ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

Which country changed its flag on 15th August 2021 to a white field containing a black Shahada (declaration of faith)?

2.

The stratum mucosum of the epidermis is named after which Italian biologist and physician?

3.

Which geological feature whose name is of German origin is typified by a limestone region between Italy and Slovenia?

4.

Which country was previously known as the Ellice Islands?

5.

What is the alternative name for the little grebe?

6.

Which politician's married name is Murrell?

7.

Which group of plants that includes conifers takes its name from the Greek for 'naked seed'?

8.

Which term, taking its name from the Greek for 'lake', is the study of inland waters?

Sp.

Which variety of baccarat takes its name from the French for railway?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Paired

1.

Which Shakespeare play has the highest body count of characters in the named cast list?

2.

Which early Shakespeare comedy has the shortest cast list?  The play contains Crab who is one of the very few non-speaking roles in the cast list in the whole of Shakespeare's output and to whom the epithet 'the most scene-stealing non-speaking role in the canon' has been given.

3.

Which musical educational establishment was located in Kneller Hall in Richmond from 1856 to 2021?  Some of the graduates can often be seen in ceremonial occasions.

4.

Which education establishment is located in White Lodge in Richmond Park?  The establishment provides training in an art form connected with music for organisations located in London and Birmingham.

5.

Who is the current world number one male golfer?  He was also the world number one in July 2020.

6.

Novak Djokovic became world number one male tennis player after winning the Australian open. Who did he replace as number one?  This player won the American open last year.

7.

In the world of electronics what does the abbreviation 'FET' stand for?

8.

What is the name given to a two-terminal electronic device that transmits current one-way only?  A common use for them is in AC to DC converters.

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - Paired

1.

The word Côtes appears on the label of many French wine bottles.  What does it mean?

2.

The word cuvée appears on the label of champagne bottles.  What does it mean?

3.

What was the name of the Huguenot leader who was assassinated at the start of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre?

4.

Margaret of Valois married whom 6 days before the St Bartholomew's Day massacre?

5.

Which musical is based on the Fellini film Nights of Cabira?  The film directed by Bob Fosse appeared in 1969 and starred Shirley Maclean in the eponymous role.

6.

Which Broadway musical is based on the Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night.  The musical was first staged in 1973 and contains a song specially written for Glynis Johns.

7.

Melanie Griffith is the daughter of which well-known actress?

8.

Who is the musician father of American singer Norah Jones?

Sp.

Which is the most planted variety of grape in the Champagne region?

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Announced theme - 'Go for it'

Each answer contains at least one word that can go before or after the word 'Green' to make another common word or phrase'

Some of the theme words are contained in longer words and soundalikes have been used

1.

What is the name of Rebecca's husband in the book of that name?

2.

3.

What was former Prime Minister Edward Heath's nickname given to him by Private Eye?

4.

What was the name of the football manager who died in 1981 and won 3 First Division Championships and 2 FA Cups as manager?  He played played for Carlisle United, Preston North End and Scotland.

5.

Which pre-eminent jazz trombonist and singer who died in 1964 was a member of bands led by Paul Whiteman, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Red Nichols and Bix Beiderbecke?

6.

Two for the price of one...

What is the name of the museum in Forest Hill, London well known for displaying taxidermy, natural history and musical instruments?  It is called after its founder who made his money from tea.

7.

Two for the price of one...

What is the name of the concert Hall in Poole Dorset which is the residence of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra?  The name refers to a building normally seen on the coast and not inland.

8.

What was the nickname of the character Henry Cuthbert Edwards, a spiv in the St Trinian's film series in the 1950s and 1960s played by George Cole amongst others?  It was also the nickname of conductor Malcolm Sargent.

Sp1

What is the title of an 1908 novel partly set in Italy and the 1985 film based on the novel which won 3 Academy Awards and starred Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Daniel Day Lewis, none of whom played the main character?

Sp2

Which group formed in Sheffield in 2002 named their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare?

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - Paired

1.

What characteristic is shared uniquely by the former Prime Ministers Campbell Bannerman, Lloyd George, Churchill, Heath and Callaghan?

2.

Most fathers of the house are political nonentities but which father of the house who left Parliament in 1965 could possibly have made a better Prime Minister than some of the above had he won a leadership election in 1959?  He was an influential Minister of Education and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

3.

The Rev John Mitchell was the first person to postulate which astronomical phenomenon, which was first verified in 1971?

4.

What is the culinary name, in inverted commas, given to the effect undergone by bodies entering black holes caused by the gigantic differences in the gravity field as they proceed towards the singularity in the centre?

5.

Which politician who gained a seat in the 1919 British parliament said:

"I married beneath me. All women do'?

6.

Which wit said:

"Always borrow money from a pessimist.  He won't expect it back."?

7.

What is the title of a 1895 novel the surname of the eponymous hero being O'Hara?

8.

What is the title of a 1966 book and film the surname of the eponymous antihero being Elkins?

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - 'It's a Punny Old World'

A set of general knowledge questions with an extra clue to each in the form of a pun on the answer

They are approximately paired, either in the content of the question or of the 'punny' clue

1.

What's the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl whose theme serves as the title music for the entire film series?

(this is unlikely to be used as a merkin)

2.

What is the common name given to the beetle that is also known as a maybug or doodlebug?

(the bug might also be described as this if it got inside one's boxers)

3.

What is the name of the 'Lord High Everything Else' in The Mikado?

(this could be the name of a drinking establishment in the Hundred Acre Wood)

4.

Who was the mother of the composer of the Mephisto Waltzes that were composed between 1859 and 1885?

(despite her name, she was not a psychiatrist)

5.

Which Ed Sheeran song, released in 2017, was at number one for fourteen non-consecutive weeks in the UK Singles Chart and became the most-streamed song of the decade on Spotify?

(it could also refer to the structure of Uranium)

6.

Which substance has the chemical formula C3H8?

(it describes what a sadist stands for)

7.

Which branch of medicine deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity?

(these feats eluded the footballer with the highest number of appearances in the Premier League)

8.

Overlooked by a castle on the banks of the River Leven, which was the first team to win at least one league title in each of the top four tiers in the Scottish football league system?

(despite occasional philosophical insights, this could describe the surname of a former Manchester City player and his behaviour that led to a catalogue of disciplinary problems)

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Paired

1.

Name the only two mainland countries in South America that do not border Brazil.

2.

There are two islands in the Caribbean that are shared between two sovereign states.  The larger being Hispaniola and the smaller of these has an open border by virtue of being overseas territories of two EU nations.  Name these 2 EU nations.

3.

What parliamentary milestone is currently only achieved by Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Mexico and the UAE?

4.

Name the two countries in the world where religious leaders automatically get seats in at least one tier of parliament.

5.

What is the longest international border entirely in Europe?

6.

What is the shortest international border entirely in Europe?

7.

The winners of the golf Masters major tournament wear green jackets.  Which exclusive club wear 'l'habit vert', or 'green clothing'?

8.

Who founded the Académie Française in 1635?

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - Paired

(apart from the spares)

1.

2.

The orchestral works Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch and Don Quixote by Richard Strauss both feature which instrument?  Rachmaninov’s only sonata for an instrument other than the piano was also for this instrument.

3.

On stamps issued on 13th May 1937, who was the first real person (not including Britannia and St George - who may or may not have been real) - who was not the monarch - to appear on a British postal stamp, and why?

4.

On stamps issued on April 23rd 1964, who was the first commoner to appear on a British postal stamp, and why?

5.

Which country lying on the equator has the largest population?

6.

Apart from Brazil, which country lying on the equator has the largest land area?

7.

What is the name of the multi-Oscar nominated 2022 film adaptation of a book aired on Netflix and directed by Edward Berger?

8.

What is the name of the multi-Oscar nominated 2022 film directed, written, and co-produced by Martin McDonagh?

Sp1

Felicitas Julia is the ancient name for which European capital city?

Sp2

Which Indian novelist wrote Journey to Ithaca and Village by the Sea?

Sp3

What was the name of Janet Leigh's character in Psycho?

Sp4

The Girl With Enamel Eyes is the alternative title of which two-act ballet first performed in Paris in 1870?

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

1.

Which country changed its flag on 15th August 2021 to a white field containing a black Shahada (declaration of faith)?

Afghanistan

2.

The stratum mucosum of the epidermis is named after which Italian biologist and physician?

Malpighi

3.

Which geological feature whose name is of German origin is typified by a limestone region between Italy and Slovenia?

Karst

4.

Which country was previously known as the Ellice Islands?

Tuvalu

5.

What is the alternative name for the little grebe?

Dabchick

6.

Which politician's married name is Murrell?

Nicola Sturgeon

7.

Which group of plants that includes conifers takes its name from the Greek for 'naked seed'?

Gymnosperms

8.

Which term, taking its name from the Greek for 'lake', is the study of inland waters?

Limnology

Sp.

Which variety of baccarat takes its name from the French for railway?

Chemin de fer

Theme: Each answer includes consecutively three consecutive letters from the alphabet

ROUND 2 - Paired

1.

Which Shakespeare play has the highest body count of characters in the named cast list?

Titus Andronicus

2.

Which early Shakespeare comedy has the shortest cast list?  The play contains Crab who is one of the very few non-speaking roles in the cast list in the whole of Shakespeare's output and to whom the epithet 'the most scene-stealing non-speaking role in the canon' has been given.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

3.

Which musical educational establishment was located in Kneller Hall in Richmond from 1856 to 2021?  Some of the graduates can often be seen in ceremonial occasions.

Royal Military School of Music

(accept training army bandsmen, or equivalent)

4.

Which education establishment is located in White Lodge in Richmond Park?  The establishment provides training in an art form connected with music for organisations located in London and Birmingham.

Royal Ballet School

(or words to this effect)

5.

Who is the current world number one male golfer?  He was also the world number one in July 2020.

Rory McIlroy

6.

Novak Djokovic became world number one male tennis player after winning the Australian open. Who did he replace as number one?  This player won the American open last year.

Carlos Alcaraz

7.

In the world of electronics what does the abbreviation 'FET' stand for?

Field Effect Transistor

8.

What is the name given to a two-terminal electronic device that transmits current one-way only?  A common use for them is in AC to DC converters.

Diode

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - Paired

1.

The word Côtes appears on the label of many French wine bottles.  What does it mean?

hillsides

2.

The word cuvée appears on the label of champagne bottles.  What does it mean?

blended

3.

What was the name of the Huguenot leader who was assassinated at the start of the St Bartholomew's Day massacre?

Admiral Coligny

4.

Margaret of Valois married whom 6 days before the St Bartholomew's Day massacre?

Henri of Navarre

(or Henri Bourbon, or as he became later Henri the 4th of France)

5.

Which musical is based on the Fellini film Nights of Cabira?  The film directed by Bob Fosse appeared in 1969 and starred Shirley Maclean in the eponymous role.

Sweet Charity

6.

Which Broadway musical is based on the Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night.  The musical was first staged in 1973 and contains a song specially written for Glynis Johns.

A Little Night Music

7.

Melanie Griffith is the daughter of which well-known actress?

Tippi Hedren

8.

Who is the musician father of American singer Norah Jones?

Ravi Shankar

Sp.

Which is the most planted variety of grape in the Champagne region?

Pinot Noir

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Announced theme - 'Go for it'

Each answer contains at least one word that can go before or after the word 'Green' to make another common word or phrase'

Some of the theme words are contained in longer words and soundalikes have been used

1.

What is the name of Rebecca's husband in the book of that name?

(Maxim) De Winter

2.

Mansfield Park

3.

What was former Prime Minister Edward Heath's nickname given to him by Private Eye?

'The Grocer'

4.

What was the name of the football manager who died in 1981 and won 3 First Division Championships and 2 FA Cups as manager?  He played played for Carlisle United, Preston North End and Scotland.

Bill Shankly

5.

Which pre-eminent jazz trombonist and singer who died in 1964 was a member of bands led by Paul Whiteman, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Red Nichols and Bix Beiderbecke?

Jack Teagarden

6.

Two for the price of one...

What is the name of the museum in Forest Hill, London well known for displaying taxidermy, natural history and musical instruments?  It is called after its founder who made his money from tea.

Horniman Museum

7.

Two for the price of one...

What is the name of the concert Hall in Poole Dorset which is the residence of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra?  The name refers to a building normally seen on the coast and not inland.

The Lighthouse

8.

What was the nickname of the character Henry Cuthbert Edwards, a spiv in the St Trinian's film series in the 1950s and 1960s played by George Cole amongst others?  It was also the nickname of conductor Malcolm Sargent.

Flash Harry

Sp1

What is the title of an 1908 novel partly set in Italy and the 1985 film based on the novel which won 3 Academy Awards and starred Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Daniel Day Lewis, none of whom played the main character?

Room with a View

Sp2

Which group formed in Sheffield in 2002 named their second album Favourite Worst Nightmare?

Arctic Monkeys

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - Paired

1.

What characteristic is shared uniquely by the former Prime Ministers Campbell Bannerman, Lloyd George, Churchill, Heath and Callaghan?

There were all 'Fathers of the House'

2.

Most fathers of the house are political nonentities but which father of the house who left Parliament in 1965 could possibly have made a better Prime Minister than some of the above had he won a leadership election in 1959?  He was an influential Minister of Education and Chancellor of the Exchequer.

(R A) Butler

3.

The Rev John Mitchell was the first person to postulate which astronomical phenomenon, which was first verified in 1971?

Black hole

4.

What is the culinary name, in inverted commas, given to the effect undergone by bodies entering black holes caused by the gigantic differences in the gravity field as they proceed towards the singularity in the centre?

Spaghettification

5.

Which politician who gained a seat in the 1919 British parliament said:

"I married beneath me. All women do'?

Lady (Nancy) Astor

6.

Which wit said:

"Always borrow money from a pessimist.  He won't expect it back."?

Oscar Wilde

7.

