Theme by Urchin

Solvers should discover the theme and complete the grid thematically. It is advisable to use a pencil.

Across 1 Unclued (5) 5 You were and I am back for writer in Latin (7) 10 School work gets American felon going west (4) 11 Catch malarial fever crossing river (4) 13 Like a bit of fluff? Trollop's beginning to smooch for nothing (6) 14 Like an ounce, perhaps, in iron track (6) 15 Officer working on sub? (5) 16 Brief indulgence could be start of laxity in 'Arry's affair! (5) 17 Holy man goes into wooden frame for brownish-yellow pigment (6) 21 Appraisals in newspapers about metal (7) 22 Amber's changing direction for driving tools (7) 27 Even chance for drunkard retiring with drink (4-2) 29 Unclued (5) 32 Rupees must be in the forefront with a caste in India (5) 33 You need humour after 51, sharing the same house (4-2) 34 Horrible smell in food vessels (6) 35 Billie Jean? Could be a man (4) 36 Monster that is going for the loch (4) 37 Capital making the new era (7) 38 Chilly Queen (and king) in thrash of old (5) Down 1 Attractiveness in learner quitting joint (5) 2 Spirit of the air altering end of house (5) 3 Emile oddly with a boxed ear (6) 4 Brad embraces new season (6) 5 Hunter nearly captures this bird (4) 6 Tree's unusual affair (6)

7 Smut's hot in fire (5) 8 A sudden flow raises strong desires (7) 9 In Paris he leaves sinlessly, moving with guile (7) 11 Dances on stage? Possibly (7) 12 Bit of nostalgia after being in city (5) 18 Adding fuel to sanction trap for criminals is over (7) 19 Most sober king gets a piece of underwear (7) 20 Island sailor when rising is liable to pay taxes (7) 23 Muslims are endlessly glum (5) 24 A dissuader could end up dead here! (6) 25 Smoke? A vehicle is covered by most of fog (6) 26 Queen for ever lacking gold - an acute disease (1,5) 28 Gin, perhaps, smuggled up in Kent (5) 30 Kings restraining cry of exultation in booth (5) 31 Nasty shivering with an itch (5) 33 The botanist, in brief, falls (4)

To enter this competition send your solution in list format to derek@crosswordcentre.fsnet.co.uk before 5th October 2005. The winner picked from the hat will receive a top of the range Collins Dictionary (value £30) and the latest edition of Bradford's Crossword Dictionary. Three runners-up will also receive prizes of Bradford's Crossword Dictionary.