Episode 6 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.

Here's one more.

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.

APPLAUSE

Show your appreciation for a man who appeals to the heart

as well as the head - it's John Craven.

Well, thank you very much indeed and welcome to Beat the Brain.

Over the next half hour, our team of four contestants will face

a series of problems, puzzles and posers that will stretch

their mental fitness to the limit.

Time to meet the mastermind who'll be placing them on the mental rack.

How are you today, Brain?

Oh, all the better for seeing you, oh mighty wearer of the jumpers.

Who have you got for me to put on the rack today?

Well, I've got some people who have no intention of being

your sacrificial lambs. Let's meet our team.

Please introduce yourselves.

I'm Jade and I'm an administration supervisor.

I'm Emma and I'm studying primary education.

I'm Amanda and I'm a store supervisor.

I'm Paul, I'm the team captain,

I'm a retail store manager.

APPLAUSE

Welcome, everyone.

And, Paul, as the team captain, what is the name of your team?

We're the Hammerheads from Sunderland.

And why is that, why the Hammerheads?

We're four heads and we all work in a DIY and trade store in Sunderland.

You could have been the four candles.

-And you're the boss there, are you?

-I'm the store manager, yes.

-Jade, is he a good boss?

-He is, yeah.

The best, actually.

Wouldn't go that far, Paul, wouldn't go that far.

-Are you all ready to play the game?

-We are.

Well, here's how it works.

The show's Brain is divided into six Zones...

Now, the Brain will select four of these six Zones for you to play to today.

And, Paul, as team captain, you must nominate which member

of the team you think will perform best in each of the Zones, OK?

You'll face a series of questions in

your Zone with each correct answer

adding three seconds to what we call the Brain Bank.

The more time you build up,

the better chance you have of beating the Brain

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

-So, Hammerheads, ready to play?

-We are.

Right, well, let's find out which Zone you'll be facing first.

Brain, Zone, please.

Observation it is.

So, Paul, who's it going to be in the Observation Zone?

-Can you take this one, Emma?

-I can take it.

-Emma is going to come into the Observation Zone.

-Yes.

Join me.

APPLAUSE

-Lovely to see you, Emma.

-Hello.

-Hi, are you from Sunderland?

-No, I'm from County Durham.

-That's in the same area, isn't it?

-Yeah, I am north-east, yeah.

-Yeah, you're a north-easterner.

When it comes to observation, how good are you at that?

I think I'm quite observant.

If something changes, I notice it almost immediately.

But you don't want to sound too confident?

I don't want to be too confident, just in case I bomb these questions.

OK, well, you'll play two games in this Zone.

Both games have three questions worth three seconds each.

So, Brain, what's the first game?

-Hello, Emma.

-Hello.

I hear you're part of the university cheerleading team.

Yeah, I am.

So, join me. Give me a B.

This is not what we do!

Do it! Give me a B.

B.

-Give me an R.

-R.

-Give me an ain.

-Ain

-What have you got?

-A Brain.

Good to see you're on my side. Here's your first game...

Count the number of missing bricks. To help you out, have a trial run.

So, how many bricks have been knocked out?

-14, I think?

-14.

They're whole bricks, don't forget. 14...

is the correct answer, yes. So that's a pretty good start.

-Pity it was just a test question.

-I know, I know.

So, ready to play for real? I am.

Remember, Emma,

you only have 45 seconds to answer three questions correctly.

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

First answer, right.

Every correct will add three seconds to your Brain Bank.

Your game starts now.

-How many?

-Erm... 20?

-20, you reckon.

No, 18. Next one, please.

30 seconds remaining.

20.

20, you say. That's right. Well done.

One to go and 16 seconds left.

-21.

-21 you're saying. Is that correct?

-It is, yes.

-Yes!

So, two out of three in your first game. That's not a bad start, is it?

-Not bad at all.

-You're feeling good now?

-Yeah.

Right, well, let's move on to game number two.

Here's your second game...

-Count the number of times the lights come on.

-Right.

To get your eye in, Emma, have a trial run.

-How many went on?

-16?

-16, you reckon?

I reckon 16.

-16.

-16, that's correct, yeah.

And, of course, the colour of the lights doesn't really matter,

it's the number of lights that go on.

-Yeah, got it.

-Shall we play?

Yeah, let's play.

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

-OK.

-Your game starts now.

-How many went on?

-14.

-14, you say?

Is that right?

It is, well done.

On to the next one.

-15?

-15. Let's have a look.

-14, yes, one out.

-Oh.

They were going too fast at the start.

Might get even faster now, I warn you,

as we have the last one.

-17.

-17, you say. Is that right?

It is, yes.

Well, you got that one, which was really difficult.

-Two out of three ain't bad.

-I know, two out of three ain't bad.

-I'm happy about that.

-A very good start.

-Brain, what did you make of that?

-Well, you did very well, Emma.

And you've given the Hammerheads a much better chance of beating me

in today's final and taking home some cash.

You added 12 seconds in that Zone.

That means the Hammerheads have 12 seconds in their Brain Bank.

APPLAUSE

-That really is a very good start.

-Thank you.

Back to the shop floor.

Right, it's time to find out our next Zone

and who is going to take it on.

So, Brain, the Zone, please.

Paul, who are you going to nominate for this one?

-I'm going to go for Jade on the logic.

-OK.

Jade, come and join me in the Logic Zone.

APPLAUSE

So, I'm just wondering, did Paul give you any options as to

whether you were in the team or not?

Or did he just announce one day that, instead of doing work today,

you were going to come down and try and Beat the Brain?

No, he sort of said, "Do you like a quiz?"

So I was like, "Yeah, quizzes are OK."

He was like, "Great, we're going on the telly.

And here you are.

So, can we have the first game please, Brain?

-Hello, Jade.

-Hi.

Here's your first game.

Jade, I will show you a series of four pictures

and your challenge is to find the common link.

To give you some practice, have a trial run.

So what do you see there?

A wave, sand, head and lime?

A lime, it looks like a lime.

Wave, sand, head, lime.

Sand...

Or desert?

Any clues? Any clue?

Looks to me as if she's actually hailing something, don't you think?

Lime, hail... Stone?

Let's have a look at the correct answer.

It is stone.

-We got there eventually, didn't we?

-We did.

But you've got to be much quicker on this game, it is against the clock.

-Ready?

-Go.

-Off we go.

Yes, Jade, you can have as many guesses as you like, but I will not

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

-You only have 45 seconds to answer three questions.

-OK.

Your game starts now.

Face, spray, finger, oil.

Face, spray... Can?

Face, can, no.

Face, spray... Is that oil? Nail?

No. You're ticking away the time.

-Pass.

-Pass. Right, next one.

Paint, it was. OK, next one.

-Animals, bug, eagle, monkey.

-What are they?

Door, door, bug...can't think.

-Ten seconds.

-Pass.

Looks like a beetle to me.

Right, not much time left. Quick guess.

Green, bird, I don't know.

Time's out. Oh, dear. Let's have a look.

Some people would have found that incredibly easy,

maybe watching at home. They were shouting out the answers.

-But, you and I, didn't really get them.

-I wish I could hear them.

So maybe your brain is more tuned to the next game.

So, Brain, let's see what you have for game two.

Identify the phrase or saying from the cryptic visual puzzle.

To get you in the groove, why not have a trial run?

Half a marathon?

Half marathon, are you saying?

Yep. Half marathon.

Yes, right. That was pretty quick, wasn't it?

-OK to roll?

-Yep.

Off we go, next one.

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

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

You have 45 seconds to answer the questions.

Your game starts now.

-What phrase is that?

-Small Tim. Bob, Tim.

-Small Tim.

-You can pass.

Tiny Tim? Is that it, Tiny Tim?

Tiny Tim, yes, well done. Next one.

-Blood is thicker than water.

-Yeah, right. One more, 20 seconds left.

-Scale of irritation, is that a thing?

-Keep on going.

A higher irritation...

-Look at the dates, maybe.

-2015.

-Irritation game, I don't know?

-No. Time's up.

So let's get the answer to that one.

But you did very well the rest of that game, didn't you?

-Yeah, I got two.

-Brain, what do you make of her efforts?

You did well, Jade.

And remember, there are still two Zones left to play,

so there's still a chance for you to win the jackpot.

You added six seconds in that Zone,

which means the Hammerheads have 18 seconds in their Brain Bank.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

Nice to meet you, Jade. Thank you for playing and rejoin your team.

-Thank you.

-Thank you very much indeed.

Captain Paul, what's your assessment so far?

I'm glad I didn't get that one because I think I only got

one right, so I'm really proud of Jade for getting the two.

Amanda, do you think it's harder than you thought it would be?

-It is slightly harder, yeah.

-And you have yet to come, you two.

Now, in this show, every second is precious.

As the more time our team builds up,

the better the chance they have of beating

the Brain in today's final and taking home that £3,000 jackpot.

Right, let's find out which Zone is next and who is going to take it on.

Brain, a Zone, please.

Orientation it is. So, Captain Paul, is it you or Amanda?

-I'll take the orientation, John.

-Well done.

OK, come and join me, Paul, in the Orientation Zone.

-Hello, boss.

-Hello.

-How you doing?

I'll be all right when I get some points on the board, hopefully.

When you're not working, what else do you do?

I do orienteering, which I hope is going to stand me in good stead.

Although if I do not very well, I can guarantee my 15-year-old son

is going to take the mickey out of me when I get back.

We'll find out what's in store, shall we?

Don't forget, there's 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 Paul will be playing.

-Hello, Captain Paul.

-Hello.

Here's your first game.

Captain Paul, what is the real time?

You can warm up by having a trial run.

In mirror image on the left, what's the real time?

25 past.

25 past what?

-Seven.

-25 past seven, you're saying, is that right?

Yes, it is.

-Do you keep an eye on people clock watching?

-All the time.

-Right, are you ready to play the game?

-I am ready.

-Off we go.

You have 45 seconds to answer three questions.

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

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

Your game starts now.

What's the real time?

Quarter to ten.

Quarter to ten, that's correct.

Next one.

25 to six.

25 to six, that's right.

25 seconds left.

-Five to nine.

-Five to nine, you're saying,

and that's correct.

So that was in pretty swift time. Well done, Paul.

Let's find out what's in game two.

This is worrying me, that was a full house.

Here's your second game.

Paul, follow the car's journey

and identify which direction it ends up facing.

Have a trial run.

It's facing north.

Turn right.

Turn right.

Turn right.

That's west, John.

West you're saying. Are you correct?

Yes, you are indeed.

Ready to play for real?

Captain Paul, remember, I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

Turn left.

U-turn.

Turn right.

-What's the direction?

-That's heading south.

South, you reckon.

Yes, you're correct. Next one, please.

Turn left.

Turn right.

U-turn.

-Turn left.

-That's heading east.

East, you say.

And that's correct. The muttering's working well.

-It certainly is.

-Last one.

-Third time lucky.

Turn left.

U-turn.

U-turn.

Turn right.

-That's north, John.

-North, you're saying.

Well done.

You should be really pleased with yourself there, Paul.

You put an awful lot of seconds I should imagine into your Brain Bank.

Brain, what do you think of Paul's performance?

Well, Captain Paul, your obviously very good at doing it yourself.

You added 18 seconds in that Zone.

This means that the Hammerheads have 36 seconds in their Brain Bank.

APPLAUSE

Well done, Paul.

A great boss' performance.

Rejoin your squad.

Amanda, you're our final player.

So, why don't you come and join me

and we'll find out which Zone you're going to be playing against?

APPLAUSE

And, remember, it is possible to get 18 seconds.

-A lot depends on you now.

-No pressure, no pressure.

She'll do her best, she always does.

We'll find out which Zone you're about to face.

Brain, the Zone please.

You'll be fine, Amanda.

Well, you know, you're a working mum.

You've got to do an awful lot of multitasking in your life,

-haven't you?

-Yes, I do, yeah.

So let's see if the Brain has got the kind of multitasking

that you can cope with. Can we have the first game please?

-Hello, Amanda.

-Hi.

Here's your first game.

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

Have a trial run.

-So, how many ice creams. What was the total?

-Three.

-Three ice creams you're saying. And...

-Ten.

Ten. Three and ten.

Is Amanda right?

Four and ten - one ice cream missing.

-So, ready to play?

-Yeah.

-Off we go.

-Remember, I can only accept your first answer.

-How many carrots?

-Three.

-Three.

-And what was the total?

-Nine.

Three and nine your saying. Are you right?

Yes, well done. That's the first one out of the way.

Onto the next one.

-How many dogs were there?

-I totally lost that.

Well, have a guess.

Four.

Four dogs. And what was the total?

-I'll go for 15.

-4 and 15.

Is that a good guess? Let's have a look.

Half a good guess. So, the next one, please.

How many bananas?

-Three.

-Three bananas.

-And what was the total?

22, I think.

Three and 22. Let's see if you're right, Amanda.

-Yes, well done. Was that a bit of a guess at the end?

-It was.

Well, it was a very lucky guess, wasn't it? Yeah.

So, Brain, what have you got up for us in the next game?

Well, here's your second game...

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

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

-How many are there they are?

-Three.

-Three and, on the right, how many revolutions? Three and?

-Two.

Three and two you're saying. Is Amanda right? Four and two.

-I nearly said four.

-Almost right.

-Ready to play?

-Yep.

-Off we go.

I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

-Three and one.

-Three and one you're saying.

Let's see if that's right.

Three and one, you are. Well done. Next one.

-I'm going to go three and three.

-Three and three, you're saying.

Is Amanda right?

Four and four.

And the last one, please.

-A total guess.

-You lost track, did you?

Yep. I'm going to say five.

Quite appropriate with the record player there, losing track.

-What are you going to say?

-I'm going to say five and four.

-Five and four.

Let's have a look and see.

Six and five, one out on either side.

Oh, well, never mind. How did you think Amanda did, Brain?

Do you think you can beat me in today's final?

-I'm going to give it a good go.

-That's fighting talk - I like that.

You scored nine seconds, Amanda.

-You also look lovely in your peachy orange jumper.

-Thank you.

The Hammerheads have finished with a grand total

of 45 seconds in their Brain Bank.

45 seconds, that is not bad indeed. So, congratulations, Amanda.

-Did you enjoy playing?

-I did actually.

It was my weakness but I still enjoyed it, yeah.

If you'd rejoin your team, it's been great having you play.

Well, we've finished the individual 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.

Hammerheads, you've managed to build up 45 seconds in your Brain Bank

and now it's your chance to turn time into money.

Each of you needs to get two questions right

within those 45 seconds.

Do that and you'll take home a jackpot of £3,000.

If you can't, there's still a chance to win because Brain has set aside

a further two minutes for you to get the answers correct.

But, as the time counts down,

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

If you take too long, you'll be left with nothing.

Paul, as the captain, you've chosen the order in which

your players are going to face the Brain. Any logic in it?

Not really, no. We didn't feel there was any order we needed to go in.

We've all got to answer two questions anyway.

I suppose the only thing in my head was I wanted the glory leg at the end.

OK, Hammerheads, it's time to get serious.

Let's start the game.

Over to you, Brain.

You'll 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.

Hammerheads, beat me if you can.

So that's the big question -

can you beat the Brain?

We'll be starting with you, Jade.

I need two correct answers from you

before we can pass down the line to the next players, OK?

-Yeah.

-Good luck. Let's start the game.

12.

Correct.

What's the real time?

25 past 12.

Yes. Amanda.

Read between the lines.

Correct. How many times past the needle?

-Five and four.

-Nope.

Turn right.

U-turn.

U-turn.

Which direction?

-East.

-Yes.

Emma.

Ten.

Nope.

Two and nine.

Yes.

What time is it?

20 to four.

Nope.

What's the connection?

-You can pass.

-I don't know. Pass.

-Five and five.

-Yes.

Paul.

Count the missing bricks.

-11.

-Yes.

-Black sheep.

-Stop the clock.

Go on!

Eight correct answers, with one minute and four seconds left,

and you've won...

APPLAUSE

How about that?

£400 each I make it.

£800 for me and £200 for each of them.

And I don't serve behind a till or anything.

Well done, everybody.

What do you think of that, Brain?

Well done, Hammerheads.

You didn't exactly hammer me, but you gave me a good tapping.

Well, thanks everybody at home for watching today.

I hope you enjoyed playing along.

For now though, it's goodbye from Hammerheads...

-Goodbye.

-..from the 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.

And what about the second one?

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