1.

Which film was originally to be entitled $3000 after the fee agreed between the two main characters, Edward and Vivian?

2.

What is the only national flag to feature a depiction of an actual (as opposed to a non-specific) building?

3.

With which writer did Paul Theroux maintain a poisonous literary feud for over two decades after the other sold signed copies of Theroux’s books at auction?  They were finally reconciled in 2011.

4.

Oulu in Finland is the home of which unusual contest?  Recent contestants have included Theun ‘Tremelo’ de Jong, Pelvis Fenderbender and Craig ‘Hot Lixx’ Billmeier.

5.

A pair of cross-gartered yellow stockings are a key plot device in which Shakespeare play?

6.

What was described by John F Kennedy as "combining the best of northern charm and southern efficiency"?

7.

Produced from the dried and ground rhizomes of circuma longa, a plant of the ginger family, which spice is sometimes known as Indian saffron?

8.

Which group had a 1965 hit whose lyrics (apart from the song’s title) were taken word-for-word from chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes?

9.

Which Scottish comedian, who started off in a Glasgow punk band with Peter Capaldi and had small roles in Red Dwarf and One Foot in the Grave, became famous in America as the host of the hugely successful Late Late Show on CBS from 2005 to 2014?

10.

Who was Governor of the Bahamas from 1940 to 1945?

11.

Which is the only Charles Dickens novel with a female narrator, namely Esther Summerson?

12.

Where did the ‘Yellow Fleet’ become stranded between 1967 and 1975?  The name derived from the colour the ships turned over the years.

13.

In which country is the paperclip an unofficial national symbol?  It was worn in the lapel as a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation in World War Two and a 7ft paper clip stands in the capital city.

14.

From which African country does Rai music originate?  Cheb Khaled was its first star to achieve international success.

15.

Which 1986 work by Richard Dawkins takes its title from his response to the argument proposed by William Paley in the eighteenth century that the complexity of living organisms is evidence of a divine creator?

16.

Which western was originally to be called The Cut-Whore Killings, a more literal description of the main plotline?

17.

What is the only national flag to depict humans – it has two, one dark and one light-skinned?

18.

With which writer did Martin Amis fall out after he (Amis) ditched his agent Pat Kavanagh, the other writer’s wife, over an advance for a new novel?

19.

The first world championships in which activity were held in Germany in 2002?  Events included the ‘Water’ where the activity took place in a fast-flowing river, ‘Forest’ where it was undertaken at the top of a tree, and ‘Urban’ where it was performed on a broken-down car.  The Rowenta Trophy was won by a team from South Africa.

20.

A strawberry-patterned handkerchief is a key plot device in which Shakespeare play?

21.

Which North American city did Peter Ustinov describe as being "like New York run by the Swiss"?

22.

An ingredient of Tom Yam soup, what is the common name of the rhizome of the genus alpine also known as thai ginger or kha?

23.

24.

Which political satirist, who for many years has played a caricatured version of conservative political pundits, was recently announced as the replacement for David Letterman on The Late Show?

25.

Which emperor is buried at Farnborough in Hampshire?

26.

Which poet was disturbed by the person from Porlock?

27.

Which country lost its coastline in the War of the Pacific?

28.

What was created to "keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down" according to Lord Ismay?

29.

From which African country does Morna music originate?  Cesaria Evora was its best-known practitioner.

30.

Richard Dawkins’ 1998 book Unweaving the Rainbow takes its title from Lamia, a work by which poet in which he claims that Isaac Newton had destroyed the beauty of the rainbow by explaining the origin of its colours?

ROUND 2 - Stockport style - Written

1.

In which country does the luxurious Blue Train operate?

2.

Which children’s book of 1960 was written as a result of a bet between the author and his publisher that he couldn’t write an entire book using only fifty words?

3.

What is the largest island in Asia which is not at least partially occupied by Indonesia?

4.

In which country did Yoko Ono unveil the Imagine Peace Tower in 2007?  A memorial to John Lennon, it consists of 15 columns of light which reach to the cloudbase.  Its site was chosen due to this country’s eco-friendly use of geo-thermal energy which powers the installation.

5.

The Louis Vuitton Cup is the final eliminator for which sporting competition?

6.

Which leader is known for her ‘diamond hand’ gesture?

7.

In which US building would you find the Jungle Room, the Meditation Garden, the Music Room and the Trophy Room.  It also has its own dedicated radio station?

8.

Which Grand National winner was named after owner Tommy Barron’s grandchildren – Timothy, Nicola, David and Alastair?

9.

If Stockholm syndrome is where hostages empathise with their captors, which South American capital gives its name to the reverse, where captors start to empathise with their hostages?  It was first named after a siege at the city’s Japanese embassy in 1996.

10.

Which internet company was sold to ITV for £120 million in 2005, only to be sold on in 2009 for just £25 million?

ROUND 3 - WithQuiz style - Links

1.

What links the following London streets: currently - Matthew Parker Street, Great George Street and Brewers Green; formerly - Millbank, Smith Square and Cowley Street?

2.

What links the following songs: Whatever by Oasis, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Down Under by Men at Work and My Sweet Lord by George Harrison?

3.

What links St Stephen’s, Central, Victoria and (since 2012) Elizabeth?

4.

What links Fiona Bruce, Chris Evans, Michael Moore, Gordon Banks and Richard Bacon?

5.

Vocally, what connects Changes, I Feel For You, Psycho Killer, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet and My Generation?

6.

What links Portsmouth, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Penang, Montreal and New York City?

7.

What links the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 2005 World Athletics Championships and both the 2013 and 2015 African Cups of Nations?

8.

What links John Travolta, Colin Croft, Gary Numan and Bruce Dickinson?

Sp1

What links John Peel, Other, Park and Pyramid?

Sp2

What links Forrest Gump, Thomas Magnum and the A-Team?

ROUND 4 - WithQuiz style - Pairs

1.

Which title character from a movie which has spawned numerous sequels, has a name taken from the Yiddish word for ‘fear’ or ‘fright’?

2.

Which action movie franchise – the most recent instalment of which was released in 2013 – is based on a 1979 thriller by Roderick Thorp entitled Nothing Lasts Forever?

3.

Two African countries have capitals which mean the same thing, one in French, one in English.  Name either country.

4.

Only two US state capitals lie on the Mississippi River.  Name either.

5.

In the 2012 Olympics eight players from which sport were disqualified for trying to lose on purpose, as defeats in the round-robin stage gained them a friendlier draw in the next round?

6.

Which is the only Olympic track or field event in which the women’s record is better (i.e. quicker or further) than the men’s?

7.

‘Medical’, ‘Historical’, ‘Modern’, ‘Tender’ and ‘Blaze’ are lines produced by which publishing company?

8.

The cover of which publication always features the same woodcut by Eric Ravilious?

Sp1

What is the name of the current ‘first dog’ of the United States?

Sp2

What is the name of the current Downing Street cat otherwise known as the 'Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office'?

ROUND 5 - WithQuiz style - Hidden theme

1.

What is the name of the New Zealander who pioneered the extreme sport of bungee jumping?  He famously and illegally jumped from the Eiffel Tower in 1987 and lends his name to the first and most successful bungee company in the world.

2.

What was the final name of the character played by Lynne Perrie in Coronation Street? (both names required)

3.

Which measurement of distance, originally referring to the length of the furrow in one acre of a ploughed field, is only widely used in a sporting context in the UK, but is still used in conjunction with miles on road signs in Burma (Myanmar)?

4.

Which vocalist of an American rock group (active 1975-1991) who prefer to be stylised without a definite article, was born in Dumbarton in 1952 and retains British rather than US citizenship despite leaving the UK aged two?  He is also well known as a pro-cycling lobbyist.

5.

In which film did Rene Zellweger utter the line "You had me at hello"?

6.

Which Shakespeare character was "from his mother’s womb untimely ripped"?

7.

Which 1970s film character was based on the real-life New York police detective Eddie Egan?

8.

Who was the winning coach on the 2015 series of The Voice?  The winning artist was Stevie McCrorie.

Sp.

For what reason was the border between England and Scotland closed on Christmas Day 1950 for the first time in 400 years?

ROUND 6 - WithQuiz style - Bingo

Pick your subject from the list provided

1.

World Geography

Which country’s capital city is closest to Mount Everest?

2.

Rock

Which band released an album the cover of which featured the band members’ faces carved into Mount Rushmore?

3.

The Pacific

Around 10% of Tuvalu’s total GDP comes from the sale of which fortuitous asset?

4.

Football

Which country, which appeared at the 2014 World Cup, has played the most games at World Cup finals without yet winning a match?

5.

Languages

Which country is known as ‘Niemcy’ and ‘Tyskland’ in the languages of two of its near-neighbours?

6.

 UK Geography

What is significant about the postcodes KW1 4YR and TR19 7AA?

7.

1980s TV

What was the name of Julian Clary’s canine companion on the game show Sticky Moments? (the simple name will suffice, although the dog also had a soubriquet)

8.

Philosophy

The teleological, anthropic and ontological are all arguments in favour of what?

9.

Finance

Braeburn Capital is the hedge fund of which technology company?

10.

Literature

Which word links works by Matthew Arnold, Neville Shute and Ian McEwan?

11.

Kings and Queens

Only three English kings since 1066 remained unmarried throughout their lives.  Edward V and Edward VI, who both died in adolescence, were two.  Name the other who died aged 44.

12.

Religious Leaders

Who was Joseph Smith’s successor as leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the founder of Salt Lake City?

1.

Which film was originally to be entitled $3000 after the fee agreed between the two main characters, Edward and Vivian?

Pretty Woman

2.

What is the only national flag to feature a depiction of an actual (as opposed to a non-specific) building?

Cambodia

(Angkor Wat – Afghanistan features a stylised version of a non-specific mosque)

3.

With which writer did Paul Theroux maintain a poisonous literary feud for over two decades after the other sold signed copies of Theroux’s books at auction?  They were finally reconciled in 2011.

V S Naipaul

4.

Oulu in Finland is the home of which unusual contest?  Recent contestants have included Theun ‘Tremelo’ de Jong, Pelvis Fenderbender and Craig ‘Hot Lixx’ Billmeier.

Air guitar world championships

(do NOT accept just ‘guitar’)

5.

A pair of cross-gartered yellow stockings are a key plot device in which Shakespeare play?

Twelfth Night

6.

What was described by John F Kennedy as "combining the best of northern charm and southern efficiency"?

Washington DC

7.

Produced from the dried and ground rhizomes of circuma longa, a plant of the ginger family, which spice is sometimes known as Indian saffron?

Turmeric

8.

Which group had a 1965 hit whose lyrics (apart from the song’s title) were taken word-for-word from chapter 3 of the book of Ecclesiastes?

The Byrds

(Turn! Turn! Turn!)

9.

Which Scottish comedian, who started off in a Glasgow punk band with Peter Capaldi and had small roles in Red Dwarf and One Foot in the Grave, became famous in America as the host of the hugely successful Late Late Show on CBS from 2005 to 2014?

Craig Ferguson

10.

Who was Governor of the Bahamas from 1940 to 1945?

The Duke of Windsor

(Edward VIII)

11.

Which is the only Charles Dickens novel with a female narrator, namely Esther Summerson?

Bleak House

12.

Where did the ‘Yellow Fleet’ become stranded between 1967 and 1975?  The name derived from the colour the ships turned over the years.

Suez Canal

(ships were stranded as a result of being scuttled during the Six Day War)

13.

In which country is the paperclip an unofficial national symbol?  It was worn in the lapel as a symbol of resistance to Nazi occupation in World War Two and a 7ft paper clip stands in the capital city.

Norway

14.

From which African country does Rai music originate?  Cheb Khaled was its first star to achieve international success.

Algeria

15.

Which 1986 work by Richard Dawkins takes its title from his response to the argument proposed by William Paley in the eighteenth century that the complexity of living organisms is evidence of a divine creator?

The Blind Watchmaker

16.

Which western was originally to be called The Cut-Whore Killings, a more literal description of the main plotline?

Unforgiven

17.

What is the only national flag to depict humans – it has two, one dark and one light-skinned?

Belize

18.

With which writer did Martin Amis fall out after he (Amis) ditched his agent Pat Kavanagh, the other writer’s wife, over an advance for a new novel?

Julian Barnes

19.

The first world championships in which activity were held in Germany in 2002?  Events included the ‘Water’ where the activity took place in a fast-flowing river, ‘Forest’ where it was undertaken at the top of a tree, and ‘Urban’ where it was performed on a broken-down car.  The Rowenta Trophy was won by a team from South Africa.

Extreme Ironing

20.

A strawberry-patterned handkerchief is a key plot device in which Shakespeare play?

Othello

21.

Which North American city did Peter Ustinov describe as being "like New York run by the Swiss"?

Toronto

22.

An ingredient of Tom Yam soup, what is the common name of the rhizome of the genus alpine also known as thai ginger or kha?

Galangal

23.

Boney M

(Rivers of Babylon)

24.

Which political satirist, who for many years has played a caricatured version of conservative political pundits, was recently announced as the replacement for David Letterman on The Late Show?

Stephen Colbert

25.

Which emperor is buried at Farnborough in Hampshire?

Napoleon III

26.

Which poet was disturbed by the person from Porlock?

Samuel Taylor-Coleridge

(causing him to forget the bulk of Kubla Khan, which had come to him in a dream)

27.

Which country lost its coastline in the War of the Pacific?

Bolivia

28.

What was created to "keep the Russians out, the Americans in and the Germans down" according to Lord Ismay?

NATO

29.

From which African country does Morna music originate?  Cesaria Evora was its best-known practitioner.

Cape Verde

30.

Richard Dawkins’ 1998 book Unweaving the Rainbow takes its title from Lamia, a work by which poet in which he claims that Isaac Newton had destroyed the beauty of the rainbow by explaining the origin of its colours?

John Keats

ROUND 2 - Stockport style - Written

1.

In which country does the luxurious Blue Train operate?

South Africa

2.

Which children’s book of 1960 was written as a result of a bet between the author and his publisher that he couldn’t write an entire book using only fifty words?

Green Eggs and Ham

(by Dr Seuss)

3.

What is the largest island in Asia which is not at least partially occupied by Indonesia?

Honshu

4.

In which country did Yoko Ono unveil the Imagine Peace Tower in 2007?  A memorial to John Lennon, it consists of 15 columns of light which reach to the cloudbase.  Its site was chosen due to this country’s eco-friendly use of geo-thermal energy which powers the installation.

Iceland

5.

The Louis Vuitton Cup is the final eliminator for which sporting competition?

The Americas Cup

6.

Which leader is known for her ‘diamond hand’ gesture?

Angela Merkel

7.

In which US building would you find the Jungle Room, the Meditation Garden, the Music Room and the Trophy Room.  It also has its own dedicated radio station?

Graceland

8.

Which Grand National winner was named after owner Tommy Barron’s grandchildren – Timothy, Nicola, David and Alastair?

Aldaniti

(first two letters of their names)

9.

If Stockholm syndrome is where hostages empathise with their captors, which South American capital gives its name to the reverse, where captors start to empathise with their hostages?  It was first named after a siege at the city’s Japanese embassy in 1996.

Lima

10.

Which internet company was sold to ITV for £120 million in 2005, only to be sold on in 2009 for just £25 million?

Friends Reunited

ROUND 3 - WithQuiz style - Links'

1.

What links the following London streets: currently - Matthew Parker Street, Great George Street and Brewers Green; formerly - Millbank, Smith Square and Cowley Street?

HQs of the three main political parties

2.

What links the following songs: Whatever by Oasis, Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, Down Under by Men at Work and My Sweet Lord by George Harrison?

All have been subjects of plagiarism claims

3.

What links St Stephen’s, Central, Victoria and (since 2012) Elizabeth?

Towers of the Palace of Westminster

4.

What links Fiona Bruce, Chris Evans, Michael Moore, Gordon Banks and Richard Bacon?

All have namesake MPs in the recently dissolved Parliament

5.

Vocally, what connects Changes, I Feel For You, Psycho Killer, You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet and My Generation?

All contain stuttering

6.

What links Portsmouth, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Penang, Montreal and New York City?

Cities built on islands

7.

What links the 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 2005 World Athletics Championships and both the 2013 and 2015 African Cups of Nations?

Original host pulled out of hosting the event

(Colombia, London - Picketts Lock, Libya and Morocco)

8.

What links John Travolta, Colin Croft, Gary Numan and Bruce Dickinson?

All are qualified private pilots

Sp1

What links John Peel, Other, Park and Pyramid?

All are stages at the Glastonbury festival

Sp2

What links Forrest Gump, Thomas Magnum and the A-Team?

All are Vietnam veterans

ROUND 4 - WithQuiz style - Pairs

1.

Which title character from a movie which has spawned numerous sequels, has a name taken from the Yiddish word for ‘fear’ or ‘fright’?

Shrek

2.

Which action movie franchise – the most recent instalment of which was released in 2013 – is based on a 1979 thriller by Roderick Thorp entitled Nothing Lasts Forever?

