Semi-Final One Top Class

On Top Class today... George, Louis,

Gabriel, and Ramis,

playing for St James' Church of England Academy from Dorset.

And competing against them are

Aaron, Layla,

Myles, and Grace,

from Millburn Primary School from County Londonderry.

But who will be Top Class?

Welcome to Top Class.

The search for the UK's smartest school.

It's the first semifinal, let's meet our returning teams.

First up, it's St James' Church of England Academy from Dorset.

They won their quarterfinal 25 points to 24. George,

how did you keep yourself calm in that final buzzer round, George?

By looking at Geoffrey.

By looking at Geoffrey, who is your mascot.

In your delightful school jumper, knitted by Gabriel's gran.

Louis, welcome back.

What do you think has got your team to the semifinals?

Believing in ourselves. Saying that we can do it.

-And Geoffrey.

-Yeah, and Geoffrey.

Obviously. Well, good luck, Louis.

Gabriel, team captain, that was a really, really close quarterfinal.

That buzzer round was so exciting.

-Wasn't it?

-Extremely, and tense.

It was very tense! How did you keep yourself relaxed, Gabriel?

I don't think I did.

I was panicking.

Well, you looked really calm. It's a great talent.

Ramis, welcome back.

Are you confident about today?

No, given the fact that we won by dumb luck last time!

No, you did not, Ramis.

At all. I want to hear you say that you are confident.

Say to me, I am Ramis, and I am confident.

I am Ramis, and I am...confident.

If you'd said it more confidently, I'd have been happier, Ramis.

I wish you the best of luck. Everyone please welcome

St James' Church of England Academy from Dorset.

APPLAUSE

And playing against them are

Millburn Primary School from County Londonderry.

They won their quarterfinal with an amazing 39 points to 13.

Aaron, why do you think your team has got as far as they have?

I think it's the poster in our school - if you don't think you can,

you can't, but if you think you can, you can.

So you believe in yourselves?

Absolutely. Well, that's fantastic.

Layla, team captain,

one of the things that you've been really good at, Layla,

is the discussions you've had as a team to come to the answer.

I think that we have a wide variety of intelligence, you know,

some people are good at geography and there's maths and English.

I think that's good for the amount of rounds that there are.

Well, listen, Millburn, I wish you the best of luck.

Everyone please welcome

Millburn Primary School from County Londonderry.

APPLAUSE

Well, OK, here we go with Round One. Here's your first control question.

The subject is...

What name is given to the line of latitude

that is 23.5 degrees south of the equator?

-Myles.

-Is it Capricorn?

That's the correct answer, Myles.

Well done. Well done, it's the Tropic of Capricorn.

That's 1 point to you. You have control,

here are the rest of your questions on the subject of countries.

Here is your first country.

Which European country is this?

-Portugal.

-You're saying Portugal?

-Yep.

-Let's see if that's right.

It is right, well done.

Second question.

How about this European country?

-That is...

-Well, there's Norway.

There's Sweden in the middle. Finland? Finland.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-Positive?

-Yeah.

-Right, we're going to go with Finland.

You're saying Finland?

-Yes.

-Let's see if that's right.

-Yes!

-It is right, well done.

Can you tell me which country in the southern hemisphere this is?

-That is New Zealand.

-New Zealand, yes.

-New Zealand.

-You're saying New Zealand?

-Yes.

-Let's see if that's right.

-It is right, well done.

-Yes!

And finally, can you name this Asian country?

Oh, yeah.

Well, Iran, you know, is there.

So what country's close to Iran?

It's not Afghanistan,

because Afghanistan is up close near the north.

That's Japan, so it's not...

-I think...

-We'll go with Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan? OK, that's your answer, let's see if that's right.

-Pakistan.

-Oh!

-Well done, Millburn. At the end of that round,

you've got yourselves 4 points. Well done.

APPLAUSE

So at the end of that round, Millburn have 4 points

St James' have nothing yet, but there's loads of time.

Give them both a round of applause. APPLAUSE

So, Myles, as soon as geography came up, I heard everyone go, "Myles!"

-Yeah.

-Does that feel like a lot of pressure to be Mr Geography in the

-Millburn team?

-Yes.

