What happened to the Guardian Thursday quiz?
by Martin Belam, June 26, 2025 Over the last couple of weeks I’ve had lots of lovely messages from people all asking what boils down to one question – “What happened to the Guardian Thursday quiz?”
Regular readers will know that I write a Thursday quiz for the Guardian. Unfortunately after a run of 213 almost consecutive editions – we skipped two weeks because the NUJ was on strike over the sale of the Observer – I have not been able to write it since the first edition of June.
For personal reasons I’ve had to step away from work for a little while, and need to take some time off for the sake of my mental health. I usually pre-write quizzes to cover my absences but this moment was very much not prepared for. I will be doing a few days here and there over the summer as I recover to keep my hand in, but the quiz is now on an unplanned interruption.
In Doctor Who terms, I like to think of it more like a mid-Colin-Baker-era hiatus, rather than a Sylvester McCoy-era cancellation, and all being well I plan to bring the quiz back in September.
Whether that becomes quiz #214, or quiz #1 of season #2 is, of course, exactly the kind of meticulous over-thinking of every detail about everything that has led to me needing a break. Never change, Martin, never change.
There is a rather lovely unofficial Thursday quiz community, and in my absence user0 has even constructed an alternative version of the Thursday quiz there. Here is this week’s: From Bears, Betteridge & Bezos to Venice, Vilnius & Vostok
It genuinely has been lovely to get so many messages of concern from people, and a real kindness of people to get in touch with me at a difficult time. I love how people tell me they do it all together in an office, or remotely with family, or that it is a highlight of their Thursdays. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with or create a few things that people have loved on the internet, and the community around the Thursday quiz has been one of the loveliest. People have also been sending me picture of their dogs to cheer me, which is very sweet. Don’t worry – Ron from Sparks, the feral hogs, some very naughty miniature dachshunds and 1,057 hidden Doctor Who references will return.
by Martin Belam, June 26, 2025 I do live blogging, news stories and quizzes at the Guardian, and help cover Eurovision and Doctor Who for them too. As a journalist and designer I’ve spent over twenty years building digital products for the likes of Sony, the Guardian, the BBC, the Natural History Museum, Arts Council England and Reach (formerly Trinity Mirror). You can contact me at martin.belam@theguardian.com. Sign up to get my blog posts sent to you via email.
Really missing you Martin. I work from home and save your quiz for my morning break entertainment. Mind you I’m rubbish at it! 🤣
Very best wishes to you. Sounds as if life’s a bit tough at the moment, but hoping it brightens up soon.
Thank you for posting this Martin. I am so sorry you are suffering at the moment and wish you and yours all the love and support you need.
My husband and I love the Thursday quiz, we do it on Saturday mornings with a cuppa and shall look forward to its return when you are well enough.
Take care and special love to Willow xx
I was once told – a long time ago, since I will be 79 next month – that a man never tells another man that he loves him. Bull feathers. Martin B, I love you, and want you to continue to be a part of my life.
Miss the quiz but hope you keep well.
Hope you get well very soon Martin, but don’t rush it
Martin
We really look forward to your Thursday quiz
Thanks for sharing why it will have a break and we look forward to its return, when you are fit and ready.
The Thursday quiz has been a highlight of the week for me and friends for ages so I’m glad it’s not a full McCoy situation.
We’ll miss you (and Willow) but glad to hear you’re taking the time you need.
Hope you are taking some well deserved me time, you deserve it pet. The quiz is great fun but we all want you task pet to take care of yourself.
Miss Willow too of course, I recommend lots of doggie snuggles.
All the best mate.
To follow on from David Watts – men aren’t supposed to hug each other either, but here’s a massive hug from me, and thanks for all the entertainment you’ve supplied us with. Keep strong.
Dear Martin, so sorry to hear that you are suffering but many thanks for posting this, which just confirms my already very positive views about you, and your professionalism. I really enjoy the quiz, although despite being a dilettante Dr Who fan, never get any of the extra clues, and am not especially good at the rest. I do appreciate the care and effort that you put into it. Wishing you all the best and hope that things feel better soon but don’t rush and don’t feel pressured. I do hope that you can enjoy some of the summer too.
I love your quizzes, wonderful stuff, hang on in there and take care of yourself, Lawrence
Have missed the quiz and the laughs – Thursdays aren’t the same. Take care Martin and look forward to your return when you’re ready x
I never get more than 9 right but I bloody well love and look forward to the quiz. However, needs must so take your time and get yourself well again. We’ll still be here when you come back
My husband and I compete every week. And I always come second.
Your health and well being comes first, take care.
Martin,
Thanks for letting us know about the Thursday Quiz. Lots of good wishes (let’s say 30-50) for a speedy recovery.
The thursday quiz is a highlight of the week!. Bill is right, feel better, we’ll be here when you get back. We adore you!.
Can’t wait for September.
Sorry to read that you’ve needed to take a break. I love your weekly quiz, especially the naughty dachshunds! Will look forward to September; though only if you’re ready to return. Take care and look after yourself.
Hope you have a good break Martin, and I hope Willow doesn’t get overly exhausted from all the walks I expect you’ll be taking her on. The quiz has really helped get me through the end of the week over the last few years!
Get well soon! We’ve missed you. This too shall pass.
I couldn’t answer most of the questions, but the word-play, the good- humoured fun and the official dog were a constant delight. I searched for the quiz and then, in despair, “what’s happened to the Thursday quiz?”
Thank you Martin, for taking the time and trouble to let us know what has happened to the highlight of the week and to you. I am very sorry to hear that you have had to take a break for health reasons, but relieved that the Thursday quiz is not gone forever. You, your quiz and Willow made Thursdays special.
Love to you and Willow.
Hi Martin,
Sam here of Deb and Sam and the birthday merch bag…
I meant to say thank you for your strike action and I was sad it didn’t work out for the Observer.
I tried to write a Thursday Quiz over those two weeks and it was REALLY DIFFICULT. I ended up with only 6 questions and an utter appreciation for how much time and effort it takes you to compile it!
Take care
Sam (not pictured)
Your quiz makes me laugh and frustrated in equal measure. Used your quiz over the years to annoy my friends and family at all available family gatherings. Get well my friend, hold you in our thoughts .
Yesterday, while searching desperately for news of what had become of the Thursday Quiz, I came upon an article you had written about the 150th iteration of it, and there, in the comments, you explained briefly that you had needed to take a break from work but would be back (Hoorah!). And now I see you have written in more depth about this. You bring joy to Thursday mornings with your jolly quiz (although I usually get a lot of it wrong), so thank you for that. Wishing you the best always and may you recover your health very soon and feel refreshed and ready to take on the world again. I don’t have a dog (or any other pet) to send you pictures of, unfortunately, but I look forward to seeing Willow again before too long.
Just adding to the chorus of well-wishers and love to you both you and Willow.
And also, thank you for sharing that you are taking time. In no means something people have to do, but it does help others who are going through their own struggles to hear I think. A reminder that we need to look after ourselves sometimes.
Waffle over. Another fan from the Thursday Quiz community.
Like all the usual BTLers, I realised that the second June quiz was missing within about 3 seconds after it would usually have appeared!
Oh well. We can wait! But hopefully it will be of some comfort to you to know you are very much missed by all of us.
Get well soon. We love doing the quiz
Dear Martin,
Thank you so much for letting us know-I was genuinely worried. Do take care of yourself and Willow, especially in this heat.
I really enjoy each Thursday, and tend to forget that the highlight of the week is about to arrive until it pings on my phone.
Thinking of you
I love the Quiz, Martin. Hope you are in a better place soon. all the best.
John
I’ll join the cacophony of well wishers – take care of the noggin that comes up with such beautiful, fun and often wistful quizzes.
Much better than the BBC nonsense that you never find on a google search and, when you do, it’s rubbish.
Bring back the good stuff when you’re ready.
And look after that nonsense of a thing you call a dog, too.
FFS, now where am I supposed to filch the questions for the quiz I run in the village local? Get well soon, mate.
Missing you Martin, the quiz, Willow, Dr Who and maybe the feral hogs .
It’s clearly time to step back, rebalance and relax.
Wishing you well.
Sylvia
We’re missing quiz, but your health definitely comes first. Get well soon, Martin.
Thanks for managing my Thursday quiz addiction; can’t wait until you’re back!
I have a vision of you following R&R around Europe on this latest tour, and soaking up the love they’re enjoying this time around. Hopefully you’ve made it to some shows. <3
Martin many thanks for the explanation and I’m very sorry to hear of your current situation but of course wish you good times in the future. I would be delighted should you feel ready and able to return to make my Thursday lunchtimes worthwhle. My neighbour recently acquired a new version of Willow and every time I see her it reminds me of why I’ve missed the Quiz so much!
With very best wishes
Keith Why
Missing you and the quiz, but I hope you’re feeling better soon. Be kind to yourself!!
I hope you’re back firing on all cylinders soon Martin, purely for selfish reasons :-)
I’m sure Willow is doing her best to help, perhaps even suspending naughtiness.
I’m glad I found out why though, it’s been doing my own nut in wondering where the quiz has gone.
Best wishes
Missing the quiz too Martin, but your health is obviously the most important thing. I’m glad it will be back, and best wishes for getting back to full health soon.
I’m just relieved that you’re alive and well (and mending), Martin. Do take care and we will see you again in the Thursday Quiz.
Oh I’m so glad I found this page, I was so worried and my mind went all over the place about what happened. Much love to you and Willow and we’ll be here when you get back and LONG LIVE SYLDAVIA
So relieved you have not been sacked or crossed over to the Daily Fail! The Thursday Quiz is very much a part of our weekly family get together, when we have a lovely meal followed by the quiz, we even scored 15 once last year! Love to you and Willow, you bring so much joy to so many – dont forget that.
I googled the Thursday quiz to see what had happened, and came across this post. Really hoping that you feel better soon. I love the quiz (hence my impatient searches) but please take all the time you need Martin. And, for the love of god, please call the next edition #214
Thanks for posting this, Martin. Saves me 30 minutes of search and dozens of clicks on Thursdays looking for the Quiz on the Guardian website. I’m not good at it but I love it. When I’m doing really bad, I blame it on my English language knowledge.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery from Germany!
P.S.: Maybe from September you could do one easy question for us non-Brits.
Sorry to hear that, Martin! Hope you’re back to full health soon and doing more quizzes that I’ll undoubtedly do terribly on.
I’m so pleased to have found this post and that you hope to bring the quiz back, Martin. I even sent an enquiry to The Guardian about it but they couldn’t tell me anything! My Thursday lunchtimes are currently very lacking, but I will keep it all crossed for a September return. Sending you all the best, from Lisa and Thursday Quiz canine Willow fans Billie, Lia and Beauson (2 very naughty Golden Retrievers and an angelic Cavalier)
Thankfully now at least I have an answer, even if it’s not the one I’d hoped for. I wish you well and thank you dearly for all the mind-bendingly, devilishly, deviously difficult trivia. Thursdays won’t be the same, but I’ll be optimistic and even though I was useless at your quiz, I’ll look forward to your return. D.
Thanks for sharing, Martin. I’m so sorry to hear you’re struggling, but happy you’re taking time to get better. Have missed the quiz and will gladly continue to miss it until you’re well enough to come back. Who knows, I might even learn enough in the meantime to make it to 10 correct answers once in a while!
Take care, enjoy having some slower time with Willow, and know that many, many of us are thinking of you and sending you our love. All the best xxx
So sorry to hear you haven’t been feeling great. Miss the quiz but glad to hear it will be back. Look after yourself and Willow.
Sorry it’s not a vacation you have been on but glad you’re taking the time you need. Wishing you the best for rest, recovery and rejuvenation. I look forward to the return of the Thursday Quiz whenever that may be.
Good to hear that you are looking after yourself. Look forward to seeing the TQ again, when the time is right. In the meantime, hope all goes well.
We save the quiz every week until we can do it together and are very much missing you and Willow. Look after your health, it can be a bit of a rocky road and take longer than you anticipate, so take care. Carol and Richard
Take care of yourself Martin. The quiz is a weekly highlight – looking forward to it starting again when you are good and ready.
Wishing you a good break – I have been missing it and eventually googled to find out what had happened to it. I almost never miss a week, and love the humor that you bring to it. Good luck for season #2 then, but make sure to take care of yourself first.
Wishing you all the best and looking forward to the next instalment of the best feature on the guardian’s site.
We’ll all be here, Martin, when you are well and good to go.
Best wishes for a restorative summer.
Martin, have a good summer and take good care of yourself. I’m looking forward to my next opportunity to quibble about trivia.
Too much obsession with me, Martin? Sending you lots of cabbages. Big hugs. From luscious Liz Truss
I am truly sorry that you have to interrupt work for a while. I’ve been feeling a bit orphaned for some weeks and today finally looked up whatever happened to the TQ. Not good news. I wish you all the best and look forward to a new edition at whatever time you feel ready to start it again. And many thanks for all the fun you have already provided.
Missing the feral hogs, so very pleased to hear the return in September.
Dear Martin, wishing you the best of health. I also found this post after some weeks trying to ascertain where the Thursday Quiz had gone! Please look after yourself, and come back when you’re feeling up to it. Another Martin.
I too am so glad I found this. I am so glad you are taking a well earned rest. I wish you all the very best Martin. Please know that you are loved and appreciated by so many of us. I love the Thursday Quiz and I love being part of a wider group who read The Guardian, share a sense humour and believe inbeing kind on line.
Take your time to recuperate. We will wait for you.
Belated commiserations, Martin. Thursday lunchtimes haven’t been the same.
I look forward to September.
Please take care of yourself!
Take care of yourself and thank you for the quiz – it is a feature of my week twice: Thursdays and either of Tuesday or Wednesdays, depending on how bad my week is, when I check for it because it feels like it must be Thursday.
Best wishes to you and Willow.
Dear Martin,
Following a trail of feral hogs, I’ve at last found your blog and this explanation for the quiz hiatus. As others have said, this quiz has long been the highlight of my Thursdays, and said Thursdays have often been the highlight of my weeks. You (and the very naughty dachshund) are in our hearts. Take as long as you need and come back when you’re ready.
Your quiz is the highlight of my otherwise busy Thursdays working in the NHS. It brings much needed lightness. I hope you are having the space to recuperate. Wishing you all the best.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery
Family and friends have been enjoying the quiz for some time.
Look forward to its return
I echo all the remarks above – your quiz is a highlight of my week – I especially like the Sparks obsessions! Get well soon and hoping the quiz will be back soon – but not at the expense of your health.
I have been wondering and now Google has finally caught up. I’m glad you’re taking a much-needed break but really miss the quiz with your unique sense of humour. It makes my Thursdays, but not at the expense of your health. Take care of yourself. All the best from Toronto, Canada.
Ah Martin I’m sorry to hear this and hope that you have someone who is in your corner and looking out for you. I started doing your quiz when my lovely
Stepfather became ill as I was really struggling. So much rubbish going on in the world and when I got home from work on a Thursday there was always something that made me chuckle that you’d included somewhere. Hope you’re feeling better soon. JJx
Thanks for explaining which you really didn’t have to do. Will look forward to getting you back in September and in the meantime look after yourself. Bringing a chuckle to so many people on a Thursday is a very valuable thing and you should be proud of that fact (which I’m sure you are!)
Sorry to hear about your personal setback..take the time you need..ONLY YOU can determine your valued return date…
Best wishes from across the POND
Adding our good wishes from the US–it’s clear how many people enjoy your witty quiz. We really miss you–take care, and we look forward to your happy return.
Kelly and John
So good to hear from you. I was really worried for a while, fearing thé worst since no explanations were given on the guardian website. I wil miss the quizz terribly. It was a highlight of m’y week, allowing me to hit pause for a lovely truly me moment. And I always loved the musical discoveries. Thank you again for all these wonderful and chalenging moments. Rest and be well and see you soon !
Very best wishes from two Scottish fans who mainly score badly on the quiz but thoroughly enjoy the humiliation! We look forward to your return after a well earned break.
A pedant writes: I’m sorry you’re not well. I have recently shared my addiction to the Thursday Quiz with a friend who was swiftly hooked as well. We are both missing it and look forward to your recovery and resumption of it. In the meantime, best wishes.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. The Thursday quiz is the highlight of my week, it always makes me chuckle. And I hope that very naughty miniature daschund is looking after you
Martin, I did wonder if you had been devoured by feral hogs. Phew! Such a relief! The Thursday Quiz has been a fun little life diversion for me over the last few years, although I’m total rubbish at it. Just kidding, I’m thoroughly American, so rubbish is not in my normal vocabulary. Except for the few months I worked at The Big Easy on The King’s Road over the summer of 1992! Looking forward to seeing you back in quiz action. Until then, wishing you much rest and thank you for letting us know about the alternative quiz splinter group.
Hi Martin
Your health has to come first and I hope you are on the road to recovery.
But to add a bit of love the Thursday Quiz and the star of the show Willow are very much missed and are indeed essential Thursday reading and sharing.
Get well soon.
Simon
Liverpool
Great Quiz. Thank you for all of them. Sending regards to Willow and the Feral Hogs.
Wishing you good wishes! Husband and I miss the quiz.
Your quiz is a family favourite across the country. We compare scores, naturally.!
Look after yourself.