ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

Which sports commentator was widely recognised as the voice of darts during the 1970s and 1980s?

2.

Which now well-known actor started his career playing fresh faced Mike Young in Neighbours?

3.

Who was the first husband of disgraced media boss Rebekah Brooks?

4.

Which character was played by Kathy Staff in Last of the Summer Wine?

5.

What character did Dennis Waterman play in Minder?

6.

Who starred with Jennifer Aniston in the dreadful romantic comedy The Bounty Hunter?

7.

Which Cheshire village is situated immediately to the east of Stanlow Oil Refinery and shares a railway station with Elton?

8.

Which parliamentary constituency did Michael Portillo lose in the 1997 General Election?

1.

Which of Chaucer's Pilgrims was called Eglentine and spoke French "after the manner of Stratford-atte-Bowe"?

2.

Which of Chaucer's Pilgrim's had "a forked beard, wore motley and on his head a Flemish Beaver"?

3.

In Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice where was Portia’s home?

4.

What is the setting for Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing?

5.

Which hypocritical character does Charles Dickens describe as "Likened to a direction post, which is always telling the direction to a place, and never goes there"?

6.

Which Dickens character, Great Aunt of the eponymous hero, is described as "A tall, hard-featured lady, but by no means ill-looking... her features were rather handsome than otherwise, though unbending and austere"?

7.

What is the surname of the eponymous character Jude the Obscure?

8.

Who is the 'Native' who returns in Thomas Hardy's novel?

1.

What hereditary title was traditionally offered to former senior cabinet ministers?

2.

What is the alternative non-scientific name for the giant redwood (sequoia giganteum)?

3.

Where is the Canadian National World War I Memorial?

4.

Which Character in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress recites the words which have become Hymn 212 in Hymns Ancient and Modern (To be a Pilgrim)?

5.

What was the name of the biggest, fastest and last of the Royal Navy’s dreadnoughts?

6.

What is the title of Cambridge University’s oldest student newspaper?  Its editors have included Jeremy Paxman and its contributors have included the Prince of Wales?

7.

Who, in Roman mythology, was the patron of cuckolds and father of Cupid?

8.

What is Lt. Charles Lucas' claim to fame?

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

HMS Kelly was sunk in WW2.  Who commanded her at the time and was later killed in a bomb explosion?

2.

What was the name of the British destroyer depicted in the film The Gift Horse?

3.

Which animal lives at the highest altitude?

4.

What species lives the longest?

5.

Who won an Oscar for his role in the 1945 film The Lost Weekend?

6.

In which country was Ray Milland born?

7.

Who sang the unforgettable hit from 1965 Woolly Bully?

8.

Similarly who had a hit in 1965 with Lets Hang On?

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

Which Scottish indie band who had their greatest success in the 80s were named after a French polymath and had hits including Pearly Dew Drops Drops and Ice Blink Luck?

2.

Which American soft-rock band who had their greatest success in the 80s were named after a type of fire engine and had hits including Can’t Fight This Feeling and Keep On Loving You?

3.

Who was the British Prime Minister during the Second Boer War, 1899-1902?

4.

Who was the American President at the time of the Wall Street Crash?

5.

Which author complained bitterly to media organisations about the less-than-flattering portrayal of her army officer husband in the film A Bridge Too Far?

6.

What was the family name of the relatives of Daphne Du Maurier who were the inspiration behind their friend J M Barrie’s Peter Pan?

7.

The Gulf of Aqaba lies at one side of the Sinai Peninsula.  Which stretch of water lies at the other?

8.

Illinois lies immediately to the west of the state of Indiana.  Which state lies immediately to the east of Indiana?

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

In which city is Macarthur Park?

2.

In which city is Retiro Park?

3.

Who provides the commentary on Come Dine with Me?

4.

Who is the tour guide on Coach Trip?

5.

Who is the Secretary of State for Wales?

6.

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

7.

Scarborough is the capital of which country?

8.

St George is the capital of which country?

ROUND 7 - Hidden theme

1.

What name is shared by a member of the Ramones, a member of Pan’s People and the sister of Dexter in the cartoon series Dexter’s E Laboratory?

2.

Which word connects a Lancashire town on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, Graham Gooch’s top test score of 333, and the former vocalist with Massive Attack who had several solo hits in the 90s?

3.

Which was the first northern team to reach an FA Cup final?

4.

Which former England rugby international has been in charge of the RFU’s official review of the recent world cup campaign?

5.

Which insectivorous and migratory British bird has the Latin name luscinia megarhynchos and was immortalised in song by Eric Maschwitz in 1939?

6.

Which famous song was written by Cumbrian miII-owner John Woodcock Graves in the 1820s?

7.

Which British Formula One driver has, or had, the middle names Alexander Lyons?

8.

Which county in the West of Ireland contains Lough Key Forest Park and is the birthplace of the first President of Eire, Douglas Hyde, and the 8th Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds?

ROUND 8 - Pot pourri

1.

Who won the Best Actor Oscar in 1955 for his role in Marty?

2.

In which wine region is the Hospice de Beaune held annually in which wines are auctioned?

3.

Actress Margaret Rutherford was a cousin of which prominent dynasty of, originally Liberal, and latterly (and more famously) Labour, politicians?

4.

Element 101 in the periodic table (Md) is named after which Russian chemist?

5.

Mithradates VI, an enemy of Rome in the first century BC, was king of which state in Northern Anatolia (now Turkey)?

6.

What is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna?

7.

Which current Premiership Club were 1st Division Champions for 1980-81?

8.

What is the name of Private Eye’s fictional female gossip columnist?

Spares

1.

In which city is New Road County Cricket Ground?

2.

In 1969 which woman became Britain's youngest ever female MP?

3.

What was the surname of the Alice, the inspiration of Alice in Wonderland?

4.

Mswati III is the king of which African country?

5.

Adria Airways is the airline of which former Yugoslav state?

6.

What is the star sign of the date of the Battle of Waterloo?

7.

What was the first Apollo mission to leave Earth's orbit and orbit the moon, in 1968?

8.

What is Miss MarpIe's first name?

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

Which sports commentator was widely recognised as the voice of darts during the 1970s and 1980s?

Sid Waddell

2.

Which now well-known actor started his career playing fresh faced Mike Young in Neighbours?

Guy Pearce

3.

Who was the first husband of disgraced media boss Rebekah Brooks?

Ross Kemp

4.

Which character was played by Kathy Staff in Last of the Summer Wine?

Nora Batty

5.

What character did Dennis Waterman play in Minder?

Terry McCann

6.

Who starred with Jennifer Aniston in the dreadful romantic comedy The Bounty Hunter?

Gerard Butler

7.

Which Cheshire village is situated immediately to the east of Stanlow Oil Refinery and shares a railway station with Elton?

Ince

8.

Which parliamentary constituency did Michael Portillo lose in the 1997 General Election?

Enfield & Southgate

1.

Which of Chaucer's Pilgrims was called Eglentine and spoke French "after the manner of Stratford-atte-Bowe"?

The Prioress

2.

Which of Chaucer's Pilgrim's had "a forked beard, wore motley and on his head a Flemish Beaver"?

The Merchant

3.

In Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice where was Portia’s home?

Belmont

4.

What is the setting for Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing?

Messina

5.

Which hypocritical character does Charles Dickens describe as "Likened to a direction post, which is always telling the direction to a place, and never goes there"?

Seth Pecksniff

(in Martin Chuzzlewit)

6.

Which Dickens character, Great Aunt of the eponymous hero, is described as "A tall, hard-featured lady, but by no means ill-looking... her features were rather handsome than otherwise, though unbending and austere"?

Betsy Trotwood

(in David Copperfield)

7.

What is the surname of the eponymous character Jude the Obscure?

Fawley

8.

Who is the 'Native' who returns in Thomas Hardy's novel?

Clym Yeobright

1.

What hereditary title was traditionally offered to former senior cabinet ministers?

Viscount

2.

What is the alternative non-scientific name for the giant redwood (sequoia giganteum)?

Wellingtonia

3.

Where is the Canadian National World War I Memorial?

Vimy

4.

Which Character in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim's Progress recites the words which have become Hymn 212 in Hymns Ancient and Modern (To be a Pilgrim)?

Valiant-for-Truth

5.

What was the name of the biggest, fastest and last of the Royal Navy’s dreadnoughts?

HMS Vanguard

6.

What is the title of Cambridge University’s oldest student newspaper?  Its editors have included Jeremy Paxman and its contributors have included the Prince of Wales?

Varsity

7.

Who, in Roman mythology, was the patron of cuckolds and father of Cupid?

Vulcan

8.

What is Lt. Charles Lucas' claim to fame?

He is credited with being the first winner of the VC

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

HMS Kelly was sunk in WW2.  Who commanded her at the time and was later killed in a bomb explosion?

Lord Louis Mountbatten

2.

What was the name of the British destroyer depicted in the film The Gift Horse?

HMS Campbeltown

3.

Which animal lives at the highest altitude?

Yak

4.

What species lives the longest?

Hydra or polyp

(capable of cycling from mature to immature polyp stage and back again indefinitely)

5.

Who won an Oscar for his role in the 1945 film The Lost Weekend?

Ray Milland

6.

In which country was Ray Milland born?

Wales

7.

Who sang the unforgettable hit from 1965 Woolly Bully?

Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs

8.

Similarly who had a hit in 1965 with Lets Hang On?

The Four Seasons

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

Which Scottish indie band who had their greatest success in the 80s were named after a French polymath and had hits including Pearly Dew Drops Drops and Ice Blink Luck?

Cocteau Twins

2.

Which American soft-rock band who had their greatest success in the 80s were named after a type of fire engine and had hits including Can’t Fight This Feeling and Keep On Loving You?

REO Speedwagon

3.

Who was the British Prime Minister during the Second Boer War, 1899-1902?

Marquess of Salisbury

(or Robert Gascoyne-CeciI)

4.

Who was the American President at the time of the Wall Street Crash?

Herbert Hoover

5.

Which author complained bitterly to media organisations about the less-than-flattering portrayal of her army officer husband in the film A Bridge Too Far?

Daphne Du Maurier

6.

What was the family name of the relatives of Daphne Du Maurier who were the inspiration behind their friend J M Barrie’s Peter Pan?

Llewellyn Davies

7.

The Gulf of Aqaba lies at one side of the Sinai Peninsula.  Which stretch of water lies at the other?

Gulf of Suez

8.

Illinois lies immediately to the west of the state of Indiana.  Which state lies immediately to the east of Indiana?

Ohio

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

In which city is Macarthur Park?

Los Angeles

2.

In which city is Retiro Park?

Madrid

3.

Who provides the commentary on Come Dine with Me?

Dave Lamb

4.

Who is the tour guide on Coach Trip?

Brendan Sheerin

5.

Who is the Secretary of State for Wales?

Cheryl Gillan

6.

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

Caroline Spelman

7.

Scarborough is the capital of which country?

Tobago

8.

St George is the capital of which country?

Grenada

ROUND 7 - Hidden theme

1.

What name is shared by a member of the Ramones, a member of Pan’s People and the sister of Dexter in the cartoon series Dexter’s E Laboratory?

Dee Dee

2.

Which word connects a Lancashire town on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, Graham Gooch’s top test score of 333, and the former vocalist with Massive Attack who had several solo hits in the 90s?

Nelson

(multiples of 111 are known as ‘Nelsons’in cricket and the vocalist was Shara Nelson)

3.

Which was the first northern team to reach an FA Cup final?

Blackburn Rovers

4.

Which former England rugby international has been in charge of the RFU’s official review of the recent world cup campaign?

Fran Cotton

5.

Which insectivorous and migratory British bird has the Latin name luscinia megarhynchos and was immortalised in song by Eric Maschwitz in 1939?

Nightingale

6.

Which famous song was written by Cumbrian miII-owner John Woodcock Graves in the 1820s?

D’ye ken John Peel?

7.

Which British Formula One driver has, or had, the middle names Alexander Lyons?

Jenson Button

8.

Which county in the West of Ireland contains Lough Key Forest Park and is the birthplace of the first President of Eire, Douglas Hyde, and the 8th Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds?

County Roscommon

ROUND 8 - Pot pourri

1.

Who won the Best Actor Oscar in 1955 for his role in Marty?

Ernest Borgnine

2.

In which wine region is the Hospice de Beaune held annually in which wines are auctioned?

Burgundy

(accept Cotes de Beaune or Cote d’Or)

3.

Actress Margaret Rutherford was a cousin of which prominent dynasty of, originally Liberal, and latterly (and more famously) Labour, politicians?

Wedgewood-Benn

4.

Element 101 in the periodic table (Md) is named after which Russian chemist?

Mendeleev

5.

Mithradates VI, an enemy of Rome in the first century BC, was king of which state in Northern Anatolia (now Turkey)?

Pontus

6.

What is the capital of the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna?

Bologna

7.

Which current Premiership Club were 1st Division Champions for 1980-81?

Aston Villa

8.

What is the name of Private Eye’s fictional female gossip columnist?

Glenda Slagg

Spares

1.

In which city is New Road County Cricket Ground?

Worcester

2.

In 1969 which woman became Britain's youngest ever female MP?

Bernadette Devlin

3.

What was the surname of the Alice, the inspiration of Alice in Wonderland?

Liddell

4.

Mswati III is the king of which African country?

Swaziland

5.

Adria Airways is the airline of which former Yugoslav state?

Slovenia

6.

What is the star sign of the date of the Battle of Waterloo?

Gemini

(18th June)

7.

What was the first Apollo mission to leave Earth's orbit and orbit the moon, in 1968?

Apollo 8

8.

What is Miss MarpIe's first name?

Jane