ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

What was the birth name of the military commander and politician known as Warwick the Kingmaker?

2.

Which English cricketer scored a record 18 centuries in the English first class season of 1947, including six against the touring South Africans?

3.

Who was Dave Brubeck’s saxophonist, perhaps best known for his composition of, and playing on, Take Five, the best-selling jazz single of all time?

4.

Who was MP for Manchester Withington between 1974 and 1987 when he was defeated by Keith Bradley?

5.

Which writer, who created Elmer Gantry in 1927 became, in 1930, the first writer from the USA to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature?

6.

Which US President was preceded by, and succeeded by, Grover Cleveland?

7.

Which Welsh actor played James Herriot in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small?

8.

Who is the bass player for the group Blur?

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

All the answers have a common link - sometimes as part of a larger word

1.

Born in 1901, which the author created the character Mrs Miniver for a Times newspaper column?  The columns were collected into a hugely successful book in 1939 which was then used as the basis for the 1942 film Mrs Miniver which won six Academy awards including Best Picture.

2.

What is the name of the 10th largest city in the Ukraine?  Situated on the north coast of the Sea of Azov it is currently one of the key battlegrounds in the conflict between the Ukrainian state and the Russian-backed separatist rebels.

3.

Who directed the 1934 film It Happened One Night, the first film to win all five top Academy awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay) and also directed the perennial Christmas favourite It’s A Wonderful Life?

4.

What word describes food, in particular vegetables, that has been cut into thin strips?

5.

This pioneering English blues band has blooded some of the UK’s leading rock musicians including John McVie (an original member), Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce of Cream and Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones.  Still recording and touring today, who are they?

6.

What is the name given to an indigenous soldier serving in the army of a foreign conqueror?  It was used in particular to describe an Indian soldier serving under British command in India.  An uprising of these soldiers triggered the Indian Mutiny of 1857?

7.

This multi-talented writer, designer, playwright, artist and film maker is best known for his novel Les Enfants Terribles (1929), and his films Blood of a Poet (1930), Les Parents Terribles (1948) and Orpheus (1949).  Who is he?

8.

What is the name of the sitcom which ran for four series from 1984 to 1989 and starred Richard Briers, Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan?

ROUND 3 - Paired with Chain letters

A top to tail paired round where the last letter of the first answer becomes the first letter of the next answer and so on until the last letter of the last answer becomes the first letter of the first answer

1.

Which group played its last concert as The New Yardbirds at Liverpool University on 19th October 1968 and its first under its new name at Surrey University on 25th October 1968?

2.

What is the name of the 1975 Robert Altman film that stars amongst others Keith Carradine, Lily Tomlin and Jeff Goldblum?

3.

To the now disgraced Stuart Hall, and others, what is the 'School of Science'? (a one-word answer is required to provide the letter link)

4.

Which league two football team is the only other of the 92 clubs to share the same distinction as Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic, Liverpool and York City?

5.

Which Coen Brothers film of 2007 stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin?

6.

In 1962 B Bumble and The Stingers were a one hit wonder with which instrumental song spending one week at number one in the charts?

7.

What is the full name of the constituency represented in parliament by UKIP MP Mark Reckless?

8.

What is the full name of the constituency represented in parliament by Labour MP Rosie Winterton?  Her parliamentary neighbours include Caroline Flint, John Healey, Michael Dugher, John Mann and Ed Miliband.

ROUND 4 - Pot pourri with a hidden link

1.

What is the name of a fashion-clothing chain owned by Mackay Stores Limited, founded in 1834 in Renfrewshire, whose business was pawnbroking until a conversion to clothing in 1953?  It now has over 300 shops throughout Britain.

2.

What is the name of the music festival held annually on the penultimate weekend of August on 2 sites, artists appearing simultaneously at Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park in Staffordshire, then swapping locations for the next day?

3.

Which celebrated erotic novel of 1954 was written by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Reage?

4.

Which traditional American spiritual, and later folk song, first published in 1927, has, in its 4 verses and 16 lines, 12 lines which are repeats of one of the other 4?  Among the many recordings of it is one by Nottingham Forest FC, backed by the 70’s pop combo Paper Lace.

5.

Which graffito purported to contain quotes from 2 philosophers and a singer (and transferred to many a public convenience since) was first coined by Kurt Vonnegut in his 1982 novel Deadeye Dick?

6.

