Friday 25 May 2018

Here's the newsquiz: 25 questions to tackle

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz was Jake Hurfurt with a hugely impressive 21. Liz Gerard also posted a good score of 19 and Toby Brown 18. The top team was Dominic Hurst and Tony Smith with 16. They did the quiz while covering the Royal Wedding in Windsor and blamed the 5am start for their 'limp' score. Here is today's newsquiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on.
Front page of the week goes to the Manchester Evening News
1. Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was created by Clare Waight Keller who works for which fashion house?
2. The registration plate on the E-type Jag that Prince Harry drove to his wedding reception was E followed by six numbers. What were they?
3. What was the name of the bishop who told Royal Wedding guests: 'I know that the Bible says, and I believe it, that Jesus walked on the water. But I have to tell you, I did not walk across the Atlantic Ocean to get here’?
4. Who said on ITV's Peston on Sunday that the Royal Wedding had inspired him to consider 'tying the knot’ with his partner of 20 years, Reinaldo Avila da Silva?
5. The GDPR, aimed at restricting how companies use personal details, becomes enforceable in all EU countries today. What does GDPR stand for?
6. Irish voters cast their ballots today in a referendum to decide whether to repeal an amendment to the constitution on abortion. What number is the amendment?
7. A Ryanair flight carrying dozens of Irish voters home for the abortion referendum crashed with another plane on the runway which airport?
8. Downing Street confirmed an investigation was under way after Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson held an 18-minute phone call with a prankster claiming to be the prime minister of which country?
9. US President Donald Trump cancelled his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un saying: 'Sadly, based on the tremendous ____ and open ____ displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting.’ What are the two missing words? Half a point for each
10. A graphic video shown without a warning led to people walking out of what?
11. A Labour motion to have whose salary reduced by £2,400 per year was defeated in the Commons?
12. Who missed the FA Cup Final amid reported problems over renewing his visa?
13. Harry Kane became the youngest ever England World Cup captain. How old is he?
14. The Institute of Cancer Research London said that children who were not exposed to what were more likely to develop leukaemia?
15. Who suggested he might make a return to party politics saying: 'It depends on how long I live doesn’t it?’
16. Tesco announced it was doing what to its apples, potatoes, tomatoes, lemons, other citrus fruit and onions?
17. Liverpool supporters were stranded after tour operator Worldchoice Sports cut flights when controllers at which airport said they could not allocate landing slots?
18. Who apologised to 'anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected’ following allegations of sexual misconduct made by eight women?
19. Which company reported a 75 per cent drop in profits and admitted its online capability was behind its competitors and that its website was 'too slow’?
20. A couple, who were convicted of killing their French nanny, were said in court to have a warped fantasy about a former pop star from which band?
21. Why was 38-year-old Emile Cilliers in the headlines?
22. He received a Pulitzer Prize for his 1997 novel American Pastoral, the WH Smith Literary Award in 2001 for The Human Stain and the 2011 Man Booker International award. Who is he? 
23. BBC newsreader Louise Minchin denied accusations of cheating during what?
24. Plans were revealed to build Europe's biggest observation wheel - nicknamed the 'Whey Aye’ - on the banks of which river?
25. What did pop star Ariana Grande reveal she had tattooed behind her left ear?

Answers here

Saturday 19 May 2018

A big surprise at the Regional Press Awards


All the winners at the Regional Press Awards yesterday

I had a lovely day at the Regional Press Awards in London yesterday. It is always one of the highlights of the year, recognising the excellent work still being carried out by regional journalists and an opportunity to catch up with (increasingly) old friends. Well done to all the winners and nominees, particularly the Manchester Evening News


The paper had a remarkable year, a lot of it born out of the tragic events at the Manchester Arena. It won seven awards, including Campaign of the Year for We Stand Together. You can see all the winners here. Well done too to the Society of Editors for organising it all and to Nick Ferrari, as funny a host as ever. 

It was particularly special for me as I was in for a surprise. I was in France this week and my wife, Pam, told me she had messed up the return flights and we were heading back a day early. And as we were back in time we could go to the Press Awards, she said. Good idea. 

The Likely Lads - two former editors of The Northern Echo, me and Peter Barron
We caught up with old Northern Echo colleagues Peter Barron and Colin Tapping on the stunning roof terrace at the IET in Savoy Place. During the awards lunch I began making notes on the winners. The first award was the Journalists' Charity Award which 'recognises an individual or body that has made an outstanding contribution to journalism and journalists'. Half way through the words of praise by charity chairman Jill Palmer I realised who she was talking about ... it was me. I was very flattered and somewhat astonished. The early return flight was a stitch up so that I could attend, contrived by Pam and Sue Ryan. Thanks to them both and to Cision, the award's sponsors. Afterwards I had a drink in the Wellington on The Strand with old friends and colleagues, including Tony Watson, Pete Clifton, Paul Horrocks, Neil Hodgkinson and Noel Doran. The Regional Press Awards is always a special day out ... but thanks to everyone involved for making yesterday just that little bit more special for me. Really appreciated. 

Pam and me with John Stapleton and Lynn Faulds Wood. I was celebrating the award, he was celebrating Manchester City's remarkable season




Friday 18 May 2018

Try your hand at this week's newsquiz

The top scorer in last week's newsquiz was Jamie Johnson with 18, a personal best. Other good scores were Toby Brown and Janet Boyle both with 16.5. I am at the Regional Press Awards today, so this week's quiz is published slightly earlier than usual. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 


The Royal wedding dominates today's front pages (Questions 1-3)

1. What will Doria Ragland’s role be at the Royal Wedding?
2. Meghan Markle will have ten bridesmaids and pageboys who are all under what age?

3. Meghan Markle's bouquet will include which flower, just like all royal brides’ bouquets have done for the last 173 years? 
4. According to Gaza’s health ministry how many protesters against the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem were killed by Israeli forces?
5. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told Theresa May that it is 'an absolute ___ ___ ' that there is no hard Irish border after Brexit. What are the two missing words?

6. Former Labour cabinet minister Tessa Jowell, who died age 70, said her proudest achievement was a programme which led to the creation of 3,500 children’s centres. What is the programme called?
7. Virgin Trains and Stagecoach are to be stripped of their franchise to run the east coast rail service. What is the name of the new company that will operate services from London to Edinburgh?
8. Andrew Parker, director general of MI5, revealed that how many terror plots had been thwarted in the UK since the Westminster Bridge atrocity in March last year?
9. Khamzat Asimov, 20, who stabbed one man to death and injured four others in Paris was a refugee from which country?
10. In which country did a family, including an eight-year-old child, carry out a bomb attack on a police headquarters, a day after another family killed 13 people in suicide bombings?
11. The failure to recommend what led Labour MP David Lammy to call the review by Dame Judith Hackitt into the Grenfell Tower fire 'a betrayal and a whitewash’?
12. He is thought to have killed at least 15 men, most of them strangled by a tie, and hidden their bodies under floorboards at his London homes. Who is he?
13. The deputy governor of the Bank of England Ben Broadbent was accused of using sexist language after saying the economy was entering what phase?
14. Actress Margot Kidder, who died aged 69, became famous for playing which fictional journalist in four films?
15. Why was the Bollinger Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction not awarded for the first time since it was introduced in 2000.

16. The father of two brothers killed in a hit-and-run in Coventry was found dead in a hotel room on which island?
17. England World Cup winner Ray Wilson, who died at 83, left football in the early 70s to set up what business?
18. Ben Fogle reached the summit of Mount Everest in a project to raise funds for which charity?
19. Which country won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest?
20. Trent Alexander-Arnold became only the eighth teenager in history to be included in what?
21. The changing tastes of millennials have been blamed for the demise of which brand, which was founded in 1965 and once attracted about 100,000 guests a year?
22. What won the best Drama Series at the Baftas?
23. Manchester City broke 11 Premier League records this season including the most number of points. How many did they get?
24. Academics from Skidmore College in New York said that adding what to a piece of text may ‘make it easier for the reader instinctively to separate units of meaning’?
25. University of Glasgow researchers advised that doing what at 10pm each night could help fend off depression?
Answers here

Friday 11 May 2018

Test your news knowledge with this week's quiz

The top scorer in last week’s newsquiz was Toby Brown with 19. The top team was Dominic Hurst, Joe Williams, David Kohn and Phil Parsons with 18. Janet Boyle was also up there with 17. Here’s this week’s quiz - as usual 25 questions about the week. Let me know how you get on.

Today's front pages
1. Donald Trump told reporters: 'I would advise Iran not to start their nuclear programme. I would advise them very strongly. If they do there will be very ____ ____’. What are the two missing words?
2. Iran and Israel edged closer to all-out war after Israel’s military said its positions in which region were fired at with a barrage of Iranian rockets?
3. Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei said that Donald Trump would become the food for which two creatures? Half a point for each
4. US President Donald Trump tweeted that he will meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 12 in which country?
5. The House of Lords voted to keep the UK in the single market after how many peers defied the Labour whip?
6. The Resolution Foundation recommended that every person in Britain should receive how much money when they turn 25?
7. The Government is considering banning what product which, according to Water UK, makes up 93 per cent of the material causing sewer blockages?
8. John Grogan was the only Labour MP to vote against what?
9. Who reportedly asked: 'How did Doncaster get on?’
10. The Met Office said temperatures reached 28.7C in London on Monday, making it the highest since the early May bank holiday was introduced. In what year did the May Day holiday start?
11. Which two football teams were automatically promoted to the Premier League. Half a point for each?
12. Who told viewers: 'I am going to be away for a couple of weeks or so. I’m having a small hospital operation and I will be back as soon as I possibly can, so be kind please to whoever is sitting in this chair next week’?
13. What was banned from the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival after organisers described them as ‘grotesque’ and said they wanted to restore a bit of decency?
14. A 14-hour stand-off between a gunman and armed police took place in Paradise Square in which city?
15. Safaa Boular, 18, appeared at the Old Bailey accused of plotting a gun and grenade ambush on which building? 
16. Which company is recalling more than 300,000 cars in the UK because of an electrical fault that has caused some vehicles to cut out?
17. William and Shelby Thurston were found guilty of manslaughter after a seven-year-old girl died after playing on what?
18. Scientist Dr David Goodall travelled to Switzerland to take his own life at a suicide clinic. How old was he?
19. Why was Scott Mitchell in the headlines?
20. Zanele Ndlovu married five days after what had happened to her?
21. American lifestyle magazine Town & Country apologised to who after she was 'disinvited' to a social change event?
22. What is the name of Melania Trump’s campaign to keep children happy and healthy?
23. Seven million viewers tuned into Coronation Street to watch the aftermath of which character's suicide?
24. SuRie will represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon on Saturday. What is the name of her song?
25. What did world snooker champion Mark Williams wear for his victory press conference?

Answers here

Friday 4 May 2018

Give this week's newsquiz a crack ...

There were some cracking scores in last week's newsquiz. Courtney Bartlett was the top solo scorer with 20 points, the same score as the best team, the Penman Partnership. Will Cole and Liz Gerard both scored 19 - a winning total any other week - and Toby Brown and Janet Boyle clocked up 18. There is a special mention for Enid Shelmerdine whose 17 was a Personal Best. Here's this week's quiz. As usual there are 25 questions about the week. Give it a go and let me know how you get on. 


Amber Rudd's resignation late on Sunday led to quick front page changes (Question 1)
1. Sajid Javid succeeded Amber Rudd as Home Secretary. What was his previous Cabinet position?
2. Conservative MP for Plymouth Moor View, Johnny Mercer, said Labour winning control of Plymouth City Council in the local elections was because of the Government's handling of what?
3. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt blamed a computer glitch for 450,000 patients between which two ages not receiving letters inviting them for a final mammogram?
4. How many Tory MPs sent Prime Minister Theresa May a 30-page report warning that her Government will ‘collapse' if she does not abandon plans for a post-Brexit customs partnership with the EU?
5. The chief executive of TSB, Paul Pester, told the Treasury Select Committee: 'If there is one decision in my life that I could change it was the decision to go ahead with the ____.’ What is the missing word?
6. MPs voted by 316 votes to 221 against an opposition motion calling on the Government to disclose what?
7. The chief executive of Sainsbury's, Mike Coupe, apologised after being caught on camera singing which song as he was waiting to be interviewed for ITV News?
8. What is the name of the Barrow MP who has been suspended by the Labour Party after claims he sent inappropriate messages to a former female member of staff?
9. Michael Martin, who died on Sunday at the age of 72, held which role from 2000 to 2009?
10. What role was announced for father and son Storm and Tyrone?
11. What is now the minimum price of a unit of alcohol in Scotland?
12. Rapper Kanye West, in an interview with TMZ, said: 'When you hear about slavery for 400 years. For 400 years? That sounds like a ____.’ What is the missing word?
13. Liverpool became the first English team to reach the Champions League final for six years by beating Roma. What was the aggregate score?
14. The Australian prime minister’s wife Lucy Turnbull was 'flattered and charmed' to be described by French president Emmanuel Macron as what?
15. Mount Kilauea erupted prompting a state of emergency and the evacuation of 1,700 residents? Where is it?
16. What company, founded in 1894 and based in Nashville, which included B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Duane Allman and Slash among its customers, announced it was filing for bankruptcy?
17. Angus Sinclair said that his former boss had undermined him in front of staff, smashed a mobile phone over his desk and was prone to 'over-the-top anger’. Who was he talking about?
18. YouTube stars are being paid to promote cheating for students by encouraging them to buy essays on which website?
19. Whose family asked people to take down tributes outside two homes, in Oxfordshire and Highgate, by May 27?
20. What has been waived for one-day only on May 19?
21. The winner of what award will not be announced this year - only the seventh time in its 117-year history that it hasn’t been made - following sexual assault allegations?
22. Why did Ken Bruce start his BBC 2 radio show one hour early on Thursday?
23. Why was Dr Harold Bornstein in the headlines?
24. Which cartoon character, regarded as ‘politically incorrect’, was apparently targeted by online censors in China?
25. A pub called The Princess Royal near Turf Moor in Burnley is to be renamed what?

Answers here