Thursday news quiz: Eurovision winners, Tesla swimmers and Strictly zingers

The swan of knowledge has some questions for you. Illustration: Anais Mims/The Guardian

Welcome to the Thursday news quiz, where once again, thanks to our winsome illustration by Anaïs Mims, you are being challenged by the swan of knowledge. Will you give the impression of serenely gliding through 15 questions on topical news, general knowledge and pop culture? Or will it charge out of the lake at you and break your arm? There are no prizes, but let us know how you got on in the comments. Allons-y!

The Thursday news quiz, No 248

1. 

   This week's guest canine is Momo, who is six years old and who the Thursday quiz met in Vienna. Remind her who won Eurovision …

   1. Zara with Zangaranga

   2. Hera with Vangaranga

   3. Dara with Bangaranga

   4. Uncle with Drogna Drogna Rangdo

2. 

   Which legendary British actor (not pictured) formally opened a new space for Ensemble '84 (not pictured), a theatre company formed 18 months ago in Horden?

   1. Derek Jacobi

   2. Judi Dench

   3. Ian McKellen

   4. Helen Mirren

3. 

   In one of those news stories that the Thursday quiz can't quite comprehend, which watch brand had to close its shops because too many people were clamouring to buy something that shows them exactly what their phone will tell them?

   1. Sekonda

   2. Swatch

   3. Rolex

   4. TAG Heuer

4. 

   Another headline that initially baffled the Thursday quiz this week was 'Czech police find stolen skull (pictured) of medieval saint encased in concrete'. Who was she?

   1. Saint Zdislava

   2. Saint Ludmila

   3. Saint Bronislava

   4. Saint Liztrussica

5. 

   In a hat-trick of 'Sorry, what?' authorities where removed a Tesla Cybertruck from a lake after the driver intentionally drove it into the water in an attempt to try the vehicle's 'wade mode'?

   1. Louisiana

   2. Texas

   3. Florida

   4. California

6. 

   Here's Melvyn Bragg, he loves a flag. Which of these countries has a flag which has the takbīr – the declaration that God is the greatest (of everything) – written in green in Kufic script in the centre?

   1. Iraq

   2. Qatar

   3. Kuwait

   4. Saudi Arabia

7. 

   The Italian town of Punta Marina (not pictured, that is Rome's Palazzo Chigi looking chic) has had to appoint 'rangers' after it has been invaded and colonised by over 100 wild what?

   1. Cats

   2. Boar

   3. Peacocks

   4. Massive sons of 90s boy band singers

8. 

   It would have been Mary Anning's birthday today. Happy heavenly birthday, Mary! What field of work is she famous for?

   1. Anatomy

   2. Odontology

   3. Optics

   4. Palaeontology

9. 

   Australia’s most famous koala-sniffing dog – who has helped save endangered koalas from fires and floods for a decade – has hung up his boots and retired. What animal was he named after?

   1. Wolf

   2. Bear

   3. Spider

   4. Cthulhu

10. 

    Celtic spoiled nearly everybody's weekend by denying Hearts the men's Scottish fitba title on the final day of the season, then their fans got the match ended early by invading the pitch. When was the last time a team not from Glasgow won the Scottish top-flight?

    1. Aberdeen in 1984–85

    2. Dundee United in 1982–83

    3. Kilmarnock in 1979-1980

    4. Fulchester United in 1974-75

11. 

    A controversial ban on what was relaxed at this year's Chelsea flower show?

    1. Plastic grass

    2. Religious symbols

    3. Garden gnomes

    4. Very naughty miniature dachshunds

12. 

    Thursday quiz favourite Harry Styles has started his Together, Together world tour with a residency in which city?

    1. Amsterdam

    2. Rome

    3. Paris

    4. Barcelona

13. 

    Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and which comedian (not pictured) have been announced as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing?

    1. Ania Magliano

    2. Josh Widdicombe

    3. James Acaster

    4. Ronald Mael

14. 

    On this day with Brian May! And his badger! 21 May is the anniversary of Charles Lindbergh doing the first solo transatlantic flight. It is also the anniversary of Amelia Earhart becoming the first woman to do it several years later. The Thursday quiz imagines Queen's legendary guitarist wants you to tell him – and his badger – where did she land in 1932?

    1. Derry, Northern Ireland

    2. Cork, Ireland

    3. Teignmouth, Devon

    4. Gosport, Hampshire

15. 

    Dench Close, Bond Place, Desmond Crescent and Llewelyn Road are new roads named after the James Bond franchise in which English town?

    1. Saffron Walden

    2. Swindon

    3. Boston

    4. Innsmouth

Solutions

1:C - And what a bop it is, 2:C - The 86-year-old said 'I'm feeling very emotional. This fulfils all my romantic dreams I’ve had ever since I discovered the joys of theatre-going and acting'. Protect him at all costs!, 3:B - Shoppers waited throughout the night, and in some cases for several days, hoping to buy the Royal Pop timepieces made in collaboration with the luxury watchmaker Audemars Piguet. The Thursday quiz wonders if people don't have something better to do with their time (I see what you did there – Ed), 4:A - Saint Zdislava was born around 1220 and became a saint in 1995 which seems like a long wait to be honest, 5:B - This particular fool was in Texas, 6:A - It was adopted in 2008, as the government sought to change the flag that had been used during the Ba'athist Saddam Hussain era. We are a curious species, 7:C - The population was estimated at 10 in 2018, 40 in 2023 and about 120 today, and those show-off males are a bit of a main character nuisance, 8:D - Despite making a lot of discoveries, the pencil-necked desk jockeys at the Geological Society of London wouldn't let her join because – the shock, the horror, the clutching of pearls – she was a woman, 9:B - Eleven-year-old detection dog Bear retired in March, and conservationists are looking for a replacement, a dog who has to be very good at sniffing for koalas and have no interest in chasing them, 10:A - Gripping stuff, Scottish football, gripping stuff, 11:C - This year, the show made a one-off decision to ease the prohibition of the ghastly things – in place since 1927 – to raise funds for the RHS’s campaign for school gardening, 12:A - He is playing 10 nights at the Johan Cruyff Arena with support from another Thursday quiz favourite, Robyn, 13:B - The trio will present the 2026 edition of Strictly Come Dancing after the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, 14:A - She had previously been part of a crew who had crossed the Atlantic, and became the first person to do it by plane twice, 15:B - Apparently it is because, 25 years ago, the exterior of the Motorola building was passed off as a Turkish oil refinery in the film The World is Not Enough

Scores

1. 0 and above.

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

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 fact-check a joke – you can complain about it in the comments below. Why not watch Celluloid by Gum instead?