In the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail, what is the word that, when spoken by the knights, spreads fear and terror into everyone who hears them speak it?

7.

In logistics, which word means the number of items, usually cases, on a pallet layer?  It is often used in conjunction with the term ‘hi’, the number of layers on the pallet.

8.

What was the name of the public penance, usually burning at the stake, served upon heretics by the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th and 16th centuries?

ROUND 5 - Most populous countries in the world

In this round the initial letters of the answers in order are also the initial letters of the eight largest countries in the world by population in order, starting with the largest

This is an attempt by the setters to partially redress the imbalance of difficulty caused to the early respondents in theme rounds

1.

The Mediterranean island of Pianosa is the setting for which celebrated novel of 1961, a novel which expanded the English language?

2.

What does an MP say if he wants to empty the public galleries in the House of Commons?

3.

What is the second largest lake in the Lake District?

4.

Which US state is bordered by Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota?

5.

A dragon features on the flag of which Asian country?

6.

Sonic Kicks was a 2012 album by which veteran male singer? (forename and surname required)

7.

The disgraced politician T Dan Smith was the leader of which city council from 1960 to 1965?

8.

“Madness! Madness!...Madness!” are the last words spoken in which classic war film? (ignore the definite article)

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

In which city could you visit the oft-voted 'World’s best restaurant', Noma, and the world’s oldest amusement park, Bakken?

2.

What colloquial name is given to the central belt of the USA covering mainly Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska where legislation demands the construction of storm cellars and reinforced roofs on buildings?

3.

Which 2012 David O Russell film concerns a former teacher with bi-polar disorder who attempts to get his life back on track and reconcile with his wife?  It was the first film for over 30 years to be nominated for all 4 acting Oscars with Jennifer Lawrence winning the best actress award.

4.

Available from the mid-1950’s, what was the name of Ferranti’s best-selling vacuum tube computer (40 units were sold!)?  The only 2 fully built existing examples are to be found in the Science Museum in London and in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

5.

Who played drums for The Clash between 1976 and 1982?

6.

How was the anti-imperialist, anti-foreigner Yihetuan Movement uprising towards the end of the Qing Dynasty in China between 1899-1901 more commonly known?

7.

What is the name of the French, Napoleonic war soldier who is the hero of several comic novels by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle?

8.

Which dish named in honour of a battle of 1800 comprises chicken sautéed in garlic and tomatoes with a garnish of eggs and crayfish?

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

Which film, part of a series and directed by Sam Mendes, is due to be premièred on November 12 this year?

2.

Which film, due to be premiered on May 1, 2015, is a remake of a film made in 1967, which in itself has been digitally restored and shown in selected British cinemas this year?

3.

Which company, specialising in the manufacture of sporting equipment for rugby and netball, is the official ball supplier of the Rugby Union World Cup 2015 and also for eight national teams?

4.

Which company is the official ball supplier of the Barclays Premier League this season?

5.

At which battle of 1571 did Spanish, Venetian and Papal naval forces defeat the Turkish fleet?

6.

What is the most remembered incident of the battle of the Solent in 1545?

7.

At which hospital did the drug Tamoxifen have its first clinical use for breast cancer in 1972?

8.

At which London hospital was the nurse William Pooley successfully treated for Ebola disease in 2014?

 Beware: there is a homophone and one answer whose theme link is part of a larger word

1.

Which retired politician, born in Port Talbot in 1926, a former Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy PM, is now Baron of Aberavon?

2.

Whose Heron International company went from having assets of £1.5bn in the 1980’s to debts of £2.4bn in the 1990’s?  He himself has gone from conviction for share-trading fraud, a £5m fine and a one year gaol sentence in 1990 to a CBE for charitable services in 2012.

3.

To what has the advertising executive, whose agency created it, attributed the Nike ‘Just do it’ strapline, first broadcast in 1988?

4.

Under the heading ‘Clarifications & Corrections’ what was it that ‘Nicole, 22, from Bournemouth’ helped to clarify and correct on 22nd January this year?

5.

Which footballer played more than 400 English Premier League games until his retirement in 2000?  Making the transition from non-league to Premier League at the age of 21, when he signed for Southampton, he played for 6 top-flight clubs in total and 70 times for Ireland, including appearances in 2 World Cup finals.  He captained Ireland in 1994.

6.

