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Half Man Half Biscuit Trivia Quiz

The British band Half Man Half Biscuit have been delighting their fans with their mixture of biting satire and downwright silliness since the mid-eighties. Ten questions about the band and their songs.

A multiple-choice quiz by Mutchisman. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Mutchisman

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
248,823

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
344

Awards
Top 5% quiz!

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Half Man Half Biscuit are originally from which location? Hint

Southport

Liverpool

Birkenhead

Bootle

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was Half Man Half Biscuit's first album called? Hint

ACD

Four Boys that Shook the Wirral

Cammel-Laird Social Club

Back in the DHSS

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who is described as "TV's first emetic" on their first album sleeve? Hint

Jim Davidson

Lionel Blair

Larry Grayson

Bob Monkhouse

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which legendary radio DJ first championed Half Man Half Biscuit and brought them to the attention of a wider audience? Hint

John Peel

Tony Blackburn

Bob Harris

Jimmy Saville

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Question 5 of 10

5. Jools Holland wanted Half Man Half Biscuit to perform on his TV show "The Tube" but the band refused the offer. What was the reason given for their non-appearance? Hint

The band's van needed a new clutch

It would have meant missing a Tranmere Rovers football match

They didn't like any of the other bands on the show

It would have meant cancelling a gig in Rhyl

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Question 6 of 10

6. "There is nothing better in life than..." How does this piece of homespun philosophy finish according to the song "The Best Things in Life"? Hint

Writing on the soles of your slipper with a biro

Attending Salvidor Dali's fancy-dress party

Visiting Uncle Charlie and his wife

Beating Yury Gagarin into space

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which former England cricketer were the band very surprised to see in the 'local store'? Hint

Fred Titmus

Trevor Bailey

Fred Trueman

John Edrich

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which "Carry On" star is the main target in the Half Man Half Biscuit song "Carry On Cremating"? Hint

Barbara Windsor

Syd James

Kenneth Williams

Hattie Jacques

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Question 9 of 10

9. "All I want for Christmas is a ______________ away kit"
Which football team completes this Half Man Half Biscuit song title? Hint

Borussia Munchengladbach

Tranmere Rovers

Honved

Dukla Prague

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Question 10 of 10

10. In which childrens' TV show was there a riot according to a Half Man Half Biscuit song title? Hint

Trumpton

Chigley

Camberwick Green

The Magic Roundabout

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Half Man Half Biscuit are originally from which location?

Answer: Birkenhead

Writer and singer for the band, Nigel Blackwell is very proud of his Birkenhead roots. He supports the local football team, Tranmere Rovers, and there are are several references to places in the town and surrounding areas in both his songs and album titles.

2. What was Half Man Half Biscuit's first album called?

Answer: Back in the DHSS

"Back in the DHSS" is a take on The Beatles "Back in the USSR" and refers to the boys' employment status at the time: namely on the 'dole'.
"Four Boys that Shook the World" is another Beatles reference, whilst "Cammel-Laird Social Club" is a parody of Ry Cooder's "Buena Vista" project. ACD is a reference to rock band AC/DC.

3. Who is described as "TV's first emetic" on their first album sleeve?

Answer: Lionel Blair

The sleeve of "Back in the DHSS" contains a list of none too gentle prods at a variety of people including the all-singing, all-dancing Lionel Blair. Whether or not he was the 'first' TV emetic is open to debate but it is hard to argue with their overall assessment.

4. Which legendary radio DJ first championed Half Man Half Biscuit and brought them to the attention of a wider audience?

Answer: John Peel

John Peel loved the irreverant attitude of HMHB's songs and their lampooning of minor celebrities. It was John Peel who first broadcast their songs on national radio and called them into the studio for some live recordings.

5. Jools Holland wanted Half Man Half Biscuit to perform on his TV show "The Tube" but the band refused the offer. What was the reason given for their non-appearance?

Answer: It would have meant missing a Tranmere Rovers football match

Jools really wanted HMHB on the show but it was to be recorded on the same night as a Tranmere home match. Nigel Blackwell couldn't bear to miss his football and even though Jools offered to send a helicopter to pick the boys up, they stayed put.

6. "There is nothing better in life than..." How does this piece of homespun philosophy finish according to the song "The Best Things in Life"?

Answer: Writing on the soles of your slipper with a biro

More specifically: "Writing on the soles of your slippers with a biro, on a Saturday night instead of going to the pub!"
The other three answers are all referenced in the same song.

7. Which former England cricketer were the band very surprised to see in the 'local store'?

Answer: Fred Titmus

"I was walking round my local store.
Searching for the ten pence off Lenor,
When suddenly I bumped into this guy;
On seeing who he was I gave a cry:
'(Expletives deleted), it's Fred Titmus'!"

Fred Titmus was a successful spin bowler for Middlesex and England.

8. Which "Carry On" star is the main target in the Half Man Half Biscuit song "Carry On Cremating"?

Answer: Hattie Jacques

I guess the boys are not big fans of the 'Carry On' style of humour.
They go for Hattie in a 'big' way on this track.

9. "All I want for Christmas is a ______________ away kit" Which football team completes this Half Man Half Biscuit song title?

Answer: Dukla Prague

One of the few songs, if not the only one, written about the Subbuteo table football game. This one lad's uncle was able to obtain a Dukla Prague away kit because 'his uncle kept a sports shop and kept it to one side'. both Borussia and Honved appear in other HMHB songs.

10. In which childrens' TV show was there a riot according to a Half Man Half Biscuit song title?

Answer: Trumpton

"The Trumpton Riots" was issued as a single but sadly didn't make the mainstream charts (it is recorded as being Number One in the 'Indie' charts, thanks "Wikipedia"). Camberwick Green was also parodied in the HMHB song "Time Flies by When You're the Driver of a Train".

Keep 'em coming Nigel!

Source: Author Mutchisman

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ertrum before going online.
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