Episode 155 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 have won some of the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

Challenging them today are the Wykeham Wanderers from Hampshire.

This team currently topped the Bourne Valley Quiz League

in Andover. Let's meet them.

Hi, my name's John. I'm 45 and I'm an engineer.

Hi, my name's Chris. I'm 47 and I'm an MoD contractor.

Hello, I'm Owen.

I'm 47 and I'm an accountant.

Hi, I'm Nick, I'm 64 and I'm a company director.

Hi, my name's Nick.

I'm 37 and I'm a head chef.

-Welcome, Wykeham Wanderers. Welcome, John.

-Hello.

You are keen quizzers.

We are. We play on Tuesday night in a quiz league in Andover.

I know four of these guys from Andover. One of the guys comes from Whitchurch, as well.

All right. So we've got serious competition for you now.

Yeah? Good luck in this game.

I sense we've got some pros here.

Every day there's £1,000 worth of cash up for grabs

for our challengers. If they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Wykeham Wanderers, the Eggheads have won the last 33 games,

which means £34,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Are you glad you came?

Fantastic!

That makes this quite a serious quiz.

First head-to-head battle will be on the subject of food and drink.

Challengers, let's have a think. Who wants this?

I think it's got to be Nick.

-Quite possibly Nick.

-Go on then, I'll do it.

-So, Nick, who do you want to go against?

-Kevin. Let's go for Kevin.

Grab the bull by the horns. He's a local lad, so...

We're going to grab the bull by the horns and go for Kevin.

Nick M from the Wykeham Wanderers versus Kevin from the Eggheads.

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

So, Nick, you know about food.

Um, I should do.

-Because you are a...

-I'm a chef.

You're a chef. As you said at the start.

-Kevin, you're not exactly a chef, are you?

-What's the opposite?

I'll ask each of you three multiple-choice questions on food and drink in turn.

Whoever answers the most questions correctly is the winner and goes through to the final.

Nick, your choice. You can have the first or second set of questions.

I'm going to go second, please.

Kevin, over to you. A rack of lamb comes from which part of the animal?

That's a good start, isn't it? Well, it's not tongue. A rack of lamb.

I should know that anyway.

On the assumption that maybe... ribs could look like a rack,

I'll go for ribs.

We're feeling tense for you at this end, Kevin.

Yes, a rack of lamb is from the ribs.

Nick, here's your first question.

In which type of restaurant it is a bhuna

most likely to be offered on a menu?

Is it Mexican, Indian or Chinese?

Well, it's one of my favourite eating-out foods.

It certainly isn't Chinese.

It certainly isn't Mexican. I'm going to go down the middle for Indian.

Indian is the right answer.

Kevin, over to you. What name is given to the Scottish confectionery

similar to fudge that is made from sugar, butter, condensed milk

and often flavoured with vanilla?

Is it...?

The only one I recognise there as being, I think, a confection,

is tablet so I shall go for tablet.

Tablet is the right answer, Kevin.

So, Nick, your question. What is the subject of the

Japanese tradition called chanoyu?

I can't say I've ever heard of it, to be honest.

It may be something to do with the tea ceremony.

I'm not 100% sure.

I'm going to go with tea.

Touch and go there but you've got it right. Tea is correct.

Could be an important answer.

Kevin... Made in the Haute-Savoie department of France,

abondance is what type of foodstuff?

Trying to think. I think I've heard

the name somewhere but I can't remember what it is.

When in doubt,

say cheese. Cheese.

Cheese is your answer. That is one of the Eggheads' rules.

If it's there, say cheese.

Seriously! And Pacific and antelope.

Cheese is the correct answer.

OK, Nick, in Portugal, what type of food is presunto?

Need this to stay in.

Erm, well, the word sounds very similar to the Italian word

for the same item, so, again

not 100% sure, but because of the Italian "prosciutto",

I'm going to go for ham.

Your knowledge as a chef is helping.

Ham is the right answer.

So you've had three correct answers each. Scores are level.

We go to sudden death. It's a bit more difficult, because

I won't give you alternatives.

So, Kevin, your question - although its young leaves can

be eaten, the most commonly consumed part of which vegetable is the dark

red flesh of its globular root?

It's dark red...

Beetroot.

Beta vulgaris, or beetroot is correct.

Over to you, Nick. The so-called "Hollywood diet"

devised in the 1930s was based on the theory that which citrus fruit

contained a special fat-burning enzyme?

I'm going to go for the orange.

It's not orange, it's grapefruit, Nick.

It goes up in your hall of honour, doesn't it, Kevin, this one?

There aren't that many questions, and they fall as they fall.

All right. Well, Kevin's won this round, so he'll be in the final. Nick, I'm sorry, you won't be.

Please, both of you, return to the studio.

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

The Eggheads are still intact. They've lost no brains.

Next subject is Music.

Which of you wants this?

Erm...

I think...

-possibly you.

-If I go music, then...

-Chris against...?

-Barry.

-Does Barry like music?

-Let's give Barry a go.

Yeah, we'll give Barry a whirl.

Yeah. I think we'll go against Barry, please.

Chris from the Wykeham Wanderers versus Barry from the Eggheads.

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

I'll ask each of you three questions on music in turn.

Chris, would you like the first set of questions or the second set?

I might go second, please.

Barry, here's your first question.

In which city was Ludwig van Beethoven born in 1770?

It was Bonn.

Bonn is correct.

Your question, Chris: Strawberry Fields Forever was a 1967 UK hit

for which group?

Erm, I think I'll probably get this one right, actually.

It's going to be one of Owen in our team's favourite bands.

It's The Beatles.

The Beatles is correct.

Double A side with...? Anyone?

-Penny Lane?

-Penny Lane, yeah.

Barry, in 1984, Kenny Loggins had a UK top-ten hit single with the theme song from which film?

Er, it wasn't Beverly Hills Cop, and I don't think it was The Terminator.

I think it may have been Footloose.

Footloose is the right answer.

Chris, Ricky Wilson is the lead singer of which British band?

Erm, it's definitely not Scouting for Girls.

I don't think it's Elbow.

And I quite like the Kaiser Chiefs, so it's Kaiser Chiefs.

Kaiser Chiefs is correct.

Going great guns here. Barry, over to you. Which composer's

1942 score for the ballet Gayane includes the popular Sabre Dance?

That would be Khachaturian.

Khachaturian is the right answer. So, Chris, you need this one.

Which Rodgers and Hammerstein musical features the song Younger Than Springtime, sung by Joe Cable?

I'm not really quite sure, to be perfectly honest.

My wife would know it, because she's a great musical fan.

Erm, I'm going to go for South Pacific.

Well done. South Pacific's right.

Was there a lot riding on that?

You're still in it. Now we go to sudden death,

and it's that bit harder, because I don't give you alternatives.

Barry, which Abba UK number one hit single contains the line

"I was sick and tired of everything when I called you last night from Glasgow"?

# I was sick and tired of everything When I called you last night from Glasgow... #

I've got to sing the rest of it now in my mind!

# ..wishing every show was the... #

-Super Trouper!

-OK, Super Trouper.

Got there in the end!

It was a minute in, and you took a minute to find it. All right.

Super Trouper is the right answer, Barry. Well done.

So you need this, Chris, or you're out.

Jazzy Jeff and which rapper turned actor won the first ever Rap Grammy

at the 1989 Grammy awards?

It's going to be... The only one that I can think of is Snoop Dogg.

I don't know. I'm going to go for Snoop Dogg.

-No, the answer is Will Smith.

-Oh!

So I'm afraid, from your point of view, that's it, not in the final.

Barry is. Chris, you got beaten by our Egghead.

Both of you, please come back, rejoin us here in the studio.

So, as it stands, the challengers have lost two brains from the final round, whilst the Eggheads

have lost no brains. The next subject is Science.

Who would like Science?

I think it's got to be John.

-Yeah.

-It's got to be John.

-John?

-OK, it'll be me, yes.

Against...?

What do you reckon? Daphne?

-OK, take Daphne on.

-We're going to be brave.

-We're going to go brave.

-Brave?

-Take Daphne, please.

Take Daphne. All right.

So John from the Wykeham Wanderers versus Daphne again on science!

-I know!

-Daphne from the Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions.

So, three questions on science in turn.

And, John, you can choose the first or the second set.

I think I'll follow the flow and I'll go second, please.

Daphne, here we go again.

The hard white substance known as limescale that can build up

on the inside of kettles consists chiefly of which chemical compound?

Well, erm,

I think it's calcium carbonate.

But don't quote me!

Calcium carbonate is correct.

Well done.

John. The mountain beaver is a burrowing rodent

found only on which continent?

I'm not too sure on this, but based on that the Canadian beaver

is based in Canada and North America, I'll say North America.

That's the correct answer.

Over to you, Daphne.

The disease scrapie is particular to which creatures?

That would be sheep.

Sheep is the right answer.

John, of what is the pascal a unit of measurement?

Well, I don't think it's velocity, nor temperature.

I seem to remember from my A-level days that it's pressure.

Pressure is the right answer.

Daphne, third question.

Can be crucial.

For which bodily function is the masseter muscle primarily used?

It's chewing!

Chewing is right.

So, John, you need to get this one right now or you've been beaten on

science by Daphne. Here's your question.

What term refers to a bee who collects pollen from a wide range of flowering plants?

I'm just trying to think of

maybe a Greek or Latin origin here.

Erm...

I would hazard a guess at polypaptic.

Polypaptic is your answer.

-Eggheads, do you know?

-Polylectic?

Yeah. He's right. Barry's right.

Polylectic is the answer there.

So, John, Daphne has pipped you on science.

-Daphne, you can lose your fear of this category.

-Yes.

You're in the final. John isn't.

Please, both of you, come back to us.

Well, John,

we're still in with a chance.

We are. Just about. Hanging in there by the skin of our teeth.

Not quite gone to plan. You've lost three brains from the final round.

Eggheads have lost no brains. Next category, last subject, is Sport.

Got to be Owen.

-Against CJ?

-It's got to be, hasn't it?

-I think so.

-CJ, please.

-Against...?

-Against Owen, please.

Owen from the Wykeham Wanderers against CJ from the Eggheads on Sport.

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

Owen, three questions on sport

in turn, and you can choose the first or the second set.

For a bit of change of luck, I think I'll go first, please.

Owen, Wimbledon is the home of the All England Club for lawn tennis and which other sport?

I know it's not netball, and I don't think it would be crown bowls,

so I'm going to go for croquet, please.

Croquet is the right answer.

CJ, which British athlete won a bronze medal in the 800 metres

at the 2000 Olympic Games?

Well, it can't be Paula Radcliffe, and, erm...

Unless Denise Lewis has switched from heptathlon, I think she did.

Erm, so I assume it was the lady who later won a gold, Kelly Holmes.

Kelly Holmes is the right answer.

Dame Kelly.

Owen, Adam Gilchrist served as vice-captain

of which international cricket team?

Adam Gilchrist, fantastic player, both a batsman and wicket keeper,

for Australia.

Australia is the right answer.

Is this the turning point?

CJ, your question: in which country did the form of cycle racing known

as Keirin originate?

Not Brazil.

Erm, OK, the Belgians are well known with Eddy Merckx et al

for road racing,

and Keirin is an indoor track,

and it's a Japanese word, so it's Japan.

You don't know that it's a Japanese word, do you?

I'm guessing, Jeremy.

Japan is the right answer.

Two points each, third question now to you, Owen. The hairpin loop known

as Druids is a feature of which British motor-racing circuit?

Druids... Erm...

Not sure.

Motor racing's not my strong one.

Er... I'm going to go with Brands Hatch.

Don't know how you did it, but Brands Hatch is correct.

Three out of three. That's great for you. Well done.

So, CJ, you've got to get this right or you're not in the final.

The former Republic of Ireland

boss Mick McCarthy became manager of which English football team in 2006?

Haven't got the blindest idea.

No. I don't think I can even link this to anything.

I'll have to just guess this. Wolves.

You're right, CJ. Well done.

It's Wolverhampton Wanderers.

-You've upset our challengers no end.

-Thought he might get that one.

OK, so, amazingly, equal after three questions. We go to sudden death.

-Owen, are you ready?

-I am.

Which famous horse race takes place on

the first Saturday in May each year at Churchill Downs in Louisville?

Well, I think it could be Louisville,

Kentucky, so in that case I'm going to go for the Kentucky Derby. Yeah.

Great answer. You've got it. Kentucky Derby.

Great use of logic there. Well done.

CJ, in which American state is the famous Pebble Beach golf club?

I don't know. I mean, Maine, Maryland and West Virginia for some reason

have come into my head, but it might not be any of those, so...

Erm, let's try, I don't know, West Virginia.

If you've got this wrong, you're not in the final.

You have got it wrong.

California is the answer.

Now, OK, so game on for you guys, turning it around, maybe.

Owen, well done. You will be in the final. You'll be supporting your team of challengers.

CJ, you won't be, you've been knocked out.

Please, both of you, rejoin us here in the studio.

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

Those of you who lost head-to-heads won't be allowed to take part.

So, John, Chris and Nick M from the Wykeham Wanderers and CJ from the Eggheads, please leave the studio.

Owen and Nick V, you are playing to win the Wykeham Wanderers £34,000.

Barry, Judith, Kevin and Daphne, you're playing for something which

money can't buy, the Eggheads' reputation.

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

This time, the questions are all general knowledge.

You can confer with each other. So, Wykeham Wanderers, the question is,

are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four brains?

And would you like to go first or second?

-We'll go first again.

-Yeah, go on, then.

-We'll go first, please.

All the best. A lot of money we're playing for here.

Lettish is another name for which language?

Lettish?

Any ideas? I don't think it's Latin.

-Nope.

-And I'd be surprised if it's Lebanese.

-Sounds more Latvian, doesn't it?

-It sounds more Latvian.

-Shall we give it a whirl?

-Yeah.

We're going to go for Latvian, please.

Latvian is your answer, and Latvian is correct.

And they're quite happy back there!

Eggheads, your question: what was the first name of the character, played by Mary Crosby,

who shot JR in the 1980 season finale of the American soap Dallas?

-Kristin.

-Kristin. Kristin.

Yeah. That was Kristin.

Kristin is the right answer.

One each. Back to you.

£34,000.

What is the title of Izaak Walton's classic 1653 book subtitled

The Contemplative Man's Recreation?

-Yeah.

-I haven't a clue, so it's up to you, Nick. What are you going for?

It's the Compleat Angler.

The Compleat Angler is right.

-Well done!

-I sense you've got that on your bookshelf, Nick.

I'm not that old!

Eggheads, your question: the Camp David agreements of 1978-9

were a series of accords agreed between which two countries?

Israel and Egypt.

That was Israel and Egypt.

You're right.

Here's the third question. This can be very, very important.

If you get it wrong, it's in their hands. If you get it right,

you'll have the joy of thinking that

if they get theirs wrong, you've got £34,000.

So please get it right.

For what does the letter C stand in the abbreviation of the

international organisation of industrialised countries, the OECD?

I'm pretty sure it's...

-I think it's Council, isn't it?

-No, I think it's Co-operation.

-You don't think it's Common?

-I don't think so.

We're not going for Council.

-No.

-You think we're going for Co-operation.

-I think so.

We're going to go for Co-operation, please.

It stands of Organisation for

Economic Co-operation and Development.

-Whoa!

-You're quite right, Co-operation is the answer.

Co-operation is the answer.

Well done. And we're now at quite a juncture.

Eggheads, if you get this question wrong, they have

won £34,000, they don't need to do another stroke of work.

Today, anyway.

Which company launched the first ever credit card in New York in 1950?

I thought it was Diners Club.

That was my first thought as well.

American Express were involved at

quite an early stage, but I thought Diners Club.

Yes. Shall I go for Diners Club?

-Yes. OK.

-We're all agreed.

We're going to go for Diners Club.

Diners Club is the right answer.

So you're back on the hook.

We go to sudden death.

In a cabaret act, Patrick Fyffe and George Logan played which

two spinsters, a retired singer and her accompanist, who shared

a house in the fictional village of Stackton Tressel in Suffolk?

I think this is Hinge and Bracket.

-We're stuck if it's not them!

-Yeah.

So you're Hinge and I'm Bracket.

-Go on, then.

-Yeah. We're going to go for Hinge and Bracket.

They were Hinge and Bracket. Well done. Hinge and Bracket.

Sudden death, and you didn't die, that's the main thing.

So they've got to get this one right or you get the money.

What name was given by World War Two RAF pilots to the imaginary goblins

that were responsible for everything that went wrong in an aircraft?

-Gremlins.

-Gremlins.

-Gremlins.

-Yeah. That was absolutely my first thought.

Positive? OK, that would be gremlins.

Gremlins is the right answer.

Your next question:

what is the name of

the ancient state of western Italy to which the term "Etruscan" refers?

It's almost the same place for Tuscany.

Oh, yeah, Etruscan, Truscan...

-So Tuscany?

-Tuscany.

-OK.

-Go on, then.

-Tuscany.

It's not Tuscany.

Eggheads?

Etruria.

So, now the firepower is trained on our challengers.

Can the Eggheads get this right and end the contest?

Can they sweep away £34,000?

Besides that of Harold, which king's death is depicted

in the Bayeux Tapestry?

-Edward the Confessor.

-Edward the Confessor.

Because it starts with Halley's comet, as well, at the time

of his death, and so there's the oath as to who's going to succeed.

It couldn't be anybody else, could it?

OK.

That is Edward the Confessor.

Your answer is Edward the Confessor.

If you've got it right, that's the end of the contest.

If you have it wrong, we go back to them and the money's still in the balance.

But I'm afraid

it is Edward the Confessor.

Well done, Eggheads. Congratulations, you've won.

And congratulations to you, because you, having had a bad start,

came back at them fiercely there, and there's always a chance.

Commiserations. The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

Their winning streak continues.

So I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £34,000.

That 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.

£35,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye.

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