How Steve's Fleetwood pub quiz beat the virus

Steve Mulligan has taken his long-running pub quiz, usually based at Fleetwood's North Euston Hotel, online to defy coronavirus restrictions

Steve Mulligan, 67, has been running the pub quiz at the town’s North Euston Hotel for the past 22 years.

But the latest lockdown rules mean get-togethers in public bars are out.

So Steve has turned to social media and for the past two Sunday nights he staged the quiz via the 'live’ link of his Facebook group.

Already the number of people participating has swelled and Steve says it’s just another way that people can come together and get around the restrictions in a safe way.

Steve, of Darbishire Road, said: “Basically, people can see my face and hear my voice, via the webcam, and they can post their replies in a live interactive way.

“And at the end of the quiz, they photograph their answer form and send it to me via Facebook Live.

“In these difficult times, it means people can still take part in a fun, competitive quiz and enjoy the social interaction. We might not be able to get to the North Euston, but we can still do the quiz.”

Those now taking part include not just regulars from Fleetwood and the Fylde coast, but participants from Holland, Australia and even someone “self-isolating in a yacht off the coast of Spain”.

Grandfather Steve, a retired programmer at National Savings in Marton, tests contestants on a vast array of general knowledge questions.

He said the very first Facebook session was “a bit scratchy and a bit shouty” but the latest one was better and busier - and new members can request to join.

The quiz runs on Sunday nights at 7.30pm via a private Facebook group called Steve M’s Online Quiz Stream.

Anyone keen to join should just send a request to join.