Spectator N0 2482

[Matakari]

Hi there! I'm pleased today, Doc was not too difficult for me. Got all the Unclueds except 12 and am still trying to fathom how the "common feature, different in each case" works. Meanwhile, I would be happy to have HINTS for these remaining clues, thanks.

ACROSS:
6 Runs out of banners for ships (8) : ?T?????P
14 This slow match at Ibrox, when second-rate, would lack edge (4) :???C ( LAIC )?

DOWN:
8 Group’s striped cloths for bishops (5) : ???A?
9 Athlete holding nothing up for one making Top Gear? (8) : ???L?N?R

[cashier]

8 Swedish group, won Eurovision.

[JJ109]

9 Hat maker

[JJ109]

6 Your P is wrong- take an R (uns) out of a word for banners and you are left with ships. SS

[Calibax]

9d think headgear rather than top gear

[hankir]

14. A slow match, 4 letter word. Your C is wrong.

When you put B (Second-rate) in front of it, it lacks edge.

[Neveracrossword]

Matakari, for the theme, make a list of all the unclued entries. Putting them in a vertical column helped me see the 'common feature'.

[tedsgran]

unclued 10d ending VOCAL or MOLAR?

[Neveracrossword]

Tedsgran, I think only one is in Chambers....

[Matakari]

Many thanks for the great hints, all! I'm following Neveracrossword's suggestion for grasping the theme now.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Matakari. I'm sure a good stare will help you - and I'm not being facetious! (PS that's an extra hint).

[Farrwest]

Having taken Neveracrossword's advice and stared at my list of the answers to the unclued lights for 20 minutes with no common feature appearing, I'm wondering why a common feature was necessary in the first place! Can someone enlighten me!

[Neveracrossword]

Farrwest, my 'facetious' has a certain number of 'things' in it, as do each of the unclued entries. The title tells you how many. Each of your words will have ? and ? and ? and ? and ? in it.

[Farrwest]

Thanks Neveracrossword. My wife who is is NOT a cruciverbalist spotted the common features with no trouble. Perhaps I stared too hard for too long!

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, Farrwest - glad it's resolved now. Sorry my hint wasn't terribly helpful!

[johnpiper]

I have just two clued lights left. 2 down. Standard description for any tom dick or harry. 7,3 i have average ?a? Would it be par or man?

Then i am struggling with the comic strip villain. I have ?e?l? Thor. An anagram of hell tour and y?

[Neveracrossword]

Johnpiper, you need an X rather than a Y. The name is 3,6.

I had Man for 2 Down - Tom, Dick, Harry are all men.