Episode 1 Beat the Brain

Hello, it's Brain here.

Our contestants today have one aim - to beat me. Do you think you could?

See if you can, by having a go at these puzzling little posers.

Wrecking ball.

Count the missing bricks.

Try this next one - out of this word.

What three-letter word is missing?

I'll ease the pain by giving you the answers at the end of the show.

Now let's see if our team of four have the mental strength to

win the jackpot on Beat The Brain.

APPLAUSE

And now, let's meet the man who always has my full attention -

John Craven.

Well, thank you and welcome to a brand-new show, Beat The Brain.

Now, this is the quiz that challenges the way your mind works,

rather than your general knowledge.

All the tricky puzzles and demanding problems

that our four contestants will face over the next half hour are designed

so that you can play along at home as well, so sit back and enjoy

a mental workout with questions posed by the taskmistress herself.

-How are you today, Brain?

-Oh, you know, I'm on fire today, Mr Craven.

-All my Zones are sizzling. I'm ready for action.

-And so too are our team.

They're determined to beat you. So let's meet them.

Please introduce yourselves.

I'm Antony and I'm a medical student.

I'm Sohail and I'm also a medical student.

I'm Nick and I'm also a medical student.

I'm Nabeel. I'm the team captain and - you've guessed it -

I'm also a medical student.

APPLAUSE

Welcome, all of you, and, Nabeel, where are you all studying?

We're all at the University of Manchester.

And what name have you come up with for the team?

Well, the team name was picked by Nick

-and so I think he'll be best to describe.

-Well, what is it, Nick?

Well, it's the Nabulisers,

because Nabeel came up with the idea of actually applying for this show.

He put the application together,

so I wanted to have his name incorporated in it and we're

all medical students,

-so I wanted to combine the two and I came up with the Nabulisers.

-OK.

Let's see how you do, because this is how it works.

The show's Brain is divided into six Zones -

Logic, Memory, Orientation, Observation, Language,

and Multitasking.

Now, the Brain will select four out of those six Zones for you to

play today and, Nabeel, as the captain, you must decide

which member of the team you think is best for each of those Zones, OK?

You will face a series of questions in your Zone with each

correct answer adding three seconds to what we call your Brain Bank.

And the more time you build up, the better chance you have of beating

the Brain in today's final and walking away with our jackpot of £3,000.

So, Nabulisers, are you ready to play?

ALL: Yes, John.

Good. Well, it's time to find out which Zone you'll be facing first.

So, Brain - Zone, please.

-Observation.

-Observation it is.

So, Nabeel, who are you going to nominate for that?

Well, we discussed beforehand what would be suitable for each player.

-Yeah?

-And for Observation, I think it was Antony?

-We came up with Antony.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Did you all agree on that?

He's the only one that wears glasses, so...

We'll find out if it's the right decision. Antony, come and join me.

APPLAUSE

Well, why did they think you're going to be good at Observation?

It's a thin link between glasses and being good at observing things.

And why did you decide to become a medical student?

It started really young, when it was like science was interesting

and then, just as you develop and you get older, like, it was really

nice when I volunteered and you could see what you could do for people.

-Yeah. And you're enjoying it so far?

-Yes, it's really good.

See if you enjoy trying to beat the Brain.

You play two games in this Zone.

Both games have three questions worth three seconds each.

So, Brain, what's the first game?

-Hello, Antony.

-Hello, Brain.

-A little bird tells me it's your birthday today.

-Yes, it may be.

-What year were you born?

-I was born in 1994.

-Oh, my gosh!

Mr Craven has jumpers older than you!

-Yes! So it's your 21st birthday today?

-Yes.

-Well, very many congratulations.

-Thanks very much.

-You deserve to beat the Brain.

-Hopefully.

-We'll wait and see.

Here's a present for you - your first game. Catch me if you can!

Antony, tell me which number plate you saw.

To help you out, have a trial run.

Which one of those six did you see?

Aw, I've forgotten the end now. Erm...

HE LAUGHS

-Concentrate.

-Um, I believe it was number...

..six.

Number six, you believe. Let's have a look.

No, it was number four.

-This is going to go well(!)

-Ready to play?

-Yeah, why not.

-OK.

Let's play for real.

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

Every correct answer will add three seconds to your Brain Bank.

Your game starts now.

Which one do you reckon? One, two, three, four, five, six?

-Er, number three.

-Number three, you say. Is that right?

Yeah, Antony, well done. Yeah. Next one.

-Ooh, that was quick.

-Er, number one.

-Number one.

-Well, that didn't faze you, did it? Ready for the last one?

-Yes.

-That was going the opposite way that time.

-Er, number four.

Number four, you say.

Is that correct? Yes.

-Well, that's pretty good. That's maximum seconds, so far.

-Yeah.

Nine seconds into the Brain. That's a very good way to start.

Yeah, just hustled her with a test.

-Ready for the next game?

-Yes.

-Right, off we go.

-You hustler!

THEY LAUGH

Here's your second game. Wrecking ball.

Count the number of missing bricks. To get your eye in, have a trial run.

How many bricks have gone?

-Er, 13.

-13, you say? Is that right?

It is indeed. Good. Was that a careful calculation or a guess?

-Careful calculation.

-Of course, yeah. Ready to calculate some more?

-Hopefully.

-Off we go.

You have 45 seconds to answer three questions correctly.

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

-How many have gone?

-18.

-18, you say.

That's correct, yeah. Well done.

30 seconds left.

20.

20, that's correct. You've got 12 seconds left for the last one.

-Three seconds. Quickly. Guess.

-21.

-21, you say.

20. Aw, just one out.

-And you're 21 today!

-Yeah!

-HE LAUGHS

-Well, you did very well there, didn't you?

-Yeah.

-That ain't a bad start for your team, is it, Brain?

-No.

Birthday boy, you did very well there, because every second counts.

You added 15 seconds in that Zone.

This means the Nabulisers have 15 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-Well done. Good to see you. Have a great birthday.

-That's all right.

A celebration later, I hope? Rejoin your team-mates.

Well, it's time to find out our next Zone now

and who is going to take it on. So, Brain - the Zone, please.

-Memory.

-It's Memory. So, Nabeel. Who's good at Memory?

Well, John, again, we had a clear person for Memory.

-And I think that would have been Sohail.

-Sohail?

-Sohail.

-Why is that?

Well, Sohail, um...

He's quite famous for not doing any work during our semester,

during our term, and then somehow miraculously getting a good mark

at the end and we think it's down to his memory.

Down to his memory. And a bit of late revision!

Well, come and join me, Sohail, in the Memory Zone.

APPLAUSE

That's a pretty fine beard you've got there!

-Thank you. I'm quite proud of it!

-Didn't you grow...

was it the moustache for some reason?

Yeah, during Movember, I grew...

It's quite long now, but I curled it during Movember.

-Yeah, sort of twirly bits at the end.

-Twirls, yeah.

Well, let's see how you do.

Brain, please reveal the first game that Sohail will be playing today.

-Hello, Sohail.

-Hello, Brain.

Oh, if I had fingers, I'd run them through that beard of yours!

I have no answer for that!

LAUGHTER

Here's your first game.

Sohail, repeat the order in which the colours flash.

To give you some practice, have a trial run.

Green, pink, white and red.

Let's see if you're right.

-You are indeed, yes. No problem there. Ready to play for real?

-Yep.

Off we go. Can we have the game, please, Brain?

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

So, white, purple, green, black, pink.

White, purple, green, black, pink. Yes, well done. Next one, please.

So, black, yellow, white, yellow, blue, green.

See if that's correct.

Black, yellow, white, yellow, blue, green. Yes, well done.

Final one coming up.

So, purple, white, yellow,

purple, pink, red, green.

Let's have a look and see. Purple, white, yellow...

Oh, yes, you said purple, didn't you, instead of white?

And then, pink, red and green were right.

Just that one in the middle that you got wrong.

-I'm sure I said it right in my head.

-You didn't.

-LAUGHTER

-Except you didn't. So, ready for game two?

-Yep.

Here's your second game.

Identify the winning line in this game of noughts and crosses.

Have a trial run.

-Which was the winning line?

-A.

A, you say. Is that correct?

-It is indeed. You play noughts and crosses?

-Yeah, I do.

-Yeah?

-I'm quite good at it.

-You obviously are.

-Ready for it?

-Hopefully.

-Bring it on.

Quite good at it, eh? Don't get cocky!

LAUGHTER Please remember, I'll only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

I think that's C.

Let's see if you're correct.

Yes, you are.

Good. Next one, please.

-Which one do you think?

-That one was B.

Let's see if that's right. Yes, well done.

One to go. So far, every right to be cocky.

That one's A.

-A.

-Yeah.

Is that correct?

-It is indeed. Well done! That was a pretty good round, wasn't it?

-Yeah.

Nine seconds in that round. And six in the one before.

-So, Brain, it's looking bad for you.

-Absolutely.

I fear my jackpot could be in jeopardy.

Sohail, you added 15 seconds in that zone.

This means in total the Nabulisers now

have 30 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-That was great, Sohail. Well done.

-Thank you.

-Please, rejoin the team.

APPLAUSE

Well, you're all doing very well so far.

Brain, can we have a zone, please?

-Multi-tasking. So, is it you or Nick, Nabeel?

-We'll go for Nick.

-Nick, join me, please.

-APPLAUSE

Do you think you're going to be any good at Multi-tasking?

I do hope so, otherwise this is going to be really embarrassing.

-Do you do a lot of multi-tasking?

-Um... No, actually.

Is it too late to change?

No, we'll be good.

Well, let's find out, Nick, how you'll do in the Multi-tasking Zone?

Don't forget, there are another 18 precious seconds on offer in this Zone.

That's three seconds for every correct answer.

So, Brain, please reveal the first game that Nick will be playing.

-Hello, Nick.

-Hey, Brain.

-Here's your first game.

Nick, count the named object on the left, add the numbers on the right.

You can warm up with a trial run.

Count the carrots and add the numbers.

So, how many carrots and what was the total?

Four carrots and a total of seven, I think.

Four and seven.

-Four and 11.

-Wow! That's the easiest one as well, isn't it?

I always find... I don't know whether you do this or not, but add up

the objects on the left on your hand and add up the numbers in your head.

-Yeah. That's what I thought I did.

-Is that what you were trying to do?

-Yeah! Must have blacked out.

-Maybe you'll be luckier, as we play for real.

-Ready to go?

-Let's do this, John.

-Give it a go. Let's go.

Please remember, Nick, I can only accept your first answer.

Every correct answer will add three seconds to your Brain Bank.

Your game starts now.

Count the ice creams and add the numbers.

How many ice creams and what was the total?

-Two and a total of 11, I think.

-Two and 11. Are you right?

Yes, you are. Well done.

-OK, next one coming up.

-Count the dogs and add the numbers.

-How many dogs, what was the total?

-Four dogs, total of 22?

Four and let's see...

Four and 22, yes. You're doing well.

-This really is multi-tasking, isn't it?

-Yeah.

So, here comes the last one.

Count the bananas and add the numbers.

-How many bananas and what was the number?

-I think it's four and 19.

Four and 19. Is that correct?

Five and 19! One banana out.

-Never mind. That's not a bad start at all.

-We'll take that.

Six seconds, already in the bank. So, can we have game two, please?

That's what your friends say about you, Nick.

Oh, Nick, always one banana out.

LAUGHTER

-Who have you been talking to?

-Here's your second game.

Tell me how many people are left on the bus, not including the driver.

Have a trial run.

-How many are left on the bus?

-I don't know.

-Um... Two?

-Two?

Is that correct? No, it was one.

Again, I think it's useful to try and sort of use your fingers...

Maybe those going on with your fingers and those going off, counting in your head.

-OK. We'll try that.

-See if my tip works.

-I'll blame you, John, if not.

-Blame me. Off we go.

Please remember, I will only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

How many on the bus?

Do you know what? I think I blacked out. I have no idea!

-Um...

-Well, have a guess.

-No, sorry, four. Four.

-Four.

That's right.

-LAUGHTER

-Was that a guess?

-No.

I was trying to take five away from one,

so I was like - there can't be negative four people on the bus.

-No.

-So, yeah.

-Yeah, OK.

-There you go.

-Have that kind of logic on the second bus. OK?

-OK.

-Here it comes.

How many still aboard?

-Um... I'm going to say two.

-Two.

Is that the correct number?

-It is!

-I like your tip. It's not going bad, is it?

-Very impressive so far.

-I owe it all to you, John.

-One to go.

Here comes your third bus.

So, how many left?

Um... It's either three or four. I'm going to go for three. Three, Brain.

Three, you're saying. Is that right?

LAUGHTER

-Six! Neither three nor four.

-Well, at least it wasn't four, I suppose.

-But you should be quite pleased with that.

-OK.

-All right?

-Shouldn't he, Brain?

-Absolutely.

That performance may mean extra cash in today's final.

Nick, you added 12 seconds in that Zone.

This means the Nabulisers have 42 seconds in their Brain Bank.

I hope you enjoyed playing the game. Rejoin the team.

-APPLAUSE

-Well, Captain Nabeel. It's up to you now, isn't it?

Because you're the only player left. So, come and join me

-and we'll find out which zone you're going to be playing.

-OK.

APPLAUSE

Well, I make it that there's Orientation, Logic

and Language left.

-Yes.

-So, which don't you want?

-Orientation, Logic or Language!

-LAUGHTER

Well, I'm afraid it's got to be one,

so which would be your least favourite?

Out of the three, Orientation would be my least favourite.

-And why's that?

-I can't orientate.

One of the course modules is anatomy

and you need to orientate yourself round that and I'm not...best...

-So, you're not going to be an anatomist, then?

-No!

Is the short answer!

OK, and let's find out which Zone the Brain has chosen for you

-to play.

-Thank you.

-Brain, could we have that Zone, please?

-Oh, it's Language.

-OK.

-How do you feel about getting Language?

Mixed feelings. Um... It could be worse.

-It could have been better, but...

-Yeah. Ready to play?

-Yeah.

-Let's play the Language Zone.

-DEEP: Hello, Nabeel.

-Hi, Brain.

I love your deep voice.

-Likewise.

-Huh! I hear you're very good at accents.

Do a Scottish accent for me.

-SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-I don't think I can do that.

No, do a Scottish accent for me. LAUGHTER

Here's your first game.

Nabeel, what word is missing from all three others?

Here's a trial run to help you get a feel for the game.

-So, it's a three-letter word...

-Man.

-Sorry, I'm just looking at the words. I think commander works.

-Man?

-Dormant.

-Dormant.

-And romantic.

-Well, that sounds right to me.

Let's see if you're correct.

-It is indeed, yes.

-OK.

-Ready to do it for real?

-Yes.

-Can we have the game then, please?

-Ah, I remember Commander Dormant.

He was romantic! LAUGHTER

You can have as many guesses as you like, but I will not move on to the

next question until you give me the correct answer or you can pass.

You have a maximum of 45 seconds to answer three questions.

Your game starts now.

Missing three-letter word.

Bit?

Yes. Well done. Next one.

Um...

30 seconds left.

Er...

E-R-B?

No, pass.

Pass? You're going to pass? Your next one... That was rag.

18 seconds left.

Oh, can't do this. Ten? T-E-N?

Ten? Yes, well done.

Intense, attend, stencil. Yeah. So, that's two out of three.

-Not bad going, to start with. Right. Ready for the next game?

-Yes, John.

-Right. Off we go.

-Here's your second game.

Rearrange the newspaper cuttings to form a word.

Have a trial run to help you get a feel for the game.

So, what word could that be?

Dingo? No, hang on.

Wait. Indigo.

Indigo. Let's see if that's right.

Yes, it is.

-Well, I think you got the hang of that one, didn't you?

-Yeah.

-Ready to play?

-Yes.

-Off we go.

You can have as many guesses as you like, but I will not move

on to the next question until you give me the correct answer or pass.

Your game starts now.

Unicorn.

Unicorn, is that correct?

It is. Next one, please.

League.

League, yes. One to go, with 32 seconds.

Ooh.

Take your time.

Is it thwarted?

Thwarted, is it? It is, indeed. No problem. 23 seconds to spare.

-That's all right.

-Well done, Nabeel.

You've put your team in a very solid position for standing

a really good chance of getting the jackpot.

-Yes.

-Hasn't he, Brain?

Yes, it pains me to say it but well done, Nabeel.

You added 15 seconds in that Zone.

This means the Nabulisers have finished with a grand total

of 57 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-APPLAUSE

-Well, that is a very good score. Congratulations, Nabeel.

-Thank you very much.

-Please rejoin your team.

-APPLAUSE

Well, we've finished the individual Zones

and now it's time for our team to try to beat the Brain

one last time and take home some real cash in today's final.

The Nabulisers,

you've built up a very useful 57 seconds in your Brain Bank.

You can now use that to try to beat the Brain

and take home today's jackpot of £3,000.

To win, you need to answer eight questions correctly,

that's two each, within your 57 seconds.

If you can't, you can still take home a decent amount of cash

because the Brain has generously given you a further two minutes

to answer the questions, but as the seconds slip away,

so does the cash, at the rate of £25 a second,

and if you run out of time, you run out of money.

Now, Nabeel, as the captain,

you've chosen which order the team is going to play.

What's your logic behind that?

We've just gone for the reverse of what we went

-when we played the games.

-OK. Time to get serious now.

Let's start today's final. Over to you, Brain.

You will only face questions from the games you've already seen today,

but for every game in the final, I will only accept your first answer.

Nabulisers, beat me if you can.

That's the challenge!

And as usual, we'll start with the player on the left,

that's you, Nabeel.

I need two correct answers from you before I can pass to the next

-person down the line and so on. OK?

-Yeah.

-Best of luck, everybody.

Let's start the final.

D.

No.

-What is the word?

-Charter.

Yes.

How many on the bus?

Four?

No.

-Pass.

-Next one. Quickly.

What numberplate?

1.

Yes. Nick.

Yellow, black, pink, green, blue.

Correct.

Count the rubber ducks and add the numbers.

Two and 11.

Yes.

Sohail.

What's the missing word?

Pit.

Yes.

We're into the countdown.

14.

Yes. Antony.

C.

Next, please.

Weekend.

Yes.

How many on the bus?

Four.

Stop the clock!

APPLAUSE

One minute 37 left. Eight correct answers.

-Congratulations, you've won £2,425.

-APPLAUSE

Well done!

How about that? What a 21st birthday present, Antony!

-You've got to share it between four, but...

-That's what they think!

So, Nabeel, your verdict on the team's performance?

I had a bit of a blunder at the beginning,

but I think they picked up quite well, I'm happy. Well done.

And congratulations. And spend the money wisely.

LAUGHTER

-They did well, didn't they, Brain?

-Absolutely. I'm not a bad loser.

They're a fine bunch of men

and the medical profession will be a better place because of them.

-Thank you.

-Well said! And thank you all at home for watching today.

I hope you enjoyed playing along with us,

-but for now, it's goodbye from the Nabulisers...

-Goodbye.

-Goodbye.

-..from the Brain...

-Goodbye.

-..and from me.

See you next time we play Beat The Brain.

Just before you go, here are the answers

to those two teasing questions I gave you at the start of the show.

Count the missing bricks.

The answer is 11.

And what about the second game? What three-letter word is missing?

The answer is pan. I hope you enjoyed your mental workout today.

Join us in the mind gym next time on Beat The Brain.