Episode 2 Debatable

APPLAUSE

Hello and welcome to Debatable,

the quiz show where talk is cheap

but celebrity chat can win a contestant money.

Today, one player must answer a series of tricky questions

to try to bag our jackpot of £2,000.

But they're not on their own.

They'll also have a panel of celebrity brain boxes

debating their way to the answer.

Will they help or will they hinder?

Well, that's debatable. And now it's time to meet them.

On today's show, we have

journalist Rachel Johnson,

we have reporter Michael Buerk

and broadcaster and campaigner

June Sarpong.

APPLAUSE

It is a lovely panel. It is perfectly balanced.

I am feeling the intelligence, Michael, from here.

Are you also feeling the charisma?

I am feeling the charisma.

It's coming from either side of you.

-LAUGHTER

-Exactly. Exactly.

So, that's the panel. Let's meet today's contestant.

It is Anj Avraam from the Cotswolds. How are you doing, sir?

-Very well, thank you.

-Good, good, good.

So, what do you get up to in the Cotswolds?

Well, mainly I'm a writer so I work all the time

and it's a great place to do that.

-And is it true that you rap a little bit? Is that true?

-Well, I used to.

Music was my passion but I did it... We were in a little hip-hop band.

Can you give us a little burst now?

Let's make it relevant. OK.

-RAPS:

-# It's time to have a debate I'm racking my brains

# But with a panel this great

# I'm out to win the cash and leave Paddy amazed. #

-APPLAUSE JUNE:

-Whoo!

We honestly can't follow that, so let's get on with the game.

Here we go. Let's play Round One.

This round is multiple choice

and each question has four possible answers but only one is correct.

Helping you find the correct answer is our panel.

Now, will you go with what they say or will you go your own way?

It is entirely up to you.

There's two questions in this round

and each correct answer will bank you £200,

which you will be playing for in our Final Debate

at the end of the show. OK?

-Yeah.

-All righty. Here's your first question.

And we will pause as our panel now realises

they are potentially out of their depth.

THEY LAUGH

-Well, thank you for the "potential".

-The vote of confidence.

Anj, what's your first thought?

Erm.

Well, Edward VIII, that's going back quite a while.

-Well, we have the panel so we don't need an answer yet.

-Yeah.

Let's see what the panel make of this.

OK, panel, your debate starts now.

Right. Now, come on.

Well, I know the Wall Street Crash was 1929.

That's right. That's definitely right.

Was Edward VIII 1926?

-No, 1936.

-No, Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.

-OK.

I think '36.

I know it was '36.

-OK.

-Oh, you said that so steely.

-So steely.

-But what about The Great Gatsby though?

-That's the one...

-That's '20s.

-Read the book, seen the film.

-Yeah.

I'm getting a Roaring Twenties, flappery feeling, aren't you?

-Roaring Twenties, yeah.

-Yeah, yeah.

-It's '20s or '30s.

-Academy Awards?

-But don't you think The Great Gatsby is all about

-that kind of wealth and the bubble and everything?

-I know.

-Yes.

It must have been before The Great Crash,

-don't you think?

-Before.

-Yeah, definitely.

-But Academy Awards.

-Academy Awards.

-What year did Gone With The Wind win?

-I don't know.

Because wasn't that the year that...?

I think that was the first-ever Academy Awards.

-And they had...

-How do you know that then?

-That was in the '40s, wasn't it, Gone With The Wind?

-Was it?

-My vote would be for Gatsby.

-Yeah. I'm going for Gatsby.

If you're going for Gatsby, I could go for Academy Awards, couldn't I?

-But then I have to make a decision.

-Well, that's your job.

My decision is The Great Gatsby was first.

-ANJ:

-OK.

Yeah, I'm going to go away from my original thoughts,

which were that Edward VIII preceded all this.

So, Rachel has convinced you of that?

It's that knowing gaze. Look at it.

-It's that steeliness that she has.

-Oh, yeah.

-See, Rachel has got something there.

-She does.

She's definitely got something there.

-LAUGHTER

-I think...

OK, I will agree with the panel.

Is The Great Gatsby, for £200, the correct answer?

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE It is the correct answer. Well done.

-Yeah!

-Well done, us.

-We're up and running.

-We've tested them out.

-We are infallible.

-We are up and running.

The Great Gatsby was published in 1925.

Wall Street Crash was '29.

The first Academy Awards was held in 1929.

Edward VIII abdicated in 1936.

-Shameless.

-Spot-on.

So, you were right to go with the panel.

We have £200 in the pot.

APPLAUSE

OK, let's crack on. Here's your next question.

-Now you are...

-I'm just trying to picture it in my mind.

It's a very famous cover, obviously.

However, I wasn't really focused on their beards

when I last looked at it.

So, maybe Paul.

OK, so you're maybe thinking Paul.

I know that one of our panel has lived through this era.

I didn't say who.

I'd peaked long before The Beatles.

So, let's see what our panel think.

Your debate starts now.

This is the one with them trooping across the road?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-The zebra crossing in Abbey Road.

-Yes.

Now, Paul is the clean-cut one, isn't he?

I know, but I'm worried that this is a trick question.

-I think he had a beard on that.

-I think it was George.

Do you know, I think you're right.

-I don't think George has ever had a beard.

-I mean Ringo...

-Yes, he has had a beard.

-George Harrison?

-Course he has.

-No, but it was in the '70s when he was...

-Oh, when he got into his...

-Yeah, hippy stuff.

-Yeah.

Well, that's true. That's true.

Not before then.

Can't you show us the cover, Patrick?

LAUGHTER We will do.

-Do you have a picture of them, Patrick?

-Oh, good. I can't wait.

But do you think it's a choice then, June, between Paul and George?

-Yes.

-Let's try and narrow it down.

Yeah. I think definitely between Paul and George.

-John, I just see him with a beard, don't you?

-Oh, yeah.

-He would have had one.

-Ringo, very small beard.

-I think he was in his round specs and beard.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

And Paul might have wanted to stand out, I think. You know?

Differentiate himself from John?

Do you think Paul is just too obvious

-and we should go for George?

-Yeah, yeah.

What do you think, June? Come on.

-George.

-George. What do you think, Rachel?

I think George, too.

We think George.

OK. So, what do we think?

Most years I've seen any of these people,

it's mainly been Paul and Ringo that haven't had a beard

but it was...that's much more recently than Abbey Road.

And I'm not really going to improve on the panel's thinking

so it's an act of faith, I think.

I'm going to agree with the panel and see what fruit that bears.

I love the look of surprise on the panel

as you have said that you can't improve on their thinking.

LAUGHTER

-You're going for George.

-Yes. Yeah.

OK, second time you've agreed with the panel.

For £200, and to get the prize pot up to 400,

what's the correct answer?

-Ooh. RACHEL:

-No!

-First one!

-I did say Paul might want to stand out.

I did say that.

-You should have went with your initial reaction.

-I know.

-Sorry, Anj.

-Well, at least we were all in it together.

-JUNE:

-Yeah.

-The mire, you mean?

-LAUGHTER

The Abbey Road cover featured on a stamp in 2006.

-There it is.

-Such a great cover.

Abbey Road was released in 1969.

It was the 13th album that the band released in the UK.

So, unfortunately, you didn't manage to bank anything in that question

and it means that the total amount

banked at the end of Round One is £200.

APPLAUSE

So, the panel have helped you on one question,

they haven't on the other.

How do we think they're performing?

I'm starting to think June is quite trustworthy.

Yeah.

You are right.

OK, well, look. Let's see how they cope with pictures.

It is time for Round Two.

Round Two is a picture round.

All you have to do, Anj, is place three pictures in the correct order.

There are two questions in this round.

Each correct answer is now worth £300.

So, here we go.

OK. I know...

I think I know which bird

has the longest wingspan.

I think it's the albatross

but I'm not sure

about the other two,

what order they go in.

OK. This is what our panel is here for.

Let's see if they can help you

and put it in order.

Your debate starts now.

I've seen every one of these.

-Oh, have you?

-I've seen two of them.

I once went to Peru to look at condors

-and they are very, very large.

-They are.

-So, I think this has got to be the biggest.

-I think...

The longest wingspan.

I think the albatross has got absolutely enormous...

-If you see them...

-They are monsters.

-..following a ship.

-Yeah.

-You know, and they never...

-Oh, no, you're talking about the albatross?

-Albatross, yeah.

-You think bigger than the condor?

-I think wider.

That's the main thing, the wingspan.

Well, Anj thought the albatross was wider.

Yeah. I think the eagle is the shortest.

-Yeah, definitely. That is the shortest.

-You're the shortest.

-I am the shortest.

-No disrespect.

-That is accurate.

-OK. So, now it's a toss-up between these two.

-Between...

What do you think?

You said the albatross is huge, didn't you?

I don't want to be the one who gets it wrong again.

That's your role, Rachel. That's your role.

LAUGHTER

Why do you think they asked you on the show?

I think you're probably right.

If the albatross is doing long distances

and the condor is just flying around Peru.

-They float on thermals, don't they, the...

-Albatross.

-..condors?

-But the albatrosses...

-Has to go...

-Yeah.

-OK, all right.

-So it needs...

-Let's go with you.

-You reckon?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-So, we're agreed?

-Yes.

We think it's in this order.

Golden eagle with the shortest wingspan,

condor in the middle

but the one with the longest wingspan,

we think, is the albatross.

So, Anj, our panel has brought way more knowledge to this

than I ever thought they would.

And Michael has convinced the other two on the panel

that the albatross is the longest wingspan

just by sticking his arms out.

-LAUGHTER

-Did you actually do that?

-He did.

-No. Yeah.

-Every time he said albatross...

-Yeah.

Do it again, Michael. Go on.

-Has Michael's impression convinced you?

-Yeah.

The albatross is quite famous

for being, I think,

for having the largest wingspan

in the avian kingdom.

So I think it has to be that order.

Avian kingdom, wow.

So you're agreeing with our panel?

I've been burned once but

I think I'm safe to say

-they are right on this one.

-OK.

So, Anj, you are agreeing with the panel.

You say the golden eagle has the shortest

then the condor, then the albatross.

For £300, is that the correct order?

APPLAUSE It is the correct answer.

-Well done.

-Well done.

-You too.

-Hang on, hang on.

-We've been doing... Hey!

-Yeah!

Woohoo!

Well worked out.

The wandering albatross's wingspan is the longest

-of any living bird and there it is.

-There it is.

And from that picture, we can actually see

that the albatross has exactly the same wingspan

as Michael Buerk's arms.

LAUGHTER

So, that's £300 added to your prize pot

giving you a total of £500.

APPLAUSE

-It's going very nicely.

-Very good. Very nice. Yeah.

-Very nicely.

All right, let's take a look at question two for another 300.

Now, that's a good question.

It is a good question.

And the look on your face shows that it is.

They seem to be roughly similar lengths.

However, I think that probably the longest, at this point,

is the Channel Tunnel.

OK. Don't worry.

Our panel will no doubt shed some light on this.

Your debate start now.

Right. Well, I think, first of all,

-surely the shortest has got to be the Channel Tunnel.

-Surely.

-Because the Channel is only...

-21.

..21 miles, isn't it, Dover to Calais?

So, say another couple of miles for the tunnel.

-It can't be much more than 23, 24.

-Than 22. Yeah, maximum.

Now, the Thames rises...

-Doesn't it rise somewhere near Cricklade in the Cotswolds?

-Mm.

So, it's got to be at least 60 or 70 miles,

-hasn't it, the length of the Thames?

-At least.

So, it's at least three times the Channel Tunnel.

The M25 feels like 1,000 miles long when you're on it.

-That's cos you're always sat in traffic.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-So, Channel Tunnel is shortest for sure.

-Yes.

-Yes.

I think the longest is the M25.

OK. You think the M25. What do you think?

-Well, I think River Thames.

-OK.

-I think M25.

-Is the longest, is that what you think?

-Hmm.

-OK.

-So, it's two to one.

-Well, I'm outnumbered.

-So, I think we're there.

-Yes, we're in order. Yeah.

And I think the panel puts them in this order.

All righty. That is the order of the panel. What do we think?

I think they've got

-the Channel Tunnel right.

-Yes.

Cos we can cap that at 21 miles, can't we?

The River Thames, if Michael is correct in saying

that it rises in the Cotswolds,

that's going to give it at least 150 miles

before it goes though London.

So, I definitely think I'd move the River Thames to be...

Yeah, to the top, to be the longest.

So, you're going against the panel.

-June is nodding her head.

-Not fully.

You're going to agree with June.

You are going for the Channel Tunnel,

then the M25,

-then the River Thames.

-Yes.

For £300, is the Channel Tunnel, M25 and River Thames the correct answer?

-Oh, get in!

-It is the correct answer.

-Well done.

-Yay. Thank you.

You were right to go against the panel.

Nobody likes a know-it-all, June.

-LAUGHTER

-Sorry. I do. I do.

-Looking slightly too smug there on the end.

-Yes, yes, yes.

So, the Channel Tunnel, the shortest, 31 miles.

The M25, 170 miles.

The River Thames over 200 miles.

Oh.

So, at the end of Round Two,

your prize pot stands at £800.

APPLAUSE

-Well done.

-Yeah, thank you.

-Doing very, very well.

-Yeah.

How do we think our panel are doing so far, Anj?

No, I think they're all doing pretty well, you know.

It's just, I would have expected Michael's geography

to be slightly better with all that world travelling,

reporting from everywhere in the world.

-A man who has travelled around the world.

-He really has.

-You thought he may have known the length of...

-The Thames.

-..a major river in the country.

-Are you ganging up on me?

-No. Not at all.

-No, no, no.

-It's bad enough with these two.

-Remember you have to pick one for your final debate.

-OK.

-But we don't need that answer just yet.

-OK.

OK, it's time for Round Three.

So, Anj, in this round you will face questions that contain

three statements relating to a person, a place or a thing

but only one of those statements is true.

You must decide which one.

Two questions in the round

and we're going to up the cash to £500 a question.

So, best of luck. Here's your first question.

How's your politics?

This was one of the subjects that

I wasn't going to be too strong on -

politics.

They're very interesting possibilities.

Does it have a garden?

Cos if it had a garden,

wouldn't they be putting in massive expense bills to trim it.

Wouldn't we have heard about it?

So, I'm going to pick B for now

just provisionally.

So, £500 up for grabs here.

We have Rachel, of course, whose brother was the Mayor of London.

We have June, involved in the Labour Party,

visited 10 Downing Street many times.

We have Michael, who has read the news

and interviewed many politicians.

I'm not putting any pressure on our panel

but if we don't get this one correct...

£500 at stake and the debate starts now.

Well, the weird thing is that when somebody arrives

at the front of 10 Downing Street,

if it is Boris, they let him stay there for about 45 minutes,

but if it's Larry the cat, the door opens immediately.

-Now, come on. Let's...

-So, we know it opens like that.

-We do, we do.

-And we also know there's a garden...

-We know there's a garden.

-..because that's where Clegg and Cameron had their...

-Loving.

-..marriage.

-So, it's one of the other two.

-I think it's the Queen.

I think the Queen has never visited during her reign.

I think it might be the front door, you know.

-I've never seen anybody actually open it.

-You knock and somebody...

-I've been there on...

-I don't think it's even got a door handle.

I think it's got a smooth, black surface.

-It might have a rapper.

-It does have a rapper.

It does have a rapper. It definitely has a rapper.

It's definitely got a rapper. I'm a little undecided on this.

-I think... Well, what do you think, Rachel?

-I think it's the Queen.

I think it's the Queen.

I think it's the front door but the majority of the panel,

which I have to go along with...

-Not being bullied. It's a brave decision.

-Hen-pecked.

LAUGHTER

They think, quite wrongly, but I have to go along with them,

that it's the Queen has never visited during her reign.

OK. Against Michael's better judgment

or, indeed, worst judgment,

he has decided to go with the Queen has never visited during her reign.

Now, Michael also thought

that the door at Number 10 didn't have a rapper but we have one here.

LAUGHTER

I'm here all week. I'm here all week. Thank you.

OK. Anj, what do we think?

OK. So, this is incredibly tough.

I'm going to trust my panel on this one.

-RACHEL:

-Oh.

Now, hopefully this might get me somewhere.

I'm... I'm still not sure.

I'm still dithering.

Because the door thing,

I keep coming back to the door thing in my mind, you know?

And I can't actually imagine it

being able to be opened from the outside.

Oh.

Well, OK, some people are going to think I'm crazy

but maybe can we change it to A?

So, you were going to go with the panel,

you were going to say the Queen has never visited during her reign

but you have changed your mind

and said the front door can only be opened from the inside.

You sure about this?

-For national security purposes, I think it makes sense.

-Yes.

-OK.

That's what Michael thinks as well.

For £500, the correct answer is...

-You're right!

-Oh.

-Yeah!

-Well done.

That is brilliant. That is brilliant.

So, the front door has no handle,

it does have a doorknob and a knocker

but it cannot be used to open the door.

-RACHEL:

-I knew that was true.

So, £500 is into the prize pot

-bringing you up to £1,300.

-Well done.

-APPLAUSE

-Lovely.

Anj, you're playing a great game.

We have one question left.

-500 at stake, let's try to get that prize pot up to £1,800.

-OK, OK.

Here it comes.

This one is a great final question.

It is a good final question.

And the good news is we have our panel here.

So, this will be a piece of cake as we pass it over to our panel

for the final debate.

-Shall we be ruthless and analytical here?

-Yeah.

So, let's see if we can just dispose of one.

So, awarded every two years. What do you think about that?

-It feels like it's awarded every two minutes.

-Yeah.

It's always coming around so I think that's wrong.

It's just because newspapers like the one you work for

get themselves into a tut-tut-tutting over it, isn't it?

-I think it's awarded every year.

-I think it's every year, yeah.

-Do you?

-Yeah. Yeah.

Damien Hirst could easily have won it twice.

I only know two people that might have.

I don't think you're allowed to win it twice.

I think it's once and that's it.

And also, usually, it kind of makes their career, doesn't it?

-They win it and then they become a household name after.

-Yeah.

-Or buries them.

-Must be under 50 years old.

That sounds a bit politically incorrect, doesn't it, these days?

-It does, but it has a ring of truth to me.

-Yes.

-Because it's an art prize.

-They're a contrary lot.

And 50 would be young in the art world, wouldn't it?

-And I can't think of any oldies who've won it.

-No.

That's prejudice.

And, in fact, I can't really think of anyone who's won it,

to be honest.

-You're bluffing, Rachel, aren't you?

-Chris Ofili has won it.

But I think it's that one. I think it's the age one.

-You think is the age one?

-I do actually.

-Yeah.

-You think it's the age one?

-Yeah.

-I don't think it's that one.

I think it's awarded every two years.

-You both think it's under 50.

-Yes.

The panel goes for must be under 50 years old to win, quite wrongly.

What do we think, Anj? 500 at stake.

Hmm. Yeah.

-So...

-The last time you went with Michael Buerk, you did win.

Again, I think I'm going to have to fall back on faith

for this one in the panel.

And go with the answer that they've given.

So, you're going to go with C, must be under 50.

So, to add 500 to the prize pot to bring it up to £1,800.

The correct answer is...

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE You were right to go with the panel.

-High-five, Rachel.

-Come on!

-Oh, yeah. That's good.

OK, the age limit of under 50 was introduced in 1991

to clarify that the award wasn't a lifetime achievement award.

-Hmm.

-It's awarded annually

and Damien Hirst won it only once in 1995.

So, at the end of Round Three, your prize pot is up to £1,800.

APPLAUSE

How good is that? Well done.

Pretty good, pretty good.

OK, Anj, there is just one question that stands between you and £1,800

and that is today's Final Debate.

-OK.

-As before, you're not going to be playing alone

but we're going to make life a little bit more tricky

by allowing you to choose just one celebrity from our panel.

You and your celebrity will have 45 seconds to debate the question.

So, based on what you've heard so far today,

who would you like to join you in the Final Debate?

They are a very good panel.

They got warmed up in the end

and they've all supplied very, very good answers and...

-Do you know what? I reckon June.

-Yeah.

Because June is really quite sharp shooting at the answers

and we're going to need to be under pressure for time.

So, I think I'm going to go with June for this round.

-OK.

-On you go, babe.

-OK, June, would you like to join us as we play the Final Debate?

-Yes.

So, June, are you feeling confident?

No, nervous.

-I think you performed really well.

-Oh, thank you.

Well, I want him to win the money so...

-He's been doing very well, though, so far on his own.

-He has.

Five out of six questions correct.

-You've agreed with the panel four times.

-Yeah.

You've got June to help you. £1,800 at stake so the best of luck.

Let's have a little look at today's Final Debate categories.

Hmm.

-Oh.

-Are you better at Food And Drink?

-I think so.

I think I'm better at Food And Drink as well.

-Let's go with Food And Drink.

-So, yeah.

-We'll go for Food And Drink, please.

-Confident about that?

-Ish.

-Yeah, ish.

-OK.

For £1,800, here is today's 45-second Final Debate question.

Oh.

So, Anj and June, for the final time,

your 45-second debate starts now.

-So, Sauvignon and champagne.

-We know those two.

-Definitely in there, aren't they?

-Yeah.

Jura, does that sound French?

-I don't think so.

-Piedmont sounds more French, doesn't it?

-Yeah?

-Yeah. Piedmont, maybe.

-And Alsace, as well, sounds French.

-Yeah.

-Franconia sounds French but it sounds like a trick.

-Very French.

Yeah. That sounds like a trick.

-I've never heard of Franconia wine, have you?

-No, never.

-No.

-Have you ever heard of Piedmont?

-Maybe.

-Yeah?

-Maybe.

-Would you like a glass

-of Piedmont?

-Piedmont. Yeah. Oui.

-Or would you like some Alsace? Alsace.

-Alsace, I'm not sure.

-Is Alsace even wine?

-Yeah.

-I think... Is that where Armagnac is made or something?

-I don't know.

Or some sort of brandy. I don't

know. I'm not a massive drinker.

-I actually don't drink.

-Yeah.

This is the worst question for me.

Oh, it's better than sport though.

-OK.

-OK, time is up.

We have found out that June doesn't drink

and Anj is not a big drinker.

You've chosen Food And Drink.

So, Anj, we need three French wine regions for £1,800.

-Piedmont over Alsace?

-I think so.

-Your first one, please.

-Sauvignon.

-Sauvignon.

-Sauvignon.

-Yeah.

-Champagne.

-Champagne.

-Champagne.

And...

-Piedmont?

-I think so.

-Yeah.

We'll go Piedmont.

Piedmont.

For £1,800 your answers were champagne, Sauvignon and Piedmont.

-This is nerve-racking now.

-Yeah.

Let's see.

The first, is champagne

a correct answer?

APPLAUSE DROWNS SPEECH

Next you guys went for Sauvignon.

Only two answers now between you and £1,800.

Is Sauvignon a correct answer?

It's the wrong answer.

Unfortunately that means that you don't actually win

today's prize pot.

Sauvignon is a grape, it is not a region of France.

-Oh, no.

-Oh, my God.

Let's take a look at the final two correct answers.

-Alsace and Jura.

-The ones we didn't think.

-Yeah.

Oh, well, we didn't have that.

So, Anj, unfortunately you didn't win but have you had a nice time

-playing the game?

-Very much so, yeah.

Great meeting everyone and it's been a great game.

OK. Look, thanks so much for coming in.

Give it up one more time, let's hear it for Anj. Well played.

-APPLAUSE

-Thank you.

So, that is it for Debatable.

There's just enough time for me to thank our fantastic panel of

June Sarpong, Rachel Johnson and Michael Buerk.

APPLAUSE I do hope you've enjoyed watching.

We will see you next time for more heated debates.

For now, it's goodbye from me.