Friday, 26 November 2021

Time to tackle the newsquiz ...

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Jayme Bryla with 23, ahead of Marguerite Turner 21.5, Liz Gerard 20, Gavin Devine 19 and Stuart Bagnall 17. The top team score was 22.5 which was scored by Simon, Sue and Will Cole, Phil and Maura Parsons and the Roberts Family. Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe scored 21.5, Three Legs drinkers Bryan, Heather, Peter, Thom and Rosie 20 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward 17.5. Here is this week’s newsquiz. 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 page

1. Prime Minister Boris Johnson lost his thread and muttered the words ‘forgive me’ three times during a speech to which organisation?
2. Where did Prime Minister Boris Johnson say was 'very much my kind of place’ with its 'very safe streets, discipline in schools, heavy emphasis on new mass-transit systems’?
3. A newly-identified coronavirus variant led the Government to put travel restrictions, including suspending flights until a hotel quarantine system is in operation, on six countries. They are South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini and which other?
4. How many people were confirmed drowned in the deadliest Channel crossing on record on Wednesday?
5. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin reacted to a letter from Boris Johnson on the Channel crossing crisis by saying: 'We consider the British prime minister's public letter unacceptable and counter to our discussions between partners. As a result ___ ___is no longer invited.’ What is the missing name?
6. Cody Ackland, 24, appeared at which magistrates court charged with the murder of 18-year-old Bobbi-Anne McLeod who disappeared while on her way to meet her boyfriend?
7. What name has been given to new legislation which will mean that anyone who kills an on-duty police officer, firefighter, paramedic, prison officer or medic will receive a mandatory life sentence?
8. Which Government department announced it will relocate 9,000 staff to a new office complex in Newcastle, owned by billionaire property tycoons David and Simon Reuben?
9. Three people were seriously injured when police fired shots during a demonstration against Covid-19 restrictions in which European city?
10. The Met Office issued an amber wind warning for parts of north-east England and Scotland from this afternoon (Friday), as the result of a storm called what?
11. A couple were stabbed to death as their two children were asleep upstairs in their home in a village in which county?
12. Which MP tweeted 'mothers in the mother of all parliaments are not to be seen or heard it seems’ after being told she could not bring her baby into the Commons?
13. Six people, including two children, were killed when a car crashed into a Christmas parade in which American state?
14. The Royal family appeared to have fallen out with the BBC after Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House said which documentary, broadcast on Monday, had made 'overblown and unfounded claims’?
15. Who called for mourners to be strengthened to 'combat evil with good' and 'build a society of ever greater justice’ in a message read out at the funeral of MP Sir David Amess?
16. Footballer John Fleck was stretchered off and taken to hospital after receiving lengthy treatment on the pitch when he collapsed while playing for which team?
17. Rudy Guede was freed early from jail, having served 13 years of a 16-year sentence for the murder of who?
18. Which country declared three-days of national mourning after 46 people, including 12 children, were killed in a bus crash in Bulgaria?
19. Manchester United parted ways with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær after his side’s 4-1 defeat to which team?
20. A farmer’s son in Rutland discovered a Roman villa beneath a field that contained a mosaic depicting scenes from which epic poem?
21. The Brit Awards announced it will scrap which categories from next year?
22. Who branded Instagram's nudity policies as sexist and compared the social stigma around the female nipple to that of the 'lies' told about the Pilgrims' 'peaceful' treatment of Native Americans at Thanksgiving?
23. TV presenter Richard Madeley left I’m A Celebrity after a hospital visit and issued a statement saying: 'By leaving the camp, I had consequently broken the ___ ___ and as such I’ve had to leave the castle and all the wonderful celebs that remain in the camp.’ What are the two missing words?
24. Giuseppe Dell’Anno won this year’s Great British Bake Off after a final round in which contestants had to make food for what event?
25. Adele burst into tears and briefly left the stage after being introduced to who during her An Audience With concert?

Answers here

Friday, 19 November 2021

Time to tackle the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Stuart Bagnall with 21, ahead of Janet Boyle on 20, Marguerite Turner 19, Toby Brown 18 and Gavin Devine 16. The top team was the Roberts Family on 22. The Three Legs Drinkers Heather, Bryan and Peter scored 20, Maura and Phil Parsons 19.5, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 19 and Simon, Sue and Will Cole 18. Here is this week’s quiz. 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 Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called Boris Johnson ‘a ___ not a leader’ as they clashed over 'Tory sleaze’. What is the missing word?
2. At Prime Minister’s Questions, Boris Johnson was repeatedly told by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, that he was not allowed to do what?
3. COP26 President Alok Sharma said he was 'deeply sorry’ for a last-minute one word change to the agreement on coal. What was the original word and what was it changed to? Half a point for each.
4. Transport secretary Grant Shapps told the Commons that the high-speed rail network will no longer run from Birmingham to which city?
5. Azeem Rafiq told the digital, culture, media and sport select committee that: 'I got pinned down at my local cricket club and had ___ ___ poured down my throat, literally down my throat’. What are the two missing words?
6. Who issued a denial of the racism allegation levelled at him by former Yorkshire teammate Azeem Rafiq by insisting it 'simply never happened’?
7. What is the name of the taxi driver who survived when a homemade bomb exploded inside his cab after he pulled up outside Liverpool Women's Hospital?
8. After the Liverpool taxi bomb, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced the terror threat level would be raised from substantial to what, meaning another attack was 'highly likely’?
9. Which Conservative MP accused the Prime Minister’s father Stanley Johnson of inappropriate touching at the party conference in Blackpool in 2003?
10. Which company said it would not accept UK registered Visa credit cards from next year due to the high fees charged on transactions?
11. Nine Insulate Britain activists were jailed at the High Court for blocking the M25 despite an injunction but why was one of them, Ben Taylor, give a longer sentence than the others?
12. A £100m stealth jet F-35 crashed into the Mediterranean after taking off from which aircraft carrier?
13. Which country responded to record Covid case numbers, and one of the lowest vaccination levels in Western Europe, by announcing it would go back into full lockdown from Monday?
14. Which Premier League footballer was charged with two more rapes - on top of the four counts he is already facing?
15. Libyan man Saleh Ibrahim Mabrouk was found jointly liable at the High Court for the fatal shooting of who 37 years ago?
16. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced that 100 British troops would be sent to build a border wall between which two countries? Half a point for each.
17. QAnon Shaman, whose real name is Jacob Chansley, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his role in what?
18. A 25-page document published by Scotland Yard detailed 
in an ABC guide how police officers should use what?
19. In England’s 10-0 World Cup qualifier victory over San Marino, which of these players did not score? a) Harry Maguire b) Phil Foden c) Tyrone Mings d) Tammy Abraham
20. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that, from next year, drivers will face £200 fines and six points on their licence if they do what?
21. A gang of jewellery thieves from which country were jailed for a total of 28 years for high-end burglaries on the London homes of Tamara Ecclestone, Frank Lampard and the late Leicester City chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha?
22. The Duchess of Sussex took part in her first TV interview since her famous chat with Oprah Winfrey. Who was the host this time?
23. The names of which two famous people were removed from houses at Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School in Richmond, and replaced by footballer Marcus Rashford and nurse Mary Seacole, in a bid to be 'more diverse’? Half a point for each.
24. Actress, singer and songwriter Cynthia Erivo will replace who on television this weekend after he tested positive for Covid-19?
25. Who raised more than £1million by completing a 24-hour kitchen disco ‘danceathon’ for Children In Need?

Answers here




Friday, 12 November 2021

Time to tackle the newsquiz

There were some cracking scores in last week's newsquiz. The top solo scorer was Rob Lawrence with a personal best of 24. Stuart Bagnall scored 22, Liz Gerard and Damon Wake 21, Andrew Burdett, Gavin Devine, Nick Turner and Yvonne Ridley 20, Cormac Connelly-Smith 19, Toby Brown 18, Robert Rea 17 and Jayme Bryla 16.
The top team was Simon, Sue and Will Cole with a huge 24.5, Phil and Maura Parsons scored 22, Neil and Jo Benson 20, Bruce and Sarah Hayward 19 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 18. Here is this week's newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week's events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.   

A selection of today's front pages

1. When asked about 'Tory sleaze’ at COP26, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said: 'I genuinely believe that the UK is not remotely a ___ country and I genuinely think that our institutions are not___.' What is the missing word?
2. Former US President Barack Obama caused an online stir after he appeared to get his geography mixed up at COP26 when he said that he was where, before quoting Shakespeare?
3. Who said of the Owen Paterson case: 'I think the way the government handled that was shameful, wrong and unworthy of this or indeed any government. It also had the effect of trashing the reputation of parliament’?
4. Former Attorney General Geoffrey Cox was criticised for being paid £150,000 for working for a month where during lockdown?
5. Health Secretary Sajid Javid confirmed that health service workers in England will have to be fully vaccinated by what month next year or risk being sacked?
6. Who said he was 'devastated' and would work to 'heal and support' families after nine people died during his performance at the Astroworld music festival in Houston, Texas?
7. Why was George Linnane, 38, from Bristol in this week’s headlines?
8. John Eaddie was revealed to be Patient Zero, the first man in the UK to have died from what?
9. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace accused three opposition MPs of disrespecting the armed forces by getting drunk on a trip to visit soldiers where?
10. Who said that a meeting with a Foreign Office minister James Cleverly left him feeling 'deflated' and 'stuck in the same status quo'?
11. David Henderson, 67, who organised the flight that crashed and killed footballer Emiliano Sala, was sentenced to how long in prison?
 
12. FW De Klerk, the former president of South Africa who died this week aged 85, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for helping to negotiate an end to apartheid. Who did he share the award with?
13. Which country deployed 15,000 troops after thousands of refugees from the Middle East and North Africa gathered at its border?
14. A woman was arrested after a ten-year-old boy was killed by a dog in a house in which town?
15. Which broadcaster, who died aged 91, covered four World Cups for ITV between 1970 and 1982, worked on the Olympics for the BBC and commentated on games for Match Of The Day?
16. Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said students at the University of Oxford were owed an explanation after it accepted a donation from which family?
17. Why was teacher Sarah Moulds removed from her team manager role at the Pony Club?
18. Which country beat England by five wickets in the semi-final of the T20 cricket World Cup?
19. The Court of Appeal heard that the Duchess of Sussex considered calling her father what in a letter, which is at the centre of a legal battle with the Mail on Sunday, because it might 'pull at the heartstrings' if leaked?
20. Who said he warned Twitter’s boss Jack Dorsey about the platform allowing a 'coup to be staged' the day before the Capitol riots?
21. Footballer Aminata Diallo was released without charge by police investigating an attack on her team-mate Kheira Hamraoui. Which team do they play for?
22. Premier League football teams Aston Villa and Newcastle United both appointed new managers this week. Name them. Half a point for each.
23. Who was granted permission to marry his partner Stella Moris in Belmarsh prison?
24. More than 150,000 people signed a petition attempting to block James Corden from starring in the film adaptation of what musical?
25. Aldi's Christmas advert, released this week, features Marcus Rashford voicing which vegetable?

Answers here



Friday, 5 November 2021

Test your knowledge with the newsquiz

The top solo scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Marguerite Turner with 20, just ahead of Janet Boyle, Stuart Bagnall and Robert Rea on 19 and Jayme Bryla with 17. The top team was Maura and Phil Parsons on 21, followed by The Three Legs Drinkers with 20, Simon, Sue and Will Cole 19, Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 18.5 and the Roberts Family and Bruce and Sarah Hayward who scored 16. Here is this week’s quiz. 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. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the opening ceremony at COP26, said it was what time on the Doomsday Clock?
2. Before COP26 began, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that humanity was losing by what score at half-time in the fight against climate change?
3. In a video address to COP26, the Queen said: 'It has sometimes been observed that what leaders do for their people today is government and politics. But what they do for the people of tomorrow, that is ___.' What is the missing word?
4. At COP26 the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologised for comparing politicians who failed to act on climate change to those who had 'ignored' what?
5. Who asked at the opening ceremony at COP26: 'Is this how our story is due to end? A tale of the smartest species doomed by that all too human characteristic of failing to see the bigger picture in pursuit of short-term goals?'
6. Why was Israeli energy minister Karine Elharrar unable to get into COP26 in Glasgow on Monday?
7. Owen Paterson, the subject of a lobbying investigation that led to a controversial vote in the Commons this week, resigned as an MP saying: 'I will remain a public servant but outside the ___ world of politics.' What is the missing word?
8. Labour ruled out standing aside in favour of a cross-party 'anti-sleaze' candidate at the by-election to replace Tory MP Owen Paterson in which constituency?
9. What is the name of the former Leicester East Labour MP, now an independent, who was given a ten-week suspended sentence after being convicted of harassment?
10. Hospital worker David Fuller, 67, admitted murdering two women in 1987 and sexually abusing at least 100 female corpses in two hospital morgues in which English county?
11. Mina Smallman called on Dame Cressida Dick to 'get the rot out' of the Met after two police officers admitted doing what?
12. Jes Staley, group chief executive of Barclays, stood down after an investigation into his links with who?
13. Health Secretary Sajid Javid called for 'heads to roll' and Julian Knight, chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport committee, said: 'I struggle to think of any reason why the board should remain in post.' What organisation were they referring to?
14. Three people, who died after getting into difficulty in the River Cleddau in West Wales, were taking part in what activity?
15. The Bank of England surprised financial markets by voting to keep the interest rate unchanged at its historic low of what per cent?
16. Which former England footballer announced that he needed an urgent liver transplant?
17. Fourteen people were taken to hospital when two trains crashed in a tunnel near which city’s railway station?
18. Dawn Voice-Cooper, 76, from Sevenoaks, sipped champagne, smoked a cigarette and listened to Nick Drake’s Day is Done before doing what?
19. What was the name of the four-year-old girl who went missing for 18 days in Australia and was found alive in a locked house?
20. Entertainer Lionel Blair, who died aged 92, was captain of one of the teams in which TV game show that ran throughout the 1980s?
21. Italian restaurateur Ado Campeol, who died aged 93, is widely credited with inventing which dish with a name that translates as 'lift me up'?
22. Quadruple amputee Harmonie-Rose Allen, the Oxford vaccine team and sisters Amy and Ella Meek, who founded Kids Against Plastic, were all winners of what?
23. Why was baby Alpha, born to Cherral and Tyson Mitchell at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, in the headlines?
24. Actress Sarah Jayne Dunn was dropped from which TV programme after refusing to remove photos from the adult subscription site OnlyFans?
25. Where did TV viewers see space traveller Skye crash-landing in the woods near the home of 14-year-old Nathan?

