They are the seemingly simple questions that have become a staple of the popular pub quiz, but for the first time, a new research study has pinpointed the top ten frequently asked general knowledge questions that leave Brits baffled.

The research, which was specially commissioned to launch digital channel Dave’s new website, asked 3,000 adult respondents from across the UK to answer 20 of the most common posed pub quiz questions.

The survey also found that eight in ten Brits have attended a pub quiz at least once and reveals which subjects are likely to inspire confidence or induce intellectual panic. A huge 70% of respondents claim ‘entertainment’ to be their best subject, followed by ‘history’ (28%) and ‘geography’ (27%). ‘Sport’ and ‘politics’ were deemed the weakest subjects with 20% and 13% of the votes.

Respondents were also questioned on the celebrities they consider the ideal candidates to fill a pub quiz team, with trivia host Stephen Fry emerging as favourite (with 44.4%). Stephen was joined by Countdown brainbox Carol Vorderman (38.3%), television news anchor Sir Trevor McDonald (31.8%), and chat show hosts Michael Parkinson (27%) and Jonathan Ross (22%) respectively. Unsurprisingly, those deemed ineffective as quiz contributors were golden couple David and Victoria Beckham (4.8% and 2.7%), supermodel Kate Moss (3.4%) and glamour girl Jordan (5.9%).

Celebrities in general didn’t rate highly on the knowledge credentials; teachers (62%), journalists (53%) and cab drivers (35%), the latter notorious for useless information gathering, were deemed the most worthy career types to include on a team. Languishing in the low IQ stakes alongside celebrities (12.5%) were builders (14.4%) and mechanics (11.3%).

The top ten frequently asked questions that leave Brits baffled and all correct answers can be found at joindave.co.uk