ROUND 1 - Reverse paired with Round 2

1.

In which scientific discipline would the measurement the parsec be most likely used?

2.

In which 1990s/2000s BBC sitcom was 18-year-old Beverley Macca an unseen but unsettling presence for one of the lead characters?

3.

Journalist Hannah Arendt introduce.d the phrase “the banality of evil” in her book reporting the trial and subsequent execution of which war criminal in 1962?

4.

Lasting only 49 days in office who is the shortest serving Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

5.

Making his debut in the 2023 Ryder Cup what nationality is the golfer Sepp Straka?

6.

Which singer was No 1 in the UK album charts last week with the album Tension?  It is the 16th studio album and the seventh to reach No 1

7.

Herge’s Adventures of Tintin!  What was the name of Tintin’s Wire Fox Terrier dog?

8.

Who is missing from this quartet who played a role on May 6th this year:

Lord Oliver Cholmondeley Nicholas Barclay and Ralph Tollemache?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Reverse paired with Round 1

1.

Since 972 the monarch has traditionally been escorted at the coronation by two bishops from the same two sees (unless unavailable).  Name ONE of them.

2.

Champion the Wonder Horse!  What was the name of 12-year-old Ricky North’s German Shepherd dog?

3.

Which band’s long awaited 31st studio album Hackney Diamonds is scheduled for release later in October 2023 and is already destined to reach No 1?

4.

Playing in his fifth Ryder Cup which American was the only competitor not to score any points in his 2023 matches?

5.

Serving only 31 days in office who is the shortest serving Vice President of the USA?  Born in 1790 he has a living grandson.

6.

What was the name of the war criminal known as the 'Butcher of Lyon' who was finally extradited from Peru to France in 1983 and convicted in 1987?

7.

In which 1970s BBC sitcom were Miss Mountshaft and Mrs Dooms-Paterson unseen but unsettling presences for one of the lead characters?

8.

In which biological discipline would the measurement the centimorgan be most likely used?

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - Hidden theme

1.

Who was the Chief Justice who chaired the committee of enquiry into the assassination of John F Kennedy publishing its findings after only ten months?

2.

Which disaster with the loss of 51 lives occurred in London on 20th August 1988?

3.

Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B flat Major (Opus 97) dedicated to Rudolph of Austria is known by which nickname?

4.

Hans Langsdorff, who died on December 20th 1939 by his own hand, was commander of which vessel?

5.

Which surname connects the sixth President of Israel with the eleventh (and current) President of Israel? They are father and son.

6.

Which flat handicap horse race over 2 miles and 2 furlongs has been run at Newmarket in October every year since 1839?

7.

Which song by Stevie Wonder taken from the Songs in the Key of Life album reached No 2 in the UK in 1977 and was a tribute to his musical influences?

8.

Which humorous pop rock group, founded 1959, achieved their biggest parody hits in 1964 and 1978 both reaching No 3 in the UK charts?

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Paired round on Film Directors

1.

Who played Don Vito Corleone’s middle son Fredo in The Godfather Parts 1 & 2?

2.

Coppola directed which 1997 film starring Matt Damon and Claire Danes based on a John Grisham novel?

3.

Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack to which film features Deborah’s Theme?

4.

Who played bounty hunter Colonel Douglas Mortimer in For A Few Dollars More?

5.

Which 11-year-old was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in the 1993 film The Piano?

6.

Which revisionist western released in 2021 was the first film directed by a woman to receive more than ten Academy Award nominations?

7.

Spielberg lightly fictionalises his own childhood in which film of 2022?

8.

Who played the sadistic SS Nazi Commandant of Krakow concentration camp, Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List?

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - Hidden theme

1.

In the sitcom The Big Bang Theory which actor, who played Wesley Crusher in Star Trek, played a fictionalised version of himself as Sheldon’s arch enemy?

2.

What was the name of the band fronted by musician August Darnell?

3.

Who was the US author of the 1970 book Sexual Politics?  Described as “a seminal influence on second-wave feminism” she had a memorable encounter with Oliver Reed on Channel 4’s discussion programme After Dark.

4.

Regarded as the father of country-rock and a former musician with the Byrds, who was born Cecil Ingram Connor dying in 1973 of a drug overdose aged 26?

5.

Which US author of gothic fiction, erotica, and Christian literature, and who was particularly associated with New Orleans, died in 2021?

6.

First broadcast on Channel 4 in 2005 which sitcom written by Charlie Brooker and Chris Morris featured Ben Whishaw as a character called Pingu?

7.

Formed in Philadelphia in 1970 which white soul duo have had hits including She’s Gone and Maneater?

8.

Who was the female character in the cartoon strip The Perishers with unrequited love for Marlon?

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Word connection

Each answer contains a word that might be preceded by either HALF or QUARTER to make a new word or a two-word phrase e.g. Wit and Half-wit, Deck and Quarterdeck.

There are four of each but randomly spread.

1.

Which now retired National Hunt racehorse trainer, holds the record for most European wins with 4183 winners in his career?

2.

Which British war hero was created Duke of Bronte of the Kingdom of Sicily by a grateful ally?

3.

Which actor, who died in 2020, is fondly remembered for comedy improvisation in Whose Line Is It Anyway? and QI as well as a character actor in films?

4.

What was the name of the acclaimed BBC prison drama written by Jimmy McGovern and starring Sean Bean and Stephan Graham that aired in 2022?

5.

What is the title of Bill Bryson’s 1995 humorous travel book, a road trip around Britain?

6.

Who is portrayed in a memorial mountain sculpture in the Black Hills, South Dakota?  The work commenced in 1948 but it remains decades from completion.

7.

Who served as the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013-2017?

8.

Which small screen villain was first portrayed by Roger Delgado and most recently by Sacha Dhawan?

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Announced theme

Each answer contains the name of one of the 21 men who have captained the England ODI cricket team since 1990.

1.

Which waterway separates New Zealand’s North Island from its South Island?

2.

With the Maori name Rakiura what is the English name for New Zealand’s third largest island?

3.

After Lord Nelson’s death at Trafalgar who succeeded as Commander-in-chief?

4.

Which prominent Liberal MP had a father who was the Conservative MP for Manchester Rusholme from 1919-23?

5.

Of the actors who played one of the The Magnificent Seven in the 1960 film of the same name, who was the last (in 2016) to die?

6.

Which actress plays Liz in Motherland and is best known as the dim and ill-informed commentator Philomena Cunk?

7.

Which Southern English town was the second to be developed as a new town under the New Towns Act 1946?

8.

Which composer’s work Sunrise became popular when used in 2001: A Space Odyssey and as the theme music for BBC’s coverage of the 1969 Moon landings?  (forename and surname required for this answer)

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - Lucky Dip

Select a number from 1-15 for your question.

Although the subjects are very varied, they are of similar difficulty level and might even inspire the odd educated guess for a two - or not, as the case may be.

Unused questions are the Spares for the quiz.

1.

Wilson’s Disease is due to the abnormal accumulation of which metallic element in various organs especially the liver and brain?

2.

Which political party currently holds the Westminster seat Ynys Mon (Anglesey)?

3.

One Night in Bangkok is a song from which musical that premiered in 1986?

4.

What country was known as Northern Rhodesia from 1911 to 1964?

5.

Showing a certain ironic synchronicity in which city did Bobby Farrell, dancer with the pop group Boney M, die of a heart attack on 30th December 2010 whilst on tour?

6.

After Brazil which is the most populated country in South America?

7.

What is the name of the animal owned by Lord Emsworth that appeared in 10 comic novels published 1927-1977?

8.

Name BOTH of the countries that have each won the Eurovision Song Contest on seven occasions.

9.

In which year (plus or minus two years) was the King James Bible (the Authorised Version) first published?

10.

11.

Give a year in the life of the female artist Artemisia Gentileschi.

12.

The first coins made in Lydia in 600 BC were made of the alloy electrum. Which two metalic elements constitute this alloy?

13.

Name the five countries which form the Five Eyes Intelligence Sharing Network

14.

In which city has Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum recently set a new marathon world record best time of 2:00:35?

15.

Which vitamin derives its name from the German word for coagulation?

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Reverse paired with Round 2

1.

In which scientific discipline would the measurement the parsec be most likely used?

Astronomy

2.

In which 1990s/2000s BBC sitcom was 18-year-old Beverley Macca an unseen but unsettling presence for one of the lead characters?

The Royle Family

(she was Denise’s love rival)

3.

Journalist Hannah Arendt introduce.d the phrase “the banality of evil” in her book reporting the trial and subsequent execution of which war criminal in 1962?

Adolf Eichmann

4.

Lasting only 49 days in office who is the shortest serving Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

Therese Coffey

(Truss’s deputy)

5.

Making his debut in the 2023 Ryder Cup what nationality is the golfer Sepp Straka?

Austrian

6.

Which singer was No 1 in the UK album charts last week with the album Tension?  It is the 16th studio album and the seventh to reach No 1

Kylie Minogue

7.

Herge’s Adventures of Tintin!  What was the name of Tintin’s Wire Fox Terrier dog?

Snowy

(also accept Milou)

8.

Who is missing from this quartet who played a role on May 6th this year:

Lord Oliver Cholmondeley Nicholas Barclay and Ralph Tollemache?

Prince George

(King’s coronation pageboys)

ROUND 2 - Reverse paired with Round 1

1.

Since 972 the monarch has traditionally been escorted at the coronation by two bishops from the same two sees (unless unavailable).  Name ONE of them.