Die Hard

3.

Two African countries have capitals which mean the same thing, one in French, one in English.  Name either country.

Sierra Leone or Gabon

(Freetown and Libreville respectively)

4.

Only two US state capitals lie on the Mississippi River.  Name either.

(either)

St Paul

(or)

Baton Rouge

5.

In the 2012 Olympics eight players from which sport were disqualified for trying to lose on purpose, as defeats in the round-robin stage gained them a friendlier draw in the next round?

Badminton

6.

Which is the only Olympic track or field event in which the women’s record is better (i.e. quicker or further) than the men’s?

Discus

(however the women’s discus is lighter)

7.

‘Medical’, ‘Historical’, ‘Modern’, ‘Tender’ and ‘Blaze’ are lines produced by which publishing company?

Mills and Boon

8.

The cover of which publication always features the same woodcut by Eric Ravilious?

Wisden

Sp1

What is the name of the current ‘first dog’ of the United States?

Bo

(also accept 'Sunny', who is the second of the two Portuguese Water Dogs to be owned by the Obamas)

Sp2

What is the name of the current Downing Street cat otherwise known as the 'Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office'?

Larry

ROUND 5 - WithQuiz style - Hidden theme

1.

What is the name of the New Zealander who pioneered the extreme sport of bungee jumping?  He famously and illegally jumped from the Eiffel Tower in 1987 and lends his name to the first and most successful bungee company in the world.

A J Hackett

2.

What was the final name of the character played by Lynne Perrie in Coronation Street? (both names required)

Ivy Brennan

3.

Which measurement of distance, originally referring to the length of the furrow in one acre of a ploughed field, is only widely used in a sporting context in the UK, but is still used in conjunction with miles on road signs in Burma (Myanmar)?

Furlong

4.

Which vocalist of an American rock group (active 1975-1991) who prefer to be stylised without a definite article, was born in Dumbarton in 1952 and retains British rather than US citizenship despite leaving the UK aged two?  He is also well known as a pro-cycling lobbyist.

David Byrne

(of Talking Heads)

5.

In which film did Rene Zellweger utter the line "You had me at hello"?

Jerry Maguire

6.

Which Shakespeare character was "from his mother’s womb untimely ripped"?

Macduff

7.

Which 1970s film character was based on the real-life New York police detective Eddie Egan?

Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle

8.

Who was the winning coach on the 2015 series of The Voice?  The winning artist was Stevie McCrorie.

Ricky Wilson

Sp.

For what reason was the border between England and Scotland closed on Christmas Day 1950 for the first time in 400 years?

The theft of the Stone of Scone

ROUND 6 - WithQuiz style - Bingo

Pick your subject from the list provided

1.

World Geography

Which country’s capital city is closest to Mount Everest?
 

Nepal

(Kathmandu)

(originally given in the question paper as Myanmar/ Burma which later proved to be the wrong answer)

2.

Rock

Which band released an album the cover of which featured the band members’ faces carved into Mount Rushmore?

Deep Purple

3.

The Pacific

Around 10% of Tuvalu’s total GDP comes from the sale of which fortuitous asset?

The '.tv' domain name suffix

4.

Football

Which country, which appeared at the 2014 World Cup, has played the most games at World Cup finals without yet winning a match?

Honduras

5.

Languages

Which country is known as ‘Niemcy’ and ‘Tyskland’ in the languages of two of its near-neighbours?

Germany

(in Polish and Swedish respectively)

6.

 UK Geography

What is significant about the postcodes KW1 4YR and TR19 7AA?

They are the postcodes for John O’Groats and Lands End respectively

7.

1980s TV

What was the name of Julian Clary’s canine companion on the game show Sticky Moments? (the simple name will suffice, although the dog also had a soubriquet)

Fanny

(the Wonderdog)

8.

Philosophy

The teleological, anthropic and ontological are all arguments in favour of what?

The existence of God

9.

Finance

Braeburn Capital is the hedge fund of which technology company?

Apple

10.

Literature

Which word links works by Matthew Arnold, Neville Shute and Ian McEwan?

Beach

11.

Kings and Queens

Only three English kings since 1066 remained unmarried throughout their lives.  Edward V and Edward VI, who both died in adolescence, were two.  Name the other who died aged 44.

William II

12.

Religious Leaders

Who was Joseph Smith’s successor as leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the founder of Salt Lake City?

Brigham Young