All the answers are characters from childrens tales..
2) A boy witha noise (7)
4) Bird i have on right (8)
7) Hollow man holds cut of beef (6)
17) Beetle meets rodent (8)
27) Man in carrier age (8)
37) Female about twisted skein (5.4.)
40) Writer's dog tumbles (7).
Many thanks for any help.x