| 100% | JAMESBOND | 9 | British spy played by 33-Across for the first time in 48-Across (2 wds.) |
| 52% | DRWHO | 5 | BBC classic whose title role will be played by a woman for the first time in 2017 |
| 51% | LARASTHEME | 10 | Informal name of the instrumental music written for the character played by 33-Across in "Doctor Zhivago" (2 wds.) |
| 50% | JOHNNYENGLISH | 13 | Inept British spy played by 49-Across in three films (2 wds.) |
| 49% | CLAIRERANDALL | 13 | Time-traveling nurse played by Caitriona Balfe in the STARZ adaptation of 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 49% | JOHNNYENGLISH | 13 | Inept British spy played by 15-Across who "Strikes Again" in 2018 (2 wds.) |
| 49% | JAMESBOND | 9 | British spy played by 31-Across in 1969's "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (2 wds.) |
| 48% | JOSEFELICIANO | 13 | His 1970 song "Feliz Navidad" hit the top 10 for the first time ever in 2020: 2 wds. |
| 48% | HEATHERLEE | 10 | Character played by Alicia Vikander in the action spy movie "Jason Bourne": 2 wds. |
| 48% | EATMYSHORTS | 11 | Catchphrase improvised by Nancy Cartwright for the first time on 28-Across (3 wds.) |
| 48% | CHUCKBERRY | 10 | His 1958 song "Run Rudolph Run" hit the top 10 for the first time ever in 2021: 2 wds. |
| 48% | PRINCESSDIANA | 13 | British royal played by Emma Corrin on "The Crown" in 2020: 2 wds. |
| 48% | QUEENELIZABETH | 14 | British royal played by Olivia Colman on "The Crown" in 2020: 2 wds. |
| 47% | EMMYAWARD | 9 | Honor won twice by 18-Across in the 1950s for playing Schultzy on "The Bob Cummings Show": 2 wds. |
| 47% | WILLHARDY | 9 | First-time NBA head coach hired by the 46-Across in 2022: 2 wds. |
| 47% | DARVINHAM | 9 | First-time NBA head coach hired by the 14-Across in 2022: 2 wds. |
| 46% | DEANMARTIN | 10 | His 1959 song "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" hit the top 10 for the first time ever in 2021: 2 wds. |
| 46% | STARRCARTER | 11 | Character played by Amandla Stenberg in the movie adaptation of 30-Across: 2 wds. |
| 46% | ABRAHAMLINCOLN | 14 | President who signed the Yosemite Valley Grant Act in 1864, setting aside land for preservation for the first time: 2 wds. |
| 45% | PENELOPEANN | 11 | With 50-Across, "Carlito's Way" actress who plays the First Lady in 16-Across: 2 wds. |
| 45% | JULIEANDREWS | 12 | Actress who won an Oscar for playing the title role in 39-Across: 2 wds. |
| 44% | WOMENSWORLDCUP | 14 | FIFA event held for the first time in 1991 (3 wds.) |
| 44% | EDITHBUNKER | 11 | Housewife played by 29-Across in "All in the Family": 2 wds. |
| 44% | RADIO | 5 | It was used to play music for the first time in 1906 |
| 44% | DAWNEDON | 8 | Realised it for the first time: 2 wds. |
| 44% | PHYLICIARASHAD | 14 | First Black performer to win a Tony Award for Lead Actress in a Play, for "A Raisin in the Sun" in 2004: 2 wds. |
| 44% | JAMESBOND | 9 | British spy played by many actors, including 46-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | STANLEYTUCCI | 12 | Two time Emmy winner for his films "Winchell" and "Monk", who plays the role of Merlin, in 30a : 2 wds. |
| 43% | WINTERSBONE | 11 | 2010 film set in the Ozarks for which 15-/48-Across received her first Oscar nomination: 2 wds. |
| 43% | ETHANHUNT | 9 | A spy and point man for "IMF" in the "Mission: Impossible" series, portrayed by Tom Cruise: 2 wds. |