Thursday news quiz: torchbearers, traitors and troublemakers

1. 

   The stars of the hit television series Heated Rivalry (not pictured) have been named official torchbearers for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Who are they?

   1. Peter Claffey and Dexter Sol Ansell

   2. Diego Luna and Kyle Soller

   3. Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie

   4. Noel Gallagher and Damon Albarn

2. 

   Who has got into hot water after climbing up the Hollywood sign to hang bras (not pictured) on it?

   1. Margot Robbie

   2. Sydney Sweeney

   3. Florence Pugh

   4. Wile E Coyote

3. 

   Which movie has secured a record 16 Oscar nominations?

   1. One Battle After Another

   2. Sinners

   3. Bugonia

   4. Carry On Up the Khyber

4. 

   Which national broadcaster has a red face after its Facebook page was hacked and started posting pictures of the extreme pornography actor Bonnie Blue?

   1. ABC in Australia

   2. CBC in Canada

   3. NHK in Japan

   4. SBS in Syldavia

5. 

   You can't move for people talking about The Traitors. Where did the TV format originate?

   1. In Belgium as De Mol

   2. In Denmark as Forræder

   3. In the Netherlands as De Verraders

   4. In Germany as Dreißig-Fünfzig Wildschwein

6. 

   You can't move for people talking about Andy Burnham. Which byelection have the Labour hierarchy decided that he can't stand for?

   1. Blackley and Middleton South

   2. Gorton and Denton

   3. Stalybridge and Hyde

   4. Sievey and Aherne

7. 

   This week's guest canine is Reggie, sporting his best PJs in the pub. He wants to know the name of the cat returned to her family in West Yorkshire after apparently being taken by an Amazon delivery driver. Presumably so he can chase her ...

   1. Edie

   2. Ivy

   3. Polly

   4. Nora

8. 

   Kyle Gass has confirmed that he and bandmate Jack Black (pictured) have reconciled and will reunite as which band?

   1. Relentless A

   2. Stubborn B

   3. Obstinate C

   4. Tenacious D

9. 

   Farther or nearer with Geordie Alan Shearer! This week we imagine the England soccer legend wants to know, if he leaves his hometown of Newcastle upon Tyne, which is nearer – Aberdeen or Birmingham?

   1. Aberdeen is nearer to Newcastle upon Tyne than Birmingham

   2. Birmingham is nearer Newcastle upon Tyne than Aberdeen

10. 

    Who has been announced as the new judge on The Great British Bake Off, replacing Prue Leith (pictured)?

    1. Monica Galetti

    2. Delia Smith

    3. Nigella Lawson

    4. Piella Bakewell

11. 

    Amazon is to release its authorised documentary about Melania Trump (pictured, twice) in more than 100 UK cinemas. Vue says sales are ‘soft’. What is it called?

    1. Return

    2. Melania

    3. First Lady

    4. I am a hostage, get me out of here!

12. 

    The Conservative party apologised and withdrew a statement which it claimed was a draft version sent out in error after it appeared to claim the defection of whom to Reform UK was partly fuelled by mental ill-health?

    1. Liz Truss

    2. Katie Lam

    3. Suella Braverman

    4. Mr Blobby

13. 

    Talking of Reform, which band have said they were appalled to hear that Nigel Farage's newly installed leader in Scotland, the multimillionaire financier Malcolm Offord, had quoted one of their songs at some great length?

    1. Deacon Blue, after he quoted Dignity

    2. Bronski Beat, after he quoted Smalltown Boy

    3. The Proclaimers, after he quoted Sunshine on Leith

    4. Sparks, after he quoted Amateur Hour

14. 

    On this day with Brian May! And his badger! 29 January is the anniversary of the publication of The Raven in 1845. The Thursday quiz imagines Queen's legendary guitarist wants you to tell him – and his badger – who wrote it.

    1. Guy de Maupassant

    2. Edgar Allan Poe

    3. Percy Bysshe Shelley

    4. Bobson Dugnutt

15. 

    Who has made it through to the 2026 Super Bowl LX?

    1. Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots

    2. San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles

    3. Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers

    4. Innsmouth Mariners and Melchester Dugga Doos

Solutions

1:C - The actors will carry the Olympic flame during the torch relay that concludes in Milan on 6 February, the day of the opening ceremony, which will be held at Inter Milan’s San Siro football stadium, 2:B - The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce says it did not approve a promotional stunt linked to the actor, after lingerie was draped over the landmark’s letters, 3:B - The film starring Michael B Jordan has so far taken $368m (£266m) worldwide, 4:A - Bonnie Blue (her stage name) recently appeared in a documentary which included her claim to have had sex with 1,057 clients over the course of 12 hours, which feels like a very specific number designed to goad pedants, 5:C - It premiered in 2021, 6:B - The Thursday quiz is sure this will work out well for everyone involved, 7:D - Doorbell footage appeared to show the driver picking Nora up and walking away with her, but she is safely home now, 8:D - The band split after Gass made a joke about an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, which caused a furore among populist rightwing people who are passionate about free speech and against cancel culture, 9:A - Aberdeen is only about 150 miles (240km) away from Newcastle upon Tyne, whereas Birmingham, England is about 174 miles away, a difference of about 84,000 ancient Sumerian cubits. Top bins!, 10:C - Thankfully she is unlikely to be called upon to pronounce microwave, 11:B - A simple title for a simple premise, 12:C - Who hasn't written a draft version slurring somebody's mental health and then pressed send on it to the assembled national media, eh?, 13:A - The band said Reform's ideology was 'completely at odds with what the song, and we as a band, believe', 14:B - Quoth the Raven 'Nevermore', 15:A - They will do some gridiron egg-chucking (the correct technical term) on 8 February

Scores

1. 0 and above.

   We hope you had fun – let us know how you got on in the comments!