Who was the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated? The demolition of the old London Bridge put an end to what famous tradition? Which philosopher caught a fatal chill returning from a predawn lesson given to Queen Christina of Sweden? What was the real name of Buffalo Bill? Which mutiny, leading to a war of independence, was provoked by the use of animal fat? What was smuggled from Alexandria to Venice in, it is said, a barrel of pork? What did Pope Innocent III outlaw, as a weapon of mass destruction? Who, on the first day of 1660, had the remains of a turkey for breakfast and began a new project? Prepare to have your general knowledge tested by the best quizmaster in the business. Here are 2000 of the world's strangest and most stimulating questions, laid out in a series of thematic quizzes that cover art , literature, politics, sport, geography and history and span all the countries of the world. Bamber Gascoigne's fascination with knowledge is highly contagious and his answers give you the context you need to find out even more. And as to the answers to the questions above -- well, you'll have to read the book...

THE PERFECT QUIZ BOOK FOR BOOKWORMS! Which Haruki Murakami novel shares its title with a Beatles song? In Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, what is Charlie's surname? What is heavy-drinking Rachel Watson known as in the title of a 21st-century bestseller? And what do you get if you add the number of Bennet sisters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice to the number of Karamazov brothers in Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov? With four hundred questions covering books from literary classics to modern bestsellers, through iconic children's books and books you say that you've read but really you haven't, The Penguin Book Quiz is as appropriate for a making you look well-read at a party as it is for a book-loving family to tuck into after Christmas dinner: it's as enjoyable to read as it is to play. Featuring the work of everyone from Antony Beevor to Zadie Smith, books from The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Ulysses, and with movie, music, television and literary references abound, this entertaining quiz tickles the fancy (and the brains) of light and heavy readers alike. Answers: - Norwegian Wood - Bucket - The Girl on the Train - Eight (five sisters, three brothers)

Are you a quizmaster or planning to become one? Have you been charged with running an event at your local pub for the first time? Or are you an experienced quizmaster looking for new material? Whatever your motivation for buying this book The Ultimate Quiz Book Guide will provide you with fresh ideas and tell you everything you need to know about running a successful quiz. With advice and tips from experienced quizmaster, Joe Varley, this book explains how to organise a quiz from beginning to end. There are sections on preparation, tools and location; the business end, writing and researching the questions; on the day; dealing with hecklers; dos and don'ts; different quiz formats and how to organise picture rounds as well as 36 readymade quizzes compiled by the author. Whether you are a seasoned quizmaster or completely new to running quizzes The Ultimate Quiz Book Guide contains everything you need to run an enjoyable and memorable quiz that will leave the participants eagerly anticipating your next event.

Celebrate 60 years of Britain's longest-running quiz show. Since 1962, University Challenge has brought TV viewing the most taxing questions on television. Now you can relive some of its most gripping moments, as well as test you and your family's own quizzing ability, with this unique quizbook. - Over 3,000 questions, including complete sets of questions from iconic episodes. - 'Where are they now?' features that reveal what notable contestants went on to achieve. - Interviews with question setters, famous contestants and producers - An entry quiz that contestants face so you can see if you've got what it takes to be on the show. With over 400 pages of trivia, behind-the-scenes detail and a raft of questions to test your knowledge, this is the ultimate gift for any University Challenge viewer.

A jaunty journey into the world of the quiz, from the question editor of BBC2's Only Connect, sometimes in the form of 300 excellent quiz questions In 1938 Britain started to quiz. Since then, quizzes have become ubiquitous entertainment from pubs to primetime, suffered major criminal investigations, created unlikely folk heroes and been subjected to the rigours of question checkers. The Joy of Quiz tells the history of quiz and its makers, wonders how we came to make a game out of remembering scraps of information, looks at the tactics of professional quizzers and reveals the shadowy worlds of setters and checkers. Along the way, it asks questions such as 'What is a fact, anyway?' and 'Whatever happened to prizes like sandwich toasters?'

'Fingers on buzzers, your first starter for ten...' Every week the nation tunes in to hear these legendary words. Over the course of its incredible 53 years, University Challenge has achieved cult status. It's regularly the third most popular BBC2 show, testament to the enduring appeal of this beloved programme. It even has its own spin-off series: The Professionals, and Christmas specials featuring famous faces. This bumper quiz book allows you to pit your wits against the students withover 3000 questions drawn from the University Challenge archive. Plus there are quotes and testimonies from behind-the-scenes. Massively popular with fans of all ages, University Challenge's Ultimate Quiz Book makes the perfect gift for children, students, grandparents and everyone in between.

A Guide to British television programmes shown at Christmas time, throughout the years.

Television Truths considers what we know about TV, whether we love it or hate it, where TV is going, and whether viewers should bother going along for the ride. This engaging volume, written by one of television's best known scholars, offers a new take on the history of television and an up-to-date analysis of its imaginative content and cultural uses. Explores the pervasive, persuasive, and powerful nature of television: among the most criticized phenomena of modern life, but still the most popular pastime ever Written by John Hartley, one of television’s best known scholars Considers how television reflects and shapes contemporary life across the economic, political, social and cultural spectrum, examining its influence from historical, political and aesthetic perspectives Probes the nature of, and future for, television at a time of unprecedented change in technologies and business plans Provides an up-to-date analysis of content and cultural uses, from the television live event, to its global political influence, through to the concept of the “TV citizen” Maps out a new paradigm for understanding television, for its research and scholarship, and for the very future of the medium itself

In 1969, the BBC aired the first episode of a new comedy series titled Monty Python's Flying Circus, and the rest, as they say, is history. An instant success, the show ran until 1974, producing a total of 45 episodes. Despite the show's very English humor and allusions to many things British, the series developed a cult following outside the U.K., particularly in the United States. Known for its outrageous humor, occasionally controversial content, and often silly spirit, Monty Python's Flying Circus poked fun at nearly all institutions--domestic or foreign, grand or intimate, sacred or not. Indeed, many of the allusions and references in the program were uniquely British and routinely obscure, and therefore, not always understood or even noticed outside the British Isles. This exhaustive reference identifies and explains the plethora of cultural, historical, and topical allusions of this landmark series. In this resource, virtually every allusion and reference that appeared in an episode--whether stated by a character, depicted in the mise-en-scene, or mentioned in the printed scripts--is identified and explained. Organized chronologically by episode, each entry is listed alphabetically, indicates what sketch it appeared in, and is cross-referenced between episodes. Entries cover literary and metaphoric allusions, symbolisms, names, peoples, and places; as well as the myriad social, cultural, and historical elements (photos, songs, slogans, caricatures) that populate and inform these episodes. Entries Include: -"Arabella Plunkett" -Group of famous characters from famous paintings -Hell's Grannies -HRH The Dummy Princess Margaret -"Kandinsky" -"On the Dad's Liver Bachelors at Large" -Raymond Baxter type -Scun -"Spanish Inquisition" -"Third Parachute Brigade Amateur Dramatic Society" -"total cashectomy" -"Two-Sheds" -"Umbonga's hostile opening" -Vicar sitting thin and unhappy in a pot -"What's all this then?"