QVWKE VBCFA by Nutmeg

Puzzle explanation

The thematic answers were Lionel, Gawain, Gareth, Lancelot, Tristram and Modred, all knights of the Round Table (the title decoded). The Playfair key phrase was KNIGHT’S MOVE. Decoding the letters removed from clues gave Percival and Bedivere, which follow knight’s-move paths across the grid from left to right.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Removed letter Answer Explanation
Across
1   DEACON DEAN around C/O
5   BILLOW BOW around ILL
10   ADVANCED N in ACE in (A + DVD)
12   EARL (n)EARL(y)
13   MEERS (SEEM around R) <
14   ROVING PROVING − P
15   ARDS (h)ARD S(oil)
18   VIS VIVA VI + S + V in VIA
19   ARABA AQABA with R(equired) for Q
21   LIONEL LINE around O + L
24   GAWAIN AWA’ in GIN
26   METRO (MORE + T) *
28   AVOCETS AVOCADO − ADO + SET *
31   ERST REST with first letter moved toward the back
33   FENDER OFFENDER − OF
34   VIGIL VL around (I + GI)
35   BYTE T(radesman) in BYE
36   DIALLERS ALL in RIDES *
37   STEREO (r)ESTORE *
38   EMERGE E + G in MERE
Down
1 (F)air DAMP MAD < + P(ungent)
2 we(B) AVERS WEAVERS − WE
3 s(Q)uit CARAVEL C + RAVE in AL
4   GARETH G + EARTH *
6 (D)id IDOL ID + O + (specia)L
7 (H)old LEVER (LOVER − O) around E
8 (M)ail LAIRAGE AIL * + RAGE
9   LANCELOT LANCER − R + LOT
11 p(L)opped DEHISCED DISCED around EH
16 (W)in RING GR < around IN
17 (C)up ABATTOIR (BAT + RIOT <) after A
18   TRISTRAM TRIST + RAM
20 te(A) ENTENTE ETEN around (Tita)N + TE
22 (B)order NAOS (MASON − M) *
23 C(H)amp SECTILE SECT + ÎLE
25   MODRED DR in DEMO *
27 a(T) RIDER RAIDER − A
29 bore(D) EIGER I in EGER
30 (F)lea MEDE homophone of MEAD
32 Be(D)sides ELSE (wher)E (al)L (patient)S (bar)E
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