1.

Who is currently the Secretary of State for Defence?

2.

Who is currently the Shadow Foreign Secretary?

3.

What title was given to the leader of the Knights Templar?

4.

In which film, based on a best selling novel, did Tom Hanks play a so-called ‘Master of the Universe’?

5.

What took place at The Oval on 16th March 1872?

6.

The first international cricket match was played in 1844.  Who were the USA’s opponents?

7.

Which record label was founded by Chris Blackwell in 1959?

8.

Which street-wise fashion label was set up in 1982 by Morecambe-born Wayne Hemingway and his wife Geraldine?

1.

In 2001 who gave Craig Evans a left hook in Rhyl?

2.

Who, in 2002,said: "Do not underestimate the determination of a quiet man" ?

3.

In 2005 what came between Jose and Lee with dire consequences?

4.

What was officially designated as H5N1 in 2006?

5.

Tskhinvali is the capital of which hotly disputed territory?

6.

Which monarchy was abolished in 2008 after 240 years?

7.

What was the connection between the following during the past decade: Queen Elizabeth II, Virginia Woolf, Idi Amin, Truman Capote and Ray Charles?

8.

Similarly, what was the connection between the following during the last decade: Deschamps, Cafu, Zagorakis, Cannavaro and Casillas?

1.

For what reason did former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy make the news on 20th November 2009?

2.

On the same day, which British politician was appointed the first EU Head of Foreign Policy under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon?

3.

Which actor succeeded David Tennant as the eleventh Doctor Who in an episode entitled The End Of Time  shown on BBC1 on New Year's Day?

4.

Which veteran British comic actor played the part of Wilfred Mott, briefly the tenth Doctor's last assistant in the season-ending episode The End Of Time?

5.

Since the Norman Conquest there have been just four adult English kings who reigned without a queen by their side.  Name two of them.

6.

What particular milestone in her reign was achieved by Queen Elizabeth II on 21st December 2007?

7.

Which sporting celebrity was recently revealed to have left this message to his girlfriend on his mobile phone: "I need you to do me a huge favour.  Can you please take your name off your phone?  My wife went through my phone. You got to do this for me.  Huge.  Ouickly.  Bye" ?

8.

Which sporting celebrity was recently heard to address these words to a line judge she objected to: "If I could, I would take this f*****g ball and shove it down your f * ****g throat?”

1.

According to William Blake, the eyes are dim windows to what?

2.

In which epic crime film of 1983 does Al Pacino star as Tony Montana alongside co-stars Steven Bauer and Michelle Pfeiffer?

3.

What is the name of the Danish parliament?

4.

Which team won the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975?

5.

What painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is on display in the Louvre (with another version on show in the National Gallery in London) and was featured in the opening chapters of Dan Brown's blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code?

6.

Which official's role is to oversee the conduct and general business of the Royal Household?

7.

Name the song by Blur which starts: “City Dweller, successful fella, thought to himself, ‘Oops, I've got a lot of money’”?

8.

What car was introduced in Britain in 1953, selling at £390, making it the cheapest new car on the market?

1.

The idea of twinning towns and cities first came about during World War 2 when Coventry formed a twinning relationship with which European city?

2.

Already infamous for its ‘Magic Roundabout’, which English town became twinned with Florida's Disneyland in December 2009?

3.

in Monty Python's Philosophers' Football Match who was the captain of the German Philosophers team that narrowly lost to the Greek Philosophers?

4.

In the same match who was the only non-philosopher on the pitch?

5.

What six letter word can be a type of dessert or a pleasure trip made by an official at the expense of the tax payer?

6.

What nine letter word can be a type of summer dessert or a large city in the eastern USA?

7.

Who is due to be born in Riverside, Iowa on 22nd March 2233, just 267 years after making his first appearance?

8.

Ben Watson's 1995 book, The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play is a biography of which rock musician and film director (1940 - 1993)?

1.

In which 1995 film did Alan Rickman play Eamonn De Valera?

2.

The now ubiquitous Graham Norton made his British TV debut in which TV comedy?

3.

Queenstown was Belfast-built Titanic’s last ever port of call.  How is Queenstown now known?

4.

Which Irish saint was known as The Navigator?

5.

The cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and the famous karst limestone region known as The Burren, are all to be found in which Irish county?

6.

In which Irish county would you find Fairyhouse Racecourse, the site of The Battle of the Boyne and the palindromic town of Navan?

7.

Who is the only footballer to date to play twice in a winning All Ireland Championship team in Gaelic football and to go on to win an English FA Cup medal?

8.

Which current English Premiership manager led Limerick FC to promotion in 1992 as player manager?

1.

Which novel by Irish writer Colm Toibin recently won the 2009 Costa Fiction award?

2.

Hilary Mantel’s 2009 Man Booker winning novel Wolf Hall is an in-depth study of which historical character?

3.

What is the English name for the large city known to the Chinese as Guangzhou standing on the Pearl River in the south of the country?  Considered in the 19th century to be a cradle of revolt, it is today known for its size and relative wealth.

4.

With a population of over 100 million people what is the largest province in China?  Its capital is Chengdu and it is famous for its earthquakes, its panda bears and its spicy food?

5.

The football chant: “He’s blond, he’s quick, his name’s a porno flick” referred to which International footballer during his first spell in the English Premiership in the late 1990s?

6.

Complete this West Ham chant used between 1999 and 2003 whenever they played Merseyside opposition: “We've got Di Canio but you've got ... ...... “?

7.

Which historical English building is sometimes known as ‘The Ship of the Fens’?

8.

‘The Three Ladies of The Vale’ refers to the three spires of which English cathedral?

1.

From which Shakespeare play does the following quotation come: “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!”?

2.

Rosslare Europort handles passenger and freight ferries to and from Wales and France.  In which Irish county is Rosslare?

3.

Who is the current Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield, succeeding Tony Benn in that seat in 2001?

4.

Beginning in 1608 and ending in 1814, what was the name given to the series of markets and public entertainments that were held each winter on the frozen River Thames?

5.

Name the popular American astrologer and psychic who strongly influenced both Presidents Nixon and Reagan and who was chiefly famous for having predicted in 1956 that the winner of the 1960 presidential election would be assassinated (as indeed happened to John F Kennedy).

6.

Which English theologian was known to his followers as Doctor Evangelicus and is thought to have been the model for the Parson in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales?

7.

This 1993 thriller novel by Tom Clancy is part of the Ryanverse series and is set in the city of Baltimore during the era of the Vietnam War.  It focuses on the development of one of Clancy's recurring characters, John Kelly.  Name it.

8.

What word defines a kind of word puzzle that uses pictures or symbols to represent parts of words.  For example the letter H plus a picture of an ear makes the word ‘Hear’?

1.

Which two Labour politicians recently attempted (and failed) to organize a leadership ballot to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour Party leadership?

2.

Which female British tennis player partnered Andy Murray to the final of the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia last week?

3.

Which British TV celebrity announced his engagement to American songwriter Katy Perry on 6th January?

4.

Who partnered Chris Hollins to victory in the final of Strictly Come Dancing last December?

5.

The centenary of the deaths of two famous writers, one American and one Russian, will occur on the 21st April and 20th November this year.  Name them.

6.

How is the star Alpha Canis Majoris better known?

7.

Which major religion commemorates the Day of Ashura as one of its yearly observances (this year it will be on 16th December)?

8.

Of which country is Sinhalese one of the two official languages?

1.

Who is currently the Secretary of State for Defence?

Bob Ainsworth

2.

Who is currently the Shadow Foreign Secretary?

William Hague

3.

What title was given to the leader of the Knights Templar?

Grand Master

4.

In which film, based on a best selling novel, did Tom Hanks play a so-called ‘Master of the Universe’?

The Bonfire of the Vanities

5.

What took place at The Oval on 16th March 1872?

The first FA Cup Final

6.

The first international cricket match was played in 1844.  Who were the USA’s opponents?

Canada

7.

Which record label was founded by Chris Blackwell in 1959?

Island Records

8.

Which street-wise fashion label was set up in 1982 by Morecambe-born Wayne Hemingway and his wife Geraldine?

Red Or Dead

1.

In 2001 who gave Craig Evans a left hook in Rhyl?

John Prescott

2.

Who, in 2002,said: "Do not underestimate the determination of a quiet man" ?

lain Duncan Smith

3.

In 2005 what came between Jose and Lee with dire consequences?

Hurricane Katrina

4.

What was officially designated as H5N1 in 2006?

Bird Flu

5.

Tskhinvali is the capital of which hotly disputed territory?

South Ossetia

6.

Which monarchy was abolished in 2008 after 240 years?

Nepal's

7.

What was the connection between the following during the past decade: Queen Elizabeth II, Virginia Woolf, Idi Amin, Truman Capote and Ray Charles?

They were all cinematically portrayed in Oscar winning performances

8.

Similarly, what was the connection between the following during the last decade: Deschamps, Cafu, Zagorakis, Cannavaro and Casillas?

They were all captains of Euro and/or World Cup winning football teams

1.

For what reason did former Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy make the news on 20th November 2009?

He was appointed the European Union's first President under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon

(Does this now make him officially a Famous Belgian?)

2.

On the same day, which British politician was appointed the first EU Head of Foreign Policy under the terms of the Treaty of Lisbon?

Baroness Catherine Ashton

3.

Which actor succeeded David Tennant as the eleventh Doctor Who in an episode entitled The End Of Time  shown on BBC1 on New Year's Day?

Matt Smith

4.

Which veteran British comic actor played the part of Wilfred Mott, briefly the tenth Doctor's last assistant in the season-ending episode The End Of Time?

Bernard Cribbins

5.

Since the Norman Conquest there have been just four adult English kings who reigned without a queen by their side.  Name two of them.

William II (never married);

George I (divorced before he became king and never re-married);

George IV (married but separated);

Edward VIII (married only after his abdication)

6.

What particular milestone in her reign was achieved by Queen Elizabeth II on 21st December 2007?

She became Britain's oldest monarch

(at 81 years and 244 days she surpassed Queen Victoria's previous record of 81 years and 243 days)

7.

Which sporting celebrity was recently revealed to have left this message to his girlfriend on his mobile phone: "I need you to do me a huge favour.  Can you please take your name off your phone?  My wife went through my phone. You got to do this for me.  Huge.  Ouickly.  Bye" ?

Tiger Woods

(finding his love handicap somewhat trickier to manage than the golfing variety)

8.

Which sporting celebrity was recently heard to address these words to a line judge she objected to: "If I could, I would take this f*****g ball and shove it down your f * ****g throat?”

Serena Williams

(expressing her irritation at being foot-faulted during a crucial point in the seml-­final of the US Open last September)

1.

According to William Blake, the eyes are dim windows to what?

The Soul

2.

In which epic crime film of 1983 does Al Pacino star as Tony Montana alongside co-stars Steven Bauer and Michelle Pfeiffer?

Scarface

3.

What is the name of the Danish parliament?

The Folketing

(allow any reasonable approximation)

4.

Which team won the inaugural Cricket World Cup in 1975?

The West Indies

5.

What painting by Leonardo Da Vinci is on display in the Louvre (with another version on show in the National Gallery in London) and was featured in the opening chapters of Dan Brown's blockbuster, The Da Vinci Code?

The Madonna (or Virgin) of the Rocks

6.

Which official's role is to oversee the conduct and general business of the Royal Household?

The Lord Chamberlain

7.

Name the song by Blur which starts: “City Dweller, successful fella, thought to himself, ‘Oops, I've got a lot of money’”?

Country House

8.

What car was introduced in Britain in 1953, selling at £390, making it the cheapest new car on the market?

The Ford Popular

1.

The idea of twinning towns and cities first came about during World War 2 when Coventry formed a twinning relationship with which European city?

Stalingrad - now renamed Volgograd

(Coventry was subsequently twinned with Dresden and various other cities)

2.

Already infamous for its ‘Magic Roundabout’, which English town became twinned with Florida's Disneyland in December 2009?

Swindon

3.

in Monty Python's Philosophers' Football Match who was the captain of the German Philosophers team that narrowly lost to the Greek Philosophers?

Georg ‘Nobby’ Hegel

4.

In the same match who was the only non-philosopher on the pitch?

Franz Beckenbauer

(“bit of a surprise selection there by the Germans”)

5.

What six letter word can be a type of dessert or a pleasure trip made by an official at the expense of the tax payer?

Junket

6.

What nine letter word can be a type of summer dessert or a large city in the eastern USA?

Charlotte

7.

Who is due to be born in Riverside, Iowa on 22nd March 2233, just 267 years after making his first appearance?

Captain James T Kirk

(based on his official Star Trek biography)

8.

Ben Watson's 1995 book, The Negative Dialectics of Poodle Play is a biography of which rock musician and film director (1940 - 1993)?

Frank Zappa

1.

In which 1995 film did Alan Rickman play Eamonn De Valera?

Michael Collins

2.

The now ubiquitous Graham Norton made his British TV debut in which TV comedy?

Father Ted

(he played the part of Father Noel Furlong in 3 episodes)

3.

Queenstown was Belfast-built Titanic’s last ever port of call.  How is Queenstown now known?

Cobh

(in County Cork)

4.

Which Irish saint was known as The Navigator?

Saint Brendan

5.

The cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle, and the famous karst limestone region known as The Burren, are all to be found in which Irish county?

Clare

6.

In which Irish county would you find Fairyhouse Racecourse, the site of The Battle of the Boyne and the palindromic town of Navan?

Meath

7.

Who is the only footballer to date to play twice in a winning All Ireland Championship team in Gaelic football and to go on to win an English FA Cup medal?

Kevin Moran

(winner with Dublin 1976 and 1977 and picking up an FA Cup medal with Manchester United despite being sent off)

8.

Which current English Premiership manager led Limerick FC to promotion in 1992 as player manager?

Sam Allardyce

1.

Which novel by Irish writer Colm Toibin recently won the 2009 Costa Fiction award?

Brooklyn

2.

Hilary Mantel’s 2009 Man Booker winning novel Wolf Hall is an in-depth study of which historical character?

Thomas Cromwell

3.

What is the English name for the large city known to the Chinese as Guangzhou standing on the Pearl River in the south of the country?  Considered in the 19th century to be a cradle of revolt, it is today known for its size and relative wealth.

Canton

4.

With a population of over 100 million people what is the largest province in China?  Its capital is Chengdu and it is famous for its earthquakes, its panda bears and its spicy food?

Sichuan

5.

The football chant: “He’s blond, he’s quick, his name’s a porno flick” referred to which International footballer during his first spell in the English Premiership in the late 1990s?

Emmanuel Petit

(during his Arsenal days)

6.

Complete this West Ham chant used between 1999 and 2003 whenever they played Merseyside opposition: “We've got Di Canio but you've got ... ...... “?

"Our stereo"

7.

Which historical English building is sometimes known as ‘The Ship of the Fens’?

Ely Cathedral

8.

‘The Three Ladies of The Vale’ refers to the three spires of which English cathedral?

Lichfield

1.

From which Shakespeare play does the following quotation come: “By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes!”?

Macbeth

(Second Witch, Act IV Scene 1)

2.

Rosslare Europort handles passenger and freight ferries to and from Wales and France.  In which Irish county is Rosslare?

Wexford

3.

Who is the current Liberal Democrat MP for Chesterfield, succeeding Tony Benn in that seat in 2001?

Paul Holmes

4.

Beginning in 1608 and ending in 1814, what was the name given to the series of markets and public entertainments that were held each winter on the frozen River Thames?

Frost Fairs

5.

Name the popular American astrologer and psychic who strongly influenced both Presidents Nixon and Reagan and who was chiefly famous for having predicted in 1956 that the winner of the 1960 presidential election would be assassinated (as indeed happened to John F Kennedy).

Jeane Dixon

6.

Which English theologian was known to his followers as Doctor Evangelicus and is thought to have been the model for the Parson in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales?

John Wycliffe

7.

This 1993 thriller novel by Tom Clancy is part of the Ryanverse series and is set in the city of Baltimore during the era of the Vietnam War.  It focuses on the development of one of Clancy's recurring characters, John Kelly.  Name it.

Without Remorse

8.

What word defines a kind of word puzzle that uses pictures or symbols to represent parts of words.  For example the letter H plus a picture of an ear makes the word ‘Hear’?

Rebus

1.

Which two Labour politicians recently attempted (and failed) to organize a leadership ballot to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour Party leadership?

Geoff Hoon and Patricia Hewitt

2.

Which female British tennis player partnered Andy Murray to the final of the Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia last week?

Laura Robson

3.

Which British TV celebrity announced his engagement to American songwriter Katy Perry on 6th January?

Russell Brand

4.

Who partnered Chris Hollins to victory in the final of Strictly Come Dancing last December?

Ola Jordan

5.

The centenary of the deaths of two famous writers, one American and one Russian, will occur on the 21st April and 20th November this year.  Name them.

Mark Twain (21st April) and Leo Tolstoy (20th November)

6.

How is the star Alpha Canis Majoris better known?

Sirius or The Dog Star

(it is the brightest star in the constellation of Canis Major or The Great Dog)

7.

Which major religion commemorates the Day of Ashura as one of its yearly observances (this year it will be on 16th December)?

Islam

(specifically Shia Islam - it commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed in the year 680)

8.

Of which country is Sinhalese one of the two official languages?

Sri Lanka

(the other being Tamil)