I don't know about your office, but everyone in ours is tired and grumpy as the final programme of the year hoves into view. Time for a cheering end-of-year quiz.
Some editors have a photographic memory of every programme they've ever done - I know one who can quote the date, running order and contributors who appeared on shows he made ten years ago - but I have an opposite condition. I tend to completely forget what we did two days ago.
But it's impossible to forget some of the stories we've done in an extraordinary year for news. I've dredged up these questions. How many can you remember?
Answers are at the foot of this page
1. Our first programme of 2005 was a special dedicated to the Asian tsunami. Who, in trying to explain the inexplicable, said "I'm not here to defend God"?
2. Early this year Newsnight turned 25. Who introduced the first ever Newsnight with the words: "Welcome - at last - to Newsnight"?
3. Who said to Newsnight: "Now f**k off and cover something important you t**ts"?
4. To whom did Michael Crick say: "Some people say you and Tony Blair have the same problem - both past your sell-by date"?
5. To what was Jeremy referring when he said: "It's a veritable smorgasbord..."
6. After 7/7, who of the following said on Newsnight, "wake up and smell the coffee"?
Abu Izzadeen
Abu Hamza
Abu Qatada
7. Whose house, destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, did George Bush promise to rebuild?
8. Who didn't know what a Pink Pussy is, but was familiar with a Slippery Nipple?
9. What slogan appeared on Newsnight's 25th anniversary bracelets?
10. Which interviewee appeared in Newsnight's end of year interviews both this year and last?
Answers
1. Cormac Murphy O'Connor
2. Peter Snow
3. Alastair Campbell
4. Alex Ferguson
5. The Weather
6. Abu Izzadeen
7. Trent Lott
8. David Cameron
9. Newsnight is 25 and all I got was this lousy bracelet
10. Pete Doherty
Your results:
8-10 You're a Newsnight diehard, thanks for watching
4-7 Resolve to watch more often in the New Year
0-3 Hmm, you definitely need to watch more Newsnight...
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