Big Quiz of the Year: 2009

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Questions

  1. What cult movie spoof rock band reunited at Glastonbury 2009?
  2. Veronica Lario was much in the news as the angry wife of which womanising European leader?
  3. What search engine did Microsoft launch in 2009?
  4. Cartoonist and screenwriter Millard Kaufman, who died in March 2009, created which short-sighted character?
  5. What two iconic record labels celebrated their 50th anniversaries in 2009?
  6. In two minutes, Amanda Dutta Tumuly achieved a new Guinness world record by eating fifty-one what in two minutes, each rated over one million on the Scoville Scale?
  7. Which budget store chain reported record sales of £400m and claimed to be the UK biggest seller of batteries?
  8. Which computer game invented by Alexi Pajitnov celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009?
  9. Debate continued about whether to build Heathrow's what (3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th) runway?
  10. Whose tour kicked off at Rustenburg on 30 May 2009?
  11. According to a ruling in 2009 by the UK Advertising Standards Authority what could women be shown to do in TV adverts before 11pm?
  12. What supposedly racist nickname for fellow player Kolin Dhillon was Prince Charles alleged to have used at his polo club?
  13. Who won the 2009 BBC Sports Personality Award?
  14. Which monarch's 500th anniversary of accession was featured on a 2009 commemorative £5 coin?
  15. Corcoram State Prison California released a new photo of which 74 year old cult-leading mass murderer?
  16. Who aged 65 became the oldest Britain to climb Mount Everest, as at 2009?
  17. In 2009 the Tamil Tigers conceded defeat as a rebel force in which country's civil war?
  18. Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 became the first Latino or Hispanic person to be selected for which US institution?
  19. What newspaper first exposed the UK parliamentary expenses scandal?
  20. What successful Broadway musical written by Mel Brooks opened controversially in Berlin?
  21. Which previous Governor of the Bank of England died in April 2009?
  22. Who in 2009 became Britain's first individual diving world champion?
  23. Mir Hossein Mousavi was the beaten opponent in which country's presidential election?
  24. American doctor George Tiller was shot dead in Kansas in June 2009 by an activist protesting against what?
  25. Who beat seven foot tall boxer Nikolay Valuev to become the new WBA heavyweight champion?
  26. The 2009 UK budget announced what tax rate (effective April 2010) for earners of more than £150,000 per year?
  27. in 2009 campaigners in Barcelona heightened demands to clean up what famous avenue?
  28. What famous sportsman starred in the 2009 film Looking for Eric?
  29. Which former US Secretary of State returned to academia in 2009 to teach political science at Stanford University?
  30. Who won the 2009 Bafta for best leading actor?
  31. What UK government minister claimed, received and subsequently paid back parliamentary expenses of £500 for painting a summer house?
  32. What iconic American mode of transport was introduced to the UK in August 2009?
  33. Caster Semenya was subjected to a badly handled inquiry into what?
  34. What TV newsman, often voted the most trusted man in America, died in July 2009?
  35. What product launched in India called Sakshat ('before your eyes') with the incredible selling price of 500 rupees (about £7)?
  36. Who beat Tom Watson in the 2009 British Open Golf Championship play-off?
  37. Who fought extradition to the US for allegedly hacking into Pentagon and NASA computers while investigating UFOs?
  38. What band won best international album and group awards at the 2009 Brits?
  39. What socially responsible brand was added to Cadbury's Dairy Milk Chocolate in July 2009?
  40. Through much of 2009 former shareholders of what UK bank sought compensation from the UK government?
  41. Who topped the Forbes' list of the world's most powerful women in 2009?
  42. Real name Alecia Moore, which colourful US diva sold out three London O2 dates in May 2009?
  43. In which island nation were president Marc Ravalomanama's offices stormed by his own country's army in March 2009?
  44. Name the UK prime minister's aide who quit after his ideas for a smear campaign against Conservative ministers were revealed in spring 2009?
  45. Which two clubs contested the 2009 Heinekin Rugby Union Final?
  46. Tidjane Thiam became the first black FTSE 100 CEO when appointed to head what UK financial services company?
  47. The statue of which Royal person was unveiled in London's The Mall in February 2009?
  48. What Dutch satnav maker announced heavy losses in early 2009 due to market pressures?
  49. What date in 2009 saw the heaviest UK snowfall since 1991?
  50. Who won the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction?
  51. Which government minister agreed to pay £13,332 in capital gains tax owed from the sale of a second home, whose avoidance was revealed during the parliamentary expenses scandal?
  52. Which US car maker sold its fleet of novelty collectible vehicles including John Paul II's 'Popemobile'?
  53. John Towers, Nick Stephenson, John Edwards, and Peter Beale (the Phoenix Four) were criticised in a 2009 UK Government report for making vast personal gain while presiding over the collapse of which company?
  54. What street dance group won the UK 2009 Britain's Got Talent TV competition?
  55. What London attraction features on the 2009 commemorative British 50p coin?
  56. After new archaeological survey in 2009 what Asian construction was found to be 5% bigger than previously believed?
  57. Which UK TV presenter called Gordon Brown a 'one-eyed Scottish idiot' ?
  58. What sports TV company formed in 1990 got into financial difficulty and ceased its British broadcasting activities in 2009?
  59. Sir Edward and Lady Joan Downes made the headlines in July 2009 for their joint what?
  60. Whose album Two Suns was nominated for the 2009 Mercury Music Prize?
  61. Which prolific Australian bastman retired in early 2009?
  62. Which famous media son and mogul joined the board of GlaxoSmithKline as non-executive director in Feb 2009?
  63. Which team lost the 2009 Superbowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers?
  64. Rachel Riley succeeded which long-standing UK TV gameshow celebrity in January 2009?
  65. What huge concert promotor and ticket seller coporations merged in 2009?
  66. Which medieval city was the centre of the Italian earthquake of April 2009?
  67. Jacob Zuma led the ANC party to election victory in which country's 2009 election?
  68. What actor who died in 2009 played TV's The Prisoner?
  69. Which boxer won a £1.8m claim against promotor Frank Warren in March 2009?
  70. Which celebrity fronted the successful campaign to grant UK residency rights to Gurkha soldiers?
  71. In what country was the Black Thursday of Action in January 2009?
  72. What England footballer successfully defended a charge of affray in July 2009?
  73. Who became Britain's 'best paid public servant' as the new head of Royal Bank of Scotland?
  74. The tragic videoed killing of Neda Agha-Soltan became iconic following what city's demonstrations?
  75. Jan Kaplicky the architect who died in 2009 designed the space-age-like building at what sports ground?
  76. Ferenc Gyurcsany resigned as prime minister of which country in March 2009?
  77. Which country won the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest?
  78. Daniel Patrick Carroll, who died in May 2009 was an entertainer better known as whom?
  79. Who was deported from the US aged 89 to face a war crime trial in Germany?
  80. Duke D'Mond, who died aged 66 in 2009, was lead singer of which successful UK comedy pop group?
  81. What country was judged in 2009 by the Economist Intelligence Unit to be the safest in the world?
  82. Which ex-leader secured a book deal with Random House in March 2009 provisionally titled Decision Points?
  83. Who resigned in 2009 as Speaker of the UK House of Commons?
  84. Which famous music manager of the Beatles and Rolling Stones died in 2009?
  85. What university-related company and oldest operating book publisher in the world announced major job cuts in April 2009?
  86. Rose Davis, who died in February 2009, led what famous 1970s campaign, whose slogan appeared on many London walls and bridges?
  87. Who won the 2009 Australian men's tennis Open Championship?
  88. What pop star was jailed in 2009 for assaulting a male escort?
  89. What in January 2009 did David Miliband significantly denounce as a 'mistaken concept'?
  90. Who was nominated for the best actress Oscar in the film Doubt?
  91. Which comedian received a Special Achievement Award at the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year event?
  92. Which writer, whose works include Rumpole of the Bailey, died in January 2009?
  93. Criticised for alleged equality and diversity failings in 2009, what does sports body LOCOG stand for?
  94. Hans Bech who died in 2009 invented what popular toy figures?
  95. Government minister Hilary Benn suggested in 2009 a single standard for UK food expiry labelling based on what term: 'sell by', 'use by', 'best before', or 'scratch and sniff'?
  96. The son of which iconic communist was alleged to have been compromised by an eight-month internet romance with 'Claudia', a 46 year-old male Florida prankster?
  97. Actor Laurence Payne who died in February 2009, aged 89, played which fictional detective on TV?
  98. Andy Murray became the first British man to win what tennis tournament since Bunny Austin in 1938?
  99. Dorothy Hughes and Winifred Phillips became at 85 years old the first what?
  100. Which football club bought Ronaldo from Manchester United for £80m?
  101. What architect and peer accused Prince Charles of unconstitutional abuse of power?
  102. Utegate was a political scandal involving a car dealer and the prime minister of which country?
  103. What leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) admitted ironically to receiving over £2m expenses in ten years from the EU, used chiefly for UKIP's promotion of anti-EU policies?
  104. Divya Narenda and the Winklevoss twins, founders of the Connectu and Harvardconnection websites, agreed to a financial settlement from which big internet corporation?
  105. In January 2009 which Asian city introduced a five year prison penalty for carrying a plastic shopping bag?
  106. UK 2009 summer weather conditions prompted fears of a plague of harlequins - what insects are these?
  107. Legal action by 30,000 Ivory Coast people was brought against which company for the allged dumping of toxic waste?
  108. Which country won the 2009 rugby Six Nations Grand Slam?
  109. What was the first predominantly muslim country visited by Barak Obama after becoming US president?
  110. Which controversial politician resigned as Governor of Alaska in July 2009?
  111. Manuel Zelaya was ousted by military coup as leader of what Central American country?
  112. Which Sussex town hosted the G20 Summit in March 2009?
  113. John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) fronted which dairy product ad campaign?
  114. Who was appointed European Ryder Cup Captain in 2009?
  115. US Jazz guitarist Huey Long who died aged 105 was a member of which famous 1940s male vocal group?
  116. Iftikhar Chaudrey was reinstated as Minister of Justice of which country after massive protests?
  117. England's humiliating defeat in their first game of the cricket World Twenty20 Championship was by whom?
  118. In 2009 Coca-Cola paid £30m for a minority share of which UK 'smoothie' drinks company?
  119. Which banker drew strong negative publicity relating to his failed leadership of RBS and substantial pension arrangements?
  120. Which Swedish ex-world heavyweight boxing champion died in February 2009?
  121. Which actor returned to ER in 2009 to huge acclaim?
  122. What was Sophie Kinsella's best selling book of 2009?
  123. Swiss insurance company SUVA launched a campaign in January 2009 urging slower what?
  124. In 2009 who became English football's most capped outfield player?
  125. The phrase 'HDTV is worth every cent' became featured in which TV show's opening sequence?
  126. What politician nicknamed 'the big beast' returned to the Conservative party shadow cabinet?
  127. Which country hosted the 2009 world cycling track championships?
  128. What successful racehorse trainer died on 1 June 2009?
  129. Who created and played the title character of the 2009 film Bruno?
  130. Which UK pornographer and news mogul lost a libel action against biographer Tom Bower in July 2009?
  131. In a 2009 revenge attack on a philandering Wisconsin man, by his wife, lover and other girlfriend what did they stick with superglue to his stomach?
  132. The town of Winnenden, where a deranged teenager massacred 15 school children, is in which country?
  133. Name the convicted Lockerbie bomber released in August 2009?
  134. Which film won the 2009 Bafta for best special visual effects?
  135. The reform charity Transform reported in 2009 that the legalisation of what would save UK taxpayers between £4.6 and £13.9bn per year?
  136. Who took over as Chelsea Football Club manager in February 2009?
  137. Who came third in the UK X-Factor 2009?
  138. Which soccer player maintained his record of playing and and scoring in every Premier League season?
  139. What is Google's 'city panorama' service called, launched in the UK in March 2009?
  140. What did Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Timoshenko change about her appearance which shocked commentators in 2009?
  141. In Killarney, Ireland, Mark Davis became the the first 'Six-Red' world champion in which sport?
  142. Which car's 50th anniversary was featured on a Royal Mint 2009 commemorative coin?
  143. Who bought the bankrupt Woolworths company in February 2009?
  144. Who in 2009 ended Rafael Nadal's 4 year run of 31 wins in the French Open Championship?
  145. As Corpus Christi captain in the University Challenge quiz show who made the news for her remarkable points-scoring?
  146. To the nearest trillion dollars, what total value of coins and banknotes were estimated by Peruvian economics expert Hernando de Soto to be in circulation in the world in March 2009?
  147. Fayette Pinkney who died aged 61 was a founder member of which famous US vocal trio?
  148. French wine makers objected to EU plans to allow the blending of which sort of wine?
  149. Which writer's inkwell and walking cane inscribed with 'cell C33' sold at auction for £7,725 in March 2009?
  150. Who transferred from Anfield to White Hart Lane for £16m in February 2009?
  151. Australian novelist Harry Nicholaides was jailed in January 2009 for insulting the monarchy in which country?
  152. Whose 100th anniversary was celebrated on a 2009 £2 coin?
  153. Which MP's expenses claims included £6,990 for roof repairs submitted two days before leaving office, and substantial part of the interest on a £296,000 remortgage, used to finance the purchase of an additional London property?
  154. Who brought a legal suit against Michael Jackson in early 2009 claiming a share of profits from the Thriller video?
  155. Which company began a hostile takeover bid for Cadbury in September 2009?
  156. Which bankrupt UK construction firm was scrutinised in 2009 for having an £11m ruby on its balance sheet?
  157. Sales of which iconic alcoholic drink were announced to have declined by a third over ten years in its home country?
  158. Which Welsh town had its first public showing of the film Life of Brian in March 2009 afer a 30 year ban?
  159. Which two football clubs contested the 2009 European Champions League Final?
  160. According to a Global Property study where in 2009 is the most expensive property in the world?
  161. What animal was chosen to be the 'Angel of the South'?
  162. Tzipi Livni led her Kadima party in what country's elections?
  163. What website founded by Biz Stone and Jack Dorsey was never out of the news in 2009?
  164. Indian coporation Tata launched a 100,000 rupee (£1,350) new what in 2009?
  165. Name the British mercenary given a presidential pardon from his 34 year jail term for his part in a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea?
