Sparks have announced a new live album, which they claim was recorded on the moon. That somewhat ups the ante for other acts. Maybe Harry Styles will have to go to Mars for his next residency? Or Taylor Swift tour the asteroid belt? Regardless of all that, a lot of people have expressed the opinion that the Thursday news quiz reminds them of Uranus. Fifteen questions await you on topical news, general knowledge and pub culture. There are no prizes, but let us know how you get on in the comments. Allons-y!
The Thursday news quiz, No 252
- 1.What are the names of the vessels that had a contretemps in the Channel/La Manche (rayer la mention inutile) this week?
- 2.Swiss voters (pictured) rejected a referendum proposal to cap the population at what?
- 3.Lovely Rosamund Pike keeps getting into the quiz because things keep disrupting her performances at the theatre. What happened this time?
- 4.Lovely Lewis Hamilton drove his car (not pictured) around in circles faster than anybody else drove their car around in circles, and so won his first F1 Grand Prix for donkey's years. Where?
- 5.A moped stolen in 1984 – possibly by a racoon (pictured), it hasn't been ruled out – has been traced and returned to its rightful owner after four decades. Where?
- 6.Which brand has had to apologise after the rotters appear to have featured a Japanese drum at a Chinese yoga festival?
- 7.This week's guest canine is Fred, who the quiz master met at Ye Olde Rose and Crown, but who wouldn't look at the camera. Tell Fred who has been recently appointed the Cameron Mackintosh visiting professor of contemporary theatre at St Catherine’s College, Oxford?
- 8.Which Radio 4 programme is being axed after 50 years?
- 9.The artist JR has turned which famous Paris bridge (not pictured – that's the Eiffel Tower, obviously) into a cave-like installation?
- 10.It is Alison Moyet's birthday today! Happy birthday, Alison! Yazoo! Where does she come from?
- 11.Who rocked the Fifa World Cup world by being the tiny nation who drew 0-0 with Spain this week?
- 12.A guest feline (not pictured) stole the scene at the performance by the Imperial Russian Ballet Company in Izmir, Turkey. Which ballet were they putting on?
- 13.CBS has reached an agreement over Stephen Colbert’s use of which music on his final The Late Show?
- 14.On this day with Brian May! And his badger! 18 June is the anniversary of a woman being fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 US presidential election. The Thursday quiz imagines Queen's legendary guitarist wants you to tell him – and his badger – who …
- 15.Investigators in Japan (pictured – the country, not the investigators) have raided six companies accusing them of being a cartel conspiring to fix the price of what?
If you really do think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers – and can show your working and are absolutely 100% positive you aren’t attempting to factcheck a joke – you can complain about it in the comments below. Why not watch Whippings And Apologies (Live On The Moon) by Sparks instead?