August 2026 Uncommon Sense by Vagans

 Uncommon Sense by Vagans

The wordplay of twelve clues leads to an alternative entry. The three unclued entries offer a cryptic representation of the theme.

Across

    1    Formerly a fascist symbol with half missing (5, two words)

    4    Dishevelled nudes press trousers kept up with these (6)

    10    Claim 'tube' - last of beer - for player in Perth (8)

    12    Goddess misrepresented age, taking in leader of Achaeans (4)

    13    Lugs old plough on difficult places (3-5)

    14    Stand for coffin that is held by brother (4)

    15    Republican promotional materials for root-and-branch reformers (4)

    17    Surprised expression on American squaddie's Welsh dog (5)

    19    Exceptional sort of hire car (4)

    22    Perhaps Ukrainian Catholic Auntie is in ruins (6)

    24    Chaplain is alongside officer in charge of old Aussie soldier (5)

    25    Disciple welcomes Curie descendant (5)

    30    Burnt-out pastor told to go round (5)

    34    Elderly close to rebuilt arena (5)

    35    Mate in Merseyside with most of money (6)

    37    Oddly insanity doesn't exist (4)

    38    Brother in Alabama keeps flammable liquid for over-the-top heater (5)

    40    Knight keeping hard ball back in luggage compartment of car (4)

    41    Hi-tec ignition supports vape (4)

    42    Drunk in inner chamber of temple secreting parts of worms (8)

    43    Cock dithering out of place after loss of broken pool (3)

    44    Come round quite watchfully (9)

    45    West is not yet firm (6)

    46    Old jerkin's always worn by child (5)

Down

    2    Miss trapped in Connecticut clothes cupboard (8)

    3    Locate French satellite (4)

    4    East European overheard account in restaurant (4)

    5    Products from horse chestnut bark in mixed sauces keeping nothing back (9)

    6    Sings softly in new style following band heard online (6)

    7    Long story about Indian antelope (5)

    8    Insect sheds whole back half and becomes this other one (3)

    9    Cart overturned in Eden? (6)

    11    Fuel gets auto speeding at first (6)

    16    Fantastic chap at NASA is native American speaker (10)

    18    Wealthy in charge in Haiti (4)

    20    Good French aristo overthrown (3)

    21    Urge on, say, before start of game (3)

    23    Extremely round rug's glossy red colour (6)

    26    Dad's reserve about hotel finally produced cool summer treat (3,5)

    28    Church hymn's forced tactfulness not felt in rearrangement (7)

    30    Jelly babies perhaps in Medoc and Yorkshire (6)

    31    Dweller on earth's sin seen in first half of Tanach (6)

    32    Objectionable little people crossing river for fools (6)

    33    Short hairband for French girl (5)

    36    Fried potatoes are oddly firm items (5)

    39    Platform that rises up to reveal pants (4)

PDF version

   To enter this competition, input your solution into the website at https://cc.vellender.com before 8th September 2026. The first correct entry drawn from the hat will receive a book from the Chambers range, which has been donated by Chambers.