It's newsquiz time ...

There were some excellent scores in last week’s newsquiz. Top of the solo leaderboard were Nick Turner and Toby Brown, both with 23, just ahead of Robert Rea, Tony Smith, Janet Boyle and Liz Gerard on 22, Jayme Bryla and Gavin Devine on 21 and Marguerite Turner and Stuart Bagnall who both scored 20. The top team was the Roberts Family with 24. Maura and Phil Parsons scored 23, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe and the Broad Oak drinkers Peter, Stacey, Nicky and Les scored  22, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 21 and Team Swindle 19. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the last seven days. Give it a go and let me know your score.

A selection of today's front pages

1. Downing Street admitted Prime Minister Boris Johnson attended a party in the cabinet room at No 10 Downing Street with up to 30 people to celebrate his birthday on what date?
2. Northern Ireland minister Conor Burns defended the Prime Minister saying: ‘As far as I can see, he was in a sense, ambushed with a ___.' What is the missing word?
3. Scotland Yard told the Cabinet Office that in Sue Gray’s report there should be ' ___ reference' to lockdown breaches it is investigating as potentially criminal. What is the missing word?
4. Which comedian's spoof version of the Sue Gray report was mistaken for a 'serious leak' which reportedly left ministers 'running around panicking'?
5. Labour accused Foreign Secretary Liz Truss of spending 'disgusting amounts of public money' on her own 'vanity and comfort' by doing what?
6. What is the name of the Tory minister who quit at the despatch box in the House of Lords over the Government's ‘lamentable track record’ on Covid loans fraud?
7. Evidence published by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee appeared to contradict Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s repeated denials that he had personally intervened to help do what last August?
8. Which of these covid rules were not relaxed in England yesterday (Thursday)?
a) Wearing masks in shops b) Showing covid passes to get into nightclubs c) Compulsory covid tests for fully-vaccinated passengers arriving in the UK d) Wearing face coverings in school corridors

9. Russia issued a written list of its concerns about related security issues including a demand that Ukraine would never be allowed to become what?
10. Documents from the Duke of York's lawyers, setting out his defence against allegations made by Virgnia Giuffre, concluded with: 'Prince Andrew hereby demands a ___ ___ ___ on all causes of action asserted in the Complaint.’ What are the three missing words?
11. At least eight people were killed and 38 injured in a crush outside an Africa Cup of Nations football match between Cameroon and which other team?
12. The Office for National Statistics said that, for the first time ever, more than half of 30-year-old women in England and Wales were what?
13. Which European city declared Tuesday a holiday, with public offices closed and all private business, except for supermarkets, pharmacies and petrol stations, ordered to shut, due to a severe snowstorm?
14. Stephen Fry described him as 'a glorious, gorgeous, hilarious and gifted writer’ and BBC director general Tim Davie said: 'If you heard or saw a great sketch, there was always a good chance (he) was behind it.' Who were they talking about?
15. Thousands of people signed up in support of a driver who was arrested on suspicion of murder after he ran down a man who was stabbing his former partner to death in a street in which London district?
16. Former England boss Roy Hodgson became which football club’s third manager of the season?
17. Jonathan Chew, 24, sang 'West Ham 'til I die' and vaped in court as he was jailed for eight weeks for harassing who?
18. Rafael Nadal is one win away from what record number of Grand Slam men's titles after beating Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the Australian Open semi-finals?
19. An 84-year-old man, who was pulled over by police near Tesco in Nottingham, admitted to driving for how many years without a licence?
20. According to English Heritage which town saw its 'best ever' year for tourists in 2021 - probably due to its brief period in the political limelight?

21. The Duchess of Cambridge is reported to be taking over Prince Harry’s role as patron of which sport?
22. Who postponed a series of concerts in Dallas, Texas, after testing positive for Covid-19 a week after restarting his farewell tour?
23. Disney said it was 'taking a different approach' to which movie after actor Peter Dinklage called it a 'backward' film that reinforced stereotypes?
24. Who apologised 'unreservedly and unconditionally' to singer Taylor Swift, saying 'the last thing I would want to do is discredit your songwriting'?
25. Spotify is to remove which musician's songs after a row over 'vaccine misinformation' by podcaster Joe Rogan?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Jayme Bryla with 22, just ahead of Marguerite Turner on 21. Others on the leaderboard were Stuart Bagnall 19.5, Liz Gerard and Toby Brown 19, Gavin Devine and Robert Rea 18.5, Andrea Clark 18, Dominic Hurst 17, Tony Smith 16 and Jem Condliffe, who recorded his highest ever score, on 15.5. The team leaderboard was Simon, Sue and Will Cole 22, Maura and Phil Parsons 20, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 19.5, the Roberts family 19, Three Legs drinkers Peter and Stacey and Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the last seven days. Give it a go and let me know your score.

A selection of today's front pages

1. Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a series of policy announcements that were dubbed ‘Operation ___ ___’ aimed at keeping his backbenchers on side. What are the two missing words?
2. Christian Wakeford became the first Tory MP, since Quentin Davies in 2007, to do what?
3. Which Tory MP urged his colleagues to report Government ministers, whips and advisers to the Speaker, and even the police, for what he claimed was attempted blackmail of those opposing Prime Minister Boris Johnson?
4. How many letters need to be submitted to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to trigger a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister?
5. Veteran Tory David Davis told Prime Minister Boris Johnson: 'I will remind him of a quotation altogether too familiar to him of Leo Amery to ___ ___: You have sat there too long for all the good you have done, in the name of God, go!’ What is the missing politician’s name?
6. The plot by Tory MPs looking to oust Boris Johnson is reportedly known as the 'pork pie putsch' because one of the alleged rebels, Alicia Kearns, serves which constituency?
7. On a visit to a hospital in north London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that who had told him that the Downing Street lockdown garden party 'was something that was against the rules’?
8. The Office for National Statistics said inflation in Britain had increased by more than expected to what per cent - its highest rate in 30 years?
9. Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said the BBC licence fee of how much would be frozen until 2024 after which it will be scrapped?
10. Which country was hit by an 'unprecedented disaster’ when a volcanic eruption at sea triggered a tsunami?

11. Russell Bishop, who died in prison, was serving 36 years for the murder of two nine-year-old girls in Brighton in 1986 and was known as the ___ ___ ___ ___ killer. What are the missing four words?
12. The Duke of Sussex is seeking a judicial review against the Home Office’s refusal to allow him to do what?
13. Former protection officer Paul Page told ITV documentary, Ghislaine, Prince Andrew And The Paedophile, that the Duke of York sketched out a plan showing staff how what should be positioned every night?
14. Malik Faisal Akram, 44, who was shot dead after a stand-off with police after taking hostages at a synagogue in Texas, lived in which English town?
15. Around 30 elite British troops were sent to which country to oversee training on new anti-tank weapons provided by the UK?
16. In an attempt to tackle the backlog of crown court cases, magistrates in England and Wales will be able to hand out jail terms of how long – double the current maximum?
17. Which company announced that most customers will see bills rise by more than nine per cent from the end of March?
18. Following his deportation from Australia, Novak Djokovic was told he may not be allowed to defend which title after the country ruled that all athletes will have to be vaccinated to compete in sporting events?
19. A 40-year-old Frenchman was arrested for the manslaughter of a five-year-old British girl after she died while doing what?
20. Staff working at 30 firms across the UK are to do what over the next six months as part of an experimental pilot?
21. An investigation by a team, including an ex-FBI agent, identified Arnold van den Bergh as the person who betrayed who to save to his own family’?

22. The singer whose real name was Marvin Lee Aday, who died age 74, had the sixth best-selling album of all time. Give his stage name and the album title. Half a point for each.
23. GB News announced it would play which song every day, from last Tuesday, at 5.59am?
24. A tearful Adele posted on instagram to say 'I'm so sorry, but my show ain't ready’ and announced she was postponing 24 concerts due to be held at which famous venue?
25. Shama Amin quit what due to her crippling arthritis?

Answers here

Time to tackle the newsquiz

I have spent this week at the i newspaper looking after their trainees. They have been writing intros and stories in i style, going through the style book, developing agency articles and pitching ideas to the editorial director. We finished, as always, with the newsquiz. Well done to Layton Ryan-Parson who picked up a scratchcard for the top score. In last week’s newsquiz the top solo scorer was Janet Boyle with 22, ahead of Jayme Bryla and Andrea Clark who scored 20, Marion Fountayne and Robert Rea on 18 and Marguerite Turner and Gavin Devine 16. The top team were the Plough drinkers (Peter, Stacey, Bryan and Heather) who scored a whopping 24. They were ahead of Liz Gerard’s team on 22 and Maura and Phil Parsons on 21. The Smiths, Bruce and Sarah Hayward and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe all scored 19. 

Today's front pages

1. At Prime Minister’s Question Time Boris Johnson apologised for a 'bring your own booze' party held in the 10 Downing Street garden during lockdown last year but told MPs he 'believed implicitly’ it was what?
2. What date in May 2020 was the Bring Your Own Booze garden party at 10 Downing Street?
3. At Prime Minister’s Question Time, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said of Boris Johnson: 'There we have it. After months of deceit and deception, the ___ ___ of a man who has run out of road’. What are the two missing words?
4. What is the name of the principal private secretary who sent an email to Downing Street staff saying 'it would be nice to make the most of the lovely weather and have some socially distanced drinks in the 10 garden this evening. Please join us from 6pm and bring your own booze’?
5. What reason did Prime Minister Boris Johnson give for cancelling a trip to a Lancashire vaccination centre yesterday (Thursday) the day after he admitted attending a boozy No10 gathering during the first Covid lockdown?
6. Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg labelled which senior Conservative a 'lightweight figure’ after he had called on Boris Johnson to quit over the Number 10 party row?
7. Boris Johnson's former press chief James Slack, who 'apologised unreservedly' for holding a leaving do in Downing Street hours before the Queen sat alone at Prince Philip's funeral, is now deputy editor of which publication?
8. Buckingham Palace announced the Queen's decision to cast Prince Andrew out of the royal fold in a statement which said: 'With The Queen's approval and agreement, The Duke of York's military affiliations and Royal ___ have been returned to The Queen.’ What is the missing word?
9. Prince Andrew became the fifth royal in 26 years to either lose or drop the HRH title. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan lost the title in 2020 but who were the two others? Half a point for each.
10. Why was lawyer Christine Lee in the headlines?
11. Tennis player Novak Djokovic told Australian authorities he had not travelled in the 14 days before his arrival despite social media posts showing he had been in which country?
12. Who announced he was leaving 'the most challenging’ time of his professional career and returning to the University of Nottingham?
13. Jack Dromey, the MP for Birmingham Erdington since 2010, who died at the age of 73 was married to which politician?
14. At least 19 people, including nine children, died after a fire in an apartment building in which city?
15. Sidney Poitier, who died aged 94, was the first black actor to win an Oscar for which 1964 film?
16. The High Court ruled that the Government's use of a 'VIP lane' to do what was unlawful?
17. Why did OVO Energy advise customers to cuddle a pet and eat porridge?
18. Who was admitted to hospital after tweeting that she was lost and hated herself following the death of her son?

19. Handyman David Bennett, 57, from Baltimore, became the first person in the world to receive what?
20. Waitrose will start selling Sunions next week, which are being billed as ‘gamechangers’ that have taken more than 30 years to perfect. What is the special quality of Sunions? 
21. Marks & Spencer renamed which sweets after a disability campaigner claimed they could offend those with dwarfism?
22. Personal trainer Fitzroy Gaynes, 64, sued the London health club Third Space, where he worked, for age discrimination - because they refused to do what?
23. Ronnie Spector, who died aged 78, was the lead singer of which 1960s girl group who had hits with Be My Baby, Baby I Love You and Walking in the Rain?
24. Britain's longest married couple, Ron and Joyce Bond, aged 102 and 100, from Milton Keynes celebrated what wedding anniversary?
25. Danny Dyer announced he was leaving his role as Queen Vic landlord in BBC soap opera EastEnders. What is his character’s name?

Answers here

Mail looking for trainee reporters and subs

Last year's Mail trainees

In September and October I trained 17 young journalists who were beginning their career at the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and London’s Evening Standard. They included reporters, news subs and three were on a Stephen Lawrence scholarship. We were fortunate that we were able to do the training in the Kensington offices, rather than online. Most of the trainees then went on a five-month placement, working for the Mail in Dublin, the Evening Standard, Metro and the i newspaper. Others went straight to the newsroom. There has been impressive work and plenty of bylines. Now the Mail is recruiting for next year’s scheme. It is looking for reporters, a digital fashion journalist, news subs and sports subs. If you are committed to becoming a journalist and want to work for Britain's most successful newspaper group, you can apply for the sub's scheme here and the reporter's scheme here. Good luck.

Have a crack at the newsquiz

There were clearly some bleary eyes doing last week’s newsquiz at New Year as the scores were well below average. The top solo scorers were Toby Brown and Tony Smith with 19, ahead of Gavin Devine and Robert Rea on 17 and Marguerite Turner on 16. The top teams were Bruce and Sarah Hayward with 20. Maura and Phil Parsons scored 19, Team Swindle 18 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 17. Here is this week’s newsquiz, the first of 2022. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know your score.

A selection of today's front pages

1. At a Press conference, Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the 'fantastic' effort to get Britain boosted and added: 'Together with the Plan B measures that we introduced before Christmas, we have a chance to ___ out this Omicron wave without shutting down our country once again.’ What is the missing word?
2. In an interview with Le Parisien, French president Emmanuel Macron caused a stir by using a vulgar term, saying he wanted to 'emmerder les non-vaccinés’. What does emmerder mean?
3. Former Labour defence secretary Geoff Hoon claimed he was told by Downing Street in 2003 to burn a memo from the Attorney General that cast doubt on what?
4. Who told Boris Johnson: 'I've heard on the grapevine there might be a vacancy for Prime Minister soon, so maybe I should show aspiration’?
5. Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer wrote to the trial judge, after the guilty verdicts, to say that what revelation meant there were 'incontrovertible grounds' for a new trial?
6. Prince Andrew was reported to be trying to sell what for £17million to help foot the bill for his spiralling legal costs?
7. What did Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić describe as 'harassment’ which needed to be 'brought to an end immediately'?
8. More than 900,000 people signed a petition this week calling for what not to happen?
9. Sage Willoughby, Rhian Graham, Milo Ponsford and Jake Skuse were cleared of what?
10. Which company became the first ever to hit a stock market valuation of $3trillion (£2.2trillion)?
11. Alan Gosling, a 79-year-old grandfather living in Devon, was revealed as the UK’s first what?
12. What did Pope Francis say was 'a denial of fatherhood and motherhood and diminishes us, takes away our humanity’?
13. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab announced that, as part of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, taking photos of women doing what in public without consent would be made a crime in England and Wales?
14. The Mail On Sunday is to pay the Duchess of Sussex how much in damages after losing its appeal in a privacy row over a letter sent to her father?
15. A 49-year-old man appeared in court on charges, including arson, after a fire totally destroyed the lower chamber of which country’s parliament building?
16. Tobias Weller, 11, became the youngest person ever to receive what?
17. The winner of eight Emmys, including the Lifetime Achievement Daytime award, and three American Comedy Awards, died age 99. Who is she?
18. The president of which country ordered security forces to 'fire without warning' after he claimed '20,000 bandits' were involved in anti-government protests?19. Army officer Preet Chandi, 32, became the first woman of colour to do what?

20. Which classic smartphone was turned off this week after 22 years?
21. A judge in California dismissed a lawsuit by Spencer Elden, 30, who alleged sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse against who?
22. Up-and-coming artist Rhed, who has showed his work in London galleries since 2018, was revealed to be the son of who? Half a point for each name.
23. Actress Maureen Lipman questioned the credentials of Helen Mirren to play which figure in a forthcoming film?
24. What is the nickname of Peter Wright who won the darts world championship for the second time in three years?
25. Heather Small, the first celebrity to be voted off ITV’s The Masked Singer, was dressed as what?

Answers here

The New Year's Eve newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Janet Boyle with 20, followed by Marion Fountayne on 19, Robert Rea 18, Toby Brown 17, and Marguerite Turner 16. The top team was a big gang in the Three Legs brewery on Christmas Eve night. Peter, Stacey, Heather, Bryan, Jim, Julie and Ian scored a maximum of 25. Well done to them. Other good team scores were Maura and Phil Parsons, the Penman and Allen families and Simon, Sue and Will Cole who all scored 19, followed by Bruce and Sarah Hayward on 18 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 16. Here is this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the last seven days. Give it a go and let me know your score. Thanks for taking part in the quiz each Friday and let's hope the 2022 news headlines are no longer dominated by Covid. Happy New Year.

A selection of today's front pages

1. After 40 hours of deliberation the jury in Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial found her guilty of how many of the six charges she faced?

2. Following the verdict in the Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking trial, Virginia Giuffre’s lawyers requested from Prince Andrew 'all documents concerning your alleged medical condition of anhidrosis, hypohidrosis, or your inability to ___’. What is the missing word?

3. On a visit to a vaccine centre, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that around what per cent of people in intensive care with Covid were not boosted?
4. John Swinney, Scotland’s deputy first minister, discouraged people from doing what adding that it would be the 'wrong course of action' and went against the spirit of Scottish policy?
5. Anti-vax activists marched through a Covid testing site in which town tearing down signs, throwing traffic cones and allegedly taking medical supplies?

6. The NHS announced that how many Coronavirus 'surge hubs’, temporary Nightingale units housing about 100 patients, were to be set up at hospitals across England in preparation for a wave of Omicron admissions?

7. Train operator Southern cancelled trains to and from which London station for two weeks, until January 10, as a result of pandemic-related staff shortages?

8. In her Christmas Day speech, the Queen paid tribute to her late husband Prince Philip, saying: 'That mischievous, enquiring ___ was as bright at the end as when I first set eyes on him.’ What is the missing word?.

9. A 19-year-old man from Southampton was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after being found in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Christmas Day with what weapon?
10. Desmond Tutu, who died aged 90, was credited with coining which two-word phrase to describe the non-racial South Africa that he and Nelson Mandela wanted to rise from the ashes of apartheid?
11. A Government campaign warned that teenagers whose parents smoked were how many times more likely to take up the habit than those from non-smoking households?

12. Policeman Ryan Connolly, who photographed himself at a murder scene and took pictures of vulnerable people while on duty, was dismissed by which force?
13. The first woman to have her own weekday show on BBC Radio 1 and the first to become a regular presenter of Top of the Pops died this week. What was her name?

14. According to think-tank the Resolution Foundation, UK households will face increased costs of how much in 2022 as static wages and rising tax and energy bills will cause a 'cost of living catastrophe’?
15. What was the name of England’s former cricket captain, who led his side to victory in Australia in 1971 and then retained the Ashes at home in 1972, who died on Christmas Day?

16. What is the name of the pro-democracy news website in Hong Kong that announced it was to shut after police raided its offices, froze its assets and arrested senior journalists and board members?

17. Which bank mistakenly deposited £130million into 75,000 accounts on Christmas day?

18. Actress, model and activist April Ashley, who died aged 86, was awarded an MBE in 2012 for her campaigning work for which community?

19. The fatal stabbing of a 16-year-old boy in Hillingdon took teenage homicides in London in 2021 to what record number, surpassing the previous peak in 2008?
20. England surrendered the Ashes after being bowled out in their second innings of the third test for how many runs, their lowest total in Australia since 1904?
21. Amazon apologised after Alexa challenged a ten-year-old girl in America to do what?
22. Papers released from the National Archives showed that the Dean of Westminster personally appealed to Buckingham Palace to ensure which song was sang at Princess Diana’s funeral in 1997?
23. What is the name of the $10billion telescope that was sent into space 'to the birth of the Universe’ from French Guiana on Christmas day?
24. What animal named Stripe was captured and put down after attacking and injuring 18 people in Flintshire, Wales?
25. Which movie took the title of highest-grossing film of 2021, making more than $1billion (£750million) at the global box office?

Answers here

The Christmas week newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Liz Gerard with 20, narrowly ahead of Marguerite Turner on 19.5, Robert Rea 19, Gavin Devine 18.5, Stuart Bagnall 17 and Toby Brown 16. The top teams were Maura and Phil Parsons and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 21 with Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe on 20. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual, there are 25 questions about the week. If you find the time between the mince pies and mulled wine, give it a go and let me know your score. Hope you all have a good Christmas and manage to dodge the virus.

A selection of yesterday's front pages

1. Daily Covid-19 cases in the UK exceeded what milestone figure on Wednesday, for the first time since the pandemic began?
2. Health Secretary Sajid Javid announced that people infected with Covid in England could stop self-isolating after how many days by providing negative lateral flow results on the last two days?

3. Research by which college suggested people with Omicron are 15-20 per cent less likely to need hospital treatment compared with Delta?

4. Sue Gray took over from Simon Case in what role?

5. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, when asked if what was a moral issue, said 'I'm going to step out on thin ice here and say yes, I think it is’?

6. Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted a leaked photograph of him, his wife Carrie and staff eating cheese and drinking wine in the Number 10 garden showed 'people at ___ talking about ___'. What is the missing word?

7. Who resigned from the Government saying, in a letter to Boris Johnson, that he hoped the Prime Minister would 'not be tempted by coercive measures' to tackle Covid?

8. Who was kicked out of a Conservative WhatsApp group after urging MPs to show Prime Minister Boris Johnson 'a bit of loyalty’ and calling him a hero?

9. Which member of the Royal Family tested positive for coronavirus, meaning he and his wife will not now be spending Christmas with the Queen at Windsor Castle?

10. Ali Harbi Ali, 25, appeared before the Old Bailey to plead not guilty to whose murder?
11. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was ordered to pay around £550million to his former wife and their two children, is the prime minister of which country?

12. Former soldier Carl Davies, 44, was jailed for two years and eight months at Mold Crown Court after admitting sending death threats to which television presenter? 

13. Two babies were found safe in an upturned what that had been ripped from their home by a tornado in Kentucky?

14. The jury in the New York sex trafficking trial were sent home for Christmas, meaning Ghislaine Maxwell will spend her birthday on December 25 in prison. How old will she be tomorrow (Saturday)?

15. Four women accused actor Chris Noth, who played John James 'Mr Big’ Preston in which TV series, of sexual abuse?

16. Carlos Marín, who died at 53, was a singer for the last 17 years with which band?
17. Who is to take legal action against a website over claims she was born male with the name Jean-Michel Trogneux?

18. What was the name of the character Sally Ann Howes, who died aged 91, played in the children's classic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang?

19. US Open champion Emma Raducanu was named the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year but who won the Lifetime Achievement award?

20. According to reports in India, monkeys, enraged by the killing of a fellow primate, killed 250 what in the state of Maharashtra by throwing them from trees?

21. In the Ashes at Adelaide, Stuart Broad became the tenth cricketer in Test history to win how many caps?

22. Spectators watching the 2022 World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London chanted ‘stand up if you hate' who?

23. Which TV programme filmed its last episode, bringing an end to more than 1,000 episodes over 23 years?

24. Which veteran TV journalist bowed out by walking through the newsroom followed by credits describing him as a Voice, Mentor, Leader, Inspiration, Driving Force, Moral Compass and Friend?

25. Almost 70 years after his first appearance in the Beano, Bash Street Kid James Scott Cameron had his nickname changed to Scotty over concerns his previous name could be offensive. What was it?

Answers here

Northern hacks reunite

A reunion mock front page

I spent a weekend this month chasing, and finding, ghosts in Darlington. Pam and I joined around 60 former colleagues who had worked for North of England Newspapers before 1986. The papers, based in Priestgate, were The Northern Echo, the Evening Despatch (which closed in 1986), the Darlington and Stockton Times and the Durham Advertiser series. The reunion was the brainchild of Mike Amos, Ross Forbes and Neil McKay who planned it all, unsurprisingly, on nights at the pub. At times, with Omicron causing last-minute wobbles, it all looked precarious. But in the end there was a great turnout at Darlington Cricket Club for drinks, food, stand-up bingo, a digital display of old photos put together by Ross and an auction of newsroom memorabilia that raised £1,050 for the Journalists’ Charity. I started at Priestgate in 1979 as a 23-year-old sub on the Echo, spent three years as chief sub of the Despatch and returned to the Echo as night editor, deputy editor and finally, from 1989 to 1993, editor. I met Pam in my second year and left as a 38-year-old married father-of-three. So, Darlington played a huge part in my life and shaped many of the things I have done since. In my 14 years there I made many lifelong friends and it was lovely to catch up with some of them on Friday. We were so reluctant to say goodbye that ten of us ended up in an Indian restaurant till 2am! 

Those who made it (and almost made it) were:

Mike Amos MBE: Reporter, John North, news-editor and columnist. Chairman of Northern Football League 1996-2016 and author of three books.
Mel Attrill: Photographer. Served under ten Echo editors, ending in 1999 when he retired after 42 years.

Heather Barron: Trained as a journalist at Darlington College, where she met Peter Barron. Editor of Yorkshire Living magazine and works in the family business.

Peter Barron MBE: Reporter, news-editor, deputy editor of the Echo, then editor of the Hartlepool Mail in 1997. Returned to Echo in 1999, becoming the longest-serving editor. Runs Peter Barron Media.
Stephen Brenkley: D&S Times Barnard Castle reporter. Returned as John North. Cricket correspondent of the Independent on Sunday/Independent. Retired. Author of The Life and Times of Barnard Castle Cricket Club.

Mike Bridgen: Reporter at Despatch, Echo and D&S Times. D&S news-editor and farming editor.

Mike Brough: Graphic artist and designer on the Echo who runs his own design company and has redesigned newspapers all over the world.

Andy Brown: Reporter and sub at Advertiser. Reporter and chief sub on the Despatch, sub and chief sub at the Echo and sub, chief sub and deputy editor of the D&S Times. Helps news-edit Talking Newspaper.
Derek Butler: Wire room technician, church ministry and garage business. Married Dorothy Bainbridge.
Dorothy Bainbridge/Dot Butler: Reporter D&S Times and Despatch. Women’s editor Sunderland Echo. Dot Butler Consultancy. Director ROC, group delivering Ofsted and services to children, and ROC Solid housing charity.
Ruth Campbell: Reporter on Despatch and Echo features and supplements. Freelance for Living magazine and Mum at Large column. Moved into marketing.
Jane Chilton: Advertiser and D&S reporter. Journal, BBC Radio Humberside, presenter BBC Look North, GMTV and Sky News Scotland correspondent. Scottish Water digital content creator.
Brian Clough: Echo photographer. Presenter/producer of Smooth Radio show. Director of internet site serving North-East with news, stories and pix. Presents and produces a country music radio show streamed to 19 different stations.
Mike Cowling: Echo photographer for 11 years. Chief photographer Swindon Evening Advertiser. Chief photographer/picture-editor Yorkshire Evening Post and Yorkshire Post. Retired but writes cycling column for the YP.
Ross Forbes: Despatch and Echo reporter. Career in PR and corporate management. Now working to restore and renew the Miners’ Hall in Durham and organising the annual Gala.
Lynda Fothergill: Reporter at D&S Times in Thirsk and with Ackrill group in Northallerton and Ripon offices. Headed communications for four Tyne and Wear authorities before starting communications consultancy.
Mike Gibb: Echo photographer from 1972 and chief photographer from 1985-2006. Freelance.
Alan Gilliland: Despatch photographer and Echo graphic artist. Graphics editor of The Daily Telegraph. Writes and illustrates fiction.
Janet Gleeson: Echo Northallerton reporter then Tyne Tees Television.
Anne Graham: Advertiser reporter. Echo Newcastle office. National newspapers and television. Freelanced in corporate communications and PR. Launch editor of Archant’s North East Life magazine. Published two books.
Sharon Griffiths: Echo Northallerton reporter. Freelance with columns in Echo, Eastern Daily Press and other papers, including one in Dubai. Published three novels.
Steve Hobman: Echo reporter, chief reporter, deputy news editor. News editor with Birmingham Daily News. PR for national organisations. PR to independent breweries and runs a beer tourism business.
Christine Holt: Features writer at the Echo. Worked in international development. Taught yoga classes. Works for charity supporting yoga in prisons.
David Kelly: Echo features editor, assistant, deputy and managing editor. North of England Newspapers MD.
June Kelly: Reporter on D&S and Evening Gazette. Owns Juicy Marketing and Design.
Clive Kerfoot: Echo Hartlepool and Stockton reporter. News-editor and programme editor at Tyne Tees Television. News-editor and head of planning at Sky News.
Peta King: Echo reporter in Darlington and later a sub.
John Knighton: Echo sub. Chief sub of Edinburgh Evening News, assistant editor of Sunderland Echo and editor of Hartlepool Mail, production editor at The Journal. Editorial consultant for Trinity Mirror. Is now a stall-holder selling cheeses at markets.
Andy Lamb: Long-serving photographer, deputy chief photographer.
Phil Lambell: Echo sub, splash sub, chief sub, production editor. Chief desk editor for the Journal and Chronicle. Freelance, D&S, Bradford T&A.
Sue Leitch (Kell): Advertiser reporter in Durham office and then Despatch. Echo, Advertiser and D&S sub. House renovator. 
Chris Lloyd: Echo reporter, deputy editor and author of books about North-East. Now chief feature writer.
Gerry Loughran: Reporter in Echo Hartlepool office. Echo sub. Chronicle in Newcastle. Bureau chief in Beirut, Paris and Moscow, then foreign editor in New York for UPI. Worked in Africa on papers owned by Aga Khan.
Graham Marples: Echo deputy and chief reporter. Middlesbrough Gazette news-editor. Tyne Tees news-editor, managing editor and head of news. Launched occupational health company.
Kathy Marshall (Cook): Despatch reporter for 13 years, then Echo and Advertiser. Gazette Media reporter at the Herald and Post. Cover supervisor at college until retirement.
Tony Marshall: Art department of the Echo. Set up design and print company Marford Litho. Lecturer on design management and copyright. Supplies vehicles for television series. Editor of Wheel and Track magazine. Charity volunteer.
Neil McKay: D&S Times and Echo reporter in Peterlee. Sunday Sun chief reporter. News-editor of Shields Gazette. Edit UK news agency and Journal chief reporter. Charity driver, exam invigilator, writes for community newsletter.
Mike Morrissey: Echo reporter. Deputy news editor and industrial editor at Middlesbrough Gazette. Saltburn correspondent for the D&S Times. Freelance for Catholic press.
Dave Nicholson: Echo reporter in Middlesbrough and Bishop Auckland. Echo sub. Twenty years in Fleet Street and editor of Evening Press in York. Freelance copy editor and compiler of puzzles. Founded hyperlocal site YorkMix.com.
Brian Page: Echo chief reporter, deputy features editor, sports editor, assistant editor and deputy editor. Daily Post in Liverpool. Two spells as editor of Irish Post. Editor of Mensa Magazine.
Caroline Parnell (nee Finkill): D&S Times journalist. PR with Easington council and NHS. Set up Sentry PR Ltd, supporting public sector organisations in crisis. Director of comms and corporate affairs at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.
Bill Perfitt: Echo Redcar reporter. Lancashire Evening Gazette/Fleetwood Chronicle. Editor of ICI in-house newspaper. Enron Teesside public affairs manager. Huntsman UK and European director of public affairs. SABIC UK director of public affairs. Volunteer at Guisborough Town FC.
Allan Prosser: Echo editor and later MD. Editorial director Kent Messenger. Editor of Farmers Guardian. Sixteen years with the Cork-based Irish Examiner, retiring as editor in 2020.
Colin Randall: Despatch Bishop Auckland reporter. Echo reporter in Stanley, Darlington and Bishop. Chief reporter Harrow Observer, Press Association reporter. Daily Telegraph chief reporter, executive news editor, French correspondent. Executive editor at The National in Abu Dhabi.
Yvonne Ridley: Echo reporter, assistant news-editor. Editor of Wales on Sunday. Chief reporter of Sunday Express. TV launches at Al Jazeera in Qatar, Islam Channel in London and Press TV in Iran. Film and documentary maker. Runs peafowl sanctuary. Honorary doctorate in journalism. Author.
Sian Roberts: Echo reporter in Chester-le-Street and Richmond.
Pam Sands: Priestgate sales department, looking after promotions for the papers. Company secretary at Editorial Centre and Sands Media Services. Volunteer at Covid vaccination centre in Rye.
Peter Sands: Echo sub, night-editor, deputy editor and editor. Chief-sub Despatch. Westminster Press development editor. Founded the Editorial Centre and then Sands Media Services. Training director at Press Association and editorial director at Northcliffe. Consultant at DMGT.
Martin Shipton: Echo reporter, deputy chief reporter and investigative reporter. NUJ FoC. Wales on Sunday, chief reporter and political editor at large of the Western Mail. Written three books.
Tim Sinclair: Despatch reporter then Echo sub. Bradford T&A sub. Night editor/chief sub for paper in Papua New Guinea. Returned to Echo subs.
Jon Smith: Echo features editor and chief sub. Assistant editor Sunday Today and deputy chief sub The Times. Lecturer at Darlington College. Newsquest and NTCJ lifetime achievement awards. Produced several books. Thirty-four years as parish chairman.
Colin Tapping: Durham Advertiser reporter and Echo’s Sunderland reporter. Deputy business editor, business editor, assistant editor and deputy editor. Editor Hexham Courant.
Sally Taylor: Advertiser, Despatch and Echo reporter and sub on and off from 1974 to 2008, interspersed with living abroad and raising a family. Retired on Christmas Eve 2008 and hasn’t done a day’s work since.
Steve Verrill: Echo reporter in Whitby. Yorkshire Post chief reporter for North Yorkshire. Head of Press and PR at North Yorkshire County Council. Director of Public Relations Company. Set up Verrill Public Relations.
Malcolm Warne: Echo York reporter, news-editor and assistant editor, Editor D&S Times. Constituency communications officer for Richmond MP.
Tony Watson: Despatch reporter and news-editor. Reporter for Granada’s World in Action. Yorkshire Post deputy editor and editor. Editor-in-chief and MD at the Press Association.
Maggie Weir: Echo sub and widow of Ian Weir, much missed former deputy chief photographer.
Red Williams: Despatch chief reporter, Bishop Auckland. Ipswich Press Agency, Daily Mail, Evening Standard, News of the World, Coventry Telegraph, Leicester Mercury, UK News, Southend Echo, Quicksilver Media, Archant and Stamford Mercury. Edits Harborough Mail.
Jennifer Wilson: Despatch reporter. News, features and women’s affairs at The Journal. Worked at dog groomer’s, retail, as admin officer with the Inland Revenue and IT tutor Newcastle College.
Malcolm Wright: Echo York reporter and chief reporter in Darlington. Guardian correspondent. Lecturer at Darlington College. More than 100 documentaries and dramadocs for Tyne Tees Television as controller of features. Exec producer of programmes for ITV, C4 and Discovery. Launched SignPost. Retired from ITV as an MD after 29 years.
Ted Young: Echo Darlington and Newton Aycliffe reporter and sub. Sub at Today and Daily Mail. Night editor/assistant editor The Sun, executive editor Daily Express, editor London Life, editor MailOnline, editor New York Daily News Online. Now editor of Metro.