Which surname connects a British actor best known for his role as the hen-pecked Alf Larkin in the 50’s and 60’s sitcom The Larkins and a British urban landscape expressionist painter, born in London in 1926, whose work has been exhibited at the Tate and the National Gallery and who turned down a CBE in 2003?

7.

Which singer-songwriter musician has been nominated 9 times for a Brit award (winning 3) and 16 times for Grammy awards (winning 5) since 1995?  His albums include Odealy, Morning Phase, Midnite Vultures, Sea Change, Guero and Modern Guilt.

8.

Which footballer, born in 1979, who was a non-playing substitute in the 1999 Champions League final, a captain of a Championship (i.e. 2nd tier) title winners in 2008 and a playing substitute in the 2010 Europa League final, is now playing for Tadcaster Albion in the Northern Counties East, Premier Division (9th tier of English football), after being released by Nottingham Forest at the end of last season?

Spares

1.

In Greek mythology who was the messenger of the Gods?

2.

By what name was the Isle of Wight known to the Romans?

3.

In which city can you see statues of Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx?

4.

In which castle was Henry VII born?

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

What was the birth name of the military commander and politician known as Warwick the Kingmaker?

Richard Neville

2.

Which English cricketer scored a record 18 centuries in the English first class season of 1947, including six against the touring South Africans?

Dennis Compton

3.

Who was Dave Brubeck’s saxophonist, perhaps best known for his composition of, and playing on, Take Five, the best-selling jazz single of all time?

Paul Desmond

4.

Who was MP for Manchester Withington between 1974 and 1987 when he was defeated by Keith Bradley?

Fred Silvester

5.

Which writer, who created Elmer Gantry in 1927 became, in 1930, the first writer from the USA to receive the Nobel Prize for Literature?

Sinclair Lewis

6.

Which US President was preceded by, and succeeded by, Grover Cleveland?

Benjamin Harrison

7.

Which Welsh actor played James Herriot in the TV series All Creatures Great and Small?

Christopher Timothy

8.

Who is the bass player for the group Blur?

Alex James

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

All the answers have a common link - sometimes as part of a larger word

1.

Born in 1901, which the author created the character Mrs Miniver for a Times newspaper column?  The columns were collected into a hugely successful book in 1939 which was then used as the basis for the 1942 film Mrs Miniver which won six Academy awards including Best Picture.

Jan Struther

2.

What is the name of the 10th largest city in the Ukraine?  Situated on the north coast of the Sea of Azov it is currently one of the key battlegrounds in the conflict between the Ukrainian state and the Russian-backed separatist rebels.

Mariupol

3.

Who directed the 1934 film It Happened One Night, the first film to win all five top Academy awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay) and also directed the perennial Christmas favourite It’s A Wonderful Life?

Frank Capra

4.

What word describes food, in particular vegetables, that has been cut into thin strips?

Julienne

5.

This pioneering English blues band has blooded some of the UK’s leading rock musicians including John McVie (an original member), Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce of Cream and Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones.  Still recording and touring today, who are they?

John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers

6.

What is the name given to an indigenous soldier serving in the army of a foreign conqueror?  It was used in particular to describe an Indian soldier serving under British command in India.  An uprising of these soldiers triggered the Indian Mutiny of 1857?

Sepoy

7.

This multi-talented writer, designer, playwright, artist and film maker is best known for his novel Les Enfants Terribles (1929), and his films Blood of a Poet (1930), Les Parents Terribles (1948) and Orpheus (1949).  Who is he?

Jean Cocteau

8.

What is the name of the sitcom which ran for four series from 1984 to 1989 and starred Richard Briers, Penelope Wilton and Peter Egan?

Ever Decreasing Circles

ROUND 3 - Paired with Chain letters

A top to tail paired round where the last letter of the first answer becomes the first letter of the next answer and so on until the last letter of the last answer becomes the first letter of the first answer

1.

Which group played its last concert as The New Yardbirds at Liverpool University on 19th October 1968 and its first under its new name at Surrey University on 25th October 1968?

Led Zeppelin

2.

What is the name of the 1975 Robert Altman film that stars amongst others Keith Carradine, Lily Tomlin and Jeff Goldblum?

Nashville

3.

To the now disgraced Stuart Hall, and others, what is the 'School of Science'? (a one-word answer is required to provide the letter link)

Everton

4.

Which league two football team is the only other of the 92 clubs to share the same distinction as Aston Villa, Charlton Athletic, Liverpool and York City?

Northampton Town

(it starts and ends with the same letter)

5.

Which Coen Brothers film of 2007 stars Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin?

No Country for Old Men

6.

In 1962 B Bumble and The Stingers were a one hit wonder with which instrumental song spending one week at number one in the charts?

Nutrocker

7.

What is the full name of the constituency represented in parliament by UKIP MP Mark Reckless?

Rochester and Strood

8.

What is the full name of the constituency represented in parliament by Labour MP Rosie Winterton?  Her parliamentary neighbours include Caroline Flint, John Healey, Michael Dugher, John Mann and Ed Miliband.

Doncaster Central

ROUND 4 - Pot pourri with a hidden theme

1.

What is the name of a fashion-clothing chain owned by Mackay Stores Limited, founded in 1834 in Renfrewshire, whose business was pawnbroking until a conversion to clothing in 1953?  It now has over 300 shops throughout Britain.

M & Co

2.

What is the name of the music festival held annually on the penultimate weekend of August on 2 sites, artists appearing simultaneously at Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park in Staffordshire, then swapping locations for the next day?

V festival

3.

Which celebrated erotic novel of 1954 was written by French author Anne Desclos under the pen name Pauline Reage?

The Story of O

4.

Which traditional American spiritual, and later folk song, first published in 1927, has, in its 4 verses and 16 lines, 12 lines which are repeats of one of the other 4?  Among the many recordings of it is one by Nottingham Forest FC, backed by the 70’s pop combo Paper Lace.

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands

5.

Which graffito purported to contain quotes from 2 philosophers and a singer (and transferred to many a public convenience since) was first coined by Kurt Vonnegut in his 1982 novel Deadeye Dick?

"To be is to do" (from Socrates)
"To do is to be" (from Sartre)
"Do be do be do" (from Sinatra)

6.

In the film Monty Python and The Holy Grail, what is the word that, when spoken by the knights, spreads fear and terror into everyone who hears them speak it?

“Ni” (pronounced “Nee”)

7.

In logistics, which word means the number of items, usually cases, on a pallet layer?  It is often used in conjunction with the term ‘hi’, the number of layers on the pallet.

Ti

8.

What was the name of the public penance, usually burning at the stake, served upon heretics by the Spanish Inquisition in the 15th and 16th centuries?

Auto-da-fé

ROUND 5 - Most populous countries in the world

In this round the initial letters of the answers in order are also the initial letters of the eight largest countries in the world by population in order, starting with the largest

This is an attempt by the setters to partially redress the imbalance of difficulty caused to the early respondents in theme rounds

1.

The Mediterranean island of Pianosa is the setting for which celebrated novel of 1961, a novel which expanded the English language?

Catch 22

(China)

2.

What does an MP say if he wants to empty the public galleries in the House of Commons?

“I spy strangers”

(India)

3.

What is the second largest lake in the Lake District?

Ullswater

(USA)

4.

Which US state is bordered by Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota?

Iowa

(Indonesia)

5.

A dragon features on the flag of which Asian country?

Bhutan

(Brazil)

6.

Sonic Kicks was a 2012 album by which veteran male singer? (forename and surname required)

Paul Weller

(Pakistan)

7.

The disgraced politician T Dan Smith was the leader of which city council from 1960 to 1965?

Newcastle

(Nigeria)

8.

“Madness! Madness!...Madness!” are the last words spoken in which classic war film? (ignore the definite article)

(The) Bridge on the River Kwai (Bangladesh)

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

In which city could you visit the oft-voted 'World’s best restaurant', Noma, and the world’s oldest amusement park, Bakken?

Copenhagen

2.

What colloquial name is given to the central belt of the USA covering mainly Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska where legislation demands the construction of storm cellars and reinforced roofs on buildings?

Tornado Alley

3.

Which 2012 David O Russell film concerns a former teacher with bi-polar disorder who attempts to get his life back on track and reconcile with his wife?  It was the first film for over 30 years to be nominated for all 4 acting Oscars with Jennifer Lawrence winning the best actress award.

The Silver Linings Playbook

4.

Available from the mid-1950’s, what was the name of Ferranti’s best-selling vacuum tube computer (40 units were sold!)?  The only 2 fully built existing examples are to be found in the Science Museum in London and in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Pegasus

5.

Who played drums for The Clash between 1976 and 1982?

Nicky 'Topper' Headon

6.

How was the anti-imperialist, anti-foreigner Yihetuan Movement uprising towards the end of the Qing Dynasty in China between 1899-1901 more commonly known?

Boxer Rebellion

7.

What is the name of the French, Napoleonic war soldier who is the hero of several comic novels by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle?

Brigadier Gerard

8.

Which dish named in honour of a battle of 1800 comprises chicken sautéed in garlic and tomatoes with a garnish of eggs and crayfish?

Chicken Marengo

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

Which film, part of a series and directed by Sam Mendes, is due to be premièred on November 12 this year?

Spectre

(the new Bond film)

2.

Which film, due to be premiered on May 1, 2015, is a remake of a film made in 1967, which in itself has been digitally restored and shown in selected British cinemas this year?

Far from the Madding Crowd

3.

Which company, specialising in the manufacture of sporting equipment for rugby and netball, is the official ball supplier of the Rugby Union World Cup 2015 and also for eight national teams?

Gilbert

4.

Which company is the official ball supplier of the Barclays Premier League this season?

Nike

5.

At which battle of 1571 did Spanish, Venetian and Papal naval forces defeat the Turkish fleet?

Lepanto

6.

What is the most remembered incident of the battle of the Solent in 1545?

The sinking of the Mary Rose

7.

At which hospital did the drug Tamoxifen have its first clinical use for breast cancer in 1972?

The Christie

8.

At which London hospital was the nurse William Pooley successfully treated for Ebola disease in 2014?

The Royal Free

ROUND 8 - 'Hidden theme

Beware: there is a homophone and one answer whose theme link is part of a larger word

1.

Which retired politician, born in Port Talbot in 1926, a former Chancellor, Foreign Secretary, Leader of the House of Commons and Deputy PM, is now Baron of Aberavon?

Geoffrey Howe

2.

Whose Heron International company went from having assets of £1.5bn in the 1980’s to debts of £2.4bn in the 1990’s?  He himself has gone from conviction for share-trading fraud, a £5m fine and a one year gaol sentence in 1990 to a CBE for charitable services in 2012.

Gerald Ronson

3.

To what has the advertising executive, whose agency created it, attributed the Nike ‘Just do it’ strapline, first broadcast in 1988?

A paraphrase of US convicted killer Gary Gilmore’s last words ("Let’s do it") at his firing-squad execution in 1977

4.

Under the heading ‘Clarifications & Corrections’ what was it that ‘Nicole, 22, from Bournemouth’ helped to clarify and correct on 22nd January this year?

Premature reports of the demise of the Sun’s page 3 topless pictures after being absent since 16th January

(on 22nd January, for what in retrospect seems to have been only one day, it unexpectedly returned in the shape of Nicole)

5.

Which footballer played more than 400 English Premier League games until his retirement in 2000?  Making the transition from non-league to Premier League at the age of 21, when he signed for Southampton, he played for 6 top-flight clubs in total and 70 times for Ireland, including appearances in 2 World Cup finals.  He captained Ireland in 1994.

Andy Townsend

6.

Which surname connects a British actor best known for his role as the hen-pecked Alf Larkin in the 50’s and 60’s sitcom The Larkins and a British urban landscape expressionist painter, born in London in 1926, whose work has been exhibited at the Tate and the National Gallery and who turned down a CBE in 2003?

Kossoff

7.

Which singer-songwriter musician has been nominated 9 times for a Brit award (winning 3) and 16 times for Grammy awards (winning 5) since 1995?  His albums include Odealy, Morning Phase, Midnite Vultures, Sea Change, Guero and Modern Guilt.

Beck

8.

Which footballer, born in 1979, who was a non-playing substitute in the 1999 Champions League final, a captain of a Championship (i.e. 2nd tier) title winners in 2008 and a playing substitute in the 2010 Europa League final, is now playing for Tadcaster Albion in the Northern Counties East, Premier Division (9th tier of English football), after being released by Nottingham Forest at the end of last season?

Jonathan Greening

(Manchester United, Middlesborough, WBA, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Tadcaster Albion)

Spares

1.

In Greek mythology who was the messenger of the Gods?

Hermes

2.

By what name was the Isle of Wight known to the Romans?

Vectis

3.

In which city can you see statues of Desperate Dan and Minnie the Minx?

Dundee

4.

In which castle was Henry VII born?

Pembroke