Episode 152 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.

Their quiz pedigree is well-known as they've won some of the toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

Challenging our quiz Goliaths today are the Mixers and Shakers.

This team all work for the same chemical company

where they work mainly on the development and mixing of new paint colours. Let's meet them.

Hello, I'm Gary, I'm 44 and I'm a colour delivery scientist.

Hello, I'm Ian, I'm 43 and I'm an IT manager.

Hello, I'm Alban, I'm 47 and I'm a scientist.

Hello, I'm Martin, I'm 42 and I'm a project manager.

Hello, I'm Yann, I'm 31 and I'm a scientist.

-Welcome, Mixers and Shakers. Welcome, Gary.

-Thank you.

You are working, mixing, shaking, doing new colours, making paint?

Yes, we watch paint dry for a living.

We're always fascinated by the different colours in a sample shop.

-You can't believe how many shades of green there are. 200?

-A lot more than that.

-How many greens?

-There's over 10,000 on our system.

-10,000 greens?

No, 10,000 colours.

-Who makes up all the names?

-Not us. We're on the technical side. We leave that to the marketing people.

-So somebody will say "fuchsia valley"?

-They spend a long time

and lots of focus groups and marketing sessions to find names.

Do you sometimes nudge the machine by accident and invent a new colour? Has that ever happened?

We like to think there's a bit more science behind it, Jeremy.

-Judith, you're in search of a colour, I gather?

-Yes, I am.

It's a particular colour which is already on the wall of my flat which I like and I cannot find it.

-Don't you have to press a machine to her wall and it just reads it?

-We do have those, yes.

-I'll scrape some off.

-We can find the colour.

-I'll send you some and see if you can match it.

Don't have a household accident, Judith.

That sounds very dangerous, scraping paint off your wall, for you.

Every day, £1,000 is up for grabs for our challengers.

However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the money rolls over.

So, Mixers and Shakers, the Eggheads have won the last 30 games.

That means £31,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

-Would you like to try?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-The first head-to-head battle is on Film & Television.

Who wants to play this category

and which Egghead will you take on?

-That was me, wasn't it?

-That's you, Gary, I think.

-That will be me.

Against...?

I think I'd like to take on CJ, please.

Gary from Mixers and Shakers against CJ from the Eggheads. Please go to the question room.

I'll ask each of you three multiple choice questions on Film & Television in turn.

-Whoever answers the most questions correctly is the winner. Gary, the first or second set?

-I'll go first.

Here's your first question, Gary.

Mr Snuffleupagus is a character in which children's TV series?

I don't have any children, so that doesn't help me.

I believe it's not Blue Peter. I used to watch that when I was a kid.

For some reason, I'm drawn towards The Tweenies.

I think it was a dog in The Tweenies, so I'll say The Tweenies.

It wasn't in The Tweenies, actually.

I do have young children and I can't place him in The Tweenies.

-It was in, Eggheads...?

-Sesame Street.

-Sesame Street.

-Doodles is the dog...

-In The Tweenies?

-Yes.

-Doodles.

-Fizz, Bella and all that and Doodles.

-Yes.

-Snuffleupagus is a big mammoth.

-Snuffleupagus?

-Is a mammoth.

-A mammoth?

-Mm-hm.

Thanks, CJ. Your question.

Who played the title role in the 2004 re-make of the 1966 Michael Caine film, Alfie?

Michael Caine says it's a compliment to have so many of his films re-made.

There is another viewpoint to that, of course, but Alfie was Jude Law.

Alfie was Jude Law. You're correct, CJ. You're ahead.

Back to you, Gary.

Which actress received Oscar nominations for her performances

in the films You Can Count On Me, Kinsey and The Savages?

No, that rings no bells at all, I'm afraid.

I don't think it was Helen Hunt

because I think she's actually won some Oscars,

so I'm going to go with Anne Archer, please.

Anne Archer is wrong.

Helen Hunt was wrong as well. Laura Linney is the correct answer.

CJ...

Who played Uncle Fester in the original 1960s TV sitcom, The Addams Family?

I wouldn't have got this without the options.

Fred Gwynne was Herman Munster.

Jackie Coogan...

Was he in it? I don't know.

I don't think I'm being waylaid by Jackie Coogan. Peter Boyle.

If you're right, you've taken the round.

-The answer was Jackie Coogan.

-It was?

-There we go.

CJ's tripped up on Film & TV.

-You have a chance to draw level.

-Maybe I can get a question right.

-Give it a go.

Which actress played the First Lady in the film Mars Attacks

and the Vice-President in the film Air Force One?

Maybe I won't get a question right, Jeremy.