(either)

Bishop of Durham

(or)

Bishop of Bath and Wells

2.

Champion the Wonder Horse!  What was the name of 12-year-old Ricky North’s German Shepherd dog?

Rebel

3.

Which band’s long awaited 31st studio album Hackney Diamonds is scheduled for release later in October 2023 and is already destined to reach No 1?

The Rolling Stones

4.

Playing in his fifth Ryder Cup which American was the only competitor not to score any points in his 2023 matches?

Rickie Fowler

5.

Serving only 31 days in office who is the shortest serving Vice President of the USA?  Born in 1790 he has a living grandson.

John Tyler

(he succeeded William Harrison when Harrison died)

6.

What was the name of the war criminal known as the 'Butcher of Lyon' who was finally extradited from Peru to France in 1983 and convicted in 1987?

Klaus Barbie

7.

In which 1970s BBC sitcom were Miss Mountshaft and Mrs Dooms-Paterson unseen but unsettling presences for one of the lead characters?

The Good Life

(Margot’s rivals in the Music Society and Pony Club)

8.

In which biological discipline would the measurement the centimorgan be most likely used?

Genetics

(accept anything mentioning DNA)

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - Hidden theme

1.

Who was the Chief Justice who chaired the committee of enquiry into the assassination of John F Kennedy publishing its findings after only ten months?

Earl Warren

2.

Which disaster with the loss of 51 lives occurred in London on 20th August 1988?

The sinking of the Marchioness

3.

Beethoven’s Piano Trio in B flat Major (Opus 97) dedicated to Rudolph of Austria is known by which nickname?

Archduke (Trio)

4.

Hans Langsdorff, who died on December 20th 1939 by his own hand, was commander of which vessel?

(Admiral) Graf Spee

5.

Which surname connects the sixth President of Israel with the eleventh (and current) President of Israel? They are father and son.

Herzog

6.

Which flat handicap horse race over 2 miles and 2 furlongs has been run at Newmarket in October every year since 1839?

The Cesarewitch

7.

Which song by Stevie Wonder taken from the Songs in the Key of Life album reached No 2 in the UK in 1977 and was a tribute to his musical influences?

Sir Duke

8.

Which humorous pop rock group, founded 1959, achieved their biggest parody hits in 1964 and 1978 both reaching No 3 in the UK charts?

The Barron Knights

Theme: Each answer contains a British or European title:

Earl, Marchioness, Archduke, Graf (German for Earl), Herzog (German for Duke), Cesarewitch (Anglicised from Tsesarevich), Sir, Duke, Baron, and Knight

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Paired round on Film Directors

1.

Who played Don Vito Corleone’s middle son Fredo in The Godfather Parts 1 & 2?

John Cazale

2.

Sergio Leone

3.

Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack to which film features Deborah’s Theme?

Once Upon A Time In America

4.

Who played bounty hunter Colonel Douglas Mortimer in For A Few Dollars More?

Lee Van Cleef

Jane Campion

5.

Which 11-year-old was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in the 1993 film The Piano?

Anna Paquin

6.

Which revisionist western released in 2021 was the first film directed by a woman to receive more than ten Academy Award nominations?

The Power of the Dog

Steven Spielberg

7.

Spielberg lightly fictionalises his own childhood in which film of 2022?

The Fabelmans

8.

Who played the sadistic SS Nazi Commandant of Krakow concentration camp, Amon Goeth in Schindler’s List?

Ralph Fiennes

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - Hidden theme

1.

In the sitcom The Big Bang Theory which actor, who played Wesley Crusher in Star Trek, played a fictionalised version of himself as Sheldon’s arch enemy?

Will Wheaton

2.

What was the name of the band fronted by musician August Darnell?

Kid Creole and the Coconuts

3.

Who was the US author of the 1970 book Sexual Politics?  Described as “a seminal influence on second-wave feminism” she had a memorable encounter with Oliver Reed on Channel 4’s discussion programme After Dark.

Kate Millet

4.

Regarded as the father of country-rock and a former musician with the Byrds, who was born Cecil Ingram Connor dying in 1973 of a drug overdose aged 26?

Gram Parsons

5.

Which US author of gothic fiction, erotica, and Christian literature, and who was particularly associated with New Orleans, died in 2021?

Anne Rice

6.

First broadcast on Channel 4 in 2005 which sitcom written by Charlie Brooker and Chris Morris featured Ben Whishaw as a character called Pingu?

Nathan Barley

7.

Formed in Philadelphia in 1970 which white soul duo have had hits including She’s Gone and Maneater?

(Daryl) Hall and (John) Oates

8.

Who was the female character in the cartoon strip The Perishers with unrequited love for Marlon?

Maisie

Theme: Each answer contains a types of flour:

Wheat, coconut, millet, gram, rice, barley, oats and maize

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Word connection

Each answer contains a word that might be preceded by either HALF or QUARTER to make a new word or a two-word phrase e.g. Wit and Half-wit, Deck and Quarterdeck.

