Stephen Smith's cultural quiz Newsnight's Culture correspondent Stephen Smith has gathered together some crumbs from the University Challenge table - questions which were apparently too easy for them, but which could be just the tonic for those suffering Newsnight withdrawal over the festive season.  1.) Multiple Choice Question According to some reviewers, one showbiz "holly" was a turkey this year. Was it?  - Holly Willoughby
- Hollyoaks
- Holly Golightly
2.) Multiple Choice Question When the death was announced this year of Britain's greatest ever drag act, whose photo was eventually dragged out of the Newsnight library?  - Danny La Rue
- La Roux
- Danny Baker
3.) Multiple Choice Question In one of Newsnight's typically compelling culture items, a bestselling pop singer was revealed to be a dab hand at ironing. Who was it?  - Will Young
- Tinchy Stryder
- Lady Gaga
4.) Multiple Choice Question The controversial novel Lolita was 50 years old in 2009. But it nearly was not published at all, after author Vladimir Nabokov had misgivings about it. What did he do in an attempt to withhold it?  - Lock it in a bank vault
- Line the trays of his butterfly collection with it
- Try to set fire to it
5.) Multiple Choice Question Newsnight spoke to the legendary Godfather of Rap, Gil Scott Heron, in November. But which of the following soul classics is not by him?  - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
- Harvest for the World
- Johannesburg
6.) Multiple Choice Question The inspiration behind government policy on the media this year was...  - Lord Stephen Carter
- Howard Carter
- Get Carter
7.) Multiple Choice Question You couldn't make it up! We want the name of the Fleet Street legend best known for stories that were hard to believe. (What do you mean, that doesn't narrow the field?)  - Richard Littlejohn
- Polly Toynbee
- Keith Waterhouse
8.) Multiple Choice Question Scandal-hit US golfer Tiger Woods has said he is taking an indefinite break from the sport. Which other US multi-millionaire black superstar announced a temporary disappearance from public view this year?  - Jay Z
- Oprah Winfrey
- Michael Jordan
9.) Multiple Choice Question What is pale, chilly and beautiful, and won BBC News massive ratings back in February?  - Fiona Bruce
- Snowfalls
- A litter of polar bear cubs
10.) Multiple Choice Question Love 'em or loathe 'em, they're the matching pair of likely lads who were everywhere on the television schedules in the closing weeks of the year.  - Jedward
- Ant & Dec
- The Millibands
Answers - Breakfast at Tiffany's at London's Threatre Royal received mixed reviews despite actress Anna Friel baring all for her art in her role as Holly Golightly.
- Flamboyant entertainer Danny La Rue died in May, aged 81.
- Grime star Tinchy Stryder has had two numbers ones and is doing well with a successful line of clothing. When Newsnight joined him on tour in October he talked about how he likes to do his own ironing and demonstrated his skills.
- Nabokov tried to set fire to the novel twice.
- Harvest for the World was by the Isley Brothers.
- Lord Stephen Carter, Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting, published his Digital Britain report in June. His report tackled everything from broadband speeds to internet regulation and public service broadcasting.
- Author and journalist Keith Waterhouse, who died in September aged 80, wrote the novel, play and film Billy Liar.
- Oprah Winfrey announced in November that she was to end her talk show after 25 years on US TV.
- At the start of February heavy snow fell across large parts of the UK, disrupting travel and closing thousands of schools.
- Jedward - Irish teenagers John and Edward were the X Factor finalists who were repeatedly saved from elimination by the public vote. Simon Cowell reportedly threatened to leave the country if they won the competition.
Your Score 0 - 4 : How's the temperature in that cultural desert? 5 - 7 : Not bad. Watch more Stephen Smith on Newsnight 8 - 10 : Well done culture vulture! At this special time of year, some of us here at Newsnight bundle ourselves up against the cold and go wassailing at the Big House. Paul Mason holds a lantern high in the velvet dark, Michael Crick strikes a tuning fork, and our lusty voices are joined beneath a great bay-window. Presently, the wreathed front door swings open, disclosing a cheerily lit and elegantly appointed hall. Liveried footmen crunch down the steps with salvers of flood-damaged Wotsits and mulled liebfraumilch, as gay a repast as carol singers were ever offered! Was it my imagination, or did I descry the gentleman of the house at the pane above us this year, his familiar features aglow with the warmth of Christian charity? I rubbed my eyes and wondered if it was all a trick of candlelight on hoarfrost. But a moment later, a parlour maid was pressing something into my fingerless mittens: "Begging your pardon, sir," she said, "only his lordship wanted you to have this". She lowered her voice: "It's leftovers." I looked down to find a curling scroll in my hands, and could just discern the proud seal of the BBC upon it. "They couldn't use 'em on University Challenge," the maid went on. "Too easy. But His nibs said they'd do for the Newsnight Christmas Quiz." "God bless you, dear girl!" I cried, and the words turned to scintillating vapour between us. "Be they the lowliest orphans, we shall find a home for them!" Though the hour was late and the night evil, I swept off my hat, and bowed. "And God bless you, and all," I murmured to the deserted window... In accordance with strict BBC compliance guidelines, we regret that we are unable to award prizes for the following quiz. However, if you ring the office to complain about it, you may be charged for your call. Please don't look the answers up on an internet search engine. You'd be letting other contestants down, and you'd be letting yourself down. Not only that, but the TV detector vans can now pick that up.
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