The big Boxing Day Quiz 2011

STILL nibbling at the turkey leftovers and popping cold roast potatoes as if they were grapes? Perhaps you’re up to your oxters in Quality Street and washing them down with a nice glass of fizz.

Well, when you’re finally fit to burst and can’t stomach any more festive TV, why not get those little grey cells into gear with the Evening News’ Big Boxing Day quiz?

Almost as traditional as brussel sprouts, if slightly more popular, let us test your memory of what’s happened in Edinburgh over the last 12 months in news, politics, sport and entertainment. There maybe no prizes, but don’t underestimate the quiet satisfaction you’ll have when you’re right and the rest of the family are wrong.

And you can always recharge your glass to toast your Edinburgh expertise. Good luck.

NEWS

1 What is the name of the ginger Asda cat who won the hearts of shoppers – but not management – at the Jewel store by getting comfy in the aisles?

2 Where were the mediation talks between the council and tram contractor Bilfinger Berger held in March this year?

3 Who was accused of misleading MSPs over their part in financial scandal surrounding The Gathering?

4 Which two massive multi-million-pound development projects opened on time and on budget this year?

5 How much salt was stockpiled to deal with snow on Edinburgh’s main roads this winter after last year’s whiteout?

6 For how many years were the Sighthill flats standing before being demolished in September, changing the city’s skyline forever?

7 A renowned garden established by Edinburgh philanthropist George Boyd Anderson has been under threat of development. Name it – and why it could be turned into housing.

8 Who said that because he was a social worker he perhaps didn’t have the expertise necessary to oversee the tram project?

9 What was the name of the bed-making firm run by blind and disabled people which closed its doors after 218 years of operating this year?

10 Which high street store has the future prospects of Princes Street riding on its success?

SPORT

1 From which club did Pat Fenlon join Hibs as manager?

2 Where did the Edinburgh Monarchs finish in this year’s speedway Elite League?

3 Name the Dutchman in line to play rugby union for Scotland.

4 Which Capital judoka ended a poor year with defeat in the last 16 of the Tokyo Grand Slam?

5 Who won the Edinburgh Dispatch trophy this year?

6 Which Prestonpans boxer has a chance of representing Great Britain at next year’s Olympics?

7 Who is the current Edinburgh Capitals captain?

8 Why was Hibs’ first foray into Friday night football a failure?

9 How much did Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov claim the club was worth?

10 Finish the team names - basketball side Boroughmuir ......, football team Easthouses ......, American football outfit Edinburgh ......, and volleyballers Edinburgh ......?

ENTERTAINMENT

1 Which pop legend made a guest appearance to rock the Playhouse for one song only at the start of December?

2 The National Theatre toured which show, starring James Corden, to the Edinburgh King’s in October, giving the Leven Street theatre its first sold out show in many a year?

3 Mark Thomson launched the Royal Lyceum’s 2011/12 season in September. Is this his seventh, ninth or eleventh season as artistic director of the Grindlay Street theatre?

4 Who resigned as chief executive of the Festival City Theatres Trust, which operates the Festival and King’s theatres, in June? And who replaced him in July?

5 Which former Grange Hill, EastEnders and The Bill star took to the Playhouse stage with a pair of coconuts around his neck this October, in Spamalot.

6 Celebrated prankster Steve-O did a three-night stint at Liquid Room as part of the Edge Festival in August. Name the reality show which made him famous.

7 Whose gig at the Usher Hall in September was Evening News music writer Gary Flockhart banned from attending after giving their latest album a less than glowing review?

8 JLS made their first ever appearance in Edinburgh with a sell-out show at the Royal Highland Centre in July. But which other former X Factor star opened the gig for the boyband?

9 At the Edinburgh Playhouse, former Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon performed in a musical based on which hit film starring Reese Witherspoon?

10 Name the Canadian collective who played a massive gig at Edinburgh Castle in September?

POLITICS

1 How many of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament did the SNP win at the elections in May?

2 Who is now the only non-SNP MSP now representing an Edinburgh constituency?

3 Which Lib Dem city councillor defected to the SNP in July?

4 Who declared that the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party was “not fit for purpose”?

5 What new job was Almond Valley MSP Angela Constance given at the start of December?

6 Whose name did Labour leader Ed Miliband famously forget?

7 How many MPs will Edinburgh have at Westminster once boundary changes take effect at the next elections?

8 Which of Alex Salmond’s opponents threatened: “I’ll have him by the short and curlies if there’s any nonsense from him”?

9 Which city MSP was criticised after he sent a Twitter message about drinking coffee for an hour after a committee meeting?

10 What did the Scottish Parliament spend £270,000 to replace during the summer recess?

Answers:

NEWS

1. Pixie.

2. Mar Hall Hotel, Glasgow.

3. Council leader Jenny Dawe and her deputy Steve Cardownie.

4. The revamped Royal Museum of Scotland and the refurbished Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

5. 7200 tons.

6. 45 years.

7. Suntrap Garden at Gogar. Owner the National Trust for Scotland wants to sell the land to help deal with its financial woes.

8. Council finance convener, Gordon Mackenzie.

9. BlindCraft.

10. Primark.

SPORT

1. Bohemians, Dublin.

2. Eleventh.

3. Tim Visser.

4. Euan Burton.

5. Silverknowes.

6. Josh Taylor.

7. Jan Safar.

8. The floodlights at Fir Park in Motherwell broke down and the match was abandoned.

9. £50 million.

10. Blaze, Lily, Wolves, Jets.

ENTERTAINMENT

1. Queen’s Brian May, who appeared with the cast of We Will Rock You to play Bohemian Rhapsody on World AIDS Day.

2. One Man, Two Guv’nors.

3. Ninth.

4. John Stalker/Pat Weller.

5. Todd Carty.

6. Jackass.

7. Noel Gallagher.

8. Olly Murs.

9. Legally Blonde.

10. Arcade Fire.

POLITICS

1. 69.

2. Labour’s Malcolm Chisholm, Edinburgh Northern & Leith.

3. Elaine Morris, Forth ward.

4. Murdo Fraser during his unsuccessful leadership campaign.

5. Minister for Youth Employment.

6. Ken Macintosh, when asked on TV to name the candidates for Labour’s Scottish leadership.

7. Four, losing one.

8. The Tories’ Annabel Goldie.

9. The SNP’s Marco Biagi, Edinburgh Central.

10. The sound and voting system in the debating chamber – it went wrong soon afterwards.