The unclued lights are of a kind, verifiable in Brewer with the help of the red squares which must be read in order row by row. Ignore one apostrophe and an acute accent, elsewhere.

Across

9    Terrible President out on a limb at heart, troubled (10)

14    Courier company raises its charges (3)

16    Make one see red – possibly green and a touch of amber! (6)

17    Author moving gently, dropping article (5)

20    Mathematician coming across wife in Milton Keynes, say (3,4)

22    Travels by plane and a Roman road to Timeless Test (7)

24    Highbrow title is affected (7)

25    Sounding like Matilda’s creator’s Indian dishes (5)

26    Youngster central to 19, sadly (5)

28    See what people say? (3-4)

31    Humble US soldier and his heron (4,3)

33    Some eighty pesetas for what compositors do (7)

37    Manage backing hot date (5)

38    Philosopher and squad not working (5)

39    Vermin eating the Spanish honey badgers (6)

40    Gold cape for ogre in Tolkien’s work (3)

41    Leo’s lot is the greatest (5,5)

Down

1    Dearest harrow ordered here? (8,5)

2    Twisted insult (5)

3    European bison left – is inside (6)

4    Swear words as poor Botham’s losing his British Medal (5)

6    Poor Neser, disheartened – got married – revived (7)

7    Kelvin’s casual playing of the horn (6)

8    Easter gifts gratefully supplied as starters (4)

10    Pancakes with awnings, not drawn first, around one (6)

12    Chic youngsters see no jeers due, surprisingly (8,5)

15    Style we recreated in such a charming way (7)

23    Song sung by the chorus getting criticism that’s explosive (7)

27    Two girls touching Australian parakeet (7)

29    Wholly at home, child given love (2,4)

30    Boy taking cannabis. You’ve got it! (4,2)

32    Work, taking position behind counter (6)

34    Recitatives starting Scarletti compositions even (5)

35    Cadbury import raised in BOAC accident (5)

36    French man of note at heart of skiing race (4)

Download a printable version here.

A first prize of £30 and two runners-up prizes of £20 for the first correct solutions opened on 1 December. 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 2631, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery. The early deadline is because of the Christmas printing schedule.

Get 10 issues for just $10

Subscribe to The Spectator Australia today for the next 10 magazine issues, plus full online access, for just $10.

SUBSCRIBE 10 issues for $10 REGISTER 3 articles a month

Already a subscriber? Log in