Episode 9 Beat the Brain

Hello, Ms Brain here.

It's nearly time to see if our team of four have

the mental toughness to beat me.

But first here's a couple of challenges for you to try at home.

Are they left or right hands?

Now try this one.

How many times does each arrow pass its needle?

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

Now watch today's team attempt to use all their grey matter in a contest to

Beat The Brain!

APPLAUSE

Please welcome a man who is not afraid of a challenge -

it's John Craven!

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

the quiz that tests not what you know, but how your mind works.

So get ready for a half-hour mental workout

with challenging questions and tricky puzzles

set by our resident brain.

So, what have you got for us today, Brain?

Oh, I've got 86 billion neurons, Johnny,

and some wonderfully complex games. I'm ready to play.

Well, that sounds very intimidating,

I wonder how our team are going to cope?

Let's meet them now. Please introduce yourselves.

I'm Rosie and I'm a student nurse.

I'm Heather, I'm also a student nurse.

I'm Brian and I'm also a student nurse.

I'm Jessica, I'm team captain, and you guessed it,

I'm also a student nurse.

Well, welcome, everybody. All studying at Huddersfield University.

Jessica, you're the team captain,

-what name have you chosen for the team?

-Erm, we decided on Adrenaline.

Adrenaline. A good medical word, but why choose it for your team?

Not only are four brains better than one, but obviously, four brains

on adrenaline, er, would give us the oomph we needed to beat the Brain.

Are you feeling a bit high on adrenaline at the moment, Heather?

-Yes.

-LAUGHTER

And, Jessica,

you're also president of the nursing society at the uni, aren't you?

Yeah, and we're all members of the graduation ball as well.

We're organising that this year.

-Oh, so not long to go till the big ball.

-No.

I hope that you don't need medical attention yourself afterwards!

LAUGHTER

-Are you ready to play?

-ALL: Yes.

Well, this is how it works.

The show's brain is divided into six zones.

Logic, Memory, Orientation,

Observation, Language and Multi-tasking.

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

to play today, and, Jessica, as the captain, you must decide

which team member you think is best for playing each of those zones, OK?

You'll 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, are you ready to play?

-ALL: Yes.

Good, well, time to find out which zone you'll be facing first,

so, Brain, the zone please.

It's Memory.

So, Jessica, who are you going to nominate for the Memory Zone?

I think, seeing as Rosie's the youngest member of our group,

I think she'll be able to retain information longer than

-us more mature members.

-Yeah.

-Brain's a bit younger.

Yeah, so I pick Rosie.

Rosie, come and join me, please.

-So, you are the youngest. How old are you?

-I'm 20.

And what made you decide to go in for nursing?

It's always been a childhood kind of dream for me to do nursing,

and I just, I love it, everything about it.

And d'you think you've got a pretty good memory?

I hope so, yeah, I think I do. I like to think I do!

-Are you ready for the Brain to put you to the test?

-I am indeed.

Right, 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, Rosie.

-Hello, Brain.

Show me your thumbs.

-They're double-jointed.

-Are they?

I, see, I think, yeah, they are.

Can you wiggle 'em both ways?

-Yes!

-Yeah, thank you.

How wonderful, that made me happy.

-Here's your first game.

-OK.

Rosie, you will see four named pictures.

The pictures will disappear.

One will come back. Tell us what its name is.

-OK.

-To help you out, have a trial run.

-OK.

-Sporty.

-Sporty. Are you right?

-You are.

-Yay!

-So, are you a Spice Girls fan?

-Yes, I was trying to remember.

-But not in that kind of form anyway!

-No, er, no, but...

-Are you ready to play?

I am, yes, definitely.

Off we go, then. The game, please, Brain.

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

-OK.

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

Your game starts now.

The Beatles. Who was a yellow hat?

Was it Ringo?

Ringo, the hard hat, you think. Are you right?

-No, it was John.

-No.

I'm a Beatles fan as well! Sorry.

-Never mind, here's another one for you.

-Right.

Denise.

-Denise, you think.

-Was it Denise?

-Ah, yes!

-Yeah, well done.

Yay.

-Yes, so, er, the last one.

-OK.

-Morecambe.

-Who was the broccoli? Morecambe, you think.

-Was it Morecambe?

-Let's see if you were right.

-Yes!

-Yes, you were.

-Sorry, a bit hasty then.

Well, that's two out of three.

-That's six valuable seconds to start with.

-Yes, it is, that's good.

-Yes, OK. Ready for the next one?

-I am, yeah.

Could we have Game Two, then, please, Brain?

-Rosie, here's your second game.

-OK.

Remember where the pictures were once they've disappeared.

To get your eye in, have a trial run.

-Doughnuts, dummy and a sling.

-Yes.

-Where are the doughnuts?

-They're in 1 and 3.

-1 and 3, you're saying?

-Yeah.

-Yes. Well done, that's correct.

-Thank you.

See, I like doughnuts, so it's easy for me to remember.

I hope you do as well when you play for real.

Thank you. I hope so, too.

Let's play, please.

Please remember, I can only accept your first answer.

-OK.

-Your game starts now.

-Where are the roller-skates?

-Erm...

-4 and 6.

-4 and 6.

-Is that right? Yes!

-Yes! Nice one!

-Jolly good.

So, the second one coming up.

-Not doing too bad. OK.

-More in this time.

Where are the martinis?

7, 2 and 3.

7, 2 and 3?

-Yes.

-Nice one!

-You're good at remembering martinis!

-I am.

LAUGHTER

-So, are you ready for the last one?

-I am. Oh, wow, OK. More.

OK. I'm a Sherlock fan, so it should be OK.

Where are the pipes?

OK, erm... 9, 6, 7 and 12.

9, 6, 7 and 12.

-Is that right?

-It is!

-Yes! Thank you.

-That was an amazing performance.

-It is. Oh, thank you.

-She really did beat you in that one, didn't she, Brain?

-Absolutely.

-Do you want to beat me today, Rosie?

-I do indeed, Brain.

Rosie, you added 15 seconds in that Zone, and your joy is infectious.

This means in total, Adrenaline have 15 seconds in their Brain Bank!

Jolly good. That's a really good start, Rosie.

-If you'd like to rejoin your fellow members...

-Yay!

..we'll find out which our next Zone is going to be

and who is going to take it on.

Brain, the Zone, please.

Orientation it is.

So, Jessica, who's going to be best at Orientation?

Yeah, I think

because I've lived in so many different places growing up,

I'm very quick to orientate myself to new surroundings,

so, yes, I'll give this one a go.

So, Jessica, come and join me.

APPLAUSE

Hello, Jessica. So, you've lived in lots of different places, have you?

-I have, yes, quite a few places.

-Where have you been?

I've lived in London, Sheffield, Barnsley, Huddersfield...

-Mostly around Yorkshire.

-Yeah.

-Yeah. You're a Yorkshire gal.

-I am, yes, through and through.

-I'm a Yorkshire boy.

THEY LAUGH

When it comes to orientation, apart from moving around Yorkshire,

-what else makes you think you might be good in this zone?

-Erm...

I'm very good at putting myself in situations

and being able to visualise.

Shall we see if that confidence is justified?

LAUGHTER

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

-Hello, Captain Jessica.

-Hello!

-Can I come to your nurses' ball?

-No.

LAUGHTER

Here's the first game.

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

To give you some practice, have a trial run.

Right, OK, so the blue rectangle is on my right,

which means it would be 3.

3, you say. Are you correct?

You are indeed. Well done.

-Ready to play for real?

-I am, yes.

-Off we go.

The game, please.

Captain Jessica, you have a maximum of 45 seconds

to answer three questions, but remember,

I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

Right, OK, so, it's directly in front of me

and the yellow is to the right, so it's 7.

Number 7, you're saying. Are you correct?

-You are indeed. Yes. Next one, please.

-Right, OK.

So, the triangle is to my...

-..left, and the box is to my right.

-25 seconds.

Erm...

-2?

-2, you think?

Yes, you're right. Well done.

Not much time left for the third one.

-OK, and 3.

-3.

Well, that was pretty quick.

-No.

-No, it was number 1.

-Wrong, yeah.

-Never mind. It was two out of three.

-Two out of three ain't bad.

So, that's not bad. That's six seconds into your Brain Bank there.

-OK.

-OK, ready for the next one?

-Yeah.

-Off we go.

Captain Jessica, can I see your hands?

-You have beautiful hands.

-Thank you.

-Here's your second game.

Tell me whether the hands are left or right.

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

OK, so that would be left, right...

-Right.

-Left, right, right, you think. Is that correct?

No, I got it wrong.

-Left, right, left. So, not quite right.

-Yeah.

-It's all right, Jess.

-You can use your hands for this one.

-Yeah, I needed to do a bit of that.

I always imagine lots of people at home are all doing this as well.

So, feel free to use your hands as much as you like in this game.

-You ready to play?

-Right, yes, I am.

-Off we go.

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

Your game starts now.

OK. So, right, right...

-Right.

-Right, right, right, you're saying.

No, left, right, right. Next one.

SHE GIGGLES

Left...

Left...

-Right.

-Left, left, right. Is that correct?

-Left, left, left.

-Oh.

One to go. 20 seconds left.

Right, right, right.

Right, right, right. Is that correct? Yes, it is.

That was right, right, right, that one.

THEY LAUGH

-The captain didn't too badly there.

-No, she did good.

-She did really well.

-So, well done, Jessica.

-Let's find out what Brain thinks of your performance.

-OK.

Captain Jessica, it's Brainerella here. Please, can I go to the ball?

-Go on, then.

-Ah, thank you.

Jessica, you boosted your chances of winning today's final

by adding nine seconds in that Zone.

This means in total, Adrenaline have 24 seconds in their Brain Bank!

Well, well done, Jessica. Well done.

Nice to meet you, and if you could rejoin your team. Right.

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

Brain, Zone, please.

So, Jessica, who do you think, out of Brian or Heather,

will be best in the Observation Zone?

-I think we'll pick Heather for Observation.

-OK.

-You agree, Heather?

Erm...yeah?

LAUGHTER

Well, come and join me in the Observation Zone.

APPLAUSE

-Hi.

-Hello, Heather. You're a very busy person, aren't you?

-Oh, yes.

You're studying nursing, you've got two young children.

-Two children, yes.

-And you play a lot of netball.

-Yes.

-How do you manage to find time for all of that?

-I'm very organised.

I have about three diaries, a calendar,

and I write it all on my phone.

THEY LAUGH

Well, all the very best,

-and you think you'll be pretty good on the Observation Zone?

-Erm...

-we'll see.

-Right.

We'll see, because, 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 Heather

is going to be playing.

-Hello, Heather.

-Hello, Brain.

I hear you're a HUGE Spice Girls fan.

SHE GIGGLES

-Yes.

-I'm Brainy Spice. John is obviously Hot Spice.

Who are you?

-Sporty Spice.

-Whoa! Here's your first game, Sporty Heather.

-Yeah.

-What's the difference in value between the two totals?

You can warm up with a trial run.

-80p.

-80p you reckon is the difference, are you correct?

And you are indeed.

-It can be quite a puzzling question, this, I think.

-Yeah.

It just depends how carefully you look at your small change.

-Do you always check your small change?

-Well, yeah,

being a student... Hard times.

Yeah, you need to do that, don't you?

So let's just see how observant you are. Off we go with the game.

You have 45 seconds to answer three questions correctly

but I will only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

-What's the difference in the amount?

-One pence.

One pence, you think,

you're correct, well done. Onto the next one.

-30 seconds left.

-Ten pence.

-Ten pence, you think.

No, £1.80 that time.

So here comes the final one.

20 seconds left.

-£1.

-£1, you think.

£1.98.

-I think you need to check that change more carefully.

-I know.

But it is a really tough round, that one,

-especially when it's against the clock.

-Yeah.

You have to think quickly and there's an awful lot of coins to look at.

Yeah, they were all muddled up as well.

-I think you didn't do too badly on that one.

-Thank you.

-So let's have the second game, please.

-Yup.

Here's your second game, Heather.

Tell me the order in which the balloons pop. Have a trial run.

-Red, yellow, white.

-Red, yellow, white you're saying.

Let's see if you're correct.

You are indeed. Well done. No problems with the test one, anyway.

How are you going to do for real? Let's find out.

Please remember I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

-Red, blue, yellow.

-Red, blue, yellow - is that right?

-It is indeed.

-Yes.

-Good stuff.

-So the second one, please.

-Blue, yellow, white.

-Blue, yellow, white.

Yes, well done. Here comes the third one.

Red...white, blue, yellow.

Red, white, blue, yellow.

No, the wrong way round.

So, Brain, I think you flummoxed her a little bit there.

-Yes, but she was a really good sport.

-She was.

-Heather, you got nine seconds in that Zone.

-Thank you.

This means in total, Adrenaline have 33 seconds in their Brain Bank.

APPLAUSE

-Well done.

-Thank you.

-Lovely to meet you, Heather.

-And you.

Please rejoin the team.

-So, Brian.

-Yes.

-You're the only one left.

-I know.

Why don't you come and join me and find out which of the three

-remaining Zones you'll be facing?

-APPLAUSE

-How are you feeling, Brian?

-Oh, good.

-OK.

-The girls did very well, didn't they? So far.

-Yeah.

Putting a bit of pressure on me here, so they are.

Well, let's see which of the three remaining Zones

you'll be facing, Brian.

Brain, can we have the Zone, please?

Are you any good multi-tasking, doing several things at once?

Erm, my wife might disagree, but yeah, I think

-I'm quite good at it, yeah.

-Shall we play?

-Yes, please.

Brain, please reveal the game that Brian will be taking on first.

-Hello, Brian.

-Hello, Brain.

-We almost share the same name.

-I know.

If a hippopotamus got a university place, where would he live?

In a hippopotamus house?

No, on a hippocampus.

THEY LAUGH

It's a brain joke. Here's your first game.

Count the number of times each arrow passes its needle.

-Have a trial run, Brian.

-OK.

How many times on the left and right?

Two on the left, four on the right.

Let's see if you're correct.

Yes, you are. Well done. Good, good.

-And I noticed you used your fingers on that one. It's a good one.

-Yeah.

As long as it doesn't go into double numbers.

Well, you can just go round again.

-OK.

-Yes.

-Ready to play for real?

-Yup.

-Can we have the game, please?

Please remember I'll only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

-One on the left, three on the right.

-One and three you're saying.

Yes, well done. Jolly good, next one, please.

-Three on the left and three on the right.

-Three and three.

-Yes, well done. Those fingers are working well for you.

-Yeah.

Last one, please.

-That went a bit faster.

-Yeah, it did, yeah.

Three on the left and five on the right.

Three and five, you're saying.

Yes. Well done. Maximum amount of seconds in that game.

See if you can do the same kind of performance on the second game.

Fingers crossed.

The maximum number of seconds altogether would be really useful.

-OK?

-Yeah.

-So, off we go with the second game.

-Here's your second game.

When the number of sheep matches the number I say,

add that number to the total.

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

Three, two, one,

four, three, four,

two, three, one, one.

-Nine?

-Nine, you're saying - is that right?

Yes, it is. And that really is multi-tasking.

Yeah, it is, that's quite tough that there, yeah.

But you seem to be doing very well.

Yeah, I don't really want to give too much away

on multi-tasking, I might have to do more housework or something.

Yes, she'll be watching carefully. But it's in your team's interest...

-Yeah, it is.

-..to get the maximum number of seconds.

-Say later you were just pretending.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Right, ready to play?

-Yes, please.

-Can we have the game, please?

Please remember I can only accept your first answer.

Your game starts now.

Two, four, two,

one, four, two,

one, three, three, one.

-What was the total?

-Erm, 11.

-11, you think, Brian.

Are you correct?

Yes, you are. Well done. Next one, please.

Four, two, one,

three, two, three,

one, two, three, two.

-Faster that time.

-Yeah, a wee bit faster. I think I got ten.

Ten you're saying. Is he right?

No, it's 12. You missed two out.

OK, next one, please.

Two, three, four,

one, three, two,

four, two, four, two.

Ugh.

Erm, I'll go... I think I lost myself towards the end but 14.

14, you're saying.

13 - just one out.

-She can be devilish, that one, can't she?

-Yeah, yeah.

-But you did very well.

-Thank you.

-You did very well indeed.

-Brain, what do you think?

-You did very well there, Brian.

-Thank you.

-I'm worried that my jackpot's in jeopardy,

because you've added 12 seconds in that Zone.

Which means, Adrenaline, you've finished with

a grand total today of 45 seconds in your Brain Bank.

-Good score.

-Good stuff.

-Well done, Brian.

-Cheers, thank you.

Nice to meet you, if you rejoin the team...

Well, 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 really serious cash in today's Final.

Adrenaline, you've put 45 seconds into your Brain Bank

in the four opening Zones - the challenge now is to

answer eight questions correctly, that's two each, within that time.

Do that and you win our top prize of...

If you can't manage that,

you can still win a pretty decent amount of cash.

The Brain has generously given you a further two minutes

in which to answer but, as the clock counts down,

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

The longer you take, the less you win

and if the clock ticks down to zero, you walk away with nothing.

Now, Jessica, as the team captain,

you've chosen which order your players are going to face The Brain.

What's your logic in that?

Well, we just decided to go from oldest to youngest,

there's no real logic behind it.

-So you're the youngest?

-Yes.

-THEY LAUGH

-Right, are we ready?

-Yes.

-Because it's time to get serious.

Let's start today's Final.

Brain, over to you.

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.

Adrenaline, beat me if you can.

-That's the challenge she's throwing down. Can you do it?

-Yes.

-Yes.

Well, we'll see.

As usual, Jessica, we'll start off with you, the player on the left,

I need two correct answers from you before we can pass on down the line.

-OK?

-Mm-hmm.

-The best of luck, let's start the Final.

Remember where the objects are.

-Where are the cows?

-4, 8, 2, 3.

No.

Blue, yellow, red.

Three, three, two,

four, two.

Eight.

No.

Left or right hands?

Left, right, right.

Yes. Brian.

Remember the image and name.

Voldemort.

Yes. What's the difference?

90p.

No.

Which viewpoint?

6.

No.

How many times past the needle?

Five left, four right.

Yes. Heather, remember where the objects are.

Where are the balloons?

2, 5, 4.

No.

Two, four, one,

four, two.

Ten.

Yes.

Left or right hands?

Right, left, right.

Yes, Rosie.

Hitchcock.

Nope.

Yellow, white, blue.

Yes.

OK, erm...4.

-Stop the clock.

-Yes!

APPLAUSE

Adrenaline, you have won £1,125.

So how about that, Brain?

I think you're the one who'll need some tender loving care now.

Yes, well, I've got four wonderful people that would really

help me out there, wouldn't they? Can I still come to the ball?

-Yes, of course you can, Brain.

-You can be my plus one.

-Oh, Brian.

Well, there we are.

Thank you all at home for watching today, I hope you've enjoyed

-playing along but, for now, it's goodbye from Adrenaline...

-Goodbye.

-Bye!

-..from The Brain...

-Goodbye.

..and from me.

See you next time we play Beat The Brain.

You saw how the team did, but what about you?

Did you get those posers I set at the start of the show?

Here's a reminder.

Are they left or right hands?

The answer is right, left, left.

And the second one?

The answer is five and three.

Don't forget, practice makes perfect,

so remember to sharpen your wits by watching next time on Beat The Brain.