1

 What do / did   John Keats , Anton Checkov and Jonathan Miller have in common ?

 prior to their  later careers  - they all studied ( in some form ) medicine . 

2

 Where does the theatrical  appearance  of four captains in an " English " army suggest an early attempt to establish  a " British "  identity.

   Shakespears Henry V   the captains Fluellen , Gower , MacMorris and  Jamy   represent England , wales , Ireland and Scotland 

3

 Which former employee of Boots the chemist  hung on by 42. 

 Glenda jackson - first jonb in Boots birkenhead  - hung on to her parliamentary Seat -  Hampstead and Kilburn  by 42 votes in the recent general election., 

4

 What connects a statue of a man in an iconic item of rain wear with rugby league.

  Huddersfield   - a statue of Halrold Wilson in a Gannex mac  is in the main square overlooking the  hotel where the Rugby league was formed.

5

 Which 19 century statesman was very annoyed at being reprimanded for whistling in the street on a Sunday  and where did this occur.

 Otto Von Bismark ( before he was famous ) on private visit to england was reprimanded by a stranger in the streets of Hull for whistling on a Sunday.  Bismark was both annoyed and astounded by this. 

6

 Had she lived in an earlier age why might a popular fictional medical examiner want to meet  the artist  Walter Sickert. 

 Scarpetta  - the fictional medical examiner created by american author Patricia Cornwall  - MsCornwell has campaigned and published a book to the effect that the artist  Walter Sickert was Jack the Ripper.

7

 What connects a bay in Cyprus;  a female tennis player ;  and Dan Dares first expedition. 

  Venus -    a bay in Cyprus is supposed to be the birth place of  Adphrodite a.k.a Venus -  the female tennis player is of course Venus Williams and Dan Dares  first expediition was to Venus.  

9

 what connected   Jane Asher ; a baboon  and    packet of Pringles  (theories  and speculation are allowed)

Fire

The link is Frooning (a cliqey trick question from Old Pete). The elements in the question were the subject of a seriously disconnected philosophical discussion enlightened by several beers . Those who participated  all have different recollections of what it was really all about.

10

 What is Missing?

 Q8

11

 what ever happened to the previous  junior senator for Illinois ?

 He became president of the USA   - Obama .

12

 Why  might  a very rich French woman  say of some politicians  " Because they are  worth it " 

 Madame Lilliane Betancourt is  the majority shareholder in L'Oreal  the cosmetics giant  and is involved in the French courts in a bribery scandal with French ministers. L'Oreal's slogan is " because you're worth it "

13

 Who after allegedly saying he never would   did the noble thing to please Pauline. 

 John Prescott - allegedly said he would never accept a peerage  - apparently he has now accepted to please his wife. Pauline 

14

 Where did a royal bride upset the church by insisting on being " given away "

 The recent wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden to Daniel Westling (a fitness trainer ? )  Was characterized by the bride insisting on walking down the isle on the arm of her father the king and thus being " given way "  This is contrary to modern Swedish tradition where the bride and groom walk down the aisle together symbolising their equality.

15

 How did a Jazz fans antipathy to short sentences upset the traditionalists? 

 Ken Clarke is the current Justice Minister and he recently stated that fewer convicted criminals will go to prison - which is not what the "hang em & flog em" brigade wanted to hear. Mr Clarke is also known to be a jazz fan.