The art of a great pub quiz
A good quizmaster should also avoid themed rounds. Saying 'and now – geography' will produce a groan from at least a quarter of the crowd. The best quizzes (like the one we're running for readers in The Spectator's garden on 29 May) rely on nothing more than intriguing questions, such as: 'Who is the only person ever to serve as a minister under four Labour prime ministers?' Or: 'Which world-famous landmark is located on the southern slope of Mount Lee?' They both pass the 'even if you don't get them, you'll kick yourself when you hear the answer' test.
Richard Osman, king of the TV quiz show, says that the only two acceptable responses on hearing an answer are 'I knew that' and 'Oh, I never knew that'. A great quiz can teach you things – such as the fact that Lawrence Dallaglio was one of the backing singers on 'We Don't Need Another Hero' by Tina Turner – but it can also make you feel clever.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Pierce Brosnan, 71, is supported by his stunning granddaughter Isabella Smith, 26, and dapper son Dylan, 28, at The Thursday Murder Club afterparty
Pierce Brosnan turned the premiere for his latest role The Thursday Murder Club into a family affair as he headed to the after party with his granddaughter Isabella and son Dylan on Thursday. The actor, 71, is starring alongside Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie in the film adaptation of Richard Osman 's best-selling novel, which is set to be released on Netflix on Friday. After posing on the red carpet for the premiere, Pierce made his way into the after party with Isabella, 26, and his son Dylan, 28. The James Bond star, who plays Ron in the upcoming flick, looked handsome as ever as he arrived at the star-studded event in a brown double-breasted suit. Isabella, who previously joined her grandfather at the MobLand premiere after party in March, opted for an elegant purple satin gown. Dylan opted to match his dad with a sharp camel suit as they joined fellow star Helen Mirren, who had changed into a chic floral shirt dress, at the party. Pierce has kept a strong family bond with Isabella after her mother, Charlotte - who is his adopted daughter - died from cancer in 2013. Pierce adopted both Charlotte and her younger brother Christopher, 52, after their father, Dermot Harris died in 1986. Charlotte's mother later died of ovarian cancer in 1991, which left the siblings without their biological parents. She then welcomed two children of her own, Isabella and Lucas, with her partner Alex Smith. But Charlotte died just weeks after marrying Alex in 2013 from the same cancer her mother had. Before Cassandra's death, she and Pierce welcomed their biological son, Sean, 41, in 1983. Pierce, who has five children in total, is also a father to Dylan, 28, and Paris, 24, who he welcomed with his current wife Keely Shaye Smith, 61. The Thursday Murder Club centers on a witty group of retirees who spend their days in a peaceful retirement community—bonding over their shared hobby of solving cold cases. But their quiet pastime takes a thrilling turn when they stumble upon a fresh murder mystery that demands their attention. Helen leads the cast as Elizabeth, a sharp ex-spy with a knack for uncovering secrets. Pierce plays Ron, a former union activist with a passionate spirit, while Ben Kingsley portrays Ibrahim, an insightful ex-psychiatrist. Celia Imrie rounds out the group as Joyce, a compassionate ex-nurse who balances the team. Osman wrote the book in secret over 18 months, sparking a fierce 10-way bidding war before Penguin Random House secured the rights for a seven-figure deal in 2019. Upon its 2020 release, The Thursday Murder Club became the only novel that year to sell over one million copies, ranking as the third best-selling hardback behind Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol and JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The success led to three sequels: The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022), and The Last Devil to Die (2023). A fifth installment is already planned for publication next year.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
The Thursday Murder Club stars join Richard Osman at Netflix film's glam UK premiere
The cast and crew of the Thursday Murder Club were among those at the UK premiere today. Guests were invited to Leicester Square Gardens for the launch, ahead of the film's release on Netflix next week. Executive producer Richard Osman, who wrote the murder mystery novel that inspired the film adaptation, was joined by cast members Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley and Celia Imrie on the red carpet. The four leads play amateur sleuths in a retirement village who attempt to solve a murder. Naomi Ackie, Tom Ellis, Daniel Mays and Richard E. Grant were among the other stars of the film at the venue in London. Other guests included Katy Brand, who wrote the screenplay with Suzanne Heathcote. Director Chris Columbus was also in attendance. He posed beside the likes of Steven Spielberg, whose Amblin Entertainment is among the production companies behind the project, at the premiere ahead of the film's release on Netflix next Thursday.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan lead the all-star cast of 'geriatric sleuths' at Thursday Murder Club premiere ahead of hugely anticipated release of Netflix adaptation
and Pierce Brosnan led the all-star cast of 'geriatric sleuths' at the Thursday Murder Club premiere on Thursday night. The actress, 80, looked incredible as she stepped out in an eye-catching, navy, floral gown, as she posed with her fellow thespians while promoting the Netflix crime comedy film based on Richard Osman 's best-selling novel. She layered an elegant, cropped, white dress jacket over her layered gown as she walked the red carpet for her upcoming release in which she stars as Elizabeth Best. Meanwhile, Pierce Brosnan, 72, who stars as Ron, looked handsome as ever as he arrived at the star-studded event in a brown double-breasted suit. He layered his tailored two-piece with a crisp, matching shirt and a matching tie and a pair of sophisticated leather dress shoes. Celia Imrie, 73, who stars as Joyce, put on an eye-catching display as she stepped out in a bright pink, square-neck gown. She cut an elegant display as she paired her dress with a diamond necklace and posed graciously for the cameras. Fellow cast member Sir Ben Kingsley, 81, who plays Ibraham, looked sophisticated as he stepped out in a navy, two-piece suit. The Thursday Murder Club centers on a witty group of retirees who spend their days in a peaceful retirement community—bonding over their shared hobby of solving cold cases. But their quiet pastime takes a thrilling turn when they stumble upon a fresh murder mystery that demands their attention. Helen leads the cast as Elizabeth, a sharp ex-spy with a knack for uncovering secrets. Pierce plays Ron, a former union activist with a passionate spirit, while Ben Kingsley portrays Ibrahim, an insightful ex-psychiatrist. Celia Imrie rounds out the group as Joyce, a compassionate ex-nurse who balances the team. It comes as the actress told how the four main stars of the film have bonded just like their characters in the novel, calling them 'a team'. She cut an elegant display as she paired her dress with a diamond necklace and posed graciously for the cameras Speaking to TV Times magazine, Celia explained: 'It is the way we became a team that I love. And I was excited every day when I woke up and thought of coming to work with these fantastic actors. I couldn't believe my luck.' Meanwhile, Ben was in agreement, adding: 'Working with this cast is like playing tennis with an equal partner. It elevates the game tremendously. The ball never drops or gets lost.' Celia also told how she headed straight to the bookshop to buy herself a copy of the novel after landing the part of Joyce. Speaking more in dept about her character, who is a newcomer to the retirement village, Celia said: 'Joyce has an innocence - she's a bit unsure of herself, but fun, enthusiastic and a good sport. She wants to be included and is keen to make new friends.' She added that the book was a 'lovely reference', allowing her to delve deeper into her character. Helen was also a fan of the book, noting she was one of millions who read it and 'couldn't put it down'. The star noted that she hoped viewers of the movie will be 'entertained and moved'. Osman wrote the book in secret over 18 months, sparking a fierce 10-way bidding war before Penguin Random House secured the rights for a seven-figure deal in 2019. Upon its 2020 release, The Thursday Murder Club became the only novel that year to sell over one million copies, ranking as the third best-selling hardback behind Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol and JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The success led to three sequels: The Man Who Died Twice (2021), The Bullet That Missed (2022), and The Last Devil to Die (2023). A fifth installment is already planned for publication next year.