I don't believe it was Glenn Close.

What was the first film again?

Which actress played the First Lady in Mars Attacks

and the Vice-President in Air Force One?

No, that was Glenn Close. I'm going to say Glenn Close, Jeremy.

Ah, what happened there? You've suddenly just remembered something.

-I suddenly remembered her from Air Force One.

-Glenn Close is correct.

Great stuff, Gary.

CJ, if you get this right, you're in the final.

Which French film director's wives included Brigitte Bardot and Jane Fonda?

Roger Vadim.

Roger Vadim... You sound quite sure.

-I hope so.

-He got around a bit.

-More than me.

Mr Vadim, it was. Well done, CJ. You're in the final round.

Sorry, Gary. A couple of stinkers on Film & TV there.

Gary won't be in the final round and CJ will.

Please, both of you, come back, rejoin your team-mates.

The challengers have lost one brain from the final round whilst the Eggheads have lost none.

The next subject is Science,

which includes paint!

Which challenger wants this one?

Which one doesn't want it?

-OK, that'll be me then.

-Yann, that's you.

Which Egghead is not a scientist?

-Gary, what...?

-Who do you want?

-Daphne?

-OK, we'll try Daphne then, please.

So it's Yann from the Mixers and Shakers versus Daphne from the Eggheads.

-Lots of science for you lately.

-I know. And not very successfully.

Don't believe her. To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions.

-I'll ask each of you three questions on Science in turn. Yann, the first or second set?

-I'll go first.

Good luck.

The short-tailed weasel is an alternative name for which mammal?

Right, it's, um...

I'm not sure at all.

I don't think it's the otter.

It's between the other two. I'll go for stoat.

You're doing well. Stoat is correct.

They're obscure nouns. Daphne, in the Periodic Table, helium is classified as what type of element?

Well, as I said, I never did any chemistry

or learnt the Periodic Table.

Helium is a gas, so noble gas.

Noble gas is the right answer.

Thank God for that!

Yann, what nationality was Robert Bunsen, after whom the commonly used laboratory burner is named?

It doesn't sound Italian, so I'll rule that out,

but I think... I think it's German.

German is correct.

OK, Daphne, the cockatiel parrot is native to which country?

Oh...

Um... Gosh!

The cockatiel.

I'm going to guess at Australia.

-Barry looks excited.

-Does he?

-Yeah, you're right.

-Australia is correct.

-Oh!

Yann, which planet was studied by NASA's Magellan Project which ran from 1989 to 1994?

I think...

I think it's Mars, but I'm not 100% sure on this one at all.

I think... I'll go for Mars.

You're going for Mars.

Do your team-mates know?

-I would have gone for Mars too.

-They're wrong, you're wrong.

It's Venus.

So, Daphne...

Who became Astronomer Royal in 1995?

Well, the only name I recognise is Martin Rees,

so Martin Rees it is. I haven't heard of the other two.

If you've got this right, you are in the final round.

The Astronomer Royal from 1995 was Martin Rees.

-Thank you.

-Well done.

You've actually lost the last three Science.

-I have.

-So you've broken that spell. Yann, you were beaten by our Egghead.

You won't be able to join your team, the Mixers and Shakers, in the final round.

Please, both of you, come back to us here.

The challengers have lost two brains from the final round. The Eggheads have lost none.

Our next subject is Geography,

-or "Gee-ography" as we've been told to pronounce it.

-That's me.

Ian on Geography against which Egghead? Chris, Barry, Judith?

I'll try Barry.

So, Ian from Mixers and Shakers against Barry from the Eggheads, please take your positions.

-Three questions on Geography. Ian, you can choose the first or second set.

-I'll take the second set.

Barry, here we go. Annapurna is the name of a series of peaks in which mountain range?

It's a very high mountain indeed in the Himalayas.

Himalayas is the right answer.

Ian, which desert is bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean,

on the north by the Atlas Mountains and Mediterranean Sea

and on the east by the Red Sea?

I've actually been to the Sahara Desert in Morocco,

so the answer is Sahara.

Sahara is the right answer.

-When you say you've been to it, did you get into the middle of it, did you see it go on for ever?

-Yeah.

I've been to the sand sea which is in the south of Morocco and all you can see is dunes. A quite amazing place.

Barry, what is the capital of the German state of Saxony?

Saxony, I think... Yes, it's Dresden.

Dresden is correct. Well done.

The River Lee flows through which Irish city?

The River Lee...

For some reason, I don't think it's Cork.

But I'm not sure if it's Limerick or Waterford.

The answer that's jumping out of me is Waterford,

so I'm going to go for Waterford.

