1.

Which light-hearted award for celebrities was first won by Barbara Windsor in 1976, and in 2010 was given to Fiona Bruce and Ricky Whittle?

2.

Which award, discontinued in 2004, was won in its year of inception in 1964 by Rupert Davies and subsequently twice by Harold Wilson?

3.

Who was the chief gardener on Blue Peter from 1974 to 1987?

4.

Which important garden aid was invented by Edwin Budding, a Gloucestershire engineer, in 1827?

5.

Which hard, crumbly cheese was originally made in the 17^th century in Dorset, became extinct in the 1970s, but was revived by the Woodbridge Farm in Sturminster in 1980?

6.

Which cheese, first manufactured in the 18^th century in a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland, resembles a soft cheddar cheese in texture? 

7.

8.

In which city are the headquarters of Interpol?

1.

Which actress appeared in the 1999 film Being John Malcovich, the 2000 film Charlie’s Angels and the 2002 film Gangs of New York?

2.

Which folk hero of American culture started his rise to fame by his involvement in the Sandbar fight of 1827 and died at the Alamo reputedly while bed-ridden?

3.

In Coronation Street which character, who first appeared in 1966, helped Jim McDonald escape from prison in 2003?

4.

What titled name was given to the soldier who became the Chief Commander of the Parliamentary Army in 1642 although he resigned in 1846?

5.

Who, in 1922, wrote the often-heard poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening?

6.

Which hero of Greek mythology was married to the sorceress Medea?

7.

Where in Manchester can you visit the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Gardens?

8.

Who is the only British Prime Minister to have played first-class cricket?

1.

On which river does Lincoln stand?

2.

Which two Roman roads met in Lincoln?

3.

What collective name is given to the Luftwaffe’s attacks on Exeter, Bath, Norwich, York and Canterbury in 1942?

4.

Which battle took place between June 4 and June 7 1942 and was described by military historian John Keegan as “the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare”?

5.

Which 1987 novel by Tom Wolfe centres on American greed?

6.

Which 1991 satirical novel by Bret Easton Ellis centres on serial killer Patrick Bateman?

7.

Which retail chain, now defunct, had its own LadyBird children’s clothing range?

8.

In which English city did Woolworths open its first store in 1909?

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

1.

In which box-office record-breaking film of 2008, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, would you hear the line, “Typical isn’t it? You wait 20 years for a dad and then three come along at once!”?

2.

Whose number one UK album of 1973 was entitled Billion Dollar Babies?

3.

Which plant, widely distributed in arid areas such as India and Africa, has been widely feted for its medicinal benefits and is known in Thailand as the 'crocodile plant'?

4.

Which city, the capital of the Northern Cape province in South Africa, was a major diamond-mining centre and was also besieged 1899-1900 during the second Boer war?

5.

Which diplomat was jointly awarded the Nobel peace Prize in 2001 for his 'work for a better organised and more peaceful world'?

6.

What nickname, probably borrowed from Greek mythology, was given to the Everton midfield trio of Howard Kendall, Alan Ball and Colin Harvey in the 1960s?

7.

Which song, written by Joni Mitchell and featured on her album Clouds, has been covered by, amongst others, Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, Neil Diamond and Jennifer Warnes?

8.

By what name is a female ferret known?

1.

Who was MP for the city of Chester from 1992 to 1997?

2.

Who was MP for the Isle of Ely, later North East Cambridgeshire, between 1973 and 1987?

3.

What curry dish has a name that means 'having two onions'?

4.

To which vegetable does the word gobi refer?

5.

Which animated character, whose best friend was Spotty was first seen on TV in 1982 and was brought to life by cosmic dust and Mother Nature?

6.

In which children’s TV series were there characters called Flappy and Mr Rusty? (The programme was by no means watched by just children)

7.

There were six founding members of the European Union: France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg. the Netherlands and which other?

8.

Who was President of the European Commission between 1977 and 1981?

1.

The Grease Band evolved out of which singer’s backing band?

2.

Which firm, which went into liquidation in 1983, was the greatest rival of Dinky Toys?

3.

As captain of which ship did Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy achieve fame?

4.

In 2001 an advertisement for which confectionery product caused controversy when it was stated that it was 'not for girls'?

5.

Which cricketer, who made his debut for England in 1988, is reputed to have said, “If Rembrandt can do it, then why can’t I”?

6.

Which singing group at its most famous time consisted of Anita, June and Ruth after Bonnie had left to pursue a solo career?

7.

In which film does Norman Wisdom accidentally become an astronaut and, equally accidentally, return to Earth?

8.

By what name is the 19th century Righteous Harmony Society Movement better known?

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

When Gary Kasparov became the youngest ever world chess champion in 1985 whom did he defeat?

