Episode 89 Eggheads

These people are amongst the greatest quiz players in Britain.

Together, they make up the Eggheads,

arguably the most formidable quiz team in the country.

The question is, can they be beaten?

Welcome to Eggheads,

the show where a team of five quiz challengers

pit their wits against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on the awesome might of our quiz Goliaths today...

This team of friends quiz regularly together in their local pub,

Chaplins, in Sunderland. Let's meet them.

Hi. I'm Derek. I can't believe I'm 57

and I'm the managing director of a car spares and accessories company.

Hello, I'm Anthony. I'm 50 and I'm an employment advisor.

Hello. My name's Adam. I'm aged 40 and I'm an employment advisor.

Hi. I'm John. I'm 55 and I'm a fire-fighter.

Hello. I'm Daniel. I'm 27 and I'm a tutor.

So, Derek and Chaplin Smilers, welcome.

-Hello!

-Hi.

-Harvey's Chaplins. Is that right?

Yes, it's a small local pub in Sunderland.

And there's a connection with Chaplin and the word smile?

We couldn't figure out a name,

so we decided to come up with the song Smile.

It was a famous song in 1954 for Nat King Cole in the States

and also for Petula Clark in the UK.

The words encourage the listener to smile no matter what the face of adversity is,

because tomorrow's always going to be a bit brighter.

-That'll come in useful here!

-Yeah.

And did Charlie Chaplin write that song, then?

I was hoping the Eggheads would get that link.

-OK.

-Yes.

-Sorry, I've messed up your question!

Did Charlie Chaplin write that song, Eggheads?

-Apparently.

-Promise me you knew that before I accidentally said it.

-Look at the way they say yes.

-He actually wrote the music in 1936.

-Any other facts about the song?

-No.

-Not from me.

It's suspicious that, isn't it?

They claim they knew it and they've got nothing more to add!

OK. I hope you keep smiling throughout this contest. Good luck.

Every day there is £1,000-worth of cash up for grabs for our challengers.

However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Chaplin Smilers, the Eggheads have won the last 39 games.

They're on a heck of a run here!

And that means £40,000 says you can't beat them today.

I have not seen the jackpot this high ever in my time doing the show.

Let's see if you can walk away with it.

The first head-to-head battle is on the subject of Geography.

Who would like this?

This is the one we needed! I don't like Geography.

-I think Daniel said he would do this.

-I'll take Geography.

OK, Daniel. Forward you go. Take on an Egghead. Who would you like to knock out?

Dave, please. Tremendous Knowledge Dave.

OK. Daniel from the Chaplin Smilers versus Tremendous Knowledge Dave on Geography.

To ensure no conferring, please take your positions in the question room.

-Daniel, you love to quiz?

-I do, yes.

Yes, I play in a local quiz league for a local pub

and I go up and down the country playing in the same competitions as Pat and David and Kevin.

So have you met some of them before?

I've met Barry, Pat, Kevin, David.

Ah, we've got a real quizzer here!

You went to Northampton from Sunderland, just to compete in one quiz. Is that right?

A car of us went down to Northampton to do a quiz event recently.

It was quite a journey but it was worth it in the end.

Good chance to meet up with fellow quizzers. It's more of a social occasion than anything else.

Dave, you're up against a quizzer, here.

Yes, I am. He's a very strong opponent.

You probably appreciate that, I imagine?

Definitely. No question about it.

So, great contest to come. Geography is the subject.

Daniel, would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please, Jeremy.

Your first question, Daniel. Good luck.

Cape Horn is part of which country?

Well, I've heard of this, obviously, a lot of times.

It's quite a famous place in history.

I'm just having trouble locating where it actually is.

I don't think it's in Portugal.

I'm going to rule out Sri Lanka.

I've got a feeling it's in Chile, at the bottom of Chile.

So I'll take Chile as my answer.

Chile is the right answer. Well done.

I said, "Chilay" because somebody once told me it's pronounced...

-But it never sounds right, saying that.

-No. That's the correct pronunciation, but...

-If you're Chilean, maybe you can say "Chilay".

-OK.

Dave, your question. Kentish Town is an area in the north-west of which English city?

COCKNEY ACCENT: It's in London Town!

It is in London. You weren't going to fall for Manchester there!

Not at all. I've been around Kentish Town. It's all right round there.

Daniel, your question.

Which of these is a Swiss ski resort in the canton of Graubunden?

I'll just spell it for you.

G-R-A-U-B-U-N-D-E-N.

-Graubunden.

-The only connection I've got with skiing out of these answers

is St Moritz, where a lot of Winter Olympics were held once or twice.

But I honestly don't know. But because of that connection,

I'll have to go for St Moritz.

Yes, you are good. St Moritz is the right answer. Well done.

And Val d'Isere, Judith, is France, is it not?

-Yes, Val d'Isere is France.

-And Bergamot?

-Must be Italy.

-Italy.

-Yeah.

-OK. Dave, your question.

Arrecife, A-R-R-E-C-I-F-E,

is the most populous city on which Canary Island?

Right. Um...

I'm going to go for... I can't pronounce it!

Fuert...

Fuerteventura.

Yeah, I'm going to go for that.

I'm afraid no matter how you pronounce it, it's still wrong.

Daniel, do you know this one?

I don't. I would have said Lanzarote, but I'm not sure.

-Yes, it's Lanzarote.

-OK.

-Is the correct answer.

So you're in the lead, Daniel.

If you get this one right, you'll be in the final round.

Here we go. Where in Europe are the caves known as Stay Behind Cave,

Beefsteak Cave and Goat's Hair Twin Cave?

Can't say I've ever heard of these. So it's going to be a guess.

I've been to Northern Ireland once or twice.

Something's ringing a bell in my mind that it could be that.

I don't know much at all about Gibraltar or Malta.

So it's going to have to be Northern Ireland, Jeremy.

-Let's see if any Eggheads know.

-I've got an idea it's Gibraltar.

It is Gibraltar, Daniel. Let's see if Dave can catch you up

and take you to sudden death.

Cleeve Hill is the highest point in which English county?

Gloucestershire.

-Guess?

-Something in my mind was saying Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire is the right answer.

So it's two points each and we go to sudden death, Daniel.

It means it's a bit harder cos I don't give you alternative answers.

So, here we go. The Hondo River serves as most of the international border

between Mexico and which other country?

I know where Mexico is. I'm just trying to think what else it borders.

Obviously it borders America, but I'm not sure that's where the Hondo River is.

I'm trying to think what's next down.

I've got a feeling Venezuela might be in that area.

So I'm going to go for Venezuela.

Eggheads?

-Belize?

-Yes, Kevin, Belize.

Belize. Belize is the answer.

So Dave has a chance to win now.

The Alexander archipelago is a group of islands

that lie off the south-eastern coast of which US state?

The Alexander archipelago is a group of islands

that lie off the south-eastern coast of which US state?

I've not heard of this, but I'll go Florida.

Yes, south-eastern makes you think Florida.

There's another place which has a big south-eastern coast. Barry knows.

-Alaska.

-Alaska.

-Alaska. Yep.

So you're still level. This is good, Daniel.

You've got a bit of daylight. See if you can take advantage.

Which Palestinian city in the West Bank

has an Arabic name meaning Height of God?

I'm not too familiar with that part of the world.

I'm going to have to think if I know any Palestinian cities.

The only one that's coming to mind is Gaza, but I'm not sure where that is.

So it's going to have to be Gaza.

It's not Gaza. Gaza's not in the West Bank.

I suppose the clue, Height of God, God - Allah,

-it's Ramallah.

-Ramallah.

Where Yasser Arafat lived for a long time.

OK. Dave, your question to take the round.

Which Indian state was formerly known as Madras State?

Madras.

Tamil Nadu.

Yeah!

Good play!

Dave, you're in the final round.

Sorry, Daniel. You're knocked out. Well played,

but you haven't made it to the final.

Please both rejoin your teams.

Good play, Daniel, but they're tough, aren't they?

-Definitely.

-So the Chaplin Smilers have lost a brain.

The Eggheads have not lost a brain yet.

The next subject is Music. Who would like this?

-John?

-John, fancy doing that one?

Yeah, I'll have a go at Music, if you want.

John against which Egg?

I'll have Kevin, Jeremy.

OK. So, we call him The Grand Master.

Are you in a Grand Master mood today, or just normal?

We'll find out, won't we?

John from the Chaplin Smilers versus Kevin from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions in the question room.

John, you're a fire-fighter?

-I am, Jeremy, yes.

-And your surname is Alison, which is interesting,

-because your wife's name is...

-Alison!

-So she's Alison Allison?

-She is, yes!

It can cause some confusion at certain times!

She's forgiven you for that by now, has she?

We've been married for 26 years, so I think she must have!

Great stuff. We're on Music. What's your period of music? What do you like?

Not so much the modern stuff. More the '60s, '70s, '80s

and the rock stuff.

I was listening to Led Zeppelin in my changing room earlier. Is that one of yours?

-That would be my sort of question, yes.

-Let's see what we can do.

Good luck to you both. Here we go. John, would you like the first or second set of questions?

I'll go second, please, Jeremy.

Kevin, your first question. Which jazz standard features the line

"You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss."

It's famously used in Casablanca, of course.

It's As Time Goes By.

As Time Goes By is the right answer.

-And he never said, "Play it again, Sam."

-No.

No. He said, "Play it."

-"You played it for her, you play it for me."

-Yeah.

-Interesting.

John, what is the title of the 1972 UK number one single

that is often referred to as Starry, Starry Night?

That'll be the one dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh, so it's Vincent, Jeremy.

Vincent is correct. Do you know who wrote it or performed it?

-Don McLean.

-That's right. Very much.

OK, Kevin, your question.

The singer Ute Lemper was born in which country in 1963?

Ute is U-T-E and Lemper, L-E-M-P-E-R.

As far as I'm aware, she's German.

I'm trying to rule out the possibility that she was born somewhere else.

A lot of Germans were born in what's now Poland.

But I'll have to stick with... She's German, as far as I know.

So Germany.

She is German and she's from Germany. You're right.

John,

who collaborated with Will.i.am on his UK number one single Scream and Shout?

Well, I'm guessing with this one, Jeremy.

My daughter would know.

Based on he's fairly current,

I'll go for the most currently popular one, Lady Gaga.

Eggheads, do you know?

-ALL: Britney Spears.

-Britney Spears is the answer.

-But it's out of your time frame that you gave us earlier!

-It is.

Sorry, you're wrong. So with this question, Kevin can take his place in the final round.

What was the title of the opening track on David Bowie's 1972 album

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders from Mars?

No, I'm afraid it's not an album I'm familiar with.

So I'll have to guess.

I've nothing to go on. I'll try Seven Years in Tibet.

It's that rare and very pleasing moment where I know something you don't!

There are so few areas where I could ever say that.

The only track that's on the album is Five Years.

It's the first track as well.

-So Five Years it is.

-OK.

The other ones are all on different albums.

So you've got that wrong. John, you could have answered that?

-Yes, I'd have know that.

-You could probably have given us the lyric!

"Pushing through the market square" and all that.

-I'd have known it was off Ziggy.

-OK. Here's your question.

If you get this, we've drawn level and we go to sudden death.

Linda di Chamounix is an operatic melodrama by which Italian composer?

Well, it's not by Led Zeppelin so it'll be a total guess.

I'll go down the middle for Puccini.

Puccini is wrong. It's Donizetti, John, I'm afraid.

So Kevin has beaten you there two to one in the music round.

And Kevin will be in the final. Please both rejoin your team-mates.

-Derek, the Chaplins are still smiling?

-Oh, yes.

-Very much so.

-In the face of adversity!

-You definitely are!

The Chaplin Smilers have lost two brains from the final round.

The Eggheads have not lost a brain.

We've got a huge jackpot today. Let's see what happens.

The next subject is Sport.

-I can do that one.

-Definitely.

-That's me.

-OK, Antony. Keep smiling through this one.

Who do you want to take?

-I'll take on Judith.

-Anthony from the Chaplin Smilers

versus Judith from the Eggheads on Sport. Please take your positions.

Anthony, which sport do you love the most?

I'm a mad golfer, so golf is the love of my life after my family.

And you won, what was it, a place in a team event, did you?

My local golf club won nine rounds of a national newspaper competition

and we qualified for four teamsmen through to El Rompido in Spain

for a four-team shoot-out.

-What was the result of that?

-We came fourth!

Wish I hadn't asked that, now!

So we're on Sport. Anthony, would you like to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go. Good luck. In January 2013,

who conducted the television interview in which Lance Armstrong

admitted to doping during his Tour de France victories?

It's not really the sport I was hoping for.

But this was a big thing on the telly.

I'm pretty sure it was Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah Winfrey is the right answer. Well done.

Judith, your question. In 2011,

the Malaysian businessman Tony Fernandez

became chairman of which English football club?

Is becoming chairman the same as owning it?

Um, I don't know.

QPR.

How do you do that?

I don't know. I was thinking if it's the same as the owner,

Liverpool's owned by somebody else and so is Manchester United.

And I don't know who owns QPR.

Frustrating, Anthony, isn't it? So little knowledge, but the right answer.

QPR is correct.

OK. Anthony.

The Ireland Wolfhounds

are a team in which sport?

It's not a question I'm familiar with, Jeremy,

so it's going to be a bit of a guess.

Of those three, I'll have a stab at rugby union.

Yes, you're right. Rugby union is correct.

OK. So you have a second point.

Let's see what Judith does. Can she hang on in here?

The Nippon Budokan in Japan, Judith,

was a venue built to host which type of event at the 1964 Summer Olympics?

Well, I think Budokan means a place where you do martial arts.

So I'll say martial arts.

Martial arts is the correct answer.

Back to you, Anthony. In 2012,

Pamela Cookey was named captain of the England team in which sport?

Again, not a name I'm familiar with.

Again, it'll be a bit of a guess.

I think I know the captain of the women's football team

and I don't think it's that name.

So I'll discount that one.

I'm going to have a total guess at hockey.

Ah, you missed it.

It's netball.

You were right to rule out football, but it's netball.

Judith, here's your question.

Get this right and you've got the round.

Martine Wright, who won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason award

competed in which event of the 2012 Paralympics?

Oh, dear.

Which is the most... I'm trying to think which sport is the most high profile.

I think I'm going to go... I'm sort of fixated on sitting volleyball.

Sitting volleyball is your answer.

Sitting volleyball is exactly what she does.

You're right, Judith. You've taken the round.

Well done. Sorry, Anthony,

you've been knocked out by Judith on Sport, which is a big morale boost for Miss Keppel there.

Please come back and rejoin your team-mates.

It's not quite going to plan, but you're still in with a chance.

People have done it with just one player left.

So the Chaplin Smilers have lost three from the final round.

The Eggheads are still intact over there.

How frustrating!

The next subject is History.

Who would like this? Either Derek or Adam.

-What do you reckon?

-Yeah.

-Jeremy, I'll take History.

-Which Egghead would you like to play?

I'm going to play Barry.

Adam from the Chaplin Smilers versus Barry from the Eggheads. Please go to the question room.

Barry, which period of history is your favourite?

I like the Classics. Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome.

And certain characters?

I've always had a soft spot for Pericles.

He was the most wonderful administrator.

He was in charge of Athens at the height of its glory.

-Did he die in a horrible way?

-He died of the plague, unfortunately.

-They all seem to, don't they?

-Yes, sadly, things weren't as good in those days.

OK. Good luck, both of you. Adam, would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please, Jeremy, if that's OK.

First question. In 1959, what became the 50th state to join the USA?

Right.

I'm going to rule out Rhode Island,

because I don't think it's that.

It's either Hawaii or Florida for me.

I think Hawaii was in the '40s somewhere,

so I'm going to go for Florida, Jeremy.

-See if your team-mates know.

-Hawaii-Five-O.

Hawaii-Five-O, they're saying.

-Hawaii is the answer.

-Oh, well.

OK. Barry's question.

In Spanish history, who jointly ruled Castile and Aragon with Ferdinand II?

This was the king and queen of Spain

who completed the Reconquista,

the re-conquering of Spain from the Moors in 1492.

It was Ferdinand and Isabella.

Good background.

Isabella is the right answer.

He does love his history, Adam!

I gathered that!

OK, Adam your question.

Willi Stoph served as the prime minister of which country in the 20th century?

Willi is W-I-L-L-I

and then new word Stoph, S-T-O-P-H.

Willi Stoph.

I don't think it's Romania,

judging by the way it's pronounced.

And it could be one of either East Germany or Poland.

I'm torn between the two.

I'm going to go for...

Ooh.

East Germany.

Brilliant. You're right. Well done.

Well done.

Barry, your question.

The 18th-century born Christian minister William Cowherd

was particularly known for his pioneering role in which movement?

18th century.

That was well before there were any international peace organisations.

So I shall rule that out.

Suffragism didn't come in until the 19th century,

so I guess he must be a vegetarian.

He was indeed, big into vegetarianism.

I guess the cow herd he was trying to protect, wasn't he?

-Mm, good name!

-Good name.

Willi Stoph, the cow herd, who's coming next?

Your third question, Adam. Get this one right if you can.

If you don't get it right, we're looking at a very lonely Chaplin Smiler in the final.

Derek is willing you on here!

During World War II what name did the Allies give

to the massive transport operation that began in August 1944

to ensure supplies for forces across Europe?

Right.

I know pretty much about World War II.

I studied it at A level.

But I must admit I've not heard of this.

I'm going to go with Black Ball Express.

-It's Red Ball.

-Red Ball.

Red Ball Express.

You've been beaten by Barry on History. But he's good at History.

You won't be in the final which we are about to play, if you come back to us.

OK, Derek. The unthinkable has happened.

-It certainly has.

-It's just you.

-This is where we need to remember the song. The song your team name is based on is called Smile.

-Yes.

And I'm going to. Cos tomorrow's going to be another day.

What are the words of this great song?

"Smile, though your heart is aching,

"Smile, though it may be breaking."

Perfect! OK! Take our own advice, there!

This is what we've been playing towards.

It's the final round, which, as always, is general knowledge.

A lot of money being played for, here.

It does mean, though,

that those of you who lost your head-to-heads won't be allowed to take part in the final.

So, Anthony, Adam, John and Daniel from the Chaplin Smilers,

you can keep smiling, but please leave the studio.

-Derek, good luck.

-Thank you.

You're on your own, but it has not reduced the jackpot.

There's still all to play for.

You're playing to win the Chaplin Smilers £40,000.

Barry, Pat, Judith, Kevin and Dave,

you are playing for something that money can't buy.

The Eggheads' reputation.

As usual, I will ask each team three questions in turn.

The questions are all general knowledge. You are allowed to confer.

I know that doesn't help you! Confer with yourself.

Derek, the question is, is your one brain able to overcome the Eggheads' five?

Would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please.

Derek, it's been great seeing your team. I wish you all the best.

Your question. Who married the heiress Nancy Shevell in 2011?

Ah, I think I have seen this on the news.

Definitely wasn't Rod Stewart.

And it wasn't Mick Jagger.

I'm fairly certain it was Paul McCartney.

Paul McCartney is the right answer. Well done.

Eggheads,

the London Underground celebrated which anniversary in 2013?

-150.

-1963, wasn't it?

-1863.

-150.

-150.

That's its 150th anniversary.

It is its 150th. Amazing. How did they dig down that deep

150 years ago?

-The early underground was mostly overground.

-They did it with shovels

and lots of people.

Just pulled the earth out and put it somewhere.

-But then they had to... It was not electrified then, was it?

-No.

No, it was all coal and steam.

-What it must have been like to travel in it...

-Hellish.

150 years is the right answer. Well done.

Back to you, Derek.

Tver and Pskov are cities in which country?

I'll spell them for you. T-V-E-R, Tver,

and Pskov, P-S-K-O-V.

I'm fairly sure it's not Armenia.

I'm going to go with Ukraine. I don't think it's Russia. Ukraine.

-Eggheads, do you know?

-Russia.

-Russia.

-It is Russia?

-Russia is the answer.

Eggheads, to take the lead.

Sphalerite is the main ore of which metal?

Zinc.

That's zinc, Jeremy.

It baffles me how you know this stuff. You all seem to know it.

Sphalerite is the main ore of zinc. You're right.

It's almost as if that's the most important fact in the world!

Right, Derek. You need to get this one right to stay in.

If you get it wrong, I'm afraid the contest is over.

If you get it right, they could struggle and go to sudden death.

-£40,000.

-Yes.

-Keep on...

-I'll keep smiling.

You are still smiling. That's what's so great about your team.

The Cats of Copenhagen, published for the first time in 2012,

is a children's story by which author?

Now, then, I've got a sneaking suspicion

that this could be lost papers that were found, or a lost story.

I don't think it's James Joyce.

And I don't think Thomas Hardy would have written something like that.

Could it be Charles Dickens?

If it's what I think it is, I'm going to say Charles Dickens.

It's not Charles Dickens.

It's certainly something discovered that hadn't been known about at the time.

It's James Joyce. James Joyce wrote The Cats of Copenhagen.

So congratulations, Eggheads. You have won.

I'm sorry you were down to one at the end there, cos you played well.

It was very good to see you all.

-Thank you.

-Commiserations to the Chaplin Smilers.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

This amazing winning streak continues.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £40,000.

So the money rolls over to the next show.

Quite a bit of money to roll over.

Eggheads, congratulations.

I really can't imagine you ever being beaten. That'll jinx it!

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£41,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd