The Guardian's popular Thursday news quiz has wrapped up the year with a special bumper edition, marking a small festive tradition for its dedicated followers. Quiz number 228 served as the final instalment of 2025, promising a mix of topical news, general knowledge, and a handful of jokes to see out the year.
A Festive Farewell and a Quizmaster's Thanks
The quiz's introduction offered warm seasonal wishes and a note of gratitude to its audience. It specifically thanked participants for their engagement throughout the year, including comments and good-natured corrections. A special mention was made for the kind messages sent to the quizmaster during the 'Great Thursday Quiz Hiatus of 2025™', when he was absent due to illness. The quiz will return in the new year.
What's in the Final Quiz?
This edition was a 20-question bumper quiz, challenging readers on a range of topics from recent news events to pop culture. One question featured an adorable baby pygmy hippo, described humorously as an 'absolute sausage', prompting readers to guess its name. Another referenced topical AI mishaps and instances of fan fury, testing how closely participants have followed the year's stories.
The playful tone acknowledged the quiz's pedantic readership, joking that 1,057 pedants were limbering up to nitpick. While welcoming fact-based corrections for egregious errors, it cautioned readers against attempting to fact-check the jokes.
Looking Ahead to Christmas and 2026
As a festive send-off, the quiz wished everyone a Merry Christmas, a great holiday period, and all the best for 2026. It also promoted a special opportunity for fans: by signing up for the First Edition newsletter, readers could receive a quiz-style 'quiz of the year' directly in their inbox on Christmas Day.
The accompanying photograph of the baby pygmy hippo was credited to Thilo Schmülgen/Reuters, providing a charming visual hook for the end-of-year trivia challenge.
