Crossword Genius

Desperate ham pleads for the bright lights (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

headlamps

'the bright lights' is the definition.
(lights on a vehicle)

'desperate ham pleads' is the wordplay.
'desperate' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen this in other clues).
'ham'+'pleads'='hampleads'
'hampleads' is an anagram of 'HEADLAMPS'.

'for' is the link.

(Other definitions for headlamps that I've seen before include "Lamp shade for illuminations on front of vehicle" , "Lights at the front of a vehicle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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