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Ah, many thanks, Malone

I thought 28 was suggested by an extra word in 40.

Luftmensch, I think you made the same mistake as me.
5 relates to 40.
28 relates to 36.

Jono, yes, that's what I had for 5 - and how I worked out your mention of singular and plural.

Thanks again, Malone.
I think our friend Prospero may be blogging this one.

yes, jono, you are very astute with your dates ... I have been confused by a lot of extra adjectives - pine, small, old, fierce, currant - and for a long time had 20a linked to big in the clue for 43a but have realised it must go with the extra word in 14a ... a lot of reverse-parsing involved but the blog is now complete. A fun solve, I thought.

Shouldn't the Speccie double up the prize pot for this week's puzzle ?

I complained to the Spectator about the repeated puzzle and its wrong preamble. After several days, I got a short, perfunctory response. I was delighted to be able to respond to that - 'Thanks, and I'm glad this week's puzzle is error- free. Oh, wait...' Yes, I know the two Across headings isn't as bad an error as a regurgitated/recycled puzzle, but surely there shouldn't have been an error at all?

I need help with the notes! "Within seven unclued lights are spelled out the ingredients of the eighth, which solvers must shade".

Hello SolidAir
Hopefully you have most of the clued solutions. You then need to make guesses at the unclued lights - I think that the two longer ones at 1 and 12 Down are the least ambiguous, if somewhat unfamiliar words. I also picked 20 Across and 41 Across fairly quickly. The last in particular contains an unusual set of letters. What might they mean?