Getting the rounds in – virtual pub quiz takes off

Its organisers, Guernseymen Andrew Senneck and Paul Belben, thought up the idea of putting on the quiz as a Facebook live event to bring some light relief to those stuck at home during the island’s lockdown.

‘The idea was purely just on a whim,’ said Mr Senneck.

‘We were sat watching someone do one of the UK virtual quizzes and we were aware of a couple of friends who were taking part, and we just thought it might be fun to do a local one.

‘Online quizzes are not the most exciting as it’s just a person on camera reading questions and it makes interaction difficult, but we hope to just bring a bit of light relief to homes and take people’s minds off the dreaded C-word.’

He added that although it had been just something to share with friends and family, the amount of people who wanted to have a bit of fun exploded, including requests to have the questions posted as well as spoken from a deaf person and another person who wanted to do it for their parents, who are not online.

‘Initially the plan was just to open it to a few friends as we figured it was never going to be that popular,’ he said.

‘But within an hour it became apparent that it was not just for fun any more as people started sharing it, and then, overnight, it just took off with interest.

‘We’d hoped people would play against each other in the house, or virtually against friends to drum up some rivalry – someone asked me earlier as a joke what the prize was, and I said that’s up to your house.

‘[Perhaps] if you go up against your other half, you could set a prize where the winner can pick a forfeit for the loser, like do the cleaning for a week.’

The questions aired live on Facebook with five rounds of 10 questions each.

There were three rounds about the Bailiwick, one about local sport and one on local news from the past 20 years.

• To keep an eye out for future Guernsey virtual pub quizzes, visit www.facebook.com/events/3012644578792925/.