h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Probably the last birthday quiz of this year's NaJoPoMo. Can you identify all ten people with life events on this day:

1. English author of 'The Pilgrim's Progress', born 1628.
2. English romantic poet, author of 'Songs of Innocence and Experience' and 'Jerusalem', born 1757.
3. German political theorist, who co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto' with Karl Marx, born 1820.
4. US record producer who founded the Motown label, born 1929.
5. US singer/songwriter who has scored many recent Disney moves including Toy Story and Monsters inc, born 1943.
6. Scottish Labour politician, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer 2007-2010.
7. English actor, who played the role of Gary Strang in 'Men Behaving Badly', born 1961.
8. English TV producer and presenter, who co-hosts the quiz show 'Pointless' with Alexander Armstrong, born 1970.

and a couple of deaths:

9. English authoress, who wrote the children's series 'The Famous Five' and 'The Secret Seven', died 1968.
10. Canadian/American comic actor, star of 'Police Squad!' and 'Airplane!', died 2010.

Answers tomorrow - good luck!

Oh dear! Not as knowledgeable as I thought! I only know three of these:

1. John Bunyan
3. Frederick Engels
7. Martin Clunes

*must read more*

4. Berry Gordy (sp?)
5. Randy Newman
8. Richard Osman

I will kick myself when someone posts the answer to 6. I know his face (particular the disparity between his eyebrows and hair), but can't quite remember his name.


Geggs

1 Bunyan
2 Blake
3 Engels
5 Randy Newman
9 Enid Blyton
10 Leslie Nielsen

Just spotted the deaths:

9. Enid Blyton
10. Leslie Neilsen


Geggs

Thanks Geggs! The eyebrows gave me the clue to 6 - but am by no means sure; and have no idea how to spell his first name either.

6. Alistair Darling?

That's the fella. Good one, scorp.


Geggs

4. Is Berry Gordy (jr) nor Berry Gordy (sp)

-r +t

I knew most of these!

Not doing very well, I'm afraid. My ignorance of politics, Britcoms, and music from DEE-troit is vast.

1. John Bunyan, bless his Dissenting little heart.
2. William Blake. My favourite tinfoil-hat poet.
3. Friedrich Engels.
4. No idea. I run from Motown music.
5. Randy Newman.
6.Oh, heck. More British politicians. No idea.
7. Who? What? Clueless.
8. Ditto.
9. Enid Blyton. Didn't one of those kids have a pet parrot?
10. Leslie Nielsen was Canadian? How did I miss that important fact?

Well, you got through these fairly rapidly between you - here are the solutions:

1. John Bunyan
2. William Blake
3. Friedrich Engels
4. Berry Gordy
5. Randy Newman
6. Alistair Darling
7. Martin Clunes
8. Richard Osman
9. Enid Blyton
10. Leslie Neilsen

Today's winner, for knowing Berry Gordy, is Geggs

Woohoo! In celebration of this win, I hereby offer everyone . Enjoy.


Geggs

1. Chaucer, I think

6. Gordon Brown

7. Martin Clunes

8. Richard Osman

9. Enid Blyton

10. I want to say Lesley Nielson but it's a guess

Deb

I knew Bunyon, Blyton (though only because of h2g2--I'd never heard of Enid until terri's articles in so many years ago) and Nielsen.

John Bunyan was a funny un
With a nose like a piclked onion
And a face like a squashed tomato
And legs like barbed wire

to the tune of 'The Mayor of Bayswater' otherwise known as 'The Ash Grove')

You have to sing that to get the full flavour. That's a good one!