1.

Who was the architect of the Brighton Pavilion?

2.

Who designed the Banqueting House at Whitehall?

3.

From which city does the group Teardrop Explodes originate?

4.

What is the home town of the group The Housemartins?

5.

In heraldry, what creature is called an Urchin?

6.

In heraldry, what is a Martlet?

7.

Which crossword complier’s pseudonym is the name of a Spanish Inquisitor spelt backwards?

8.

Which crossword complier’s pseudonym is the name of a character in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience?

ROUND 2 - Titles

1.

Which small, colourful British bird was formerly called the Halcyon?

2.

Billy Strayhorn was composer and arranger for which US jazz musician?

3.

What joint of beef consists of 2 surloins left uncut at the backbone?

4.

In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, who is Olivia’s uncle?

5.

Of which Canadian Province is Charlottetown the capital?

6.

Which Newcastle industrialist gave his name to a blend of tea?

7.

Which TV series of 1976/77, set in a fashionable London hotel, starred Gemma Jones, Richard Vernon. and Christopher Cazenove?

8.

The German National Anthem takes its tune from Haydn’s C major string quartet of 1797: how is the work popularly known?

ROUND 3 - Pot pourri II

1.

Which Italian artist’s nickname means 'little barrel'?

2.

How is the artist Jacopo Robusti better known?

3.

On which river does Shrewsbury stand?

4.

On which river does Derby stand?

5.

The song, You Sexy Thing, by Hot Chocolate, features in which film?

6.

Which Dusty Springfield song features in the film Pulp Fiction?

7.

Who was the original narrator of The Wombles?

8.

What is the name of the Flintstones’ daily newspaper?

ROUND 4 - 'What the Papers Say'

1.

Why were police helmets in the news last week?

2.

What ‘monsters’ are threatening to invade Europe?

3.

Who pulled out of their bid for the Telegraph papers and Hollinger International?

4.

Who has just been appointed head of Marks & Spencer’s clothing department?

5.

Who did the BBC ‘infuriate’ by its premature announcement of his retirement?

6.

Whose product (and what is it) can you now buy in bright blue bottles for 95p per 500ml?

7.

Which bank has just announced a £7.84 billion profit?

8.

What is the name of Iraq’s holy town where the horrendous bomb blasts took place during the Shia religious festival of Ashura?

ROUND 5 - Pot pourri III

1.

The Italian zampogna, the French cabrette and the Spanish gaita are all types of which musical instrument?

2.

The Basset horn and the chalumeau are types of which musical instrument?

3.

Which two NW football teams are nicknamed ‘Latics’?

4.

Which two football teams are nicknamed ‘Magpies’?

5.

What was the title of the third story in the Quatermass series?

6.

In Blake’s 7 who was the supreme commander of the Federation space forces?

7.

Which language is known to its native speakers as Euskara?

8.

Which language is known to its native speakers as Shqipni?

1.

What was the name of Dan Dare’s companion in the Eagle cartoon strip?

2.

Who pipped Stirling Moss in the 1959 Formula 1 season by 1 point after having gained fourth place in the last race by pushing his car the last half of a mile or so?

3.

Which British film won 7 Oscars, including best film, best director, and best score in 1957?

4.

Name 2 of the films starring James Dean.

5.

Who is described here? (the actual quote has been shortened!):

6.

Which North Devonshire town suffered severe damage with the toss of 31 lives in August 1952, when a flash flood engulfed it?

7.

Where did the worst rail disaster in British history occur in November 1952 when 112 people lost their lives?

8.

By what name were the festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens better known?

ROUND 7 - Roman Britain

 How are the following Roman-named English towns known today?

1.

Lindum

2.

Aquae Sulis

3.

Glevum

4.

Portus Dubris

5.

Deva

6.

Eboracum

7.

Venta Belgarum

8.

Durovernum

1.

Of which constellation is The Plough a part?

2.

In which constellation are Castor and Pollux the brightest stars?

3.

The TV series Benson was a spin-off from which other series?

4.

What was the setting for the TV sitcom Only When I Laugh?

5.

Which country produces the Proton motor-car?

6.

Which former country produced the Trabant motor-car?

7.

Who wrote the poem To Autumn which begins: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”?

8.

Whose poem Maud begins: “Come into the garden, Maud, for the black bat night has flown”?

1.

Which famous pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov was born in 1882 and died in 1971?

2.

Which famous pupil of Glazunov was born in 1906 and died 1975?

3.

In The Archers, who is the present incumbent of Nightingale Farm?

4.

In Monopoly, what lies between Mayfair and Park Lane?

5.

After whose death on the mountain, K2, did James Ballard write the book One and Two Halves to K2?

6.

Which book did Tony Blair choose to take with him on Desert Island Discs?

7.

In which opera will you meet the characters: Ping, Pang, and Pong?

8.

In The Simpsons, who is the owner of the nuclear power plant?

ROUND 1 - Pot pourri I

1.

Who was the architect of the Brighton Pavilion?

John Nash

2.

Who designed the Banqueting House at Whitehall?

Inigo Jones

3.

From which city does the group Teardrop Explodes originate?

Liverpool

4.

What is the home town of the group The Housemartins?

Hull

5.

In heraldry, what creature is called an Urchin?

Hedgehog

6.

In heraldry, what is a Martlet?

Bird

(swallow/martin, usually shown without legs or feet!)

7.

Which crossword complier’s pseudonym is the name of a Spanish Inquisitor spelt backwards?

Azed

8.

Which crossword complier’s pseudonym is the name of a character in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience?

Bunthorne

ROUND 2 - Titles

1.

Which small, colourful British bird was formerly called the Halcyon?

Kingfisher

2.

Billy Strayhorn was composer and arranger for which US jazz musician?

Duke Ellington

3.

What joint of beef consists of 2 surloins left uncut at the backbone?

Baron of beef

4.

In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, who is Olivia’s uncle?

Sir Toby Belch

5.

Of which Canadian Province is Charlottetown the capital?

Prince Edward Island

6.

Which Newcastle industrialist gave his name to a blend of tea?

Earl Grey

7.

Which TV series of 1976/77, set in a fashionable London hotel, starred Gemma Jones, Richard Vernon. and Christopher Cazenove?

Duchess of Duke Street

8.

The German National Anthem takes its tune from Haydn’s C major string quartet of 1797: how is the work popularly known?

Emperor Quartet

ROUND 3 - Pot pourri II

1.

Which Italian artist’s nickname means 'little barrel'?

Botticelli

2.

How is the artist Jacopo Robusti better known?

Tintoretto

3.

On which river does Shrewsbury stand?

Severn

4.

On which river does Derby stand?

Derwent

5.

The song, You Sexy Thing, by Hot Chocolate, features in which film?

The Full Monty

6.

Which Dusty Springfield song features in the film Pulp Fiction?

Son of a Preacher-man

7.

Who was the original narrator of The Wombles?

Bernard Cribbins

8.

What is the name of the Flintstones’ daily newspaper?

Daily Slate

ROUND 4 - 'What the Papers Say'

1.

Why were police helmets in the news last week?

The Police are to get shorter, safer helmets

2.

What ‘monsters’ are threatening to invade Europe?

Kamchatka

(or Red King Crabs)

3.

Who pulled out of their bid for the Telegraph papers and Hollinger International?

The Barclay Brothers

4.

Who has just been appointed head of Marks & Spencer’s clothing department?

Vittorio Radice

5.

Who did the BBC ‘infuriate’ by its premature announcement of his retirement?

Alistair Cooke

6.

Whose product (and what is it) can you now buy in bright blue bottles for 95p per 500ml?

Coca Cola’s ‘Dasani’

(accept Pure Tap Water)

7.

Which bank has just announced a £7.84 billion profit?

HSBC

8.

What is the name of Iraq’s holy town where the horrendous bomb blasts took place during the Shia religious festival of Ashura?

Karbala

ROUND 5 - Pot pourri III

1

The Italian zampogna, the French cabrette and the Spanish gaita are all types of which musical instrument?

Bagpipes

2.

The Basset horn and the chalumeau are types of which musical instrument?

Clarinet

(specific answer needed, not just woodwind)

3.

Which two NW football teams are nicknamed ‘Latics’?

Oldham &

Wigan

4.

Which two football teams are nicknamed ‘Magpies’?

Newcastle &

Notts County

5.

What was the title of the third story in the Quatermass series?

Quatermass & the Pit

6.

In Blake’s 7 who was the supreme commander of the Federation space forces?

Servalan

7.

Which language is known to its native speakers as Euskara?

Basque

8.

Which language is known to its native speakers as Shqipni?

Albanian

1

What was the name of Dan Dare’s companion in the Eagle cartoon strip?

Albert Digby

2.

Who pipped Stirling Moss in the 1959 Formula 1 season by 1 point after having gained fourth place in the last race by pushing his car the last half of a mile or so?

Jack Brabham

3.

Which British film won 7 Oscars, including best film, best director, and best score in 1957?

Bridge on the River Kwai

4.

Name 2 of the films starring James Dean.

(2 out of)

Giant, East of Eden, Rebel without a Cause

5.

Who is described here? (the actual quote has been shortened!):

Liberace

6.

Which North Devonshire town suffered severe damage with the toss of 31 lives in August 1952, when a flash flood engulfed it?

Lynmouth

7.

Where did the worst rail disaster in British history occur in November 1952 when 112 people lost their lives?

Harrow and Wealdstone

8.

By what name were the festival of Britain Pleasure Gardens better known?

Battersea Fun Fair

 How are the following Roman-named English towns known today?

1.

Lindum

Lincoln

2.

Aquae Sulis

Bath

3.

Glevum

Gloucester

4.

Portus Dubris

Dover

5.

Deva

Chester

6.

Eboracum

York

7.

Venta Belgarum

Winchester

8.

Durovernum

Canterbury

1.

Of which constellation is The Plough a part?

Ursa Major/Great Bear

2.

In which constellation are Castor and Pollux the brightest stars?

Gemini

3.

The TV series Benson was a spin-off from which other series?

Soap

4.

What was the setting for the TV sitcom Only When I Laugh?

A hospital

5.

Which country produces the Proton motor-car?

Malaysia

6.

Which former country produced the Trabant motor-car?

East Germany

7.

Who wrote the poem To Autumn which begins: “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”?

Keats

8.

Whose poem Maud begins: “Come into the garden, Maud, for the black bat night has flown”?

Tennyson

1.

Which famous pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov was born in 1882 and died in 1971?

Stravinsky

2.

Which famous pupil of Glazunov was born in 1906 and died 1975?

Shostakovitch

3.

In The Archers, who is the present incumbent of Nightingale Farm?

Lillian Bellamy

(she is Tony Archer’s and Jennifer Aldridge’s sister!)

4.

In Monopoly, what lies between Mayfair and Park Lane?

Super Tax

5.

After whose death on the mountain, K2, did James Ballard write the book One and Two Halves to K2?

Alison Hargreaves

6.

Which book did Tony Blair choose to take with him on Desert Island Discs?

Ivanhoe

7.

In which opera will you meet the characters: Ping, Pang, and Pong?

Turandot

8.

In The Simpsons, who is the owner of the nuclear power plant?

Mr Burns

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