Suffolk's Showbiz and Celebrity Links Quiz

Answer: The Fourth Protocol

Although born in Kent, Frederick Forsyth lived at one time in East Anglia and worked as a journalist for the Eastern Daily Press. In the film 'The Fourth Protocol', RAF Bentwaters was called RAF Baywaters.

'The Fourth Protocol' (1987) is about a Spycatcher trying to track down a secret agent who is smuggling a small nuclear device into Britain one piece at a time.

Answer: Ipswich

Brian Cant, best known for Playschool and Playaway, was born in Ipswich in 1933.

Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham Fiennes was born in Ipswich in December 1962. His mother was the writer Jennifer Lash and his brother Joseph is also an actor. Among his other siblings (2 sisters and 4 brothers) are a musician, a producer and a director and among his cousins is the bonkers British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

Answer: Bury St Edmunds

Gravel voiced Robert William Hoskins, to give him his full name, was born at Bury St Edmunds in 1942.

His TV credits include 'Pennies from Heaven'(2005) and he has appeared in many films including 'The Long Good Friday'(1981), 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit'(1988) and 'Mrs Henderson Presents'(2005)

Answer: Great Finborough

John Peel (real name John Ravenscroft) and his wife Sheila moved to Suffolk in the 1970's and raised their four children there. Their Suffolk home was known to his listeners as 'Peel Acres' and a number of high profile bands, including Blur and The White Stripes, played live broadcasts from his house for his Radio 1 show.

Gedding Hall is owned by Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman.
Terry Waite, (former envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury) who was held hostage in Beirut in the 1990s is a resident of Hartest.

The village of Westhorpe was home to 16th century celebrity Mary Brandon (nee Tudor). The youngest sister of King Henry VIII, Mary was briefly Queen of France and later became Duchess of Suffolk.

Answer: Michael Palin

'East of Ipswich' (1987) is about a teenage boy on holiday on the Suffolk Coast in the 1950s and follows his friendships with a local lad, a young Dutch girl and another young woman who he fancies but who is ultimately unobtainable.

Although Michael Palin was actually born in Sheffield, he has close links with the Suffolk coast and in 1997 he attended a ceremony at Darsham station to name a train 'The Michael Palin'.

Terry Jones was born in Colwyn Bay, North Wales. John Cleese was born in Western-Super-Mare and of course wrote his own, incredibly successful sea-side comedy, 'Fawlty Towers'(1975) that was set in Devonshire.

Graham Chapman was born in Leicester and met John Cleese while at Cambridge University, so they too have an East Anglian connection. Sadly, Graham Chapman died in 1989.

Answer: Bill Wyman

It's the Stones' bass player, Bill Wyman. Gedding Hall is a partly moated mansion, which was originally built in 1196 but was altered in the 15th century and again in 1897. Bill Wyman has dug up a number of ancient artefacts in the grounds of this manor house.

Answer: Sir John Mills

The Sir John Mills Theatre in Ipswich is an intimate little theatre where the Eastern Angles touring company often perform. The man after whom it is named had a career spanning 60 years and appeared in more than 100 films, including 'Great Expectations'(1946) and 'Ice Cold in Alex'(1958). Sir John Mills died in Buckinghamshire in 2005, leaving behind something of a showbiz dynasty in actress daughters Haley and Juliet and musician grandson Crispian.

The three incorrect answers were also great actors of their time; Sir John Gielgud, who is probably best remembered for his Shakespearean work, was born in London and died in 2000. Sir Alec Guinness, star of 'Bridge on The River Kwai'(1957); 'Star Wars'(1977) and a host of Ealing Comedies was also born in London and he too died in 2000.

Paul Scofield's greatest role was probably playing Sir Thomas Moore in the film 'A Man for All Seasons'(1966), a role for which he won both a BAFTA and an Oscar. He was born in West Sussex in 1922 and died in March 2008. Although he accepted the titles of CBE and Companion of Honour, it is believed that Paul Scofield rejected attempts to give him a knighthood.

Answer: Holbrook

The village of Holbrook on the Shotley Peninsula is also home to the Royal Hospital School. Griff Rhys Jones' mum lives nearby in the small Suffolk town of Woodbridge. In 2002, Griff received an honourary degree from Suffolk College.

As already mentioned, Great Finborough was once home to John Peel, and Bill Wyman owns Gedding Hall. Comedian Roy Hudd has a home at Crowfield.

Answer: Nik Kershaw

Born Nicholas David Kershaw in Bristol in 1958, Nik Kershaw, lived in Ipswich for nearly 20 years and attended the town's Northgate School. He continues to record and release music but his best known work, including 'I won't let the sun go down on me' and 'Wouldn't it be good' date from the early 1980s.

Thomas Dolby ('She Blinded Me With Science'), who was born in London and Howard Jones ('What is Love?'), who was born in Shropshire were well known artists in the same electro-pop era as Kershaw. Howard Jones had an album called 'Humans Lib' and the similarity in title between that and Kershaw's 'Human Racing' caused some confusion among music fans. Paul Hardcastle was born in London and his biggest hit was '19', which reached number 1 on the UK charts in 1985.

Answer: Felixstowe

Mrs Wallis Simpson stayed at Beach House, Felixstowe while waiting for her divorce to come through. After she and King Edward were married, they were known as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Mrs Simpson's divorce was granted in nearby Ipswich.

Lowestoft's claim to fame is that it is the most easterly point in mainland Britain. Aldeburgh and Southwold are attractive resorts on the Suffolk Heritage Coast and Southwold has a long association with artists.