Britons flummoxed by war and World Cup quiz

Two-thirds of Britons do not know when the Second World War ended and nearly half have no idea what year England won the soccer World Cup, a survey showed today.

Two-thirds could not answer the following questions: Which American city was the setting for the musical Chicago? Where can you find the French Alps? And, which city was the song Streets Of London written about?

The shock statistics come from the findings of a nationwide survey conducted by YouGov.

Asked in which year the Second World War ended, 67% did not know it was 1945.

Quizzed on when England’s footballers won the World Cup, 47% couldn’t come up with 1966.

People across the country were shown photographs of famous people and asked to identify them.

Seven per cent did not recognise David Beckham and 27% could not name his wife Victoria.

The survey of 1,000 people was carried out for new Channel 4 quiz Beat The Nation.

Hosted by ex-Goodies stars Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor, the show will go out every weekday afternoon beginning next Monday and pits the general knowledge of four contestants against the general public.

Some results from the YouGov poll:

47% don’t know England’s soccer team won the World Cup in 1966

67% don’t know the Second World War ended in 1945

57% don’t know in which United States city the TV series Dallas was set

65% don’t know in which US city the musical Chicago is set

64% don’t know in which country the French Alps are

62% don’t know which country has Mexico City as its capital

64% don’t know in which city one would find the original Tower of London

70% don’t know in which city the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra is based

72% don’t know which Scottish river the Forth Bridge spans.