The eight unclued lights are, or were, of a kind.

        Across

   1    Daily column about introduction of alternative fuel (8)

   5    Cold, and damned unpleasant (6)

   9    Tumbledown hut in barbarous realm (10)

16    Drink is finally within reach (6)

17    Joins female on Med, perhaps (5)

18    Unclothed Yanks fled joint (5)

20    Shamefaced bishop found in boozers west of Slough (7)

22    Harry in pursuit of tripe, symbol of Britain (7)

24    Capone perhaps poised to import hard liquor (7)

25    Confirmed last of resources exhausted (5)

26    Run over someone stepping back (5)

28    Married friends cycling round old country (7)

33    Endless niceness aroused anger (7)

37    Spirit of low-down gutless ingrate (5)

38    Regularly moan and cry like a crow or parrot (5)

39    Monkey is in danger, he suspects (6)

41    Showman from India shocked Paris and Rome (10)

42    Concealed overdue books (6)

43    Extravagant faults we condemned (8)

         Down

   1    Spooner’s assured transport firms help with road safety (5,8)

   2    Slam German, half-cut in capital (5)

   3    Sought selenium in African country (6)

   4    Scoring hole in one, Gascoigne oddly dismissed golf (5)

   6    Tries again to practise, falling short (7)

   7    Some heart-rending hymns in small open boat (6)

12    Committed model who only dieted (4-2-3-4)

13    Extremely capable prop supporting rugby blue (8)

15    Virginia deer make tracks (7)

19    Awkward kid following every setter on the rise (3,2,4)

21    Rambling raconteur losing new suit in Brussels (8)

23    Way to stop rude Republican boasting (7)

29    Penpusher denying she scuppered union agreement (3-3)

30    Emphasise chance to banish primitive instincts (6)

32    Most biddable, try boxing in the morning (6)

34    See you in the north holding current Triple Crown (5)

35    Head of seedy scoundrel with fine dandruff (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 24 July. 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 2612, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP.

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