Spirited by Eclogue

Puzzle explanation

The clue types were variations on the visitors to Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol: Marley’s ghost (Marley anagrammed minus A to give Meryl) and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come. The three names from letters involved in the clue types were famous people born in Spain: Penélope Cruz (actor, b 1974 in Alcobendas), Salvador Dalí (artist, b 1904 in Figueres) and Pep Guardiola (football manager, b 1971 in Santpedor). The highlighted Spanish seasonal greeting “Feliz Navidad, próspero año y felicidad” translates as “Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness”.

Clue explanations

Conventions: * = anagram, < = reversal

No Extra word Answer (unclued letter) Explanation [removed letter]
Across
2   BLACK DO(G) (BACK OLD) *
12 e(S)cort FEET FLEET − L
13   ONE-OFFS ONE + OFFS
14   OLIVE O + EVIL < [O → VLEI]
15 n(A)vy SCAIL C in SAIL
16   ISRAEL(I) IS + LEAR <
17   LALLA (ALL + AL) <
18   (R)ANI ANI
20 f(L)ooded SARAWAK SAR + AWAK(e)
22   ARIA A + RIA
23 o(V)er REED-WREN (ERRED NEW) *
26   NERINES NÉ + RINE + S [E → INNERS]
27   O(U)REBI BOER * + I
28   SIGNORINE SIGN + OR + IN + E [E → NIGROSIN]
32   GOND(O)LA LAND * after GO
35   NIDES (SED + IN) < [N → SIDE]
36   (A)DORE DOR + E(gyptian)
38 h(A)bitat FORLESE FOR + EELS *
41   PRICER PRINCE − N + R [C → RIPER]
42   ZINE Z + IN + E
43   KILLERS K + ILL + ERS
44   PLAGE PLAGUE − U [L → PEAG]
45 o(D)dly HAYSEEDS HAY + SEED + S
Down
1   KNIFE-EDGE (EG + DEE + FINK) <
2   PLEBS P(ower) L(ines) E(lectrifying) B(asic) S(helters) [P → BELS]
3   (L)EARNING EARNING
4   TUTANIA TUT + AIA around N [U → ATTAIN]
5 b(O)ard CAVE 2 meanings
6   IDEALLY (s)IDE + ALLY
7   CONDO CON + DO
8   COCO(A) COCO
9   NAZIR NAZI + R(ebuked) [Z → IRAN]
10   CNI(D)AE (EA + INC) <
11 c(R)owds OSLO OS + LO
19 a(D)mits NERO ER in NO
20   SE(P)IA SEA around I
21   AFFIRMING AFG around (FIRM + IN)
24 f(A)rmer DUTY DU + TY(e)
25   DELIVERER LIVER in DEER [R → RELIEVED]
27   SUBORNS SUB + OR + NS
29 b(L)uejacket IODIDE IE around (O + DID)
31   ASLO(P)E AS + LO’E
33   DR(E)AM DR + AM
34   OUIJA OUI + JA
36   LIFE LI + FE
37 d(I)tty OPES POES(y) *
39   PETRE PET + RE [P → RETE]
40   EASES (measur)E A SES(terce) [E → SEAS]
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