Each round has a theme that links the answers; some straightforward, some obscure, and one in decidedly questionable taste! Themes are revealed at the end of each round.

ROUND 1

1.

At which London Underground station do the Jubilee, Piccadilly and Victoria lines all meet?

Green Park

2.

Which Princess of Wales, born in 1719, was instrumental in the development of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew?

Princess Augusta

3.

Which vocalist, perhaps best known for the single Addicted to Love, died in September 2003?

Robert Palmer

4.

Which 1976 film, based on a Jack Higgins novel, concerned a Nazi plot to kidnap Churchill from his Norfolk retreat?

The Eagle Has Landed

5.

Whose day is 30th November?

St Andrews’

6.

Which American author’s works include Dog Eat Dog, Little Boy Blue and No Beast So Fierce?

Edward Bunker

7.

Which American actress, along with Jennifer Aniston, took part in the “lesbian kiss” in an episode of Friends?

Winona Ryder

8.

Born in 1856, who was the 28th President of the USA?

Woodrow Wilson

and the theme was Golf

ROUND 2

1.

Which 60’s musical charted the adventures of Claude Bukowski?

Hair

2.

Which failed theme park, inspired by a former TV celebrity, is to be found in Somerset?

Crinkly Bottom

3.

Which former Socialist Worker editor and campaigning journalist died in July last year?

Paul Foot

4.

Which battle occurred on the plains of South Dakota in December 1890?

Wounded Knee

5.

In which Ernest Hemingway novel would you find the famous quotation: “All thinking men are atheists”?

Farewell to Arms

6.

Which organization uses the slogan “Unity, Loyalty, Patriotism and Comradeship”?

The Royal Naval Association

7.

Which cinematic rock band comprises the members David St Hubbins, Nigel Tufnel and Derek Smalls?

Spinal Tap

8.

Which play by Eve Ensler returns to the stage next month in London, starring Sharon Osbourne?

The Vagina Monologues

and the theme was parts of the body

ROUND 3

1.

Which US Football team won the 2005 Superbowl last month?

New England Patriots

2.

At which London mosque did “hook-handed extremist” Abu Hamza preach?

Finsbury Park

3.

Which sculptor’s works include Caryatid Fallen under a Stone?

Rodin

4.

Which Queen Mother of France ordered the massacre of 25,000 Huguenots in Paris in 1572?

Catherine de Medici (full name required)

5.

Who was Hitler’s architect who masterminded the Nuremberg Rallies?

Albert Speer

6.

Who or what were the Tamworth Two?

Escaped Pigs

7.

What is the name of the traditional signs in Kent that guided the pilgrims to Canterbury?

Bishop’s Fingers

8.

Stephen & Julia Parkhurst set up which website in 2001?

Friends Reunited

and the theme was names of Withquiz teams

ROUND 4

1.

Which natural product, derived from the digestive tract of sperm whales, is used in perfumery?

Ambergris

2.

Who played Ena Sharples?

Violet Carson

3.

Which Roy Orbison hit was released in August 1963?

Blue Bayou

4.

What was the name of Captain Pugwash’s ship?

The Black Pig

5.

Of which province is Bloemfontein the capital?

Orange Free State

6.

Which brewery produces Abbott ale?

Greene King

7.

Name the novel by D M Thomas, published in 1981, that was nominated for the Booker prize.

White Hotel

8.

By which nickname did the activist Daniel Cohn-Bendit, now an MEP, become known after the Paris riots of 1968?

Danny the Red

and the theme was colours

ROUND 5

1.

Which station is at the Eastern terminus of the Trans-Siberian railway?

Vladivostock

2.

Which cocktail is made from vodka and Kaluha (coffee liqueur)?

A black Russian

3.

Who played Carrie’s Paris-based, artist lover in the last episodes of Sex in the City?

Mikhail Baryshnikov

4.

Who was murdered by Ramon Mercarder in 1940?

Trotsky

5.

Which novelist and dramatist (1818-83) published his masterpiece, Fathers and Sons, in 1862?

Ivan Turgenev

6.

Who was the first woman in space?

Valentina Tereshkova

7.

Which scientist is known as ‘The Father of the Periodic Table’?

Mendeleyev

8.

Gladys Knight and the Pips sang about a midnight train to where?

Georgia

and the theme was Russia

ROUND 6 

1.

For which film did Jamie Foxx win this year’s best actor Oscar?

Ray

2.

Which battle in June 1775 saw the last British victory in the American War of Independence?

Bunker Hill

3.

Who was the last UK winner of a singles title at the French Open?

Sue Barker

4.

Who played Detective Sergeant Bung in Carry on Screaming?

Harry H. Corbett

5.

Who won this year’s BBC Superstars title?

Alain Baxter

6.

Who is the current Archbishop of York?

David Hope

7.

Who played Senna Pod in Carry on Cleo and wrote a book last year about her late husband?

Sheila Hancock

8.

Which market town is 30miles NNW of Manchester, 20miles NE of Preston and 10 miles NNE of Blackburn?

Clitheroe

and the theme was British comedians

ROUND 7

1.

Who had a ‘very fine cat’ called Hodge?

Dr Johnson

2.

Who recorded the 80s number one hit Wild Boys?

Duran Duran

3.

Of which country is Port of Spain the capital?

Trinidad (and Tobago)

4.

Which Australian soap opera, set during World War Two, was a favourite on lunchtime TV in the early 80s?

The Sullivans

5.

Who played the title role in the original Mr Deedes Goes to Town?

Gary Cooper

6.

Who was Spain’s famously sweaty manager during the 2002 World Cup, who has since managed Real Madrid?

Camacho

7.

Name the only number one hit for Unit Four Plus Two.

Concrete and Clay

8.

What prestigious award is named after Antoinette Perry?

Tony award

and the theme was Boxers

ROUND 8

1.

Who won their 20^th Wimbledon title in 1979?

Billie-Jean King

2.

“Second star on the right and keep on 'til morning” constitutes directions to where?

Neverland

3.

What football song was a hit for The Cockney Rejects?

I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles

4.

What state is found between Illinois and Ohio?

Indiana

5.

Which religious group was founded by C.T. Russell?

Jehovah’s Witnesses

6.

In art circles what is MOBA?

The Museum of Bad Art

7.

How many times has Martin Scorsese been nominated for a Best Director Oscar?

Five

8.

Who is said to have made the first Stars and Stripes flag?

Betsy Ross

and the theme was Michael Jackson

SPARES

1.

Whose tombstone reads: “Pioneer, Patriot, Soldier, Trapper, Explorer, State Legislator, Congressman”?

Dave Crockett

2.

Which German composer (1809-1847) composed Hark the Herald Angels Sing?

Mendelssohn

3.

What is the old name for hydrogen cyanide?

Prussic acid

4.

How is the fruit grower Maria Ann Sherwood better known?

Granny Smith

5.

Name four of the five original cinque ports.

(4 from) Dover, Sandwich, Romney, Hythe, Hastings

6.

Who won the Wimbledon Men’s Singles in 1987?

Pat Cash