There are four of each but randomly spread.

1.

Which now retired National Hunt racehorse trainer, holds the record for most European wins with 4183 winners in his career?

Martin Pipe

(Half-pipe)

2.

Which British war hero was created Duke of Bronte of the Kingdom of Sicily by a grateful ally?

Lord Nelson

(Half-Nelson)

3.

Which actor, who died in 2020, is fondly remembered for comedy improvisation in Whose Line Is It Anyway? and QI as well as a character actor in films?

John Sessions

(Quarter Sessions)

4.

What was the name of the acclaimed BBC prison drama written by Jimmy McGovern and starring Sean Bean and Stephan Graham that aired in 2022?

Time

(Half-time)

5.

What is the title of Bill Bryson’s 1995 humorous travel book, a road trip around Britain?

Notes From a Small Island

(Quarter notes)

6.

Who is portrayed in a memorial mountain sculpture in the Black Hills, South Dakota?  The work commenced in 1948 but it remains decades from completion.

Crazy Horse

(Quarter horse)

7.

Who served as the 50th governor of Indiana from 2013-2017?

Mike Pence

(Half pence)

8.

Which small screen villain was first portrayed by Roger Delgado and most recently by Sacha Dhawan?

The Master

(Quartermaster)

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Announced theme

Each answer contains the name of one of the 21 men who have captained the England ODI cricket team since 1990.

1.

Which waterway separates New Zealand’s North Island from its South Island?

Cook Strait

(Alastair Cook 2010-14)

2.

With the Maori name Rakiura what is the English name for New Zealand’s third largest island?

Stewart Island

(Alec Stewart 1992-2003)

3.

After Lord Nelson’s death at Trafalgar who succeeded as Commander-in-chief?

(Cuthbert) Collingwood

(Paul Collingwood 2007-09)

4.

Which prominent Liberal MP had a father who was the Conservative MP for Manchester Rusholme from 1919-23?

Jeremy Thorpe

(Graham Thorpe 2001)

5.

Of the actors who played one of the The Magnificent Seven in the 1960 film of the same name, who was the last (in 2016) to die?

Robert Vaughn

(Michael Vaughan 2003-07)

6.

Which actress plays Liz in Motherland and is best known as the dim and ill-informed commentator Philomena Cunk?

Diane Morgan

(Eoin Morgan 2011-22)

7.

Which Southern English town was the second to be developed as a new town under the New Towns Act 1946?

Crawley

(Zak Crawley 2023)

8.

Which composer’s work Sunrise became popular when used in 2001: A Space Odyssey and as the theme music for BBC’s coverage of the 1969 Moon landings?  (forename and surname required for this answer)

Richard Strauss

(Andrew Strauss 2006-11)

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - Lucky Dip

Select a number from 1-15 for your question.

Although the subjects are very varied, they are of similar difficulty level and might even inspire the odd educated guess for a two - or not, as the case may be.

Unused questions are the Spares for the quiz.

1.

Wilson’s Disease is due to the abnormal accumulation of which metallic element in various organs especially the liver and brain?

Copper

2.

Which political party currently holds the Westminster seat Ynys Mon (Anglesey)?

Conservatives

3.

One Night in Bangkok is a song from which musical that premiered in 1986?

Chess

4.

What country was known as Northern Rhodesia from 1911 to 1964?

Zambia

5.

Showing a certain ironic synchronicity in which city did Bobby Farrell, dancer with the pop group Boney M, die of a heart attack on 30th December 2010 whilst on tour?

St Petersburg

(where Rasputin died on the same date in 1916)

6.

After Brazil which is the most populated country in South America?

Colombia

(over 51 million)

7.

What is the name of the animal owned by Lord Emsworth that appeared in 10 comic novels published 1927-1977?

The Empress of Blandings

8.

Name BOTH of the countries that have each won the Eurovision Song Contest on seven occasions.

Ireland Sweden

9.

In which year (plus or minus two years) was the King James Bible (the Authorised Version) first published?

1611

(accept 1609-1613)

10.

Saint Andrews (1413)

Glasgow (1451)

Aberdeen (1495)

11.

Give a year in the life of the female artist Artemisia Gentileschi.

1593-1656

12.

The first coins made in Lydia in 600 BC were made of the alloy electrum. Which two metalic elements constitute this alloy?

Gold and Silver

13.

Name the five countries which form the Five Eyes Intelligence Sharing Network

USA

United Kingdom

Canada

Australia

New Zealand

14.

In which city has Kenyan Kelvin Kiptum recently set a new marathon world record best time of 2:00:35?

Chicago

15.

Which vitamin derives its name from the German word for coagulation?

Vitamin K

(Koagulation in German)

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers