The Wombles
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40 free The Wombles trivia questions with answers — trivia quiz, new questions added Oct 2026.
The Wombles have been tidying up after humans on Wimbledon Common for more than half a century. What began as a children's novel became a much-loved BBC series, a run of novelty chart singles and a feature film, and its make-do-and-mend message was well ahead of its time. This quiz covers the whole burrow: who the best-known Wombles are and how they got their names, how the stories reached television, the costumed pop group that took over the 1970s charts, and the places the characters have turned up since. It is pitched for anyone who grew up with the series or the records, with a handful of tougher questions for devoted fans. Every answer comes with a short explanation.
30 of 40 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Which English author created the Wombles in a children's novel first published in 1968?
Elisabeth Beresford
Elisabeth Beresford was a struggling freelance journalist until the Wombles changed everything. Within ten years she had written more than 20 Womble books.
Q 02Which actor narrated the 1970s Wombles television series and voiced every Womble as well?
Bernard Cribbins
Bernard Cribbins supplied the narration and every Womble voice single-handed. He was already known for 1960s novelty records such as Right Said Fred.
Q 03The Wombles were the interval act at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, won by which group?
ABBA
ABBA won with Waterloo that night and became internationally known. The Wombles appeared in a pre-recorded film shot at locations around Brighton.
Q 04To promote the Wombles' first single, their songwriter wore a Womble costume made by which relative?
His mother
His mother ran up the costume, and he then wore it for most of the working week to plug the record.
Q 05Some Wimbledon residents complained that the Wombles encouraged children to do what on the Common?
Drop litter
Drop litter was the ironic complaint, aimed at creatures who spend their days collecting and recycling the rubbish humans leave on the Common.
Q 06Which Star Wars actor played Bungo in the Wombles film Wombling Free?
Kenny Baker
Kenny Baker, the man inside R2-D2, wore the Bungo suit as the film band's drummer. His wife Eileen was inside another of the Womble costumes.
Q 07In the Wombles books, which legendary creature is revealed to belong to a clan of water Wombles?
The Loch Ness Monster
The Loch Ness Monster is really a water Womble. The books add that the yeti of the Himalayas are giant snow-white Wombles.
Q 08Young Wombles choose their own names from which kind of book, kept by the burrow's elderly leader?
An atlas
An atlas supplies every name, which is why Wombles are called after places. Bungo simply pointed at a page without looking.
Q 09Which Womble, a shirker who loves food and sleep, was modelled on the creator's teenage son?
Orinoco
Orinoco is lazy by nature yet capable of surprising courage. In the pop group he fronted the band as lead vocalist.
Q 10Which songwriter gave up his fee for the Wombles' TV theme in return for the musical rights?
Mike Batt
Mike Batt turned down a flat £200 and took the rights instead. He then scored eight UK Top 40 singles performing as the Wombles.
Q 11Which Womble leads the Wimbledon burrow and glares at youngsters through two pairs of spectacles?
Great Uncle Bulgaria
Great Uncle Bulgaria is stern on the surface but actually very kind. The author based him on her father-in-law.
Q 12Which gruff Womble, the burrow's engineer, is named after the main town on the Isle of Mull?
Tobermory
Tobermory was modelled on the author's brother, a skilled inventor. He has been friends with the burrow's old leader for many years.
Q 13What job does the kind-hearted but short-tempered Madame Cholet do in the Wombles' Wimbledon burrow?
Cook
Cook Madame Cholet affects a French accent, yet she is no more French than any other Wimbledon Womble. She simply likes to think of herself that way.
Q 21The Wombles' hit single 'Minuetto Allegretto' borrowed its music from a symphony by which composer?
Mozart
Mozart's Symphony No. 41 supplied the tune. The same album also tried calypso and surf rock in the style of the Beach Boys.
Q 22The animator who gave the TV Wombles pointed snouts went on to produce which children's series?
Postman Pat
Postman Pat was the earliest and most popular series from the company he founded with his wife to make programmes for the BBC.
Q 23Which animator of The Magic Roundabout designed and directed the 1973 Wombles television series?
Ivor Wood
Ivor Wood gave the TV puppets their floppy ears. He later animated Paddington for the same studio.
Q 14Which animation technique brought the Wombles to BBC television in 1973, in five-minute episodes?
Stop-motion
Stop-motion is an expensive way to make a programme because of how long it takes. Studios once relied on overseas sales to cover the cost.
Q 15The BBC ordered the Wombles TV series after the first book featured on which children's programme?
Jackanory
Jackanory made the stories so popular that an animated series soon followed. Little thought was given to toys or other merchandise at first.
Q 16The first Wombles book pictured them looking like what, before television gave them pointed snouts?
Teddy bears
Teddy bears were the original look. The TV designers felt too many children's shows already starred them, so the Wombles were redrawn.
Q 17At which British music festival did the Wombles perform live in June 2011?
Glastonbury
Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis called booking them a bit of a mistake. The band quipped that its offer to tidy up the site afterwards was withdrawn.
Q 18Tomsk, the largest and strongest Wimbledon Womble, is an extremely keen player of which sport?
Golf
Golf is his game, played on the course on the Common itself. Human visitors there have occasionally noticed his talent.
Q 19A feral pack of Wombles fought a fierce wrestling match in which BBC comedy series?
The Goodies
The Goodies sent up the Womble craze in the episode The Goodies Rule – O.K.?, with Oddie grappling the furry mob.
Q 20Which glam rock band kept the Wombles' 'Wombling Merry Christmas' at number two in December 1974?
Mud
Mud spent four weeks at the top with the Elvis-style ballad Lonely This Christmas. The Wombles' festive single stayed stuck one place behind.
Q 24Which British animation company, later the maker of Paddington, produced the original Wombles series?
FilmFair
FilmFair made the series for the BBC with Graham Clutterbuck producing. The firm had already made The Herbs in 1968.
Q 25The 1990s Wombles revival left the BBC to be shown on which British television network?
ITV
ITV screened the new ten-minute episodes. They added fresh Wombles such as Stepney, a Cockney wide boy.
Q 26In The Wandering Wombles, the Wombles move from Wimbledon Common to which central London green space?
Hyde Park
Hyde Park hosts them in the second novel. By the later novel The Wombles to the Rescue they are back on Wimbledon Common.
Q 27The Wombles keep a library of abandoned books, and their elderly leader enjoys which newspaper?
The Times
The Times is his paper of choice. Wombles think little of humans in general but respect their literature and make an exception for the Queen.
Q 28Which young Womble shares a name with the place where the Wombles' creator spent her later years?
Alderney
Alderney, named after the Channel Island, is Madame Cholet's assistant in the early books. Left out of the 1970s series, she returned in the 1990s revival, living up a tree.
Q 29Bungo, the bossy and over-enthusiastic Womble, is named after a former province of which country?
Japan
Japan's old Bungo Province lay on the island of Kyushu. The Womble himself was modelled on the author's daughter.
Q 30A track on the Wombles album Superwombling parodied two concept albums by which keyboard player?
Rick Wakeman
Rick Wakeman's King Arthur and Journey to the Centre of the Earth albums were both sent up in a single track starring King Merton Womble.