ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

As whom is the author Robert Galbraith better known?

2.

Who is the author of the Shetland series of novels?

3.

Who is the Shadow Home Secretary?

4.

Who is the Shadow Foreign Secretary?

5.

Ping, Pong and Pang are characters in which Opera?

6.

Which operatic heroine has the Christian name Floria?

7.

The capital city of Zimbabwe is Harare.  What was it formerly known as?

8.

The capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo is Kinsasha.  What was its previous name?

Sp1

What are the compounds GA, GB and VX otherwise known as?

Sp2

What is the inner Hebridean island of Gruinard otherwise referred to as?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

The theme is occasionally exhibited through sound-alikes and hidden words

1.

How is St. Mary's Church, Mulberry Street in Manchester City Centre better known?

2.

What is the name of the arts complex formed by the merger of the Corner House and The Library Theatre Company in Manchester?

3.

In the Rocky Horror Show who is Frank N Furter's handy man and the brother of Magenta?

4.

Which animal loving screen writer died earlier this year aged 87?

5.

Which film director, who died in 2010, was responsible for Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Pink Panther series of films?

6.

Which classic children's book publisher is now issuing books for grown-ups?

7.

Which 70s group sang Love Is Like Oxygen?

8.

Which US band from Los Angeles had the 1972 hit Guitar Man?

Sp.

In 2003 when France opposed going to war in Iraq, what did the House of Representatives café serve instead of French fries?

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

The theme is occasionally exhibited through sound-alikes and hidden words

1.

This poet was born in County Durham in 1806 and died in Florence in 1861.  Who was she?

2.

What is the name of the NFL team currently based in Indianapolis (having moved there from Baltimore)?

3.

Glyn Edwards appeared in Zulu and Get Carter before playing the barman at a West London drinking club. What was the name of this fine establishment?

4.

Which trio's biggest hit was Hold Me Now released in late 1983?

5.

Bordering Haringey, Waltham Forest and Barnet, which of the London boroughs is the most northerly?

6.

Which literary figure's funeral in Dublin in 1964 was said to be the biggest since that of Michael Collins?

7.

Which multivitamin fruit drink comes in two varieties known as Activation and Rejuvenation?

8.

Which US TV show ran from 1982-87 and starred Pierce Brosnan?

Sp.

In the Beatitudes, who were to be the Sons of God?

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

The theme is occasionally exhibited through sound-alikes and hidden words

1.

Which 1941 John Huston film featuring Humphrey Bogart as a hard-nosed private eye and Mary Astor as a femme fatale, is widely regarded as being the origin of the film noire genre?

2.

What position is held by Sarah Thornton CBE, QPM?

3.

Which company first flew Sir Frank Whittle's jet engine?

4.

What bizarre musical instrument in the form of an Indian beast devouring a European soldier is to be found in the V & A?

5.

What vehicle, manufactured by Alvis, was frequently and regularly seen on the streets of Belfast (and, surprisingly, Hull)?

6.

Although he only appeared in two of her books, which character did Agatha Christie (and she was no joker) say was her favourite character?

7.

What is the first line of John Milton's Sonnet number 18 entitled On the Late Massacre at Piedmont?

8.

Which Vaughan Williams piece, composed for a Cambridge production of an Aristophanes play, features The March Past of the Kitchen Utensils?

Sp.

What is generally regarded as the third order of chivalry?  It was instituted as a money-raising scheme by Robert Walpole and named after an ancient ceremony of knighthood?

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

In the US presidential election, who is Hillary Clinton's running mate and vice-presidential candidate? (full name required)

2.

What is the name of the Director of the FBI who has put a cat among the electoral pigeons by announcing a further inquiry into Clinton's email history? (full name required)

3.

Four Britons have won at least one medal at five different Olympic Games.  One is Steve Redgrave.  Name two of the other three?

4.

Which two Britons have won the most Olympic gold medals, with six each?

5.

By whom was Alfred the Great was succeeded upon his death in 899?

6.

Which king, who died in 1035, was succeeded by Harold I ?

7.

Bryan Cranston was Oscar-nominated this year for his portrayal of which Hollywood figure from the 1940s and 50s? (full name  required)

8.

Who won an Oscar in 2006 for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the film Capote?

Sp.

Which work of art, completed by the Englishman Arnold Machin in 1966, is often claimed to be the most reproduced work of art in history?

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

The 'tag-line' of which 1972 film is: "How far does a girl have to go to untangle her tingle?"?

2.

Which 1988 film ends with this word: "Asshole!"?

3.

Which novel begins: "The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended."?

4.

Which novel begins: "It was love at first sight."?

5.

Which novel features the character, Dolores Haze?

6.

In which work of literature does William of Baskerville appear?

7.

Which Hollywood actress made her first film appearance playing a little girl called Gertie?

8.

What was unusual about Holly Hunter's Oscar-winning performance?

Sp1

From which 1990 film do these lines come: "I remember the days of Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin, when the world trembled at the sound of our rockets.  Now they will tremble again, at our silence."?

Sp2

Which 1950 film was the first non-animated Disney film?

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

In the Old Testament, how old was Noah at the time of the Flood? (allow 20 years either way)

2.

In the Old Testament, Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter.  What was the name of the latter?

3.

With two albums in the last 12 months, who has now overtaken Madonna as the solo artist with the greatest number of UK number one albums?

4.

The title of Elvis's most recent chart-topping album was also the title of his last UK number one single during his lifetime.  What is it?

5.

The Gracie Mansion is the official residence for the holder of which Office?

6.

What is the official residence of the Scottish First Minister?

7.

Who took over the TV role of Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus from John Hannah in 2006?

8.

Who was the cynical cop played by Jimmy Nail between 1991 and 1994 in an eponymous series written by Nail himself together with Ian La Frenais?

Sp.

In which year was a UK general election last held on a day other than Thursday?

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - 'Very curious'

1.

The Nursery Rhyme 'Hey Diddle Diddle, The Cat and the Fiddle' derives from which historical event?

2.

The Children's game 'Oranges and Lemons' describes what?

3.

What is the derivation of the Inn Sign 'The Cat and Fiddle'?

4.

The 'Elephant and Castle' is derived from the name 'Infanta of Castile'.  Who was the 'Infanta'?

5.

Which township in Greater Manchester boasts that it has the pub with the longest name in the UK and the pub with the shortest name?

6.

A pub in this Cheshire town is called 'The Beartown Tap'.  Why is the town referred as 'Beartown'?

7.

There are only about 10 pubs in England called 'The Pig and Whistle'.  What is the origin of the name, according to the Dictionary of Pub Names?

8.

In 2000 Tony Blair famously invited Jacques Chirac for a drink at his local in Crook, Co Durham.  What was the name of the pub?

Sp.

In the Tolkien stories what is Bilbo and Frodo Baggins' local?

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

As whom is the author Robert Galbraith better known?

J K Rowling

2.

Who is the author of the Shetland series of novels?

Ann Cleeves

3.

Who is the Shadow Home Secretary?

Diane Abbott

4.

Who is the Shadow Foreign Secretary?

Emily Thornberry

5.

Ping, Pong and Pang are characters in which Opera?

Turandot

6.

Which operatic heroine has the Christian name Floria?

Tosca

7.

The capital city of Zimbabwe is Harare.  What was it formerly known as?

8.

The capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo is Kinsasha.  What was its previous name?

Leopoldville

Sp1

What are the compounds GA, GB and VX otherwise known as?

Nerve gases

Sp2

What is the inner Hebridean island of Gruinard otherwise referred to as?

'Anthrax Island'

The theme is occasionally exhibited through sound-alikes and hidden words

1.

How is St. Mary's Church, Mulberry Street in Manchester City Centre better known?

The Hidden Gem

2.

What is the name of the arts complex formed by the merger of the Corner House and The Library Theatre Company in Manchester?

Home

3.

In the Rocky Horror Show who is Frank N Furter's handy man and the brother of Magenta?

Riff-Raff

4.

Which animal loving screen writer died earlier this year aged 87?

Carla Lane

5.

Which film director, who died in 2010, was responsible for Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Pink Panther series of films?

Blake Edwards

6.

Which classic children's book publisher is now issuing books for grown-ups?

Ladybird

7.

Which 70s group sang Love Is Like Oxygen?

Sweet

8.

Which US band from Los Angeles had the 1972 hit Guitar Man?

Bread

Sp

In 2003 when France opposed going to war in Iraq, what did the House of Representatives café serve instead of French fries?

Freedom Fries

Theme: Each answer contains a key word from the title of a Ken Loach film....

Hidden Agenda, Cathy Come Home, RiffRaff, Carla's Song, I Daniel Blake, Lady Bird Lady Bird, Sweet Sixteen, Bread and Roses and Land and Freedom

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

The theme is occasionally exhibited through sound-alikes and hidden words

1.

This poet was born in County Durham in 1806 and died in Florence in 1861.  Who was she?

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

2.

What is the name of the NFL team currently based in Indianapolis (having moved there from Baltimore)?

The Colts

3.

Glyn Edwards appeared in Zulu and Get Carter before playing the barman at a West London drinking club. What was the name of this fine establishment?

The Winchester

(in the TV series Minder)

4.

Which trio's biggest hit was Hold Me Now released in late 1983?

The Thompson Twins

5.

Bordering Haringey, Waltham Forest and Barnet, which of the London boroughs is the most northerly?

Enfield

6.

Which literary figure's funeral in Dublin in 1964 was said to be the biggest since that of Michael Collins?

Brendan Behan

(although on the actual paper the setters had mysteriously given 'Iron Horse' as the answer - we belive this was a typo)

7.

Which multivitamin fruit drink comes in two varieties known as Activation and Rejuvenation?

Purdey's

8.

Which US TV show ran from 1982-87 and starred Pierce Brosnan?

Remington Steele

Sp

In the Beatitudes, who were to be the Sons of God?

The Peacemakers

Theme: Each answer contains the name of a small arms manufacturer

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

The theme is occasionally exhibited through sound-alikes and hidden words

1.

Which 1941 John Huston film featuring Humphrey Bogart as a hard-nosed private eye and Mary Astor as a femme fatale, is widely regarded as being the origin of the film noire genre?

The Maltese Falcon

2.

What position is held by Sarah Thornton CBE, QPM?

Chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council

(formerly known as ACPO)

3.

Which company first flew Sir Frank Whittle's jet engine?

Gloster Aircraft Company

4.

What bizarre musical instrument in the form of an Indian beast devouring a European soldier is to be found in the V & A?

Tipoo's Tiger

5.

What vehicle, manufactured by Alvis, was frequently and regularly seen on the streets of Belfast (and, surprisingly, Hull)?

The Saracen Armoured Car

6.

Although he only appeared in two of her books, which character did Agatha Christie (and she was no joker) say was her favourite character?

Harley Quin

7.

What is the first line of John Milton's Sonnet number 18 entitled On the Late Massacre at Piedmont?

"Avenge O Lord thy martyred saints whose bones...."

8.

Which Vaughan Williams piece, composed for a Cambridge production of an Aristophanes play, features The March Past of the Kitchen Utensils?

The Wasps

Sp

What is generally regarded as the third order of chivalry?  It was instituted as a money-raising scheme by Robert Walpole and named after an ancient ceremony of knighthood?

Order of the Bath

Theme: Each answer contains part of the name of an English Premiership Rugby Union team

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

In the US presidential election, who is Hillary Clinton's running mate and vice-presidential candidate? (full name required)

Tim Kaine

2.

What is the name of the Director of the FBI who has put a cat among the electoral pigeons by announcing a further inquiry into Clinton's email history? (full name required)

James Comey

(the $64,000 question is: Has he ever seen them?)

3.

Four Britons have won at least one medal at five different Olympic Games.  One is Steve Redgrave.  Name two of the other three?

(two from) Bradley Wiggins, Katherine Grainger and Ben Ainslie

4.

Which two Britons have won the most Olympic gold medals, with six each?

Chris Hoy and Jason Kenny

5.

By whom was Alfred the Great was succeeded upon his death in 899?

Edward the Elder

6.

Which king, who died in 1035, was succeeded by Harold I ?

Cnut (or Canute)

7.

Bryan Cranston was Oscar-nominated this year for his portrayal of which Hollywood figure from the 1940s and 50s? (full name  required)

Dalton Trumbo

(in the film Trumbo)

8.

Who won an Oscar in 2006 for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the film Capote?

Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Sp .

Which work of art, completed by the Englishman Arnold Machin in 1966, is often claimed to be the most reproduced work of art in history?

The effigy of the Queen that has appeared on UK postage stamps since then

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

The 'tag-line' of which 1972 film is: "How far does a girl have to go to untangle her tingle?"?

Deep Throat

2.

Which 1988 film ends with this word: "Asshole!"?

A Fish called Wanda

3.

Which novel begins: "The drought had lasted now for ten million years, and the reign of the terrible lizards had long since ended."?

2001: A Space Odyssey

(by Arthur C Clarke)

4.

Which novel begins: "It was love at first sight."?

 Catch-22

(by Joseph Heller)

5.

Which novel features the character, Dolores Haze?

Lolita

(by Vladimir Nabokov)

6.

In which work of literature does William of Baskerville appear?

The Name of the Rose

(by Umberto Eco)

7.

Which Hollywood actress made her first film appearance playing a little girl called Gertie?

Drew Barrymore

(in ET: the Extra Terrestrial)

8.

What was unusual about Holly Hunter's Oscar-winning performance?

It was non-speaking

Sp1

From which 1990 film do these lines come: "I remember the days of Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin, when the world trembled at the sound of our rockets.  Now they will tremble again, at our silence."?

The Hunt for Red October

Sp2

Which 1950 film was the first non-animated Disney film?

Treasure Island

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Pairs

1.

In the Old Testament, how old was Noah at the time of the Flood? (allow 20 years either way)

Six hundred

2.

In the Old Testament, Jacob had twelve sons and one daughter.  What was the name of the latter?

Dinah

3.

With two albums in the last 12 months, who has now overtaken Madonna as the solo artist with the greatest number of UK number one albums?

Elvis Presley

4.

The title of Elvis's most recent chart-topping album was also the title of his last UK number one single during his lifetime.  What is it?

The Wonder Of You

5.

The Gracie Mansion is the official residence for the holder of which Office?

Mayor of New York City.

6.

What is the official residence of the Scottish First Minister?

Bute House

7.

Who took over the TV role of Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus from John Hannah in 2006?

Ken Stott

8.

Who was the cynical cop played by Jimmy Nail between 1991 and 1994 in an eponymous series written by Nail himself together with Ian La Frenais?

Spender

Sp.

In which year was a UK general election last held on a day other than Thursday?

1931

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - 'Very curious'

1.

The Nursery Rhyme 'Hey Diddle Diddle, The Cat and the Fiddle' derives from which historical event?

The disappearance of the Princes in the Tower

(The Cat is Catesby one of Richard III's closest associates)

2.

The Children's game 'Oranges and Lemons' describes what?

The route a condemned man took on his way to his execution

3.

What is the derivation of the Inn Sign 'The Cat and Fiddle'?

It is a mark of support for Catherine of Aragon in her separation from Henry VIII

(It is derived from Catherine la Fidèle)

4.

The 'Elephant and Castle' is derived from the name 'Infanta of Castile'.  Who was the 'Infanta'?

It is a conflation of Eleanor of Castille and The Infanta Maria who was courted by Prince Charles, later Charles I (accept either)

5.

Which township in Greater Manchester boasts that it has the pub with the longest name in the UK and the pub with the shortest name?

Stalybridge

('The Old Seventeenth Century Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifle Corps' and 'Q')

6.

A pub in this Cheshire town is called 'The Beartown Tap'.  Why is the town referred as 'Beartown'?

It is said that the inhabitants used the money raised at the pub to buy a bible for their church to pay for bear-baiting at a fair

7.

There are only about 10 pubs in England called 'The Pig and Whistle'.  What is the origin of the name, according to the Dictionary of Pub Names?

It derives from 'Pig' or 'Peg', which is a drinking mug, and 'Wassail' a spiced ale

(hence it sort of means 'Good Health')

8.

In 2000 Tony Blair famously invited Jacques Chirac for a drink at his local in Crook, Co Durham.  What was the name of the pub?

The Brewer's Droop

Sp.

In the Tolkien stories what is Bilbo and Frodo Baggins' local?

The Green Dragon

(in Hobbiton in The Shire, not 'The Prancing Pony' in Bree)

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers