Episode 135 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 challengers

attempt to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

Their quiz pedigree is well-known, they've won some of

the toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

And challenging our resident quiz goliaths today are the Pensioners.

This team all work together within

the pensions contact area of a major insurance firm.

Having tested their quizzing skills individually, they decided

it was time to form a team to face the Eggheads, so let's meet them.

Hello, I'm Nick, I'm 44 and I'm a pension consultant.

Hi, I'm Steve, I'm 41 and I'm a team manager.

Hi, I'm Mark, I'm 34 and I'm a pension consultant.

Hi, I'm Geoff, I'm 28 and I'm a training coordinator.

Hi, I'm Rob, I'm 27 and I'm a pension consultant.

Welcome, Pensioners, Nick.

-You're all, what, advising people on their pensions?

-That's right.

We tend to speak to both customers and independent financial advisers

about their pensions and their funds.

And are you all going to have to work till you're 75?

I think we will, in the current climate, yes, I think we will!

-That's the future?

-That's the plan.

-OK.

-Unless we have a big win today.

Big win today would help, that's right! Every day there's £1,000

worth of cash up for grabs for our challengers. However, if they fail

to defeat the Eggheads the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Pensioners, the Eggheads have won the last 13 games

which means £14,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads. How about that!

First head-to-head battle will be on the subject of Sport.

Which Pensioner wants Sport?

-It's got to be you.

-I'm thinking you, Rob.

I'll be going for that one, Jeremy.

OK, Rob against which Egghead?

THEY CONFER

We'll play Judith, please.

Rob from the Pensioners versus Judith from the Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

So I'll ask each of you three multiple choice questions on Sport

and whoever answers the most questions correctly is the winner.

Rob, would you like the first or second set?

I'd like to go first, please.

Rob, here's your first question. In which year

was the Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt born?

I thought it would be the early '80s,

because I was born in 1981, so I wouldn't have said he was 23.

1990 would be too young, I think,

so I think I'm going to go for 1982, Jeremy.

'82, making him, what, about 27 or so?

-26, 27.

-He's younger than that, I'm afraid.

-He was born in 1986.

-OK.

Wrong answer.

Judith, your question on Sport.

Who managed Nottingham Forest Football Club

when they won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980?

I think that was Brian Clough.

There's a film about him, isn't there?

Brian Clough is the correct answer. I think there is a film.

Yes. Michael Sheen is being Brian Clough.

-He plays everybody, these days!

-Yeah, he does! He's in everything!

-What else was he in?

-Nixon. He was...

-He was David Frost.

-Tony Blair interview.

-And he was Tony Blair, several times.

-That's right.

OK, Rob, your second question.

In which sport did New Zealander Michael Campbell

win the US Open in 2005?

I quite enjoy tennis. I don't think it was tennis.

I haven't heard of any

squash competition being called the US Open, but there could be one.

I think I'm going to go for golf.

Yes, golf.

Well done, golf is correct.

First question for the Pensioners, well done.

Judith, Fernando Alonso won the Formula One

World Championship in 2005 and 2006 driving which type of car?

I think Michael Schumacher was the Ferrari man

and he's gone to Renault, I think.

I think he was driving for McLaren.

-No, it's wrong, actually. Renault is the answer.

-Bother!

-Bother?

-Bother!

I like the word "bother"! OK, Rob.

Which leading sportswoman of the 1970s and 1980s won the Singles

Titles at the All-England Badminton Championships in 1976 and 1978?

I don't know a whole lot about badminton

and I haven't heard of any of those people.

A pure guess - I'm going to go for Gillian Gilks.

-Eggheads are laughing here, is he right?

-Yeah!

He is right!

Judith, if you don't get this right...

bother, bother!

At which test match cricket venue are the ends of the ground called

the Pavilion end and the Radcliffe Road end?

I read this the other day.

It's the Radcliffe Road end that gives it away,

doesn't it? Can I remember this?

What struck me was Trent Bridge so I just have to

go with an instinct, without knowing.

With an instinct, without knowing, but nevertheless correct!

-Oh, well there you are!

-Well done!

It was there, somewhere.

After three questions, the scores are level.

We go to Sudden Death now, Rob,

so a little bit harder, not multiple choice.

-You have to give me the answer, OK?

-OK.

Which British javelin thrower won four consecutive

European Championship Gold Medals between 1990 and 2002?

I think I'm going to go for the only one I've ever heard of...

Steve Backley. I'm going to go for Steve Backley.

Steve Backley is the right answer. That's good.

Lots of others would have floundered on that.

Judith, which Rugby Union team defeated England 42-6 in

November 2008, the largest loss ever suffered by England at Twickenham?

I'm thinking.

It wasn't part of the Six Nations, was it, because

I don't think it's started yet?

-New Zealand.

-If you get this wrong, you're not in the final.

-Yeah, I know!

-I know you know!

-Well, don't keep telling me!

I have to just remind you where we are in the game.

You're not in the final, because it's South Africa.

South Africa is the right answer.

Well done, Rob, you took on one of the Eggheads and emerged triumphant.

Good news for the Pensioners

because it means you'll be able to play in today's final round.

Judith, sorry you won't. Do come back and rejoin your teams.

As it stands, the Pensioners have lost no brains from the final round.

The Eggheads have lost one brain. Our next subject is Politics.

Who from the Pensioners wants Politics, and against which Egghead?

-Are you going to go for it, Geoff?

-I think you, Geoff. You've done a bit of studying.

I've done a little bit. It's going to be me.

OK, Geoff.

Against which one? It can't be Judith.

-Nick, any ideas?

-I'd go for Barry.

Do you reckon, Nick? I'm going to go for Barry, please.

OK, Geoff from the Pensioners versus Barry.

-You like your politics, don't you?

-I do! It's the politicians I've met.

-Too late, too late!

Barry from the Eggheads. There's no easy option here, really.

To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions.

Three questions on Politics, in turn.

Geoff, you can choose the first or second set.

I think I'll go for the second, please.

Barry, your question. Which three-word phrase

became a central slogan of

Barack Obama's presidential election campaign in 2008?

I think it has to be "Yes, We Can".

It is indeed, "Yes, We Can".

Well done.

Geoff, your question.

In which month of the year does the House of Commons

usually break for its summer recess?

Well, they're all summer months.

I'm not sure.

I don't want to just

go for the middle.

August is a

favourite month for holidays.

I'm going to go for August.

It's not August. July, usually. Summer recess.

They get it a little bit early.

So, Barry, back to you.

Taro Aso became the Prime Minister of which G8 country in 2008?

Spelt T-A-R-O and then A-S-O.

That sounds very Japanese to me, so that's my answer...

-Japan.

-Japan is correct.

Geoff, here's your question. You need to get this right.

Which South American leader was deposed in April 2002

only to regain power after two days?

I'm afraid I'm going to have to go for a bit of a guess on this one.

Yeah, nothing

really obvious coming to mind.

Hugo Chavez, please.

It's not...

Menem or Da Silva, it is Chavez, you're right.

You're right!

Sorry to do that to you.

-No worries.

-OK, so, Barry, if you get this right

you still go through to the final.

Which Chancellor Of The Exchequer's 1853 Budget speech,

lasting four hours and 45 minutes,

is believed to be the longest continuous Budget speech on record?

I think in 1853 it probably would have been Benjamin Disraeli,

and I'm certain he liked the sound of his voice, so that's my answer.

1853, Benjamin Disraeli. Do you think so?

-No, it's Gladstone.

-Gladstone.

Gladstone! Four hours, 45 minutes. It was William Gladstone, so...

Hey, what about that, Geoff?

You're still in there. You need to get this right, though.

Which British prime minister resigned from the post in 1902

after his third period in office?

Now, I have been

revising my prime ministers, and I believe Asquith was prime minister

during the first half of the Second World War, so

it's probably not him, unless I've got that completely wrong,

which leaves me with either Balfour or the Marquess of Salisbury.

So, between those two.

I'm going to go for Balfour.

You started well, you went for Balfour.

It's actually the Marquess of Salisbury who resigned in 1902,

yeah? Third period?

Was succeeded by Balfour.

Balfour came after, so you were close, Geoff,

-the right time frame for both of them.

-Yeah.

Good try, but Barry won through.

Barry will be in the final,

Geoff you were beaten,

so you won't be able to help your team in that final round.

Please come back and join your teams.

As it stands, the Pensioners have lost one brain from the final round.

The Eggheads have also lost one brain.

Next subject is Science. Which Pensioner wants this?

THEY CONFER

-So who shall I have?

-Steve against?

THEY CONFER

-I'll have Daphne.

-I thought you might!

Steve from the Pensioners versus Daphne from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

So three questions on Science

in turn and Steve you can choose the first or second set of questions.

I think I'll have the first, please, Jeremy.

Here's your first question. Nepeta cataria is the Latin name

for which plant of the mint family whose aromatic oil is particularly

attractive to felines?

Well, I'm a bit of a cat lover myself

and I do know that

a lot of cats' toys contain a certain substance called catnip,

which drives them mad, so that's probably going to be my answer.

Your answer is catnip, and it is right.

-Do you have cats?

-Yes, I do, yes.

-So do I.

-You do too, Daphne?

-Oh, yes!

-How many?

I've got two and I've just become a patron of the Cats' Action Trust.

-Right, taking action on behalf of cats?

-Feral cats, actually.

-Fear of cats?

-Yes.

-Really?

-Yes.

-Is that something you've suffered from?

-Sorry?

-Have you suffered from that?

-What, feral cats?

-Oh, fear of cats, I thought you said!

-Feral!

-Feral!

-Wild cats!

LAUGHTER

I was going to say, that's a very strange-sounding charity!

OK, feral cats.

-Feral cats, yes.

-OK.

Here's your question, Daphne.

Which plant named after a small creature

and belonging to the chlorophytum genus is known for its thin,

green and white streaked leaves?

That's a spider plant.

I've got one growing all over my kitchen windowsill.

Spider plant is correct.

Well done.

Back to you, Steve.

Which 19th century scientist's four equations

provided the basic description of electric and magnetic fields?

I think this is going to be a bit of a guess.

I'm not familiar with any of the names so I'm going to go for

Humphry Davy.

Sorry, that's wrong. It's James Clark Maxwell.

So, Daphne your chance to pull clear.

Which type of mammals belong to the order chiroptera?

They are bats.

Bats is right, well done.

Steve, in botany, what type of fruit is an apple?

I'm not really sure. I remember hearing some description about

berries being a type of fruit that contain multiple seeds,

and I know an apple contains multiple seeds.

Whether that's actually correct or not, I'm not sure,

but I think I'll go for berry.

It's not berry.

-Eggheads?

-It's pome.

-Pome.

A drupe is a fruit that's got a stone in it, like a plum.

-And berry is berry?

-Yeah.

So, Steve, sorry.

There's no point in asking the third

question to Daphne because she has won the round and you won't be

in the final round and she will. There's no easy way to say it.

Please come back and rejoin your teams.

The Pensioners have lost two brains

from the final round, the Eggheads have lost one brain.

The last subject is Music.

I reckon you want this.

Which Pensioner?

-It's got to be Mark.

-Mark against?

What do you reckon, Nick?

-Chris.

-I'll take Chris, please.

Mark from the Pensioners against Chris from the Eggheads.

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

Mark, you've done a bit of modelling?

Yeah, a long time ago, Jeremy.

-Am I supposed not to mention it?

-Yeah, exactly, yeah...

it's unmentionable.

And, what, you've been in magazines and stuff?

-Yeah. It was actually for shoes, funnily enough!

-Shoes?

Yeah... I must have nice feet!

Have you done any of that, Chris?

Airfix kits, mostly!

Three questions on Music in turn.

Mark you can choose the first or second set.

I'll go first, please.

Here we go. Good luck, try and get in that final round.

Which German-born composer lived

in London for almost 50 years and became a British subject?

Now...

Classical is not my strongest in Music.

I think they're all German, I think.

I'm going to have to go for...

Handel, please.

You got it right! Well done!

Handel is the right answer. Chris, your question on Music.

Which instrument resembles a piano, although its strings are plucked

rather than hammered?

That is a harpsichord.

Harpsichord is the right answer.

Mark, in 1997 which member of Take That had a UK number one

album entitled Open Road?

Well, I don't think either Howard or Jason

have done any solo work, really, so it's got to be Gary Barlow, I hope!

Gary Barlow is the right answer.

-Are you a fan of Take That?

-No, I've got to be honest!

I didn't think so.

-Not my style.

-Chris, your question.

Victor Silvester,

who sold over 75 million records, was famous in which capacity?

Victor Silvester was an institution

on the radio when I was little. He was a band leader.

Band leader is the right answer, Chris.

Slow, slow, quick, quick, slow and all that stuff.

OK, third question. You're playing well here, Mark.

With which group was Alan Price the keyboard player in the 1960s before

forming the Alan Price Set and then finally commencing a solo career?

Now, keyboard player.

I know there was definitely one in The Animals, because they were quite

keyboard-based.

I don't think it was

The Small Faces, I'm sure that was was Rod Stewart's band and

more guitars.

It could be Manfred Mann.

I think I'll go for The Animals, though.

Let me check with your team, they look pleased.

-Yeah, that's the one.

-You've got it, well done!

The Animals is right.

OK, so he's in the lead and Chris,

if you get this wrong, you're not in the final.

Which composer wrote the music for the three-act

opera The Queen Of Spades?

Mmm... It's a Russian story, isn't it, the Queen Of Spades, so it

wouldn't be Mahler, he was Austrian, as was Mozart, so it's Tchaikovsky.

Well done. Tchaikovsky is the right answer, so three questions each.

The scores are level, we go to Sudden Death,

and just to make it that bit harder

these questions are not multiple choice.

Mark, your first question on Sudden Death.

The Glimmer Twins is a collective name

used by Mick Jagger and which other person?

I'm sure I've heard of them,

but I can't think. Mick Jagger and... Glimmer Twins.

Not Keith Richards, is it?

This will have to be a guess, I'm afraid, Jeremy, really.

Glimmer Twins.

Keith Richards?

Spot on!

Great stuff. Of course the Rolling Stones duo

and that's the name they use for their production work.

Chris, get this wrong and you're not in the final.

Which band reached number one in the UK with the albums

Under The Iron Sea and Perfect Symmetry?

It's been advertised on the telly quite recently, Perfect Symmetry.

The Arctic Monkeys.

-It's the right kind of generation, but no. Daphne knows.

-Keane?

-Keane.

Chris, you are out, you won't be in the final.

Well done, Mark, you did very well there.

Your team are quite relieved. You took on an Egghead,

you emerged triumphant, so Pensioners, you have Mark on-side for the final.

Both of you, please come back and rejoin us here.

This is what we've been playing towards. It's time for our final round, General Knowledge.

I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads

won't be allowed to take part, so Steve and Geoff from the Pensioners

and Chris and Judith from the Eggheads, please leave the studio.

Nick, Mark and Rob, you are playing to win the Pensioners £14,000.

You can discuss how much you give those two if you win it!

Daphne, Barry and Kevin,

you're playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn.

This time the questions are all General Knowledge,

and you can confer.

Pensioners the question is, are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

Would you like to go first or second?

THEY CONFER

We'll go first, please, Jeremy.

Best of luck. What is the official language of Egypt?

I thought they spoke Arabic.

I think I would have gone for Arabic.

They're old, aren't they? Isn't Nubian old Africa?

Arabic?

We're going to go for Arabic, Jeremy.

Arabic is the right answer. Well done.

It's terrible to get the first one wrong and you haven't, so well done.

Eggheads, the Schonbrunn Palace

is a major tourist attraction in which European city?

Vienna, yeah.

It's in Vienna, Jeremy.

Vienna is the correct answer.

Well done.

Back to you guys.

Ackee and saltfish is a traditional dish of which country?

-How do you spell "ackee"?

-Ackee is A-C-K-E-E.

Ackee and saltfish.

I think I know this, guys. I'm pretty sure this is Jamaican.

They're Jamaican, ackee and definitely saltfish is, I'm sure,

is a Jamaican dish.

-I haven't got a clue, so...

-Happy to go for Jamaica?

100%, yeah.

We're going to plump for Jamaica.

Jamaica is the right answer.

Well done.

Eggheads, which word refers to an ancient parchment

that has been reused after its original content has been erased?

That's a palimpsest.

Palimpsest is quite right.

Next question is for the Pensioners. Which pseudonym was one of the

pen names of the writer of historical fiction

born Eleanor Burford?

-Any idea?

-No, I haven't got a clue.

If I was having a guess, guys, I'm not entirely sure

but I'm pretty sure Ellis Peters does write historical books.

The other two names, I've never heard of, so if I was...

It's a real guess, but I'm pretty sure Ellis Peters

writes historical books,

so if I was going to go for any of them,

I would go for Ellis Peters.

Shall we give that a try?

-Yeah, go for that.

-It's a bit of a guess, Jeremy,

but I believe Ellis Peters writes historical novels.

None of us have heard of the other two,

so we're going to plump for Ellis Peters.

Let me check with the Eggheads.

Does Ellis Peters write historical novels, first of all?

Historical or detective stories, she did, yes.

Is Ellis Peters the answer?

-No.

-It's Victoria Holt.

-Victoria Holt is the answer.

And she also writes under Jean Plaidy and Philippa Carr.

-Why do people do that?

-I don't know. Well, it's a genre.

-Genre?

-Yes.

I loved Jean Plaidy novels.

I learnt all my history from them.

Victoria Holt is the right answer, so you've got that wrong.

Eggheads, here's your question.

You need to get this right.

Which leading member

of the Conservative Party is nicknamed Two Brains?

It's David Willetts.

The MP nicknamed Two Brains

is indeed David Willetts. You have got it right.

Just at the end there as well!

Congratulations, Eggheads, you've won!

So, Pensioners, commiserations. The £14,000 will not be yours.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them,

their winning streak continues.

The money now rolls over to our next show.

Eggheads, congratulations!

Who will beat you? Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers

have the brains to defeat the Eggheads. £15,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye.

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