Jumping to Conclusion by Sabre

Puzzle explanation

The diagonals of the central 6×6 square contain the knights’ names GAWAIN and MODRED. The appearance of KNIG...ANT on the main diagonal was a red herring, and solvers should not have jumped to the conclusion that the diagonal would be KNIGHT ERRANT.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Answer Explanation
Across
1 KINGCUPS KING + C(ottage) + UPS
8 MOCH MOCH(a)
11 ONORA (want)ON OR A(moral)
12 SEA APE SEE around (A + AP)
14 PLIE LIE after P
15 PURENESS RENE in PUSS (hare)
16 JANGLE J + ANGLE
17 HALLIAN HALL + I + A + N
18 EWT (N)EW T(erritories)
19 RACINOS R(eno) + CASINO *
20 SLOETHORN (OWLET − W) * in SHORN
25 SOUTHERNWOOD (WHEN OUTDOORS) *
27 OPTER (helic)OPTER
29 OBTURATION BUONAROTTI *
30 IXTLE (t)EXTIL(e) *
31 NAP SNAP − S
33 BORDEREAUX BORDEAUX around RE
35 NIRLY IN < + RLY
36 REWORDED (ORDERED + W) *
38 BLOODIED L in BOODIED
40 FARE F + ARE
41 APNOEA OPEN * in A(ort)A
42 DONNA (char)DONNA(y); ref. Mozart’s Don Giovanni
43 DREG DR + EG
44 STEDFAST SST around FATED *
Down
1 KOPJES SKOPJE with first letter moved to the end
2 IN-LAW I + NL + AWAY − AY
3 NOINT ((th)IN ON T(op)) *
4 GREGOS (GEORGIE’S − IE) *
5 CAPAS SCAPA with S moved to the end
6 PERITRICHA PEAR * around (IT + RICH)
7 SAE 2 meanings
8 MAN-MILLINER (M + ILL + I) in MANNER
9 OPEN-AIR ON AIR around PE
10 HOSTRY SHORT * + (jul)Y; in = inn (Spenser)
12 SUR-REYN’D SURREY + ND
13 ESCAPE (l)E(t)S (a) C(h)A(p) P(e)E(k)
21 LOBOLA LOLA around (O(mar) + B)
22 OUTROPE (y)OU(r) + TROPE
23 DINOTHERE D(ecayed) I(vory) + NOT HERE
24 CHAYA HAY in CA
25 SOBBED BOBSLED * − L
26 NUCHAE NUE (“naked” in French) around (CH + A)
28 UPBEAT UP + BE (worth2) + A + T(ax)
31 NGANA (A + NAG + (bitte)N) <
32 AIRNS AIR + NS; (gives = fetters)
34 DINTED D + (vo)TE in IND
37 ONCERS CONSER(vative) *
39 DOS DO + S(ybaritism)
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