ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

With which military operation is Pegasus Bridge associated?

2.

How was the Ludendorff Bridge across the Rhine better known?  It was captured intact by the Americans on 7th March before the Germans could destroy it during their 1945 retreat (an action that was depicted in a 1969 film).

3.

The acerbic Daily Telegraph political writer Edward Pearce died last week.  Writing in 1980, which prominent opposition Labour politician did he describe thus: "The….fury from Bedwellty has taken to pouring petrol over himself and handing the matches to the Education Secretary"?

4.

Again from Pearce, which Conservative Cabinet Minister of the 1980s, the then MP for Henley, was he describing here: "He induces a feeling of unease; rather like Goering playing the piano.  It doesn't seem quite right"?

5.

Who was manager of Gillingham at the time of their famous play off final against Manchester City at Wembley in 1999? He went on to manage in the Premier League at three different clubs and is currently plying his trade in the Championship?

6.

Which Club, currently in the Championship, has seen the following in charge as manager at some point over the last forty years: Gordon Strachan, Malcolm Allison, Colin Todd, Bruce Rioch, Lennie Lawrence and Bryan Robson?

7.

Which two south eastern towns make up the Cinque Ports with Dover, Hythe and Romney?

8.

Rising in the Cambrian Mountains in Wales, the River Severn flows through which 3 county towns?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 -  'An Elementary hidden theme'

1.

Which Hollywood screen actress is the highest grossing actress of all time in North America?  She has yet to win an Oscar but she has won a BAFTA for Best Actress in the 2003 film Lost in Translation, was nominated for a Golden Globe for the 2004 film Girl with a Pearl Earring, starred in the 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona and since 2010 has played Black Widow in the Marvel Comics film franchise?  (forename and surname required)

2.

Which soul band founded in the 1950s had Levi Stubbs as its lead singer and had a UK No.1 in 1966 with Reach Out I’ll Be There?

3.

Which geographical region is the westernmost and largest in the Czech Republic?

4.

Which semi-autobiographical novel written by Hunter S Thompson follows its protagonist Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr Gonzo as they chase the American dream through a drug induced haze?

5.

Which comedian, actor and presenter won the 2010 Let’s Dance for Comic Relief competition dancing to Cheryl Cole’s Fight for This Love?

6.

Which English ale was first brewed in 1979 by the Morland Brewery in Abingdon, Oxfordshire to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory in the town?  On sale today it is now brewed by Greene King in Bury St Edmunds.

7.

Which female British cyclist won 7 world titles, more than 90 domestic titles and set a record for the 12-hour time trial that exceeded the men’s record for over 2 years?

8.

Of what is this a description: 'A red, swollen and painful cluster of boils that are connected to each other under the skin.'?

Sp

Bloemfontein is the capital of which state of South Africa?

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - 'The Greats'

1.

Who spoke to a Ku Klux Klan rally in 1975 calling for racial segregation?  He is better known for his sporting achievements which include the Light Heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics.

2.

Which monument did David Copperfield famously walk through in 1986?

3.

Which leader who died in 1976 is known for, amongst other things, triggering 'Mango fever' and taking part in 'The Long March'?

4.

Who won the battle of Edington?  He is also responsible for schools teaching in English rather than Latin.

5.

Which 2017 musical drama stars Hugh Jackman as P T Barnum?  It has received an Oscar nomination for best original song in the upcoming Oscars.

6.

Which sportsman has a predicted net worth of 200 million USD?  He is the holder of 40 regular season NHL records, and his 99 jersey number is the only number to be retired league wide.

7.

Which pope is famous for, among other things, being the first pope to send a mission to England, inventing a form of monastic chanting, and being amongst the first saints to have his remains moved to the newly consecrated St Peter's Basilica?

8.

Which father of three ruled from 336 to 323 BC?  He was taught by Aristotle and sought council from Diogenes. He also named over 70 cities after himself and one after his horse.

Sp

What is the name given to the record breaking St Louis Rams offensive line up of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 seasons?

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 & 5 - Pick Your Own

Choose your question based on the Quiz Show shown

1.

Only Connect

What connects the following: Honey, Chipping, McGonagall, Brodie?

2.

Blockbusters (Science)

In chemistry, what “I” indicates substances which have the same chemical formula but different chemical structures and properties?

3.

A Question of Sport

Which former tennis player holds the record for the most games won in a Wimbledon final i.e. 39?  Despite this, he still lost that 2009 final to Roger Federer.

4.

Counterpoint

A Hindu priestess during the time of the British Raj, what is the name of the title character of an 1883 opera by Leo Delibes?  She famously performs the Flower Duet with her servant Mallika.

5.

Telly Addicts

What name is missing from this excerpt from a celebrated 1977 television play: “Laurence, Angela likes blank, Tony likes blank, I like blank, so please d’you think we can have blank on?”?

6.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

According to the song Up The Junction by Squeeze, at what time was singer’s daughter born?

7.

The Write Stuff

Which novel first published in 1899 is mostly set on the Congo River?

8.

Brain of Britain (General Knowledge)

Name any two of the three ingredients of gunpowder.

9.

Quote....Unquote

Whose last words, before his death by gunshot in 2011, were reported to be “Don’t turn on the light.”?

10.

Have I Got News For You

Which logistics company was accused of 'fowl play' last week over its failure to deliver?

11.

Only Connect

What comes fourth in this sequence – Fire, Phoenix, Prince?

12.

Blockbusters (Science)

In biology, what 'M' is the process by which a cell divides to create two identical copies of the original cell?

13.

A Question of Sport

Russian born tennis player, Yareslava Shvedova, became the first ever person in a grand slam tournament (and only the fourth person in tennis history) to do what during her 6-0, 6-4, Wimbledon victory over Sara Errani of Italy in 2012?

14.

Counterpoint

What is the English title of the 1817 Italian opera La Gazza Ladra which tells the story of mistaken identity over a stolen silver spoon?

15.

Telly Addicts

Which actor comes next in this dynasty from the classic drama TV series I Claudius: Brian Blessed, George Baker, John Hurt, Derek Jacobi…?

16.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

From which station and at what time does the Chattanooga Choo Choo depart?

17.

The Write Stuff

Which classic anthropomorphic novel of 1908 is set mostly in the Wild Wood – a fictional area of the Thames Valley?

18.

Brain of Britain (General Knowledge)

Invented by chemist Justus von Liebig in 1902 and sold in a distinctive 'cooking pot' shaped jar, this product was first manufactured in Burton on Trent using a by-product from the Bass brewery.  What is it?

19.

Quote....Unquote

Whose final words were “Namaste. Namaste.” before her death by gunshot in 1984?

20.

Have I Got News For You

Who did Jesus finally decide he wanted for a sunbeam last week after over 60 years spent as the conscience of America?

Go to Round 4 & 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

The one word name of which African country contains all five vowels?

2.

Which common English word contains five consecutive vowels?

3.

What is the name of the Queen’s first great grandchild?

4.

Which king was the queen’s great grandfather?

5.

On the new polymer £5 note the image of which medal awarded to Sir Winston Churchill in 1953 appears in the background behind him?

6.

On the new £10 note a finely detailed metallic image of which Cathedral appears over the see through window near Jane Austen?

7.

Pine Villa FC is the former name of which League 1 football club?

8.

Which League 1 football club was formerly known as Black Arabs FC?

Sp

Going To The Match is L S Lowry’s vision of which former football ground – a ground he often visited as a young man?

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - A Themed Round

A country has won 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the Winter Olympics - these are displayed symbolically in the answers to the following questions

1.

According to Greek mythology, who was the son of Atreus and Aerope and the father of Orestes?

2.

Which of the 'rude mechanicals' in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a joiner?

3.

In the Harry Potter books, which professor’s first name is Severus?

4.

In which sport are the terms 'button', 'hogline' and 'hackline' used?

5.

From the Latin for 'charioteer', which constellation’s brightest star, the sixth brightest in the sky, is the yellow giant Capella?

6.

After which Roman emperor was the French city of Orleans named?

7.

Which rodent of the genus Dasyprocta is a native of Central and South America and includes the species Blade-rumped, Crested, Orinoco and Red-rumped?

8.

Which port in Lower Saxony is the most northerly point of that state and is a gateway to the island of Heligoland?  It is twinned with Penzance in Cornwall and Vannes in Brittany.

Sp

Which name can refer to a brand of blended scotch whiskey, a witch created by Robert Burns in the poem Tam O’ Shanter or a famous ship which can now be found at Greenwich?

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - Pairs

1.

In a poem By John Keats, which five words immediately precede: “that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”?

2.

Which eight words follow these lines from a poem by Sir Henry Newbolt: “And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame, But his Captain’s hand on his shoulder smote…”?

3.

Which chemical element, no. 100, is the only one named after an Italian?

4.

Which chemical element, no. 104, is the only one to have been named after a New Zealander?

5.

Which 2017 fantasy drama directed by Guillermo Del Toro depicts a love story between a mute and an aquatic creature?  It has received 13 nominations for the upcoming Oscars.

6.

Which 2017 horror film starring Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence is supposedly an allegory for "the rape and destruction of Earth” according to Lawrence?  It has been nominated for a number of awards including Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor, and Worst Director for the upcoming Golden Raspberry awards.

7.

Born in Bologna in 1737, this physicist lends his name to many things including an electrical cell, an instrument which measures current, a type of lie detector and a verb which in modern usage means to stir someone into action. Who was he?

8.

Born in Liguria in 1625, this astronomer and mathematician gave his name to a set of laws concerning the motion of the moon and to the divisions between the rings around Saturn. Who was he?

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

With which military operation is Pegasus Bridge associated?

D Day

(accept Normandy Landings - the bridge across the Caen Canal was captured by British paratroopers at 11.45 p.m. on 5th June 1944)

2.

How was the Ludendorff Bridge across the Rhine better known?  It was captured intact by the Americans on 7th March before the Germans could destroy it during their 1945 retreat (an action that was depicted in a 1969 film).

The Bridge at Remagen

3.

The acerbic Daily Telegraph political writer Edward Pearce died last week.  Writing in 1980, which prominent opposition Labour politician did he describe thus: "The….fury from Bedwellty has taken to pouring petrol over himself and handing the matches to the Education Secretary"?

Neil Kinnock

4.

Again from Pearce, which Conservative Cabinet Minister of the 1980s, the then MP for Henley, was he describing here: "He induces a feeling of unease; rather like Goering playing the piano.  It doesn't seem quite right"?

Michael Heseltine

5.

Who was manager of Gillingham at the time of their famous play off final against Manchester City at Wembley in 1999? He went on to manage in the Premier League at three different clubs and is currently plying his trade in the Championship?

Tony Pulis

6.

Which Club, currently in the Championship, has seen the following in charge as manager at some point over the last forty years: Gordon Strachan, Malcolm Allison, Colin Todd, Bruce Rioch, Lennie Lawrence and Bryan Robson?

Middlesbrough

(you could also add Steve McLaren and Gareth Southgate to that list)

7.

Which two south eastern towns make up the Cinque Ports with Dover, Hythe and Romney?

Hastings and Sandwich

8.

Rising in the Cambrian Mountains in Wales, the River Severn flows through which 3 county towns?

Shrewsbury, Worcester, Gloucester

ROUND 2 -  'An Elementary hidden theme'

1.

Which Hollywood screen actress is the highest grossing actress of all time in North America?  She has yet to win an Oscar but she has won a BAFTA for Best Actress in the 2003 film Lost in Translation, was nominated for a Golden Globe for the 2004 film Girl with a Pearl Earring, starred in the 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona and since 2010 has played Black Widow in the Marvel Comics film franchise?  (forename and surname required)

Scarlett Johansson

2.

Which soul band founded in the 1950s had Levi Stubbs as its lead singer and had a UK No.1 in 1966 with Reach Out I’ll Be There?

The Four Tops

3.

Which geographical region is the westernmost and largest in the Czech Republic?

Bohemia

4.

Which semi-autobiographical novel written by Hunter S Thompson follows its protagonist Raoul Duke and his attorney Dr Gonzo as they chase the American dream through a drug induced haze?

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

5.

Which comedian, actor and presenter won the 2010 Let’s Dance for Comic Relief competition dancing to Cheryl Cole’s Fight for This Love?

Rufus Hound

6.

Which English ale was first brewed in 1979 by the Morland Brewery in Abingdon, Oxfordshire to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory in the town?  On sale today it is now brewed by Greene King in Bury St Edmunds.

Old Speckled Hen

7.

Which female British cyclist won 7 world titles, more than 90 domestic titles and set a record for the 12-hour time trial that exceeded the men’s record for over 2 years?

Beryl Burton

8.

Of what is this a description: 'A red, swollen and painful cluster of boils that are connected to each other under the skin.'?

A carbuncle

Sp

Bloemfontein is the capital of which state of South Africa?

Orange Free State

A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, A Scandal in Bohemia, The Valley of Fear, The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventure of the Speckled Band, The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle, The Five Orange Pips

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - 'The Greats'

1.

Who spoke to a Ku Klux Klan rally in 1975 calling for racial segregation?  He is better known for his sporting achievements which include the Light Heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics.

Muhammad Ali

(The Greatest)

2.

Which monument did David Copperfield famously walk through in 1986?

The Great Wall of China

3.

Which leader who died in 1976 is known for, amongst other things, triggering 'Mango fever' and taking part in 'The Long March'?

Chairman Mao

(The Great Helmsman)

4.

Who won the battle of Edington?  He is also responsible for schools teaching in English rather than Latin.

Alfred (the Great)

5.

Which 2017 musical drama stars Hugh Jackman as P T Barnum?  It has received an Oscar nomination for best original song in the upcoming Oscars.

The Greatest Showman

6.

Which sportsman has a predicted net worth of 200 million USD?  He is the holder of 40 regular season NHL records, and his 99 jersey number is the only number to be retired league wide.

Wayne Gretzky

(The Great One)

7.

Which pope is famous for, among other things, being the first pope to send a mission to England, inventing a form of monastic chanting, and being amongst the first saints to have his remains moved to the newly consecrated St Peter's Basilica?

Gregory I (the Great)

8.

Which father of three ruled from 336 to 323 BC?  He was taught by Aristotle and sought council from Diogenes. He also named over 70 cities after himself and one after his horse.

Alexander of Macedon (the Great)

Sp

What is the name given to the record breaking St Louis Rams offensive line up of the 1999, 2000 and 2001 seasons?

The Greatest Show on Turf

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 & 5 - Pick Your Own

Choose your question based on the Quiz Show shown

1.

Only Connect

What connects the following: Honey, Chipping, McGonagall, Brodie?

All fictional teachers (from: Mathilda, Goodbye Mr Chips, Harry Potter and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie)

2.

Blockbusters (Science)

In chemistry, what “I” indicates substances which have the same chemical formula but different chemical structures and properties?

Isomers

3.

A Question of Sport

Which former tennis player holds the record for the most games won in a Wimbledon final i.e. 39?  Despite this, he still lost that 2009 final to Roger Federer.

Andy Roddick

4.

Counterpoint

A Hindu priestess during the time of the British Raj, what is the name of the title character of an 1883 opera by Leo Delibes?  She famously performs the Flower Duet with her servant Mallika.

Lakme

5.

Telly Addicts

What name is missing from this excerpt from a celebrated 1977 television play: “Laurence, Angela likes blank, Tony likes blank, I like blank, so please d’you think we can have blank on?”?

Demis Roussos

(from Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh)

6.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

According to the song Up The Junction by Squeeze, at what time was singer’s daughter born?

5.20

(30 minutes later than 4.50)

7.

The Write Stuff

Which novel first published in 1899 is mostly set on the Congo River?

Heart of Darkness

8.

Brain of Britain (General Knowledge)

Name any two of the three ingredients of gunpowder.

(two from) Sulphur, Charcoal and Potassium Nitrate (or saltpetre)

9.

Quote....Unquote

Whose last words, before his death by gunshot in 2011, were reported to be “Don’t turn on the light.”?

Osama Bin Laden

10.

Have I Got News For You

Which logistics company was accused of 'fowl play' last week over its failure to deliver?

DHL

(who 'cocked up' deliveries to KFC)

11.

Only Connect

What comes fourth in this sequence – Fire, Phoenix, Prince?

Hallows

(final word in the titles of the last 4 Harry Potter novels)

12.

Blockbusters (Science)

In biology, what 'M' is the process by which a cell divides to create two identical copies of the original cell?

Mitosis

(NB not meiosis)

13.

A Question of Sport

Russian born tennis player, Yareslava Shvedova, became the first ever person in a grand slam tournament (and only the fourth person in tennis history) to do what during her 6-0, 6-4, Wimbledon victory over Sara Errani of Italy in 2012?

Win a 'golden set' i.e. win a set without conceding a point

14.

Counterpoint

What is the English title of the 1817 Italian opera La Gazza Ladra which tells the story of mistaken identity over a stolen silver spoon?

The Thieving Magpie

15.

Telly Addicts

Which actor comes next in this dynasty from the classic drama TV series I Claudius: Brian Blessed, George Baker, John Hurt, Derek Jacobi…?

Christopher Biggins

16.

Never Mind The Buzzcocks

From which station and at what time does the Chattanooga Choo Choo depart?

Pennsylvania Station at a quarter to 4

17.

The Write Stuff

Which classic anthropomorphic novel of 1908 is set mostly in the Wild Wood – a fictional area of the Thames Valley?

The Wind in the Willows

18.

Brain of Britain (General Knowledge)

Invented by chemist Justus von Liebig in 1902 and sold in a distinctive 'cooking pot' shaped jar, this product was first manufactured in Burton on Trent using a by-product from the Bass brewery.  What is it?

Marmite

19.

Quote....Unquote

Whose final words were “Namaste. Namaste.” before her death by gunshot in 1984?

Indira Gandhi

20.

Have I Got News For You

Who did Jesus finally decide he wanted for a sunbeam last week after over 60 years spent as the conscience of America?

Billy Graham

Go back to Round 4 & 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Pairs

1.

The one word name of which African country contains all five vowels?

Mozambique

2.

Which common English word contains five consecutive vowels?

'queueing'

3.

What is the name of the Queen’s first great grandchild?

Savannah Phillips

4.

Which king was the queen’s great grandfather?

Edward VII

5.

On the new polymer £5 note the image of which medal awarded to Sir Winston Churchill in 1953 appears in the background behind him?

The Nobel Prize for Literature

6.

On the new £10 note a finely detailed metallic image of which Cathedral appears over the see through window near Jane Austen?

7.

Pine Villa FC is the former name of which League 1 football club?

Oldham Athletic

8.

Which League 1 football club was formerly known as Black Arabs FC?

Bristol Rovers

Sp

Going To The Match is L S Lowry’s vision of which former football ground – a ground he often visited as a young man?

Burnden Park

(the former home of Bolton Wanderers)

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - A Themed Round

A country has won 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals at the Winter Olympics - these are displayed symbolically in the answers to the following questions

1.

According to Greek mythology, who was the son of Atreus and Aerope and the father of Orestes?

Agamemnon

2.

Which of the 'rude mechanicals' in A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a joiner?

Snug

3.

In the Harry Potter books, which professor’s first name is Severus?

Snape

4.

In which sport are the terms 'button', 'hogline' and 'hackline' used?

Curling

5.

From the Latin for 'charioteer', which constellation’s brightest star, the sixth brightest in the sky, is the yellow giant Capella?

Auriga

6.

After which Roman emperor was the French city of Orleans named?

Aurelian

7.

Which rodent of the genus Dasyprocta is a native of Central and South America and includes the species Blade-rumped, Crested, Orinoco and Red-rumped?

Agouti

8.

Which port in Lower Saxony is the most northerly point of that state and is a gateway to the island of Heligoland?  It is twinned with Penzance in Cornwall and Vannes in Brittany.

Cuxhaven

Sp

Which name can refer to a brand of blended scotch whiskey, a witch created by Robert Burns in the poem Tam O’ Shanter or a famous ship which can now be found at Greenwich?

Cutty Sark

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - Pairs

1.

In a poem By John Keats, which five words immediately precede: “that is all ye know on earth, and all ye need to know”?

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty"

2.

Which eight words follow these lines from a poem by Sir Henry Newbolt: “And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame, But his Captain’s hand on his shoulder smote…”?

"Play up! play up! and play the game!"

3.

Which chemical element, no. 100, is the only one named after an Italian?

Fermium

4.

Which chemical element, no. 104, is the only one to have been named after a New Zealander?

Rutherfordium

5.

Which 2017 fantasy drama directed by Guillermo Del Toro depicts a love story between a mute and an aquatic creature?  It has received 13 nominations for the upcoming Oscars.

The Shape of Water

6.

Which 2017 horror film starring Javier Bardem and Jennifer Lawrence is supposedly an allegory for "the rape and destruction of Earth” according to Lawrence?  It has been nominated for a number of awards including Worst Actress, Worst Supporting Actor, and Worst Director for the upcoming Golden Raspberry awards.

Mother!

7.

Born in Bologna in 1737, this physicist lends his name to many things including an electrical cell, an instrument which measures current, a type of lie detector and a verb which in modern usage means to stir someone into action. Who was he?

Luigi Galvani

8.

Born in Liguria in 1625, this astronomer and mathematician gave his name to a set of laws concerning the motion of the moon and to the divisions between the rings around Saturn. Who was he?

Giovanni Cassini

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers