The Witchfinders Trivia Quiz

Answer: Lancashire

The county of Lancashire was created in 1182, and historically was the area between the Ribble and Mersey rivers. For much of its history, it included Manchester and Liverpool. It is located in Northwestern England. The symbol for Lancashire, the red rose, dates back to the War of the Roses.

"Witchfinders" is set at Pendle Hill in eastern Lancashire. It was the site of real life witch trials in 1612. The hill is also linked with the founding of the Society of Friends (Quakers).

Several episodes during series 11 have taken place in Sheffield, Yorkshire, and the Doctor herself, Jodie Whittaker, is a native of Yorkshire. Hampshire is in southern England, and is notable as the home of Jane Austen. According to Clara, the author was a good kisser. Shropshire is in western England, near Wales. It is the birthplace of scientist Charles Darwin.

Answer: James I

James I (1566-1625) was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots. He became King of England in 1603, and presided over the unification of England and Scotland. Major events during his reign include the Gunpowder Plot, the British colonization of North America, and the start of the Thirty Years War in 1618. James is also known for his translation of the Bible for the Church of England.

The episode is accurate in regards to Henry's personal history. His father was murdered and his mother was betrayed and executed. As Ryan stated "You win."

King James I was played by noted British actor Alan Cumming. American viewers probably know him best from the legal drama "The Good Wife" (2010-2016). He has been acting regularly in films and television since the 1990s. Cumming has both a Laurence Olivier Award and Tony Award for his work in theatre, and in 2009 Elizabeth II awarded him an OBE.

Cumming played the king as somewhat obsessed with witches and Satan, although the Doctor seemed to discover it was linked to abandonment issues from his childhood.

Answer: Tried to make a pass at her

King James was remarkably sexist towards the Doctor, assuming that she was the Assistant Witchfinder to Graham's General. He referred to the Doctor as "lassie" and said that women were good at nosiness and gossip. However, he did not make any sexual advances towards the Doctor.

Given that there is strong historical evidence that James I was a homosexual, despite fathering several children, it is no surprise that he would not be making a move on the Doctor.

Answer: horses

When the Doctor asked why she wasn't riding a horse, Becka explained that she had all of the horses killed, because they were agents of Satan. Becka was quite obsessed with ridding the vicinity of anything connected with Satan.

Answer: 36

It was stated several times during "The Witchfinders" that Becca had killed 36 people during the witch trials. Becca started the witch trials after she was infected by an alien race that was planted underneath a tree on Pendle Hill.

All the killings turned out to be quite unfortunate, because the bodies were taken over by evil extra-terrestrial mercenaries who were hell-bent on taking over the Earth.

Answer: Bilehurst Crag

Bilehurst Crag was the name of the estate. Becka inherited it when her husband died. At the start of the episode, Graham mentioned that he had never heard of the place. At the end, James I said that he would have the name erased from the history books. Apparently he was successful.

Caliburn House was the haunted house in "Hide" (2013). Torchwood House is located in Scotland, and was central to the events of "Tooth and Claw" (2006). The Scarman Priory was the site of the Fourth Doctor adventure "The Pyramids of Mars" (1975).

Answer: cousins

Willa mentions that they were cousins, which would mean that Becka killed her own grandmother as a witch. Later, it turns out that Becka had gone to her grandmother, who was a healer, after she had been infected by the alien creature. Fearful that her secret would be revealed, Becka decided to accuse her grandmother of witchcraft.

Willa was played by Tilly Steele. She is probably best known as Cleary in "Victoria" (2017), which starred "Doctor Who" alum Jenna Coleman. Steele also appeared in "Agatha Raisin" (2016), "Mount Pleasant" (2016) and "Doctors" (2017).

Answer: Morax

They were the Morax, a hostile race that had been imprisoned on Earth for committing war crimes. The Morax were trapped underneath a complex bio-mechanical locking system which was disguised as a tree. When Becka chopped the tree, she broke the lock and allowed the alien queen to escape and infect her.

The Lorax was created by Dr. Seuss, and is the keeper of trees. Borax, a salt from boric acid, has many industrial uses. The Mara, a snake-like creature, appeared in the Fifth Doctor adventures "Kinda" (1982) and "Snakedance" (1983).

Answer: Pulp Fiction

Graham states that he may return one day to Jacobean England, and if he is displeased with the king he will "strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger." This is a quote from Jules Winfield (Samuel L Jackson) in "Pulp Fiction."

King James actually says "Ezekiel", furthering the joke, because Jules says the quote is from Ezekiel 25:17. As a matter of fact, the quote is not from the Bible at all, but was created by Quentin Taranatino, as Graham stated.

Answer: Joy Wilkinson

Joy Wilkinson wrote "Witchfinders". It is her first episode of "Doctor Who"; she also wrote "It Takes You Away" this season. However, she has been writing since 2006. If you are producing a medical drama, Wilkinson has written for "Casualty" (2006), "Holby City" (2006) and many episodes of "Doctors" (2006-2012).

Sallie Aprahamnian directed. This is her second "Doctor Who" after "Arachnids in the UK" (2018). She has been directing regularly since 1997, in a wide range of television shows. Her work includes "Casualty" (1994 and 2012), "EastEnders" (2014) and "The Worst Witch" (2017).

Siobhan Finneran was Becka Savage. A native of Lancashire, Finneran started acting in 1989. Her debut was on the soap opera "Coronation Street" (1989-90). Since then, she has appeared in a wide range of British television programs, including playing Sarah O'Brien on "Downton Abbey" (2010-12).

Amy Riley is the make-up artist for series 11. She previously worked on Peter Capaldi's first series back in 2014. Riley has also worked on "Sherlock" (2014-17) and "The Crown" (2016-17).