ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

Coming in at number 2 on the BFI's 2000 list of the 100 best British TV shows, what is the name of the one-off drama directed by Ken Loach, first released in 1966?

2.

Born in Livorno in 1863, which composer is probably best known for his 1890 opera Cavalleria Rusticana, or ‘Cav’?  (surname alone will suffice)

3.

Which decade saw the births of Jesse James, Edward VII, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and William McKinley?

4.

What country’s national flag can be made by arranging the colours found in the answers to these three clues (in the order in which they’re given) in three horizontal bands from top to bottom?

a. The only Major League Baseball team based in Canada (as of 2018)
b. The sea known historically as the Euxine Sea
c. Jack London novel of 1906 – companion piece to The Call of the Wild

5.

What country’s national flag can be made by arranging the colours found in the answers to these three clues (in the order in which they’re given) in three horizontal bands from top to bottom?

a. A Delhi landmark known in Hindustani as Lal Qila (pronounced: LAHL KEE-la)
b. A 1990s sketch comedy show starring David Baddiel, Rob Newman, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis
c. The only NFL team based in Wisconsin (as of 2018)

6.

Which decade saw the births of Konstantin Chernenko, Billie Holliday, Eva Peron and Indira Gandhi?

7.

 Born in Paris in 1818, which composer is probably best known for his 1859 opera Faust?  (surname alone will suffice)

8.

At number 4 in the list, what is the name of the one-off drama, first shown on ITV in 1975, that starred John Hurt and was based on a 1968 book of the same name?

Sp1

In which decade were Annie Oakley, Marie Curie, Warren G. Harding and David Lloyd George all born?

Sp2

Born in Naples in 1857, which composer is probably best known for his 1892 opera Pagliacci?  (surname will suffice)

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

1.

Which northern English city is home to the statue known as The Splash?  It commemorates a footballer born nearby in 1922, who made more than 550 appearances for the local team.

2.

Which university is named after its original location in Liverpool, but is now located in Ormskirk?

3.

The Lockinge Stakes and Hungerford Stakes are among annual flat races at which southern English racecourse?

4.

Which village north of Banbury is the location for a folk and rock festival founded by Fairport Convention in 1976?

5.

Born in Suffolk in 1727, which artist’s works include The Painter’s Daughters Chasing a Butterfly and Mr and Mrs Andrews?

6.

Give the surname of the actor who plays Superintendent Ted Hastings in the BBC One drama series Line of Duty. This surname is an anagram of the city that was the location of the last ‘timeless’ cricket test match, played in 1939.  It was abandoned as a draw after nine days of play spread over twelve days – the England team had to catch the boat home.

7.

Noted for its half-timbered buildings, which town is home to St Mary’s church, sometimes described as the ‘Cathedral of South Cheshire’?

8.

The warship known as the ‘Royal Charles’ was captured by the Dutch in the Medway in 1667.  It was originally launched in 1655 with what name, after a decisive parliamentarian victory of 1645?

Sp1

Which small town is located between Bodmin, Liskeard and St Austell, at the head of the Fowey estuary?  It is the HQ of Sara Low Verifications Ltd, without whose sterling efforts leading quiz shows would be greatly diminished.

Sp2

Founded in Burton-upon-Trent in 1834, which company now owns beers such as Wainwright, McEwan's Special, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Banks's Mild?

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - Musically themed Run-ons

This is a classic run-on round; i.e. the last word or syllable of the answer to the first clue will form the first word or syllable of the answer to the second.

All the usual caveats apply – watch out for sound-alikes!

At least one of the clues in each of these questions relates to a song, band or artist; don't worry, we've tried to avoid anything too obscure, and feature artists from different eras.

1.

A famous catchphrase of the comedy characters Hamish and Dougal, who are played by Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden, and regularly appear on Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue;

2.

American rock singer who had a hit in 1979 with She's In Love With You;

3.

A fictional astronaut who was first mentioned in a 1969 number one single;

An American new wave band formed by Talking Heads members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, whose major singles included Genius of Love and Wordy Rappinghood.

4.

A ukulele-playing novelty act who shares his name with a character from a Charles Dickens novel, and whose signature song was Tiptoe Through the Tulips;

An American new wave band best known for their 1986 single The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.

5.

6.

American soul duo who are best known for their 1992 hit single Would I Lie To You?;

A British actor who won a Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Theory Of Everything.

7.

Two 'bona' characters who regularly appeared on the radio show Round the Horne, and who were played by Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams

A Scottish singer who had her only number one hit in 2006 with her debut single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair).

8.

Hawaiian singer-songwriter and record producer who was born Peter Gene Hernandez in 1985;

A 1996 Tim Burton sci-fi comedy movie which starred, amongst others, Jack Nicholson and Glenn Close.

Sp1

A former X-Factor contestant who had a top three single in 2015 with Sax;

A 1952 John Steinbeck novel.

Sp2

The 2002 debut hit single by former Neighbours actor Holly Valance;

The English title of a 1976 novel by Argentinian author Manuel Puig.

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

1.

For which film did William Friedkin win the Academy Award for Best Director?

2.

Steve Nieve, Bruce Thomas, and Pete Thomas formed which singer-songwriter’s backing band, first credited on the 1978 album This Year’s Model?

3.

David Kirk, Nick Farr-Jones and Francois Pienaar were the first three captains to lift which specific trophy?  (Note: the answer must be the name of the trophy, NOT the name of the competition)

4.

The name ‘Daphne’ is Greek for which plant?  In mythology the naiad of that name was transformed into this kind of tree in order to save her from being ravished by Apollo.

5.

China has four so-called 'direct-controlled municipalities': Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and what?

6.

In The Pilgrim’s Progress, which alliteratively named character, a friend of Mr Legality, represents the egregious folly of secular ethics and earthly morality, and leads Christian to stray from the true path to salvation in Christ alone?

7.

In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, having first obtained a shrubbery for the Knights-Who-Say-Ni, King Arthur is then commanded to find a second shrubbery and cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with what?

8.

A member of this profession narrates one of The Canterbury Tales.  These officials in Anglo-Saxon times were responsible for implementing and executing decisions of local courts, and by Norman times were charged with day-to-day supervision of manorial labour. What were they known as?

Sp

Which specific Christian saint is most generally depicted on horseback dividing his cloak in two, so as to share it with a beggar?  The closest church to Nelson’s Column is named for him.

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - The '70s!

This round concerns the only years in which anything of any significant interest ever happened – the ‘70s!

1.

In 1572, the work known in English as The Lusiads was first published.  It is the national epic poem of which European country?

2.

According to Catholic ecclesiastical history, in the year 76 the second Pope died.  What was his papal name?  He shares it with a friend of Charlie Brown.

3.

In 1279, Kublai Khan completed his conquest of China, bringing which dynasty to its end?

4.

In 1876, W G Grace became the first player to score 2,000 runs and take 100 wickets in a season.  For which county did he play?

5.

In 672, St Wilfrid began the construction of what would become Ripon Cathedral.  It is one of the three cathedrals of equal status of the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.  What are the other two?

6.

Painted in 1871, how is the work officially titled Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 more famously known?

7.

Complete this quote from Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, the first volume of which was published in 1776:

8.

Which Italian-born scientist discovered four moons of Saturn, including Iapetus (pronounced: aye-AP-it-us) in 1671 and Rhea in 1672, and gives his name to the region approximately 3,000 miles in width that separates Saturn’s A and B rings, which he discovered in 1675?  (just the surname required)

Sp1

Who in 1371 became the first Scottish monarch of the House of Stewart?

Sp2

Taken from a speech made to the Second Virginia Convention in 1775, which American Founding Father declared “give me liberty, or give me death!”?

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

Beware sound-alikes!

1.

Aqaba, lying on the gulf of the same name, is which country's only coastal city?

2.

In 2007, which country won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, held in South Africa?

3.

Which 'sport' is traditionally divided into thirds called in English 'The Third of Lances' or 'Third of Rods', 'The Third of Little Flags', and 'The Third of Death'?

4.

In 2013, Time was a UK number 1 album for which singer?  It was their first UK number 1 studio album since A Night on the Town in 1976, and their first chart-topping album was Every Picture Tells a Story in 1971.

5.

Margaret Pollitt, Brick Pollitt and Big Daddy Pollitt are characters from a work of which playwright who died in New York in 1983?

6.

Originally running on the BBC from 1979 to 1981, Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton, Richard DeVere and Marjory Frobisher were characters in which sitcom?

7.

The plant with binomial Nelumbo nucifera is known as the Indian or Sacred what?

8.

Now a fixture of the British summer, perhaps surprisingly their first public appearance was in Clermont Ferrand in May 1965.  In 1968, they became nine-strong and have remained that way ever since.  In 1980, they swapped Folland Gnats for BAE Hawks.  How are they best known?

Sp

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R R Martin and their subsequent TV adaptation, which noble family are liege lords of the Reach.  Their seat of power is the Castle of Highgarden.

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Run Ons II

In a slight departure from the usual convention, the ‘run-on’ component is the last THREE OR FOUR letters of the first answer and the first three letters of the second – for example ‘London’ and ‘Doncaster’ or ‘Old Brewery Bitter’ and ‘Terrific Knowledge Rainford’.

In each case, give both names, terms or expressions from the descriptions.

For the purposes of this round, apostrophes, accents and diacritical marks are ignored.

1.

A racecourse not far from Dun Laoghaire (pronounced: DUN-leary) in County Dublin;

A specific occurrence in football, for (spectacular) example, that of Manchester City’s Jamie Pollock in a match against QPR in April 1998.

2.

A football stadium where Manchester City played a ‘local derby’ during their spell in the third tier;

An inscribed artefact deciphered by Young and Champollion in the early 19th century.

3.

A former stately home not far from the Exchange Quay tram stop.

4.

Colloquial name of a test cricket ground where play may be influenced by the ‘Fremantle Doctor’;

The pacific seaport that hosted the yachting events at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

5.

The home city of baseball’s Baystars and football’s F. Marinos;

An alloy of mercury with another metal.

6.

The Mediterranean port that is the home of paella;

An Italian bread named for its resemblance to a slipper.

7.

8.

The medieval Welsh Kingdom ruled by Llywelyn the Great;

A comedian and Labour Party activist born in 1962.

Sp

A singer-songwriter born in Essex in 1984 - his hits include Dance with Me Tonight and Heart Skips a Beat;

The constellation that includes the asterism known as 'The Plough'.

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - Connections

1.

Which name is missing from this group of famous, and sometimes infamous, sisters?

Nancy, Unity, Pamela, Deborah, Diana, and _____

2.

Who is missing from this literary line-up of sisters?

Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and _____

3.

Which actor is missing from this official list of four?

Charles Gray, Christoph Waltz, Donald Pleasance, and _____

4.

Complete this cinematic quartet:

Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and ____

5.

Complete this sequence:

Croatian 1998, Brazilian 2002, German 2006, German 2010, _____

6.

Complete this sequence:

Scottish 2012-13, Chilean 2013-14, Portuguese 2014-15, Italian 2015-16, _____

7.

 Who would come fourth in this sequence?

Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, and _____

8.

Which British monarch would come fourth in this sequence?

George the Second, George the Fourth, William the Fourth, and _____

Sp1

Which member of the 'outlaws', from the Just William stories, is missing from this list?

William, Ginger, Henry, and _____

Sp2

Who is missing from this list?

Helga Hufflepuff, Salasar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and _____    (surname and forename required)

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Pairs

1.

Coming in at number 2 on the BFI's 2000 list of the 100 best British TV shows, what is the name of the one-off drama directed by Ken Loach, first released in 1966?

Cathy Come Home

2.

