in general, grand blessing (10)
17    Period of excitement about mollusc (5)
20    Cringe finally in broadcast at young, spontaneous generation (8)
21    Spot Scots little occupied by game (6)
23    Spell, miles away, in new island (4)
26    Dramatist begins anew? Not good (5)
27    Panic room after outgrowth (5)
28    Fun in sun in stream (4)
31    Thousand, in a new con, distraught once aware (8)
36    Informer retiring with energy cut (5)
38    Defeat keeping north-east province in isolation (10)
39    Dry arbiter accepted by Conservative (7)
40    Essayist reflected about unknown poet’s ashes (5)
41    Ruin atmosphere in retreat (4)
42    Divine visitors short of time (5)
 

Down

2    Revival right before hard race northward (7)
3    Row restrained by courts supporting amateur surfing equipment? (10)
4    Run some knitwear items up (6)
5    Love artist with constant ability to communicate (5)
6    Trendy cape remains apart from English coats (8)
7    Entrances trustee consumed by sloth (5)
8    Sound brave, ignoring insect (5)
10    Lizard in desolate gully (4)
16    Drama with vassals giving name of clan? (5)
18    Spin round your base (4)
19    One mistake about book concerning fine, slender swimmer (10)
22    Idle to stop thus in county (5)
24    Awful gap without tenor in unsettled choir (8)
25    Overthrown king out of tune (4)
32    Managed like us for month (6)
33    Learning, upset, about veteran’s last record (5)
34    Master in field led by united body of theologians (5)
35    Drink for example accepted by rising star (5)
37    Charge following wickedness (4)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 13 April. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers Dictionary instead of cash — circle the word ‘Dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2204, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.