-I wonder if that's the word "water" that's suggesting that?

-Maybe.

You ruled out Cork and Cork was the correct answer.

Barry, your third question.

If you get this right, you've got the round. Which sea was known in antiquity as the Euxine Sea?

Well, the Mediterranean Sea was known to the Romans as Terra...

Mare Nostrum because they called it "our sea".

The Euxine Sea I'm pretty certain was the...

The Black Sea, yes, the Black Sea.

-Why was it called "Euxine"?

-It's very deep

and the water is very murky.

And I'm hoping that "Euxine" is some Latin word for "dark" or "murky".

I'm not sure, but I know that's why it's called the Black Sea,

-so I'm assuming that's a straight translation.

-Black Sea is correct.

Where does "Euxine" come from?

Well, it sort of means "pleasant, nice..."

Are you saying "gloomy and dark"?

-No.

-Do you make it up as you go along, Barry?

-Isn't it "gloomy and dark"?

-No, Daphne says it means "pleasant and nice".

That's the effect of the 20th century then.

That means you've taken the round, Barry. There's no way back for you, Ian.

You won't be joining the Mixers and Shakers for the final. Barry will be with the Eggheads in the final.

Do, both of you, please come back and rejoin your teams.

So the challengers have lost three brains from the final round.

-How are we feeling?

-Not good, Jeremy.

It's been done before with two or even one. You're still in it.

The Eggheads have lost none. The last subject is Sport.

It's got to be Martin or Alban.

-That's me.

-OK, Alban against... Who's this now?

It's got to be Judith or Chris who both love Sport(!)

-Chris, please.

-How many in a row, is it, Chris, for you and Sport?

I have lost count, not that I ever started counting in the first place, but it's too many.

Alban from the Mixers and Shakers versus Chris from the Eggheads on Sport.

Please go to the question rooms now.

So, Alban, what do you do with the paint firm?

I work in the area where, when you go into the store,

if the paint is on the shelf and you want to pick the colour

or if you want it from a machine,

the stuff that makes it green or brown or blue, I deal with that, the liquid colorant.

-I thought that was paint.

-You've got the paint itself, then the additives that make it a different colour.

-That's the really highly concentrated stuff?

-That's right.

-And more interesting than all of that, you have just become a grandfather?

-That's right.

So take us off paint and take us to your granddaughter.

Her name is Billie-Louise and she's gorgeous.

-She's the best grandchild in the world.

-Wonderful. OK.

-I'm a very proud grandad.

-Let's see how you do on Sport.

-Three questions in turn and, Alban, you choose the first or second set.

-I'll go first.

Here we go.

Win it for Billie. Tony Jeffries won a medal for Britain in which sport at the 2008 Olympic Games?

Tony Jeffries...

I don't think it was diving.

The name doesn't ring a bell with athletics.

I think it was boxing.

I'll go for boxing.

I'm glad you did. It's correct. Well done.

You're not doing so badly on Sport, Chris. You've played two and won two the last two games.

Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Louis Saha played football for which country?

Thierry Henry is French, so presumably he played for France.

-The other two must have done as well, so it's France.

-France is right.

Back to you, Alban.

Which of golf's four Grand Slam tournaments is the first to be played in the calendar year?

Oh, good one.

I think the US Masters is last.

I think the British Open is middle of the year.

I think it's the US Open.

Actually, it's the one you ruled out first, the US Masters.

-When is that played, Eggs?

-Fairly early, about May time?

-May-ish.

-The azaleas are out.

-We think it's about May, Alban. Sorry.

Chris, your chance to take the lead.

In which athletics event did the Romanian Doina Melinte win gold

at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics?

It's going to have to be a pure guess, Jeremy.

The name rings no bells whatever,

so it's probably something slightly eccentric like pole vault,

so I'll say pole vault.

Looking at the question myself,

I thought the only way we would know this

is if there was something odd about the event like the pole snapped

-or she got stuck in a hoarding or something.

-Hmm.

-But no, it's the straightforward 800 metres.

-Is it indeed?

OK, Alban...

You need this question.

Which team beat England 16-3 in the quarter-final of the 1987 Rugby Union World Cup?

I have... I can't remember this.

But it's Wales or Scotland. I'm torn between Wales and Scotland.

Wales, please, Jeremy.

Wales it is.

Wales is correct.

Playing well. When you're not sure, you're getting it right. That's very important.

Chris, with which tennis player did Steffi Graf win the Wimbledon ladies' doubles title in 1988?

Zvereva's Russian and they've only come to the fore quite recently.

I don't think it was Jana Novotna.

I think it must have been Gabriela Sabatini who was around at that time.

If you get this right, Chris, we go to sudden death.

I'll ask CJ cos I know you want to be asked. Is it Sabatini?

-I would have gone for Jana Novotna.

-Would you?

-But you know everything about tennis.

-Certainly not.

-You're wrong.

Chris, well done. Gabriela Sabatini is correct.

The scores are level after three questions.

We go from multiple choice to sudden death, so no alternatives here. You have to give me the answer.

Between 1936 and 1951,

the legendary baseball player Joe DiMaggio won nine World Series titles with which team?

I'm going to say... the New York Yankees?

-Team-mates, do you like that?

-I like that.

-You're right. Well done. New York Yankees.

Chris, get this wrong, you're not in the final, which will shore up the paintmen a bit.

Which New Zealand rugby union team won the 2008 Super 14 final?

I have not a clue, Jeremy. Waikikamukau Rovers.

-That wouldn't be a guess, by any chance?

-It would.

The answer is the Crusaders.

So, well done, Alban.

You've beaten Chris on Sport which will put him in a filthy mood. That's an advantage as well.

You will be playing in the final round. Please, both of you, rejoin your teams.

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

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

Gary, Ian and Yann from the Mixers and Shakers and Chris from the Eggheads,

would you please now leave the studio?

Alban and Martin, the comeback has happened at the right moment.

You're playing to win the Mixers and Shakers £31,000.

CJ, Daphne, Barry and Judith, you're playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn on General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

So, Mixers and Shakers, the question is, are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

-Mixers and Shakers, first or second?

-First, please.

Good luck.

What does the Latin phrase "vivat regina" mean?

"Regina" is the Queen, isn't it?

-Yeah. "Long live the Queen."

-"Long live the Queen."

"Long live the Queen" is the correct answer. Well done.

"Live and let die" is not correct.

Eggheads, which creatures are described as "educated"

in the lyrics to Cole Porter's song Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love?

Educated fleas.

-It's "educated fleas".

-It is "educated fleas". Correct.

Over to you,

Alban and Martin, the Mixers and Shakers, playing for £31,000.

Which region is located at the toe of the so-called boot of Italy?

Tuscany is in the middle.

Campania sounds northern to me.

-Shall we try the one in the middle?

-Yeah.

We'll try the one in the middle. Calabria, please.

You're trying Calabria...

-Which is the most northern of those three?

-Tuscany.

-Tuscany.

-Then the next most northern?

-Campania.

-Campania. So, well done.

Calabria is correct. Two out of two so far.

Eggheads...

What was the name of the Queen Consort of King Edward VII?

It was Alexandra of Denmark.

-You think she was Alexandra of Denmark?

-Yes.

-You sounded certain.

Funnily enough, I'm reading a lovely book called Mr American

which is one of the Flashman author's books

about the Edwardian times,

so she's just appeared in it as being very, very deaf.

Alexandra is correct. Well done. So, 2-2.

Now, this is the one.

If you get this one right, you have to then hope they get a stinker and they just hand you the money.

-Good, good.

-Just don't get it wrong.

In Greek mythology, Achilles was the son of the King of which people?

Achilles...

-It wouldn't be a question about his heel or something easy.

-No, no.

-Is he a Spartan?

-A Spartan...

Which one have you ruled out?

-None of them.

-None of them. They're all ruled in.

-OK...

-Spartans?

-Are we going to go for Spartans?

-Spartans, I think.

-OK.

We'll blame you if it's wrong. Don't worry!

We'd like to go for Spartans, please.

I think you guys know. You know this stuff.

-Myrmidons.

-Myrmidons. It's your meat and drink, mythology.

-Yes.

Greek, Roman, Norse, you name it, we love it.

The consolation is they knew it.

Even if you'd taken the second question, they would've known this,

but if the Eggheads get this right, the money is swept away.

If they get it wrong, we go to sudden death.

Eggheads, which actress married Al Jolson in 1928?

It's not Bebe Daniels.

I know Ruby Keeler married Al Jolson.

-That's immediately what I said.

-It's Ruby Keeler then?

-Yes.

-You know that as well.

-Barry is absolutely convinced

that Ruby Keeler married Al Jolson.

If you get this wrong, we go to sudden death

and, as you know, anything can happen.

If you've got it right, the £31,000 is snatched away.

The correct answer is Ruby Keeler.

Congratulations, Eggheads. You've won.

Commiserations, challengers. You pulled them close.

The Eggheads' winning streak continues. It's a pain when there's so much at stake.

You won't be going home with the £31,000. That money 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.

£32,000 says they don't. Till then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd 2010

Email [email protected]