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Movie stars, unwanted gifts and a Blue Monday myth – take the Thursday quiz

Does January feel like it has already lasted 1,057 days? Indeed it does. But at least this day is a Thursday, and you know what that means – 15 topical and general knowledge questions once again await you, as do Ron from Sparks, Kate Bush, and this week’s rather obvious nod to the children’s science fiction extravaganza Doctor Who. It is just for fun and there are no prizes, but let us know how you get on in the comments.

The Thursday quiz, No 38

1.DON’T STEP ON IT: Artist James Concannon is suing toy company Lego, claiming they’ve made a minfig which copies the unique design of one of his jackets. The minifig was included in a Lego set for which TV show?

2.LANGUAGE, TIMOTHY: ‘Magikkun’ has become a buzzword in South Korea about a particular type of annoying behaviour on dating apps. But what does it mean?

3.ON THIS DAY: 20 January is the anniversary of the inauguration of many US presidents since Franklin D Roosevelt in 1937 (pictured), when the start of the presidential term was moved from March to January. Which amendment to the US constitution set out that change?

4.GCSE SCIENCE CORNER: If you’ve got some 18 karat gold, how much of it is actually gold in percentage terms?

5.HAPPY BIRTHDAY: It is Tom Baker’s birthday today. Happy birthday, Tom! He’s 88, you know. But what was the name of his first episode starring as the fourth Doctor Who?

6.SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN: That’s a 2017 song by Sparks where they’ve got nothing, just a table and two chairs. But that’s not important right now. 17-year-old Ingvar Kamprad founded which iconic Scandinavian design institution?

7.WHO WAS HENRY McHENRY? Speaking of Sparks, their Leos Carax-directed musical Annette came out on Blu-Ray in the UK last week. Which former Star Wars actor played the male lead role opposite Marion Cotillard?

8.TURN IT UP TURN IT OFF TURN IT IN: Heating firm E.ON Next apologised after, in the middle of an energy pricing crisis, sending what to customers, telling them to turn their heating down and use these to get warm instead?

9.ENSEMBLE CASTS: Which classic 1970s disaster movie featured Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine, Leslie Nielsen and Red Buttons among its cast?

10.RADIO HISTORY: In 1945 the BBC launched The BBC Light Programme as a radio station. It was eventually replaced by BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2. When?

11.RADIO WAVES: Born in Northern Ireland in 1943, which scientist was instrumental in the discovery of pulsars in 1967 while still a graduate student in radio astronomy?

12.WHO AM I? I was the last of the Plantagenets, and met my death in battle in Leicestershire. I was buried in 2015. Who am I?

13.AFCON 21: The Africa Cup of Nations has started in Cameroon for twenty-four men’s football teams. Which of these pairs of teams from the tournament DO NOT share a land border?

14.GAME SET AND MATCH: The Australian Open tennis tournament has been in the news a lot. But where is it played?

15.MUSIC: ‘Blue Monday’ is an incredibly annoying marketing myth about the supposedly most depressing day of the year. But who designed the iconic original 1983 12″ single sleeve that looked like a floppy disc, for New Order’s single Blue Monday?

  • If you do think there has been an egregious error in one of the questions or answers, please feel free to email [email protected] but remember, the quiz master’s word is always final, and he’ll bring the anagrams back if you displease him.

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