ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

Questions are approximately paired and connected by a hidden theme

1.

Which child actress played Arya Stark in all eight series of HBO’s Game of Thrones?  She has since graduated to young adult roles in films including The Falling, The Owners, and The New Mutants.

2.

Which amateur private detective was created by Francis Durbridge in 1938 initially for radio broadcasts but then extended to novels and films?  The character was memorably played on television by Francis Matthews from 1969 to 71.

3.

Which Hollywood actress died aged 60 on 27th December 2016?  Her mother, also an acclaimed Hollywood actress, died on the following day aged 84.

4.

Which singer and activist born in Alberta in 1961 performed both at the closing ceremonies of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, and at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games?

5.

Which comedian and activist is the founder and current chairman of the British Forces Foundation charity?  He received an OBE in 2001 for his efforts.

6.

Which British actress, still only forty, has had three Academy nominations for best actress so far, and a CBE in 2025?  She has been married to musician Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons since 2012.

7.

Which London born singer of Russian-Jewish descent had enormous UK success in the 1950s including a No 1 hit with Dreamboat in 1955?  An award-winning, but controversial, eponymous novel by Gordon Burn in 1991 speculates how her life might have been had she not died in 1966 aged 34.

8.

Which child actress played Lyanna Mormont in the last three series of HBO’s Game of Thrones?  She has since graduated to young adult roles including Ellie in HBO’s post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us.

Sp.

Which popular imported medical drama starring Robert Young ran from 1969-76 and
featured many subjects controversial back in the day such as STDs, learning disabilities, teen obesity, homosexuality, and dementia?

Go to Round 1 questions with answers

ROUND 2 - Reversed pairs

1.

According to the Bible which King of Israel had 700 wives and 300 concubines?

2.

Which city was the birthplace of the artist Pablo Picasso?  He lived there for the first ten years of his life.  The Museo Picasso there has 285 works mostly donated by the Picasso family covering his long career.

3.

Who composed the piano piece Wedding Day at Troldhaugen as a silver wedding anniversary present for his wife in 1896?

4.

Which statesman allegedly said of himself in a conversation with Violet Bonham Carter:

“Of course we are all worms; but I do believe I am a glow-worm”?

5.

Which statesman wrote of himself:

“There were few who thought him a starter
Many who thought themselves smarter
But he ended PM, CH, and OM
An earl, and a Knight of the Garter”?

6.

Who composed the song cycle Myrthen (Myrtles) in 1840 as a wedding present for his very talented musician fiancée?

7.

Which city was the birthplace of the artist Lucian Freud OM?  He lived there for the first eleven years of his life before the family emigrated to London in 1933.

8.

According to the Bible which King of Israel in old age had a young Shunamite virgin (with the unfortunate name of Abishag) placed in his bed to keep him warm?  There was said to be no sexual impropriety.

Go to Round 2 questions with answers

ROUND 3 - “Two out of three ain’t bad” (Meat Loaf)

In this round every question has THREE possible answers - you are required to give any TWO to get the points

1.

The film franchise King Kong has many movies but only the original (1933) and two re-makes (1976 and 2005) have the title King Kong.  Name any two of the three actresses that played Kong’s love interest Ann (or Dwan) Darrow.

2.

Since 1922 every substantive leader of the UK Conservative party has also reached the office of Prime Minister apart from the incumbent (Kemi Badenoch) and three others.  Name any two of these.

3.

Four chemical elements derive their name from capital cities.  One is Moscow (Moscovium).  The other three have the Latin version of the city name in the element name.  Name any two of the capitals in English (NB: the cities not the elements).

4.

Lulu won the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest with Boom Bang-a-Bang.  However, three other countries were also tied for first place. Name any two of them.

5.

Sweden and Ireland have both won the Eurovision Song Contest on seven occasions.  Four countries have won it on five occasions.  UK is one of these.  Name any two of the other three.

6.

The town of Ytterby in Sweden gives its name to four chemical elements that were first discovered there.  One of these is Ytterbium.  Name any two of the other three.

7.

Apart from Gladwyn Jebb (UK) in an acting role, and the incumbent Antonio Guterres (Portugal), there have been only three other UN Secretary Generals from European countries.  Name any two of these countries.

8.

The film franchise Batman has many movies with Warner Brothers producing four films from 1989-97.  Two were directed by Tim Burton (1989 and 1992) and two by Joel Schumacher (1995 and 1997).  Name any two of the three actors who played the adult Batman in these films.

Sp.

The Liberal Democrats have had three substantive party leaders between the resignation of Nick Clegg and the election of Ed Davey.  Name any two of these.

Go to Round 3 questions with answers

ROUND 4 - Question style Pot Pourri

Each pair of questions has a specific type of question that will be announced in advance

Run-ons

1.

a) a European city of over 400,000 inhabitants also known as Donostia famous for its culinary delights including pinchos which are pieces of bread with various toppings,

b) a Romanian born American actor who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Donald Trump in the film The Apprentice.

2.

a) a colourful confectionery often used as a cake topping especially for cupcakes,

b) a guitarist currently on the Oasis tour who has also played with the bands Beady Eye and The High Flying Birds.

3.

a) a city in the Australian state of Victoria which is the fourth largest inland city in Australia - it was the largest gold-producing area in Eastern Australia in the 19th century and is also the name of one of the country's largest banks,

b) a mythical North American creature supposedly with an insatiable hunger for human flesh and a heart made of ice.

4.

a) the forename of the main male character in the Blondie comic strips - he first appeared in 1930 and has had his own comic strip subsequently,

b) a family of deciduous trees and shrubs renowned for their blossoms - two holes at the Augusta National golf course are named after varieties.

Give the single word name that is common to both answers

5.

a) the real surname of American rapper and producer Kendrick Lamar,

b) the surname of a Coronation Street family appearing on screen between the years 1974 and 2012,
c) a mathematical physicist in the nuclear power industry better remembered for his sporting achievement.

6.

a) the former name of the city of Kisangani in present day Democratic Republic of the Congo,

b) the forename of Barak Obama's mother (named after a Bette Davis character),

c) the family name of the Earls of Derby.

7.

a) a word of exclamation,

b) a synth-pop band whose first single in 1985 reached Number 2 in the UK charts; they have also recorded a James Bond theme tune,

c) an Arabic name meaning variously peace, purity, and bravery it is often used as a reference to the prophet Mohammad - it also refers to the 20th chapter of the Koran.

8.

a) a Lotus model originally from 1962 to 73 and relaunched between 1989 and 1995,

b) an antelope with two species generally fawn in colour with faint stripes - they are the two largest species of antelopes,

c) a town in the Calder Valley north of Huddersfield.

Go to Round 4 questions with answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

The final of which sporting tournament was for three years in the 1970s held consecutively in Belle Vue, Manchester; Nunawading Basketball Centre, Melbourne; and Wythenshawe Forum?

2.

Which automobile manufacturer founded in Detroit in 1902 is joining the Formula One line up as a constructor for the 2026 season?  They are named after the French explorer who founded Detroit in 1701.

3.

The Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling Prize is presented to “the architects of the building that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the previous year”. Although not a building in the conventional sense what was the winner of the 2024 prize?

4.

Which architect won the Stirling Prize in consecutive years, in 2010 for 'MAXXI – the National Museum of 21st Century Arts' in Rome, and in 2011 for 'The Ark Evelyn Grace Academy' in Brixton?

5.

Which 3 rivers with the name same are as follows:

a) follows much of the border of County Durham and Northumberland,

b) has its source on the North Yorkshire Moors and flows east and south before joining the River Ouse,

c) has several reservoirs along its course one of which has the same name as the river and houses a submerged village with the same name.

6.

Which 3 rivers with the same name are as follows:

a) rises at the foot of The North Downs then flows into Kent before joining the River Medway,

b) flows easterly through Fife before emptying into St. Andrews Bay,

c) rises on Black Fell Moss near Outhgill, then flows north-west and reaches the sea at the Solway Firth.

7.

My Country 'tis of Thee which was a de facto national anthem of The United States in the 19th Century and Oben am Jungen Rhein which is the national anthem of Liechtenstein are both set to the same melody.  By what name is this piece of music better known to us?

8.

Which country's current national anthem was written around 1570 and is regarded as the oldest piece of music which is a current national anthem although it was not officially adopted until 1932?  The lyrics tell the story of a person regarded as the father of this nation who helped lead a revolution at the time.  Its 15 stanzas are an acrostic where the first letter spells out a version of his name.

Go to Round 5 questions with answers

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

Which poem written in 1888 ends with following lines:

“While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavement grey
I hear it in the deep heart’s core”?

The Irish passport has lines from this poem only visible under UV light.

2.

Which aromatic herb commonly used in cooking of various cuisines is usually sourced from lauris nobilis, an evergreen tree or large shrub?

3.

Located in Francorchamps in Wallonia by what short name is the current circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix informally known?

4.

Released in 1988 what was the fifth and final film starring Clint Eastwood as Inspector 'Dirty' Harry Callahan?

5.

Who is missing from this list:

Reggie Walker, Harold Abrahams, BLANK, Linford Christie?

6.

Now owned by Unilever which company was founded in 1846 by its eponymous pharmacist and produced several cosmetics including vanishing cream and cold cream?

7.

Which actor played the title role in the 1988 film Soul Man?  Controversially he 'blacked-up' to portray a white student who 'blacks-up' to win a Harvard scholarship only available to African-Americans (full name needed).

8.

Who is the current British Champion Jockey on the flat?  He was also champion in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.  His unusual forename is Irish for 'little deer' or 'fawn' whereas his surname is the commonest in Ireland (full name needed).

Sp.

Which long-running Radio 2 Saturday morning show was first aired in 1983 by Keith Fordyce with Brian Matthews doing a 27-year stint before being replaced by present host Tony Blackburn?

Go to Round 6 questions with answers

ROUND 7 - Reverse pairs

1.

Which actress has played police bomb disposal expert Lana Washington in three series of ITV’s Trigger Point?  A fourth series is planned.  She also played DC Kate Fleming in all six series of BBC’s Line of Duty?

2.

What is the capital of the Fr ench department of Isere? The city hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics.

3.

What is the name of the heroine in Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio?  Her name is a sound-a-like of the current Princess of the Asturias and heir presumptive to the Spanish throne.

4.

The Grand Pardubice Steeplechase, one of the world’s most challenging cross country horse races, has been run every October since 1874.   In which present-day country is it run?

5.

America’s premier steeplechase has been run over timber fences every April since 1894.  One of the world’s most challenging races; two winning horses have gone on to win the Aintree Grand National.  In which US state is the race run?

6.

What is the name of the protagonist in the book The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan?  He shares his name with the Crown Prince to the throne of Denmark.

7.

What is the capital of the French department of Alpes-Maritimes?  The city will host the 2030 Winter Olympics.

8.

Which actress has played DCI Amy Silva in two series of BBC’s Vigil?  A third series is in production. She also played Detective Rachel Bailey in all five series of ITV’s Scott and Bailey?

Go to Round 7 questions with answers

ROUND 8 - 'A Round for Oldies'

1.

Dying last month aged 100 which actress is best remembered for her television roles as Ruth Martin in Lassie (1958-64) and as Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space (1965-8)?

2.

Which actress who died in January 2024 aged 100 is best remembered for her film role as Winifred Banks, the mother in Mary Poppins (1964) and her musical stage role in A Little Night Music (1973) for which she won a Tony Award?

3.

Who is the only player to have won the World Senior Snooker Championship more than once?  Though he never won the World Snooker Championship he has won the Senior Championship on four occasions and been runner-up twice.

4.

Who is the only player to have won golf’s Senior Open Championship on four occasions?  He has also finished three times as runner-up.  A European, he never won the Open Championship but did win the US Masters twice.

5.

Paul Biya won his eighth consecutive presidential election in October 2025.  At 92 he is currently the oldest head of state in the world.  Of which African country is he president?

6.

Hassanal Bolkiah has been, since 1967, the absolute monarch of which country?  Still only 79 he is currently the longest serving head of state in the world.

7.

In which year of the 1970s did the following events all occur:

a) Births of James Corden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy,

b) Deaths of Keith Moon and Golda Meir,

c) Murder of Georgi Markov with a poisoned umbrella in London,

d) Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin win the Nobel Peace Prize,

e) Ipswich beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup Final?

8.

In which year of the 1980s did the following events all occur:

a) Births of Lady Gaga and Usain Bolt,

b) Deaths of Phil Lynott and the Duchess of Windsor,

c) Murder of Swedish PM Olof Palme in Stockholm,

d) The London Stock Exchange deregulates on 'Big Bang' day,

e) Liverpool beat Everton 3-1 in the FA Cup Final?

Sp1

Which infection was treated with mercury salts in the nineteenth century?  An aphorism of the time was “A night with Venus leads to a lifetime with Mercury”.

Sp2

Fans of Jack Reacher novels must have been disappointed when 6 feet 5 inches Reacher was portrayed in film by which rather shorter actor?

Sp3

Lucy Powell has become the 19th elected deputy leader of the Labour Party.  Before we become too excited at the prospect of a Quiz League away weekend at Chequers can you name the deputies who were later elected substantive leader of the party - and of these leaders, who went on to become Prime Minister?

Go to Round 8 questions with answers

ROUND 1 - Hidden theme

Questions are approximately paired and connected by a hidden theme

1.

Which child actress played Arya Stark in all eight series of HBO’s Game of Thrones?  She has since graduated to young adult roles in films including The Falling, The Owners, and The New Mutants.

Maisie Williams

2.

Which amateur private detective was created by Francis Durbridge in 1938 initially for radio broadcasts but then extended to novels and films?  The character was memorably played on television by Francis Matthews from 1969 to 71.

Paul Temple

3.

Which Hollywood actress died aged 60 on 27th December 2016?  Her mother, also an acclaimed Hollywood actress, died on the following day aged 84.

Carrie Fisher

4.

Which singer and activist born in Alberta in 1961 performed both at the closing ceremonies of the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games, and at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games?

k d Lang

5.

Which comedian and activist is the founder and current chairman of the British Forces Foundation charity?  He received an OBE in 2001 for his efforts.

Jim Davidson

6.

Which British actress, still only forty, has had three Academy nominations for best actress so far, and a CBE in 2025?  She has been married to musician Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons since 2012.

Carey Mulligan

7.

Which London born singer of Russian-Jewish descent had enormous UK success in the 1950s including a No 1 hit with Dreamboat in 1955?  An award-winning, but controversial, eponymous novel by Gordon Burn in 1991 speculates how her life might have been had she not died in 1966 aged 34.

Alma Cogan

8.

Which child actress played Lyanna Mormont in the last three series of HBO’s Game of Thrones?  She has since graduated to young adult roles including Ellie in HBO’s post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us.

Bella Ramsey

Sp.

Which popular imported medical drama starring Robert Young ran from 1969-76 and
featured many subjects controversial back in the day such as STDs, learning disabilities, teen obesity, homosexuality, and dementia?

Marcus Welby MD

Theme: Each answer contains the surname (or sound of the surname) of a 20th/21st century Archbishop of Canterbury:

Rowan Williams, Frederick and William Temple, Geoffrey Fisher, Cosmo Lang, Randall Davidson,

                       George Carey, Donald Coggan, Michael Ramsey, and Justin Welby

ROUND 2 - Reversed pairs

1.

According to the Bible which King of Israel had 700 wives and 300 concubines?

Solomon

2.

Which city was the birthplace of the artist Pablo Picasso?  He lived there for the first ten years of his life.  The Museo Picasso there has 285 works mostly donated by the Picasso family covering his long career.

Malaga

3.

Who composed the piano piece Wedding Day at Troldhaugen as a silver wedding anniversary present for his wife in 1896?

Edvard Grieg

4.

Which statesman allegedly said of himself in a conversation with Violet Bonham Carter:

“Of course we are all worms; but I do believe I am a glow-worm”?

Winston Churchill

5.

Which statesman wrote of himself:

“There were few who thought him a starter
Many who thought themselves smarter
But he ended PM, CH, and OM
An earl, and a Knight of the Garter”?

Clement Attlee

6.

Who composed the song cycle Myrthen (Myrtles) in 1840 as a wedding present for his very talented musician fiancée?

Robert Schumann

7.

Which city was the birthplace of the artist Lucian Freud OM?  He lived there for the first eleven years of his life before the family emigrated to London in 1933.

Berlin

8.

According to the Bible which King of Israel in old age had a young Shunamite virgin (with the unfortunate name of Abishag) placed in his bed to keep him warm?  There was said to be no sexual impropriety.

David

Go back to Round 2 questions without answers

ROUND 3 - “Two out of three ain’t bad” (Meat Loaf)

In this round every question has THREE possible answers - you are required to give any TWO to get the points

1.

The film franchise King Kong has many movies but only the original (1933) and two re-makes (1976 and 2005) have the title King Kong.  Name any two of the three actresses that played Kong’s love interest Ann (or Dwan) Darrow.

Fay Wray

Jessica Lange

Naomi Watts

2.

Since 1922 every substantive leader of the UK Conservative party has also reached the office of Prime Minister apart from the incumbent (Kemi Badenoch) and three others.  Name any two of these.

William Hague

Ian Duncan Smith

Michael Howard

3.

Four chemical elements derive their name from capital cities.  One is Moscow (Moscovium).  The other three have the Latin version of the city name in the element name.  Name any two of the capitals in English (NB: the cities not the elements).

Stockholm

4.

Lulu won the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest with Boom Bang-a-Bang.  However, three other countries were also tied for first place. Name any two of them.

France

Spain

Netherlands

5.

Sweden and Ireland have both won the Eurovision Song Contest on seven occasions.  Four countries have won it on five occasions.  UK is one of these.  Name any two of the other three.

France

Luxembourg

Netherlands

6.

The town of Ytterby in Sweden gives its name to four chemical elements that were first discovered there.  One of these is Ytterbium.  Name any two of the other three.

Yttrium

Erbium

Terbium

7.

Apart from Gladwyn Jebb (UK) in an acting role, and the incumbent Antonio Guterres (Portugal), there have been only three other UN Secretary Generals from European countries.  Name any two of these countries.

Norway

Sweden

Austria

8.

The film franchise Batman has many movies with Warner Brothers producing four films from 1989-97.  Two were directed by Tim Burton (1989 and 1992) and two by Joel Schumacher (1995 and 1997).  Name any two of the three actors who played the adult Batman in these films.

Michael Keaton

Val Kilmer

George Clooney

Sp.

The Liberal Democrats have had three substantive party leaders between the resignation of Nick Clegg and the election of Ed Davey.  Name any two of these.

Tim Farron

Vince Cable

Jo Swinson

Go back to Round 3 questions without answers

ROUND 4 - Question style Pot Pourri

Each pair of questions has a specific type of question that will be announced in advance

Run-ons

1.

a) a European city of over 400,000 inhabitants also known as Donostia famous for its culinary delights including pinchos which are pieces of bread with various toppings,

b) a Romanian born American actor who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Donald Trump in the film The Apprentice.

San Sebastian

Sebastian Stan

2.

a) a colourful confectionery often used as a cake topping especially for cupcakes,

b) a guitarist currently on the Oasis tour who has also played with the bands Beady Eye and The High Flying Birds.

Midget Gem

Gem Archer

Change a single letter from the first answer to obtain the second answer - both answers required

3.

a) a city in the Australian state of Victoria which is the fourth largest inland city in Australia - it was the largest gold-producing area in Eastern Australia in the 19th century and is also the name of one of the country's largest banks,

b) a mythical North American creature supposedly with an insatiable hunger for human flesh and a heart made of ice.

Bendigo,

Wendigo

4.

a) the forename of the main male character in the Blondie comic strips - he first appeared in 1930 and has had his own comic strip subsequently,

b) a family of deciduous trees and shrubs renowned for their blossoms - two holes at the Augusta National golf course are named after varieties.

Dagwood,

Dogwood

Give the single word name that is common to both answers

5.

a) the real surname of American rapper and producer Kendrick Lamar,

b) the surname of a Coronation Street family appearing on screen between the years 1974 and 2012,
c) a mathematical physicist in the nuclear power industry better remembered for his sporting achievement.

Duckworth

6.

a) the former name of the city of Kisangani in present day Democratic Republic of the Congo,

b) the forename of Barak Obama's mother (named after a Bette Davis character),

c) the family name of the Earls of Derby.

Stanley

Add a single letter to answer 1 to obtain answer 2, then another letter to obtain answer 3.  The added letter, which can vary, can be added anywhere in the word. All 3 words are required for the answer.

7.

a) a word of exclamation,

b) a synth-pop band whose first single in 1985 reached Number 2 in the UK charts; they have also recorded a James Bond theme tune,

c) an Arabic name meaning variously peace, purity, and bravery it is often used as a reference to the prophet Mohammad - it also refers to the 20th chapter of the Koran.

Ha,

A-ha,

Taha

8.

a) a Lotus model originally from 1962 to 73 and relaunched between 1989 and 1995,

b) an antelope with two species generally fawn in colour with faint stripes - they are the two largest species of antelopes,

c) a town in the Calder Valley north of Huddersfield.

Elan,

Eland,

Elland

Go back to Round 4 questions without answers

ROUND 5 - Pairs

1.

The final of which sporting tournament was for three years in the 1970s held consecutively in Belle Vue, Manchester; Nunawading Basketball Centre, Melbourne; and Wythenshawe Forum?

World Snooker Championship

2.

Which automobile manufacturer founded in Detroit in 1902 is joining the Formula One line up as a constructor for the 2026 season?  They are named after the French explorer who founded Detroit in 1701.

Cadillac

3.

The Royal Institute of British Architects' Stirling Prize is presented to “the architects of the building that has made the greatest contribution to the evolution of architecture in the previous year”. Although not a building in the conventional sense what was the winner of the 2024 prize?

Elizabeth Line

4.

Which architect won the Stirling Prize in consecutive years, in 2010 for 'MAXXI – the National Museum of 21st Century Arts' in Rome, and in 2011 for 'The Ark Evelyn Grace Academy' in Brixton?

Zaha Hadid

5.

Which 3 rivers with the name same are as follows:

a) follows much of the border of County Durham and Northumberland,

b) has its source on the North Yorkshire Moors and flows east and south before joining the River Ouse,

c) has several reservoirs along its course one of which has the same name as the river and houses a submerged village with the same name.

Derwent

6.

Which 3 rivers with the same name are as follows:

a) rises at the foot of The North Downs then flows into Kent before joining the River Medway,

b) flows easterly through Fife before emptying into St. Andrews Bay,

c) rises on Black Fell Moss near Outhgill, then flows north-west and reaches the sea at the Solway Firth.

Eden

7.

My Country 'tis of Thee which was a de facto national anthem of The United States in the 19th Century and Oben am Jungen Rhein which is the national anthem of Liechtenstein are both set to the same melody.  By what name is this piece of music better known to us?

God Save the King

8.

Which country's current national anthem was written around 1570 and is regarded as the oldest piece of music which is a current national anthem although it was not officially adopted until 1932?  The lyrics tell the story of a person regarded as the father of this nation who helped lead a revolution at the time.  Its 15 stanzas are an acrostic where the first letter spells out a version of his name.

(Wilhemus was written about William of Orange a.k.a. William the Silent, or Willem Van Nassov as spelt out in the anthem)

Go back to Round 5 questions without answers

ROUND 6 - Hidden theme

1.

Which poem written in 1888 ends with following lines:

“While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavement grey
I hear it in the deep heart’s core”?

The Irish passport has lines from this poem only visible under UV light.

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

2.

Which aromatic herb commonly used in cooking of various cuisines is usually sourced from lauris nobilis, an evergreen tree or large shrub?

Bay leaf

3.

Located in Francorchamps in Wallonia by what short name is the current circuit for the Belgian Grand Prix informally known?

4.

Released in 1988 what was the fifth and final film starring Clint Eastwood as Inspector 'Dirty' Harry Callahan?

The Dead Pool

5.

Who is missing from this list:

Reggie Walker, Harold Abrahams, BLANK, Linford Christie?

(UK Olympic 100m gold medallists)

6.

Now owned by Unilever which company was founded in 1846 by its eponymous pharmacist and produced several cosmetics including vanishing cream and cold cream?

Ponds

7.

Which actor played the title role in the 1988 film Soul Man?  Controversially he 'blacked-up' to portray a white student who 'blacks-up' to win a Harvard scholarship only available to African-Americans (full name needed).

C Thomas Howell

8.

Who is the current British Champion Jockey on the flat?  He was also champion in 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024.  His unusual forename is Irish for 'little deer' or 'fawn' whereas his surname is the commonest in Ireland (full name needed).

Oisin Murphy

Sp.

Which long-running Radio 2 Saturday morning show was first aired in 1983 by Keith Fordyce with Brian Matthews doing a 27-year stint before being replaced by present host Tony Blackburn?

Sounds of the 60s

Theme: Each answer contains a 'watery' word:

lake, spa, bay, pool, well, pond, sea, ocean, sound

Go back to Round 6 questions without answers

ROUND 7 - Reverse pairs

1.

Which actress has played police bomb disposal expert Lana Washington in three series of ITV’s Trigger Point?  A fourth series is planned.  She also played DC Kate Fleming in all six series of BBC’s Line of Duty?

2.

What is the capital of the Fr ench department of Isere? The city hosted the 1968 Winter Olympics.

3.

What is the name of the heroine in Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio?  Her name is a sound-a-like of the current Princess of the Asturias and heir presumptive to the Spanish throne.

Leonore

4.

The Grand Pardubice Steeplechase, one of the world’s most challenging cross country horse races, has been run every October since 1874.   In which present-day country is it run?

Czech Republic (or Czechia)

(the race is the Velka Pardubicka)

5.

America’s premier steeplechase has been run over timber fences every April since 1894.  One of the world’s most challenging races; two winning horses have gone on to win the Aintree Grand National.  In which US state is the race run?

Maryland

(the race is the Maryland Hunt Cup)

6.

What is the name of the protagonist in the book The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan?  He shares his name with the Crown Prince to the throne of Denmark.

Chistian

7.

What is the capital of the French department of Alpes-Maritimes?  The city will host the 2030 Winter Olympics.

Nice

8.

Which actress has played DCI Amy Silva in two series of BBC’s Vigil?  A third series is in production. She also played Detective Rachel Bailey in all five series of ITV’s Scott and Bailey?

Suranne Jones

Go back to Round 7 questions without answers

ROUND 8 - 'A Round for Oldies'

1.

Dying last month aged 100 which actress is best remembered for her television roles as Ruth Martin in Lassie (1958-64) and as Maureen Robinson in Lost in Space (1965-8)?

June Lockhart

2.

Which actress who died in January 2024 aged 100 is best remembered for her film role as Winifred Banks, the mother in Mary Poppins (1964) and her musical stage role in A Little Night Music (1973) for which she won a Tony Award?

Glynis Johns

3.

Who is the only player to have won the World Senior Snooker Championship more than once?  Though he never won the World Snooker Championship he has won the Senior Championship on four occasions and been runner-up twice.

Jimmy White

4.

Who is the only player to have won golf’s Senior Open Championship on four occasions?  He has also finished three times as runner-up.  A European, he never won the Open Championship but did win the US Masters twice.

Bernard Langer

5.

Paul Biya won his eighth consecutive presidential election in October 2025.  At 92 he is currently the oldest head of state in the world.  Of which African country is he president?

Cameroon

6.

Hassanal Bolkiah has been, since 1967, the absolute monarch of which country?  Still only 79 he is currently the longest serving head of state in the world.

Brunei Darussalam

(accept Brunei)

7.

In which year of the 1970s did the following events all occur:

a) Births of James Corden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy,

b) Deaths of Keith Moon and Golda Meir,

c) Murder of Georgi Markov with a poisoned umbrella in London,

d) Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin win the Nobel Peace Prize,

e) Ipswich beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup Final?

1978

8.

In which year of the 1980s did the following events all occur:

a) Births of Lady Gaga and Usain Bolt,

b) Deaths of Phil Lynott and the Duchess of Windsor,

c) Murder of Swedish PM Olof Palme in Stockholm,

d) The London Stock Exchange deregulates on 'Big Bang' day,

e) Liverpool beat Everton 3-1 in the FA Cup Final?

1986

Sp1

Which infection was treated with mercury salts in the nineteenth century?  An aphorism of the time was “A night with Venus leads to a lifetime with Mercury”.

Syphilis

Sp2

Fans of Jack Reacher novels must have been disappointed when 6 feet 5 inches Reacher was portrayed in film by which rather shorter actor?

Tom Cruise

Sp3

Lucy Powell has become the 19th elected deputy leader of the Labour Party.  Before we become too excited at the prospect of a Quiz League away weekend at Chequers can you name the deputies who were later elected substantive leader of the party - and of these leaders, who went on to become Prime Minister?

Go back to Round 8 questions without answers