Quiz of the Week | 18 October 2026

1. Coventry City recorded their first Premier League home victory in 25 years with a 4–1 win over Newcastle United in October 2026. Which former England midfielder was Coventry City’s manager?

2. John Swinney addressed the SNP annual conference in Aberdeen in October 2026. In which year did he first become leader of the party?

3. The death of actor RJ Mitte, best known for Breaking Bad, was reported in October 2026. What was the first name of the character played by Bryan Cranston in the series?

4. Boxer Daniel Dubois defeated Fabio Wardley in a heavyweight title fight in London on 17 October 2026. In which round was the contest stopped?

5. The BFI London Film Festival took place in October 2026. What do the initials BFI stand for?

6. London Zoo celebrated the successful hatching of rare frogs in October 2026. What is the scientific term for the process by which a tadpole develops into an adult frog?

7. Photographs reportedly showed a luxury vessel near Kim Jong Un’s summer retreat in October 2026. What is the name of North Korea’s capital city?

8. Australia’s first Michelin-starred restaurants were announced in October 2026, with 11 establishments receiving stars. In which Australian state are all 11 restaurants located?

9. New research into octopus intelligence attracted attention in October 2026. How many hearts does an octopus have?

10. A German Bundesliga player reportedly set a record for the fastest goal in the competition’s history in October 2026. Which Polish striker famously scored five goals in nine minutes for Bayern Munich against Wolfsburg in 2015?

11. Actress Selma Blair made headlines in October 2026. In the 2001 film Legally Blonde, what is the name of the character played by Reese Witherspoon?

12. MI5’s director-general made headlines over threats to UK national security in October 2026. What did the abbreviation MI5 historically stand for?

13. British athlete Emma Finucane won silver in the women’s sprint at the World Championships in Shanghai in October 2026. In which sport does she compete?

14. Archaeologists reported discoveries associated with the Egyptian pharaoh Ramesses II in October 2026. Which pharaoh’s tomb was discovered by Howard Carter in 1922?

15. Paul Whitehouse made the news in October 2026. In the BBC comedy The Fast Show, which character played by Whitehouse was known for repeatedly saying that everything was “brilliant”?

16. Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk featured in European football news in October 2026. What does the word Shakhtar mean in English?

17. Google’s quantum computing research attracted attention in October 2026. What is the name of the basic unit of quantum information, equivalent in role to a bit in conventional computing?

18. Keira Knightley appeared in a new stage production of The Lives of Others in October 2026. Which film earned Knightley her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress?

19. Scientists continued studying Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier in October 2026. By what dramatic nickname is Thwaites Glacier commonly known?

20. Andy Burnham made headlines in October 2026 with comments about alleged Russian interference in the Brexit referendum. In which year did the UK hold its referendum on membership of the European Union?

21. An exhibition of works by Japanese artist Hokusai opened in London in October 2026. What is the title of his famous woodblock print depicting a huge wave threatening boats?

22. Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli remained in the championship headlines in October 2026. Which team did the Italian driver race for?

23. Reports of an exceptionally ancient shipwreck discovered off the coast of Türkiye attracted attention in October 2026. Which sea lies immediately to the south of Türkiye?

24. A new production of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie attracted attention in October 2026. Which Scottish author wrote the original 1961 novel?

25. A prehistoric dinosaur discovery in Zimbabwe attracted scientific interest in October 2026. What does the word dinosaur literally mean, from its Greek roots?

26. Jodie Comer received recognition for her theatre work in October 2026. What is the name of the assassin she played in the television series Killing Eve?

27. Skateboarding speed records attracted attention in October 2026. Skateboarding made its Olympic debut at which Summer Olympic Games?

28. Argentina’s dispute with Britain over oil development near the Falkland Islands returned to the news in October 2026. What is the capital of the Falkland Islands?

29. Archaeologists reported evidence of a Roman fort near Frenni Fawr in Wales in October 2026. What was the Roman name for the province that covered most of modern-day England and Wales?

30. Brandon Flowers performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall in October 2026. Which American rock band is he best known for fronting?

31. Scientific experiments aboard the International Space Station in October 2026 included research involving miniature organs. What is the scientific term for a miniature, simplified organ-like structure grown from cells in a laboratory?

32. An investigation concerning Roman Abramovich’s wealth and tax arrangements made headlines in October 2026. Which English Premier League football club did Abramovich own between 2003 and 2022?

33. A dinosaur fossil reportedly rediscovered in a UK museum attracted attention in October 2026. What is the name given to a scientist who studies fossils and prehistoric life?

34. Rising charges for dropping passengers off at UK airports prompted calls for a review in October 2026. What is the three-letter IATA airport code for London Heathrow?

35. Europe’s Sentinel-3C satellite was reported to have returned new images of Earth in October 2026. Which European organisation operates the Copernicus Earth observation programme alongside the European Commission?

36. A prehistoric dwelling discovered in Alaska attracted archaeological attention in October 2026. Which present-day country lies immediately across the Bering Strait from Alaska?

37. Government discussions about a possible bank levy attracted attention in October 2026. Which British economist was Governor of the Bank of England from 2003 to 2013?

38. Aston Villa’s Premier League match against Newcastle United attracted attention in October 2026. What is the name of Newcastle United’s home stadium?

39. Flying cars returned to the technology headlines in October 2026. Which Slovakian company developed the road-and-air vehicle known as AirCar?

40. Emiliano Martínez, nicknamed Dibu, was the goalkeeper for which country when it won the FIFA World Cup in 2022?

41. The first Winnie-the-Pooh book celebrated its centenary in October 2026. What was the name of the real bear that inspired A. A. Milne’s famous character?