4D 37A are the first and last words in a word ladder. Six unclued lights are synonyms of the intermediate steps and one more defines the pair and must be shaded.

Across

1 Good-looker going about clear of towelling thing? (8)

5 Early spy group whenever near hostel harden (6)

9 I know line in rocky coast – one that smashes stuff up (10)

14    Little ’un to try these first three steps (3)

16    Check unedifying bedroom first (6)

18    Revolting tribe? One unusually nice (5)

22    Classifies associated fragments (7)

24    Eg, Nero, person in twisted city (7)

25    Here! Fly United (5)

26    Back of Scot’s coal yard, say, that is spooky (5)

28    Reservation about fan causes checks (7)

31    Amend if incorrect Latin at the end (2,5)

33    Most aim for popular number? (7)

38    Consent to lose strangeness from plan (5)

39    Necklace is cloudy ahead of tests (6)

40    Expression of regret from lecturer leaving Leven, say (3)

41    A German garden is transformed to make greater (10)

42    Slaps son with more than one seaweed (6)

Down

1 New bride with Aga to make pleasant fruity dressing (8,5)

2 Adds up completely (5)

3 Rogue such as Del Boy wasting tons (6)

6 Like Tigger’s lair – with a mighty whiff inside (7)

7 Indian river rising? Yes (6)

10    Fury as a college reader gets cut short (6)

11    Duke is for appropriate loss no longer (9)

12    Sine qua non of doctors outside of accepting day fashion (7,6)

13    Grotesque satire’s about good cattle bosses (8)

21    Crop up again? Renewing mere impulse, as it’s said (2-6)

23    Peer full of coarse stuffiness (7)

27    Lug fine friend around being bit of a deerstalker, perhaps (7)

29    Breeding no longer makes sense if short of money (6)

30    Box on old-fashioned bar (6)

32    For shame! Trusting dog with name close to pathetic (2,4)

34    Pollsters getting round a foreign language (5)

35    Greeting Liberal after turning up wearing nothing (5)

Download a printable version here.

A first prize of a £30 John Lewis voucher and two runners-up prizes of £20 vouchers for the first correct solutions opened on 12 October. 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 2771, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.