The unclued lights (as four pairs and a singleton which includes an abbreviation and apostrophe) are of a kind. 36 is an acronym and 10 includes an accent. Solvers should highlight a further themed title of two words hidden separately in the
final grid.
 

Across

1    Sheriff’s officer’s wild spat during argument (8)
12    Land on tree; mother has pronounced dead first (10, two words)
13    English work about wing flap (6)
14    24 change of heart for this bishop (7)
15    Girl in The Crown that’s on her knees (8)
18    Pair paid the bill on both legs? (9, hyphened)
19    Former PM presenter with sound of whirling waters by civic bigwig (9, two words)
20    Heartless worries! (4)
21    Players moaned on the radio (4)
27    Cheap and nasty introduction to Thomas by his author (6)
29    Days gone by in the boundaries of Yorkshire (4)
32    Tiles from a tea shop, with edge of roof having collapsed (9, two words)
34    Like viruses — a cryptic clue, all right! (9)
38    Costumier loses stone cooking Japanese omelette (7)
39    Most logical form of assent (6)
40    Produce notes about tiny number offering bribes (10)
41    Like a spot decision for a quick photo of card game (4)
 

Down

1    The throng from one of the estates? (8, two words)
2    Mull, say— isn’t water, but … (6)
4    Ugly dwarf spreading ye old tales of crew members (14, two words)
6    Clean refrigerated gear missing. Puzzling! (8, hyphened)
7    Nick taking tea with outspoken clergyman (14, two words)
9    Cabinet member and a supporter cycling (4)
10    What the in-folk have, of course! (6)
11    Stops ringing me, which improves things (6)
16    This artist becomes humble changing sides (5)
17    Old tales of undoubted daring (4)
22    English spa town (5)
23    Beats, using rough counters (8)
25    Dawn’s time acting inside (4)
26    Stood firm, one’s inside, feeling at ease (8)
28    A repast many consume with drink (7, hyphened)
31    Cinema stirs theatrical type who cometh (6)
33    Rag chap has found in keg (6, two words)
36    Deputy Stateside attorney from Lausanne (4)
 
A first prize of £30 for the first correct solution opened on 3 February. There are two runners-up prizes of £20. (UK solvers can choose to receive the latest edition of the Chambers dictionary instead of cash — ring the word ‘dictionary’.) Entries to: Crossword 2440, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.