SEVEN OF THE answers are names related by a theme that’s central to this magazine. Aptly enough, their definitions have been expunged, leaving only wordplay to figure out those seven clues. In addition the shaded letters (plus another answer from the grid, repeated twice) can be rearranged to form a relevant quote from one of the seven names
Quote word lengths: 10,3,3,2,(2 down),9,4,(2 down).
Across
1 Cultural value system that embraces ‘normal’ (6)
5 Spoken comment (8)
9 Ever-festering cut? (4)
10 Record collector has muscles and large vehicle (10)
11 Scottish island touched by greed, regularly plundered and settled (8)
12 Arch at centre of stage (6)
13 Harpist comes avant-garde, producing mood music (12)
17 Final letter admitted to sin, honestly recollecting (12)
20 Monday’s beginning relatively poorly (6)
22 Stupid to get cornered by bull, perhaps (8)
24 Smart to restrain excited animal’s rampaging (10)
25 Bland and meagre yam portion (4)
26 Fantastic rare find, it’s found over a rainbow (8)
27 Show up directly from masquerade (6)
Down
2 Incomplete letter in Greek by biblical lady – it’s sought by philosophers (3,5)
3 Commentators rant and roar about society, primarily (9)
4 Display picture, getting copyright first (5)
5 Make haste to depart (7)
6 American remains taken care of under this occupation? (9)
7 Flamboyantly wears diamonds (5)
8 Card game joined, not for purposes of paying debt. (6)
14 Animal in novel or parable (5,4)
15 No longer prone to enlarge after mealtime (7,2)
16 Mountains and burning hill noticed when looking upwards (8)
18 Bound to keep to one’s own level (3-4)
19 Huge weight advanced by very short distance (6)
