Around the perimeter starting at square 20 and reading clockwise are five themed solutions, ten words in total. The other unclued lights (four pairs) continue the theme, if 12 Across is pluralised. Ignore two apostrophes.
Across
11 Fiddle with jacket removed after a dip? (5)
13 Get rid of European visitor – that’s not socially acceptable (5)
14 Poor rating given to a dessert (7)
15 Revised a plan he got shaped like this (10)
20 Administers oath of office out of wariness (6,2)
23 Like some previous edition? (4)
26 Christmas drink for draught-horse (5)
27 Boy Scouts left holding nothing round (5)
31 Nip inside part of plant for business banter (4,4)
36 Operatic heroine makes love between acts, madly (5)
38 English not translated for downtown signs (4,6)
39 State worker’s flag (7)
40 They form banks during picnic, irritatingly (5)
41 College official – idle, vain, regularly absent (4)
42 Teachers’ pole (5)
Down
2 Drawing room? (7)
3 Tenth wicket down around Mount Atlas (4,3,3)
5 Run away from animal, not tiny one (5)
6 Organised stay around Irish isles and uninhabited Scottish one (8)
7 Storm (fittingly), starts from over Reims and goes eastwards (5)
8 Son Heather put up (5)
10 Eastern music turns up in culture medium (4)
16 Betel nut from a cultivated acre (5)
18 Menu option some found odd (4)
19 Natural talent initially arranged outrelief (4,2,4)
22 Peter Capaldi partially reflects isle (5)
24 Watchman dispatched, off-line (8)
25 At one time, at one time (4)
29 Stunned criminal arrested, resistance gone (7)
32 Ban Disney coming up to the Dreaming Spires (6)
34 The Black Country is featureless (5)
35 Picture, very recent, displayed in post office (5)
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 21 November. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. 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 2580, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery. The dictionary prize is not available at present.
Download a printable version here.
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