ROUND 1

1.

Name six of the nine current Nationwide Conference sides that have left the Football League over the last fifty (50) years.

2.

Name six of the ten current Football League Two sides that have had at least one season of Conference football in the last fifteen (15) years.

3.

Which gland situated at the base of the skull regulates growth and metabolism?

4.

Which gland is enlarged in the condition known as Goitre?

5.

Which motorway links Telford to the M6?

6.

Which motorway links Bristol city centre to the M4?

7.

Why was Lord Callaghan in the news recently?

8.

Why were Led Zeppelin in the news recently?

ROUND 2

1.

Which country has the longest coastline?

2.

After (European) Russia, what is the largest country by area in Europe?

3.

Name the two male stars of the film 48 Hours.

4.

Name the two male stars of the film The Fortune Cookie.

5.

Rudyard Kipling was the cousin of which British prime minister?

6.

Violet Bonharn-Carter was the daughter of which British PM?

7.

Give the precise description of the savage-sounding activity adopted as the soubriquet of the footballer Norman Hunter in the 1960s.

8.

Which footballer inspired the hit song Nice One Cyril?

ROUND 3

1.

What are classified as elliptical, spiral, barred spiral or irregular?

2.

A chemical bond in which the two combining atoms share a pair of electrons is known as what?

3.

In Greek myth who helped Jason defeat her father, the king of Colchis, and gain the Golden Fleece?

4.

In Greek myth which king married Galatea, a statue brought to life by Aphrodite?

5.

Which band released albums in the 1970s including Tarkus and Brain Salad Surgery?

6.

Which long-running band, formed in the 1970s, is most famously associated with the guitarist Dave Brock and singer Robert Calvert?

7.

Who is governor of the Bank of England?

8.

What position does Brendan Barber hold?

ROUND 4

1.

What government financial award and investment plan that comes into being in April, do the initials CTF stand for?

2.

Financially, what do the initials VCT stand for?

3.

In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert?

4.

In which US state is the Mojave Desert?

5.

Which Conrad novel of 1902 is narrated by Marlow, disgusted by what he sees of the greed of African ivory traders?

6.

Which Thomas Hardy novel of 1872 centres on the love affair of Dick Dewy and Fancy Day?

7.

At which battle of 31BC did Octavian defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra?

8.

At which battle of 42BC did Octavian and Mark Antony emerge victorious?

ROUND 5

1.

Which bird, particularly associated with mountain streams, is also called the water-ouzel?

2.

Which smallish songbird is noted for its ability to climb up and down trees?

3.

Which new C4 comedy series is directed by Chris Morris, creator of Brass Eye?

4.

Who is the principal star of the BBC2 sitcom Outlaws?

5.

Menière’s Disease affects which part or parts of the body?

6.

Wilson’s Disease and Gilbert’s Syndrome are complaints affecting which organ of the body?

7.

Which African former capital city has a name that means ‘House of Peace’?

8.

Which Asian island has a name that means ‘Island of the Blessed’?

ROUND 6

1.

Who became king of England in 1399 and reigned for 14 years?

2.

Who became king of England in 1307 and reigned for 20 years?

3.

In which year did James Hunt win the Formula I World Championship?

4.

For what, in October 1976, did Ernie Hunt and Willie Carr become the talk of the country, football-wise?

5.

Which character always arrived at work 11 minutes late?

6.

Which TV character shared a flat with Ken, a vegetarian and pacifist-cum-Buddhist, and had a girlfriend called Shirley?

7.

What name is given to the conspiracy, uncovered this day in 1820, the object of which was to assassinate the prime minister and Cabinet?

8.

Which historic event began on this day in 1836 in America?

ROUND 7

1.

Which Hollywood actor is artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre?

2.

Who is the subject of the film Beyond the Sea, written, directed and starring Kevin Spacey?

3.

The Great Schism was a period caused by what?

4.

The Reign of Terror in France saw which leader seize power?

5.

By adding one consonant you can go from the 1988 best actress Oscar winner to a famous English novelist.  Explain.

6.

By adding one vowel you can go from a children’s fictional villain to a scientist whose famous ‘law’ governs the elasticity of materials?

7.

Which Gilbert and Sullivan operetta includes a chorus of policemen?

8.

In which G & S operetta do fairies appear in the House of Lords?

1.

Why was Maria Hutchings in the news last week?

2.

How does Alastair Campbell describe the purpose or effect of such exposure to live questioning from a lay audience?

3.

For what does the abbreviation SSSI stand?

4.

For what does the abbreviation CPRE stand?

5.

When England last won the Ashes in 1986-87 which opener scored three centuries for England in the series?

6.

When England won the Ashes in 1981, who was Australia’s captain?

7.

Which TV show has the theme tune Approaching Menace?

8.

Which TV show has the theme tune Variations on a Theme of Paganini by Julian Lloyd Webber?

1.

In 2004 who had the best-selling album Call off the Search?

2.

Which is the only US state to have legalised same-sex marriage?

3.

A stage remake of which 1960’s radio show is currently running in London’s West End?

4.

Which merchant bank went bust 10 years ago today with debts of £850 million?

5.

What name links a Lancashire town with an Indian-born English actress who won Oscars in 1939 and 1951?

6.

What is the surname of Neil and Don, Yorkshire brothers who both represented England in rugby league in the 1960s?

7.

What is the name of the hare-coursing competition held earlier this month?

8.

For his part in what, is Henry Hunt a key figure in Manchester’s history?

ROUND 1

1.

Name six of the nine current Nationwide Conference sides that have left the Football League over the last fifty (50) years.

(6 from)

Accrington Stanley, Aldershot, Barnet, Carlisle United, Exeter City, Halifax Town, Hereford United, Scarborough and York City

2.

Name six of the ten current Football League Two sides that have had at least one season of Conference football in the last fifteen (15) years.

(6 from)

Boston United, Cheltenham Town, Chester City, Colchester United, Darlington, Kidderminster Harriers, Macclesfield Town, Rushden & Diamonds, Shrewsbury Town and Yeovil Town

3.

Which gland situated at the base of the skull regulates growth and metabolism?

Pituitary gland

4.

Which gland is enlarged in the condition known as Goitre?

Thyroid gland

5.

Which motorway links Telford to the M6?

M54

6.

Which motorway links Bristol city centre to the M4?

M32

7.

Why was Lord Callaghan in the news recently?

He became the oldest living former prime minister in history

8.

Why were Led Zeppelin in the news recently?

They were given a lifetime achievement award at the Grammys

ROUND 2

1.

Which country has the longest coastline?

Canada

2.

After (European) Russia, what is the largest country by area in Europe?

Ukraine

3.

Name the two male stars of the film 48 Hours.

Nick Nolte & Eddie Murphy

4.

Name the two male stars of the film The Fortune Cookie.

Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau

5.

Rudyard Kipling was the cousin of which British prime minister?

Stanley Baldwin

6.

Violet Bonharn-Carter was the daughter of which British PM?

Herbert Asquith

7.

Give the precise description of the savage-sounding activity adopted as the soubriquet of the footballer Norman Hunter in the 1960s.

'Bite(s) your legs'

8.

Which footballer inspired the hit song Nice One Cyril?

Cyril Knowles

ROUND 3

1.

What are classified as elliptical, spiral, barred spiral or irregular?

Galaxies

(this is Hubble’s classification)

2.

A chemical bond in which the two combining atoms share a pair of electrons is known as what?

A covalent bond

3.

In Greek myth who helped Jason defeat her father, the king of Colchis, and gain the Golden Fleece?

Medea

4.

In Greek myth which king married Galatea, a statue brought to life by Aphrodite?

Pygmalion

5.

Which band released albums in the 1970s including Tarkus and Brain Salad Surgery?

ELP

(Emerson, Lake and Palmer)

6.

Which long-running band, formed in the 1970s, is most famously associated with the guitarist Dave Brock and singer Robert Calvert?

Hawkwind

7.

Who is governor of the Bank of England?

Mervyn King

8.

What position does Brendan Barber hold?

General secretary of the TUC

ROUND 4

1.

What government financial award and investment plan that comes into being in April, do the initials CTF stand for?

Child Trust Fund

2.

Financially, what do the initials VCT stand for?

Venture Capital Trust

3.

In which country is most of the Kalahari Desert?

Botswana

4.

In which US state is the Mojave Desert?

California

5.

Which Conrad novel of 1902 is narrated by Marlow, disgusted by what he sees of the greed of African ivory traders?

Heart of Darkness

6.

Which Thomas Hardy novel of 1872 centres on the love affair of Dick Dewy and Fancy Day?

Under the Greenwood Tree

7.

At which battle of 31BC did Octavian defeat Mark Antony and Cleopatra?

Actium

8.

At which battle of 42BC did Octavian and Mark Antony emerge victorious?

Philippi

ROUND 5

1

Which bird, particularly associated with mountain streams, is also called the water-ouzel?

Dipper

2.

Which smallish songbird is noted for its ability to climb up and down trees?

Nuthatch

3.

Which new C4 comedy series is directed by Chris Morris, creator of Brass Eye?

Nathan Barley

4.

Who is the principal star of the BBC2 sitcom Outlaws?

Phil Daniels

5.

Menière’s Disease affects which part or parts of the body?

Ears

6.

Wilson’s Disease and Gilbert’s Syndrome are complaints affecting which organ of the body?

Liver

7.

Which African former capital city has a name that means ‘House of Peace’?

Dar-es-Salaam

8.

Which Asian island has a name that means ‘Island of the Blessed’?

Sri Lanka

ROUND 6

1

Who became king of England in 1399 and reigned for 14 years?

Henry IV

2.

Who became king of England in 1307 and reigned for 20 years?

Edward II

3.

In which year did James Hunt win the Formula I World Championship?

1976

4.

For what, in October 1976, did Ernie Hunt and Willie Carr become the talk of the country, football-wise?

Scoring Match of the Day's goal of the 1970­/71 season

(aka the ‘donkey-kick goal’)

5.

Which character always arrived at work 11 minutes late?

Reginald Perrin

6.

Which TV character shared a flat with Ken, a vegetarian and pacifist-cum-Buddhist, and had a girlfriend called Shirley?

Citizen (‘Wolfie’) Smith

7.

What name is given to the conspiracy, uncovered this day in 1820, the object of which was to assassinate the prime minister and Cabinet?

Cato Street Conspiracy

8.

Which historic event began on this day in 1836 in America?

(siege of) The Alamo

ROUND 7

1.

Which Hollywood actor is artistic director of London’s Old Vic Theatre?

Kevin Spacey

2.

Who is the subject of the film Beyond the Sea, written, directed and starring Kevin Spacey?

Bobby Darin

3.

The Great Schism was a period caused by what?

Rival Popes

(in Rome/Avignon between 1378 and 1417)

4.

The Reign of Terror in France saw which leader seize power?

Robespierre

5.

By adding one consonant you can go from the 1988 best actress Oscar winner to a famous English novelist.  Explain.

(Jodie) Foster (The Accused) to

Forster (EM)

6.

By adding one vowel you can go from a children’s fictional villain to a scientist whose famous ‘law’ governs the elasticity of materials?

(Captain) Hook to

(Robert) Hooke

7.

Which Gilbert and Sullivan operetta includes a chorus of policemen?

Pirates of Penzance

8.

In which G & S operetta do fairies appear in the House of Lords?

Iolanthe

1.

Why was Maria Hutchings in the news last week?

She challenged Tony Blair in his Channel 5 question­ and answer session with a live audience

2.

How does Alastair Campbell describe the purpose or effect of such exposure to live questioning from a lay audience?

The Heineken Effect

(“it reaches the parts which interviews with journalists and broadcasters don’t normally reach”)

3.

For what does the abbreviation SSSI stand?

Site of Special Scientific Interest

4.

For what does the abbreviation CPRE stand?

Council for the Protection of Rural England

5.

When England last won the Ashes in 1986-87 which opener scored three centuries for England in the series?

Chris Broad

6.

When England won the Ashes in 1981, who was Australia’s captain?

Kim Hughes

7.

Which TV show has the theme tune Approaching Menace?

Mastermind

8.

Which TV show has the theme tune Variations on a Theme of Paganini by Julian Lloyd Webber?

South Bank Show

1.

In 2004 who had the best-selling album Call off the Search?

Katie Melua

2.

Which is the only US state to have legalised same-sex marriage?

Massachusetts

3.

A stage remake of which 1960’s radio show is currently running in London’s West End?

Round the Horne

4.

Which merchant bank went bust 10 years ago today with debts of £850 million?

Barings

5.

What name links a Lancashire town with an Indian-born English actress who won Oscars in 1939 and 1951?

Leigh

(town near Wigan & Vivien)

6.

What is the surname of Neil and Don, Yorkshire brothers who both represented England in rugby league in the 1960s?

Fox

7.

What is the name of the hare-coursing competition held earlier this month?

Waterloo Cup

8.

For his part in what, is Henry Hunt a key figure in Manchester’s history?

The Peterloo Massacre

(he was the orator addressing the public meeting)

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