Born in Livorno in 1863, which composer is probably best known for his 1890 opera Cavalleria Rusticana, or ‘Cav’?  (surname alone will suffice)

(Pietro) Mascagni

3.

Which decade saw the births of Jesse James, Edward VII, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and William McKinley?

1840s

4.

What country’s national flag can be made by arranging the colours found in the answers to these three clues (in the order in which they’re given) in three horizontal bands from top to bottom?

a. The only Major League Baseball team based in Canada (as of 2018)
b. The sea known historically as the Euxine Sea
c. Jack London novel of 1906 – companion piece to The Call of the Wild

5.

What country’s national flag can be made by arranging the colours found in the answers to these three clues (in the order in which they’re given) in three horizontal bands from top to bottom?

a. A Delhi landmark known in Hindustani as Lal Qila (pronounced: LAHL KEE-la)
b. A 1990s sketch comedy show starring David Baddiel, Rob Newman, Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis
c. The only NFL team based in Wisconsin (as of 2018)

Hungary
(Red Fort; The Mary Whitehouse Experience; Green Bay Packers. Bulgaria’s flag is similar, but the colours are in a different order: white, green and red)

6.

Which decade saw the births of Konstantin Chernenko, Billie Holliday, Eva Peron and Indira Gandhi?

1910s

7.

 Born in Paris in 1818, which composer is probably best known for his 1859 opera Faust?  (surname alone will suffice)

(Charles) Gounod

8.

At number 4 in the list, what is the name of the one-off drama, first shown on ITV in 1975, that starred John Hurt and was based on a 1968 book of the same name?

The Naked Civil Servant

Sp1

In which decade were Annie Oakley, Marie Curie, Warren G. Harding and David Lloyd George all born?

1860s

Sp2

Born in Naples in 1857, which composer is probably best known for his 1892 opera Pagliacci?  (surname will suffice)

(Ruggero) Leoncavallo

ROUND 2 - Hidden theme

1.

Which northern English city is home to the statue known as The Splash?  It commemorates a footballer born nearby in 1922, who made more than 550 appearances for the local team.

Preston

(the statue is of the great Tom Finney)

2.

Which university is named after its original location in Liverpool, but is now located in Ormskirk?

Edge Hill

3.

The Lockinge Stakes and Hungerford Stakes are among annual flat races at which southern English racecourse?

Newbury

4.

Which village north of Banbury is the location for a folk and rock festival founded by Fairport Convention in 1976?

Cropredy

(Fairport's Cropredy Convention)

5.

Born in Suffolk in 1727, which artist’s works include The Painter’s Daughters Chasing a Butterfly and Mr and Mrs Andrews?

Thomas Gainsborough

6.

Give the surname of the actor who plays Superintendent Ted Hastings in the BBC One drama series Line of Duty. This surname is an anagram of the city that was the location of the last ‘timeless’ cricket test match, played in 1939.  It was abandoned as a draw after nine days of play spread over twelve days – the England team had to catch the boat home.

(Adrian) Dunbar

(the match was played in Durban)

7.

Noted for its half-timbered buildings, which town is home to St Mary’s church, sometimes described as the ‘Cathedral of South Cheshire’?

Nantwich

8.

The warship known as the ‘Royal Charles’ was captured by the Dutch in the Medway in 1667.  It was originally launched in 1655 with what name, after a decisive parliamentarian victory of 1645?

Naseby

Sp1

Which small town is located between Bodmin, Liskeard and St Austell, at the head of the Fowey estuary?  It is the HQ of Sara Low Verifications Ltd, without whose sterling efforts leading quiz shows would be greatly diminished.

Lostwithiel

Sp2

Founded in Burton-upon-Trent in 1834, which company now owns beers such as Wainwright, McEwan's Special, Wychwood Hobgoblin and Banks's Mild?

Marstons

Theme: Battles of the mid-17th century Civil Wars, aka ‘the Wars of the Three Kingdoms’, or the 1st, 2nd and 3rd ‘English Civil Wars’

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - Musically themed Run-ons

This is a classic run-on round; i.e. the last word or syllable of the answer to the first clue will form the first word or syllable of the answer to the second.

All the usual caveats apply – watch out for sound-alikes!

At least one of the clues in each of these questions relates to a song, band or artist; don't worry, we've tried to avoid anything too obscure, and feature artists from different eras.

1.

A famous catchphrase of the comedy characters Hamish and Dougal, who are played by Barry Cryer and Graeme Garden, and regularly appear on Radio 4's I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue;

You'll Have Had Your Tea Rex

(“You’ll have had your tea” & T-Rex)

2.

American rock singer who had a hit in 1979 with She's In Love With You;

Suzi Quatro Stagioni

(Suzi Quatro & Quatro Stagioni)

3.

A fictional astronaut who was first mentioned in a 1969 number one single;

An American new wave band formed by Talking Heads members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, whose major singles included Genius of Love and Wordy Rappinghood.

Major Tom Tom Club

(Major Tom & Tom Tom Club)

4.

A ukulele-playing novelty act who shares his name with a character from a Charles Dickens novel, and whose signature song was Tiptoe Through the Tulips;

An American new wave band best known for their 1986 single The Future's So Bright, I Gotta Wear Shades.

Tiny Timbuk3

(Tiny Tim & Timbuk3)

5.

6.

American soul duo who are best known for their 1992 hit single Would I Lie To You?;

A British actor who won a Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Theory Of Everything.

Charles & Eddie Redmayne (Charles and Eddie & Eddie Redmayne)

7.

Two 'bona' characters who regularly appeared on the radio show Round the Horne, and who were played by Hugh Paddick and Kenneth Williams

A Scottish singer who had her only number one hit in 2006 with her debut single I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers in My Hair).

Julian and Sandy Thom (Julian and Sandy & Sandy Thom)

8.

Hawaiian singer-songwriter and record producer who was born Peter Gene Hernandez in 1985;

A 1996 Tim Burton sci-fi comedy movie which starred, amongst others, Jack Nicholson and Glenn Close.

Bruno Mars Attacks!

(Bruno Mars & Mars Attacks)

Sp1

A former X-Factor contestant who had a top three single in 2015 with Sax;

A 1952 John Steinbeck novel.

Fleur East of Eden

(Fleur East and East of Eden)

Sp2

The 2002 debut hit single by former Neighbours actor Holly Valance;

The English title of a 1976 novel by Argentinian author Manuel Puig.

Kiss Kiss of the Spider Woman

(Kiss Kiss & Kiss of the Spider Woman)

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

1.

For which film did William Friedkin win the Academy Award for Best Director?

The French Connection

2.

Steve Nieve, Bruce Thomas, and Pete Thomas formed which singer-songwriter’s backing band, first credited on the 1978 album This Year’s Model?

(The Attractions, of course; accept Declan MacManus, but correct to Elvis Costello for the purposes of the theme)

3.

David Kirk, Nick Farr-Jones and Francois Pienaar were the first three captains to lift which specific trophy?  (Note: the answer must be the name of the trophy, NOT the name of the competition)

Webb Ellis Cup/Trophy

(do not accept 'Rugby World Cup', which is the name of the competition)

4.

The name ‘Daphne’ is Greek for which plant?  In mythology the naiad of that name was transformed into this kind of tree in order to save her from being ravished by Apollo.

Laurel

5.

China has four so-called 'direct-controlled municipalities': Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and what?

Chongqing

(pronounced roughly CHOONG-CHING – If in doubt, please ask for spelling; accept Chungking – a former transliteration)

6.

In The Pilgrim’s Progress, which alliteratively named character, a friend of Mr Legality, represents the egregious folly of secular ethics and earthly morality, and leads Christian to stray from the true path to salvation in Christ alone?

Mr Worldly Wiseman

7.

In Monty Python and the Holy Grail, having first obtained a shrubbery for the Knights-Who-Say-Ni, King Arthur is then commanded to find a second shrubbery and cut down the mightiest tree in the forest with what?

A herring

8.

A member of this profession narrates one of The Canterbury Tales.  These officials in Anglo-Saxon times were responsible for implementing and executing decisions of local courts, and by Norman times were charged with day-to-day supervision of manorial labour. What were they known as?

Reeves

Sp

Which specific Christian saint is most generally depicted on horseback dividing his cloak in two, so as to share it with a beggar?  The closest church to Nelson’s Column is named for him.

Saint Martin of Tours

(St Martin-in-the-Fields is the church on Trafalgar Square)

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - The '70s!

This round concerns the only years in which anything of any significant interest ever happened – the ‘70s!

1.

In 1572, the work known in English as The Lusiads was first published.  It is the national epic poem of which European country?

Portugal

2.

According to Catholic ecclesiastical history, in the year 76 the second Pope died.  What was his papal name?  He shares it with a friend of Charlie Brown.

Saint Linus

3.

In 1279, Kublai Khan completed his conquest of China, bringing which dynasty to its end?

Song

4.

In 1876, W G Grace became the first player to score 2,000 runs and take 100 wickets in a season.  For which county did he play?

Gloucestershire

5.

In 672, St Wilfrid began the construction of what would become Ripon Cathedral.  It is one of the three cathedrals of equal status of the Anglican Diocese of Leeds.  What are the other two?

Bradford and Wakefield

6.

Painted in 1871, how is the work officially titled Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1 more famously known?

7.

Complete this quote from Edward Gibbon’s The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, the first volume of which was published in 1776:

"useful"

8.

Which Italian-born scientist discovered four moons of Saturn, including Iapetus (pronounced: aye-AP-it-us) in 1671 and Rhea in 1672, and gives his name to the region approximately 3,000 miles in width that separates Saturn’s A and B rings, which he discovered in 1675?  (just the surname required)

(Giovani Domenico) Cassini (the region is called ‘The Cassini Division’)

Sp1

Who in 1371 became the first Scottish monarch of the House of Stewart?

Robert the Second

Sp2

Taken from a speech made to the Second Virginia Convention in 1775, which American Founding Father declared “give me liberty, or give me death!”?

Patrick Henry

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

Beware sound-alikes!

1.

Aqaba, lying on the gulf of the same name, is which country's only coastal city?

Jordan

2.

In 2007, which country won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20, held in South Africa?

India

3.

Which 'sport' is traditionally divided into thirds called in English 'The Third of Lances' or 'Third of Rods', 'The Third of Little Flags', and 'The Third of Death'?

Bullfighting

4.

In 2013, Time was a UK number 1 album for which singer?  It was their first UK number 1 studio album since A Night on the Town in 1976, and their first chart-topping album was Every Picture Tells a Story in 1971.

Rod Stewart

5.

Margaret Pollitt, Brick Pollitt and Big Daddy Pollitt are characters from a work of which playwright who died in New York in 1983?

Tennessee Williams

(they are all from A Cat on a Hot Tin Roof)

6.

Originally running on the BBC from 1979 to 1981, Audrey Fforbes-Hamilton, Richard DeVere and Marjory Frobisher were characters in which sitcom?

To The Manor Born

7.

The plant with binomial Nelumbo nucifera is known as the Indian or Sacred what?

Lotus

8.

Now a fixture of the British summer, perhaps surprisingly their first public appearance was in Clermont Ferrand in May 1965.  In 1968, they became nine-strong and have remained that way ever since.  In 1980, they swapped Folland Gnats for BAE Hawks.  How are they best known?

Red Arrows

Sp

In the A Song of Ice and Fire books by George R R Martin and their subsequent TV adaptation, which noble family are liege lords of the Reach.  Their seat of power is the Castle of Highgarden.

House Tyrell

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Run Ons II

In a slight departure from the usual convention, the ‘run-on’ component is the last THREE OR FOUR letters of the first answer and the first three letters of the second – for example ‘London’ and ‘Doncaster’ or ‘Old Brewery Bitter’ and ‘Terrific Knowledge Rainford’.

In each case, give both names, terms or expressions from the descriptions.

For the purposes of this round, apostrophes, accents and diacritical marks are ignored.

1.

A racecourse not far from Dun Laoghaire (pronounced: DUN-leary) in County Dublin;

A specific occurrence in football, for (spectacular) example, that of Manchester City’s Jamie Pollock in a match against QPR in April 1998.

Leopardstown; own goal

2.

A football stadium where Manchester City played a ‘local derby’ during their spell in the third tier;

An inscribed artefact deciphered by Young and Champollion in the early 19th century.

Moss Rose; Rosetta Stone
(Moss Rose is the home ground of Macclesfield Town FC)

3.

A former stately home not far from the Exchange Quay tram stop.

Lord’s; Ordsall Hall

4.

Colloquial name of a test cricket ground where play may be influenced by the ‘Fremantle Doctor’;

The pacific seaport that hosted the yachting events at the 1968 Summer Olympics.

WACA; Acapulco

5.

The home city of baseball’s Baystars and football’s F. Marinos;

An alloy of mercury with another metal.

Yokohama; amalgam

6.

The Mediterranean port that is the home of paella;

An Italian bread named for its resemblance to a slipper.

Valencia; ciabatta

7.

8.

The medieval Welsh Kingdom ruled by Llywelyn the Great;

A comedian and Labour Party activist born in 1962.

Gwynedd; Eddie Izzard

Sp

A singer-songwriter born in Essex in 1984 - his hits include Dance with Me Tonight and Heart Skips a Beat;

The constellation that includes the asterism known as 'The Plough'.

Olly Murs; Ursa Major

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - Connections

1.

Which name is missing from this group of famous, and sometimes infamous, sisters?

Nancy, Unity, Pamela, Deborah, Diana, and _____

Jessica

(they are, of course, the Mitford sisters; Jessica was known as 'the communist', considering that her other sisters' nicknames included 'fascist' and 'Hitler-lover', she got off quite lightly!)

2.

Who is missing from this literary line-up of sisters?

Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Lydia, and _____

Mary

(they are the Bennet sisters from Pride and Prejudice)

3.

Which actor is missing from this official list of four?

Charles Gray, Christoph Waltz, Donald Pleasance, and _____

Telly Savalas

(they are the four credited actors to have played Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the official Eon Productions James Bond films - do NOT accept Max von Sydow, who played Blofeld in the unofficial Bond film Never Say Never Again)

4.

Complete this cinematic quartet:

Billy Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, and ____

Harold Ramis

(pronounced: RAY-mis - they are the four actors who played the original Ghostbusters)

5.

Complete this sequence:

Croatian 1998, Brazilian 2002, German 2006, German 2010, _____

Colombian – 2014

(the nationalities of the last five winners of the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot/Shoe award – Davor Šuker, Ronaldo, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Müller, James Rodríguez)

6.

Complete this sequence:

Scottish 2012-13, Chilean 2013-14, Portuguese 2014-15, Italian 2015-16, _____

Italian – 2016-17

(the nationalities of the last five premier league managers – Alex Ferguson, Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Claudio Ranieri, Antonio Conte)

7.

 Who would come fourth in this sequence?

Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, and _____

Lyndon B Johnson

(they are the four men who became US president following the assassination of their predecessor)

8.

Which British monarch would come fourth in this sequence?

George the Second, George the Fourth, William the Fourth, and _____

Edward the Eighth

(they were the last four UK monarchs not to be succeeded on the throne by one of their children)

Sp1

Which member of the 'outlaws', from the Just William stories, is missing from this list?

William, Ginger, Henry, and _____

Douglas

Sp2

Who is missing from this list?

Helga Hufflepuff, Salasar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and _____    (surname and forename required)

Godric Gryffindor

(from the Harry Potter books and films)

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers