ROUND 1 - Pot pourri

1.

How was Sophie Wittams in the news recently?

2.

Who will become the UK commissioner to the EU on 1 November 2014?

3.

In opera, whose manservant is Leperello?

4.

In a Henry Raeburn painting what activity is the Reverend Robert Walker undertaking?

5.

Which TV character was created by Andrea Camilleri in a 1994 novel La Forma dell’Acqua?

6.

Which criminal character was created by Sax Rohmer in a 1913 novel?

7.

What was significant about the 1867 voyage of The Hougoumont?

8.

Who was governor of New South Wales at the time of the 1808 Rum Rebellion?

Sp.

Who was Taoiseach of Ireland from May 2008 to March 2011 and had the unkind nickname Biffo?

1.

In which TV series does Clare Holman play Dr. Laura Robson?

2.

Best known for her starring role as Samantha Stewart in the TV series Foyle's War, name this actress with an unusual first name.

3.

Which award winning comedian wrote the music and lyrics for the stage version of Roald Dahl’s Matilda?

4.

Actress, writer, and Playboy model, this woman, born in 1952, was a famous US liberal campaigner, despite the fact that her famous parents were considered far from liberal!  Who is she?

5.

A Belfast born member of the House of Lords, he was an MP between 1979 and 2005.  In 2003, he was appointed Chairman of The Football League.  Name him.

6.

An actor who died in 1999, he played Corporal Copping in the first ever Carry On film.  However he is far more famous for a TV role he portrayed for 26 years.  Who is he?

7.

Which make of condoms advertises with the slogan 'the closest thing to wearing nothing'?

8.

Founded in 1878 as an all-female educational establishment, during World War I it was temporarily converted into a military hospital.  It started admitting male students in 1994.  Name this Oxford College.

Sp1

Played by Lee Majors in the 1970s, what was the name of the Bionic Man?

Sp2

Other than the queen, whose head was on the £10 note between 1975 and 1994?

ROUND 3 - Announced theme

Each answer contains the name of a fictional newspaper or magazine from a book, film, TV programme or comic

1.

In Geology what is the term for the portion of a tectonic plate that is being subducted, i.e. disappearing under the adjoining plate?

2.

Name the song written by Nick Lowe and first recorded by Johnny Cash in 1994 that contains the lines: "They've seen him out dressed in my clothes, patently unclear if it's New York or New Year".

3.

According to Jesus in St Mark's Gospel Chapter 6 Verse 4, what is "not without honour but in his own country"?

4.

Which 1956 Hollywood film, starring Walter Pidgeon and Leslie Nielsen, was inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest and had Robbie the Robot as one of its main characters.

5.

Project Catwalk was a UK reality TV show originally presented by Elizabeth Hurley.  What was the name of the US version, presented by Heidi Klum?

6.

The most recent directly observed example of which astral phenomenon was Kepler's Star in 1604?

7.

Which rather sexy group of South Pacific islands was known as Escholt's Atoll until the second World War?

8.

Which two word phrase was coined by Thomas Kuhn in his 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions to describe a change in the basic assumptions of a scientific theory?

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

The Simonyi Professorship for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University is currently held by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy.  Who was his predecessor, the first holder of the position?

2.

Who is the current Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Manchester?

3.

Name the only winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature to have played first class cricket and be mentioned in Wisden.

4.

According to Wisden, who is the only UK Prime Minister to have played first class cricket?

5.

To which post was Judith Weir recently appointed, in succession to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies?

6.

To which post was Alan Davey, previously Chief Executive of the Arts Council for England, recently appointed?

7.

Which band formed in 1976 took its name from Woody Guthrie's autobiography Bound for Glory, where he describes his boyhood gang in 1920s Oklahoma?

8.

Which Californian rock band, formed in 1965, took its name from a book by Aldous Huxley describing his experiments with the hallucinogenic drug mescaline?

Sp1

In physics, which fundamental particle of matter was named by Murray Gell-Mann after reading a passage from Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce?

Sp2

Which classic cocktail is made using gin, lemon juice, sugar and club soda?

ROUND 5 - Announced theme

This round is in written in sympathy with all those, who like me, have got to the age when they Can’t Remember An effing Thing.  The theme is C.R.A.F.T.

All answers relate to a craft or things one would use in pursuit of a craft.  In true WithQuiz fashion parts of words and sound-alikes are be included.

1.

Which country is bordered by the Ukraine and Romania and has the River Dniester running through it towards the Black Sea?

2.

Which US state is bounded by 6 others and the Mason Dixon Line in the south and has a water border with Ontario to the north?

3.

Which song, first heard in 1928 mentions the following people in later versions: Lotte Lenya; Suki Tawdry; Louie Miller and Jenny Diver?

4.

Which song, composed by Wrubel and Gilbert, won the best song Oscar in 1947 when it appeared in Disney’s Song of the South?  It featured a bluebird.

5.

6.

7.

Who links George III, A Private Function and Winnie the Pooh?

8.

Who acted in Mansfield Park, wrote The Dumb Waiter and the screenplay for The French Lieutenant’s Woman?

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme - 'Think about the Link'

Each question has 3 clues to a surname

1.

Currrent England midfielder;

Place of a royal comeuppance;

2006 hit single Crazy at UK number 1 for 9 weeks

2.

George Eliot novel;

BBC TV studios;

2013 Channel 4 period drama set in Cheshire

3.

England slow left arm spinner – taker of the 'other wicket';

20th century Irish tenor;

US actress who was partner of Clint Eastwood and starred in some of his films

4.

America’s Schubert;

Book with character Sally Bowles;

Albums – Low, Heroes and Lodger

5.

Cartoon Tiger;

The Master;

Women’s High St fashion house

6.

Degrees of separation in films;

Blue Peter;

Ed Miliband

7.

Good News;

Gloucestershire and England wicketkeeper;

John Nash

8.

Location of a Grand National;

Hamlet cigars;

Sonja Kristina

Sp.

A cardinal;

M15;

Lord Dunglass

ROUNDS 7 & 8 - University Challenge

The subjects are all names of undergraduate courses available at British universities. Some are more commonplace than others. Pick your subject and the question will follow.

1.

Who was the first person born in a hospital to become US president?

2.

Ancient History

Which Roman emperor succeeded Augustus in AD14?

3.

Architecture

The most prestigious British annual prize for Architecture is named after which architect who preceded both Norman Foster and Richard Rogers in becoming the first British winner of the Pritzker Prize in 1991, one year before his untimely death? (only surname required)

4.

Business Studies

Which American business magnate is known as the 'Sage of Omaha'?

5.

Chemistry

The chemical element Yttrium derived its name after the village near to where it was discovered.  In which country is the village of Ytterby?

6.

7.

Drama

The plays Duet for One, A Moon for the Misbegotten and When She Danced have all featured Olivier Award-winning performances by which actress?  She has had prominent parts in recent TV sitcoms Vicious and Big School, but she is probably best known for another sitcom role she played between 1974 and 1978.

8.

English Literature

Fancy Day and Dick Dewy are two of the central characters in which Thomas Hardy novel?

9.

Film Studies

Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc are all films directed by which Frenchman?

10.

German

What is the English name for the body of water the Germans know as Bodensee?

11.

Geography

Which country borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo?

12.

History of Art

Give a year in the life of the artist Caravaggio.          

13.

Law

Who was the Master of the Rolls between 1962 and 1982?

14.

Mathematics

The 8th Laird of Merchistoun was better known as which mathematician?

15.

Which broadcaster presents a film review show every Friday afternoon on Radio 5 Live which he co-hosts with critic Mark Kermode?

16.

Medicine

The mandible is the name given to the lower jaw.  What name is given to the upper jaw?

17.

Modern History

In the Second World War, what name was given to the British and American operation to invade North Africa, which started on November 8th 1942?

18.

Music

Der Rosenkavalier and Salome are operas by which composer?

19.

Music Technology

Released in 1987, which audio processor alters pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances?  The first successful commercial use of this effect was on Cher’s 1988 global hit Believe.

20.

Physics

Whose 1833 law states 'An induced electromotive force (emf) always gives rise to a current whose magnetic field opposes the original change in magnetic flux.'  This physicist was born in what is now modern-day Estonia.  (only the surname required)

21.

Politics and Criminology

Which MP, who was Minister of State for Europe between 2002 and 2005, resigned from his parliamentary seat in 2012 forcing a by-election in Rotherham?  He later pleaded guilty to false accounting and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

22.

In the Bible, who was the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah and the great-grandfather of Noah?

23.

Sports

Five bowlers have taken 500 test wickets.  Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Glenn McGrath are four of them.  Which cricketer completes this select group?

24.

Science Zoology

Which creature’s name is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘tribe of hairy women’?

ROUND 1 - Pot pourri

1.

How was Sophie Wittams in the news recently?

It was the twitter pseudonym used in the Brooks Newmark sting

2.

Who will become the UK commissioner to the EU on 1 November 2014?

Lord Jonathan Hill

3.

In opera, whose manservant is Leperello?

Don Giovanni

4.

In a Henry Raeburn painting what activity is the Reverend Robert Walker undertaking?

Ice Skating

5.

Which TV character was created by Andrea Camilleri in a 1994 novel La Forma dell’Acqua?

Inspector Montalbano

6.

Which criminal character was created by Sax Rohmer in a 1913 novel?

Fu Manchu

7.

What was significant about the 1867 voyage of The Hougoumont?

Last ship to transport convicts to Australia

8.

Who was governor of New South Wales at the time of the 1808 Rum Rebellion?

Captain William Bligh

Sp.

Who was Taoiseach of Ireland from May 2008 to March 2011 and had the unkind nickname Biffo?

Brian Cowan

(Biffo stands for Big Ignorant Fecker from Offaly)

1.

In which TV series does Clare Holman play Dr. Laura Robson?

Lewis

2.

Best known for her starring role as Samantha Stewart in the TV series Foyle's War, name this actress with an unusual first name.

Honeysuckle Weeks

3.

Which award winning comedian wrote the music and lyrics for the stage version of Roald Dahl’s Matilda?

Tim Minchin

4.

Actress, writer, and Playboy model, this woman, born in 1952, was a famous US liberal campaigner, despite the fact that her famous parents were considered far from liberal!  Who is she?

Patti Davis

(daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan)

5.

A Belfast born member of the House of Lords, he was an MP between 1979 and 2005.  In 2003, he was appointed Chairman of The Football League.  Name him.

Brian Mawhinney

6.

An actor who died in 1999, he played Corporal Copping in the first ever Carry On film.  However he is far more famous for a TV role he portrayed for 26 years.  Who is he?

Bill Owen

7.

Which make of condoms advertises with the slogan 'the closest thing to wearing nothing'?

Mates

8.

Founded in 1878 as an all-female educational establishment, during World War I it was temporarily converted into a military hospital.  It started admitting male students in 1994.  Name this Oxford College.

Sommerville

Sp1

Played by Lee Majors in the 1970s, what was the name of the Bionic Man?

Steve Austin

Sp2

Other than the queen, whose head was on the £10 note between 1975 and 1994?

Florence Nightingale

ROUND 3 - Announced theme

Each answer contains the name of a fictional newspaper or magazine from a book, film, TV programme or comic

1.

In Geology what is the term for the portion of a tectonic plate that is being subducted, i.e. disappearing under the adjoining plate?

Slab

(The Daily Slab in The Flintstones)

2.

Name the song written by Nick Lowe and first recorded by Johnny Cash in 1994 that contains the lines: "They've seen him out dressed in my clothes, patently unclear if it's New York or New Year".

The Beast in Me

(The Beast from Evelyn Waugh's Scoop)

3.

According to Jesus in St Mark's Gospel Chapter 6 Verse 4, what is "not without honour but in his own country"?

A prophet

(The Daily Prophet from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

4.

Which 1956 Hollywood film, starring Walter Pidgeon and Leslie Nielsen, was inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest and had Robbie the Robot as one of its main characters.

Forbidden Planet

(The Daily Planet from Superman)

5.

Project Catwalk was a UK reality TV show originally presented by Elizabeth Hurley.  What was the name of the US version, presented by Heidi Klum?

Project Runway

(Runway magazine in The Devil Wears Prada)

6.

The most recent directly observed example of which astral phenomenon was Kepler's Star in 1604?

Supernova

(The Daily Supernova from Futurama)

7.

Which rather sexy group of South Pacific islands was known as Escholt's Atoll until the second World War?

Bikini Atoll

(Bikini Bottom News from Spongebob Squarepants)

8.

Which two word phrase was coined by Thomas Kuhn in his 1962 book The Structure of Scientific Revolutions to describe a change in the basic assumptions of a scientific theory?

Paradigm Shift

(Ankh-Morpork Literary Gazette and Paradigm Shifters Monthly from the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett)

ROUND 4 - Pairs

1.

The Simonyi Professorship for the Public Understanding of Science at Oxford University is currently held by mathematician Marcus du Sautoy.  Who was his predecessor, the first holder of the position?

Richard Dawkins

2.

Who is the current Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Manchester?

Jeanette Winterson

3.

Name the only winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature to have played first class cricket and be mentioned in Wisden.

Samuel Beckett

(played twice for Dublin University against Northamptonshire in 1925 and 1926)

4.

According to Wisden, who is the only UK Prime Minister to have played first class cricket?

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

(as Lord Dunglass)

5.

To which post was Judith Weir recently appointed, in succession to Sir Peter Maxwell Davies?

Master of the Queen's Music

6.

To which post was Alan Davey, previously Chief Executive of the Arts Council for England, recently appointed?

Controller of BBC Radio 3

7.

Which band formed in 1976 took its name from Woody Guthrie's autobiography Bound for Glory, where he describes his boyhood gang in 1920s Oklahoma?

The Boomtown Rats

8.

Which Californian rock band, formed in 1965, took its name from a book by Aldous Huxley describing his experiments with the hallucinogenic drug mescaline?

The Doors

(....of Perception)

Sp1

In physics, which fundamental particle of matter was named by Murray Gell-Mann after reading a passage from Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce?

Quark

Sp2

Which classic cocktail is made using gin, lemon juice, sugar and club soda?

Tom Collins

ROUND 5 - Announced theme

This round is in written in sympathy with all those, who like me, have got to the age when they Can’t Remember An effing Thing.  The theme is C.R.A.F.T.

All answers relate to a craft or things one would use in pursuit of a craft.  In true WithQuiz fashion parts of words and sound-alikes are be included.

1.

Which country is bordered by the Ukraine and Romania and has the River Dniester running through it towards the Black Sea?

Moldova

(mould)

2.

Which US state is bounded by 6 others and the Mason Dixon Line in the south and has a water border with Ontario to the north?

Pennsylvania

(pen)

3.

Which song, first heard in 1928 mentions the following people in later versions: Lotte Lenya; Suki Tawdry; Louie Miller and Jenny Diver?

Mack the Knife

(knife)

4.

Which song, composed by Wrubel and Gilbert, won the best song Oscar in 1947 when it appeared in Disney’s Song of the South?  It featured a bluebird.

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah

(zip)

5.

(clay)

6.

(sew)

7.

Who links George III, A Private Function and Winnie the Pooh?

Alan Bennett

(wrote screenplays and read the book)

(net)

8.

Who acted in Mansfield Park, wrote The Dumb Waiter and the screenplay for The French Lieutenant’s Woman?

Harold Pinter

(pin)

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme - 'Think about the Link'

Each question has 3 clues to a surname

1.

Currrent England midfielder;

Place of a royal comeuppance;

2006 hit single Crazy at UK number 1 for 9 weeks

Berkeley

(Ross Barkley; Berkeley Castle – gruesome death of Edward II; Gnarls Barkley)

2.

George Eliot novel;

BBC TV studios;

2013 Channel 4 period drama set in Cheshire

Mill

(Mill on the Floss; Pebble Mill; The Mill – based on Quarry Bank Mill)

3.

England slow left arm spinner – taker of the 'other wicket';

20th century Irish tenor;

US actress who was partner of Clint Eastwood and starred in some of his films

Locke

(Tony Lock – Laker’s 19 wickets in test; Joseph Locke; Sondra Locke)

4.

America’s Schubert;

Book with character Sally Bowles;

Albums – Low, Heroes and Lodger

Berlin

(Irving Berlin as described by Gershwin; Goodbye to Berlin; Bowie’s Berlin trilogy of albums)

5.

Cartoon Tiger;

The Master;

Women’s High St fashion house

Hobbes

(Calvin and Hobbes; cricketer Jack Hobbs known as; Hobbs – favoured by the Middletons)

6.

Degrees of separation in films;

Blue Peter;

Ed Miliband

Bacon

(Kevin Bacon number; Richard Bacon – sacked presenter; the famous sandwich)

7.

Good News;

Gloucestershire and England wicketkeeper;

John Nash

Russell

(Russell Howard TV programme; Jack Russell; Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind)

8.

Location of a Grand National;

Hamlet cigars;

Sonja Kristina

Ayer

(Ayr - Scottish race; Air on a G String – TV ad music; Curved Air)

Sp.

A cardinal;

M15;

Lord Dunglass

(Basil Hume; Hulme postcode; Alec Douglas-Home)

ROUNDS 7 & 8 - University Challenge

The subjects are all names of undergraduate courses available at British universities. Some are more commonplace than others. Pick your subject and the question will follow.

1.

Who was the first person born in a hospital to become US president?

Jimmy Carter

2.

Ancient History

Which Roman emperor succeeded Augustus in AD14?

Tiberius

3.

Architecture

The most prestigious British annual prize for Architecture is named after which architect who preceded both Norman Foster and Richard Rogers in becoming the first British winner of the Pritzker Prize in 1991, one year before his untimely death? (only surname required)

Sir James Stirling

4.

Business Studies

Which American business magnate is known as the 'Sage of Omaha'?

Warren Buffett

5.

Chemistry

The chemical element Yttrium derived its name after the village near to where it was discovered.  In which country is the village of Ytterby?

Sweden

6.

Serial

7.

Drama

The plays Duet for One, A Moon for the Misbegotten and When She Danced have all featured Olivier Award-winning performances by which actress?  She has had prominent parts in recent TV sitcoms Vicious and Big School, but she is probably best known for another sitcom role she played between 1974 and 1978.

Frances de la Tour

8.

English Literature

Fancy Day and Dick Dewy are two of the central characters in which Thomas Hardy novel?

Under the Greenwood Tree

9.

Film Studies

Léon: The Professional, The Fifth Element and The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc are all films directed by which Frenchman?

Luc Besson

10.

German

What is the English name for the body of water the Germans know as Bodensee?

Lake Constance

11.

Geography

Which country borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo?

Rwanda

12.

History of Art

Give a year in the life of the artist Caravaggio.          

1571-1610

13.

Law

Who was the Master of the Rolls between 1962 and 1982?

Lord Denning

14.

Mathematics

The 8th Laird of Merchistoun was better known as which mathematician?

John Napier

15.

Which broadcaster presents a film review show every Friday afternoon on Radio 5 Live which he co-hosts with critic Mark Kermode?

Simon Mayo

16.

Medicine

The mandible is the name given to the lower jaw.  What name is given to the upper jaw?

Maxilla

17.

Modern History

In the Second World War, what name was given to the British and American operation to invade North Africa, which started on November 8th 1942?

Operation Torch

18.

Music

Der Rosenkavalier and Salome are operas by which composer?

Richard Strauss

19.

Music Technology

Released in 1987, which audio processor alters pitch in vocal and instrumental music recording and performances?  The first successful commercial use of this effect was on Cher’s 1988 global hit Believe.

Auto-Tune

20.

Physics

Whose 1833 law states 'An induced electromotive force (emf) always gives rise to a current whose magnetic field opposes the original change in magnetic flux.'  This physicist was born in what is now modern-day Estonia.  (only the surname required)

21.

Politics and Criminology

Which MP, who was Minister of State for Europe between 2002 and 2005, resigned from his parliamentary seat in 2012 forcing a by-election in Rotherham?  He later pleaded guilty to false accounting and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

22.

In the Bible, who was the son of Jared, the father of Methuselah and the great-grandfather of Noah?

Enoch

23.

Sports

Five bowlers have taken 500 test wickets.  Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Glenn McGrath are four of them.  Which cricketer completes this select group?

Courtney Walsh

24.

Science Zoology

Which creature’s name is derived from a Greek word meaning ‘tribe of hairy women’?

Gorilla