We are barely a few days away from people starting to peddle the “blue Monday” hokum about the most miserable day of the year, so ignore that and concentrate instead on “quiz Thursday”. Fifteen questions with varying degrees of topicality, obscurity and political point-scoring await you. Remember, it is strictly for fun and there are no prizes. Let us know how you get on in the comments! The Thursday quiz, No 142 1.Who is the new French prime minister (not pictured)? Arc de Triomphe Bruno Le Maire Léon Colbert Gabriel Attal Gérald Darmanin Reveal 2.Russell Crowe has claimed that he is a direct descendant of who? Russell Crowe Simon Fraser, the acting-lieutenant who led the mutiny on the Bounty Simon Fraser, the first actor recorded to have played the role of Hamlet Simon Fraser, the pirate better known as Captain Blackbeard Simon Fraser, the last man to be executed by beheading in England Reveal 3.The BFI in London (not pictured, that"s the lovely Hyde Park Picture House in Leeds) has put a blanket trigger warning on a season of films that include movies from which popular franchise? The Hyde Park Picture House Star Wars James Bond Despicable Me Pirates of the Caribbean Reveal 4.United Launch Alliance put its Vulcan Centaur rocket (pictured) into space this week, and part of the mission was to try to send a lunar lander on its way. What is the name of the Astrobotic lunar lander that it was carrying, which will sadly never reach the moon? Vulcan rocket Peregrine Merlin Falcon Osprey Reveal 5.Talking of space, what have scientists recently discovered is almost the same blue colour as Uranus? Uranus A frozen methane sea on the moon Titan The surface of Halley"s Comet The planet Neptune The dwarf planet Sedna Reveal 6.Despite it being in the news for years, now there has been a high-profile ITV drama about it, Rishi Sunak seems almost poised to act at some point soon probably over the Post Office IT scandal in the UK. Which tech provider (pictured) developed the Horizon IT system, installed in the late 1990s? Cowboys Oracle Fujitsu SAP Del Boy and Rodney from Trotters Independent Traders Reveal 7.Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells has sheepishly handed back her CBE mere years after the Post Office Horizon IT scandal broke. Which Conservative prime minister was in power when she was awarded the CBE? Clown David Cameron Theresa May Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak Reveal 8.Who has the Conservative party chosen as its candidate for the Wellingborough byelection to replace disgraced former MP Peter Bone? Donkeys Peter Bone"s daughter Peter Bone"s partner Peter Bone"s sister Peter Bone"s very naughty miniature dachshund Reveal 9.One question about every country taking part in the Euro 2024 finals this summer. This week: Belgium. Which of these Belgian cities is farthest north? UEFA Bruges Ghent Brussels Liège Reveal 10.The first episode of Friends is officially known as The Pilot, but what is it more commonly known as … Old TV The One with the Monkey The One Where Rachel Finds Out The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate The One with Ron from Sparks Reveal 11.When did the Arthur Miller play Death of a Salesman premiere? Theatre 1939 1949 1959 1969 Reveal 12.The world of rugby union, and in particular Wales, is mourning the death of the great full-back from the legendary 1970s Welsh team, JPR Williams. But what did the JPR stand for? JPR Williams John Peter Rhys John Paul Rhyan John Peter Rhodri John Paul Rhett Reveal 13.The UK"s parliament in Westminster very rarely sits on a Saturday these days. The last time was in 2019 to discuss Brexit shenanigans. What caused the Saturday sitting before that? Parliament Falklands war The Suez crisis The outbreak of the second world war The 30-50 feral hogs crisis Reveal 14.A tribute concert to Sinéad O’Connor and Shane MacGowan has been announced for March. Where will it take place? Sheet music New York Dublin London Rome Reveal 15.This is Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz. She knows you were expecting a question about the shed-tidying mouse. She also knows you weren"t expecting it to be: what is the Latin name for a house mouse native to the UK? Willow, the official dog of the Guardian Thursday quiz Myodes glareolus Micromys minutus Mus musculus Romanes eunt domus