  166. Which comic strip footballer was re-published in a classic collection in April 2009?
  167. In what country did President Hugo Chavez disagree with Coca-Cola about land for housing?
  168. Which fast bowler took five wickets for eleven runs in England's 51 all out against the West Indies?
  169. The crowd crush at Birmingham's Millennium Point occurred during a performance by which pop group?
  170. What new biodegradable product launched in the UK under the Chicza Rainforest brand?
  171. Ben Collins was 'outed' in January 2009 as which mysterious TV character?
  172. Which UK 'doorstep' loan company collapsed in 2009 with £2.4bn debts?
  173. What was the name of the British submarine which collided with the French submarine Le Triomphant in February 2009?
  174. What did Eric Holder (new US Attorney General) define as torture that Dick Cheney said was not?
  175. Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander was a failed bank of which country?
  176. Who won Best British Group at the 2009 Brit Awards?
  177. In January 2009 a trolley from which closed-down London restaurant fetched £12,000 at auction?
  178. Who replaced BBC Radio 1's daily morning show DJ Jo Wiley in 2009?
  179. Carol Ann Duffy became the UK's first female what?
  180. What controversial incendiary ingredient was Israel accused of using in bombings of Gaza?
  181. Which UK organisation announced the creation of a thousand new garden allotments in February 2009?
  182. A US Airways Airbus ditched into which river after hitting a flock of birds in January 2009?
  183. In what sport did Miyabiyama defeat Chiyotaikai in Osaka in March 2009?
  184. Which singer made the news for objecting to her songs being sold on a compilation CD by the British National Party?
  185. What did Russian cargo ship Sinegorsk lose 1,500 tones of in the English Channel?
  186. The BBC and Sky refused controversially to broadcast an appeal for where in January 2009?
  187. The 2009 'Bloodgate' rugby union scandal centred on which club?
  188. What TV show became the first cartoon series nominated for an Emmy since the Flintstones?
  189. Who lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup?
  190. Which UK government minister claimed parliamentary expenses for an 88p bath plug and porn movies?
  191. Which singer-songwriter of Baker Street was mistakenly reported missing?
  192. Tycoon Allen Stanford, whose business empire collapsed in 2009, was chiefly associated with which sport?
  193. Unusually for a lady, Peruvian Conchita Cintron who died aged 86 in February 2009, was a famous what?
  194. Ngati Toa, a New Zealand tribal group won the intellectual property rights to what?
  195. What horse won the 2009 Grand National?
  196. Farah Fawcett, who died in 2009, played which character in TV's Charlie's Angels?
  197. Who was the first female president of the Philipines, who died in August 2009?
  198. Which club did Thierry Henri play for in the 2008-9 European Champions League?
  199. In March 2009 organisers announced the cancellation of what big biennial UK show run since 1903?
  200. In December 2009 Ford agreed to sell which famous car subsidiary to China's Zhejiang Geely group?
  201. Which past heavyweight world champion boxer visited his great grandfather's birthplace, Ennis, Ireland?
  202. Which country was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations in 2009?
  203. The European Union banned the manufacture of which wattage incandescent light-bulb in 2009?
  204. Which country reversed a ruling banning Muslims from attending a Black-Eyed Peas concert in 2009?
  205. According to UK research in 2009 on average how many TV ads do viewers see each day, 25; 43; 105 or 207?
  206. In which Los Angeles memorial park was Michael Jackson buried?
  207. Ryan Tubridy took over which Irish (and world's longest running) TV chat show?
  208. Which South Pacific island nation became the first in the 21st century to change its driving on the road from right to left?
  209. A large statue of Apollo was discovered at a Unesco Heritage site in which country?
  210. Which two mobile phone networks agreed to merge their UK businesses in September 2009?
  211. What international organization did Albania and Croatia join on 1st April 2009?
  212. Which African country replaced most of its senior police officers after they were blamed for post-election violence?
  213. Vladimir Voronin resigned as the president of which country?
  214. What Israeli war film, named after the country of conflict featured in it, won the Golden Lion at the 2009 Venice Film Festival?
  215. Ten paintings by which US artist were stolen from the private collection of Richard Wiseman in Los Angeles?
  216. Which Belgian won the 2009 US Open Women's Tennis Singles Championship?
  217. Yukio Hatoyama was sworn in as the sixtieth prime minister of which country?
  218. For her performance in what film did Kate Winslet win her 2009 best actress Oscar?
  219. The Raptorex Kriegsteini, as smaller version of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, was discovered in which country?
  220. Becky Simmon of Guernsey and Lisa Cummings of Ireland were first from their islands to swim what stretch of water respectively once and both ways?
  221. Who in 2009 became the oldest person to have an album in the UK charts?
  222. Arthur's Day celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the lease for which brewery?
  223. A painting by which surrealist artist was stolen from a Brussels museum?
  224. Who was arrested in Zurich on a 31 year old US warrant?
  225. Whose award-winning essay, written when a ten year old, was discovered in Liverpool's Central Library after more than fifty years?
  226. Which US city lost its bid to host the Summer 2016 Olympics?
  227. What was the name of the typhoon which hit the Philippines in October 2009?
  228. What was the descriptive and related name given to a smaller prehistoric site discovered near Stonehenge?
  229. A new ring was discovered around which planet in 2009?
  230. The Red Book, first published in 2009, largely unseen for 70 years, was written by what notable Swiss Psychiatrist?
  231. What US corporation sold Hummer to the Chinese in 2009?
  232. Which author's funeral took place in Baltimore US, 160 years after his death?
  233. The painting La Bella Principessa was attributed to which artist and inventor using fingerprint evidence?
  234. Singer Jade Ewen joined which girl band?
  235. What country first declared internet broadband access to be a legal right?
  236. Which female pop singer made her Bollywood cinema debut in the film Blue?
  237. Which island nation held the world's first underwater cabinet meeting to publicize global warming?
  238. What show did UK Channel 4 head Julian Bellamy say was the station's most influential and popular programme of the last decade?
  239. What was Jenson Button's championship-clinching finishing place in the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix?
  240. Whose 2009 tour titled The Red Piano was partly cancelled due to ill health?
  241. What Tory MP was found to have claimed unsuccessfully on his parliamentary expenses for a floating duck island?
  242. What did US state Rhode Island outlaw after 29 years of decriminalization?
  243. Which baseball team won the 2009 World Series?
  244. Which band performed a massive controversial concert at the Brandenberg Gate celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall?
  245. Ratu Epeli Nailatakau was sworn in as president of which country?
  246. Ant-monarchy protestors clashed with riot police in Montreal during a tour by which British royal person?
  247. For the first time since WWI leaders of which two countries appeared together at a 2009 Remembrance Day ceremony?
  248. What did NASA claim to have discovered after the LCROSS satellite crashed on the Moon?
  249. Which US actor and film director was made a Commander of the Legion d'Honneur in 2009?
  250. The US marijuana cafe opened in which state?
  251. Which country qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1982 after beating Bahrain in a play-off?
  252. What's the value per household of the UK cold weather payment to low income households, as triggered by seven days freezing weather conditions in late 2009?
  253. Doctor Brooke Magnanti came out as which best selling X-rated blogger?
  254. Human rights activist Kumi Naidoo became the first African to head which organization?
  255. The Original of Laura, an incomplete novel by which Russian author was published 32 years after his death?
  256. Who apologised for his handball foul which helped eliminate Ireland from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals?
  257. Who announced in 2009 that they would end their long running US TV Talk Show in 2011?
  258. The European Court of Justice ruled airlines must compensate passengers for delays exceeding how many hours?
  259. What is big particle accelerator on the French-Swiss border, restarted in 2009 after extensive repairs?
  260. What strife-torn country's Football Association was suspended by FIFA due to interference by its government?
  261. Oasis of the Seas became the world's largest what, when completed in 2009?
  262. Two fingers and a tooth belonging to what famous father of science were rediscovered after being missing for over 100 Years?
  263. The Netherlands won the 2009 junior version of which international entertainment competition?
  264. What North England town lost vital bridges in the November 2009 floods and subsequently gained a new railway station?
  265. Which comedian was named outstanding newcomer at the 2009 London Evening Standard theatre awards?
  266. A 2009 referendum in which country banned the construction of new Islamic minarets?
  267. Which country saw court battles surrounding gay marriage and specifically the ceremony for Alex Freyre and Jose Maria Bello?
  268. The new Dreamliner passenger aircraft launched in 2009 is Boeing number what?
  269. A Ryanair jet slid off the runway at which Scottish airport?
  270. From whom did Susan Sarandon announce a split after a long partnership?
  271. Porfirio Lobo Sosa was elected president of which central American nation?
  272. Which band claimed the UK Christmas number one after an internet campaign against Simon Cowell's X-Factor?
  273. Who famously withdrew from his own Chevron World Challenge charity sports event?
  274. Herman Van Rompuy became first Permanent President of what?
  275. Operation Cobra's Anger was launched in what country?
  276. Who won a third term as Mayor of New York City in 2009?
  277. What city hosted the draw for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Finals?
  278. Which English town became the first to be twinned with Walt Disney World in Florida?
  279. The body of which country's former president was stolen from its grave a day before the anniversary of his death?
  280. Which city hosted the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference?
  281. What invertebrate species what filmed for the first time using a tool?
  282. In what TV soap did Tony confess to murdering Liam?
  283. What was Dan Brown's 2009 bestselling and Christmas number one book?
  284. Michale Schumacher announced his Formula One 2010 comeback would be with what team?
  285. Takuo Toda broke the world record for a paper plane flight, launched by hand from the ground, for what time: 8.5 seconds; 26.1 secs; 43.2 secs; or 97mins 6.2 secs?
  286. Ike Aronowitz who died age 86 in 2009 captained what vessel, subject of a highly symbolic book and film?
  287. Part of which iconic leader's palace was discovered by archaeologists in the Mediterranean Sea?
  288. Who was announced as the eleventh Dr Who, replacing the outgoing David Tennant?
  289. Nashville based Mac McAnally was named for the second consecutive year Musician of the Year at which 2009 awards event?
  290. During the parliamentary expenses scandal Speaker of the House John Bercow was revealed to have avoided capital gains tax on the sale of how many properties by 'flipping' his second home designation: none, one, two, or three?
  291. Discovered in 1996, element 112, symbol Cp, was added to the periodic table with what name, in honour of a famous astronomer?
  292. Which football club was the first to win the sextuple of all possible major competitions?
  293. What was the destination city of the plane carrying Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 'underpants bomber'?
  294. A hugely valuable little sculpted guitar recently recovered by police in Italy was made by which cubist artist for his daughter Paloma?
  295. What TV artist who helped popularise the Morph animated character died in 2009?
  296. Which Premier League football club was subject to a winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs at the end of 2009?
  297. What UK airline went bust in December 2009 leaving thousands stranded?
  298. What irreverent publication founded by Chris Donald celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009?
  299. Richard Wright won what major 2009 arts award for his golden fresco in the Tate Britain gallery?
  300. The reform charity Transform reported in 2009 that the legalisation of what would save UK taxpayers between £6 and £9bn per year?
  301. Which UK 'doorstep' loan company collapsed in 2009 with £4bn debts?
  302. Takuo Toda broke the world record for a paper plane flight, launched by hand from the ground, for what time: 5 seconds; 1 secs; 42 secs; or 97mins 2 secs?

Questions & Answers

Interactive Quiz

  1. What cult movie spoof rock band reunited at Glastonbury 2009?
    Spinal Tap
  2. Veronica Lario was much in the news as the angry wife of which womanising European leader?
    Silvio Berlusconi 
  3. What search engine did Microsoft launch in 2009?
    Bing.com
  4. Cartoonist and screenwriter Millard Kaufman, who died in March 2009, created which short-sighted character?
    Mr Magoo
  5. What two iconic record labels celebrated their 50th anniversaries in 2009?
    Motown
  6. In two minutes, Amanda Dutta Tumuly achieved a new Guinness world record by eating fifty-one what in two minutes, each rated over one million on the Scoville Scale?
    Chillies
  7. Which budget store chain reported record sales of £400m and claimed to be the UK biggest seller of batteries?
    Poundland
  8. Which computer game invented by Alexi Pajitnov celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2009?
    Tetris
  9. Debate continued about whether to build Heathrow's what (3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th) runway?
    Third
  10. Whose tour kicked off at Rustenburg on 30 May 2009?
    British Lions 
  11. According to a ruling in 2009 by the UK Advertising Standards Authority what could women be shown to do in TV adverts before 11pm?
    Orgasm
  12. What supposedly racist nickname for fellow player Kolin Dhillon was Prince Charles alleged to have used at his polo club?
    Sooty
  13. Who won the 2009 BBC Sports Personality Award?
    Ryan Giggs
  14. Which monarch's 500th anniversary of accession was featured on a 2009 commemorative £5 coin?
    Henry the Eighth
  15. Corcoram State Prison California released a new photo of which 74 year old cult-leading mass murderer?
    Charles Manson
  16. Who aged 65 became the oldest Britain to climb Mount Everest, as at 2009?
    Sir Ranulph Fiennes
  17. In 2009 the Tamil Tigers conceded defeat as a rebel force in which country's civil war?
    Sri Lanka
  18. Sonia Sotomayor in 2009 became the first Latino or Hispanic person to be selected for which US institution?
    The Supreme Court
  19. What newspaper first exposed the UK parliamentary expenses scandal?
    Daily Telegraph
  20. What successful Broadway musical written by Mel Brooks opened controversially in Berlin?
    The Producers
  21. Which previous Governor of the Bank of England died in April 2009?
    Eddie George
  22. Who in 2009 became Britain's first individual diving world champion?
    Tom Daley
  23. Mir Hossein Mousavi was the beaten opponent in which country's presidential election?
    Iran
  24. American doctor George Tiller was shot dead in Kansas in June 2009 by an activist protesting against what?
    Abortion
  25. Who beat seven foot tall boxer Nikolay Valuev to become the new WBA heavyweight champion?
    David Haye 
  26. The 2009 UK budget announced what tax rate (effective April 2010) for earners of more than £150,000 per year?
    50%
  27. in 2009 campaigners in Barcelona heightened demands to clean up what famous avenue?
    Las Ramblas
  28. What famous sportsman starred in the 2009 film Looking for Eric?
    Eric Cantona
  29. Which former US Secretary of State returned to academia in 2009 to teach political science at Stanford University?
    Condoleeza Rice
  30. Who won the 2009 Bafta for best leading actor?
    Mickey Rourke 
  31. What UK government minister claimed, received and subsequently paid back parliamentary expenses of £500 for painting a summer house?
    Gordon Brown
  32. What iconic American mode of transport was introduced to the UK in August 2009?
    Greyhound Bus
  33. Caster Semenya was subjected to a badly handled inquiry into what?
    Her gender 
  34. What TV newsman, often voted the most trusted man in America, died in July 2009?
    Walter Cronkite
  35. What product launched in India called Sakshat ('before your eyes') with the incredible selling price of 500 rupees (about £7)?
    Laptop computer
  36. Who beat Tom Watson in the 2009 British Open Golf Championship play-off?
    Stuart Cink
  37. Who fought extradition to the US for allegedly hacking into Pentagon and NASA computers while investigating UFOs?
    Gary McKinnon
  38. What band won best international album and group awards at the 2009 Brits?
    Kings of Leon
  39. What socially responsible brand was added to Cadbury's Dairy Milk Chocolate in July 2009?
    Fairtrade
  40. Through much of 2009 former shareholders of what UK bank sought compensation from the UK government?
    Northern Rock
  41. Who topped the Forbes' list of the world's most powerful women in 2009?
    Angela Merkel 
  42. Real name Alecia Moore, which colourful US diva sold out three London O2 dates in May 2009?
    Pink
  43. In which island nation were president Marc Ravalomanama's offices stormed by his own country's army in March 2009?
    Madagascar
  44. Name the UK prime minister's aide who quit after his ideas for a smear campaign against Conservative ministers were revealed in spring 2009?
    Damian McBride
  45. Which two clubs contested the 2009 Heinekin Rugby Union Final?
    Leicester and Leinster 
  46. Tidjane Thiam became the first black FTSE 100 CEO when appointed to head what UK financial services company?
    Prudential
  47. The statue of which Royal person was unveiled in London's The Mall in February 2009?
    The Queen Mother 
  48. What Dutch satnav maker announced heavy losses in early 2009 due to market pressures?
    TomTom
  49. What date in 2009 saw the heaviest UK snowfall since 1991?
    2nd Feb 
  50. Who won the 2009 Man Booker Prize for Fiction?
    Hilary Mantel 
  51. Which government minister agreed to pay £13,332 in capital gains tax owed from the sale of a second home, whose avoidance was revealed during the parliamentary expenses scandal?
    Hazel Blears
  52. Which US car maker sold its fleet of novelty collectible vehicles including John Paul II's 'Popemobile'?
    General Motors
  53. John Towers, Nick Stephenson, John Edwards, and Peter Beale (the Phoenix Four) were criticised in a 2009 UK Government report for making vast personal gain while presiding over the collapse of which company?
    MG Rover
  54. What street dance group won the UK 2009 Britain's Got Talent TV competition?
    Diversity
  55. What London attraction features on the 2009 commemorative British 50p coin?
    Kew Gardens
  56. After new archaeological survey in 2009 what Asian construction was found to be 5% bigger than previously believed?
    The Great Wall of China
  57. Which UK TV presenter called Gordon Brown a 'one-eyed Scottish idiot' ?
    Jeremy Clarkson
  58. What sports TV company formed in 1990 got into financial difficulty and ceased its British broadcasting activities in 2009?
    Setanta 
  59. Sir Edward and Lady Joan Downes made the headlines in July 2009 for their joint what?
    Suicide
  60. Whose album Two Suns was nominated for the 2009 Mercury Music Prize?
    Bat For Lashes
  61. Which prolific Australian bastman retired in early 2009?
    Matthew Hayden
  62. Which famous media son and mogul joined the board of GlaxoSmithKline as non-executive director in Feb 2009?
    James Murdoch
  63. Which team lost the 2009 Superbowl to the Pittsburgh Steelers?
    Arizona Cardinals
  64. Rachel Riley succeeded which long-standing UK TV gameshow celebrity in January 2009?
    Carol Vorderman 
  65. What huge concert promotor and ticket seller coporations merged in 2009?
    Live Nationand Ticketmaster
  66. Which medieval city was the centre of the Italian earthquake of April 2009?
    L'Aquila
  67. Jacob Zuma led the ANC party to election victory in which country's 2009 election?
    South Africa
  68. What actor who died in 2009 played TV's The Prisoner?
    Patrick McGoohan
  69. Which boxer won a £1.8m claim against promotor Frank Warren in March 2009?
    Joe Calzaghe
  70. Which celebrity fronted the successful campaign to grant UK residency rights to Gurkha soldiers?
    Joanna Lumley
  71. In what country was the Black Thursday of Action in January 2009?
    France
  72. What England footballer successfully defended a charge of affray in July 2009?
    Steven Gerrard
  73. Who became Britain's 'best paid public servant' as the new head of Royal Bank of Scotland?
    Stephen Hestor
  74. The tragic videoed killing of Neda Agha-Soltan became iconic following what city's demonstrations?
    Tehran 
  75. Jan Kaplicky the architect who died in 2009 designed the space-age-like building at what sports ground?
    Lords cricket ground
  76. Ferenc Gyurcsany resigned as prime minister of which country in March 2009?
    Hungary
  77. Which country won the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest?
    Norway
  78. Daniel Patrick Carroll, who died in May 2009 was an entertainer better known as whom?
    Danny La Rue
  79. Who was deported from the US aged 89 to face a war crime trial in Germany?
    John Demjanjuk
  80. Duke D'Mond, who died aged 66 in 2009, was lead singer of which successful UK comedy pop group?
    The Barron Knights
  81. What country was judged in 2009 by the Economist Intelligence Unit to be the safest in the world?
    New Zealand
  82. Which ex-leader secured a book deal with Random House in March 2009 provisionally titled Decision Points?
    George W Bush
  83. Who resigned in 2009 as Speaker of the UK House of Commons?
    Michael Martin
  84. Which famous music manager of the Beatles and Rolling Stones died in 2009?
    Allen Klein
  85. What university-related company and oldest operating book publisher in the world announced major job cuts in April 2009?
    Cambridge University Press
  86. Rose Davis, who died in February 2009, led what famous 1970s campaign, whose slogan appeared on many London walls and bridges?
    Free George Davis
  87. Who won the 2009 Australian men's tennis Open Championship?
    Rafael Nadal
  88. What pop star was jailed in 2009 for assaulting a male escort?
    Boy George 
  89. What in January 2009 did David Miliband significantly denounce as a 'mistaken concept'?
    The War on Terror
  90. Who was nominated for the best actress Oscar in the film Doubt?
    Meryl Streep
  91. Which comedian received a Special Achievement Award at the 2009 BBC Sports Personality of the Year event?
    Eddie Izzard
  92. Which writer, whose works include Rumpole of the Bailey, died in January 2009?
    John Mortimer
  93. Criticised for alleged equality and diversity failings in 2009, what does sports body LOCOG stand for?
    London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games
  94. Hans Bech who died in 2009 invented what popular toy figures?
    Playmobil
  95. Government minister Hilary Benn suggested in 2009 a single standard for UK food expiry labelling based on what term: 'sell by', 'use by', 'best before', or 'scratch and sniff'?
    Use by
  96. The son of which iconic communist was alleged to have been compromised by an eight-month internet romance with 'Claudia', a 46 year-old male Florida prankster?
    Fidel Castro
  97. Actor Laurence Payne who died in February 2009, aged 89, played which fictional detective on TV?
    Sexton Blake
  98. Andy Murray became the first British man to win what tennis tournament since Bunny Austin in 1938?
    Queen's
  99. Dorothy Hughes and Winifred Phillips became at 85 years old the first what?
    Chelsea Pensioners
  100. Which football club bought Ronaldo from Manchester United for £80m?
    Real Madrid
  101. What architect and peer accused Prince Charles of unconstitutional abuse of power?
    Richard Rogers 
  102. Utegate was a political scandal involving a car dealer and the prime minister of which country?
    Australia 
  103. What leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) admitted ironically to receiving over £2m expenses in ten years from the EU, used chiefly for UKIP's promotion of anti-EU policies?
    Nigel Farage
  104. Divya Narenda and the Winklevoss twins, founders of the Connectu and Harvardconnection websites, agreed to a financial settlement from which big internet corporation?
    Facebook
  105. In January 2009 which Asian city introduced a five year prison penalty for carrying a plastic shopping bag?
    Delhi
  106. UK 2009 summer weather conditions prompted fears of a plague of harlequins - what insects are these?
    Ladybirds
  107. Legal action by 30,000 Ivory Coast people was brought against which company for the allged dumping of toxic waste?
    Trafigura
  108. Which country won the 2009 rugby Six Nations Grand Slam?
    Ireland
  109. What was the first predominantly muslim country visited by Barak Obama after becoming US president?
    Turkey 
  110. Which controversial politician resigned as Governor of Alaska in July 2009?
    Sarah Palin
  111. Manuel Zelaya was ousted by military coup as leader of what Central American country?
    Honduras
  112. Which Sussex town hosted the G20 Summit in March 2009?
    Horsham
  113. John Lydon (Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols) fronted which dairy product ad campaign?
    Country Life
  114. Who was appointed European Ryder Cup Captain in 2009?
    Colin Montgomerie
  115. US Jazz guitarist Huey Long who died aged 105 was a member of which famous 1940s male vocal group?
    The Inkspots
  116. Iftikhar Chaudrey was reinstated as Minister of Justice of which country after massive protests?
    Pakistan
  117. England's humiliating defeat in their first game of the cricket World Twenty20 Championship was by whom?
    Holland
  118. In 2009 Coca-Cola paid £30m for a minority share of which UK 'smoothie' drinks company?
    Innocent
  119. Which banker drew strong negative publicity relating to his failed leadership of RBS and substantial pension arrangements?
    Sir Fred Goodwin
  120. Which Swedish ex-world heavyweight boxing champion died in February 2009?
    Ingemar Johansson
  121. Which actor returned to ER in 2009 to huge acclaim?
    George Clooney
  122. What was Sophie Kinsella's best selling book of 2009?
    Confessions of a Shopaholic
  123. Swiss insurance company SUVA launched a campaign in January 2009 urging slower what?
    Skiing
  124. In 2009 who became English football's most capped outfield player?
    David Beckham
  125. The phrase 'HDTV is worth every cent' became featured in which TV show's opening sequence?
    The Simpsons
  126. What politician nicknamed 'the big beast' returned to the Conservative party shadow cabinet?
    Kenneth Clarke
  127. Which country hosted the 2009 world cycling track championships?
    Poland
  128. What successful racehorse trainer died on 1 June 2009?
    Vincent O'Brien
  129. Who created and played the title character of the 2009 film Bruno?
    Sasha Baron Cohen
  130. Which UK pornographer and news mogul lost a libel action against biographer Tom Bower in July 2009?
    Richard Desmond
  131. In a 2009 revenge attack on a philandering Wisconsin man, by his wife, lover and other girlfriend what did they stick with superglue to his stomach?
    His penis
  132. The town of Winnenden, where a deranged teenager massacred 15 school children, is in which country?
    Germany
  133. Name the convicted Lockerbie bomber released in August 2009?
    Abdelbaset al-Megrahi 
  134. Which film won the 2009 Bafta for best special visual effects?
    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  135. The reform charity Transform reported in 2009 that the legalisation of what would save UK taxpayers between £4.6 and £13.9bn per year?
    Drugs
  136. Who took over as Chelsea Football Club manager in February 2009?
    Guus Hiddink
  137. Who came third in the UK X-Factor 2009?
    Stacey Solomon
  138. Which soccer player maintained his record of playing and and scoring in every Premier League season?
    Ryan Giggs 
  139. What is Google's 'city panorama' service called, launched in the UK in March 2009?
    Street View
  140. What did Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Timoshenko change about her appearance which shocked commentators in 2009?
    Hairstyle 
  141. In Killarney, Ireland, Mark Davis became the the first 'Six-Red' world champion in which sport?
    Snooker
  142. Which car's 50th anniversary was featured on a Royal Mint 2009 commemorative coin?
    The Mini
  143. Who bought the bankrupt Woolworths company in February 2009?
    David and Frederick Barclay 
  144. Who in 2009 ended Rafael Nadal's 4 year run of 31 wins in the French Open Championship?
    Robin Soderling 
  145. As Corpus Christi captain in the University Challenge quiz show who made the news for her remarkable points-scoring?
    Gail Trimble
  146. To the nearest trillion dollars, what total value of coins and banknotes were estimated by Peruvian economics expert Hernando de Soto to be in circulation in the world in March 2009?
    Thirteen 
  147. Fayette Pinkney who died aged 61 was a founder member of which famous US vocal trio?
    The Three Degrees
  148. French wine makers objected to EU plans to allow the blending of which sort of wine?
    Rosé
  149. Which writer's inkwell and walking cane inscribed with 'cell C33' sold at auction for £7,725 in March 2009?
    Oscar Wilde
  150. Who transferred from Anfield to White Hart Lane for £16m in February 2009?
    Robbie Keane 
  151. Australian novelist Harry Nicholaides was jailed in January 2009 for insulting the monarchy in which country?
    Thailand
  152. Whose 100th anniversary was celebrated on a 2009 £2 coin?
    Charles Darwin
  153. Which MP's expenses claims included £6,990 for roof repairs submitted two days before leaving office, and substantial part of the interest on a £296,000 remortgage, used to finance the purchase of an additional London property?
    Tony Blair
  154. Who brought a legal suit against Michael Jackson in early 2009 claiming a share of profits from the Thriller video?
    John Landis
  155. Which company began a hostile takeover bid for Cadbury in September 2009?
    Kraft
  156. Which bankrupt UK construction firm was scrutinised in 2009 for having an £11m ruby on its balance sheet?
    Wrekin
  157. Sales of which iconic alcoholic drink were announced to have declined by a third over ten years in its home country?
    Guinness
  158. Which Welsh town had its first public showing of the film Life of Brian in March 2009 afer a 30 year ban?
    Aberystwyth
  159. Which two football clubs contested the 2009 European Champions League Final?
    Manchester Utd and Barcelona 
  160. According to a Global Property study where in 2009 is the most expensive property in the world?
    Monte Carlo 
  161. What animal was chosen to be the 'Angel of the South'?
    Horse 
  162. Tzipi Livni led her Kadima party in what country's elections?
    Israel
  163. What website founded by Biz Stone and Jack Dorsey was never out of the news in 2009?
    Twitter
  164. Indian coporation Tata launched a 100,000 rupee (£1,350) new what in 2009?
    Car
  165. Name the British mercenary given a presidential pardon from his 34 year jail term for his part in a failed coup in Equatorial Guinea?