Answers here

Friday, 29 October 2021

Test your knowledge with the newsquiz

There were some big scores in last week’s newsquiz. Well done to Simon, Sue and Will Cole who, after coming close so many times, scored the maximum 25. They were just ahead of Maura and Phil Parsons with a very impressive 24. Other good team scores were posted by Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 22, The Roberts family 21.5, Marc Beyeler’s team, Mrs and Mrs Smith 21 and Bruce and Sarah Hayward and the Three Legs Drinkers with 20. The top solo scorer was Toby Brown with a personal best of 23, ahead of Marguerite Turner on 22, Matt Chorley 21.5, Jayme Bryla 20.5, Robert Rea 20, Gavin Devine 19 and Janet Boyle 18.5. Liz Gerard, Rob Lawrence, Peter Mourant and Stuart Bagnall all scored 18. Here is this week’s newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week’s events. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.

The Budget dominated Thursday's front pages

1. In the Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that the UK’s 'national living wage’ is to go up to how much an hour, for workers aged over 23, from April?
2. What did Boris Johnson, Health Secretary Sajid Javid, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab do during the Chancellor’s Budget speech that Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey and Attorney General Suella Braverman did not?
3. Chancellor Rishi Sunak's overhaul of alcohol taxes in the Budget means that which of these will go up in price rather than reduce if bought in a shop? a) Bailey’s Irish Cream b) Echo Falls Zinfandel rose wine c) Canti Prosecco d) Taylor's Port
4. In the Budget Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced
a new tax on 'ultra long haul' flights covering distances of more than what distance?
5. Who took the place of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who had tested positive for coronavirus, to make the response to the Chancellor’s Budget statement?
6. Which former Tory minister faces a 30-day suspension from the Commons after an MPs' watchdog found he had ‘repeatedly' used his position to benefit two companies who paid him as a consultant?
7. Greater Manchester police, investigating threatening and abusive phone calls, emails and letters, arrested a 52-year-old man in Halifax who was accused of making threats against which Labour MP?
8. Carl Davies, 44, pleaded guilty at Caernarfon Crown Court to stalking by sending intimidating comments to which TV presenter and her daughter on Instagram?
9. Motorist Andrew Dutton was filmed squirting what into the faces of Insulate Britain protesters sitting across the A40 in west London?
10. The Department of Transport announced that how many remaining countries would be removed from the UK’s travel red list on Monday?
11. COP26 starts in Glasgow on Sunday (Oct 31). What does COP stand for?
12. Mark Zuckerberg announced what new name for Facebook’s parent company?
13. Why was Cornelis Gert Jan in the headlines?
14. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency announced it was inviting manufacturers of what product to submit goods for approval to be offered on prescription?
15. The House of Lords backed, by 213 votes to 60, a proposal to place a legal duty on water companies to 'take all reasonable steps' to prevent what?
16. The Duchess of Cornwall told a Women of the World festival in London that: 'We do not, in any way, hold all men responsible for sexual violence. But we do need them all on board to tackle it. After all, ___ are not born, they are constructed.’ What is the missing word?
17. Walter Smith, who died aged 73, won 21 trophies in two spells as manager of Glasgow Rangers but in between managed which English club?
18. Adelaide United player Josh Cavallo become the only current top-flight male professional footballer in the world to do what?
19. Jesus College Cambridge returned a looted bronze cockerel, taken by British colonial forces in 1897, to which country?
20. The Queen presented a poetry award via video link from Windsor Castle, telling recipient David Constantine: 'I'm very glad to have the chance to see you if only ___ this morning.' What is the missing word?
21. Businesswoman Doreen Lofthouse, involved in the success of Fisherman's Friend cough sweets, left her £41million fortune to a charity that aims to develop which town?
22. John Lewis pulled an advert showing a boy in a dress rampaging around his home after the financial watchdog found it was 'misleading and confusing’. What was it advertising?
23. James Michael Tyler, who died aged 59, was most famous for playing which character in the TV series Friends?
24. Brett Chamberlain, 54, was awarded £5,000 in damages by the police after he was investigated for paying for fuel at Tesco in Exeter with what?
25. Why did Shirley Ballas thank viewers who got in touch after watching her appearance as a judge on Strictly Come Dancing?

Answers here


Friday, 22 October 2021

It's newsquiz time ...

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz was Rod Ardehali with 20.5, ahead of Toby Brown on 18, Robert Rea on 17.5, Stuart Bagnall on 16 and Jayme Bryla on 15. The top team was the Roberts Family with 21, ahead of Bruce and Sarah Hayward 19. Maura and Phil Parsons scored 18.5 and Adam Batstone and Lucy Thorpe 15.5. Here is this week's newsquiz. 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. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the Queen had agreed that which town would be granted city status following the killing of MP Sir David Amess?
2. In the first PMQs after the killing of MP Sir David Amess, Boris Johnson committed to bringing which Bill back to the Commons 'before Christmas’?
3. Ali Harbi Ali was charged at Westminster Magistrates’ Court with murder and what other offence after the fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess?
4. The Government published its climate strategy which showed how the UK will meet its target to cut CO2 emissions to net zero by what year?
5. Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that thousands of households would be able to access grants worth £5,000 to replace what?
6. The Queen cancelled a two-day visit to where after doctors advised that she should 'rest for the next few days’?
7. At a Downing Street Press conference Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: 'Cases are rising, and they could go yet as high as ___ a day. We’re also seeing greater pressure on the NHS across the UK, approaching ___ hospitalisations per day.’ What are the two missing numbers? Half a point for each.
8. Which country announced that flights to and from the UK would be banned from yesterday (Thurs) due to soaring Covid-19 cases?
9. Who said that Conservative MPs didn’t need to wear masks during debates because the party's 'convivial, fraternal spirit’ meant they knew each other and were acting in line with Covid guidance?
10. America announced it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from 33 countries, including the UK, on what date?
11. Actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot dead a woman with a prop gun while filming a Western called what?
12. A statement from which former Labour MP, urging peers to back the Assisted Dying Bill and revealing that he was terminally ill, was read out in the House of Lords?
13. Colin Powell, who died aged 84, was the US's first African-American secretary of state and served the role under which president?
14. Two adults and two children were taken to hospital, and dozens were left homeless, after an explosion at a housing estate in which Scottish town?
15. A petition calling for compulsory searches at nightclubs was signed by more than 100,000 people, and Home Secretary Priti Patel asked police forces for an update, after reports of what?
16. Strictly Come Dancing contestant Tilly Ramsay criticised LBC radio host Steven Allen after he called her a ___ little thing’. What is the missing word?
17. The National Farmers’ Union said a trade deal with which country would 'damage the viability of many British farms in the years ahead’?
18. Penelope Jackson, 66, told jurors at Bristol Crown Court that she stabbed her husband to death after a row when she served what with steak on her birthday?
19. Who left his job saying: 'To never really be wanted, to feel that people wanted me to fail, to read people constantly saying I would fail, that I was useless, a fat waste of space, a stupid, tactically inept cabbage head’?
20. The Queen 'politely but firmly’ turned down which magazine award saying she did not believe she met the relevant criteria?
21. Rapper Kanye West will officially be known as what after a Los Angeles judge granted his name change request?
22. Which Channel 4’s fundraiser made more than £31million, the highest total since its launch in 2012?
23. Costa Rica, Indian company Takachar, a land-based coral farm in the Bahamas, the city of Milan and a Thai-German-Italian team all collected £1million as the first winners of which awards, founded by the Duke of Cambridge?
24. Who married his pregnant girlfriend Frida Andersson on Monday at Chelsea Register office?
25. A Worcestershire pub landlord is organising a night for people with what name after the Office for National Statistics showed no babies were given the name last year?

Answers here

Wednesday, 20 October 2021

The pros and cons of working from home

Since the pandemic began newsrooms have proved that working from home works. What has been achieved is staggering. So, logic, the accountants and time-management all say it should be here to stay. But is the death of the newsroom really in the best long-term interests of the business or the staff? Newsrooms are creative places where journalists pick up skills, ideas, direction from others. In my long career, I learned huge amounts in the newsroom. Sometimes it was just a nuance, a raised eyebrow or a random idea. Like all journalists, I have forged lifelong relationships, contacts and close friends. How many people met their partners at work? Maybe the answer is a hybrid? But is it reasonable to have one group paying for their commute, getting their lunch at Pret a Manger and forking out for office clothes on the same salary as those sitting at home in their pants and making a snack from the fridge? For my latest article in InPublishing magazine I spoke to editors about the pros and cons of working from home. Read it 
here.

Friday, 15 October 2021

Have a crack at the newsquiz...

Last week’s newsquiz appeared to be another tough one with scores well below average. The top solo performers were Marguerite Turner and Robert Rea both with 18. The best team was the Roberts Family with 23, just ahead of Phil and Maura Parsons, with special guest Dominic Hurst, who scored 21. 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. 

A selection of today's front pages

1. Who owns the £25,000-a-week villa near Marbella where Prime Minister Boris Johnson was on holiday with his family?
2. A report by MPs, called Coronavirus: Lessons Learned To Date, said it was clear that what was 'the wrong policy’ that 'led to a higher initial death toll’?
3. What was the name of the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, a former secretary of state for Northern Ireland, who died of lung cancer aged 53?
4. Tory MP James Gray stepped back as a commander of the St John Ambulance after apparently mixing up which two Government ministers? Half a point for each name.
5. Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock accepted a job as a United Nations' special representative for where?
6. Philip Allott, who faced criticism for urging women to be ‘streetwise’ after the Sarah Everard case, resigned as police, fire and crime commissioner for which county?
7. Testing at a private Wolverhampton laboratory was suspended following an investigation by NHS Test and Trace which revealed that around how many people may have been wrongly told their Covid-19 test was negative?
8. Star Trek actor William Shatner said he was 'overwhelmed' at becoming the oldest person in space after a flight on Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. How old is he?
9. A Danish citizen was arrested after five people were killed in a bow and arrow attack in which Norwegian town?
10. The Queen was pictured with what, for the first time since 2004, at the Centenary of the Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey?
11. Two passengers were injured when a train crashed through barriers at which London station?
12. Sebastian Kurz announced that he was stepping down as the leader of which country after he became a target of a corruption investigation?
13. Who said she was flashed by Wayne Couzens 13 years before he murdered Sarah Everard - but police officers 'laughed off' her report?
14. A judge at Oxford County Court ruled that Dr Mary Fairhurst’s privacy had been breached by what?
15. Which island was hit by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake this week?
16. World record holder Agnes Tirop, 25, who was found dead at her home, represented which country at this year’s Olympics?
17. PC Chris Dwyer was sacked from West Yorkshire Police after a misconduct hearing decided he took what from a charity stall without paying the full amount?
18. Tyson Fury came back from two knockdowns and stopped Deontay Wilder in which round in the heavyweight championship fight in Las Vegas?
19. In an interview with the BBC, Prince Charles said that his Aston Martin ran on waste from what two products? Half a point for each.
20. The remains of the shredded Banksy artwork Girl With Balloon sold for £18.6million at an auction at Sotheby's in London? What is the artwork now called?
21. Who caused an online stir when it was revealed he was bisexual and will be romantically involved with a pink-haired reporter named Jay Nakamura?
22. Which song, that guitarist Keith Richard said was about the horrors of slavery, have the Rolling Stones dropped from their US tour?
23. Netflix announced that what had become its most popular ever series, drawing 111 million fans in less than four weeks?
24. Who said he had been going to gay bars for as long as he could remember because he didn’t get into punch-ups and when he was single they were good places to meet women?
25. Which two celebrities announced they were pulling out of this week’s Strictly Come Dancing due to health issues? Half a point for each.

Answers here