Nik Nak’s Daily Teaser — 17-5-2026 — Anyone for Dennis? (Ten questions)

17th May, 2026: Dennis Potter.

It’s officially the case that a man in need of a game controller … has to buy a new one … 

Yes: that’s right … I have a new toy: a new game controller, now happily paired with my AppleTV 4k.

Just so you know?

It’s what’s called a DualSense™Wireless Controller: and something originally designed for the PlayStation 5.

Which caught may nephew’s eyes: he has one of the console’s, himself, and was able to offer advise one button configurations.

Well played, him!

I also have to say “Well Played, Apple”: as I ordered it from them.

They originally told me the thing would be with me, by Saturday, 16th May..

Although the Royal Mail — the people doing the actual delivery — told me it would be with me by this coming Monday, 18th May.

As it turned out?

It turned up yesterday.

And got connected, pretty much immediately, and saw me playing Sonic the Hedgehog.

Exciting, eh … ?

~≈🦔≈~

Actually, now I’ve mentioned Jude?

Yes: he was here, yesterday.

And yes: he’s posted another video: feel free to hit the ‘Like’ button!

~≈⚽️≈~

Just as a last thing … ?

I’ve had today’s edition of Radio Four’s Sunday on, this morning.

It’s a fascinating listen, as ever: and discussing the religious beliefs of various politicians.

Including the three, potential, Labour leader candidates.

Andy Burnham, it seems, is a non-practising Catholic.

Angela Rayner, it seems, is an atheist.

And the third contender, Wes Streeting?

Is a practising Anglican.

Granted: the man would be the first openly gay Prime Minister, if he became PM.

But, to me?

That’s less of an issue for me, than the fact the man is a practising Anglican.

I’d prefer my politicians to be uninfluenced by their faith: to not be openly religious.

~≈🙏≈~

Let’s move on.


Yesterday’s Teaser saw Mum*, Irene† and Debbi‡ putting in their answers: with Irene and Debbi scoring five out of five, and Mum on four.


Let’s see how everyone does with today’s questions, shall we?

Here they are, along with the How To, License and video.

Q1)        Dennis Potter was born on 17th May.   Of which year of the 1930s?

Q2)        The 1978 Potter-penned piece, Pennies from Heaven, had a character called Arthur Parker.   Which British actor played Arthur Parker?

Q3)        The 1981 film version of Pennies from Heaven saw which banjo player, play Arthur: Steve Martin, Earl Scruggs or Jerron ‘Blind Boy’ Paxton?

Q4)        Potter was a regular contributor to what: The Wednesday Play, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning or Dr Who?

Q5)        Denholm Elliot appeared in the Potter-penned Brimstone and Treacle.   The controversial play was supposed to be aired in 1976.   But was finally broadcast, when: 1985, 1987 or 1989?

Q6)        Who played the Denholm Elliot character in the 1982, film version of Brimstone and Treacle?

Q7)        Potter wrote the script for 1983’s Gorky Park.   Who directed Gorky Park: Michael Apted, Guy Hamilton or John Glen?

Q8)        According to IMDb, Potter’s last short story was called “Last Pearls”.   “Last Pearls” was released in the Daily Telegraph, in which year of the 1990s?

Q9)        Michael Gambon played the main character in Potter’s The Singing Detective.   What was that character called: Sam Spade, Philip Marlowe or Mike Hammer?

Q10)        Finally … ?   The last two series Potter wrote were called Karaoke, and Cold Lazarus.   Which of the two aired on BBC 1?

Here’s yesterday’s questions and answers … 

Q1)        The US Congress authorised the creation of the Nickel on 16th May.   Of which year of the 1860s?

A1)        1866.

Q2)        How much is a nickel worth: five cents, ten cents or twenty-five cents?

A2)        Five cents.

Q3)        The coin is a mixture of seventy-five percent copper and twenty-five percent what?

A3)        Appropriately enough, nickel.

Q4)        The coin is a mixture of two different metals.   In other words, it’s made of which ‘A’?

A4)        An alloy.

Q5)        Finally … ?   There’s one hundred cents to a US dollar.   How many nickels are there, to a dollar?

A5)        Twenty.   (A nickel is five cents: therefore there’s twenty in a dollar, as 100/5=20.)

Here’s a thought …

“My only regret is to die four pages too soon.”

Dennis Potter.

A song …

And a second Potter themed tune …

The next ten question sets will be on the 26th and 31st May, and on 3rd June: they’re about Dennis Potter, Miles Davis, Trinity Sunday and Liverpool football club.

Your comments, and today’s answers, will be published in tomorrow’s Teaser.

AI is avoided when writing these questions.

Answers are as accurate as possible: at the time of writing.

Decisions about scores are final.

Thank you for coming: have a good day.

*        Hello, Mum!

†        Morning, Irene: enjoy the quiz.

‡        Oh, it’s not doing me in, Debbi.   My knees, on the other hand … 

        The Singing Detective was quite something, Debbi: it’s possibly the only series I know that gets favourably compared to The Prisoner.   The one thing I do regret?   Is missing out on Blue Remembered Hills: it’s supposed to be Potter’s best work.   (It’s only available as a pricey DVD on Amazon, and has one corresponding entry on CeX: I’d get 70p for it, after paying about ~£35 for it!)