deludes quiz 2016

Superbrain
The Northern Echo: Superbrain 2016
Welcome to Superbrain 2016 – the North-East’s toughest, and most talked about, trivia quiz

Superbrain has been a major part of The Northern Echo's Christmas for nearly 30 years, and our quizmaster is David Chisholm, of Newton Aycliffe. David won the quiz so regularly at the start of the millennium that we've given him the much harder task of setting the questions.

There are six categories and the picture round. You may enter as many categories as you like - you can enter only one category, you can enter a couple or you can enter the whole lot.

Or, of course, you could just play along for fun at home or in the pub - we know lots of people and families use Superbrain as the basis for a festive brainteaser.

Good luck, and don't be daunted - you don't have to answer every one of David's brain-blowing teasers.

              TELEVISION AND  FILMS

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11. What is the name of the programme you can’t afford to miss?

12. In which series did Control oppose Kaos?

13. The infamous Bingate incident on the Great British Bake-Off involved which type of dessert?

14. Which series was originally set on James Turner Street?

15. Although never aired, The Ortegas was an American take on which British series?

16. Kevin Arnold kept a picture of which famous film star on his locker door?

17. Which series explored life at the sixth form of Rudge Park Comprehensive School?

18. Which spin-off from a spin-off was set amongst Wyvern constabulary?

19. Thanks to her activities at Dee Valley University Hospital, by what name did Lindsey Butterfield become known?

20. Which two 1980s series – one a comedy, the other a drama – had characters with the nickname Nighthawk?

21. Danny, Mac and Willy belonged to which gang?

22. Who was the song-writer behind the Little Ladies?

23. What do Pip, David and, to a lesser extent, Tim have in common?

24. In which of his own series does Simon Nye have a cameo delivering letters?

25. Which two Play School presenters have been killed by daleks?

26. In Frasier, who had the car registration plate SHRINK?

27. What was the true identity of the Purple Pumpernickel?

28. In which series did a multi-national team battle ARKAB?

29. In which series did we meet the bitter and twisted eighth man to walk on the moon?

30. Christine Bleakley says that her career highlight is a mention in which series?

31. Nowadays Miss Moneypenny in the James Bond films has a first name. What is it?

32. When the Karate Kid film was first proposed, who was attached to the project as director?

33. Who was the first to utter the words “shaken, not stirred” in a famous film franchise in 1962??

34. Jo was said to be the last great star created by Hollywood’s studio system. How do we better know Jo?

35. In which blockbuster do we come across the monster called Marshmallow?

36. Logjammin is the film within which film?

37. In which film is Merv Griffin killing people with window-cleaning fluid?

38. Which film star suggested to Walt Disney that Mary Poppins would be a good story to adapt long before he did so?

39. Oh Ho Productions is the production company headed up by which actress?

40. Melissa, Kirsten, Leslie and Kate are the leads in the forthcoming, somewhat controversial, all-female reboot of which iconic 1980s film?

41. Who danced and made famous the truffle shuffle?

42. Who allegedly turned down the roles of two of Batman’s iconic villains in different Batman movies?

43. What role is common to Brad Pitt, John Cleese and Frederic March?

44. What race took place between Paris and Peking in 1965?

45. Who was the oldest actor to play a Hogwarts student in the Harry Potter series?

46. In which film did a poet join some road rats?

47. How many Christmas films have been nominated for a best film Oscar?

48. Which is the world’s highest earning horror franchise?

49. Which actor did Maureen O’Sullivan star opposite on the most occasions?

50. Who was the first singer approached to provide the music for Titanic in 1998?

                          LITERATURE

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11. Which Paragon Panther was referred to as “our fine four-fendered friend”?

12. Which writer was often referred to as “the eternal Booker bridesmaid”?

13. In which book do we first meet former gold-miner Captain Flint?

14. In the famous novel(s) by Kenneth Grahame, what sort of animal was Ratty?

15. “Everybody is a book of blood” was splattered across the covers of a four-volume work by which author?

16. First appearing in The Spy Who Loved Me, what was the one-word nickname of the Fleming villain with steel-capped teeth?

17. Ruth Plumly Thompson took over the mantle of delivering stories about which fictional land?

18. Dragons Blood was the favoured drink of which idyllic family?

19. Which book did Mabel the missus buy down Shepton Mallet way?

20. Ink Heart by Cornelia Fudge reintroduces which famous literary character?

21. Who lived in Apartment One of what she called “the Dump”?

22. Which musical instrument was Pandora Braithwaite partly proficient in?

23. What was the name of Edgar Allen Poe’s own favoured cat?

24. And which author owned a cat that was extremely difficult to find in normal light?

25. Rattus is the mascot for which collection of books?

26. How much did meals cost at Milliways restaurant?

27. Who, in 1923, finally married a girl called Cinderella, albeit a version with bleeding feet?

28. Gertrude Stein kept a pet with the same name as which poet?

29. Under what banner name did Penguin books relating to science fiction and fantasy start to be published in 2002?

30. Who ate his last meal at the Literaturnoe Kafe?

31. Who borrowed from Conrad and Chekov for unusual and somewhat secretive reasons?

32. Paul Kidby is responsible for the illustration of which series of books?

33. Ikey Solomon is thought to be the inspiration for which literary character?

34. Who forms a connection between Michael Moorcock and John Creasey?

35. Who wrote his poetry on yellow paper and his fiction on pink paper?

36. Who prefers to be referred to as Miss Nelle?

37. Who is confronted not by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, but by those of Murder, Rape and Revenge?

38. Which novelist’s writings include the plots for a five-issue story about a superhero for DC comics?

39. While writing as a critic, which playwright took the name of a character from Evelyn Waugh’s book Scoop?

40. What is the name of the character of the most recent Bond girl?

41. Who was swallowed by a whale and suffocated by a cat?

42. Charles, Isaac and Henry. First name-wise, who makes up the group?

43. Which criminal was introduced in the 1898 book entitled The Chains of Crime?

44. The Tourist Trap was a long-running play written by which lady?

45. According to John Keats, which season was “when fancy clear takes in all beauty with an easy span”?

46. A stock happening in swashbucklers of the silver screen, the practice of pirates walking the plank was actually a literary creation by which author?

47. Which poet baked bread as a relaxation method?

48. Which thriller writer had Ten Rules of Writing?

49. Which author was abandoned to a family member at the age of 2?

50. Which author was married to Joan and had two sons, Lionel and David?

                                   GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

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11. Which drug was first launched in 1895 as a cough remedy for children?

12. Which king survived an estimated 55 assassination attempts, even returning fire on occasions?

13. Which dictator managed to write 79 volumes of memoirs while ruling his country?

14. “Men wanted for hazardous journey . . . safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success” was the main elements of a classified ad placed by whom?

15. Who (or his head at least) marks the spot on Antarctica furthest from any coastline?

16. Whose remains have been interred in four separate locations, once under the forename Maria?

17. Why is the name of Francisca Rojas significant among murderers?

18. In which Australian state will you find the world’s largest monolith?

19. Under what name is a man buried in the UK if his identity is unknown, unimportant or undisclosed?

20. Which creature has the most powerful bite of any mammal, proportionate to its bodyweight?

21. What links Jack in Australia, Jake in parts of the US and a Portuguese Rat?

22. Which composer was first to suggest the “curse of the ninth”?

23. Who took over occupation of the Von Trapp family house after they fled to America?

24. What was the name of the first plane of Orville and Wilbur Wright?

25. What is the smallest snake in the world?

26. Who has his own butter lamp, awarded by the Dalai Lama for services to Tibetan freedom?

27. Which former Lord Mayor of London has featured on British bank notes?

28. Alan Shepherd is well known for playing golf on the moon but which club was used for the historic swing?

29. Which country is the world’s biggest producer of pineapples?

30. What somewhat colourful connection links William Hooker and Carl Scheele?

31. Who did Steve Middleton expose to unwanted limelight?

32. At which establishment was the banoffee pie created and first served?

33. Known as the most successful pirate of all time, what was Black Bart’s drink of choice?

34. Who or what is the current holder of the Carbuncle Cup?

35. From what position was Annemarie Huste sacked in the 1960s?

36. Who was fully decapitated twice, albeit 34 years apart?

37. If flags are anything to go by, which is the most bible loving country in the world?

38. Whose greatest work was delayed for eight years while he played around with barnacles?

39. What was placed in the tomb of Tutankhamun in order to ward off any unwanted presences?

40. Which fairytale character is believed to have its origins with a girl of Greek/Egyptian descent, who lived more than 2,000 years ago?

41. Who, to date, is the oldest known woman to have joined the Brownies?

42. To whom did a Mr Kimball rent an unusual item, at a cost of $12.50 per week?

43. What has the postcode H0H 0H0?

44. Who is believed to have been given the world’s largest, most expensive, speeding ticket?

45. Which Beatles song was played at the funeral of Cilla Black?

46. Having considered applying to join the British Royal Navy, he then missed a berth on the La Perouse which sank with no survivors. Who was this?

47. What was significant about the purchase of lychees on Reunion in 2002?

48. In whose honour was the optimum length of a standard compact disc chosen?

49. Of what material were the original doors of a Trabant 601 made?

50. Which timepiece has gained four minutes in the past 68 years?

                     NORTH-EAST

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11. In which town would you have found an area known to the locals as “Little India”?

12. As what was Creighton Carvello noted?

13. The Broomstick Bridge, site of many an illicit marriage, was to be found in which town?

14. Which former football star is president of North Shields FC?

15. For pioneering what was a Sunderland chief constable called Crawley responsible?

16. Under what name do Sophie Vaughn and Leanne Orr perform?

17. Which two spirits are made and distilled on site at Darlington’s famous Number Twenty2 establishment?

18. Which resident of Carliol Street had a hump and a face like an old spice cake?

19. To which town would you travel to view the Witches Ditches and, so legend has it, the Burn Ninja?

20. Which local institution attempted to break into Belgium in 2003?

21. From which town were Donald and Davey Stott?

22. Consett once had an international airport but only in adverts for what?

23. Slaggy Island is another name for which area?

24. The Egypt Cottage became famous because of it s appearances in which TV show?

25. What are the three main ingredients of Pan Haggerty?

26. Which is the largest of the River Wear’s tributaries?

27. The Co-op store at Beamish Museum was originally situated in which village?

28. Tapes, which featured Andrew Gold singing, were not welcomed at the back end of the 1970s. Who sent them?

29. These days, what is the official name of the village that houses The Tin Chapel?

30. The cauldron that helped launch and close the 2012 Summer Olympics in London was made where?

31. At what unusual activity was Frank Bostock rather good?

32. What refreshing place did Fritz Butzer found?

33. Whitby’s famous gothic weekend includes among its festivities an annual football match between which two sides?

34. Who did Margaret Nicholson of Stockton attempt to kill?

35. “Lord Gentlemen and Loons, you are welcome to our toons” was the traditional greeting used to open what?

36. How does John Longstaff entertain the public?

37. Which village was once described as an industrial village where people mine for vegetables instead of coal?

38. Which famous Lady of Song played Ayresome Park in 1979?

39. Who or what was the Dunston Rocket?

40. Who was the captain of Blyth Spartans during their famous FA Cup run in the 1977-78 football season?

41. Where did Titty Bottle Richley shine his light?

42. Who once delivered a scathing opinion of Middlesbrough, saying that it was just like a scene from Doctor Who?

43. Under what name did Will Fisher of Newcastle become infamous?

44. In which town was the supposedly haunted Doctor’s Tunnel?

45. For what did Gary Fridd earn his Blue Peter badge?

46. Teesside Airport’s first flight as a civilian airport was made in 1964 to which city?

47. Which TV personality was once employed as the safety manager at ICI Billingham?

48. After what type of birds have local buses and a local beer been named?

49. After which local feature has the Royal Horticultural Society named an orange daffodil?

50. Which title was won by Jacqui Grey in 1983?

                      MUSIC

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11. Under what collective name do the sisters Este, Danielle and Alana parade the charts?

12. Which star has written songs using the alias of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

13. Which band included a very unusual member called Cheekah?

14. Who did Spitting Image refer to as “those two wet gits with their girly curly hair”?

15. Which Deptford band was formed with stolen money?

16. Who writes songs using the alias Mick Greenberg?

17. Which dance mega-hit mentions Michelle Pfeiffer?

18. “Easy V doesn’t come for free, She s a real Lady”. Who was Easy V?

19. Which act were once called Skid Row before huge fame came knocking?

20. Which star plays guitar on the Madonna No 1 Like a Prayer?

21. Which briefly big band used the word “Fleece” as their motto?

22. Which chart star is Dolly Parton godmother to?

23. What is the name of Ed Sheeran s own record label, whose signings include Jamie Lawson?

24. Which No 1 hit single in the UK has lyrics said to be inspired by a 1982 Rolling Stones concert?

25. “There’s a guy in the place got a bittersweet face... He’s refined, sublime, he makes you feel fine”. By what name does he go?

26. For which band did the wonderfully named Winston Bazoomies play harmonica?

27. Who records in his own Black Bam studios?

28. Who has gone on to solo success having co-written Icona Pop’s smash hit I Love It?

29. When approached, a member of which chart-topping band refused to play on the Smiths’ album The Queen is Dead?

30. Who are Matt, Mike and Mike?

31. Which Pet Shop Boys song did Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine record as a B-side?

32. Nigel, Anne and Allen were the mainstays of which band?

33. The much heralded Mabel McVey is the daughter of which former chart star?

34. What links The Damned, The Beatles, Prince and Babybird?

35. Which 1973 top ten hit mentioned Mickey Mouse within its lyrics?

36. And, two years later, which top ten hit mentioned Minnie Mouse?

37. Which was the first Stranglers song to reach the charts that had lead vocals by Jean-Jacques Burnel, rather than Hugh Cornwell?

38. Which record label was launched off the back of a minor company called Perfect records?

39. Dixon was the original title of the first top ten hit for which band?

40. Which duo are Gudgin and Earle?

41. Who applied to copyright a sick beat?

42. Which 1981 No 1 contains, within its lyrics, the name of a 1970s No 1 hit-making act?

43. Who were Jessie Savage and Professor Plum?

44. Which current singer/songwriter has an uncle who was in a chart-topping band of the 1980s?

45. Who found solo success in the 1980s, having been to the top ten as part of a quintet in the 1970s and a duo in the 1960s?

46. Which UK number one hit-makers were Tommy and Brian?

47. Who were formed from members of Faux Pas and Orion?

48. Which song does Johnny Marr oft quote as the inspiration for the Smith’s This Charming Man?

49. Which pop star was mentioned by name in Kurt Cobain’s suicide note?

50. Who has featured on five top twenty hits to date, in 1969, 1975, 1980, 1986 and 1989?

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                        SPORT

11. Under what name did Peter Thornley professionally fight?

12. In which sport was the American Chris Evert the leading money winner in 1974?

13. Who served ice-cream in Cincinnati?

14. The former F1 driver Marc Weber was sponsored in part by which Australian sporting great?

15. The netball team of which country glories in the nickname of the Calypso Girls?

16. Which country has a place in the women’s cricket rankings but not in the men’s?

17. Which tennis star has the nickname of the “Tank Engine”?

18. Which American professional sports team could have been nicknamed “the Mules”?

19. Which darts player was known as Gold Finger?

20. Before Neptune Collanges won the 2012 Grand National, which was the last grey to place in the race?

21. Who was the first player to regain the number one spot in the official world men’s snooker ranking?

22. At which racecourse did Victoria Pendleton ride as a professional jockey for the first time?

23. Who was the Republic of Ireland s third choice goalkeeper at the 1990 World Cup Finals?

24. What is called “the race that stops a nation”?

25. Who is the only Brit to win a Federation Cup final match?

26. Jules Bianchi’s racing number was retired in 2015 – what was it?

27. Which former Everton footballer has refereed a World Cup final?

28. Who was the first woman to win all five matches at one Solheim Cup competition?

29. Which member of England’s 2015 Rugby World Cup squad was born in Stockton?

30. Which was the only boxer that Carl Froch did not beat throughout his professional career?

31. When the world of darts was split into two governing bodies in 1993, who, as the highest ranked player not to defect, inherited the title of BDO world number one?

32. Which two Frenchmen were unbeaten as a team in Davis Cup doubles?

33. What nationality are the current snooker World Cup champions?

34. Which boxer was dead when signed to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world?

35. In which sport are Australia represented by the Opals?

36. Which football team has a car and a tractor in its official full name?

37. Which two teams played each other in temperatures of minus 13 in 1967?

38. Who was responsible for scoring Scotland’s 1,000th point at the Rugby Union World Cup?

39. Which former Aston Villa trialist has expressed an ambition to compete for Great Britain at the 2018 Winter Olympics as a member of the bobsleigh team?

40. What was the name of the first woman to enter a Formula 1 Grand Prix race?

41. Which British professional football team is sponsored by a famous author?

42. If you played what was once called murderball nowadays, which sport would you be participating in?

43. Who was the first gymnast to score a perfect ten in Olympic competition?

44. Who is the last star to have played for their country in both the football and the cricket World Cup finals?

45. In total, how many different surfaces have the men’s four tennis Grand Slams been played on?

46. Who scored in two English FA Cup Finals in the 1970s?

47. Which other professional sporting team have played their home matches at Barnet FC’s ground?

48. Who was the first male cricketer to represent England whose first and last names contained more vowels than consonants?

49. Which world famous sporting trophy has a winning team’s name misspelt on it?

50. Which sporting event was for the first time declared a tie in 2003 because of the fading light?

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