ROUND 1 - "It's been too long since we took the time; no-one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly..."

1.

Which 1980 number 1 hit by The Jam was based on both the lead and bass guitar riffs from the 1966 Beatles song Taxman?

2.

Which quiz show host first used the catchphrase “I’ve started so I’ll finish”?

3.

Which famous race begins with the command “Gentlemen start your engines”?

4.

The first track on the album Thriller, this 1983 hit for Michael Jackson was the opening song in both his solo shows and those of The Jacksons for many years.  What is its title?

5.

Which 1981 Rolling Stones song was used by Microsoft to launch Widows 95?

6.

Which village marks the traditional (southern) start of the Pennine Way?

7.

Which town marks the traditional (eastern) start of the Hadrian’s Wall Path?

8.

Which song reached number 1 in the US and UK in December 1980, three weeks after the artist’s sudden death?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Pairs

1.

Who won the Booker Prize in 1996 for Last Orders?  Other works include Waterland and Here We Are.  He shares his surname with the Irish born author of the Battle of the Books.

2.

Which city on the River Nene has a cathedral containing the tomb of Katherine of Aragon.  It was represented in parliament by Fiona Onasanya until she was jailed in 2019.

3.

Whose 4th Symphony, first performed in Vienna in 1881, is nicknamed The Romantic?

4.

Who won the Booker Prize in 1973 for The Siege of Khrishnapur.  He was retrospectively awarded the 1970 Booker Prize for The Troubles.  He shares his surname with the Irish born star of the films Phone Booth and In Bruges.

5.

Calculate the gradient of the line connecting the coordinates (-1, 1) and (1, 6).

6.

If you plotted the graph of x2 + y2 = 25 (x squared plus y squared = 25) what would you have drawn?

7.

Cambridgeshire has two Anglican cathedrals.  One is in Peterborough.  The other is famous for its octagonal tower and lantern.  Where is it?

8.

Whose 1st Symphony, first performed in Petrograd in 1918, is nicknamed The Classical?

Sp.

What is the answer when you multiply √2+1 and √2 - 1?

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - "So did anything happen while we were away?"

1.

The last Withquiz games were on 11th March 2020.  Two sporting fixtures which became labelled 'super-spreader events' took place the same day or night.  Name either.

2.

Three Covid-19 vaccines are licensed for use in the UK.  The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is one.  Name either of the others.

3.

On 24th April 2020 Donald Trump suggested an unusual and dangerous method for treating Covid.  What was it?

4.

What is the capital of the Chinese province of Hubei?

5.

Who briefly became known as 'The King of the North' in October / November 2020?

6.

Who is the Chief Medical Officer for England?

7.

On April 12th 2020 to which popular tourist location did Dominic Cummings drive in order to test his eyesight?

8.

On July 17th 2020 The Queen made her first official public appearance since the start of lockdown.  There was only one other participant in the ceremony she conducted in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle.  Who?

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

1.

The 125th running of which athletics event, the oldest of its kind in the world, will take place on 11th October this year?

2.

The ingredients list for which product include: Malt Vinegar, Spirit Vinegar, Molasses, Sugar, Salt, Anchovies, Tamarind Extract, Onions, Garlic, Spice, Flavourings?

3.

Which American musician was the co-founder and guitarist of the band Chic and later went on to produce albums by David Bowie, Madonna and Duran Duran among others?

4.

What name links the first Governor General of Bengal, a journalist and military historian, and a TV character who is 'interested in one thing and one thing only'?

5.

Which French dish consists of chicken sautéed with garlic and tomatoes and garnished with crayfish and eggs?

6.

Which British singer, who had numerous hits in the late 1950s, was known as 'the girl with the giggle in her voice'?

7.

She was a writer, feminist, socialist and pacifist.  Her daughter became an infamous 'gang' member.  Who was she?

8.

Sp1

What warm water current, that originates in the Gulf Stream, ensures that the climate in the British Isles and north west Europe remains temperate?

Sp2

What name has been given to a collection of views about the meaning of quantum mechanics based on the work of Nils Bohr and Werner Heisenberg?

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

In which city can you find the Laing Art Gallery and a music venue called The Cluny?

2.

In which city can you find the Hunterian Art Gallery and a music venue called Barrowlands?

3.

Which British football club’s record against Barcelona in European competition is played 4 won 4?

4.

Four places in Scotland have more than one football league club - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, but which is the other?

5.

Which name links a member of the Shadow Cabinet, the film The Matrix and Tamla Motown Records?

6.

Which name links a member of the Cabinet, the film Gangs of New York and Sun Records?

7.

Which London Borough is bordered by the boroughs of Harrow, Ealing and Hounslow?

8.

Which London Borough is bordered by the boroughs of Kingston-Upon-Thames, Merton and Croydon?

Sp1

Which is the largest European city never to have hosted a Champions League match?

Sp2

Which is the largest National Park in the United Kingdom?

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme - 'God Save the Queen'

Musical theme suggested by the title. Usual caveats plus one of the answers is more cryptic than usual.

1.

Which Scottish band fronted by Ricky Ross had singles including Real Gone Kid and Fergus Sings the Blues?  They got their name from a track from the Steely Dan album Aja.

2.

According to Boyle’s Law what is inversely proportional to the volume of a gas at constant temperature?

3.

What surname is shared by characters played by Rik Mayall in two sitcoms set more than 300 years apart?

4.

He was born in 1934 and died in a plane crash in 1968.  He made a famous visit to Manchester in 1961 when thousands lined the streets to acclaim his most famous achievement.  Who was he?

5.

Which mixed race composer’s most famous work was the Song of Hiawatha based on the poem of Longfellow?  He shares his double-barrelled surname (although in a different order) with a poet who was famously interrupted by a man from a Somerset village.  (the surname is sufficient - in either order - although they also shared the same forename).

6.

What title is given to Shostakovich’s 3rd Symphony written in honour of the international labour movement?  It was first performed on 21st January 1930 more than three months before the title suggested it should have been.

7.

Which science fiction writer’s lesser known works include Love and Mr Lewisham, The War in the Air and Tono-Bungay?

8.

Which guitarist member of the Buena Vista Social Club wrote the music for the film Paris, Texas?  His name contains six fewer than the theme would suggest.

Sp.

Which 1937 film feature a veterinarian called Dr Hugo Hackenbush?

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Announced theme - '21' (but nothing to do with Adele)

All questions relate to events, births or deaths in years ending in 21

1.

In 1821, which French fashion designer and businessman founded the company that still bears his name?

2.

In 1721 an outbreak of which disease led to conflict, including bomb throwing, over early attempts at inoculation?

3.

In 1921, the Australians achieved which remarkable sporting triumph?  This was not repeated until 86 years later.

4.

In 1921, which future pioneer in space exploration was born?  He is often credited with commenting that awaiting blast-off, “felt exactly how you would feel if you were…sitting on top of 2 million parts — all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract".

5.

In 1521, at which imperial assembly did Martin Luther reputedly say, “Here I stand, I can do no other”?  At the end of the proceedings, he was declared a heretic.

6.

In 221BC, who was appointed as overall commander of the Carthaginian army in what is now Spain?

7.

In 1621, the first celebration of what was shared by Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans?

8.

In 1921, which German composer died?  His name was later adopted as a stage name by the singer, Arnold Dorsey.

Sp1

In 1521, the fall of which city marked the end of the Aztec empire?

Sp2

In 1721, who was appointed as First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons?

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - Run Ons

(or, as Richard Osman insists on calling them, AnswerSmash)

1.

A social networking service;

An international Christian movement.

2.

A local Metrolink station;

A 1960 horror film based on a John Wyndham novel.

3.

The fourth book of the Harry Potter series;

A children’s TV programme featuring the voice of John Alderton.

4.

Female Australian singer whose biggest UK hit was Angie Baby;

A breakfast cereal.

5.

A slang term for being drunk;

6.

A number one hit in 1960 for Ricky Valance;

Actor whose films include The Ladykillers and A Shot In The Dark.

7.

TV series that was awarded four BAFTAs in 2021 including those for best actress and best mini series;

A multinational delivery service.

8.

2002 Danny Boyle film starring Cillian Murphy;

Long-running TV music programme.

Sp1

Novel by Maggie O’Farrell which won the 2020 Women’s Prize for fiction;

A supermarket chain.

Sp2

Film composer of whose credits include Citizen Kane, Psycho and Taxi Driver;

60s group whose hits included Silhouettes and No Milk Today.

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - "It's been too long since we took the time; no-one's to blame, I know time flies so quickly..."

1.

Which 1980 number 1 hit by The Jam was based on both the lead and bass guitar riffs from the 1966 Beatles song Taxman?

Start

2.

Which quiz show host first used the catchphrase “I’ve started so I’ll finish”?

Magnus Magnusson

(on Mastermind)

3.

Which famous race begins with the command “Gentlemen start your engines”?

The Indy 500

4.

The first track on the album Thriller, this 1983 hit for Michael Jackson was the opening song in both his solo shows and those of The Jacksons for many years.  What is its title?

Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’

5.

Which 1981 Rolling Stones song was used by Microsoft to launch Widows 95?

Start Me Up

6.

Which village marks the traditional (southern) start of the Pennine Way?

Edale

7.

Which town marks the traditional (eastern) start of the Hadrian’s Wall Path?

Wallsend

(confusingly enough!)

8.

Which song reached number 1 in the US and UK in December 1980, three weeks after the artist’s sudden death?

(Just Like) Starting Over

(by John Lennon)

ROUND 2 - Pairs

1.

Who won the Booker Prize in 1996 for Last Orders?  Other works include Waterland and Here We Are.  He shares his surname with the Irish born author of the Battle of the Books.

Graham Swift

2.

Which city on the River Nene has a cathedral containing the tomb of Katherine of Aragon.  It was represented in parliament by Fiona Onasanya until she was jailed in 2019.

Peterborough

3.

Whose 4th Symphony, first performed in Vienna in 1881, is nicknamed The Romantic?

Bruckner

4.

Who won the Booker Prize in 1973 for The Siege of Khrishnapur.  He was retrospectively awarded the 1970 Booker Prize for The Troubles.  He shares his surname with the Irish born star of the films Phone Booth and In Bruges.

J G Farrell

5.

Calculate the gradient of the line connecting the coordinates (-1, 1) and (1, 6).

2.5

(change in y ÷ change in x)

6.

If you plotted the graph of x2 + y2 = 25 (x squared plus y squared = 25) what would you have drawn?

Circle, radius 5, centre (0, 0)

(accept circle, radius 5 but do not accept the graph of x2 + y2 = 25 as a smart-Alec answer)

7.

Cambridgeshire has two Anglican cathedrals.  One is in Peterborough.  The other is famous for its octagonal tower and lantern.  Where is it?

Ely

8.

Whose 1st Symphony, first performed in Petrograd in 1918, is nicknamed The Classical?

Prokofiev

Sp.

What is the answer when you multiply √2+1 and √2 - 1?

1

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - "So did anything happen while we were away?"

1.

The last WithQuiz games were on 11th March 2020.  Two sporting fixtures which became labelled 'super-spreader events' took place the same day or night.  Name either.

Cheltenham horse racing festival

or

Liverpool v Atletico Madrid Champions League match

2.

Three Covid-19 vaccines are licensed for use in the UK.  The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is one.  Name either of the others.

Moderna

or

Pfizer/BioNTech

3.

On 24th April 2020 Donald Trump suggested an unusual and dangerous method for treating Covid.  What was it?

Injecting bleach or other disinfectant

4.

What is the capital of the Chinese province of Hubei?

Wuhan

5.

Who briefly became known as 'The King of the North' in October / November 2020?

Andy Burnham

6.

Who is the Chief Medical Officer for England?

Chris Whitty

7.

On April 12th 2020 to which popular tourist location did Dominic Cummings drive in order to test his eyesight?

Barnard Castle

8.

On July 17th 2020 The Queen made her first official public appearance since the start of lockdown.  There was only one other participant in the ceremony she conducted in the quadrangle of Windsor Castle.  Who?

Captain Sir Tom Moore

(whom she knighted)

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Hidden theme

1.

The 125th running of which athletics event, the oldest of its kind in the world, will take place on 11th October this year?

Boston Marathon

2.

The ingredients list for which product include: Malt Vinegar, Spirit Vinegar, Molasses, Sugar, Salt, Anchovies, Tamarind Extract, Onions, Garlic, Spice, Flavourings?

Worcestershire Sauce

3.

Which American musician was the co-founder and guitarist of the band Chic and later went on to produce albums by David Bowie, Madonna and Duran Duran among others?

Nile Rodgers

4.

What name links the first Governor General of Bengal, a journalist and military historian, and a TV character who is 'interested in one thing and one thing only'?

Hastings

5.

Which French dish consists of chicken sautéed with garlic and tomatoes and garnished with crayfish and eggs?

Chicken Marengo

6.

Which British singer, who had numerous hits in the late 1950s, was known as 'the girl with the giggle in her voice'?

Alma Cogan

7.

She was a writer, feminist, socialist and pacifist.  Her daughter became an infamous 'gang' member.  Who was she?

Vera Brittain

8.

Waterloo Sunset

Sp1

What warm water current, that originates in the Gulf Stream, ensures that the climate in the British Isles and north west Europe remains temperate?

North Atlantic Drift

(or Current)

Sp2

What name has been given to a collection of views about the meaning of quantum mechanics based on the work of Niels Bohr and Werner Heisenberg?

The Copenhagen Interpretation

Theme: Each answer contains the name of a battle...

Marathon, Worcester, Nile, Hastings, Marengo, Alma, Britain, Waterloo, the Atlantic, Copenhagen

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

In which city can you find the Laing Art Gallery and a music venue called The Cluny?

Newcastle

2.

In which city can you find the Hunterian Art Gallery and a music venue called Barrowlands?

Glasgow

3.

Which British football club’s record against Barcelona in European competition is played 4 won 4?

Dundee United

4.

Four places in Scotland have more than one football league club - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee, but which is the other?

Falkirk

(Falkirk and East Stirling - the mighty Stenhousemuir are also only two miles up the road)

5.

Which name links a member of the Shadow Cabinet, the film The Matrix and Tamla Motown Records?

Reeves

(Rachel, Keanu and Martha)

6.

Which name links a member of the Cabinet, the film Gangs of New York and Sun Records?

Lewis

(Brandon, Daniel Day and Jerry Lee)

7.

Which London Borough is bordered by the boroughs of Harrow, Ealing and Hounslow?

Hillingdon

8.

Which London Borough is bordered by the boroughs of Kingston-Upon-Thames, Merton and Croydon?

Sutton

Sp1

Which is the largest European city never to have hosted a Champions League match?

Ankara

Sp2

Which is the largest National Park in the United Kingdom?

The Cairngorms

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme - 'God Save the Queen'

Musical theme suggested by the title. Usual caveats plus one of the answers is more cryptic than usual.

1.

Which Scottish band fronted by Ricky Ross had singles including Real Gone Kid and Fergus Sings the Blues?  They got their name from a track from the Steely Dan album Aja.

Deacon Blue

2.

According to Boyle’s Law what is inversely proportional to the volume of a gas at constant temperature?

Pressure

3.

What surname is shared by characters played by Rik Mayall in two sitcoms set more than 300 years apart?

Flashheart

(Blackadder 2 and 4)

4.

He was born in 1934 and died in a plane crash in 1968.  He made a famous visit to Manchester in 1961 when thousands lined the streets to acclaim his most famous achievement.  Who was he?

Yuri Gagarin

5.

Which mixed race composer’s most famous work was the Song of Hiawatha based on the poem of Longfellow?  He shares his double-barrelled surname (although in a different order) with a poet who was famously interrupted by a man from a Somerset village.  (the surname is sufficient - in either order - although they also shared the same forename).

(Samuel) Coleridge-Taylor (or Taylor Coleridge)

6.

What title is given to Shostakovich’s 3rd Symphony written in honour of the international labour movement?  It was first performed on 21st January 1930 more than three months before the title suggested it should have been.

First of May

(accept May 1st or even May Day)

7.

Which science fiction writer’s lesser known works include Love and Mr Lewisham, The War in the Air and Tono-Bungay?

H G Wells

8.

Which guitarist member of the Buena Vista Social Club wrote the music for the film Paris, Texas? His name contains six fewer than the theme would suggest.

Ry Cooder

Sp.

Which 1937 film feature a veterinarian called Dr Hugo Hackenbush?

Day at the Races

Theme: Rock band Queen

John Deacon, Under Pressure, Flash, Radio Ga Ga, Roger Taylor, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Seven Seas of Rhye and Album Day at the Races

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Announced theme - '21' (but nothing to do with Adele)

All questions relate to events, births or deaths in years ending in 21

1.

In 1821, which French fashion designer and businessman founded the company that still bears his name?

Louis Vuitton

2.

In 1721 an outbreak of which disease led to conflict, including bomb throwing, over early attempts at inoculation?

Smallpox

3.

In 1921, the Australians achieved which remarkable sporting triumph?  This was not repeated until 86 years later.

Whitewashed England in an Ashes series

4.

In 1921, which future pioneer in space exploration was born?  He is often credited with commenting that awaiting blast-off, “felt exactly how you would feel if you were…sitting on top of 2 million parts — all built by the lowest bidder on a government contract".

John Glenn

5.

In 1521, at which imperial assembly did Martin Luther reputedly say, “Here I stand, I can do no other”?  At the end of the proceedings, he was declared a heretic.

Diet of Worms

6.

In 221BC, who was appointed as overall commander of the Carthaginian army in what is now Spain?

Hannibal

7.

In 1621, the first celebration of what was shared by Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans?

Thanksgiving

8.

In 1921, which German composer died?  His name was later adopted as a stage name by the singer, Arnold Dorsey.

Engelbert Humperdinck

Sp1

In 1521, the fall of which city marked the end of the Aztec empire?

Tenochtitlan

Sp2

In 1721, who was appointed as First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Leader of the House of Commons?

Robert Walpole

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

(or, as Richard Osman insists on calling them, AnswerSmash)

1.

A social networking service;

An international Christian movement.

TikTok H

2.

A local Metrolink station;

A 1960 horror film based on a John Wyndham novel.

Didsbury Village of the Damned

3.

The fourth book of the Harry Potter series;

A children’s TV programme featuring the voice of John Alderton.

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fireman Sam

4.

Female Australian singer whose biggest UK hit was Angie Baby;

A breakfast cereal.

Helen Reddy Brek

5.

A slang term for being drunk;

Blotto Preminger

6.

A number one hit in 1960 for Ricky Valance;

Actor whose films include The Ladykillers and A Shot In The Dark.

Tell Laura I Love Herbert Lom

7.

TV series that was awarded four BAFTAs in 2021 including those for best actress and best mini series;

A multinational delivery service.

I May Destroy UPS

8.

2002 Danny Boyle film starring Cillian Murphy;

Long-running TV music programme.

28 Days Later with Jools Holland

Sp1

Novel by Maggie O’Farrell which won the 2020 Women’s Prize for fiction;

A supermarket chain.

Hamnetto

Sp2

Film composer of whose credits include Citizen Kane, Psycho and Taxi Driver;

60s group whose hits included Silhouettes and No Milk Today.

Bernard Hermann's Hermits

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers