Old hacks tackle the newsquiz

Old hacks reunion: Pat Pilton, Mike Watson, Phil Swift 

and me at Wright Brothers in Soho yesterday.

 They only got six questions wrong. Can you do better?

The best individual scorer in last week's newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 19. The top team were the drinkers in the Three Legs (Peter and Stacey Gunthorp, Les and Nicky Castell and Bryan Booth) with a best-ever 21. This week I was at a milestone birthday lunch at Wright Brothers in Soho for Pat Pilton, former managing editor of the Daily Mirror. We were joined by other Fleet Street stalwarts Mike Watson and Phil Swift. A real old codgers' reunion. Inevitably we did the quiz (helped by Catherine Evans) and they scored 15 out of 21 (I hadn't written all 25 questions at that point). Here's the complete quiz - as usual 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

Today's front pages

1. In an 88-page document, the Bank of England said a disorderly Brexit could lead to house prices falling by what per cent?
2. The Commons vote on the Brexit withdrawal agreement will be held on what date?
3. How many minutes did it take the European Union leaders in Brussels on Sunday to endorse the proposals for their future relationship with Britain?
4. Who did Brexiteer Jacob-Rees Mogg describe as a failed ‘second-tier Canadian politician’?
5. The leaders from the world’s 20 biggest economies converged on which city today (Friday) for the G20 Summit?

6. Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle used a debate in the Commons to announce he is what?

7. Home Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs he was considering doing what to cope with the surge in migrants from northern France - even though it might encourage more to cross the Channel?
8. Why did Daniela Tejada tweet: ‘I’ve been brought back to life’?
9. A video went viral of a 15-year-old Syrian boy who was beaten up and 'waterboarded' on a school field in which town?
10. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said what was potentially very dangerous and 'shouldn't be legal for anyone'?
11. England cricketers completed only the third whitewash away from home in their history - and the first in Asia - by beating which team?
12. Norwegian Magnus Carlsen has retained his world championship title, beating US opponent Fabiano Caruana, at what?
13. Which company partly blamed the UK heatwave last summer for an annual pre-tax loss of £53million?

14. California said it was considering taking legal action against Donald Trump’s administration after government agents used what at the US-Mexico border?

15. A photo shared by footballer’s wife Rebekah Vardy has been praised by a charity for reminding women to do what?

16. The Rail Delivery Group announced that UK rail fares will rise by what per cent from January 2?

17. She gave the v sign to Lord King in the House of Lords and, at 90, became the oldest ever panellist on BBC1's Have I Got News For You. Who was she?
18. Sammy Woodhouse called for a change in the law to stop what?
19. Spice Girl Mel B’s tell-all book about her marriage to film producer Stephen Belafonte is called what?

20. What is the name given to the storm - a 'double-vortex super-tempest’ - which had most of the UK under yellow weather warnings this week?
21. What is the name of the NASA lander that touched down on Mars this week?
22. Harold Leslie Smith, who served as a pilot in the Second World War and campaigned to raise awareness of the refugee crisis, died age 95. He described himself as the world’s oldest what?

23. Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will face no action for his celebration after an injury-time winner over Young Boys in the Champions League? What did he do?.
24. According to research by property website Rightmove which Essex town is the happiest place to live in the UK?
25. A giant steer standing 6ft 4in to his shoulders and weighing 220-stone was all over the media this week. What is his name?

Answers here

Been paying attention? Here's the newsquiz

There were some impressive scores in last week's newsquiz. The Penmans were the top team with a career high 22. Toby Brown, Liz Gerard and Simon O'Neill were the best individual players, each scoring 20, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 19, Dave Bromage on 18.5 and Damon Wake on 18. It was either a little easier or everyone is paying more attention. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

Thursday's front pages

1. What is the name of Theresa May’s third Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union?

2. After fewer ‘no-confidence’ letters than anticipated were sent to the 1922 committee, Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg admitted he had always admired which fictional character?

3. Which EU country accused the UK of ‘treachery', acting 'under the cover of darkness’ and threatened to ‘stop the clock’ on the Brexit negotiations?

4. The Food and Drink Federation told Environment Secretary Michael Gove that what could become unavailable within a fortnight if there is a no-deal Brexit?

5. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, speaking on Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, said what was 'an option for the future’ but 'not an option for today’?
6. Which television programme had to hastily rearrange its schedule after Theresa May pulled out of a live interview at the last-minute?

7. SNP MP Hannah Bardell said she would not apologise to the Speaker for doing what?

8. The co-founder of online gambling firm Bet365 Denise Coates was revealed as the UK's best-paid boss in 2017. How much in total did she receive?

9. What will Wales and France’s rugby players wear this weekend to 'show support to former captain Gareth Thomas’ who was the victim of a homophobic attack in Cardiff?

10. A suicide bombing at a wedding hall in which city killed at least 55 people?

11. Which retailer announced it was to cut 7,500 office jobs worldwide, including 350 in the UK, to focus on its online operation and city centre stores?

12. According to an audit by the Gambling Commission how many youngsters age 11 to 16 have a gambling problem in the UK?

13. Why was 53-year-old Ray Weatherall from Kent in the headlines?

14. Who made an emotional denial on social media, saying he was crying his eyes out, after being charged with sexually assaulting a woman on a train from York to Durham?

15. What is the name of the newspaper group, owners of the i, The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, that went into administration on Saturday?

16. Matthew Hedges, 31, who was jailed for life in the United Arab Emirates for spying, is studying for a PhD at which university?

17. Which international football manager left his job this week after winning only one game - a friendly - in 2018?

18. The newsreader who introduced the first BBC TV news bulletin broadcast in July 1954 died age 93. What was his name?

19. A London council has removed a plaque from a bench in Wanstead High Street which read 'In Loving Memory of ____ ____, 1937-2006.’ Who was the plaque dedicated to?

20. The board of which company voted to sack its chairman, Carlos Ghosn, after his arrest for alleged financial misconduct? 

21. American John Allen Chau was killed by a volley of arrows soon after landing on which Indian island?

22. A 1,000ft-high glass skyscraper, which features outside gondolas, is set to become London's second tallest structure after The Shard? What is its nickname?

23. Animal rights group Peta is urging which Dorset village to change its name as it 'promotes sheep cruelty’?

24. Who denied being married to Jake Hester despite her Wikipedia page claiming she wed him in 2015?

25. Broadcaster Piers Morgan had an online spat with which pop group after accusing them of using sex to sell records?

Answers here

The newsquiz: 25 questions about the week

The top solo online scorer in last week's newsquiz was Toby Brown with an impressive 19. The top team was the Penmans with 20. Other high scores included Tom Savage, Janet Boyle and the Adam Batstone with Lucy Thorpe who all scored 17. Here is this week's newsquiz. As usual, it is 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

May day: Thursday's front pages

1. Exactly how many pages was the EU withdrawal agreement document that was unveiled this week?

2. Two Cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and Esther McVey quit over the EU withdrawal agreement. Raab resigned as Brexit Secretary but what was McVey’s position?

3. By Friday morning at least 20 MPs had submitted letters of no confidence in the Prime Minister to the backbench 1922 Committee. How many letters are needed to trigger a vote of no confidence?

4. Asked whether she would be able to 'deliver the runs' for Britain, Theresa May said she would dig in and fight like one of her sporting heroes. Who was she talking about?  

5. Who announced he would not resign from the Cabinet saying: 'I think it’s absolutely vital that we focus on getting the right deal in the future, and making sure that in the areas that matter so much to the British people, we can get a good outcome’?     

6. Backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg reacted to the draft deal over Brexit, before the Cabinet agreement, by saying: ‘____ ____ have gone up all over Whitehall. It is a betrayal of the Union’? What are the two missing words?
7. Who became the 18th minister to quit under Theresa May’s premiership when he resigned as Minister for Transport?

8. Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said that ‘the Government has listened’ and will now implement what in April next year?

9. Susanna Dinnage, global president of Discovery's Animal Planet, was appointed as chief executive of what?
10. What is the name of the Lib Dem peer who faced a three-year Parliamentary suspension after an investigation found he offered a woman 'corrupt inducements' for sex?

11. Giant portraits of soldiers who died in World War One were etched across UK beaches to mark 100 years since the war ended. Who conceived the idea?

12. US President Donald Trump tweeted that there was no reason for the fires that swept through California 'except that ____ ____ is so poor.’  What are the two missing words?
13. The death toll around which incinerated northern Californian town rose to almost 60, making it the deadliest wildfire in the state's history?
14. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was talking to Pakistan over a Christian woman whose acquittal on blasphemy charges has put her life in danger. What is her name?

15. Title-winning manager Claudia Ranieri returned to the English top flight with which club?
16. A Neo-Nazi couple who named their child after Adolf Hitler were found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court of belonging to which banned terrorist organisation?
17. Donald Trump’s frosty meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron was followed up by a tweet by the US President saying that the French were starting to do what in Paris before the US came along?

18. A 58-year-old British tourist from Aylesbury died while on holiday in Morocco after being bitten by what?
19. What historic act did Frank-Walter Steinmeier undertake?
20. The first of many superheroes created by Stan Lee, who died age 95, were astronauts who gained super powers after being bombarded with cosmic rays. What were they called?

21. What weapon was used to kill mother-of-five Sana Muhammad at her home in Ilford?
22. England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney played in the 3-0 victory over the USA, meaning he has earned how many caps?

23. A pearl and diamond pendant was sold for $36m (£28m) at Sotheby's auction house in Geneva. Which historical figure did the pearl once belong to?

24. Why did ITV introduce piano versions of the theme tunes of The Chase, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and This Morning?

25. Where will entertainer John Barrowman, ex-football manager Harry Redknapp and Chaser Ann Hegerty be next week?

Answers here

Telegraph Lizzie wins newsquiz champagne

Trainees Mason Boycott-Owen, Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe, Lizzie Roberts, Yolanthe Fawehinmi, Verity Bowman and Tony Diver at the Telegraph's office today with PA Training MD Mark Wray

I had a very enjoyable four days with The Daily Telegraph trainees this week. They were at the Society of Editors’ conference in Manchester on Monday. Then, on their last of eight weeks at the Press Association's headquarters in Howden, East Yorkshire, they put together an excellent 20-minute interactive presentation. They presented it to the Telegraph's executives, including editor Chris Evans and emeritus editor and Society of Editors' president Ian MacGregor, in London today. It was first class - well done to them. 
Before the presentation they did the newsquiz. Lizzie Roberts was top scorer with 12.5, a lower than average score as they were working 15 hours a day on their projects. It meant she was the overall winner, in a tightly fought competition over the eight-weeks, finishing narrowly ahead of Tony Diver and Mason Boycott-Owen. Lizzie was presented with a bottle of champagne by PA managing director Mark Wray.
The trainees now embark on the second stage of their training at PA, The Telegraph and at placements on regional newspapers. They are a bright and likeable bunch who will undoubtedly go far. I wish them well.
The top online scorer in last week's newsquiz was Tom Savage with 18.5, narrowly ahead of Gavin Devine on 18 and Janet Boyle on 17.5. The top teams were the Penmans on 15.5 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe with 15.
Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Give it a go and see if you can beat Lizzie’s score.

Today's Telegraph

1. Who said that he ‘hadn’t quite understood the full extent’ of how much the choice of goods in UK stores was dependent on one or two very specific trade routes?
2. What did Theresa May describe as 'utterly unacceptable’, Home Secretary Sajid Javid as 'disgusting, shameful, behaviour’ and broadcaster Piers Morgan as ‘unbelievable’?
3. Following the stabbings in London this week, Mayor Sadiq Khan said efforts to reduce violent crimes could take up to how many years?
4. Nancy Pelosi, minority leader of the US House of Representatives, said what action was a blatant attempt by Donald Trump to undermine the investigation into Russian involvement in the election?
5. What is the name of the CNN reporter who was suspended from the White House after a heated Press conference exchange with President Donald Trump?
6. In an interview to mark his 70th birthday, Prince Charles said 'If it's ____ to worry about the inner cities as I did 40 years ago, then if that's ____ I'm proud of it.' What is the missing word?
7. What is the name of the bar and grill in Thousand Oaks, California, where 12 people including, a police officer, were shot?
8. A knife-wielding terrorist was shot dead by police after crashing a car, setting it on fire and stabbing three shoppers in which city?
9. Eight children were hurt on a fairground inflatable slide at a fireworks display in which town?
10. The Bangkok funeral for Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was scheduled to last for how many days?
11. Chief executive Jeff Fairburn was asked to leave his job after his £75million bonus payout was seen as a ‘distraction’ that damaged which firm’s reputation?
12. What has more women than ever before, including the youngest in its history and its first two Muslims?
13. An inquest heard that a 69-year-old man died at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, after a pioneering operation using what went badly wrong?
14. Which company announced its intention to close its Dundee plant by mid 2020 with the loss of all 845 jobs?
15. Why was 98-year-old Peter Gouldstone in the headlines?
16. The centenary of whose death was marked on Sunday with the sounding of a bugle at his graveside in Ors, northern France?
17. Ross Edgley became the first person to do what?
18. Which company’s Christmas advert has been banned for being too political for TV?
19. According to NHS Digital, one in 20 prescriptions written by GPs is to treat what condition, costing the NHS in England more than £1billion a year?
20. The reunited Spice Girls announced concerts to be held in six stadiums next June, finishing at Wembley. In which stadium does the tour begin?
21. Tickets to see Michelle Obama talk about her upcoming book at London's Southbank Centre on December 3 have been offered for re-sale for hundreds of times their face value. What is the name of her book?
22. England football manager Gareth Southgate faced criticism for recalling record goalscorer Wayne Rooney to the squad to face which team next week?
23. Which hyphenated word has been named Collins Dictionary’s word of the year for 2018?
24. Dutchman Emile Ratelband has launched a legal battle to change what about himself?
25. Birmingham University student Harriet Ellis said she had received marriage offers after a video clip of her doing what went viral?

Answers here

Here's the newsquiz - Lizzie's 15 to beat

The Budget front pages (Questions 1 to 3)

The Daily Telegraph trainees took a visit to the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal this week and also spent a couple of days looking at long-form writing and features with Fiona Webster. I spent today with them, looking at their projects and other topics. We finished the week as always with the newsquiz - 25 questions about the week's events. It was a tight finish with Lizzie Roberts winning this week with 15, just ahead of Mason Boycott-Owen and Tony Diver on 14. In last last week's quiz there were some very high scores. The Penmans scored a massive 22.5, which is probably the best team score ever. The top solo scorer was Liz Gerard on 21 and Janet Boyle on 20. Other notable scores were Toby Brown with 18 and Gavin Devine and Jamie Johnson on 17. The Batstones  were the second highest scoring team with 18.5. Here's this week's quiz. See if you can do better than Lizzie's 15. 

The Telegraph's Budget front pages

1. In his Budget Chancellor Philip Hammond confirmed how many extra billion pounds for the NHS over the next five years?
2. The Chancellor also announced that the personal allowance threshold, the rate at which people start paying income tax at 20 per cent, was to rise from £11,850 to what amount in April?
3. Chancellor Philip Hammond told MPs in his Budget speech that  ‘____ is coming to an end, but ____ will remain’. What are the two missing words? Half a point for each.
4. Tracey Crouch resigned from which position in the Government?
5. What is the name of the chair of the National Police Chiefs who said this week that, while recording complaints of misogynist abuse might be desirable, police did not have the time or resources?
6. The owner of Leicester City Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who died in a helicopter crash after the team’s game on Saturday, was the founder of which travel retail group?
7. What was the name of the pilot who apparently prevented the Leicester City helicopter from landing on the stadium or houses, averting casualties on the ground?
8. What is the name of the Pittsburgh synagogue where gunman Robert Bowers shot dead 11 people?
9. The editor of Waitrose Food magazine, William Sitwell, resigned with immediate effect after suggesting a series on killing who?
10. German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced she would step down as head of her party later this year and retire from public life after serving out her term as chancellor in 2021. What is the name of her party?
11. A Boeing 737 with 188 people on board which crashed after taking off from the Indonesian capital Jakarta was owned by which low-cost airline?
12. Police are investigating the case of Suzy Lamplugh who disappeared after going to show a man identified by what name around a property in Fulham in 1986?
13. Essex villagers were upset after a pro-Trump campaign advertisement used a picture of their streets to warn voters that 'this is what America could look like if they did not back the President’. What is the name of the seaside village?
14. Lewis Hamilton won his fifth Formula One championship with a fourth-place finish at which country’s Grand Prix?
15. Following the announcement that he is being investigated by the National Crime Agency for alleged offences committed at the referendum, leave-campaigner Arron Banks tweeted a picture of himself in Bermuda accompanied by which two words?
16. The cases of Billy Caldwell and Alfie Dingley were said to be instrumental in which change in the law?
17. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex went head-to-head in what sporting competition with schoolchildren in Auckland, New Zealand?
18. James ‘Whitey' Bulger, the Boston gangster, was murdered in prison in West Virginia. How old was he? 
19. Four members of a grooming gang were jailed for 36 years, taking the total sentences to 257 years for the 20 gang members. What town did they operate in?
20. Which city suffered its worst flooding since December 2008?
21. The chief executive of which company told staff this week: 'I understand the anger and disappointment that many of you feel. I feel it as well, and I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted for far too long in our society’?
22. A Rotherham-based research scientist said this week that doing what had been 'the coolest thing that I have done in my life’?
23. Pilot Katsutoshi Jitsukawa was remanded in custody after pleading guilty to being ten times over the drink-fly limit as he boarded a plane at which airport?
24. Ex-footballer Rio Ferdinand proposed to reality TV star girlfriend Kate Wright on top of a tower in which city?
25. The Royal Society for Public Health ranked the healthiest and unhealthiest high streets in the UK. Which town did it say was the unhealthiest and which city was the healthiest? Half a point for each.

Answers here