ROUND 1

1.

Born in 1944 in Colwyn Bay, he played Lord Asrail in the London stage adaptation of the His Dark Materials trilogy.  The same role was played by Daniel Craig in the 2007 film The Golden Compass, who also succeeded this actor in another role. Name the actor.

2.

The plans for this place were started when the planner was five or six and had already decided to become an architect and town planner.  In his book about it, The Place and its Meaning, he wrote, “Some day, somewhere, I would even assuredly erect a whole group of buildings on my own chosen site for my own satisfaction; an ensemble that would body forth my chafing ideas of fitness and gaiety and indeed be me”.  To what place was he referring?

3.

Between 1903 and 1904 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Francis Edward Young made a pioneering visit to Tibet, arriving at the forbidden city of Lhasa on 3rd August 1904.  Weary after the long and difficult journey, the monks offered him refreshment.  To his amazement, he saw this sitting in the middle of the refectory table.  It had beaten him to it!  What was it?

4.

“It was at dinner on the night of that first Oaks horserace, 225 years ago, that the idea was put forward for a similar race for colts.  My ancestor and X tossed a coin to decided whose name it should carry.  My ancestor won and henceforth his name became familiar in horseracing circles across the globe.”  So said the Earl of Derby.  What would the race have been called if X had won?

5.

After serving as a fighter pilot in the war, he completed his studies at New College, during which he was elected President of the Oxford Union.  He briefly worked as a producer with the BBC’s North American Service until, pursuing a political career, he was elected MP for Bristol South East in November 1950. What was his former name?

6.

Sir William Cecil was Queen Elizabeth’s dutiful confidant, statesman and principle adviser.  He was the willing accomplice who drew up the warrant for Mary Queen of Scots’ execution according to Elizabeth’s wishes.  He was rewarded for being a loyal and obedient servant by being ennobled.  By what title was he then known?

7.

In 1925 John Thomas Scopes was famously arrested and tried for what crime?

8.

What would you see through a Mutoscope?

ROUND 2

1.

In which three colours does asparagus come?

2.

From where did water melons (which are 92% water) originate?

3.

What is sitiophobia?

4.

What is lachanophobia?

5.

In the dictionary what three consecutive words mean: a conveyance, an assessment and classification?

6.

In the dictionary what three consecutive words mean: a tax, a brake and a logician?

7.

What do orange, purple and silver have in common?

8.

The Kings in a deck of cards are said to represent four real rulers.  Name any two of them.

ROUND 3

1.

What was the name of the captain of the 2007 Rugby World Cup winning side?

2.

Which country won the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations?

3.

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci can be found in the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.  Name the other two artists who have paintings in the same room.

4.

The iconic image of two hands reaching out to meet appears on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  What is the actual name of this painting?

5.

What was the name of the Conservative MP recently censured for employing members of his own family in suspect roles?

6.

The MP Ed Balls is married to which other Cabinet Minister?

7.

In which opera is Mercedes a character?

8.

In which 1988 film does Daniel Day-Lewis play a doctor just before the Soviet invasion of Prague in 1968?

ROUND 4

1.

Which writer created The Stainless Steel Rat?

2.

Who wrote I Robot?

3.

The following non-metallic elements - Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine and Astatine - are known in the periodic table as what?

4.

The following gaseous elements - Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon and Radon - are known in the periodic table as what?

5.

Who is Governor of the Bank of England?

6.

Who is Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police?

7.

Roddy Frame was the lead singer of which mainly 1980s band?

8.

Paddy McAloon was the lead singer of which mainly 1980s band?

ROUND 5 - 'Anti-heroes'

1.

Which Nazi officer surrendered to Soviet forces in Stalingrad on January 31, 1943, a day after he had been promoted to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall by Adolf Hitler?

2.

Who became a national hero for his defence of Verdun but 29 years later was seen as a national disgrace?

3.

Who created an early anti-hero in his novel L'Etranger?

4.

In which 1974 film does the character Scaramanga feature?

5.

Of which country was Antonio de Oliveira Salazar the dictator?

6.

Who preceded General Suharto as dictator of Indonesia?

7.

Who did Ernie, ‘the fastest milkman in the west’, have a set-to with in 1971?

8.

Who played the part of Marcus Tandy in El Dorado in 1992?

ROUND 6 - Picture Round - 'Name the leader'

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

ROUND 7

1.

What classic English novel was originally entitled First Impressions?

2.

What classic English novel is sub-titled A Pure Woman?

3.

Which Shakespeare play begins with the words “If music be the food of love, play on.”?

4.

Which Shakespeare play begins with the words “When shall we three meet again.”?

5.

What girls name from The Old Testament means faithful?

6.

What girls name from The Old Testament means princess?

7.

Who was the Greek goddess of agriculture?

8.

Who was the Greek goddess of witchcraft?

ROUND 8 - 'The Name that launched a thousand ships'

1.

Who was the wife of Henry II?

2.

Which young actress, recently nominated for a BAFTA award, is the star of the recently released film Juno?

3.

Which writer gave the world Bridget Jones?

4.

Which British actress starred in Cold Feet and Friends?

5.

Which leading female barrister, and QC is now a Labour Peer?

6.

Which 1960s film and play starts with Helen and Jo moving in to a squalid flat?

7.

In which country would you find Mount Ellen?

8.

St Helena Bay is off the west coast of which country?

1.

Who created the character,  Auguste Dupin, who solved the mystery of the murders in the Rue Morgue in the 1840s?

2.

In which novel did Phillip Marlow first ply his trade?

3.

Which detective has been assisted by Troy, Scott and Jones?

4.

Which detective has been assisted by Mike Burden?

5.

Which poet, doubling as a detective, was introduced by an English author in her first novel in 1962?

6.

Name the detective that tracked down Ronnie Biggs in Rio.

7.

Who first appeared in Pietr-le-Letton, published in the 1930s?

ROUND 1

1.

Born in 1944 in Colwyn Bay, he played Lord Asrail in the London stage adaptation of the His Dark Materials trilogy.  The same role was played by Daniel Craig in the 2007 film The Golden Compass, who also succeeded this actor in another role. Name the actor.

Timothy Dalton

2.

The plans for this place were started when the planner was five or six and had already decided to become an architect and town planner.  In his book about it, The Place and its Meaning, he wrote, “Some day, somewhere, I would even assuredly erect a whole group of buildings on my own chosen site for my own satisfaction; an ensemble that would body forth my chafing ideas of fitness and gaiety and indeed be me”.  To what place was he referring?

Portmeirion

3.

Between 1903 and 1904 Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Francis Edward Young made a pioneering visit to Tibet, arriving at the forbidden city of Lhasa on 3rd August 1904.  Weary after the long and difficult journey, the monks offered him refreshment.  To his amazement, he saw this sitting in the middle of the refectory table.  It had beaten him to it!  What was it?

Worcestershire Sauce

4.

“It was at dinner on the night of that first Oaks horserace, 225 years ago, that the idea was put forward for a similar race for colts.  My ancestor and X tossed a coin to decided whose name it should carry.  My ancestor won and henceforth his name became familiar in horseracing circles across the globe.”  So said the Earl of Derby.  What would the race have been called if X had won?

The Bunbury

5.

After serving as a fighter pilot in the war, he completed his studies at New College, during which he was elected President of the Oxford Union.  He briefly worked as a producer with the BBC’s North American Service until, pursuing a political career, he was elected MP for Bristol South East in November 1950. What was his former name?

Anthony Wedgewood Benn

6.

Sir William Cecil was Queen Elizabeth’s dutiful confidant, statesman and principle adviser.  He was the willing accomplice who drew up the warrant for Mary Queen of Scots’ execution according to Elizabeth’s wishes.  He was rewarded for being a loyal and obedient servant by being ennobled.  By what title was he then known?

Lord Burleigh

7.

In 1925 John Thomas Scopes was famously arrested and tried for what crime?

Teaching the Theory of Evolution

8.

What would you see through a Mutoscope?

‘What the Butler saw’

ROUND 2

1.

In which three colours does asparagus come?

Green, white and purple

2.

From where did water melons (which are 92% water) originate?

The Kalahari Desert

3.

What is sitiophobia?

Fear of food

4.

What is lachanophobia?

Fear of vegetables

5.

In the dictionary what three consecutive words mean: a conveyance, an assessment and classification?

Taxi, taxing and taxonomy

6.

In the dictionary what three consecutive words mean: a tax, a brake and a logician?

Scot, scotch and scotist

7.

What do orange, purple and silver have in common?

No other dictionary words rhyme with them

8.

The Kings in a deck of cards are said to represent four real rulers.  Name any two of them.

David (Spades), Charlemagne (Hearts), Alexander the Great (Clubs),

Julius Caesar (Diamonds)

ROUND 3

1.

What was the name of the captain of the 2007 Rugby World Cup winning side?

Percy Montgomery

(of South Africa)

2.

Which country won the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations?

Egypt

3.

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci can be found in the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.  Name the other two artists who have paintings in the same room.

Andy Warhol and Giovanni Donato Montorfano

(accept Donato)

4.

The iconic image of two hands reaching out to meet appears on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  What is the actual name of this painting?

The Creation of Adam

5.

What was the name of the Conservative MP recently censured for employing members of his own family in suspect roles?

Derek Conway

6.

The MP Ed Balls is married to which other Cabinet Minister?

Yvette Cooper

7.

In which opera is Mercedes a character?

Carmen

8.

In which 1988 film does Daniel Day-Lewis play a doctor just before the Soviet invasion of Prague in 1968?

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

ROUND 4

1.

Which writer created The Stainless Steel Rat?

Harry Harrison

2.

Who wrote I Robot?

Isaac Asimov

3.

The following non-metallic elements - Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine and Astatine - are known in the periodic table as what?

The Halogens

4.

The following gaseous elements - Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon and Radon - are known in the periodic table as what?

The Noble Gases

5.

Who is Governor of the Bank of England?

Mervyn King

6.

Who is Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police?

Michael Todd

7.

Roddy Frame was the lead singer of which mainly 1980s band?

Aztec Camera

8.

Paddy McAloon was the lead singer of which mainly 1980s band?

Prefab Sprout

ROUND 5 - 'Anti-heroes'

1

Which Nazi officer surrendered to Soviet forces in Stalingrad on January 31, 1943, a day after he had been promoted to the rank of Generalfeldmarschall by Adolf Hitler?

Friedrich Wilhelm Ernst Von Paulus

(accept Paulus)

2.

Who became a national hero for his defence of Verdun but 29 years later was seen as a national disgrace?

Philippe Petain

(who defended Verdun in 1916 but was convicted of treason in 1945 as head of the Vichy government)

3.

Who created an early anti-hero in his novel L'Etranger?

Albert Camus

4.

In which 1974 film does the character Scaramanga feature?

The Man With The Golden Gun

5.

Of which country was Antonio de Oliveira Salazar the dictator?

Portugal

6.

Who preceded General Suharto as dictator of Indonesia?

Achmed Sukarno

7.

Who did Ernie, ‘the fastest milkman in the west’, have a set-to with in 1971?

Two Ton Ted from Teddington

(accept Two Ton Ted)

8.

Who played the part of Marcus Tandy in El Dorado in 1992?

Jesse Birdsall

ROUND 6 - Picture Round - 'Name the leader'

1

Angela Merkel

(Germany)

2.

Nicholas Sarkosy

(France)

3.

Hugo Chavez

(Venezeula)

4.

Michelle Bachelet

(Chile)

5.

Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero

(Spain)

6.

Kevin Rudd

(Australia)

7.

Donald Tusk

(Poland)

8.

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

(Liberia - accept Ellen Johnson)

ROUND 7

1.

What classic English novel was originally entitled First Impressions?

Pride and Prejudice

2.

What classic English novel is sub-titled A Pure Woman?

Tess of the d’Urbervilles

3.

Which Shakespeare play begins with the words “If music be the food of love, play on.”?

Twelfth Night

4.

Which Shakespeare play begins with the words “When shall we three meet again.”?

Macbeth

5.

What girls name from The Old Testament means faithful?

Rebecca

6.

What girls name from The Old Testament means princess?

Sarah

7.

Who was the Greek goddess of agriculture?

Demeter

8.

Who was the Greek goddess of witchcraft?

Hecate

ROUND 8 - 'The Name that launched a thousand ships'

1.

Who was the wife of Henry II?

Eleanor of Aquitaine

2.

Which young actress, recently nominated for a BAFTA award, is the star of the recently released film Juno?

Ellen Page

3.

Which writer gave the world Bridget Jones?

Helen Fielding

4.

Which British actress starred in Cold Feet and Friends?

Helen Baxendale

5.

Which leading female barrister, and QC is now a Labour Peer?

Helena Kennedy

6.

Which 1960s film and play starts with Helen and Jo moving in to a squalid flat?

A Taste of Honey

7.

In which country would you find Mount Ellen?

USA

(Utah)

8.

St Helena Bay is off the west coast of which country?

South Africa

1.

Who created the character,  Auguste Dupin, who solved the mystery of the murders in the Rue Morgue in the 1840s?

Edgar Allen Poe

2.

In which novel did Phillip Marlow first ply his trade?

The Big Sleep

3.

Which detective has been assisted by Troy, Scott and Jones?

Chief Inspector Barnaby

(in Midsomer Murders)

4.

Which detective has been assisted by Mike Burden?

Chief Inspector Wexford

5.

Which poet, doubling as a detective, was introduced by an English author in her first novel in 1962?

Adam Dalgliesh

(in PD James’ Cover Her Face)

6.

Name the detective that tracked down Ronnie Biggs in Rio.

Jack Slipper

7.

Who first appeared in Pietr-le-Letton, published in the 1930s?

Inspector Maigret

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