Portsmouth pub quizmaster sees hundreds take part as quiz nights go virtual

DESPITE the closure of pubs across the country, the virtual world has thrown a lifeline to those looking to pit their knowledge against their friends.
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With the country still in lockdown, people are using the internet to stay connected with their friends and family.

But virtual pub quizzes have become immensely popular, with hundreds of people testing themselves against other quizzers online.

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Since lockdown began, Portsmouth comedian and pub quizmaster Dan Churchley has been hosting weekly quizzes, live streamed through Facebook.

Comic and children's entertainer Dan Churchley is running weekly virtual pub quizzes during the coronavirus lockdownComic and children's entertainer Dan Churchley is running weekly virtual pub quizzes during the coronavirus lockdown
Comic and children's entertainer Dan Churchley is running weekly virtual pub quizzes during the coronavirus lockdown

One of his quizzes, themed around the TV sitcom Friends, had around 600 people taking part.

He said: ‘It’s quite clear venues won’t be reopening any time soon, so we have to make the most of what we have.

‘But doing this has been a good bit of fun – I really look forward to Wednesday nights because it’s so social.

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‘We have a good hundred or so people tuning in to take part which is nice.’

Popular comedians across the south coast have been turning to the virtual world to entertain people.

Dan said: ‘Doing stuff like this is really important at the moment.

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‘These people who are taking part become your friends – you're talking to them and getting to know one another.

‘We’re lucky that this virus struck now and not thirty years ago, we’d have been stuffed without the technology we have today.’

As with Dan’s normal pub quizzes, he has acquired a group of regular quizzers who turn up every week.

Some of those come from his work at the Lord John Russell and Shepherd's Crook, but others have come from much further afield.

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‘It’s nice to have that local following, but also have people from across the UK taking part,’ he said.

‘There’s a real sense of community through these quizzes and I absolutely love that – from my regular pub quiz teams who turn up each week to people from further afield.’

To tune into Dan’s quizzes, go to facebook.com/danchurchleycomedy.

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