What is the title of a 1895 novel the surname of the eponymous hero being O'Hara?

Kim

8.

What is the title of a 1966 book and film the surname of the eponymous antihero being Elkins?

Alfie

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - 'It's a Punny Old World'

A set of general knowledge questions with an extra clue to each in the form of a pun on the answer

They are approximately paired, either in the content of the question or of the 'punny' clue

1.

What's the name of Harry Potter's snowy owl whose theme serves as the title music for the entire film series?

(this is unlikely to be used as a merkin)

Hedwig

(head wig)

2.

What is the common name given to the beetle that is also known as a maybug or doodlebug?

(the bug might also be described as this if it got inside one's boxers)

Cockchafer

(cock chafer)

3.

What is the name of the 'Lord High Everything Else' in The Mikado?

(this could be the name of a drinking establishment in the Hundred Acre Wood)

Pooh-Bah

(Pooh Bar)

4.

Who was the mother of the composer of the Mephisto Waltzes that were composed between 1859 and 1885?

(despite her name, she was not a psychiatrist)

Anna Lizst

(analyst)

5.

Which Ed Sheeran song, released in 2017, was at number one for fourteen non-consecutive weeks in the UK Singles Chart and became the most-streamed song of the decade on Spotify?

(it could also refer to the structure of Uranium)

Shape of You

(shape of U)

6.

Which substance has the chemical formula C3H8?

(it describes what a sadist stands for)

Propane

(pro pain)

7.

Which branch of medicine deals with the causes, prevention, and treatment of obesity?

(these feats eluded the footballer with the highest number of appearances in the Premier League)

Baryatrics

(Barry hat tricks)

8.

Overlooked by a castle on the banks of the River Leven, which was the first team to win at least one league title in each of the top four tiers in the Scottish football league system?

(despite occasional philosophical insights, this could describe the surname of a former Manchester City player and his behaviour that led to a catalogue of disciplinary problems)

Dumbarton

(dumb Barton)

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Paired

1.

Name the only two mainland countries in South America that do not border Brazil.

Ecuador and Chile

2.

There are two islands in the Caribbean that are shared between two sovereign states.  The larger being Hispaniola and the smaller of these has an open border by virtue of being overseas territories of two EU nations.  Name these 2 EU nations.

The Netherlands and France

(sharing St Martin and Sint Maartin)

3.

What parliamentary milestone is currently only achieved by Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Mexico and the UAE?

Only parliaments to have 50% or more female representatives

4.

Name the two countries in the world where religious leaders automatically get seats in at least one tier of parliament.

UK and Iran

5.

What is the longest international border entirely in Europe?

Norway and Sweden

(1619km)

6.

What is the shortest international border entirely in Europe?

Gibraltar and Spain

(1.2km - less than half the length of the Vatican / Rome border at 3.5km or the France / Monaco at 5.5km )

7.

The winners of the golf Masters major tournament wear green jackets.  Which exclusive club wear 'l'habit vert', or 'green clothing'?

Académie Française

8.

Who founded the Académie Française in 1635?

Cardinal Richelieu

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - Paired

(apart from the spares)

1.

Viola

2.

The orchestral works Kol Nidrei by Max Bruch and Don Quixote by Richard Strauss both feature which instrument?  Rachmaninov’s only sonata for an instrument other than the piano was also for this instrument.

Cello

3.

On stamps issued on 13th May 1937, who was the first real person (not including Britannia and St George - who may or may not have been real) - who was not the monarch - to appear on a British postal stamp, and why?

Queen Elizabeth (Bowes-Lyon - later known as the Queen Mother);

She was alongside George VI for the Coronation (which had been the day before)

4.

On stamps issued on April 23rd 1964, who was the first commoner to appear on a British postal stamp, and why?

William Shakespeare;

It was the 400th anniversary of his birth

5.

Which country lying on the equator has the largest population?

Indonesia

6.

Apart from Brazil, which country lying on the equator has the largest land area?

Democratic Republic of Congo

7.

What is the name of the multi-Oscar nominated 2022 film adaptation of a book aired on Netflix and directed by Edward Berger?

All Quiet on the Western Front

(or Im Westen nichts Neues)

8.

What is the name of the multi-Oscar nominated 2022 film directed, written, and co-produced by Martin McDonagh?

The Banshees of Inisherin

Sp1

Felicitas Julia is the ancient name for which European capital city?

Lisbon

Sp2

Which Indian novelist wrote Journey to Ithaca and Village by the Sea?

Anita Desai

Sp3

What was the name of Janet Leigh's character in Psycho?

Marion Crane

Sp4

The Girl With Enamel Eyes is the alternative title of which two-act ballet first performed in Paris in 1870?

Coppelia

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers ;