| TAKEAPOISONPILL | Employ defensive tactics to thwart corporate takeovers ... and a cryptic hint to the shaded squares |
| CIVILFRAUD | What Donald Trump was found guilty of on February 16, 2024, and a cryptic hint to the shaded squares. |
| COUNTERMEASURES | Craftily creates numerous defensive tactics (7-8) |
| MUDSLINGING | Dirty tactics, and a cryptic hint to what's happening in the shaded squares |
| STEWEDPEARS | Cooked fruit dessert ... and a cryptic hint to the start of 17-, 31- and 38-Across |
| BUYOUTS | Corporate takeovers |
| JUMPSUITS | Garments similar to rompers ... with a hint to the shaded squares in this puzzle |
| GROWINGPAINS | Early struggles for a new enterprise ... or a hint to the shaded squares |
| TEALEAVES | Divination aids ... or a phonetic hint to the shaded squares in this puzzle |
| MTEREBUS | Southernmost active volcano in the world ... or a cryptic hint to certain squares in this puzzle |
| THREEMENINABOAT | Book title that's a cryptic hint to get agent male fellowship? |
| FREESPEECH | First Amendment right, and a cryptic description of the shaded squares |
| CHET | Shameless acting son of Rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell out the name of the celebrity in the centre of the grid Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson (4) |
| WESSEX | She has been on Rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell out the name of the celebrity in the centre of the grid a Caribbean tour with her husband Prince Edward (6,6) |
| KIMBER | The first Great British Rearrange the letters in the shaded squares to spell out the name of the celebrity in the centre of the grid Bake-Off winner, Edd _ (6) |
| STAB | Attempt, have a ... at When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word. The mystery word |
| DUE | About to arrive When you've solved the crossword, the letters on the shaded squares, reading left to right, top to bottom, spell a mystery word or phrase. |
| TENTOONEODDS | Big payout potential ... or a hint to the words in the shaded squares (and the clue numbers on which they begin!) |
| CLIMATECHANGE | Environmentalist's concern ... or a hint to the shaded letters |
| LUCKYBREAKS | Fortunate circumstances ... or a punny hint to the shaded letters |
