The 12 six-letter unclued lights bear a common feature, different in each case, but ignore one hyphen.

        Across

   1    Put up a hammock for son with Heather (5)

   4    One lies drunk after attempt to restore equilibrium (9)

   9    After seven days, say, shall journalist be wimpish? (4-6)

11    Muse was, for Caesar, love (5)

12    Cunard cruise finally turned to French river (7)

14    Vocalist shortly to be a scorcher (5)

15    Just a bit of a fight! (5)

21    Such gall on day in May (3-5)

22    Mournful key member CIA outed (7)

24    Some delayed up at university (4)

25    Sandwich filling aunt cooked (4)

27    Fire-fighters from sailing vessel needing help, we’re told (7)

28    Swedish tennis star with one killer stroke (8)

34    Sign overlapping with 41 for record collections (5)

35    Official change of course back to Edgbaston, first (5)

37    Pipe second carol outside Kings (7)

38    John taking one grand home (5)

39    Secretary’s wise style down the aisle (10)

40    Had one in need of an exorcist? (9)

41    Sign of tooth decay not initially conquered (5)

         Down

   1    Stokes admitted by Romantic poet and WI fast bowler to hill-climb venue (8,5)

   5    Last winter’s hotel bed request (4)

   6    Visionary music outside of Kerry (4-3)

   7    Top removed from cleaning liquid for drain (5)

   8    Suspect lace sold out (2-6)

10    Censures poor persons in here (13)

13    Speedily run off with Tilly, regularly (7)

19    Ask peer about Hoyle? (7)

23    Savaged poorly planned dilation (4,4)

26    Begin to deal with notice on deck (7)

32    Hanging up in disarray (5)

36    Trim EastEnders’ privet boundary (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 26 February. 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 2640, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.

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