Episode 29 Beat the Brain

Hello, it's me, The Brain.

Have a go at solving the kind of puzzles

I'll be posing to our team today.

What's the phrase or saying?

Here's one more.

Which of the four wheels on the right matches the one on the left?

I'll put you out of your misery at the end of the show,

when I reveal the answers.

Let's see if today's team have all the answers,

as they attempt to Beat The Brain.

Please welcome a man who's the perfect blend of charm

and wisdom, John Craven. APPLAUSE

Wow, thank you and welcome to Beat The Brain.

Your daily dose of puzzles and problems designed to

stimulate your little grey cells.

Let's say hello to our genial genius, The Brain.

Hello, John. Yes, I'm a genius, it's true.

But genial? Never.

-I'm in a fighting mood today. Ready for battle.

-Wow.

Is that just scare tactics or will our team today manage

to Beat The Brain? Let's meet them now.

I'm Claire and I'm an airline ground supervisor.

I'm Helen and I'm a registered nurse.

I'm George and I'm a hotel owner.

I'm Sophie. I'm the team captain and I'm a shop manager.

Welcome to the show. Now, you're calling your team Wild Rovers,

so why is that, Captain Sophie?

We all like to travel, and George is from Greece,

and I live and work in Greece as well.

So we've all got the travelling bug.

So Wild Rovers really works, doesn't it?

-An old Irish song as well.

-Indeed, and our roots are Irish,

so it fits in well.

And how are you all connected then, talking of roots?

Well, Helen's my mother and Claire is my sister.

And George is my other half.

-Are you ready to play the game?

-Yes.

-Yes, we are.

Well, this is how it works.

The show's Brain is divided into six Zones.

Now, the Brain will select four of those six Zones

for you to play today.

Sophie, as captain, you must decide which person you think will be

best for answering each of the Zones, OK?

You're playing for time instead of points,

with every correct answer adding three seconds to your total.

What we call your Brain Bank.

And the more time you build up in the bank,

the more chance you have of beating The Brain in today's final,

and walking away with a jackpot of £3,000.

So, Wild Rovers, are you ready to play?

Yes, we are.

So time to find out which Zone you'll be facing first.

So, Brain, Zone, please.

-So, Sophie, who do you think might be best at that?

-Oh...

I don't know which one would be good at Multitasking.

-So I think George would be the one to do that.

-George.

Well, George, come and join me, then, in the Multitasking Zone.

APPLAUSE

-Good to see you, George.

-Good to see you, John.

-And you're from Greece.

-Yes.

-Whereabouts in Greece?

-I'm from Ios island.

It's an island in Cyclades, very close to Santorini.

A beautiful island.

A very beautiful island with magnificent beaches.

And do you agree with Sophie that you're the one to do Multitasking?

Yes. One of the things I was doing

when I was a bit younger was playing online games,

and I was playing real-time strategy,

which actually requires multitasking a lot.

Let's see how you do Multitasking against The Brain.

-Let's see how I do.

-Now, you'll be playing two games in the Zone.

Both games have three questions worth three seconds each,

so, Brain, what's the first game?

-Hello, George.

-Hello, Brain.

-I like the way you talk.

Can you say "Brain, you're wonderful" in Greek?

-Yeah, it's gefalos.

-Oh...

Ahem. Anyway, must get on. Here's your first game.

George, count the number of times each arrow passes its needle.

To get you in the groove, have a trial run.

-So what do you say?

-It's six and one.

-Six and one, you're saying?

-Yes.

Let's see if that's correct.

-It is, indeed. Well done.

-Thank you.

-Ready to play?

-Ready to play.

-Off we go.

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

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

Your game starts now.

-It's two and two.

-Two and two.

Let's have a look. That was an easy one to start with.

-Yeah, it was.

-It gets harder. Next one, please.

-It's five and one.

-Five and one.

-That's correct as well. Here comes your final one.

-OK.

-It's two and six.

-Two and six. Let's see if that's right.

-It is, indeed. So no problem with that.

-No problem with that.

A very good start for your team, George. Next game, please.

Full house there, George. I'm already getting into a bad mood.

Well, it's going to be harder for you in the next game.

THE BRAIN GROWLS

Let me take you on a journey. Here's the second game.

George, tell me how many people are left on the bus,

not including the driver.

I'll give you a trial run.

-How many people left on the bus?

-One.

-One, you're saying.

Is that correct?

-It is, indeed. Yes. Right. Ready to play?

-Yes.

-Ready to play.

-Off we go.

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

Your game starts now.

-How many left on the bus?

-It's two.

Two, you're saying. Is that correct?

It is. Next bus, please.

-Six.

-Six.

Is that right?

-Five.

-Five. OK.

-Just one out there.

And our final bus coming up.

-How many left on the bus?

-Six.

-Six, you're saying.

Is that right?

-No, it's three.

-OK.

-Three, but they did get a lot quicker, didn't they?

Yeah. And it was many coming, many going, so.

-Yeah.

-It confused me a bit.

Well, never mind. Brain, what did you make of all that?

I'm so glad I managed to confuse you there, George.

I hear you grow your own chilli peppers,

and just like your chillies, I am hot stuff.

-Yeah, well, I have 33 variations of chillies.

-Shut up! George,

you added 12 seconds in that Zone.

This means, in total, Wild Rovers

have 12 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-Good start there, George.

-Thank you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you too.

-Rejoin the Wild Rovers.

APPLAUSE

So it's time now to find out which Zone is next

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

Logic, so, Sophie, who is going to play in the Logic Zone?

Right, well, as she's my sister,

and we think quite similarly,

I'm going to choose Claire.

Claire. Come on and be logical.

APPLAUSE

-Good to see you, Claire.

-Thank you.

-How do you feel about being nominated?

-Yes,

it's nice to get up quite soon,

rather than sitting there and worrying.

And do you reckon that you are a kind of logical sort of person?

I think I have to be logical in the job I do, getting the flights

out on time and everyone on board and where they need to be, so yes.

Well, I wonder how you're going to do

when it comes to taking on The Brain...

-Fingers crossed.

-..in logical things.

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

-Hello, Claire.

-Hello, Brain.

I hear you are a bit of a petrolhead and love speed.

Love speed, love fast cars, yes. Faster the better.

Well, let's see if you can be as fast as I can be.

-I'll try.

-Here's your first game.

Claire, identify the phrase or saying from the cryptic visual puzzle.

-I'll give you a trial run, Claire.

-Thank you.

-Left-handed.

-Now why are you saying that?

Because it's pointing to the "handed"

-on the left-hand side.

-Left.

-So left-handed.

Let's see if that's correct.

-And it is.

-Excellent.

-No problem with that one.

APPLAUSE

Let's play for real.

You can have as many guesses as you like, Claire,

but you only have 45 seconds to answer three questions.

-OK.

-Your game starts now.

-What phrase is that?

-Press...

-Press.

-Press up?

-Press up, is that correct?

It is, indeed. Next one, please.

Oh, is it five o'clock shadow?

Is that five o'clock shadow? Could well be.

Yes, indeed. And 30 seconds left.

Apple, banana, orange and lemon.

No fruit?

No fruit. Is that a phrase?

Um...fruit.

-No fruit.

-You can keep on guessing. You've got time.

-Um...

Fruit banned...

Ten seconds left.

No fruit. Uh...

-Four seconds.

-Gosh, nope, can't get that one at all.

Time is up.

So let's find out what the answer was.

-Forbidden fruit!

-Of course!

-Now it's easy, isn't it?

-Oh, of course, when you know the answer.

Well, let's move on to the second game.

Well, would you Adam and Eve it? I was good then, wasn't I?

-You were cheeky.

-Yes, I am cheeky, Claire.

Here's your second game.

Three darts will be thrown.

You must add up the score and subtract it from the total.

Have a trial run.

16. Eight. Triple 15.

So you add those up and deduct it from the total.

60. Um, 100 and...

Sorry, 400 and...

441.

441, you're saying. Is that the correct answer?

-Oh, 432.

-432.

-Oh, well. She's really going to put you to the test here.

-Be nice!

-CLAIRE LAUGHS

-No chance.

THEY LAUGH

Ready to play, Brain.

Claire, you have 45 seconds to answer three questions correctly.

But remember, I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

Nine, 16, 13.

Nine, 16, 13.

38, 38, 38...

CLAIRE WHISPERS

-30 seconds left.

-60...

-60, er, 467.

-467, you're saying?

-463, I'm afraid.

-463.

-Next one, please, quickly.

Double 17, 19, 12.

CLAIRE SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY

-Ten seconds.

-65...

Er, two, four...

Five, three,

-two...

-No, I've lost it.

-..one.

-Time's up. No? Well, she caught you out in that round.

-Sorry, team.

-It's OK.

-Doesn't matter.

-Obviously not your forte.

Brain, you were very hard on Claire, there, weren't you?

I was particularly harsh, Claire, but don't despair.

JOHN LAUGHS You added six seconds in that Zone, Claire.

This means in total, Wild Rovers have 18 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-APPLAUSE

We have two more Zones to play and two more contestants,

so let's find out who is going to play what.

Brain, a Zone, please.

Observation it is. So...

-Right.

-..who's going to play in this Zone?

Well, Mum is very observant.

So, she likes to notice things,

especially when we don't want her to notice them,

-she's very good at noticing it.

-Like all mums!

Exactly. So, hopefully she'll do well on this one.

Well, Helen, come and join me.

APPLAUSE

-Lovely to see you, Helen.

-And you, John.

-Are you a little apprehensive at the moment?

-Yes, slightly.

Are you retired now?

-No, I work part-time, in a retirement village.

-What do you do?

Yes, I'm the emergency nurse.

And did you used to be a full-time nurse?

I was, yes, I've done quite a few different types.

-So, you'd need an awful lot of observation work in that job.

-Yes.

And I suppose keeping an eye on the family as well.

-And two difficult children.

-Oh!

THEY LAUGH

-I'm sure not, I'm sure not.

-What a cheek!

Brain, please reveal the first game Helen will be playing.

-Hello, Nurse Helen.

-Hello, Brain.

Can I hear what your soothing bedside manner voice sounds like?

Oh, nurse, my frontal lobe is aching.

Oh, dear. Well,

I would forget about it and it will go away.

Ah! I already feel better! LAUGHTER

Here's your first game.

Tell me the order the balloons pop.

Helen, you can warm up with a trial run.

-Red, blue, yellow.

-Red, blue, yellow, you're saying.

Have you started with a bang?

No problems there then, Helen.

-No.

-Ready to play the game for real?

-I am, thank you, yes. I'll try.

-OK. Brain, bring on the game.

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

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

Your game starts now.

White, blue, yellow.

White, blue, yellow, you're saying. Is that right?

White, yellow, blue. Other way round. Oh, dear. Onto the next one.

White, red, yellow.

White, red, yellow. Is that right?

-Yes, that one's correct.

-Oh, thank goodness.

-Yes.

-APPLAUSE

-One final round of balloon bursting.

Blue, yellow, white, red.

Is that right?

-Oh!

-Other way round, red and white, other way round.

There were four that time,

-that may have caught you out a little bit.

-Yes.

Let's move on to game two, please.

Absolutely, John.

Here's your second game, Helen.

Tell me which number plate you saw.

Here's a trial run.

BEEPING

CAR NOISES

Those six, which one did you see?

Two, I think.

-You're saying number two?

-I think so, yes.

Let's find out if that's right.

-No, it was number one.

-Oh.

-Yes.

Do take much notice of registration plates when you're driving along?

Not to a great extent.

You'd be no good if a policeman said,

-what was the number of that car?

-I probably wouldn't.

You might be, who knows? We'll wait and see.

Can we play the game, please?

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

Which of those six...

-..was it?

-It was number one.

Number one,

you're going for number one again, let's see if you're right.

-No, it was number three, unfortunately.

-Oh, dear.

Next one, please.

Number five.

Number five.

-No, number one it was, that time.

-Oh, gosh.

So, just one more.

Not doing too well, am I?

-Which one?

-That was...

-Oh, dear, doesn't look like any of the ones I saw.

-Ah.

But it was one of them, I assure you!

I think it must be number six.

Number six, you think.

Is that correct?

-Oh!

-No, it was number two.

-Not your sort of game.

-No.

As we say on this show,

it's different brains for different games.

Don't worry, don't worry, she shouldn't worry, should she, Brain?

Absolutely not. Don't worry, Helen, because you're beautiful

and if I had a body, I'd want your jacket.

LAUGHTER

Helen, you added three seconds in that Zone.

This means in total,

Wild Rovers have 21 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-21 seconds, here we go.

-Thank you, John.

-Lovely to see you, Helen.

APPLAUSE

Sophie, our captain, you're the final player, so why don't you

come and join me and find out which Zone you'll be playing?

APPLAUSE

Quietly confident there?

Er, nervous, but hopeful.

I hear you like horror movies.

-Yes.

-Why's that?

I love being frightened.

Anything with a zombie in it, I'm there.

Well, we've got just the show for you today.

THEY LAUGH

Because you might be facing what some people regard

as a zombie in just a few seconds.

-OK.

-All right?

-Yes, I'm ready.

-OK.

Let's find out just which Zone

the brain is going to choose for you, Sophie.

Brain, a Zone, please.

-OK.

-Oh, what do you think about that, then?

I'll tell you afterwards!

THEY LAUGH

Are you good at orientation?

No, I'm dreadful.

Right, so, Brain,

please reveal the first game Sophie is going to be playing today.

-Hello, Sophie.

-Hello, Brain.

So, you love the thrill of a scary movie, do you?

I love them.

EASTERN EUROPEAN ACCENT Well, my pretty pea, be afraid, be very afraid.

-LOW PITCHED LAUGHTER

-I am.

Here's your first game.

Match the viewpoint on the left to the numbered position on the right.

Have yourself a trial run.

What do you reckon that is?

I think that's number two.

Number two, let's see if you're correct.

-Mm.

-Number three.

-Ready to play?

-Yes.

-Right, let's go for real.

Sophie, you have a maximum of 45 seconds to answer three questions,

but I will only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

Which viewpoint is that?

-Number six.

-Number six, you think.

Is that correct?

-It's number seven.

-Ah.

Right, next one, please.

30 seconds left.

-Number eight.

-Number eight, you think.

-Oh!

-Number five.

-20 seconds to go. One last one.

-OK.

Got a bit of time with this one. It's got to be number two.

It's got to be number two, you say. Is that right?!

-Yes!

-And it is indeed!

-I got one! Yay.

-Whoo-hoo!

-Well, there we go.

-APPLAUSE

Yes, you got one. Let's see how you do in game two.

-Can we have it, please, Brain?

-Absolutely, John.

Here's your second game.

Which wheel matches the one on the left?

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

-OK.

-It's going to spin round to meet up with that one on the left.

OK, that has got to be...

Oh...

D.

D?

You're saying D.

And it was B.

-Mm?

-Mm!

-Mm-hm.

-Never mind.

-SOPHIE LAUGHS

I'm sure you're going to do much better now, as we go for real.

-We'll see.

-Yes. OK, Brain.

Sophie, you have a maximum of 45 seconds to answer three questions,

but please remember, I will only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

OK.

SOPHIE EXHALES DEEPLY

-A.

-A, you're saying.

Correct, yes, it is, well done.

-Next one, please.

-APPLAUSE

-30 seconds.

-OK.

D.

Yes.

-APPLAUSE

-Well done.

Last one.

Er...

Mm...

C.

C, you're saying. Is that correct, Brain?

-APPLAUSE

-It is, yes. Maximum points on that.

-I surprised myself, John.

-You really recovered there, didn't you, Sophie?

-Yes.

-A bit of a captain's game in that last round, yes.

Don't you think so, Brain?

Absolutely. You're a bit of a dark horse, Sophie.

Well, Brain, it's about time someone beat you.

Ha! Absolutely.

Sophie, you're a bit cocky, aren't you?

SOPHIE LAUGHS

Sophie, you added 12 seconds in that zone.

This means, Wild Rovers,

you have finished with a grand total of 33 seconds in your Brain Bank.

-APPLAUSE

-Well done, Sophie.

-Thank you.

If you'd like to rejoin the rest of the Wild Rovers.

So, we've finished the individuals Zones now

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

and take home some serious cash in today's final.

Well, Wild Rovers,

you added 33 seconds to your Brain Bank in those four opening Zones.

Now your task is to answer eight questions correctly,

two per player, as quickly as you can.

Do that within your 33 seconds and you'll win today's

jackpot of £3,000.

But if you can't do that, there's still a chance to win because

The Brain has very generously given you another

two minutes in which to find the answers, but there's a catch.

As the time counts down,

so does the money, at the rate of £25 a second.

Take too long and both the time and the money will run out

and you will be leaving with nothing. OK?

Sophie, you've chosen the order of play.

-Yes.

-Why Claire first?

Because Claire's quite a strong player and so I think it would be a

good idea to start and end with a strong player and myself

and Mum have got more of a relaxed opportunity

and the pressure is on Claire and George rather than Helen and myself.

Yes. Well, Wild Rovers, I wish you the best of luck

and this is time to get serious now, so 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.

Wild Rovers, beat me if you can.

That's the big question. Can you beat The Brain?

As usual, we'll be starting with the player on the left,

that's Claire, I need two correct answers from you, Claire,

before I can move on to Helen and then down the line. OK?

-Everybody got that?

-Yeah.

-Right, let's start the game.

How many times past the needle?

Um, five and three.

Five and three?

Two and five.

-19, 16, double 15.

-Pass.

Blue, white, yellow.

Correct.

Which viewpoint?

One.

Yes. Helen.

How many on the bus?

Two.

Incorrect.

What phrase?

Pass.

What numberplate?

Two.

Correct. Which wheel matches the one on the left?

D.

No.

Three.

Correct. Sophie?

White, red, blue.

Yes.

Triple 17, seven, 18.

Subtract the score.

Pass.

B.

George.

Number one.

Correct.

Three and one.

Stop the clock.

APPLAUSE

Well done.

Well done. 31 seconds left. Eight correct answers.

You've won £775.

APPLAUSE

CHEERING

Well, my heart was pounding then, I thought you might not make it

but you did.

You're going home with some money so, well done Wild Rovers.

-How do you feel now, Captain Sophie?

-Brilliant.

I've got a great team and really happy. Really happy.

Thank you for remembering us.

LAUGHTER

You got quite a few of your un-favourite questions.

Yes, we did.

So, Brain, you weren't quite that vicious.

No, they beat me fair and square.

And I hope this means a certain lady I know

can have a free holiday in Greece.

-I'll give you a free holiday in Ios, don't worry, Brain.

-Thank you.

And thank you for watching at home today.

Hope you enjoyed playing along.

-But for now, it's goodbye from Wild Rovers.

-Bye.

-From Brain.

-Goodbye.

And from me. See you again next time.

Remember the questions I posed at the beginning of the show?

Here are the answers. What's the phrase or saying?

The answer is...

And what about the second one?

Which of the four wheels on the right matches the one on the left?

The answer is...

Join me and John next time for more exciting games on Beat The Brain.