Solution to the Crossword Centre Prize Puzzle January 2021

 Best Mates by Chalicea - Solution

WALLACE and GROMIT and the films A CLOSE SHAVE, THE WRONG TROUSERS and A GRAND DAY OUT circled the grid. Solvers were required to SHADE FAVOURITE FOOD OF FIRST CHARACTER (SIXTEEN CELLS) which gives WENSLEYDALE CHEESE.

Across: 9 Teian, 11 Myogens, 12 Enwomb, 13 Careful, 14 Oyes, 15 Up a tree, 16 Trull, 18 Anas, 19 Aboideau, 21 Ashame, 23 Dectet, 24 Yogh, 28 Mead, 29 Length, 31 Nascar, 32 Praecava, 33 Able, 37 Clink, 39 Lichees, 40 Ease, 41 Granthi, 42 Cierge, 43 Encomia, 44 Troth. 

Down: 1 Liner, 2 Lawsuits, 3 Complete, 4 Embar, 5 Roary, 6 Ogreish, 7 In fun, 8 Tsunami, 10 Noulde, 17 Quod, 20 Ocas, 22 Alga, 24 Yapp, 25 Glacéing, 26 Encierro, 27 Taborer, 28 Manitou, 30 Eel-set, 34 Liane, 35 Schmo, 36 Hecat, 38 Nagor. 

Across: 9 S: A(le) IN [S]TEIN, 11 H: [H]ES ON GYM*, 12 A: {BE WOM[A]N}*, 13 D: CAR[D] (s)E(l)F(b)U(i)L(d), 14 E: O [E]YES, 15 F: UP AT REE[F], 16 A: TRU(e) + [A]LL, 18 V: [V]ANS round A, 19 O: A BO[O] I (wrecke)D EAU, 21 U: AS H[U]M round A + E, 23 R: SCATTE(R)ED* minus A + S 24 I: YOG[I] + H , 28 T: ME[T] A D, 29 E: LENG + TH[E], 31 F:  N + FRACAS*, 32 O: P[O]RE round A CAV(e) + A, 33 O: A B[O]LE, 37 D: C(ol)[D] LINK, 39 O: {SEE H C[O]IL}<, 40 F: Hidden reversed (mad)E SA[F]E, 41 F: [F]ARTHING*, 42 I: CIE R[I]G E, 43 R: ENCO[R](e) (a)MI(d) A, 44 S: [S]HORT< round T. 

Down: 1 T: L INER[T], 2 C: [C]LAWS (g)U(n) ITS, 3 H: COMPETE round L[H], 4 A: (evilt)EM(pered) + [A]RAB<, 5 R: R OAR + [R]Y, 6 A: O + R[A]GE* IS H, 7 C: [C]IN F UN, 8 T: (mus)T S[T]UN AMI, 10 E: UL[E] in NODE, 17 R: Q(ueue) + DOU[R]<, 20 S: SAC[S}< round O, 22 I: A G[I]LA<, 24 X: (sill)Y A[X](e) PP, 25 T: {AGING CEL[T]}*, 26 E: (l)EN(d) (i)CIE(r) (t)[E]RRO(r), 27 E: RETROB[E]AT< less first T, 28 N: MOUNTAI[N]*, 30 C: E + EL SE[C]T, 34 E: LI[E] AN E, 35 L: [L]OCKSMITH* less K IT, 36 L: HE[L](l) CAT, 38 S: [S]NAG +  OR.