The great Scottish QUIZ of the YEAR
From royal tragedy to tyre-deflating terrorists and a historic sporting blunder... what do YOU remember about the stories that made 2022?
ROUND ONE: General news
1. Scotland’s highest-ever temperature of 35.1C (95.2F) was recorded on July 19 – but where?
A Kirkcaldy B Kirkwall C Kelso D Keith 2. The nation’s census was a disaster, with tens of thousands failing to complete the form. What was by far the most common reason given for not filling it in?
A People were ‘too busy’ B The form was ‘too boring’ C The questions were ‘impertinent’ D The dog ate it 3. Aberdeen University sounded a trigger warning for its Literature of the Middle Ages course. What did it caution students they may read about?
A Zombies B Monsters C Werewolves D Daleks 4. On leaving her Scotland Editor role for America, the BBC’s Sarah Smith complained about being demonised by political trolls. What was SNP politician James Dornan’s initial verdict on the abuse?
A It was ‘despicable’ B It was ‘deserved’ C It was ‘immaterial’ D It was ‘imaginary’ 5. In August, the Corporation’s new Scotland Editor was subjected to more of the same nationalist abuse at a Tory leadership hustings in Perth. Who is he or she?
A James Cook B Sally Magnusson C Glenn Campbell D Jackie Bird 6. The distinguished legal advocate Ian Hamilton died aged 97 in October. What did he and fellow gang members famously steal from Westminster Abbey in 1950?
A The Doomsday Book B The Magna Carta C The Stone of Destiny D A stained-glass window 7. A band of eco-warriors calling themselves Tyre Extinguishers wreaked havoc in cities across Scotland by letting out the air of 4x4 and SUV tyres. What foodstuff did they use to aid the deflation?
A Lentils B Quinoa C Tofu D Water melons 8. After the Alex Salmond Show on Russian TV channel RT was ‘suspended’ due to the Ukraine war the set was auctioned off. What was the opening bid for Mr Salmond’s desk?
A £50 B £500 C £5000 D £50,000 9. ‘Squeaky bum time’ was among the phrases which entered the latest version of the Oxford English Dictionary in 2022. Who first coined it?
A Sir Billy Connolly B Sir Andy Murray C Sir Alex Ferguson D Sir Sean Connery 10. In September, delivery of the sister ship of the similarly late and over-budget CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox was rescheduled for 2024 – six years overdue. What is its name?
A MV Patience B MV Perseverance C MV Exorbitant D It’s still too early to say
ROUND TWO: A Year of Royal Change
11. Glasgow City Council was criticised for failing to host a proper celebration for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. It claimed it did mark the occasion – by doing what?
A Serving children Coronation chicken at school dinners B Adorning bin lorries with the Union flag C Organising an online singalong of the National Anthem D Giving every employee a commemorative gold coin 12. The Queen’s death at Balmoral on September 8 triggered a programme of royal pageantry and ceremony leading up to the funeral. What was its codename?
A Operation Edinburgh Castle B Operation Canterbury Cathedral C Operation London Bridge D Operation Paddington Station 13. Resting on the Queen’s coffin as she lay in Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral was the Scottish Crown. Which Scottish monarch was the first to wear it at their coronation?
A Macbeth B Mary, Queen of Scots C James VI D Charles II 14. What was King Charles reported in 2022 to be planning for his late mother’s beloved Scottish holiday home at Balmoral?
A Putting it on the market B Letting it out on Airbnb C Opening it as a royal museum D Turning it into offices 15. As well as replacing his father as Prince of Wales, Prince William inherited a Scottish title from his father in September. What is it?
A Duke of Edinburgh B Earl of Inverkeithing C Duke of Rothesay D Earl of Orkney
ROUND THREE: Who said it? Match the quote with the person who said it in 2022
16. ‘Just ordered room service. The nice lady who brought it asked me, “Any idea who went out of Strictly?” I said, “Me.” Awkward silence.’ 17. ‘To be honest, I thought we’d murdered enough people on a small island.’ 18. ‘I’ve never met anyone I’d walk 500 miles for.’ 19. ‘Some of the feedback is so meaningful. But if someone wants to slag off my top? really?’ 20. ‘Trust me, I absolutely love Cornwall – it’s just the Cornish I can’t stand.’
Journalist Laura Kuenssberg; Craig Reid of The Proclaimers; TV chef Gordon Ramsay; actor Douglas Henshall; broadcaster Kaye Adams.
ROUND FOUR: Sport
21. Elish McColgan’s new British record of 30m 18s for the 10,000 metres was scrapped after the organisers of the Great Scottish Run in Glasgow made what embarrassing admission in October?
A Their course was only 9,850 metres long B The official stopwatch was faulty C Water supplied to athletes contained banned drugs D They didn’t have a licence to hold the race 22. Australian Midfielder Keanu Baccus lined up – and lost – against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the last 16 at the World Cup in Qatar. Which Scottish club does he play for?
A Motherwell B St Mirren C Queen of the South D Partick Thistle 23. Former Scotland international rugby star Doddie Weir tragically lost his battle with Motor Neurone Disease in November. What was his normal position on the rugby field?
A Lock forward B Hooker C Scrum half D Full back 24. The now-retired curler Eve Muirhead took gold when she skippered the GB women’s team at the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February. At how many previous Olympics had she skippered the team?
A One B Two C Three D Four
25. The 150th Open at St Andrews in July drew record attendances. Which Scottish champion hinted that Open may be his last?
A Colin Montgomerie B Sandy Lyle C Paul Lawrie D Robert MacIntyre
ROUND FIVE: The Arts
26. Which was voted the funniest joke of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe?
A ‘I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn’t get pasta’ – by Masai Graham B ‘Did you know, if you get pregnant in the Amazon, it’s next day delivery?’ – by Mark Simmons. C ‘My attempts to combine nitrous oxide and Oxo cubes made me a laughing stock’ – by Olaf Falafel D ‘By my age, my parents had a house and a family, and to be fair to me, so do I, but it is the same house and it is the same family.’ – by Hannah Fairweather 27. It was a busy Edinburgh Festival for Nicola Sturgeon. With whom did she NOT appear on stage in the city during the month of August?
A Author Louise Welsh B Actor Brian Cox C Radio journalist Iain Dale D Musician Eddi Reader 28. Glasgow’s bid to stand-in for war-torn Ukraine as the host of next year’s Eurovision Song Contest was pipped at the post by which city?
A Manchester B Liverpool C Birmingham D Cardiff 29. The Burrell Collection was reopened to the public in March after a six-year and £68million refurbishment. But when did it first open its doors?
A 1943 B 1963 C 1983 D 2003 30. In July it emerged that an
X-Ray of a painting held by the National Galleries of Scotland had revealed a previous unknown self-portrait underneath – by whom?
A Vincent Van Gogh B Pablo Picasso C Leonardo da Vinci D Claude Monet
ROUND SIX: Showbiz
31. Which Scottish chanteuse was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November as part of her band?
A Clare Grogan of Altered Images B Shirley Manson of Garbage C Annie Lennox of the Eurythmics D Lorraine Mcintosh of Deacon Blue
32. Why did Inverness-born actress Karen Gillan say she was not loving life in Los Angeles?
A She is ginger and has to stay out of the sun B She grew up on clean air and can’t bear the smog C She is a non-driver and everyone drives in LA
D She is used to full Scottish breakfasts and LA diners don’t do them 33. Lewis Capaldi announced in October the follow up to his curiously titled debut album will be released in May 2023. What is the new record to be called?
A The Hellish Scent of Broken Desire B Broken by Desire to be Heavenly Sent C Desire Ascends to a Broken Heaven D The Heavenly Hellishness of Scented Brokers 34. Actor Robbie Coltrane died at 72 in October after a long period of ill health. Which of his famous characters once declared, ‘I drink too much, I smoke too much, I gamble too much. I am too much’?
