The Great Sock Quiz

Answer: Red

Adrian is feeling rebellious and turns up at school wearing red socks rather than the uniform black, whereupon the headmaster sends him home. (Yes, school uniform regulations really were that strict in 1980s Britain, when the book was written!) This leads Pandora (who has been brought up by politically active parents) to form a red sock committee and stage a red sock protest which involves Pandora and her friends all coming to school in red socks. This gets them all suspended from school for a week. However, it also has the effect of bringing Adrian and Pandora together, and the development of their relationship is a theme throughout the rest of the book.

The combination of a hapless teenage narrator (with whom many readers could identify), social commentary and a backdrop containing significant historical events of 1980s Britain made the novel a best seller. Sue Townsend also penned seven sequels, following Adrian into adulthood.

Answer: I left my shoes and socks there - I wonder if they're dry?

John Masefield's second line reads "And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by." More poetic maybe, but Milligan's version is easier for most people to relate to!

Spike Milligan, born Terence Alan Milligan, was a British writer, actor and comedian. During his lifetime he produced several books of nonsense verse as well as radio and TV scripts, and other books including a series of wartime memoirs. Although he was a very funny man, he suffered from bipolar disorder and went through many very dark periods in his life. Milligan died in 2002. Funny to the end, his gravestone is inscribed with the words "Dúirt mé leat go raibh mé breoite" - Irish for "I told you I was ill".

Answer: It gives him his freedom

Dobby serves the Malfoy family. The only way a house elf can gain his freedom is if his master gives him an item of clothing. Harry Potter tricks Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby a sock. In the book he achieves this by hiding an important diary inside one of his own socks. Lucius hastily extracts the diary and throws the sock away - straight into the waiting hands of Dobby.

In the film, Harry puts the sock inside the diary, which Lucius then hands to Dobby.

Answer: Father Ted

In this poetic description of teenage boys trying to find girlfriends, the "stiff knee length skirts and white ankle socks" refer to the girls' school uniform. (Later in the song the boys are described as wearing "uniform ties".)

So what does this have to do with "Father Ted", a TV comedy series about three Irish priests and their housekeeper who live on a remote island?

The answer is - nothing at all! Neil Hannon wrote the music specifically as the theme tune for "Father Ted". He later reworked it to become the melody for "Songs of Love".

Answer: To win the heart of the lady he desires

Unfortunately, Malvolio has been tricked! The letter which convinces him that his beloved Olivia would like him to wear yellow stockings and smile a lot is a forgery. In fact Olivia abhors yellow. Even worse, as Olivia has just lost her brother she is certainly not in the mood for smiling. The poor man ends up being arrested for being a lunatic.

Answer: Clintons

Socks the cat was the pet of Bill Clinton's family during the time he was President of the USA. He lived with them in the White House and was known as the "First Cat". He was even known to appear at press conferences! During the Clinton administration a cartoon version of Socks would guide children around the White House website.

The postage stamps featuring Socks were issued by the Central African Republic. There were nine stamps, only two of which featured Clinton, the others carrying images of Socks on his own.

Answer: Mr Socko

Mr Socko was supposed to be a one-off joke, but due to popularity with fans became a regular part of Mankind's routine. He would stuff the sock into the mouth of his opponents during his finishing move known as "mandible claw".

Answer: Lieutenant Dan

Lt. Dan is Forrest's platoon leader when he goes to fight in Vietnam. Addressing Forrest and Bubba for the first time, Lt. Dan says "There is one item of G.I. gear that can be the difference between a live grunt and a dead grunt. Socks, cushion, sole, O.D. green. Try and keep your feet dry when we're out humpin'. I want you boys to remember to change your socks wherever we stop." Lt. Dan is from a long line of soldiers, all of whom have been killed fighting for America, and he believes that this will be his destiny.

When he gets caught in an ambush and loses his legs, Forrest rescues him against his will. Eventually he becomes Forrest's partner in the Bubba-Gump Shrimp Company.

Answer: Shiny Stockings

Frank Foster wrote this tune in 1955 for the Count Basie band, but until 2010 was unable to collect any royalties for his work, due to unwittingly signing them away to a company who collected publishing rights. Happily, a legal team made up mostly of law students from Rutgers-Newark were able to win back his right to claim full royalties for the song.

In 1963 the song (with lyrics) was included on an album which Ella Fitzgerald recorded with the Count Basie band - "Ella and Basie!" (also known as "On the Sunny Side of the Street").

Answer: Monkey

It is thought that Sock Monkeys first became popular during the Great Depression in the 1930s. With no spare money for toys, these could be made with a little skill and a few bits and pieces found around the home. There was one particular brand of sock which made a very distinctive monkey - the so called "Original Rockford Red Heel", a grey work sock with a red and white heel made by the Nelson Knitting company in Rockford, Illinois.

These socks produced a monkey with a red mouth and white muzzle and paws.

When the company became aware that their socks were being used in this way, they began to include instructions for making a sock monkey with every pair of Red Heel socks.