    Simon Mann
  166. Which comic strip footballer was re-published in a classic collection in April 2009?
    Roy of the Rovers
  167. In what country did President Hugo Chavez disagree with Coca-Cola about land for housing?
    Venezuela
  168. Which fast bowler took five wickets for eleven runs in England's 51 all out against the West Indies?
    Jerome Taylor
  169. The crowd crush at Birmingham's Millennium Point occurred during a performance by which pop group?
    JLS
  170. What new biodegradable product launched in the UK under the Chicza Rainforest brand?
    Chewing gum
  171. Ben Collins was 'outed' in January 2009 as which mysterious TV character?
    The Stig
  172. Which UK 'doorstep' loan company collapsed in 2009 with £2.4bn debts?
    Cattles
  173. What was the name of the British submarine which collided with the French submarine Le Triomphant in February 2009?
    HMS Vanguard
  174. What did Eric Holder (new US Attorney General) define as torture that Dick Cheney said was not?
    Waterboarding 
  175. Kaupthing Singer and Friedlander was a failed bank of which country?
    Iceland
  176. Who won Best British Group at the 2009 Brit Awards?
    Elbow
  177. In January 2009 a trolley from which closed-down London restaurant fetched £12,000 at auction?
    Cafe Royal
  178. Who replaced BBC Radio 1's daily morning show DJ Jo Wiley in 2009?
    Fearne Cotton
  179. Carol Ann Duffy became the UK's first female what?
    Poet Laureate
  180. What controversial incendiary ingredient was Israel accused of using in bombings of Gaza?
    White Phospherous
  181. Which UK organisation announced the creation of a thousand new garden allotments in February 2009?
    The National Trust
  182. A US Airways Airbus ditched into which river after hitting a flock of birds in January 2009?
    Hudson 
  183. In what sport did Miyabiyama defeat Chiyotaikai in Osaka in March 2009?
    Sumo wrestling
  184. Which singer made the news for objecting to her songs being sold on a compilation CD by the British National Party?
    Dame Vera Lynn
  185. What did Russian cargo ship Sinegorsk lose 1,500 tones of in the English Channel?
    Timber
  186. The BBC and Sky refused controversially to broadcast an appeal for where in January 2009?
    Gaza 
  187. The 2009 'Bloodgate' rugby union scandal centred on which club?
    Harlequins
  188. What TV show became the first cartoon series nominated for an Emmy since the Flintstones?
    Family Guy
  189. Who lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup?
    Everton
  190. Which UK government minister claimed parliamentary expenses for an 88p bath plug and porn movies?
    Jacqui Smith 
  191. Which singer-songwriter of Baker Street was mistakenly reported missing?
    Gerry Rafferty
  192. Tycoon Allen Stanford, whose business empire collapsed in 2009, was chiefly associated with which sport?
    Cricket
  193. Unusually for a lady, Peruvian Conchita Cintron who died aged 86 in February 2009, was a famous what?
    Bullfighter
  194. Ngati Toa, a New Zealand tribal group won the intellectual property rights to what?
    The Maori Haka 
  195. What horse won the 2009 Grand National?
    Mon Mome
  196. Farah Fawcett, who died in 2009, played which character in TV's Charlie's Angels?
    Jill Munroe
  197. Who was the first female president of the Philipines, who died in August 2009?
    Corazon 'Cory' Aquino
  198. Which club did Thierry Henri play for in the 2008-9 European Champions League?
    Barcelona
  199. In March 2009 organisers announced the cancellation of what big biennial UK show run since 1903?
    The Motor Show
  200. In December 2009 Ford agreed to sell which famous car subsidiary to China's Zhejiang Geely group?
    Volvo
  201. Which past heavyweight world champion boxer visited his great grandfather's birthplace, Ennis, Ireland?
    Muhammad Ali
  202. Which country was suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations in 2009?
    Fiji
  203. The European Union banned the manufacture of which wattage incandescent light-bulb in 2009?
    100 watt
  204. Which country reversed a ruling banning Muslims from attending a Black-Eyed Peas concert in 2009?
    Malaysia
  205. According to UK research in 2009 on average how many TV ads do viewers see each day, 25; 43; 105 or 207?
    43
  206. In which Los Angeles memorial park was Michael Jackson buried?
    Forest Lawn
  207. Ryan Tubridy took over which Irish (and world's longest running) TV chat show?
    The Late Late Show
  208. Which South Pacific island nation became the first in the 21st century to change its driving on the road from right to left?
    Samoa
  209. A large statue of Apollo was discovered at a Unesco Heritage site in which country?
    Turkey
  210. Which two mobile phone networks agreed to merge their UK businesses in September 2009?
    T-Mobile and Orange
  211. What international organization did Albania and Croatia join on 1st April 2009?
    NATO
  212. Which African country replaced most of its senior police officers after they were blamed for post-election violence?
    Kenya
  213. Vladimir Voronin resigned as the president of which country?
    Moldova
  214. What Israeli war film, named after the country of conflict featured in it, won the Golden Lion at the 2009 Venice Film Festival?
    Lebanon
  215. Ten paintings by which US artist were stolen from the private collection of Richard Wiseman in Los Angeles?
    Andy Warhol
  216. Which Belgian won the 2009 US Open Women's Tennis Singles Championship?
    Kim Clijsters
  217. Yukio Hatoyama was sworn in as the sixtieth prime minister of which country?
    Japan
  218. For her performance in what film did Kate Winslet win her 2009 best actress Oscar?
    The Reader
  219. The Raptorex Kriegsteini, as smaller version of the Tyrannosaurus Rex, was discovered in which country?
    China
  220. Becky Simmon of Guernsey and Lisa Cummings of Ireland were first from their islands to swim what stretch of water respectively once and both ways?
    The English Channel
  221. Who in 2009 became the oldest person to have an album in the UK charts?
    Dame Vera Lynn
  222. Arthur's Day celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the lease for which brewery?
    Guinness
  223. A painting by which surrealist artist was stolen from a Brussels museum?
    Rene Magritte
  224. Who was arrested in Zurich on a 31 year old US warrant?
    Roman Polanski
  225. Whose award-winning essay, written when a ten year old, was discovered in Liverpool's Central Library after more than fifty years?
    Paul McCartney
  226. Which US city lost its bid to host the Summer 2016 Olympics?
    Chicago
  227. What was the name of the typhoon which hit the Philippines in October 2009?
    Parma
  228. What was the descriptive and related name given to a smaller prehistoric site discovered near Stonehenge?
    Bluehenge
  229. A new ring was discovered around which planet in 2009?
    Saturn
  230. The Red Book, first published in 2009, largely unseen for 70 years, was written by what notable Swiss Psychiatrist?
    Carl Jung
  231. What US corporation sold Hummer to the Chinese in 2009?
    General Motors
  232. Which author's funeral took place in Baltimore US, 160 years after his death?
    Edgar Allen Poe
  233. The painting La Bella Principessa was attributed to which artist and inventor using fingerprint evidence?
    Leonardo da Vinci
  234. Singer Jade Ewen joined which girl band?
    Sugarbabes
  235. What country first declared internet broadband access to be a legal right?
    Finland
  236. Which female pop singer made her Bollywood cinema debut in the film Blue?
    Kylie Minogue
  237. Which island nation held the world's first underwater cabinet meeting to publicize global warming?
    The Maldives
  238. What show did UK Channel 4 head Julian Bellamy say was the station's most influential and popular programme of the last decade?
    Big Brother
  239. What was Jenson Button's championship-clinching finishing place in the 2009 Brazilian Grand Prix?
    Fifth
  240. Whose 2009 tour titled The Red Piano was partly cancelled due to ill health?
    Elton John
  241. What Tory MP was found to have claimed unsuccessfully on his parliamentary expenses for a floating duck island?
    Sir Peter Viggers
  242. What did US state Rhode Island outlaw after 29 years of decriminalization?
    Prostitution
  243. Which baseball team won the 2009 World Series?
    New York Yankees
  244. Which band performed a massive controversial concert at the Brandenberg Gate celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall?
    U2
  245. Ratu Epeli Nailatakau was sworn in as president of which country?
    Fiji
  246. Ant-monarchy protestors clashed with riot police in Montreal during a tour by which British royal person?
    Prince Charles
  247. For the first time since WWI leaders of which two countries appeared together at a 2009 Remembrance Day ceremony?
    Germany and France
  248. What did NASA claim to have discovered after the LCROSS satellite crashed on the Moon?
    Water
  249. Which US actor and film director was made a Commander of the Legion d'Honneur in 2009?
    Clint Eastwood
  250. The US marijuana cafe opened in which state?
    Oregon
  251. Which country qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1982 after beating Bahrain in a play-off?
    New Zealand
  252. What's the value per household of the UK cold weather payment to low income households, as triggered by seven days freezing weather conditions in late 2009?
    £25
  253. Doctor Brooke Magnanti came out as which best selling X-rated blogger?
    Belle de Jour
  254. Human rights activist Kumi Naidoo became the first African to head which organization?
    Greenpeace
  255. The Original of Laura, an incomplete novel by which Russian author was published 32 years after his death?
    Vladimir Nabokov
  256. Who apologised for his handball foul which helped eliminate Ireland from the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals?
    Thierry Henri
  257. Who announced in 2009 that they would end their long running US TV Talk Show in 2011?
    Oprah Winfrey
  258. The European Court of Justice ruled airlines must compensate passengers for delays exceeding how many hours?
    Three
  259. What is big particle accelerator on the French-Swiss border, restarted in 2009 after extensive repairs?
    The Large Hadron Collider
  260. What strife-torn country's Football Association was suspended by FIFA due to interference by its government?
    Iraq
  261. Oasis of the Seas became the world's largest what, when completed in 2009?
    Cruise Ship
  262. Two fingers and a tooth belonging to what famous father of science were rediscovered after being missing for over 100 Years?
    Galileo Galilei
  263. The Netherlands won the 2009 junior version of which international entertainment competition?
    Eurovision Song Contest
  264. What North England town lost vital bridges in the November 2009 floods and subsequently gained a new railway station?
    Workington
  265. Which comedian was named outstanding newcomer at the 2009 London Evening Standard theatre awards?
    Lenny Henry
  266. A 2009 referendum in which country banned the construction of new Islamic minarets?
    Switzerland
  267. Which country saw court battles surrounding gay marriage and specifically the ceremony for Alex Freyre and Jose Maria Bello?
    Argentina
  268. The new Dreamliner passenger aircraft launched in 2009 is Boeing number what?
    787
  269. A Ryanair jet slid off the runway at which Scottish airport?
    Prestwick
  270. From whom did Susan Sarandon announce a split after a long partnership?
    Tim Robbins
  271. Porfirio Lobo Sosa was elected president of which central American nation?
    Honduras
  272. Which band claimed the UK Christmas number one after an internet campaign against Simon Cowell's X-Factor?
    Rage Against the Machine
  273. Who famously withdrew from his own Chevron World Challenge charity sports event?
    Tiger Woods
  274. Herman Van Rompuy became first Permanent President of what?
    The European Council
  275. Operation Cobra's Anger was launched in what country?
    Afghanistan
  276. Who won a third term as Mayor of New York City in 2009?
    Michael Bloomberg
  277. What city hosted the draw for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Finals?
    Cape Town
  278. Which English town became the first to be twinned with Walt Disney World in Florida?
    Swindon
  279. The body of which country's former president was stolen from its grave a day before the anniversary of his death?
    Cyprus 
  280. Which city hosted the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference?
    Copenhagen
  281. What invertebrate species what filmed for the first time using a tool?
    Octopus 
  282. In what TV soap did Tony confess to murdering Liam?
    Coronation Street
  283. What was Dan Brown's 2009 bestselling and Christmas number one book?
    The Lost Symbol
  284. Michale Schumacher announced his Formula One 2010 comeback would be with what team?
    Mercedes
  285. Takuo Toda broke the world record for a paper plane flight, launched by hand from the ground, for what time: 8.5 seconds; 26.1 secs; 43.2 secs; or 97mins 6.2 secs?
    26.1 seconds
  286. Ike Aronowitz who died age 86 in 2009 captained what vessel, subject of a highly symbolic book and film?
    Exodus
  287. Part of which iconic leader's palace was discovered by archaeologists in the Mediterranean Sea?
    Cleopatra
  288. Who was announced as the eleventh Dr Who, replacing the outgoing David Tennant?
    Matt Smith
  289. Nashville based Mac McAnally was named for the second consecutive year Musician of the Year at which 2009 awards event?
    CMA Awards 
  290. During the parliamentary expenses scandal Speaker of the House John Bercow was revealed to have avoided capital gains tax on the sale of how many properties by 'flipping' his second home designation: none, one, two, or three?
    Two
  291. Discovered in 1996, element 112, symbol Cp, was added to the periodic table with what name, in honour of a famous astronomer?
    Copernicium 
  292. Which football club was the first to win the sextuple of all possible major competitions?
    Barcelona
  293. What was the destination city of the plane carrying Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 'underpants bomber'?
    Detroit
  294. A hugely valuable little sculpted guitar recently recovered by police in Italy was made by which cubist artist for his daughter Paloma?
    Pablo Picasso
  295. What TV artist who helped popularise the Morph animated character died in 2009?
    Tony Hart
  296. Which Premier League football club was subject to a winding up petition by HM Revenue and Customs at the end of 2009?
    Portsmouth FC
  297. What UK airline went bust in December 2009 leaving thousands stranded?
    Flyglobespan
  298. What irreverent publication founded by Chris Donald celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2009?
    Viz
  299. Richard Wright won what major 2009 arts award for his golden fresco in the Tate Britain gallery?
    The Turner Prize
  300. The reform charity Transform reported in 2009 that the legalisation of what would save UK taxpayers between £6 and £9bn per year?
    Drugs
  301. Which UK 'doorstep' loan company collapsed in 2009 with £4bn debts?
    Cattles
  302. Takuo Toda broke the world record for a paper plane flight, launched by hand from the ground, for what time: 5 seconds; 1 secs; 42 secs; or 97mins 2 secs?
    21 seconds
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