ROUND 1

1.

Which famous American company was founded in 1851 as the New York & Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company?

2.

Which former stagecoach company founded American Express?

3.

In mythology, who was the mother of Helen of Troy?

4.

In mythology, who was the daughter of Helen of Troy?

5.

Who is Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport?

6.

Who is Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs?

7.

Opened in June 1907, which was the world’s first custom-built, banked motor-racing circuit?

8.

Which famous London building, having hosted – amongst thousands of others – Joyce, Ellis, Thorpe & Sutcliffe, celebrated its centenary in February 2007?

ROUND 2

1.

What name is given to a dish consisting of toast covered with a slice of ham, poached egg and hollandaise sauce?

2.

What foodstuff is made by coagulating soy milk, and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks?

3.

What is the name of the investment group which owns the High Street names: House of Fraser, Karen Millen, Principles, Oasis and Iceland?

4.

The quarterly review of what, this week, has seen Admiral & Burberry replace Mitchells & Butlers and Punch Taverns?

5.

Which two items did the owl and the pussycat take with them when they went to sea?

6.

In the nonsense poem who fell in love with a Jumbly girl “till she sailed away in a sieve”?

7.

What was the capital of Scotland between 846 and 1452?

8.

Which Asian city was its country’s capital between 1772 and 1912 and is now the country’s fourth-largest city?

ROUND 3 - Hidden theme

1.

Which 1971 novel, written by George Cockroft and published under his pen name Luke Rhinehart, is probably his most famous work of fiction and centres on a psychiatrist who approaches life in an unusual way?

2.

Which fictional journalist is the hapless protagonist of Evelyn Waugh’s 1938 novel Scoop?

3.

Which London tube station interlinks with Monument?

4.

Which London tube station lies between Blackfriars and Cannon Street?

5.

Which British actress played Henrietta or ‘Duckface’ in Four Weddings and a Funeral and is currently playing Juliet Shaw, National Security co-ordinator, in Spooks?

6.

Which musical comedy film of 1935 starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with songs, including Cheek to Cheek, composed by Irving Berlin?

7.

In which Bob Dylan song would you hear the words: “It ain’t that I’m questionin’ you / To take part in any quiz / It’s just that I ain’t got no watch / An’ you keep askin’ me what time it is”?

8.

In which 1963 hit by the Chiffons, a song at the centre of a 1970’s court action, do you repeatedly hear the words: “Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang”?

ROUND 4

1.

Which current Premiership manager created, as a player, a club record for an outfield player when he made 207 consecutive appearances?

2.

Last Saturday Ryan Giggs scored his 100th league goal for Manchester United, becoming the 11th player to do so.  Who is the player ranked 10th on that list with 112 league goals who was killed in the Munich Air Disaster?

3.

Which stand-up comedian is the star of the BBC1 sitcom Not Going Out?

4.

Which stand-up comedian is the star of the BBC2 sitcom Lead Balloon?

5.

"Jesus wept”-  but whose death caused him to so do?

6.

According to the gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion?

7.

What is the source of the dietary supplement royal jelly?

8.

Which dietary supplement, an amino sugar often used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, is usually derived from shellfish?

ROUND 5

1.

In which part of the human body is carotene stored and converted to vitamin A?

2.

The primary function of which part of the large intestine is to extract water from faeces?

3.

A jet, needle valve and float can be found in what?

4.

What, in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, is a device which routes the high voltage to the spark plugs?

5.

Which company is the new franchise operator of the east coast mainline railway, previously run by GNER?

6.

Which car manufacturer has just bought a 25% stake in the Russian car company which manufactures Lada cars?

7.

How much money is each player given at the start of a standard game of Monopoly?

8.

Which letter scores five points in scrabble?

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

Who created Paddington Bear?

2.

Who created Professor Branestawm?

3.

Which body of water, lying between mid-western Greenland and Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, was named after an English 16th century explorer?

4.

The important port of Archangel is located on which body of water?

5.

Which football team attracted their record gate of 75,031 when they took on Aston Villa in the FA Cup in 1938?  At that time the club had the largest ground in the Football League.

6.

Which footballer who started his career at Crewe Alexandra made nine appearances for England and 56 for Charlton between 2004 and 2006?

7.

Which 1970 film starring Sean Connery tells the story of an undercover detective sent to a coal mining community to expose a secret society of Irish-American miners battling exploitation at the hand of the owners?

8.

In which 1986 film does Robert de Niro play Rupert Pupkin who is desperate to achieve success in showbiz?

ROUND 7

1.

Who was imprisoned by Elizabeth I when she discovered he had married Elizabeth Throgmorton?

2.

Which seaman made three voyages to look for the Northwest Passage in 1576, 1577 and 1578?

3.

Which pop group took their name from the character played by Milo O’Shea in the film Barbarella?

4.

Which pop group took their name from one of T S Eliot’s Book of Practical Cats?

5.

By what name were the Boyoma Falls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo formerly known?

6.

The Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya, are situated on the border between which two countries?

7.

Who is missing from this line-up: Jonathan Miller, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore?

8.

Which playwright and actor, whose ground-breaking 1956 play was first performed at the Royal Court and who appeared in the film Get Carter, was married to actress Mary Ure?

ROUND 8

1.

According to Forbes magazine which male film actor, bringing in $29 revenue at the box-office for every $1 of his salary, is the most valuable to the industry in the world today?

2.

According to Forbes magazine which actress, bringing in $17 revenue at the box-office for every $1 of her salary, is the most valuable to the industry in the world today?

3.

In the UK, light brown was replaced in 1988, as was blue in 2005.  To what does this refer?

4.

In 2006 Anthony Worrall Thompson caused a media frenzy by creating a dessert pie alleged to be one of the unhealthiest ever, one slice containing over 1,250 calories from sugar and fat alone.  Worral Thompson used five of which chocolate bar to create the pie?

5.

In which Scottish castle was Duncan In Shakespeare’s Macbeth murdered?

6.

With which battle does Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar culminate?

7.

The Swale separates which island from the English mainland?

8.

Hayling Island is a part of which English county?

1.

Which sporting icon has rated a mention in a Van Morrison lyric and a Howard Brenton play, appeared in Spitting Image, and included Fred Astaire, Ronnie Wood and Brian Epstein amongst his admirers?

2.

How long, within 2 miles either way, is the new high-speed track from the Channel Tunnel to St Pancras?

3.

Which concert venue in London was the first post-WWII building to become a Grade I listed building?

4.

In which French city is the Notre Dame cathedral in which 32 kings of France are buried?

5.

Mexico and Cuba are separated by which stretch of water?

6.

Which current Premiership footballer has the same forename and surname as a former US president?

ROUND 1

1.

Which famous American company was founded in 1851 as the New York & Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company?

Western Union

2.

Which former stagecoach company founded American Express?

Wells Fargo

3.

In mythology, who was the mother of Helen of Troy?

Leda

4.

In mythology, who was the daughter of Helen of Troy?

Hermione

5.

Who is Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport?

James Purnell

6.

Who is Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs?

Hilary Benn

7.

Opened in June 1907, which was the world’s first custom-built, banked motor-racing circuit?

Brooklands

(in Weybridge, Surrey)

8.

Which famous London building, having hosted – amongst thousands of others – Joyce, Ellis, Thorpe & Sutcliffe, celebrated its centenary in February 2007?

The Old Bailey

ROUND 2

1.

What name is given to a dish consisting of toast covered with a slice of ham, poached egg and hollandaise sauce?

Eggs Benedict

2.

What foodstuff is made by coagulating soy milk, and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks?

Tofu

(allow Doufu or bean curd)

3.

What is the name of the investment group which owns the High Street names: House of Fraser, Karen Millen, Principles, Oasis and Iceland?

Bauger

4.

The quarterly review of what, this week, has seen Admiral & Burberry replace Mitchells & Butlers and Punch Taverns?

FTSE 100

5.

Which two items did the owl and the pussycat take with them when they went to sea?

“(Some) honey and (plenty of) money”

6.

In the nonsense poem who fell in love with a Jumbly girl “till she sailed away in a sieve”?

The Dong with the Luminous Nose

7.

What was the capital of Scotland between 846 and 1452?

Perth

8.

Which Asian city was its country’s capital between 1772 and 1912 and is now the country’s fourth-largest city?

Calcutta

ROUND 3 - Hidden theme

1.

Which 1971 novel, written by George Cockroft and published under his pen name Luke Rhinehart, is probably his most famous work of fiction and centres on a psychiatrist who approaches life in an unusual way?

The Dice Man

2.

Which fictional journalist is the hapless protagonist of Evelyn Waugh’s 1938 novel Scoop?

(William) Boot

3.

Which London tube station interlinks with Monument?

Bank

4.

Which London tube station lies between Blackfriars and Cannon Street?

Mansion House

5.

Which British actress played Henrietta or ‘Duckface’ in Four Weddings and a Funeral and is currently playing Juliet Shaw, National Security co-ordinator, in Spooks?

Anna Chancellor

6.

Which musical comedy film of 1935 starred Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers with songs, including Cheek to Cheek, composed by Irving Berlin?

Top Hat

7.

In which Bob Dylan song would you hear the words: “It ain’t that I’m questionin’ you / To take part in any quiz / It’s just that I ain’t got no watch / An’ you keep askin’ me what time it is”?

If You Gotta Go, Go Now

8.

In which 1963 hit by the Chiffons, a song at the centre of a 1970’s court action, do you repeatedly hear the words: “Do-lang-do-lang-do-lang”?

He’s So Fine

ROUND 4

1.

Which current Premiership manager created, as a player, a club record for an outfield player when he made 207 consecutive appearances?

Steve Coppell

(for Man. United)

2.

Last Saturday Ryan Giggs scored his 100th league goal for Manchester United, becoming the 11th player to do so.  Who is the player ranked 10th on that list with 112 league goals who was killed in the Munich Air Disaster?

Tommy Taylor

3.

Which stand-up comedian is the star of the BBC1 sitcom Not Going Out?

Lee Mack

4.

Which stand-up comedian is the star of the BBC2 sitcom Lead Balloon?

Jack Dee

5.

"Jesus wept”-  but whose death caused him to so do?

Lazarus

6.

According to the gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus as Jesus was taken to his crucifixion?

Simon of Cyrene

7.

What is the source of the dietary supplement royal jelly?

Bees

8.

Which dietary supplement, an amino sugar often used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, is usually derived from shellfish?

Glucosamine

ROUND 5

1

In which part of the human body is carotene stored and converted to vitamin A?

Liver

2.

The primary function of which part of the large intestine is to extract water from faeces?

Colon

(or large intestine)

3.

A jet, needle valve and float can be found in what?

Carburettor

4.

What, in the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, is a device which routes the high voltage to the spark plugs?

Distributor

5.

Which company is the new franchise operator of the east coast mainline railway, previously run by GNER?

National Express

6.

Which car manufacturer has just bought a 25% stake in the Russian car company which manufactures Lada cars?

Renault

7.

How much money is each player given at the start of a standard game of Monopoly?

£1,500

8.

Which letter scores five points in scrabble?

K

ROUND 6

1

Who created Paddington Bear?

Michael Bond

2.

Who created Professor Branestawm?

Norman Hunter

3.

Which body of water, lying between mid-western Greenland and Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, was named after an English 16th century explorer?

Davis Strait

4.

The important port of Archangel is located on which body of water?

White Sea

5.

Which football team attracted their record gate of 75,031 when they took on Aston Villa in the FA Cup in 1938?  At that time the club had the largest ground in the Football League.

Charlton Athletic

6.

Which footballer who started his career at Crewe Alexandra made nine appearances for England and 56 for Charlton between 2004 and 2006?

Danny Murphy

7.

Which 1970 film starring Sean Connery tells the story of an undercover detective sent to a coal mining community to expose a secret society of Irish-American miners battling exploitation at the hand of the owners?

The Molly Maguires

8.

In which 1986 film does Robert de Niro play Rupert Pupkin who is desperate to achieve success in showbiz?

The King of Comedy

ROUND 7

1.

Who was imprisoned by Elizabeth I when she discovered he had married Elizabeth Throgmorton?

Walter Raleigh

2.

Which seaman made three voyages to look for the Northwest Passage in 1576, 1577 and 1578?

Martin Frobisher

3.

Which pop group took their name from the character played by Milo O’Shea in the film Barbarella?

Duran Duran

4.

Which pop group took their name from one of T S Eliot’s Book of Practical Cats?

Mungo Jerry

5.

By what name were the Boyoma Falls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo formerly known?

Stanley Falls

6.

The Victoria Falls, or Mosi-oa-Tunya, are situated on the border between which two countries?

Zambia and Zimbabwe

7.

Who is missing from this line-up: Jonathan Miller, Peter Cook and Dudley Moore?

Alan Bennett

(the Beyond The Fringe team)

8.

Which playwright and actor, whose ground-breaking 1956 play was first performed at the Royal Court and who appeared in the film Get Carter, was married to actress Mary Ure?

John Osborne

ROUND 8

1.

According to Forbes magazine which male film actor, bringing in $29 revenue at the box-office for every $1 of his salary, is the most valuable to the industry in the world today?

Matt Damon

2.

According to Forbes magazine which actress, bringing in $17 revenue at the box-office for every $1 of her salary, is the most valuable to the industry in the world today?

Jennifer Anniston

3.

In the UK, light brown was replaced in 1988, as was blue in 2005.  To what does this refer?

Smarties colours

4.

In 2006 Anthony Worrall Thompson caused a media frenzy by creating a dessert pie alleged to be one of the unhealthiest ever, one slice containing over 1,250 calories from sugar and fat alone.  Worral Thompson used five of which chocolate bar to create the pie?

Snickers

(hence it was called Snickers Pie)

5.

In which Scottish castle was Duncan In Shakespeare’s Macbeth murdered?

Cawdor

6.

With which battle does Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar culminate?

Philippi

7.

The Swale separates which island from the English mainland?

Isle of Sheppey

8.

Hayling Island is a part of which English county?

Hampshire

1.

Which sporting icon has rated a mention in a Van Morrison lyric and a Howard Brenton play, appeared in Spitting Image, and included Fred Astaire, Ronnie Wood and Brian Epstein amongst his admirers?

Lester Piggott

2.

How long, within 2 miles either way, is the new high-speed track from the Channel Tunnel to St Pancras?

68 miles

3.

Which concert venue in London was the first post-WWII building to become a Grade I listed building?

Royal Festival Hall

4.

In which French city is the Notre Dame cathedral in which 32 kings of France are buried?

Rheims

5.

Mexico and Cuba are separated by which stretch of water?

Yucatan Channel

6.

Which current Premiership footballer has the same forename and surname as a former US president?

Andrew Johnson

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