Episode 102 Eggheads

These people are amongst the greatest quiz players in Britain.

Together they make up the Eggheads, arguably the most formidable quiz team in the country.

The question is, can they be beaten?

Welcome to Eggheads, the show where a team of five quiz challengers

attempt to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

They have won some of the country's toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

And challenging our quiz Goliaths

are We Had A Plan from Cardiff.

They all work for the same engineering company.

Their team name refers to the plan they devised to beat the Eggheads.

Unfortunately, they've forgotten what it was. Let's meet them.

Hi, my name is Danielle. I'm 24 and I'm an environmental consultant.

Hi, I'm Helen. I'm 29 and I'm also an environmental consultant.

Hi, I'm Dave, I'm 31 and I'm an ecologist.

Hi, I'm Helen, I'm 37 and I'm a civil engineer.

Hi, I'm Sam, I'm 23 and I'm a transport planner.

So, Danielle and friends, welcome. Thank you. Hello.

This is interesting. You had a plan. Did you even write it down? No.

Once you write it down, you're just tempting fate. You just need to keep it in the air and fluid.

Is this the way your engineering company works, and if so, how is it still in business? Oh, no.

No, obviously, in our professional environment, we're far more, um...

Solid? Yeah. Professional. You have plans that are written down?

Yes, contracts and everything.

Good luck. Every day, ?1,000 is up for grabs for our challengers.

But if they fail to beat the Eggheads, the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, We Had A Plan, the Eggheads have won the last three games

and that means ?4,000 says you can't beat them.

Would you like to try? Yes, we would. The first head-to-head battle is on the subject of Politics.

What's the plan? Not me.

Helen, how do you feel about it? Not confident, but I'll give it a go if need be. OK, Helen.

That's good enough for me. Helen against who?

Daphne. So, it's Helen from We Had A Plan versus Daphne from the Eggheads on Politics.

To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions now in the question room.

Good luck, Helen. Thank you. Three questions, multiple choice.

You can choose the first or second set on Politics. I think I'll go first.

Helen, which 16-year-old memorably gave a speech at the 1977 Conservative Party conference?

Well, I don't quite remember the speech,

but he went on to become the leader of the Conservative Party.

That would be William Hague.

Yes, William Hague is the answer.

Your question, Daphne.

TASS was the official news agency of which country for the majority of the 20th century?

That's the Soviet Union.

It's the Soviet Union. Well done.

Helen, in 1997, Gordon Brown unveiled his five economic tests

that would have to be passed before the government would commit to what course of action?

Well, I'm not 100% sure on this,

but I suspect it's probably joining the euro.

Completely right. Well done.

Daphne, which US President was also a noted inventor

and once famously said, "Science is my passion, politics my duty"?

I think that was Thomas Jefferson.

Jefferson is right. OK, Helen, over to you. Press the advantage.

By what name did Samuel Wurzelbacher come to be known by the world's press

after he challenged Barack Obama about his tax proposals

in October 2008?

Again not 100% sure, but Joe the Plumber does ring a bell,

so I'm going to go with that one.

Yes, Samuel was Joe the Plumber. Well done.

Three out of three and a very enthusiastic team.

Daphne, to stay in the contest,

which political building, designed by the architect Miralles,

has places of contemplation known as "think pods"

built into the offices of elected officials?

I think that's the Scottish Parliament Building.

Scottish Parliament Building is correct.

Perfect round for you both.

We move off multiple choice and go to sudden death now, Helen.

It gets a bit harder. You have to give me the answer.

Which businessman is believed to have said to a Cuban-based reporter,

"You provide the pictures, I'll provide the war,"

in the latter part of the 19th century?

The name William Hearst has just popped into my head

and I'm not sure if that's the right answer, but I'm gonna go with that.

You're right. Well done.

Fantastic.

Daphne, the House of Keys is the name of the Lower House of Parliament

of which Crown dependency of the United Kingdom?

That's the Isle of Man.

That's right. Helen, fighting hard.

In the House of Lords, what term for the members who do not take a party whip

is derived from the placing of the seating arrangements traditionally occupied by them?

Would that be the backbenchers?

No, it's crossbenchers.

Over to you, Daphne.

In the United States, who is the only Presidential candidate in the 20th century

to receive the largest share of the popular vote

while losing the electoral college?

That's got to be someone who's lost...

I'm trying to think of losing candidates.

I think it's...

Al Gore. Al Gore is right, Daphne.

Al Gore is right.

Which election, remember?

Yes, it was the one with the chads.

The chavs? The chads.

Against Bush in 2000. Yes.

That was a close round. Well done, Daphne.

Sorry, Helen, you fought so hard, but you won't be able to play in the final round.

Please, both of you, come back and rejoin your teams.

A tough round, that. As it stands, the Challengers have lost one brain from the final round.

The Eggheads have lost no brains. Next subject, Arts Books.

Who wants this? Dave?

I don't mind it. I think you're our best chance.

Look around. Yeah, I don't mind.

Dave against which Egghead? Can't be Daphne. What about Chris?

Yeah. Go on then. I'll have Chris, please.

Dave from We Had A Plan versus Chris from the Eggheads, please take your positions.

I'll ask each of you three questions on Arts Books. You can choose the first or second set of questions.

I've been advised to go second.

That's fine with us.

Here we go, Chris. What type of animal is Curious George,

the protagonist of a popular series of books for children by Hans Augusto and Margaret Rey?

He's a monkey. Correct. Over to you, Dave.

What is the occupation of Archie Rice in John Osborne's 1957 play, The Entertainer?

Um, going by the date...

..I'm gonna go for music hall performer over film director.

Because it's a 1957 kind of thing? Yeah. You're right.

Well done.

Over to you, Chris.

The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner is a short story

by which writer?

That is by the Nottinghamshire novelist Alan Sillitoe.

That's the correct answer.

Dave, your question.

In which year was the artist Gustav Klimt born?

Well...

He was around in...

I'm gonna go with 1862.

Eggheads...? Yeah. You're right.

Two points each.

Chris, your question.

Self-Portrait With Saskia is a noted work by which Dutch artist?

Well, Saskia was the girl he lived with in his old age,

so it's Rembrandt.

Rembrandt is correct.

You have to get this right, Dave, to stay in it.

"And now a gusty shower wraps The grimy scraps

"Of withered leaves about your feet And newspapers from vacant lots"

are lines written by which poet?

Um...

I'm not 100% sure, to be perfectly honest,

but something is telling me to go for TS Eliot, so I'll do that.

TS Eliot is absolutely right.

So we've had three questions each. We move to sudden death.

It gets that bit harder. Chris, your question.

Which Shakespeare play ends with the principal characters preparing for the double wedding

of Beatrice and Benedick and Hero and Claudio?

That is Much Ado About Nothing.

Yes, it is.

Sorry, Dave, there's no letting up here. That's all right.

Get this right to stay in.

Fear Of Flying is a 1973 book by which author?

1970...

'73.

I haven't got a clue, I'm afraid.

I don't know, I'm afraid. I'll go with Irvine Welsh.

Irvine Welsh...

That's wrong. Chris, do you know? Erica Jong? Erica Jong is right.

So, Dave, I'm sorry. You've been knocked out by our Egghead.

You will not be in the final round. Chris, you will be in the final.

Do, both of you, come back to the studio.

The Challengers have lost two brains from the final round. The Eggheads have lost no brains.

The next subject is Music. Who wants this?

That's between Helen and Sam.

Helen should do it because Sport might come up. Yeah.

And I can cover Science. Science? Yeah.

Go on, I'll do it. The other Helen. I'll do it. Which one?

Not Daphne, not Chris. Judith. So, it's Helen from We Had A Plan versus Judith from the Eggheads.

Please take your positions.

Good luck. Three questions. Thank you. Whoever gets the most right goes through to the final, of course.

You can choose the first or second set. I'll go first.

Hungry Like The Wolf and The Reflex were UK hit singles in the 1980s for which group?

I know there's gonna be some people at work screaming at me,

shouting the answer to this when they watch it.

I don't think it's Duran Duran.

I'm not quite sure.

I can't remember Haircut 100 and what they sang.

I'll go with ABC, actually.

I'm thinking, you were born 19...?

'79. '79. So you have got an alibi.

Yes, and I'll take that. For getting it wrong.

Yeah, Duran Duran is the answer. Oh, no, Lee's gonna hate me!

Judith, Greatest Day was a UK No.1 hit single in December 2008 for which band?

I really should know that. This is a list I'm supposed to have learnt.

I think it might be Westlife.

How far down the list did you get?

Well, perhaps not far enough.

You didn't get to T. Oh. It's Take That. Is it?

OK, Helen.

In 1966, Uptight (Everything's Alright) was the debut hit single of which vocalist?

If it's the person I think it is, I have their CD.

And I'm just trying to sing it to myself.

I wonder if it is on that CD?

I haven't got any Bob Dylan or Ray Charles,

so I'm thinking it's Stevie Wonder

cos I was listening to it in the car the other day.

Let's go for Stevie. Stevie's right.

Judith, Always True To You In My Fashion and You're The Top are songs written by whom?

Ella Fitzgerald sang...

I think it might be on the Cole Porter Songbook.

I think it's Cole Porter.

Cole Porter is correct.

Well done.

OK, Helen, we need this one. Pressure! Pressure!

Which British composer, born in 1944,

is well known for his collaborations with the avant-garde film-maker Peter Greenaway?

Right. Um...

I'm just trying to remember what Michael Nyman did

cos the name's familiar and I'm just trying to work it back.

It was 1944... How old does that make him now?

Well, I tell you what, I'll go for Michael Nyman

because when the names came up, that's the first thing I thought.

It's right. Oh, yeah.

Judith, to stay in it,

Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio were original members of which band

whose hits include Since You've Been Gone and All Night Long?

Oh, God. Um...

I like the name Def Leppard.

But... I see, sorry, yeah...?

I was actually... I just thought you were musing. Sorry.

Well, I was sort of musing. That's your choice, OK.

It's as good a choice as any.

Yeah. It's wrong. Yeah, I thought it might be. So, that's it.

Well done, Helen.

Well done. Oh, excellent.

Def Leppard was wrong. Rainbow is the right answer.

Helen, you are through to the final round.

You took on an Egghead and emerged triumphant. It means you'll be able to play in today's final round.

Congratulations. Please, both of you, come back, rejoin your teams.

As it stands, the Challengers have lost two brains from the final round, but you're pulling back.

The Eggheads have lost one.

The last subject is...Sport.

That's a done deal. No question about that.

It's definitely Sam. Which one of the two, do you reckon?

Against CJ or Kevin? We'll take on CJ. I'd really rather you didn't.

Then we definitely want CJ!

Sam from We Had A Plan, which almost rhymes, versus CJ from the Eggheads, let's go to the question rooms now.

So, I'll ask each of you three questions on Sport in turn.

Sam, you can choose the first or the second set of questions. I think we'll go first.

Here goes.

The former Snooker World Champion Terry Griffiths was born where?

Um...

That's not an ideal first question.

Terry Griffiths...

I don't think it's Scotland. I don't know why I don't think it is.

I think we'll go Wales, actually.

I think it's Wales, but I'm not 100%.

Your team are very pleased with you. It's Wales. Well done.

CJ...

In 1984, Torvill and Dean won an Olympic gold medal,

performing to which famous piece of music by Ravel?

It was the wonderful dance in their billowy, purply costumes.

It was Bolero. Ravel's Bolero, that's right.

Sam...

Gary Lineker played for which football club between 1989 and 1992?

Well, he played for all three of them.

As a Leicester fan, I should probably know when he played for us.

I'm trying to think how old he is.

I'm hoping he'd have left by then.

Well, it would've been lovely if he'd stayed for his whole career.

Um...

I think I'm gonna have to guess on this one

and I'm gonna guess Everton.

That's wrong, actually. It's Spurs.

He played for all three.

CJ, which Welsh rugby union player was voted the IRB's Player of the Year

for 2008?

This is one of the times I hate these questions

because a name popped into my head before I saw the options

and it's one of those three names there.

So I'm desperately hoping...

that it's because I've seen it on the list.

I don't even recognise the name Lee Byrne. I have seen Ryan Jones.

But Shane Williams came into my head before I saw the options,

so I have to go for that one.

Shane Williams is right.

You need this, Sam.

Which English cricketer, whose first-class career lasted from 1946 to 1967,

was known as The Barnacle, largely due to one lengthy, match-saving knock of 71

against Australia in 1953?

Again cricket's a good subject, but that's not a very nice era for me.

I'm not 100%, but Ken Barrington for some reason does stand out,

so I'll go for Ken Barrington.

Eggheads? Trevor Bailey.

Trevor Bailey is the right answer.

Sam, I'm sorry. CJ, well done.

You've triumphed on Sport. How often do we say that? Without even a tennis question in there.

Sam, you were beaten, so you can't be in the final round.

Please, both of you, come back to your teams.

This is what we've been playing towards.

It's time for the final round which, as always, is General Knowledge.

Those of you who lost your head-to-heads cannot take part.

So, Dave, Helen K and Sam from We Had A Plan - stress "had",

and Judith from the Eggheads, would you please leave the studio?

So, Danielle and Helen, you are playing to win We Had A Plan ?4,000.

Kevin, CJ, Daphne and Chris, you are playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

As usual, I'll ask each team three questions in turn.

They're on General Knowledge. You are allowed to confer.

So, We Had A Plan, the question is, are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Danielle and Helen, do you want to go first or second? First.

All the very best. Thank you. You can do it.

The Hillary Shield is a rugby union trophy awarded to the winner of matches between England

and which other country?

I don't think it's Argentina. No, my gut instinct is New Zealand.

Yeah? Although... Why is it called Hillary then?

I don't know. Is there a link to that?

I can't think of anything "Hillary" that links to them.

I'm trying to think of a place name or a river

that's in either Australia or New Zealand.

Um, and now you said Australia, I'm now thinking Australia.

No, you said Australia. Did I? Yeah.

All right, OK.

I think Australia. Yeah, OK.

We're gonna go with Australia, please, Jeremy.

OK, you were all over the place there. Yeah.

And you did at one point say New Zealand and it was New Zealand.

Oh! After Sir Edmund Hillary.

Eggheads, which actor starred as the spy Matt Helm in a series of films of the 1960s?

Dean Martin. Yeah.

Yeah, very... I was gonna say "sub-James Bond",

but these were so far "sub", that doesn't do it justice. Dean Martin.

Dean Martin is right.

Back to you.

In the Beano comic, what is the name of Gnasher's son?

Well, I didn't grow up in the UK, so I have a little excuse.

You always use that!

So...

I'm sure I've heard Gnosher and Gnasher.

OK. Don't quote me on that on national TV.

Well, you've just done it yourself. You heard it here. No, I think...

If it's a son, they'd usually make the names similar.

Wouldn't they? Yeah. Like Junior and Senior sort of thing. Yeah.

Debbie would be happy if we went for the middle answer. All right.

I hate to be the one that has to say it,

but we're gonna go with Gnosher. Gnosher...

Gnipper is the right answer. Really?

It's not Gnosher. We have to hope something bad happens to them now.

If they get this one right, they have won, there is no way back for you. Only prayers will do it now.

Eggheads, Ernest Hemingway created a Martini made from 15 parts gin and one part vermouth

and named it after which famous military figure?

It wouldn't be De Gaulle, would it?

Is it that one? Why am I thinking that?

Monty was a teetotaller, wasn't he?

That came into my head as soon as I heard the question.

It seems... He's American and the other two aren't.

So, um... Can you just describe it again, Jeremy?

A Martini made from 15 parts gin and one part vermouth.

Pretty strong, eh? Why bother?

It's Patton I'd go for.

We don't know it, do we, so we'll go for Patton. Yeah.

We'll discount Montgomery because he was a teetotaller,

so unless it's an ironic joke, which I suppose it could be...

We don't know it, but on the basis

that Hemingway was American, Patton is American...

Hemingway was a correspondent with the American forces.

So we'll go for Patton.

Hemingway's reasoning here was that 15/1 was the ratio

of Allied forces to German forces

that this particular person needed before he would attack,

so it was a bit ironic and it was Montgomery.

Montgomery. You've got it wrong.

Not over yet. Hello again.

You're back in it. We continue.

The parmo, a pork or chicken fillet covered in breadcrumbs and cheese,

is a speciality of which region, We Had A Plan?

Is it P-A-R-M-O? Yeah.

The parmo. Parmo... I don't think it's North Wales.

I've never heard of it, so I don't think it's North Wales. No.

It doesn't sound like it's from Teesside.

I haven't spent much time in Teesside.

If you get this question wrong, it's all over.

Do you want to go for East Anglia? I'd be more happy with East Anglia,

but it depends if it's right.

I'm not against East Anglia and it would be a joint effort then,

whereas if I said Teesside and it wasn't, it would be my fault.

Shall we just go East Anglia? East Anglia.

East Anglia is wrong. Oh, no!

Teesside. Oh! No!

Commiserations to you, Challengers. There's no way back.

Eggheads, you have won.

Don't be despondent.

They are very good. They've done what comes naturally to them and they reign supreme over quizland.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the ?4,000, so the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, well done. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

?5,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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