The quiz master has already retired for his Christmas holidays, but before he went, he chiselled out some stone tablets with 15 vaguely topical or general knowledge questions and left some poor soul to type them up. Rest assured there will be quizzes on all the Thursdays throughout the holiday period – but they may be a little less topical than usual. Have fun, and let everyone know how you got on. The Thursday quiz, No 138 1.Last week we lost the poet and political activist Benjamin Zephaniah far too soon. In which city was he born, with which he will always be indelibly linked? Benjamin Zephaniah Manchester Coventry Sheffield Birmingham Reveal 2.Which film earned the most Golden Globe nominations this week? Golden Globe Barbie Oppenheimer Killers of the Flower Moon The Sparks Brothers Reveal 3.Tucker Carlson is to launch his own subscription service imaginatively called the Tucker Carlson Network. The Thursday quiz will be sure to sign up. How much does Tucker hope you will pay for an annual subscription? Tucker Carlson $52 $62 $72 $1,057 Reveal 4.Talking of casually offensive TV presenters, easily the best bit of Christmas TV this year was a BBC News presenter being caught on camera giving viewers the middle finger. Who? BBC presenter Anjli Mohindra Maryam Moshiri Reeta Chakrabarti Najia Khan Reveal 5.Hilariously, the middle finger incident came just hours before the UK government announced an increase in the TV licence fee. How much will a colour television licence cost from April 2024? The BBC £169.50 £179.50 £189.50 £199.50 Reveal 6.The UK government is to enact an "invasive species" ban on a plant known as gunnera, meaning it cannot be sold or cultivated. What is it better known as? No entry Giant cucumber Giant thyme Giant rhubarb Giant mistletoe Reveal 7.After approximately 1,057 years in development, Rockstar finally dropped the trailer for GTA6, confirming that it would be set in Vice City. Vice City is modelled on which US city? GTA VI Miami Las Vegas Los Angeles New York Reveal 8.Actor Timothée Chalamet raised eyebrows when he said Hull was … Timothée Chalamet A blast Sexy A shit-hole In Scotland Reveal 9.This week is the anniversary of the birth of Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England, first wife of King Henry VIII and the person who inadvertently helped set off the conversion of England to protestantism. When was she born? Catherine of Aragon 1445 1485 1525 1565 Reveal 10.It is also the anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. Which was the first of her novels to be published? Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice Sense and Sensibility Northanger Abbey Dish and Dishonesty Reveal 11.This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian"s Thursday quiz. She is worried about the mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs in the US. What is it called? Willow, the official dog of the Guardian"s Thursday quiz Kennel croup Kennel toux Kennel whoop Kennel cough Reveal 12.This week, two days after something priceless was reported missing in the Paris Ritz (not pictured), it was "found" in a vacuum cleaner bag. What was it? Paris A missing €750,000 brooch A missing €750,000 earring A missing €750,000 ring One very naughty €750,000 miniature dachshund Reveal 13.Talking of lost things, what turned up on the International Space Station eight months after an astronaut had been suspected of eating it? ISS A tomato A mushroom An apple 30-50 feral space hogs Reveal 14.Nick Cave performed at Shane MacGowan"s funeral. Which song did he sing? Nick Cave A Rainy Night in Soho Dirty Old Town A Pair of Brown Eyes Fairytale of New York Reveal 15.Which character is singing on the new official Doctor Who Christmas single? Tardis Stooky Bill A snowman A goblin Kate Bush