Ten Pipers Piping (or Not) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rose Tyler

Rose made her first appearance when Christopher Eccleston took the role of Doctor Who in its 2005 revival. She then travelled with the tenth doctor, played by David Tennant, before Billie made her final appearance as Rose in 2013. Before turning to acting, Billie had been a pop star, with three number one UK singles to her name.

The other three companions listed were played by Catherine Tate (Donna), Freema Agyeman (Martha) and Karen Gillan (Amy).

Answer: Potato

The Maris Piper variety became generally available in the mid 1960s after twenty-five years of research in the UK to develop a potato variety which was resistant to a type of roundworm called the potato cyst nematode. The potato soon became popular as it can be used for mashing, roasting and chips (French fries), the three most common ways in which potatoes are eaten in the UK.

Answer: Ireland

Evidence of bagpipes being around in several ancient civilisations has been uncovered, and they were common in Western Europe in the second millennium. The uilleann pipes are known as union pipes in English, with the original Gaelic name translating as 'pipes of the elbow'.

The uilleann name is relatively modern, though, coined by the Irish historian and musicologist called William Flood.

Answer: Tom

'Tom, Tom the piper's son; stole a pig and away did run; the pig was eat and Tom was beat; and Tom went howling down the street' is possibly not a great way to teach English grammar to children, but the rhyme has been around since at least the eighteenth century. Most sources say that the 'pig' is unlikely to have been the animal but probably referred to a small type of apple pie, which it seems Tom managed to eat before receiving the beating.

Answer: Bird

The film was less than minutes long, and was a support to the rather longer 'Finding Dory'. 'Piper' was a young sandpiper bird, who discovered his own way of capturing food. The film won an Oscar for the Best Animated Short Film at the 2017 ceremony for its director, Alan Barillaro, and producer, Marc Sondheimer.

Answer: Oil

Although all of those industries made billions for their pioneers, Piper originally began in construction before working in the oil industry. Piper invested in an existing aircraft manufacturing business, taking it over when the original owners ran out of money.

The company produced many affordable aircraft, with the Piper Cub being particularly popular and earning Piper the nickname of the 'Henry Ford of Aviation'.

Answer: Nevil Shute

The story is set during the Second World War when the protagonist finds himself caught in France after the German invasion. Making his way home to England is made more difficult by his being asked to take along two children whose parents wish to get them to safety.

The number of children in his care increases to five - hence the title of the novel. Shute is probably best known for his books 'A Town Like Alice' and 'On the Beach', published in 1950 and 1957 respectively.

Answer: The Wind in the Willows

Written by Kenneth Grahame, 'The Wind in the Willows' relates the adventures of Toad, Mole, Badger and Rat, as well as additional characters. 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' is the title of one of the chapters in the book, and was chosen by Pink Floyd for their album, released in 1967.

The piper in the book is the Greek god Pan, known for playing his pipes. The album itself has no connection to the characters in the book, though.

Answer: The Hustler

The film was 'The Hustler', with Paul Newman playing 'Fast' Eddie Felson, Jackie Gleason portraying Minnesota Fats with Piper Laurie as Eddie's ill-fated girlfriend, Sarah. Among her other films are 'Carrie' (1976) and 'Children of a Lesser God' (1986). Piper, whose real name is Rosetta Jacobs, also appeared on television in 'Twin Peaks' between 1990 and 1991 as well as in several other popular shows.

Answer: Calls the tune

The saying means that the person providing the money for an enterprise has the right to say how it should be spent. According to one source, the saying may date back to the seventeenth century when hired musicians came to play at festivals. Those who hired them literally chose the tunes they wanted to hear, but the expression is used more figuratively in modern times.