A Dr Edward ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald in Cracker B Danny McGlone in Tutti Frutti C Hagrid in the Harry Potter films D Valentin Dmitrovich Zukovsky in Bond film Goldeneye 35. Which Scottish chart star of the 1980s released the charity single Silent Running to support aid for children from Ukraine?
A Jim Kerr B Edwin Collins C Midge Ure D BA Robertson 36. It was a year of great strides for the offspring of Scottish stars. When Ewan McGregor’s daughter Esther landed a role in a Star Wars spin-off series what did her Obi-Wan Kenobi actor Dad say by way of explanation?
A ‘She auditioned for the role.’ B ‘I may have put a word in.’ C ‘May the force be with her.’ D ‘I taught her everything she knows.’ 37. Honor Swinton Byrne, daughter of actress Tilda, appeared with her mother in the 2022 film The Souvenir Part II. What was unusual about her casting for the first in the film series, The Souvenir, in 2019?
A There was no script to learn B There was no audition process C She had no acting experience D All of the above 38. Misty Kyd, the 19-year-old daughter of Texas frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri also found her way into the spotlight – as what?
A A regular on Coronation Street B Her mum’s new bass player C A catwalk model for Gucci D A backing singer for Elton John 39. A trailer for the new Indiana Jones film, starring 80-year-old Harrison Ford, reveals scenes shot in which Scottish city?
A Aberdeen B Dundee C Edinburgh D Glasgow 40. Sir Billy Connolly, who turned 80 this year, launched a masterclass for budding comedians on the BBC Maestro platform in November. Which of the following is NOT a genuine tip from the master?
A Avoid ‘poo’ jokes – they don’t work and gross audiences out B Don’t be too hard on hecklers – or punch them like I used to C Never go on stage drunk or stoned – you’ll lose your edge D Note down the parts where you ‘die’ – and ditch them
ROUND SEVEN: Politics
41. Ian Blackford stood down as Westminster leader of the SNP in December. How did the former investment banker famously describe himself in the Commons?
A A humble farmer with five sheep B A simple crofter with ten acres C An ordinary homesteader with an overdraft D A city slicker with a Chelsea tractor 42. What did Cabinet Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg call Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross after Mr Ross called on Boris Johnson to resign as Prime Minister over Partygate? A A makeweight B A heavyweight C A lightweight D Deadweight 43. At a Tory leadership hustings what did Liz Truss say was the best thing to do with Nicola Sturgeon?
A Humour her B Confound her C Pity her D Ignore her 44. Taking her revenge, Miss Sturgeon recalled meeting Miss Truss at COP26 in Glasgow. On what did she say the Tory asked for her advice?
A. How to handle interviews with Andrew Neil B How to get into Vogue magazine C How to walk onstage in heels D How to cook a clootie dumpling 45. For what misdemeanour on a packed ScotRail train did Nationalist MP Mhairi Black apologise in April?
A Drinking a can of lager B Spilling a fish supper C Singing a football song D A shouting match with a Unionist
ROUND EIGHT: Funny old world ….
46. Alex Hamilton, 90, from Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, finally asked his partner Jane to marry him this year and they did so in May. How long had they been courting?
A 30 years B 40 years C 50 years D 60 years 47. Edinburgh householder Miranda Dickson was told she faced a £20,000 fine for a conservation area breach because her – what – was ‘unauthorised’?
A Wrought iron Juliet balcony B Shocking pink front door C 20ft front garden flagpole D Stained glass bathroom window 48. In February it emerged the SNP Government had set aside £300,000 to improve ventilation in Scottish classrooms by doing what?
A Boring holes in walls B Chopping the bottoms off doors C Installing breathable windows D Perforating ceilings
49. In May, Culture Perth and Kinross launched a bid to encourage more people to use public libraries by doing what?
A Scrapping penalties for late returned books B Rewarding those who return books on time C Refraining from shooshing noise makers D Free doughnut with every book borrowed 50. Who was found in January hanging around a recycling centre in Aberdeen more than 11 years after he went missing from his home in Forres, Moray?
A Frankie the pony B Fergus the cat C Finlay the tortoise D Felix the guinea pig