-Does it? You do really well, though.

Let's move on. The next subject is...

Here is your control question.

What was the name of Queen Victoria's husband?

Grace.

-Albert.

-That is the correct answer. Well done, Grace,

You've got a point and control of the game.

Here are the rest of your historical questions.

This game is all about key events in history and in particular,

working out what happened first.

Cleopatra as Queen of Egypt or the birth of Alfred the Great.

Who was Alfred the great?

Cleopatra was the last Egyptian goddess,

and Alfred the Great, you know there's like Alexander the Great

and stuff like that, that was really, really old.

I think the birth of Alfred the Great would have gone first

because Cleopatra was the last Egyptian goddess.

-The last Egyptian queen.

-So she was.

The birth of Alfred the Great before, Cleopatra after.

Let's put that on the board. Alfred the Great first.

Second, what happened first,

Queen Victoria's reign or the beginning of World War I?

-Queen Victoria's reign.

-World War I was 1914-1918.

-Queen Victoria's reign, that was 1901.

-No, it was...

-Yeah, she died.

-Queen Victoria's reign was before and World War I was after.

-OK,

let's put that on the board.

What happened first, Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister of the UK

or the creation of the NHS?

I think the creation of the NHS.

-Because we've had that for a long time.

-What is the NHS?

Margaret Thatcher, remember, she died in what, 2000... Near 2012?

The creation of the NHS was first and Margaret Thatcher was after.

OK, let's put it on the board.

And finally, what happened first,

the circulation of Lord Kitchener's Your Country Needs You poster,

or Edward Jenner's discovery of the smallpox vaccine?

Smallpox.

Your Country Needs You was World War II.

Right. So we'll go that.

The smallpox thing was before

and the Your Country Needs You thing was after.

OK. Well described, Layla.

So there are your answers.

Let's find out how many you have correct.

Only one wrong, well done, Millburn, you got 4 points in that round.

Well done.

APPLAUSE

So, at the end of that round, Millburn have 8 points,

St James' yet to score, but there's loads of time,

give them both a round of applause. Well done to both of you.

APPLAUSE

Right, let's move on. The next subject is...

Snap, crash and crunch are all examples of what word type?

-Gabriel?

-Onomatopoeia.

Correct, Gabriel, well done.

You've got a point and control of the game. Well done.

Here are the rest of your questions on the subject of spelling.

Can you spell the word "wriggled"?

..I, G, G, L, E, D.

Gabriel?

W, R, I, G, G,

L, E, D.

Well done.

That's the correct answer. Now spell the word "scenario".

-S, C.

-How many letters is that?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

-Eight letters?

-Is it eight letters?

Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

-Eight.

-OK, Gabriel?

S, C, E,

N, A, R, I, O.

Correct answer, well done.

How about the word "foreign"?

-This is easy. I before E except after C.

-Oh, yeah.

There are exceptions, though.

Right. F, O, R, E,

I, G, N.

Correct answer, well done.

Finally, can you spell the word "identifiable"?

Identifiable.

-Identit..

-..able.

-OK, take your time.

What's the word?

I, D, E, N,

T, I, F, I,

A, B, L, E.

Well done, St James'.

You got yourself 5 points in that round. Well done.

APPLAUSE

So, at the end of that round, it's getting closer and closer.

Millburn have 8 points, but right behind them,

St James' have 5 points.

Well done, St James'.

Next up, everything can change,

it's time to...

St James', who have you brought with you and why?

Gabriel, tell me.

We brought Mrs Dodd with us, because she's still down with the kids!

-Still down with the kids.

-And the hip replacement.

-And hip replacement.

-And she is the smallest, to fit in the taxi.

Honestly, the reasons are endless why Mrs Dodd's here.

Do you think she's still quite cheerful about the whole thing?

-Yes?

-Let's find out.

St James', it's time to test the teacher, bring in Mrs Dodd.

APPLAUSE

Mrs Dodd, your pupils have done incredibly well, haven't they?

-They have.

-Are you proud of them?

I am immensely proud of them, as I am, nearly all the time.

Nearly all the time. They work really well as a team, don't they?

-They do, and they've been fantastic.

-So it's the semifinals.

-Yes.

-Are you ready for this?

-No.

-I love the way you go, "Yes."

There is just such an air of resignation about you.

-60 seconds on the clock, are you ready?

-Yes.

-Start the clock.

What is YouTuber Alfie Deyes also known as?

-Pass.

-Pointless Blog.

TBT stands for what when used in social media?

-Pass.

-Throwback Thursday.

Problem and Break Free are hit songs by which pop star?

-Rihanna.

-No, Arianna Grande.

In what city was UK athlete Jessica Ennis Hill born?

-Sheffield.

-Correct.

Which American female pop star sings this song...

# Put my hands up

# They're playing my song

# The butterflies fly away. #

-Miley Cyrus.

-Correct.

Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx starred in the 2014 film remake of what

hit musical?

-Chicago.

-Annie.

Which winners of Britain's Got Talent went on to present and appear

in the CBBC show, Who Let The Dogs Out?

-Sam and Mark.

-No, Ashley and Pudsey.

Who sang alongside Wiz Khalifa in the BBC Music's Song of the Year

nominee, See You Again?

-Charlie Puth.

-Correct.

In which computer game does a green diamond often appear

above the character's head?

-Minecraft?

-No, The Sims.

Simba and Nala are characters...

-Lion King.

-Correct.

What is the nickname of David Beckham's fashion designer wife?

-Posh Spice.

-Correct, Mrs Dodd!

Well done. You got yourself 5 points, Mrs Dodd.

5 points.

-Yeah.

-It was good!

-You're as bad as Ramis!

-Yeah.

It was really good, 5 points, difficult questions there.

-Well done, Mrs Dodd, but for now, you are dismissed.

-Thank you.

APPLAUSE

OK, Millburn, who have you brought with you and why?

-Layla.

-We've brought Mr MacLean because, you know,

he's sort of modern and he was really the only teacher

-that was willing to do it!

-LAUGHTER

Honesty is very important.

Let's meet your teacher, Millburn,

because it's time to test the teacher. Bring in Mr MacLean.

APPLAUSE

-Hi, Mr MacLean.

-Hello, Susan.

Listen, it's the semifinals of Top Class.

-How proud are you of your pupils?

-Oh, I'm immensely proud.

We've come so far, the kids have got so much from it.

They're doing themselves, their family and our school very proud.

Well, 60 seconds on the clock.

Answer as many questions as you can. Start the clock.

Gymnast Louis Smith completed in

which reality show in 2012?

-I'm A Celebrity?

-No, Strictly Come Dancing.

Adam Levine is the lead singer of what band?

-The Vamps?

-No, Maroon 5.

The Amazing Book Is Not On Fire is a

book by what two internet and radio stars?

-Pass.

-Dan and Phil.

What sport is primarily played at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh?

-Rugby.

-Correct. Which female pop star sings this song...

# Take me on a date, I deserve... #

Eliza Doolittle.

No, it's Megan Traynor.

In social media, what was the acronym RT stand for?

-Retweet.

-Correct.

Mal and Evie are characters from which 2015 Disney film?

-Home?

-The Descendants.

The Dougie and the Dab are popular viral types of what?

-Pass.

-Dances.

Who is the current presenter of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show?

-Nick Grimshaw.

-Correct.

Phil and Claire Dunphy are characters in which US sitcom?

-Pass.

-Modern Family.

Which social media platform has a bird as its logo?

Twitter.

That is the correct answer, Mr MacLean, well done.

At the end of that round, Mr MacLean, you got yourself 4 points.

-Well done. Tougher questions.

-Much tougher, yes.

-It's the semifinals, isn't it?

-Yes, it is.

-The standards have gone up.

-They have, for all of the questions.

-You did really well.

-Thank you very much.

-Well done, Mr MacLean, you are dismissed.

-Thanks.

So, at the end of that round, Millburn have 12 points

and just behind them, it's so close, St James' have 10 points.

APPLAUSE

This is good.

St James', Gabriel, Mrs Dodd...

That Dan and Phil question should have been his.

The Book Is Not On Fire.

It was Dan and Phil, the orphans.

She's mentioned it before.

Oh, no. But that's the way the questions come up.

-She did brilliantly anyway.

-She did.

-She did really well.

Millburn, Layla, Mr MacLean? He wants to do so well for you.

-Are you proud of Mr MacLean?

-Yeah, we're proud of Mr MacLean.

You know, 4 is better than nothing.

Absolutely right, such positivity.

OK. Right, teams. You're back in the spotlight.

Now it's time for pet subjects.

St James', you're going first.

Gabriel, what subject have you chosen?

-Harry Potter.

-Harry Potter.

Brilliant. You have 30 seconds on the clock.

You have to buzz in. Start the clock.

What is the first name of Draco Malfoy's father?

Gabriel, say it again?

-Lucius.

-Correct.

At Hogwarts, which famous ghost

haunts the first floor girls' toilets?

-Gabriel?

-Moaning Myrtle.

Correct. What is the incantation often used to disarm an opponent?

-Expelliarmus.

-Correct.

Which Hogwarts house does Luna Lovegood belong to?

-Ravenclaw.

-Correct.

Ron Weasley has twin brothers, what are their names?

-Fred and George.

-Correct.

Which item of clothing sorts Hogwarts students into houses?

-Sorting hat.

-Correct. What is the first name of Harry's mum?

-Lily.

-Correct answer, well done, Gabriel.

St James', at the end of that round, quite extraordinary,

you got yourself 7 points. Well done, St James'.

Gabriel, can I assume you enjoy Harry Potter?

Assuming I've read the series twice and watched the films five times,

-yes.

-Yes, well, well done.

Now, Millburn. Layla, what subject have you chosen as your pet subject?

Premier League stadiums.

Premier League stadiums, you have 30 seconds.

Start the clock. The Britannia Stadium is the home...

-Stoke City.

-Correct.

What is the name of Crystal Palace's home stadium?

-Selhurst Park.

-Correct.

In which city would you find the King Power stadium.

-Leicester.

-Correct.

Of all 20 Premier League stadiums,

which has the second-largest capacity? Myles?

-The Emirates.

-Correct.

The stadium of which team has a stand that is known locally as the

Stretford End? Aaron?

-Man United.

-Correct.

As well as Anfield, which other stadium plays host

to the Merseyside derby?

-Goodison Park.

-That is the correct answer, well done.

At the end of that round, you got yourself 6 points, Millburn.

Well done.

That was a brilliant round of your pet subjects.

Both of you did really well.

And at the end of that round, it's so close.

Millburn have 18 points and just behind them,

St James' have 17 points.

APPLAUSE

Wow! On with the game.

The next subject is...

Here is your control question.

I have to accept your first answer.

How is the number 1,000 represented...?

-Aaron?

-One, zero, zero, zero.

You didn't listen to the end of the question, Aaron.

So I can offer it over to the other team with the full question.

How is the number 1,000 represented in Roman numerals?

Buzz in if you know the answer.

-M.

-M...

is the correct answer, Louis, well done.

You've got a point.

Here are the rest of your questions on maths.

First question.

What is...?

Is it 4,000?

4150?

4,200?

Or 4,500?

Gabriel?

THEY CONFER

-You can speak out loud.

-4,200.

You're saying 4,200, let's see if that's right.

-It is right, well done.

-Told you.

What's the answer to...?

Is it 4,820?

4,810?

4,880?

4,850?

4,810, please.

You're saying 4,810.

Let's see if that's right.

It is right, well done.

The next question.

Is it 77, 84, 71 or 82?

77.

You're saying 77, let's see if that's right.

It is right, well done.

And finally, what is...?

Is it 6,535?

6,555?

6,525?

Or 6,530?

THEY CONFER

6,525.

6,525.

You're saying 6,525. Let's see if that's right.

It is right, well done, St James',

you got yourself 5 points in that round. Well done.

So, at the end of that round, St James' have 22 points,

but right behind them, Millburn have 18 points.

Well done to both teams.

The scores are incredibly close, let's get onto the subject.

And it is...

Here's your control question.

What nationality is the athlete Jemima Sumgong,

who was the winner of the 2016 London Marathon? Myles?

Kenyan.

Myles, that's the correct answer, well done.

Here are the rest of your questions on the news.

First question. National Poetry Day marked its 21st birthday

in which month of 2015?

Just a guess. 1/12 of a chance.

-Is it March?

-Go March, March.

We'll go with March.

-It's not March, though.

-You're saying March?

-It could be.

-Let's see if that's right.

-October.

-It's October, we have to get the rest of them right.

In March 2016, which country's president visited Cuba for the first

time since the 1959 Cuban revolution?

Obama.

Which country's president so it's...

It's not Obama, it's a certain type of country.

The USA.

Are you sure it's the USA?

Yeah, cos the Cuban revolution was Cuba against America.

Was it? You're dead clever there.

Right, we'll go with USA.

-You're saying USA?

-Uh-huh.

-Let's see if that's right.

It is right, well done.

In 2015, what was built for the annual Lego Christmas build

in the Covent Garden Piazza?

It's in the garden. It could be a Christmas tree.

-A Christmas tree?

-Yeah,

I think it might be a tree, you know, garden, nature.

-A Christmas tree.

-What are you saying, Layla?

A Christmas tree.

You're saying Christmas tree, let's see if that's right.

It was a train.

Final question, what is the first name and surname

of this famous Paralympian?

Myles?

THEY CONFER

-Do you have an answer?

-No.

-Pass.

-Let's see what the right answer is.

David Weir.

Well, well done, Millburn.

At the end of that round, you got yourselves 2 points. Well done.

So, at the end of that round, St James' have 22 points

and Millburn have 20 points.

It is so close.

APPLAUSE

OK, teams, this is it.

The last chance to bag some points.

It's...

90 seconds on the clock.

Let's start the clock.

What is the first name of the Duchess of Cornwall? Gabriel.

-Kate.

-No, I can offer it across.

Press your buzzer, no conferring.

-Layla.

-Cam..

-Camellia.

-No. It's Camilla.

Moonchester is the mascot of which English football club?

-Myles.

-Manchester United.

No, I can offer it across.

-George?

-Liverpool.

-No, it's Manchester city.

Which major storm, beginning with K, hit the UK in March 2016?

-Kate. Katie.

-Yes, I can accept that, Katie.

In our solar system, which planet is furthest from the sun?

-Grace?

-Pluto.

No, I can offer it across.

-Ramis.

-Neptune.

Yes, that's correct. What drink do cows produce?

-Layla.

-Milk.

-Correct.

What is the capital city of Canada?

-Myles.

-Ottawa.

-Correct.

What state in the calendar is Star Wars Day?

-Gabriel.

-May 4th.

That's correct. Flushing Meadows and Queens is the home of which

international tennis Grand Slam?

-Myles.

-The French Open.

No, it's not. I can offer it across.

-George.

-Wimbledon.

-No, it's the US Open.

Who wrote the novel Oliver Twist?

-Grace.

-Charles Dickens.

Correct. What is the tallest mammal in the world?

-Myles.

-Giraffe.

-Correct.

In which country would you find Mount Vesuvius?

-Aaron.

-Italy.

Yes, that's correct. What is nine multiplied by six?

-Louis.

-54.

Correct. By area, what is the world's smallest continent?

-Myles.

-Europe.

-No, it's not.

I can offer it across. Ramis.

-Australia.

-That is the correct answer, Ramis.

That was incredibly exciting. You've all done brilliantly.

But the winners, and our first Top Class finalists

with 27 points are...

St James'.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Bad luck, Millburn. You've come so far.

There was only 2 points in it.

Can I just say, I think you've played the game magnificently.

I've loved having you on the show.

You really are a credit to your school, it's been great having you.

Please, please give them a huge round of applause.

It's Millburn. Give them a huge round of applause.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

St James', you're going to be back to take your place in the final.

You're now just one step away from being Top Class.

-Louis, how do you feel?

-I feel like I just won the lottery.

Yes. Gabriel? How do you feel?

A bit overwhelmed.

Bit overwhelmed. And Ramis?

I want to hear you say, "My name is Ramis and I am confident."

I'm Ramis and I'm confident.

We're going to get there with you, Ramis,

I swear we're going to get there. St James', well done.

I'll see you in the final. And I'll see you next time.

Goodbye.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE