The curtain falls on another year of news trivia as The Guardian publishes its final Thursday news quiz of 2025. This festive edition, a bumper 20-question special, offers readers one last chance to test their knowledge on the year's top stories before the quiz takes a seasonal break.
A Festive Tradition with a Side of Pedantry
Described as a small festive tradition, the quiz knowingly embraces the playful nitpicking of its dedicated audience. The introduction wryly notes that somewhere, 1,057 pedants are limbering up to find details to quibble over. The quizmaster also took a moment to thank participants for their engagement throughout the year, including the hundreds of kind messages received during the 'Great Thursday Quiz Hiatus of 2025™' when he was off sick.
What's in the Final Quiz?
Quiz number 228 promises the usual mix of topical news, pop culture, and general knowledge. While the full question set remains under wraps, the teaser highlights a particularly charming subject: a newborn pygmy hippo, affectionately dubbed "an absolute sausage" by the quiz team. The challenge for participants? To deduce the little hippo's name.
The quiz also hints at questions covering AI mishaps and fan fury, reflecting the major news trends of the past twelve months. As always, readers are invited to contest any perceived errors in the comments, provided they can show their working and aren't attempting to fact-check a joke.
A Temporary Farewell and a Christmas Day Bonus
The Thursday quiz will now pause for the holidays, wishing readers a Merry Christmas, a great festive period, and all the best for 2026. However, quiz enthusiasts need not go cold turkey. The Guardian's First Edition newsletter will deliver a special quiz-of-the-year style edition directly to subscribers' inboxes on Christmas Day, offering a festive fix for trivia lovers.
For those already missing the weekly challenge, the regular Thursday news quiz will return in the new year, ready to dissect the headlines of 2026.