2.

Who was world chess champion 1969 to 1971?

3.

Who, last week, became the new MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth?

4.

Which television presenter won her case for age discrimination and victimisation against the BBC last week?

5.

Which founder member country left the Commonwealth in 1949?

6.

Which country joined the Commonwealth in 1995 after it gained independence from Portugal?

7.

Which composer who died in 1856 spent the last two years of his life in a mental institution following a suicide attempt?

8.

Which composer who died in 1937 described  what is almost certainly his best known composition as “a piece for orchestra without music”?

ROUND 8 - Hidden theme

1.

Who was assassinated by Ramon Mercader in Mexico in 1944?

2.

Which shipbuilding company built the Mautetania and the Carpathia which rescued the survivors from the Titanic?

3.

Which singer, one of whose best known records is Cupid, was shot dead at the age of 33 in Los Angeles in 1964?

4.

Which village in Worcestershire, which became home to Edward Elgar and Vaughan Williams, amongst others, is known as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds'?

5.

Which celebrated book, first published in 1884, opens in fictional St Petersburg and features Jim?

6.

Which jazz musician was called 'the Maharajah of the keyboard' by Duke Ellington?

7.

Who has played the role of Brian Aldridge in The Archers since 1975 and also acted as the score keeper on Noel Edmonds The Telly Quiz?

8.

Which singer, who made the album Ravenchild, was awarded the MBE for services to folk music in 2001?

Spares

1.

With what is siviculture concerned?

2.

Which vitamin is also called retinol?

3.

In which country was the Carnatic War fought?

4.

Which conspiracy was led by Arthur Thistlewood?

1.

Which light-hearted award for celebrities was first won by Barbara Windsor in 1976, and in 2010 was given to Fiona Bruce and Ricky Whittle?

Rear of the Year

2.

Which award, discontinued in 2004, was won in its year of inception in 1964 by Rupert Davies and subsequently twice by Harold Wilson?

3.

Who was the chief gardener on Blue Peter from 1974 to 1987?

4.

Which important garden aid was invented by Edwin Budding, a Gloucestershire engineer, in 1827?

5.

Which hard, crumbly cheese was originally made in the 17^th century in Dorset, became extinct in the 1970s, but was revived by the Woodbridge Farm in Sturminster in 1980?

Blue Vinny

6.

Which cheese, first manufactured in the 18^th century in a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland, resembles a soft cheddar cheese in texture? 

Dunlop

7.

8.

In which city are the headquarters of Interpol?

1.

Which actress appeared in the 1999 film Being John Malcovich, the 2000 film Charlie’s Angels and the 2002 film Gangs of New York?

Cameron Diaz

2.

Which folk hero of American culture started his rise to fame by his involvement in the Sandbar fight of 1827 and died at the Alamo reputedly while bed-ridden?

3.

In Coronation Street which character, who first appeared in 1966, helped Jim McDonald escape from prison in 2003?

Bet Lynch

4.

What titled name was given to the soldier who became the Chief Commander of the Parliamentary Army in 1642 although he resigned in 1846?

Earl of Essex

5.

Who, in 1922, wrote the often-heard poem Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening?

Robert Frost

6.

Which hero of Greek mythology was married to the sorceress Medea?

Jason

7.

Where in Manchester can you visit the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Gardens?

Platt Fields Park

8.

Who is the only British Prime Minister to have played first-class cricket?

Alec Douglas-Home

1.

On which river does Lincoln stand?

Witham

2.

Which two Roman roads met in Lincoln?

Ermine Street and Fosse Way

3.

What collective name is given to the Luftwaffe’s attacks on Exeter, Bath, Norwich, York and Canterbury in 1942?

Baedeker Raids

4.

Which battle took place between June 4 and June 7 1942 and was described by military historian John Keegan as “the most stunning and decisive blow in the history of naval warfare”?

Midway

5.

Which 1987 novel by Tom Wolfe centres on American greed?

The Bonfire of the Vanities

6.

Which 1991 satirical novel by Bret Easton Ellis centres on serial killer Patrick Bateman?

American Psycho

7.

Which retail chain, now defunct, had its own LadyBird children’s clothing range?

Woolworths

8.

In which English city did Woolworths open its first store in 1909?

Liverpool

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

1.

In which box-office record-breaking film of 2008, directed by Phyllida Lloyd, would you hear the line, “Typical isn’t it? You wait 20 years for a dad and then three come along at once!”?

Mamma Mia!

2.

Whose number one UK album of 1973 was entitled Billion Dollar Babies?

Alice Cooper

3.

Which plant, widely distributed in arid areas such as India and Africa, has been widely feted for its medicinal benefits and is known in Thailand as the 'crocodile plant'?

Aloe Vera

4.

Which city, the capital of the Northern Cape province in South Africa, was a major diamond-mining centre and was also besieged 1899-1900 during the second Boer war?

Kimberley

5.

Which diplomat was jointly awarded the Nobel peace Prize in 2001 for his 'work for a better organised and more peaceful world'?

Kofi Annan

6.

What nickname, probably borrowed from Greek mythology, was given to the Everton midfield trio of Howard Kendall, Alan Ball and Colin Harvey in the 1960s?

The Three Graces

7.

Which song, written by Joni Mitchell and featured on her album Clouds, has been covered by, amongst others, Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, Neil Diamond and Jennifer Warnes?

Chelsea Morning

8.

By what name is a female ferret known?

Jill

1.

Who was MP for the city of Chester from 1992 to 1997?

Gyles Brandreth

2.

Who was MP for the Isle of Ely, later North East Cambridgeshire, between 1973 and 1987?

Clement Freud

3.

What curry dish has a name that means 'having two onions'?

Dopiaza

4.

To which vegetable does the word gobi refer?

Cauliflower

5.

Which animated character, whose best friend was Spotty was first seen on TV in 1982 and was brought to life by cosmic dust and Mother Nature?

SuperTed

6.

In which children’s TV series were there characters called Flappy and Mr Rusty? (The programme was by no means watched by just children)

The Magic Roundabout

7.

There were six founding members of the European Union: France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg. the Netherlands and which other?

Belgium

8.

Who was President of the European Commission between 1977 and 1981?

Roy Jenkins

1.

The Grease Band evolved out of which singer’s backing band?

Joe Cocker

2.

Which firm, which went into liquidation in 1983, was the greatest rival of Dinky Toys?

Corgi (Cars)

3.

As captain of which ship did Vice-Admiral Robert FitzRoy achieve fame?

The Beagle

4.

In 2001 an advertisement for which confectionery product caused controversy when it was stated that it was 'not for girls'?

Yorkie Bar

5.

Which cricketer, who made his debut for England in 1988, is reputed to have said, “If Rembrandt can do it, then why can’t I”?

Jack Russell

6.

Which singing group at its most famous time consisted of Anita, June and Ruth after Bonnie had left to pursue a solo career?

The Pointer Sisters

7.

In which film does Norman Wisdom accidentally become an astronaut and, equally accidentally, return to Earth?

The Bulldog Breed

8.

By what name is the 19th century Righteous Harmony Society Movement better known?

Boxer Rebellion (or Uprising)

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

When Gary Kasparov became the youngest ever world chess champion in 1985 whom did he defeat?

Anatoly Karpov

2.

Who was world chess champion 1969 to 1971?

Boris Spassky

3.

Who, last week, became the new MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth?

Debbie Abrahams

4.

Which television presenter won her case for age discrimination and victimisation against the BBC last week?

Miriam O’Reilly

5.

Which founder member country left the Commonwealth in 1949?

(Republic of) Ireland

6.

Which country joined the Commonwealth in 1995 after it gained independence from Portugal?

Mozambique

7.

Which composer who died in 1856 spent the last two years of his life in a mental institution following a suicide attempt?

(Robert) Schumann

8.

Which composer who died in 1937 described  what is almost certainly his best known composition as “a piece for orchestra without music”?

Ravel (Bolero)

ROUND 8 - Hidden theme

1.

Who was assassinated by Ramon Mercader in Mexico in 1944?

Leon Trotsky

2.

Which shipbuilding company built the Mautetania and the Carpathia which rescued the survivors from the Titanic?

Swan Hunter

3.

Which singer, one of whose best known records is Cupid, was shot dead at the age of 33 in Los Angeles in 1964?

Sam Cooke

4.

Which village in Worcestershire, which became home to Edward Elgar and Vaughan Williams, amongst others, is known as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds'?

Broadway

5.

Which celebrated book, first published in 1884, opens in fictional St Petersburg and features Jim?

(The Adventures of) Huckleberry Finn

6.

Which jazz musician was called 'the Maharajah of the keyboard' by Duke Ellington?

Oscar Peterson

7.

Who has played the role of Brian Aldridge in The Archers since 1975 and also acted as the score keeper on Noel Edmonds The Telly Quiz?

Charles Collingwood

8.

Which singer, who made the album Ravenchild, was awarded the MBE for services to folk music in 2001?

Maddy Prior

Spares

1.

With what is siviculture concerned?

Trees/Woods/Forests

2.

Which vitamin is also called retinol?

Vitamin A

3.

In which country was the Carnatic War fought?

India

4.

Which conspiracy was led by Arthur Thistlewood?

Cato Street