Seven circles appear in the circuit next to the outer one. Their place is shown in the innermost one (6,4). Radial lights, all (6) except where indicated, read from rim to centre or vice versa, 20 of each.

Radial clues

1 Split sounded improvised

2 Slag off brilliant soul

3 Half-hearted singing group: they’d regularly subsided

4 Carried back once in the way (2,4)

5 In old bits of India, Latin records

6 Proper names given by a Guardian woman

7 With extraordinary perception, notice a matador

8 A detective accepts suitable changes

9 Managed to keep a completely dry palm

10    Time to open immature oyster

11    Keep desiring to be lascivious

12    I certify contracts using new seal

13    Connected match with loud noise (4,2)

14    Wrongly recite a monastic service

15    Counter, and one working at it?

16    Fit into court house

17    Not agree to fix blown circuit?

18    A number of arguments heard to get excited

19    Ply rector, say, with beer

20    Snake at end of the pass

21    Local rules close city walls: everybody out!

22    Son battles round France and faints

23    Summary not quite accurate

24    Almost car-sick travelling? Once, certainly

25    Play on words is hard to beat perhaps

26    Left out of ancient vessel, rather strange

27    Indian worker and wife meeting God

28    Pulling hard and stopping taxi, say

29    Pass over cultivated region

30    Worn down having travelled through the heart of Sweden

31    Call for more dash and heart

32    Hide in enclosure and be well

33    Greek character breaking light turning to melt away

34    Tiny thing kept snoozing, dropping head

35    Article well-balanced in several papers (1-5)

36    Imposed feud occasionally on Biblical tribe

37    Concealed the Anglo-French camp?

38    Partially replace talc with this compound

39    Stock of food here might be bigger, if good for daughter

40    All for changing such a tribute

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A first prize of a £30 John Lewis voucher and two runners-up prizes of £20 vouchers for the first correct solutions opened on 15 June. 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 2754, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.