ROUND 1 – “In the News”

Why were the following numbers in the news recently?

1.

32 hours 36 minutes?

The time by which Dame Ellen MacArthur beat Francois Joyon's previous record for solo circumnavigation of the globe

2.

24-21?

The score by which the New England Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles to win the 39th American Football Superbowl

3.

50?

The number of Manchester United goals scored by United Captain, Roy Keane (including his most recent against Birmingham City at Old Trafford last Saturday)

4.

11-9?

The score by which Wales beat England in the Rugby International at the Millennium Stadium last Saturday

Why were the following people in the news recently?

5.

Judge Caroline Ludlow?

By passing sentence via mobile phone upon an absent defendant who should have appeared before her at Ipswich Crown Court

6.

Nelson Mandela?

He was in London to address the G7 summit

7.

Alex Kapranos?

Leader of the band Franz Ferdinand (apparently Tony Blair’s favourite band)

8.

Ian Wilmut?

Granted a licence to clone human embryos by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

ROUND 2 – “Independence”

1.

Which northern European country celebrates 100 years of independence on June 7^th 2005?

Norway

2.

Which North American country ceased to be independent in 1949?

Newfoundland (joined the Canadian confederation after a referendum)

3.

Which 1996 film was advertised with the slogan “Earth take a good look, it might be your last”?

Independence Day

4.

Who was the male star of Born on the Fourth of July?

Tom Cruise

5.

In which year was the Independent newspaper first published?

1986 (October)

6.

In which year did the Independent offer a tabloid version of itself?

2003

7.

Who released the album called The Road to Freedom in 2004?

Chris de Burgh

8.

Which French writer/philosopher wrote The Roads to Freedom?

Jean-Paul Sartre

ROUND 3 – “Little & Large”

1.

At Oxford University what is meant by “reading Greats”?

Studying Classics

2.

Likewise what are the “Modem Greats”?

PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics)

3.

Who was known as ‘The Great Cham’?

Dr. Samuel Johnson

4.

Who was known as ‘The Great Commoner’?

William Pitt (The Elder) – 1^st Earl of Chatham

5.

Who was known as ‘The Little Corporal’?

Napoleon 1^st (Bonaparte)

6.

Who was known as ‘The Little Gentleman in Velvet’?

A mole (it was the Jacobite toast after William of Orange was killed when his horse tripped over a molehill)

7.

Who wrote A Little Night Music?

Stephen Sondheim

8.

Which of Tchaikovsky’s symphonies is nicknamed ‘The Little Russian’?

The First

ROUND 4 – “Still in the News”

1.

Why has the MP for Islington South and Finsbury been in the news?

He has announced he was HIV positive (Chris Smith)

2.

Why has the MP for Ealing North been in the news?

He has been found by a daughter he didn’t know he had (Steven Pound fathered at the age of 18)

3.

Nadine Milroy-Sloan’s allegations were in the news again this week.  Whom were they against?

Neil and Christine Hamilton

4.

In sport, Robert Hoyzer confessed to something this week.  What was it?

German Football referee involved in match fixing

5.

Only three countries have ratified the EU constitution - one last week.  Name any of the three.

Slovenia (this week), Lithuania or Hungary

6.

Zurab Zhvania was killed apparently by a faulty gas heater last week.  He was Prime Minister of which European country?

Georgia

7.

What official office does Robert Kilroy-Silk hold in the new political party Veritas?

None - the leader is his researcher Anthony Bennett

8.

Who is Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is in the news at the moment?

Alan Johnson

ROUND 5 – “Topical Nonsense”

1.

Who is the voice of Dougal in the new Magic Roundabout film?

Robbie Williams

2.

Who is the voice of Ermintrude in the new Magic Roundabout film?

Joanna Lumley

3.

Which character is returning to Coronation Street after 27 years?

Ray Langton

4.

Where did the Edinburgh Military Tattoo take place last week?

Sydney, Australia

5.

A musical involving Victoria Woods has opened in London.  What is it called?

Acorn Antiques

6.

Which film has been nominated for 11 Academy Awards this year?

The Aviator

7.

What is the name of the forthcoming sixth Harry Potter book?

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

8.

Dick and Dom are upsetting the grown-ups.  What children’s program do they present?

In da bungalow

ROUND 6 – “Arrivals & Departures” 

In which year were the following born?

1.

Emily Bronte (to within 10 years either way)?

1818 (accept 1808 - 1828 inclusive)

2.

Anthony Burgess (to within 5 years either way)?

1917 (accept 1912 - 1922 inclusive)

3.

Primo Levi (to within 5 years either way)?

1919 (accept 1914 - 1924 inclusive)

4.

George Eliot (to within 10 years either way)?

1819 (accept 1809 - 1829 inclusive)

In which year did the following die?

5.

Richard Brinsley Sheridan (to within 10 years either way)?

1816 (accept 1806 - 1826 inclusive)

6.

Anthony Trollope (to within 10 years either way)?

1882 (accept 1872 - 1892 inclusive)

7.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (to within 10 years either way)?

1882 (accept 1872 - 1892 inclusive)

8.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (to within 10 years either way)?

1834 (accept 1824 - 1844 inclusive)

ROUND 7 – “Britons & the British”

1.

Which writer and pacifist, who died in 1970, wrote: “Meek wifehood is no part of my profession.  I am your friend but never your possession”?

Vera Brittain

2.

In which year did the present design of the Union Flag come into being?

1801

3.

Who lives on a health farm and offers “alternative methods of payment” when the manager asks her to settle the bill?

Bubbles in BBC3’s Little Britain

4.

Which actor, born in 1924, has starred in numerous TV productions including Don’t Wait Up, Robin’s Nest, and The Way We Live Now?

Tonv Briton

5.

Which contemporary British artist painted The British are Coming?

Jack Vettriano

6.

Who said at the 1981 Oscars “The British are coming!”?

Colin Welland (after he won the best Screen Play Oscar for Chariots of Fire)

7.

Who won best group award in the 2004 Brit Awards?

Darkness

8.

Who won Best British female in the 2004 Brit awards?

Dido

ROUND 8 – “More Topical”

1.

Who is John Kerry’s fellow Massachusetts Senator?

Edward Kennedy

2.

What is the name of the judge in the Michael Jackson trial?

(Rodney) Melville

3.

Who won ‘Best New Play’ in the Critics Circle Theatre awards for The History Boys?

Alan Bennett

4.

What won best musical in the Critics Circle Theatre awards?

The Producers

5.

Which footballer signed for Fenerbahce for £7m last week?

Nicholas Anelka

6.

Which football club lost a record £88 million pounds last year?

Chelsea

7.

Which famous composer was born on February 3^rd 1809?

Felix Mendelssohn

8.

Which famous writer was born on February 7^th 1812?

Charles Dickens

SPARES

1.

Dennis Skinner is MP for which constituency?

Bolsover

2.

Peter Hain is MP for which constituency?

Neath

3.

What cabinet post is held by Alan Milburn?

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

4.

What is an otter’s lair called?

A holt

5.

In the 1960 Rome Olympics who won the Men’s 100m?

Armin Bari (West Germany)

6.

In the 1960 Rome Olympics who won the Women’s 100m?

Wilma Rudolph (USA)

7.

In the Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy what was the name of the architect who designed Robbin Hill for Soames Forsyte, and had an affair with Irene, Soames’ wife?

Phillip Bossini

8.

What is the capital of Paraguay?

Asuncion