Season 3 - Week 2 Flashcards
What landmark Dublin hotel, located on O’Connell Street, has been owned since 2016 by the Spanish Riu group, resulting in “Riu Plaza” being part of the hotel’s current branding?
The Gresham
Dying in 2005 exactly one day before his 93rd birthday, who is the longest-lived British Prime Minister of all time? The primary cause of this Labour PM’s downfall was the so-called “Winter of Discontent” in 1978-79, a period marred by widespread strikes and civil unrest.
James Callaghan
(Name and regnal number required) Acceding to the French throne in 1589, who was the first monarch of the centuries-long Bourbon dynasty? A king of the same name and regnal number was crowned in England almost 200 years previously
Henry IV
With a population of 1.5 million, Mwanza, also known as “Rock City”, is the second-largest city in what African country?
Tanzania
What popular comedic character originated on the 1991 BBC Radio sitcom On The Hour , a spoof news programme where the character in question served as the sport correspondent?
Alan Partridge
What traditional Irish dish consists of a mixture of mashed potatoes, milk, butter and either cabbage or kale? It is not to be confused with “champ”, which is made with scallions instead of kale.
Colcannon
Due to multiple price increases in recent years, most Irish postage stamps no longer display a monetary amount. Instead, stamps intended to be used for standard letter post within Ireland display what letter of the alphabet?
N (for National)
ISBN numbers, the international scheme for assigning unique identifying numbers to books, was originally invented by which British chain of newsagents & bookshops in the late 1960s?
WH Smith
The 2021 song Cold Heart by Elton John and Dua Lipa consists of a mashup of several classic Elton John hits, including which 1990 track, a lyric from which gives the song its title?
Sacrifice
The fashion accessory called a “fanny pack” in the US is usually known by what name in British English?
Bum bag
Name the Indian author who won the 2005 Booker Prize for her second novel The Inheritance of Loss? Then aged 35, at the time this made her the youngest woman to win the award. She has not published any further novels since, although she has reportedly been working on a follow-up for over a decade.
Kiran Desai
Name the Polish tennis player who is the reigning US Open ladies’ singles champion, beating Ons Jabeur in the 2022 final?
Iga Swiatek
Not to be confused with philatelists a.k.a. stamp collectors, the term “fusilatelists” describes collectors of what disposable items? Unlike postage stamps, these items are nowadays obsolete - their production having peaked in the early 1990s with the last Irish example produced in 2003.
Phone cards (accept Callcards)
Along with raisins, what nut is the other titular ingredient in Cadbury’s Fruit & Nut chocolate bar?
Almond(s)
Daniel Craig made his debut as eccentric detective Benoit Blanc in what acclaimed 2019 murder mystery film? The film shares its name with a Radiohead song from the 2001 album Amnesiac .
Knives Out
What major junction in Manhattan, at the south-west corner of Central Park, serves as the city’s “zero mile marker”, meaning that road distances to and from New York are measured from that spot?
Columbus Circle
The 2022 song Hold Me Closer by Elton John and Britney Spears consists of a mashup of several classic Elton John hits, including which 1972 track, a lyric from which gives the song its title?
Tiny Dancer
(Name and regnal number required) On the French throne between 1824 and 1830, who was the last undisputed king of the Bourbon dynasty? He shares his name - but not his regnal number - with at least one English king both before and after his reign.
Charles X
Dying in 1986 exactly one month before his 93rd birthday, who held the record of longest-lived British Prime Minister prior to James Callaghan? This Conservative PM’s sudden retirement from office in 1963 was officially due to ill health, though it surely wasn’t helped by the Profumo Affair earlier that year.
Harold Macmillan
What ingredient is the titular “Nut” in Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut (formerly known as Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes)?
Peanut(s)
Ibuprofen, the common pain relief drug, was originally discovered in the early 1960s by the research arm of what British chain of pharmacies?
Boots
What major junction in London, just to the south of Trafalgar Square, serves as the city’s “zero mile marker”, meaning that road distances to and from London are measured from that spot?
Charing Cross
What traditional Irish dish, most associated with Dublin, originated as a means of using up leftovers and usually consists of sliced potatoes, onions, sausages, rashers and stock cooked together in a casserole dish?
Coddle
Similar to the “N” designation for national stamps, what single letter is currently displayed on Irish postage stamps which are suitable for standard letter post to any country outside of Ireland?
W (for World)
What landmark Dublin hotel, located on St. Stephen’s Green, has since 2003 been operated by a subsidiary of the Marriott Hotel group, resulting in “Autograph Collection” being part of the hotel’s current branding?
The Shelbourne
Name the New Zealand author who won the 2013 Booker Prize for her second novel The Luminaries ? At the time she was 28, which makes her the youngest person ever to win the award. After a decade-long gap, her next novel Birnam Wood is due out next month
Eleanor Catton
What popular comedic character originated on the late 1990s Channel 4 series The 11 O’Clock Show , a satirical late-night programme where the character in question served as a spoof interviewer?
Ali G (accept Alistair Leslie Graham)
