1.

Seven grounds were used for the recent World T20 Cricket Tournament held in India. Known as the ‘IT capital of India’, which city hosts the most southerly of these grounds?

2.

The Battle of Bannockburn was fought in 1314 close to which Scottish city?

3.

In the recent BBC series Happy Valley Kevin Doyle played the part of DC John Wadsworth who ends up killing himself by jumping off a railway bridge. Doyle also appeared in Downton Abbey playing which character?

4.

What is the name of the small group of about 60,000 Western Slavic people who live mainly in Eastern Germany and Western Poland and have their own language and culture?

5.

Named after a town in Cornwall, which is the second largest, and only inland, city in the Australian State in which it is situated?

6.

Which Premiership club has adopted Tom Jones’ song Delilah as its anthem?

7.

The Canadian Territory of Nunavut and three Canadian Provinces border Hudson Bay. Quebec and Ontario are two of the Provinces – which is the other?

8.

“City had won the Premier League as recently as 2012.” What verb tense is represented in this sentence (perhaps spoken in 2014)?

9.

Which breed of toy dog originating from Tibet and China is also known as the Chrysanthemum Dog or the Chinese Lion Dog?

10.

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Lord Chancellor from 1515 to 1529. What ecclesiastical position did he hold during that period?

11.

Patricia Hodgson holds which position in broadcasting?

12.

Which Shakespeare play contains the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ speech?

13.

In roulette (with a wheel with no double zero pocket) the odds against a ‘street’ bet winning is 34-3. What is a bet on a ‘street’?

14.

In the New Testament who are the only epistle addressees starting with the letter ‘G’?

15.

For which Hollywood studios did Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire make their best known musical films between 1933 and 1939?

16.

In the recent World T20 Cricket Tournament which two countries made it through from the preliminary stage into the main group stage?

17.

Which decisive Battle was fought between Jacobite forces and loyalist forces under the Duke of Cumberland close to the city of Inverness?

18.

In the BBC’s recent adaptation of John Le Carré’s The Night Manager which actor played the part of Major Lance Corkoran?

19.

In Norway there are two official forms of the Norwegian language, Nynorsk and which other?

20.

Which is Australia’s largest non-coastal city?

21.

Sue Barker, Jimmy Carr, Stuart Pearce, Ray Mears, Louie Spence and Stephen Hawking have all objected to Welshman, Wynne Evans, and have tried to silence him. Who was paying them to do this?

22.

The US State of Maine borders the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and which other?

23.

“United would have won the Premier League in 2012, were Sergio Aguero off target.” What verbal mood is represented in this sentence (perhaps spoken in 2014) by the word ‘were’?

24.

Which breed of dog, originating in Hungary, is a pointer-retriever type of hunting dog endowed with a highly developed sense of smell?

25.

Bishop Stephen Gardiner was Lord Chancellor from 1553 to 1555. Of what southern English see was he bishop during this period?

26.

Between 1979 and 2014 Ian McIntyre, John Drummond, Nicholas Kenyon and Roger Wright have successively held which position in broadcasting?

27.

In Shakespeare’s ‘Seven Ages of Man’ speech what profession is described in the fifth age as:

“In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances”?

28.

On a roulette table what is the French word used to describe a bet on any number between 1 and 18?

29.

In the New Testament to which of his addressees does St Paul address these words:

“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”?

30.

Which Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire film is generally regarded as their greatest in terms of dance routines, and contains the Jerome Kern songs The Way You Look Tonight, Pick Yourself Up and A Fine Romance?

ROUND 2 - Stockport style - Written - ‘Down and Out’

Each answer includes a word that can be preceded or succeeded by the word ‘down’ to make a longer word (beware, occasionally the truth of this statement relies on homophones!)

1.

In literature how is Edmond Dantès better known?

2.

Who is the patron saint of Nigeria as well as of the Archdiocese of New York?

3.

Paul Heaton, David Hemingway, Dave Rotheray and David Stead formed which successful pop band in 1988?

4.

Which city of over 9 million inhabitants is known as ‘The Paris of the Orient’?

5.

In 1969 in The Wednesday Play slot the BBC broadcast a play by Dennis Potter providing an alternative depiction of the last days of Jesus. What was it called?

6.

Running for 142 episodes between 1955 and 1959 what was the official name of the US sitcom based in a fictional town called Roseville in Kansas?

7.

Who is reputed to have said of the 1980 film flop Raise the Titanic: “It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic”?

8.

What was the title of the 1991 American action crime thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves which concerns a string of bank robberies possibly being committed by a gang of surfers?

9.

Workhouses in England were established as a result of what 1388 act of parliament?

10.

Which foreign footballer started and ended his English league playing career with Bolton Wanderers but in between played over 150 times for Chelsea and over 50 times for Barcelona?

ROUND 3 - WithQuiz style - Paired with Round 6

1.

Which low-lying island, famous for its surfing competitions, is the most westerly populated island of the Inner Hebrides?

2.

(QM: You may relax the ‘one minute rule’ for the teams for this question)

What connects the Shard building in London, Thisbe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the actress who played Aibileen Clark in the 2011 film The Help?

3.

Who has been editor of The Times since 2013?

4.

What is the cheese that is made from ewe’s milk whose name is derived from the Italian word for sheep?

5.

Which English city has a railway station named Paragon?

6.

Who founded the Society of Friends (the Quakers)?

7.

What is the name of the Autonomous Province of the former country of Yugoslavia lying to the north of Serbia that has become incorporated into Serbia following Yugoslavia’s break up in 1990?

8.

In which London borough is the Isle of Dogs?

ROUND 4 - WithQuiz style - 'Secret Department'

Each answer contains the name of a French Department as the last part of one of its words

1.

Which British scientist specialising in solar power conversion lives in the Old Vicarage at Grantchester, once the home of Rupert Brooke the poet?

2.

David Howell was Secretary of State for Energy, and then Secretary of State for Transport, in Margaret Thatcher’s administration. Who is married to his daughter, Frances?

3.

In 1967 who were the first club from the third tier of English football to win the League Cup?

4.

Who wrote books about the fictional character, Allan Quartermain?

5.

What food dish is made of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock?

6.

What is the French word meaning ‘destitution’ used in card games such as whist?

7.

Which famous Frenchman had his garden and house at Giverny in Northern France? (first name and surname required)

8.

Which stage musical features the song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life?

Sp1

What is the French word for racecourse?

Sp2

Who managed to be (at different times) President of Venezuela, Colombia and Peru during his lifetime?

ROUND 5 - WithQuiz style - Hidden theme - 'WISTful thinking'

1.

Who won the X-Factor in 2008 and then released the hit single Hallelujah?

2.

Which 2006 British film starred Richard Griffiths, James Corden and Russell Tovey amongst others?

3.

In Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film Blow-Up what was the nickname of the real-life person on which the character played by Vanessa Redgrave is based?

4.

Of what are: Of Human Salvation, Word of God, The Mystery of the Incarnation and The Face of Mercy the last four titles?

5.

In former times what occupation would you have if your boss organised a wayzgoose (i.e. a works outing) for you and your work colleagues on or about August 24th?

6.

Which unfortunate, fictional, ex-sailor served on seven ships that were either torpedoed or dive-bombed over a period of four years, including two during peacetime – and spent most of the rest of his life regaling all and sundry with the stories of his naval career?

7.

Robinson, Jodie and Gub-Gub have what in common?

8.

What started life in 1978 on Great Ancoats Street, Manchester under the guidance of Derek Jameson?

ROUND 6 - WithQuiz style - Paired with Round 3

1.

What island (now linked by causeway to its neighbouring islands) lies between the islands of North and South Uist?

2.

(QM: You may relax the ‘one minute rule’ for the teams for this question)

What connects Wigan Pier, the Neighbours’ theme music, and a screenplay concerning Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams?

3.

Who succeeded Alan Rushbridger in 2015 as Editor of The Guardian?

4.

According to European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status Stilton cheese can only be called such if it is made in one of which 3 English counties?

5.

Westgate and Kirkgate are the two railway stations in which English city?

6.

What religious movement was founded by Charles Taze Russell?

7.

Whose palace eventually became the core of the modern-day city of Split in Croatia?

8.

In which London borough is the Millennium Dome that lies on the south side of the Thames opposite the Isle of Dogs?

In feet how high is The Shard building in London?

1.

Seven grounds were used for the recent World T20 Cricket Tournament held in India. Known as the ‘IT capital of India’, which city hosts the most southerly of these grounds?

Bangalore

2.

The Battle of Bannockburn was fought in 1314 close to which Scottish city?

Stirling

3.

In the recent BBC series Happy Valley Kevin Doyle played the part of DC John Wadsworth who ends up killing himself by jumping off a railway bridge. Doyle also appeared in Downton Abbey playing which character?

(Joseph) Molesley

(the butler/valet)

4.

What is the name of the small group of about 60,000 Western Slavic people who live mainly in Eastern Germany and Western Poland and have their own language and culture?

Sorbs

(also known as Wends)

5.

Named after a town in Cornwall, which is the second largest, and only inland, city in the Australian State in which it is situated?

Launceston

6.

Which Premiership club has adopted Tom Jones’ song Delilah as its anthem?

Stoke City

7.

The Canadian Territory of Nunavut and three Canadian Provinces border Hudson Bay. Quebec and Ontario are two of the Provinces – which is the other?

Manitoba

8.

“City had won the Premier League as recently as 2012.” What verb tense is represented in this sentence (perhaps spoken in 2014)?

Past Perfect

(or Pluperfect)

9.

Which breed of toy dog originating from Tibet and China is also known as the Chrysanthemum Dog or the Chinese Lion Dog?

Shih Tzu

10.

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was Lord Chancellor from 1515 to 1529. What ecclesiastical position did he hold during that period?

Archbishop of York

11.

Patricia Hodgson holds which position in broadcasting?

Chair of OFCOM

12.

Which Shakespeare play contains the ‘Seven Ages of Man’ speech?

As You Like It

13.

In roulette (with a wheel with no double zero pocket) the odds against a ‘street’ bet winning is 34-3. What is a bet on a ‘street’?

A bet on 3 horizontally adjacent numbers

(such as 7, 8 and 9)

14.

In the New Testament who are the only epistle addressees starting with the letter ‘G’?

Galatians

15.

For which Hollywood studios did Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire make their best known musical films between 1933 and 1939?

RKO

16.

In the recent World T20 Cricket Tournament which two countries made it through from the preliminary stage into the main group stage?

Bangladesh and Afghanistan

17.

Which decisive Battle was fought between Jacobite forces and loyalist forces under the Duke of Cumberland close to the city of Inverness?

Culloden

18.

In the BBC’s recent adaptation of John Le Carré’s The Night Manager which actor played the part of Major Lance Corkoran?

Tom Hollander

19.

In Norway there are two official forms of the Norwegian language, Nynorsk and which other?

Bokmål

20.

Which is Australia’s largest non-coastal city?

Canberra

21.

Sue Barker, Jimmy Carr, Stuart Pearce, Ray Mears, Louie Spence and Stephen Hawking have all objected to Welshman, Wynne Evans, and have tried to silence him. Who was paying them to do this?

Gocompare

(featured in their long-running advertising campaign)

22.

The US State of Maine borders the Canadian Provinces of Quebec and which other?

New Brunswick

23.

“United would have won the Premier League in 2012, were Sergio Aguero off target.” What verbal mood is represented in this sentence (perhaps spoken in 2014) by the word ‘were’?

Subjunctive

(accept Past Subjunctive)

24.

Which breed of dog, originating in Hungary, is a pointer-retriever type of hunting dog endowed with a highly developed sense of smell?

Vizsla

25.

Bishop Stephen Gardiner was Lord Chancellor from 1553 to 1555. Of what southern English see was he bishop during this period?

Winchester

26.

Between 1979 and 2014 Ian McIntyre, John Drummond, Nicholas Kenyon and Roger Wright have successively held which position in broadcasting?

Controller of Radio 3

27.

In Shakespeare’s ‘Seven Ages of Man’ speech what profession is described in the fifth age as:

“In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances”?

The Justice

28.

On a roulette table what is the French word used to describe a bet on any number between 1 and 18?

Manqué

29.

In the New Testament to which of his addressees does St Paul address these words:

“But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”?

Corinthians

30.

Which Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire film is generally regarded as their greatest in terms of dance routines, and contains the Jerome Kern songs The Way You Look Tonight, Pick Yourself Up and A Fine Romance?

ROUND 2 - Stockport style - Written - ‘Down and Out’

Each answer includes a word that can be preceded or succeeded by the word ‘down’ to make a longer word (beware, occasionally the truth of this statement relies on homophones!)

1.

In literature how is Edmond Dantès better known?

The Count of Monte Cristo

2.

Who is the patron saint of Nigeria as well as of the Archdiocese of New York?

Saint Patrick

3.

Paul Heaton, David Hemingway, Dave Rotheray and David Stead formed which successful pop band in 1988?

Beautiful South

4.

Which city of over 9 million inhabitants is known as ‘The Paris of the Orient’?

Ho Chi Minh City

5.

In 1969 in The Wednesday Play slot the BBC broadcast a play by Dennis Potter providing an alternative depiction of the last days of Jesus. What was it called?

Son of Man

6.

Running for 142 episodes between 1955 and 1959 what was the official name of the US sitcom based in a fictional town called Roseville in Kansas?

The Phil Silvers Show

(do not accept Sergeant Bilko or just Bilko)

7.

Who is reputed to have said of the 1980 film flop Raise the Titanic: “It would have been cheaper to lower the Atlantic”?

Lew Grade

8.

What was the title of the 1991 American action crime thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow, starring Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves which concerns a string of bank robberies possibly being committed by a gang of surfers?

Point Break

9.

Workhouses in England were established as a result of what 1388 act of parliament?

Poor Law

10.

Which foreign footballer started and ended his English league playing career with Bolton Wanderers but in between played over 150 times for Chelsea and over 50 times for Barcelona?

Eidur Gudjohnsen

ROUND 3 - WithQuiz style - Paired with Round 6

1.

Which low-lying island, famous for its surfing competitions, is the most westerly populated island of the Inner Hebrides?

Tiree

2.

(QM: You may relax the ‘one minute rule’ for the teams for this question)

What connects the Shard building in London, Thisbe in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the actress who played Aibileen Clark in the 2011 film The Help?

Musical instruments

(designed by Renzo Piano, played by the character Francis Flute the bellows-mender in the ‘play within a play’, and Viola Davis)

3.

Who has been editor of The Times since 2013?

John Witherow

4.

What is the cheese that is made from ewe’s milk whose name is derived from the Italian word for sheep?

Pecorino

5.

Which English city has a railway station named Paragon?

Hull

6.

Who founded the Society of Friends (the Quakers)?

George Fox

7.

What is the name of the Autonomous Province of the former country of Yugoslavia lying to the north of Serbia that has become incorporated into Serbia following Yugoslavia’s break up in 1990?

Vojvodina

8.

In which London borough is the Isle of Dogs?

Tower Hamlets

ROUND 4 - WithQuiz style - Hidden theme - 'Secret Department'

Each answer contains the name of a French Department as the last part of one of its words

1.

Which British scientist specialising in solar power conversion lives in the Old Vicarage at Grantchester, once the home of Rupert Brooke the poet?

Mary Archer

(QMs note: Not Jeffrey Archer)

(Cher)

2.

David Howell was Secretary of State for Energy, and then Secretary of State for Transport, in Margaret Thatcher’s administration. Who is married to his daughter, Frances?

George Osborne

(Orne)

3.

In 1967 who were the first club from the third tier of English football to win the League Cup?

Queen’s Park Rangers

(Gers)

4.

Who wrote books about the fictional character, Allan Quartermain?

Rider Haggard

(Gard)

5.

What food dish is made of puréed leeks, onions, potatoes, cream, and chicken stock?

Vichyssoise soup

(Oise)

6.

What is the French word meaning ‘destitution’ used in card games such as whist?

Misère

(Isère)

7.

Which famous Frenchman had his garden and house at Giverny in Northern France? (first name and surname required)

Claude Monet

(Aude)

8.

Which stage musical features the song Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life?

Spamalot

(Lot)

Sp1

What is the French word for racecourse?

Hippodrome

(Drome)

Sp2

Who managed to be (at different times) President of Venezuela, Colombia and Peru during his lifetime?

Simon Bolivar

(Var)

ROUND 5 - WithQuiz style - Hidden theme - 'WISTful thinking'

1.

Who won the X-Factor in 2008 and then released the hit single Hallelujah?

Alexandra Burke

2.

Which 2006 British film starred Richard Griffiths, James Corden and Russell Tovey amongst others?

The History Boys

3.

In Michelangelo Antonioni’s 1966 film Blow-Up what was the nickname of the real-life person on which the character played by Vanessa Redgrave is based?

The Shrimp

(1960s model Jean Shrimpton)

4.

Of what are: Of Human Salvation, Word of God, The Mystery of the Incarnation and The Face of Mercy the last four titles?

Papal bulls

5.

In former times what occupation would you have if your boss organised a wayzgoose (i.e. a works outing) for you and your work colleagues on or about August 24th?

Printer

6.

Which unfortunate, fictional, ex-sailor served on seven ships that were either torpedoed or dive-bombed over a period of four years, including two during peacetime – and spent most of the rest of his life regaling all and sundry with the stories of his naval career?

Uncle Albert

(in Only Fools and Horses)

7.

Robinson, Jodie and Gub-Gub have what in common?

They are all pigs

(Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Little Pig Robinson, The Amityville Horror and Doctor Doolittle)

8.

What started life in 1978 on Great Ancoats Street, Manchester under the guidance of Derek Jameson?

Daily Star

Theme: Each answer contains a key word from the name of one of the quiz teams currently competing in the Stockport and Withington Quiz Leagues:
Alexandra, The History Men, Compulsory Mantis Shrimp, The Printers, Bull’s Head, Albert, Electric Pigs and The Star

ROUND 6 - WithQuiz style - Paired with Round 3

1.

What island (now linked by causeway to its neighbouring islands) lies between the islands of North and South Uist?

Benbecula

2.

(QM: You may relax the ‘one minute rule’ for the teams for this question)

What connects Wigan Pier, the Neighbours’ theme music, and a screenplay concerning Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams?

English rivers

(George Orwell wrote The Road to Wigan Pier, Jackie Trent co-wrote the theme tune to Neighbours and Colin Welland wrote the screenplay for Chariots of Fire, the story of athletes Liddell and Abrahams)

3.

Who succeeded Alan Rushbridger in 2015 as Editor of The Guardian?

Katharine Viner

4.

According to European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status Stilton cheese can only be called such if it is made in one of which 3 English counties?

Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire

5.

Westgate and Kirkgate are the two railway stations in which English city?

Wakefield

6.

What religious movement was founded by Charles Taze Russell?

Jehovah’s Witnesses

7.

Whose palace eventually became the core of the modern-day city of Split in Croatia?

Emperor Diocletian

8.

In which London borough is the Millennium Dome that lies on the south side of the Thames opposite the Isle of Dogs?

Greenwich

Tiebreaker

1014 feet

(309 metres)