Bow Barkers won the quiz for the first time back in March 2024. In November they did it again, with Friends of Maddie finishing second.

It was the first time these two teams had finished first and second together. Friends of Maddie will remember it, because it was their ninth second place, more than any other team.

By the numbers

Cobley Wanderers still sat on top of the all-time table with 10 wins, but the chasing pack was growing. The Barkers’ second win put them third on the list, behind only the Wanderers and Friends of Maddie.

2
wins for Bow Barkers, out of 21 quizzes
9
second places for Friends of Maddie, the most of any team
1–0
Barkers v Maddie, the first time they finish first and second
10
wins for Cobley Wanderers, still top of the all-time list

A flavour of the questions

November had a Joker-busting Difficult Alphabet round, an It Happened in November round, and a TV round from Every Second Counts in 1989. The picture round was a set of long words with letters missing: dogged, poseur, aplomb and friends.

  • General knowledgeIn the Chas & Dave song, rabbit means talk. Explain the cockney rhyming slang.
    Answer: Rabbit and pork: talk
  • General knowledgeHow many furlongs in a mile?
    Answer: 8
  • Difficult alphabet roundWhat seven-letter word means a narrow piece of land with water on each side, joining two larger areas of land?
    Answer: Isthmus
  • General knowledgeWhat name is shared by an English town, a racecourse and a card game?
    Answer: Newmarket
  • TV round: Every Second CountsTrue or false: a young eel is called an Elvis.
    Answer: False. It’s an elver. Thank you very much.
  • TV round: Every Second CountsTrue or false: a young owl is called an owlet.
    Answer: True
  • WipeoutWhich is the only day of the week with nine letters in its name?
    Answer: Wednesday
  • WipeoutIn Sing a Song of Sixpence, what was the queen doing in the parlour?
    Answer: Eating bread and honey

The Pointless question asked for a US state smaller than England by land area. There are 22 of them, from Connecticut to West Virginia, so nobody had an excuse.

The music round: duets

Ten famous pairings. Name both artists for the points. It takes two, as they say.

  • Walk This WayRun-DMC and Aerosmith
  • Girl from the North CountryBob Dylan and Johnny Cash
  • Ebony and IvoryPaul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
  • Don’t Go Breaking My HeartElton John and Kiki Dee
  • Empire State of MindJay-Z and Alicia Keys
  • Islands in the StreamKenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
  • Easy LoverPhilip Bailey and Phil Collins
  • Where the Wild Roses GrowNick Cave and Kylie Minogue
  • Dancing in the StreetDavid Bowie and Mick Jagger
  • Summer NightsJohn Travolta and Olivia Newton-John

And finally

Next up was December, and the Christmas Special. Festive jumpers, tinsel and baubles were strongly encouraged.

Every question from the night is in the questions archive, every winner is on the monthly winners board, and there are more photos in the gallery.