Avaragado’s 2020 predictions – results

WELL.

It’s safe to say we missed the main story of the year. Our imagined 4K teal and orange future conked out at 256×192 with colour clash, just about rendering a Pride flag before the rainbow was co-opted by the NHS. We all learned valuable lessons, including:

• Politicians, media and public in the UK truly don’t know what “exponential growth” means
• Driving for an hour to Barnard Castle is a perfectly acceptable way to test your eyesight
• Despite everything, they actually would keep reopening Jurassic Park
• Government can rule by decree, and neither the media nor the public nor MPs are too bothered by that

To the, uh, results.

For 2020’s predictions I asked a set of questions of the attendees of our very agreeable lunch, and gathered each person’s answers. Here they are again, with emoji ✅ ❌ scoring.

Politics

1. Who will be the leader of the main UK political parties (Con, Lab, LD, SNP) on December 25, 2020?
   • Melanie: Boris Johnson ✅, Daniel Zeichner ❌, Layla Moran ❌, Nicola Sturgeon ✅
   • Chris: Boris Johnson ✅, Billy Bragg ❌, Caroline Flack ❌, Jimmy McSporran ❌
   • Chef: Boris Johnson ✅, Keir Starmer ✅, Jo Swinson ❌, Nicola Sturgeon ✅
   • Andy H: Boris Johnson ✅, Keir Starmer ✅, Ed Davey ✅, Nicola Sturgeon ✅
   • Andy C: Boris Johnson ✅, Rebecca Long-Bailey ❌, Ed Davey ✅, Nicola Sturgeon ✅
   • David: Boris Johnson ✅, Keir Starmer ✅, Ed Davey ✅, Nicola Sturgeon ✅
2. Brexit! Will the UK extend the transition period beyond December 2020? If so, until when? If not, will the transition end with or without a deal?
   • Melanie: yes ❌, until a table is booked at Milliways
   • Chris: yes ❌, until the end of time
   • Chef: no ✅, and there’ll be no deal ❌
   • Andy H: yes ❌, for three months
   • Andy C: yes ❌, until end of January 2021
   • David: yes ❌, until end of 2021
3. Will Scotland have an independence referendum in 2020? If so, what’s the result?
   • Melanie: no ✅; it’ll be talked about, but that’s it ✅
   • Chris: yes ❌; no score after extra time
   • Chef: no ✅
   • Andy H: no ✅
   • Andy C: no ✅
   • David: no ✅; it’ll be scheduled for 2021 ❌
4. Who will be the Democrat nominee against Trump in the November 2020 election, and what will be the result of that election?
   • Melanie: RBG ❌; Democrat win ✅
   • Chris: The Littlest Hobo ❌; Trump win ❌
   • Chef: Elizabeth Warren ❌; Trump win ❌
   • Andy H: Elizabeth Warren ❌; Trump win ❌
   • Andy C: Hillary Clinton ❌; Trump win ❌
   • David: want Elizabeth Warren (score me on this one) ❌, fear Joe Biden; Democrat win ✅
   • [Correct answer: Joe Biden; Democrat win]

Entertainment

1. How many Oscar nominations will Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker receive? And how many wins? Guess categories for bonus points.
   • Melanie: 4 ❌, 1 ❌, VFX ✅
   • Chris: 3 ✅, 3 ❌, Best lesbian kiss not shown in Shanghai ❌
   • Chef: 2 ❌, 0 ✅
   • Andy H: 2 ❌, 0 ✅, VFX ✅
   • Andy C: 4 ❌, 0 ✅
   • David: 5 ❌, 2 ❌, VFX ✅
   • [Correct answer: 3, 0, Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Editing]
2. Which country will come first at Eurovision 2020? And where will the UK finish?
   • Melanie: Putin ❌; bottom ❌
   • Chris: Central African Republic ❌; 30th ❌
   • Chef: Norway ❌; 2nd from bottom ❌
   • Andy H: Denmark ❌; bottom ❌
   • Andy C: Ireland ❌; bottom ❌
   • David: Australia ❌; 18th ❌
   • [Correct answer: it didn’t take place]
3. Who will be announced, if anyone, as the next James Bond?
   • Melanie: Robert Pattinson ❌
   • Chris: Hermione Granger ❌
   • Chef: Daniel Radcliffe ❌
   • Andy H: no announcement ✅
   • Andy C: Jodie Comer ❌
   • David: no announcement ✅
4. What will be the highest audience for an episode of Doctor Who series 12?
   • Melanie: 8.7m ❌
   • Chris: too drunk to answer ❌
   • Chef: too drunk to answer ❌
   • Andy H: 8m ❌ but closest
   • Andy C: 9.6m ❌
   • David: 8.5m ❌
   • [Correct answer: 6.89m]
5. How many Razzies will the Cats movie receive?
   • Melanie: 5 ❌
   • Chris: too drunk to answer ❌
   • Chef: too drunk to answer ❌
   • Andy H: 3 ❌
   • Andy C: 4 ❌
   • David: 5 ❌
   • [Correct answer: 6]

Sport

1. How many gold/silver/bronze medals will Team GB win at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo?
   • Melanie: 73 total ❌
   • Chris: 69 bronze ❌
   • Chef: 24 gold, 36 silver, 12 bronze ❌
   • Andy H: 50 total ❌
   • Andy C: 65 total ❌
   • David: 60 total ❌
   • [Correct answer: they didn’t take place]

There you go.