Test your knowledge with the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week's newsquiz was Dora Allday with an impressive 20, just ahead of Janet Boyle on 19. Andy Reed and Andy Drinkwater both scored 17. The top teams were the Marie Stopes international comms team and the Roberts Family who both scored 20, followed by Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 19. Perhaps understandably, those posting their scores from exotic holiday locations did less well than usual. Here is this week's quiz. As always there are 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.  

There was only one story dominating Thursday's front pages

1. After announcing the prorogation of Parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place on what date to outline his 'very exciting agenda’?

2. Who issued a statement, while on holiday, saying: 'I have had no contact from the government, but if the reports that it is seeking to prorogue parliament are confirmed, this move represents a constitutional outrage’?

3. In her resignation statement, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said of her time in politics that which achievement 'was - without doubt - the most important contribution of my working life and, I believe, will remain so’?

4. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, reacting to the prorogation of Parliament, said: 'We will be back in Parliament on Tuesday to challenge Boris Johnson on what I think is a ___ ___ ___ raid against our democracy.’ What are the three missing words?

5. Who said he would consider chairing a proposed citizens' forum on Brexit after being asked by MPs including Hilary Benn, Yvette Cooper, Frank Field and Caroline Spelman?

6. Who did the Brexit Party select as its candidate in the London seat of Kensington for the next General Election?

7. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was at the centre of an unlikely political dispute when he said which product was exported to Thailand and Iceland but not to the US due to red tape?

8. The Met Office said it was the hottest late August Bank Holiday Monday ever with a top temperature recorded at Heathrow, beating the previous record of 28.2C set two years ago. To the nearest degree in celsius what was the temperature?

9. Why were teenage sisters Isla and Eilidh Noble in the headlines?

10. Cricketer Ben Stokes led England to victory in the third Ashes test with an unbeaten second innings score of how many runs?

11. Speaking outside a New York court, Virginia Giuffre said: 'He knows exactly what he's done - and I hope he comes clean about it.’ Who was she referring to?
12. Services were held on a clifftop in County Sligo to mark the 40th anniversary of what?

13. What is the name of the company that pulled out of a plan to take over doomed football club Bury at the last minute, saying the 'challenges were insurmountable’?

14. A fire engulfed about 40 lorry trailers at which company's factory in Peterborough?

15. French president Emmanuel Macron accused Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro of being 'very disrespectful' to who?

16. US President Donald Trump said a report by website Axios that he had suggested tackling hurricanes heading to America by doing what to them was ‘fake news’?
17. Which company was fined $572million by an Oklahoma court for running a 'false and dangerous' sales campaign that caused addiction and death through a drug epidemic?

18. Seven people, including a German family of four, were killed when a helicopter and a microlight plane collided mid-air over which island?

19. A teenage boy was charged after more than 80 firefighters battled a ‘suspicious' blaze at Woodmill high school in which town?

20. The identity of a graffiti artist, who daubed a 60ft tag on a viaduct near Windsor Castle and angered the Queen, was revealed as Michael Purdy. What pseudonym did he paint on the bridge?

21. A comic actress who appeared in television shows the Frost Report, Not Only But Also and How’s Your Father before becoming a successful stage performer, died this week age 84. Who was she?

22. Former Wales footballer Dean Saunders was jailed for how long by Chester magistrates for failing to provide a breath specimen after being arrested on suspicion of drink-driving?

23. Who was promised free spectacles for life by Specsavers?

24. Sir Bradley Wiggins, Olympic gold medalist and Tour de France winner, revealed he is taking a degree to pursue a new career as what?
25. Who caused a Twitter stir by recording her days out in Highgate, Brixton, Shoreditch, Hackney, Soho and Camden?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

Judging by the scores, last week's newsquiz was clearly a bit tougher than usual. The top solo scorer was Gavin Devine with 17, just ahead of Steve Silk and Liz Gerard who both got 16 and Toby Brown on 15. The top team score was Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 20.5. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 17 and my sons Jack and Thom Sands with Franki Appleton scored 15 in the Three Legs Brewery last Saturday night. 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. 

1. At a meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested an alternative to the Irish border backstop could be found in how many days?

2. A cross-government study warning of the impact of a no-deal Brexit was leaked to which newspaper?

3. Responding to the leaked document, Cabinet minister Michael Gove said some of the concerns about a no-deal Brexit had been ‘exaggerated’ but added: 'It's certainly the case that there will be ___ ___ ___ ___, some element of disruption in the event of no-deal.’  What are the missing four words?
4. The Centre for Social Justice think-tank, headed by former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith, said the state pension age should rise to what by 2035?

5. Boris Johnson’s girlfriend Carrie Symonds was reported to have been denied a US visa because of a visit to where last year?

6. What did Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen describe as absurd?

7. What did French president, Emmanuel Macron call an 'international crisis’ which should be top of the agenda at the G7 summit?

8. What did Boris Johnson’s senior aide Dominic Cummings describe as a 'disaster zone’?

9. Sir Elton John revealed he paid for a private jet for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to visit his £15million mansion in which city?

10. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children flew to Scotland on which budget airline for their annual holiday with the Queen?

11. He gained an Oscar nomination for his role in Ulee’s Gold but was best known as Captain America in a 1969 film. Who is he?

12. Police in which European city opened a murder invesigation after a waiter was shot dead by a customer apparently enraged at being made to wait too long for a sandwich?

13. John Humble, who police announced had died at the age of 63, sent police hoax letters and tapes in the 1970s was known by what nickname?

14. An 18-month-old girl is in a serious condition in hospital after falling from a second floor hotel window in which town?

15. Twitter agreed to meet Manchester United executives after which footballer was abused following the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Monday?

16. Why have homes and businesses in the Oxfordshire town of Wallingford been using ribbon to turn the town blue?

17. Which pub chain and brewer agreed to be bought by Hong Kong operator CKA for £2.7billion?

18. According to an email exchange between a US literary agent and author Evgeny Morozov, Prince Andrew was seen receiving what from a young woman in disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s New York apartment? 

19. More than 80 people were killed by an Islamic State suicide bomber at what event in Kabul? 

20. Eight thousand people were evacuated from their homes as a raging wildfire spread on which island?

21. Ben Unwin, whose body was found at the bottom of a waterfall, played Jesse McGregor in which soap opera?

22. Supermarket chain Morrisons announced it was raising the cost of plastic bags to how much each?

23. A 56-year-old HGV driver, a 28-year-old vet and a 20-year-old Durham University student were among those who signed up for what?

24. People who invested millions of pounds into whose eco-friendly housing ventures have been told they could face losing up to 97 per cent of their money?

25. What is the title of the 25th official James Bond movie that was revealed this week?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo score in last week’s newsquiz was 18 by Andy Reed, just ahead of Toby Brown on 17.5. The top team was Bruce and Sarah Hayward with an impressive 20, ahead of the Roberts family on 17.5. Here’s 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. 

1. Former Conservative Nick Boles and three Tory MPs said they would be willing to enter talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to stop a no-deal Brexit. Name two of them. Half a point for each.

2. Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson suggested that Tory Ken Clarke and Labour's Harriet Harman should do what? 

3. The Centre for Social Justice urged Home Secretary Priti Patel to raise the minimum annual salary threshold for all new foreign workers to what amount after Brexit?

4. Nancy Pelosi, the speaker in the US House of Representatives, said this week: 'Whatever form it takes, Brexit cannot be allowed to imperil the ___ ___ ___ ‘. What are the three missing words?

5. Sue Hayman, the shadow environment secretary, called for a 'proper review' into what practice, that began on Monday, arguing there are viable alternatives?

6. Who did Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage describe as 'a slightly overweight, chain-smoking gin drinker’?

7. Chancellor Sajid Javid is drawing up plans to produce millions of what to commemorate the UK leaving the EU in October?

8. The Youth Select Committee, as part of its investigation into knife crime, warned that criminals, commonly known as what, are recruiting kids to deal drugs with the offer of free food?

9. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s estranged wife Marina Wheeler urged women to get tested for what type of cancer, after talking about her own diagnosis?

10. The body of 15-year-old Nora Quoirin was found after spending seven days in a jungle in which country?

11. Seven boys aged 14 to 17 were arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was stabbed to death with a screwdriver in a shopping centre in which city?

12. For the first time more females than males did what at A-level?

13. Why were two guards placed on leave and a warden temporarily reassigned at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York?

14. Why did Arsenal players Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac pull out of the first Premier League game in Newcastle?

15. Thousands of people in Manchester are taking part today (Friday) in a re-enactment of one of the defining moments in British political history. What was it?

16. Why were Britain's Jess Learmonth and Georgia Taylor-Brown disqualified from the World Triathlon Olympic qualification event in Tokyo?

17. Why was cricket umpire John Williams, 80, in the headlines?

18. What did 57-year-old Frenchman Alain Robert do to make 'an urgent appeal for peace and consultation between Hong Kong people and their government’?

19. A case involving Ashers Bakery in Belfast has been referred to the European Court of Human Rights. What did Ashers refuse to do that led to the case?

20. The Scottish government paid former first minister Alex Salmond how much to cover his legal costs after he won a court battle over its sexual misconduct investigation?

21. Who is to be charged after allegedly punching an elderly man at the Marble Arch pub in south Dublin?

22. Green Party MP Caroline Lucas reported political donor Arron Banks to Twitter for his ‘vile’ tweet that suggested what could happen in August? 

23. Channel 4 was criticised for showing a race row on its documentary The Reality Star Who Changed Britain. Who is the subject of the programme?
24. Television advertisements for which two brands were the first to be banned under new UK gender stereotyping rules? Half a point for each.

25. Why did Lord’s cricket ground turn red on the second day of the second Ashes test?

Answers here

It's newsquiz time: 25 questions about the week

The top solo score in last week’s newsquiz was 19 by both Liz Gerard and Andy Reed. The top team, Bruce and Sarah Hayward, also scored 19. Other notable scorers were my Three Legs drinking buddies on 17, the same score as Janet Boyle and Dave Bromage. Here’s this week’s quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 

Sunday's papers

1. Twenty-two people were killed and dozens more injured in a massacre at which supermarket in El Paso, Texas?
2. What is the name of the city in Ohio where Connor Betts shot dead nine people including his sister?

3. American Willam McNabb went viral when he joined the gun debate on Twitter by asking: 'How do I kill the 30-50 ___ ___ that run into my yard within 3-5 mins while my small kids play?’ What are the two missing words?

4. Who said: 'I want [criminals] to literally feel terror at the thought of committing offences.’?

5. Cabinet minister Michael Gove accused the EU of ‘intransigence’ saying: ‘They're not interested - they're simply saying 'no we don't want to talk. I think that's ___ and ___’? What are the two missing word?

6. Energy bills for 11 million British households will fall by how much (in pounds) this winter after Ofgem reduced its price cap on standard tariffs?

7. The body of British astrophysicist Natalie Christopher, 35, was found in a ravine on which Greek island?

8. Toni Morrison, who died age 88, was the first African American winner of what?

9. A 17-year-old boy appeared at Bromley Youth Court charged with attempted murder of a six-year-old who was pushed from the viewing balcony on which storey of the Tate Modern in London?

10. Which city banned wheeled suitcases and buggies being dragged down historic staircases, walking around bare-chested, singing on public transport and hanging laundry out between neighbouring buildings?

11. Name any two of the three players who scored centuries in the first Ashes test match at Edgbaston. Half a point for each.

12. A British Airways plane made an emergency landing at which city’s airport after smoke engulfed the cabin?
13. Dame Barbara Windsor called on Boris Johnson to start a £2.4billion dementia fund when she was announced as ambassador of the Alzheimer's Society on her birthday on Tuesday. How old is she?
14. Around 1,100 residents of Whaley Bridge, evacuated after a dam threatened to burst, were allowed to return after how many nights away from home?
15. Why was 28-year-old Stuart Outten in the headlines?

16. Manchester United signed Harry Maguire from Leicester City for a world record fee for a defender. How much?

17. What is the name of the thousands of microscopic creatures now believed to be living on the moon after an Israeli spacecraft crash-landed?

18. Terry Brazier, 70, was awarded £20,000 in compensation after going to Leicester Royal Infirmary for a bladder operation but mistakenly undergoing what procedure?

19. A man who was filmed throwing a fridge off a cliff in southern Spain was fined €45,000 (£41,000) and given what other punishment?

20. Which state has been on lockdown with communication cut off since Article 370 - which gave it special dispensation to make its own laws - was revoked?

21. What is the name of the festival with headliners Wu-Tang Clan, Florence And The Machine and Foals that was called off hours before gates opened following a storm warning?

22. Wayne Rooney was criticised for agreeing to wear what shirt number when he moves to Derby County in January?

23. He appeared on Search For A Star in 1981, presented his own television programme, had three platinum albums, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Variety Club in 2007 and an MBE in 2012? Who is he?

24. What was recreated on its 50th anniversary at 11.38am on Thursday morning in London NW8?

25. What did researchers at the University of Exeter conclude was the best way to protect food from scavenging seagulls?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top scorers in last week’s newsquiz were Jake Hurfurt and Toby Brown who both scored 20, narrowly ahead of Janet Boyle on 18. The Roberts Family were ’delirious’ after totting-up a record-equalling 23. A great score ... well done to them. Here is this week’s quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the events of the last seven days. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

1. Who became the 13th sitting Liberal Democrat MP after winning the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election?

2. Six parties stood in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election but which one came last with 242 votes?

3. Chancellor Sajid Javid announced how much in extra money 'to help the country prepare for a no-deal Brexit'?

4. On his visit to Northern Ireland, Prime Minister Boris Johnson was told by Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald that 'he needs to ensure he is not the DUP's ____'. What is the missing animal?

5. Prime Minister Boris Johnson posed clutching what when he visited a farm in Newport?

6. Who wrote a letter to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn saying: 'I see no strategy in place that remotely meets the electoral or policy challenges ahead. On the contrary, in so far as I ascertain a strategy at all, it is one that looks more designed to lose’? 

7. The chief executive of which car company reported falling profits of 29 per cent, warned a no-deal Brexit would be a 'lose-lose' scenario and offered to travel to the UK to deliver the message to Boris Johnson in person?
8. Which Cabinet minister was told by 10 Downing Street that his views, expressed in The Times, that sex crime suspects should remain anonymous until charged were 'not Government policy’? 

9. Around 6,500 people were evacuated from which town after the Toddbrook Reservoir dam was damaged in heavy rains?

10. The Met Office revealed that the UK’s ten hottest years on record all happened since what year?
11. Three people were killed and 15 injured by a gunman at a festival in California which was celebrating what food?

12. Egan Bernal, 22, became the first cyclist from which country to win the Tour de France?

13. According to P&O a 'mass brawl' which broke out on the Britannia cruise ship returning to Southampton from Norway was not caused by what?

14. Grant Thornton quit as auditors of which company following concerns over the disclosure of a €674million tax bill from the Belgian government?

15. At least 57 inmates, including 16 who were decapitated, died in a prison riot that broke out in which country?

16. To the nearest million how many old round £1 coins, which were replaced by the 12-sided version in 2017, are still in circulation, according to the Royal Mint?

17. Where were New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern, Hollywood actress Jane Fonda and 16-year-old activist Greta Thunberg seen together?

18. Cambridge University student Alana Cutland fell to her death from a plane in which country?

19. How did 18-year-old jockey Khadijah Mellah make history at Goodwood?

20. According to research published in the British Medical Journal cases of which disease in the UK are forecast to be more than 8,000 ... three times higher than previous estimates?

21. Where did the phrase ‘not fit for purpose’ become not fit for purpose?

22. Why was 15-year-old Jaden Ashman from Hornchurch, London, in the headlines?

23. Which singer was ordered, by a US court, to pay gospel artist Flame $550,000 (£454,000) for copying one of his songs?

24. Former England goalkeeper David James said he was persuaded to do what by ex-swimmer Mark Foster?

25. The BBC revealed that which show had lost more than 780,000 listeners since January?

Answers here