Episode 46 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.

Question is, can they be beaten?

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

pit their wits against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

You might recognise them, as they are Goliaths in the world

of TV quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

And taking on the might of our

quiz goliaths today are The Other Side Of The Mountain.

The team all work at an IT company in Leeds.

And if they aren't taking part

in their regular Quiz Fridays, then they'll be running

their very own version of The Apprentice

with team captain David as Sir Alan.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm David. I'm 45 and I'm a company director.

Hi, my name's Emma. I'm 36, I'm a sales director.

Hello, I'm Jonathan.

I'm 38 and a company director.

Hi, I'm Bruce. I'm 37 and I'm a sales account manager.

Hi, I'm Rob.

I'm 28, I'm a sales account manager.

Welcome, Other Side Of The Mountain.

And, David, tell me about this, this Apprentice thing, then.

How do you do that? You don't really fire people, do you?

We thought about it but we've never actually fired anybody, no.

We pretend to fire them.

-We fire them from the competition. It runs for a month.

-OK.

And what do you get people to do?

All kinds of tasks, which we kind of...

Some of them are related to our business. And some of them are

just copies of the stuff from the TV show.

So just for fun and some will benefit the business?

-Yes, bit of both.

-OK. And tell me about Quiz Fridays, as well?

We're in kind of a hard sales environment.

So we try to have as much fun as we can.

So we play lots of kind of TV...

versions of TV quiz shows.

We've done Millionaire and that kind of thing.

-You've done Eggheads, of course.

-We haven't yet, we should.

Well, now you're doing it for real.

Every day there's £1,000 up for grabs for our challengers. However,

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

Other Side Of The Mountain, the Eggheads have won the last 14 games,

which means £15,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

And our first head-to-head today is going to be on Arts and Books.

Who'd like to play this one?

It can be any one of you at this opening stage.

Definitely got to go with Bruce.

-Yeah, definitely.

-It's not my strongest but I said I'd go for it

-if it came up.

-It's down to you, Bruce.

Was that the plan, Bruce, if Arts and Books came up?

You know the categories, then. Who would you like to play?

You have the advantage of being able to choose anyone.

Who do you think will be the weakest?

Or maybe you you want to play the strongest.

-They're all going to be pretty good,

-I'm not that good, Dermot, no.

-I... Can I take CJ? Is that all right?

-Absolutely.

Absolutely, yeah.

-OK.

-Gone for the strongest, then?

-Absolutely.

-Really?

Oh, no. Big mistake.

No, my nose is growing longer as I say that.

Let's have Bruce and CJ into the question room then, please.

To make sure there's no conferring.

OK, Bruce. Let's get on with it, shall we? Arts and Books.

Do you want to go first or second?

I'll go first, I think.

This is your question then, Bruce. Rudolf Rassendyll

impersonates a European king

in the plot of which classic adventure story?

OK, OK.

I'm not...sure.

But I know it's not The Three Musketeers.

Because I have seen that, you know, in film and things.

And The 39 Steps is more of a spy thriller, if I'm right.

So I'm going to go for Prisoner Of Zenda, Dermot.

OK, Prisoner Of Zenda. Elimination strategy there

giving you the right answer. Good start, Bruce.

Prisoner Of Zenda. Rudolf Rassendyll.

OK, CJ, first question. Which famous book is largely set in

and around the Yorkshire town of Whitby? Oh, Bruce would have liked this.

Good Yorkshire man.

That's Dracula, Dermot.

It is Dracula. It's the right answer.

Set in and around...

Well, part of it's set in and around Whitby. So one each.

Bruce, which British artist is known for his spot paintings,

which consist of grids of coloured circles on a plain background?

You see, this is the Art section.

I'm not going to be, I'm not going to be 100% sure here, either.

I know it's not Damien Hirst, though.

Grayson Perry I've not heard of.

Which means

I've got to go for Antony Gormley.

Antony Gormley. Didn't think it was Damien Hirst.

Hadn't heard of Grayson Perry.

And there we are...

with the wrong answer. Not Gormley. Do you know, CJ, of the other two?

-It is Damien Hirst.

-It is Damien Hirst.

So always barking up the wrong tree there, Bruce.

Spot paintings as well as pickled sharks and other things.

-Oh, really? Right.

-So a chance for the lead for CJ.

CJ, who wrote the novels Jewels, Secrets and Rogue? They're three.

Who wrote the novels Jewels, Secrets and Rogue?

I think that's Danielle Steel.

Jewels, Secrets and Rogue written by Danielle Steel

is the correct answer. Gives you the lead.

OK, well, it means you've got to get this, Bruce.

What was the title of the first novel by the Chinese American author

Amy Tan?

OK.

Wild Swans is really jumping out at me but I...

I can't give you an explanation why. But I've seen it on a bookshelf.

I suppose that's an explanation why and I'm going to go for Wild Swans.

Wild Swans.

OK, first novel by Amy Tan to keep you in it - keep your hopes alive.

If not, CJ's through.

It's not the Wild Swans. It's The Joy Luck Club.

Yeah, Amy Tan's first novel is The Joy Luck Club.

So no luck for you there, Bruce. Which means there as you can see

from the scoreboard, CJ doesn't need to face another question.

He's in the final round.

You won't be playing for the 15,000 today, Bruce.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

As it stands now, Other Side Of The Mountain have lost

one brain from the final round. The Eggheads haven't lost any.

We'll play our second head to head of the day.

This one is going to be Politics.

Who'd like to play this one?

It can't be you, Bruce. But any of the other four team members there.

-OK, I think I'll do it, Dermot.

-You're going to do it, David.

And which Egghead would you like to play apart from CJ?

Any of the other four.

I think...

I think Barry, please.

Barry. And this is where you really want to adopt the Sir Alan persona

and say "Barry, you're fired from the final round."

-Let's see if you can do it.

-It has been said before.

Let's have David and Barry into the question room, please.

David, would you like to go first or second in this Politics round?

I think I'll go first please, Dermot.

OK, first it is. Good luck, David.

What is the name of the post held by the person responsible

for overseeing each constituency's results at a general election?

I'm fairly sure that that's the returning officer.

The returning officer. It certainly is.

Reads out the results with the Monster Raving Looney Party

in the background making faces over their shoulder.

OK, first blood to you, then. Barry, what name is given to the draft

of an act of Parliament as it passes through the legislative process?

Given some of the recent acts that

have passed I think it should be called an invoice. But it's a bill.

-Controversial, Barry.

-But accurate.

Ha! It is the right answer.

Bill is correct.

OK, back to you, David.

In 2008, Ed Davey and Nick Harvey

were appointed to the front benches of which UK political party?

I've never heard of them.

So on that basis I'd think they're more likely to be Liberal Democrats.

Yeah, I'm going to say,

because I've never heard of them, I'm going to say Liberal Democrat.

They are of the Liberal Democrats. It's the right answer.

So two to you. Barry, second question.

In the 2000 US Presidential elections, who stood

on behalf of the Green Party and gained nearly three million votes?

Well, Pat Buchanan is an extremely right-wing politician.

Can't recall Warren Beatty standing but I do know that Ralph Nader tries

to stand almost in every election.

And he is a Green. So I'll say Ralph Nader.

Ralph Nader. Three million votes in 2000.

It's the right answer. Well done.

Two-all in a very exciting Politics round.

David's third question, which could win the round for him.

Which term refers to a type of parliamentary constituency

prior to the 1832 Reform Act?

Kettlebasher, potwalloper.

I don't really know why it's calling out to me but

I think I'm going to say potwalloper.

Potwalloper calling out to you.

Maybe some residual memory from the school days. It's the right answer.

Potwalloper gives you the lead.

And if Barry doesn't get his third one correct he'll be out.

Barry, in September 2008 Quentin Bryce became the first

female governor general of which country?

Interesting female name that, Quentin.

But I believe she was a governor general in Australia.

Australia, yeah. I was thinking that, Quentin. It is Australia.

It's the right answer. OK, well, it's all square.

Very, very exciting second round here. David, it means

we go to Sudden Death. So, we're going to remove those choices now.

Just got to hear an answer from you and this is your question.

During the 1997 General Election,

which candidate was known as the man in a white suit?

It was the BBC guy...

I, I can picture him, Dermot, but...

-I can't remember his name. I don't know.

-Can't give me a guess, David?

This is the curse of Sudden Death, isn't it?

Without options here you're not able to conjure them up.

No, it's gone. Sorry. Wasn't there in the first place.

-Are you passing?

-I'm passing. I don't know the answer.

Take a pass on that. Check with Barry.

I believe he fought the Tatton seat. It was Martin Bell?

Yup, Martin Bell took on... Eggheads?

-Neil Hamilton.

-Neil Hamilton.

OK, well, nothing there for David.

But Barry still has to get this if he is to win the round.

Bashar al-Assad became the president

of which Middle Eastern country in 2000?

He's the son of Hafez al-Assad and both were presidents of Syria.

Syria is the right answer.

Barry, you are through. Only just.

Bad luck, David. You won't be playing in the final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

So Other Side Of The Mountain have lost two brains.

The Eggheads haven't lost any yet.

Our next subject today is Sport.

And who'd like to play this? Emma, Jonathan or Rob. Sport.

It has to be Rob's, doesn't it?

-Yeah, I think it's you.

-Taking that one, yeah?

-OK.

-OK, Rob. Who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

It can't be Barry or CJ.

I'd like... I'd like to take on the delightful Judith Keppel, please.

-The delightful Judith Keppel.

-I'm not.

Not when she plays Sport.

Now you've made her angry. All Hulk-like.

-Let's have Rob and Judith into the question room, please.

-Beast!

Rob, it's Sport.

Would you like to go first or second?

I'll follow the pattern. I'll go first.

OK, good luck. Which substance do players usually apply to the tip

of a snooker cue during matches to help it grip the cue ball?

Well, I've played a fair few games of snooker myself.

I know that one's chalk.

Resin would be good, wouldn't it? Just stick them all on the end.

Couldn't go wrong. It's the right answer. Chalk, good start.

Judith,

the tennis player Andy Roddick

represents which country in the Davis Cup?

The tennis player Andy Roddick

represents which country in the Davis Cup?

I think he's American.

I'm fairly sure he's American.

So what then... He represents South Africa?

No.

-USA.

-USA. Are you sure?

-Well, as sure as I can be.

-It is the right answer, yes.

Andy Roddick, USA, American.

OK, Rob, second question.

In May 2008 which former Scottish Rugby Union player was appointed

head coach for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa?

I'm pretty sure I know this one.

And I'm pretty certain he lives not far from me,

assuming it's the right answer. I'm going to go with Ian McGeechan.

Ian McGeechan is the right answer.

Ian McGeechan, yes.

Head coach for the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa.

So two to you. Judith, second question.

Phil Brown, born in 1959,

was appointed manager of which football club in January 2007?

Well, that means he's 49 now, doesn't it?

Not that that's really relevant.

But it's a good delaying tactic.

I have an instinct it might be Hull City.

So that's my answer.

-That's your answer?

-Yes, yes.

-Phil Brown.

The mighty Hull is the right answer.

Well, done, Judith.

Rob, at the 1980 Winter Olympics, Eric Heiden

won five gold medals in which sport?

If I'm honest, winter sports isn't one of my strongest, strongest areas.

For the reason only that it's one of the more popular sports

in the Winter Olympics, I'm going to say alpine skiing.

OK. Bit of a blank area, winter sports for you.

Eric Heiden won five golds as a...

speed skater.

OK, well, Eric Heiden was a speed skater.

-So a chance for Judith to win the round.

-Wow.

Judith, in 1945 which golfer won a record 18 tournaments

including 11 in a row on the United States PGA Tour?

Oh, dear.

I have vaguely heard of Sam Snead and Ben Hogan.

But not the other one.

I think it might be Ben Hogan.

OK, Ben Hogan to clinch the round.

It's bounced off the cup.

It's not the right answer.

-It is, Eggheads?

-Byron Nelson.

-Byron Nelson.

-Oh, no. Never heard of him.

-Byron Nelson.

Well, some comfort to you. Another being that you don't go out

because Rob also slipped up on his third question. So we go to Sudden Death.

And, Rob, as you saw with David there, we remove the choices.

Gets an awful lot harder. This is your question.

The stadium that opened in 1997 to be the primary venue for the US Open

is named after which tennis player?

I'm assuming you're meaning tennis

by the US Open. And with that in mind, I think,

it's Arthur Ashe.

Arthur Ashe is correct.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium.

-Won the US Open in 1968. Also won Wimbledon, didn't he?

-Yes.

-'75.

Arthur Ashe, legendary tennis player.

So put you in the lead, Rob.

Judith, which swimmer regained his 50 metres freestyle British record

in 2008 at the age of 38?

I don't know. I suppose that's in the Olympics.

I, I've, I have absolutely no idea.

Are you going to hazard a guess or pass?

I'll know it when you say it.

-But I simply can't drag it up at the moment.

-So it's a pass?

-It is a pass.

-Strictly Come Dancing?

Oh, that Fos...!

-What was he called? Tall one.

-Yup.

-I can't remember his name even now!

-You just said it, second name.

-Foster?

-Yeah, Mark Foster.

-Mark Foster.

-Which means flying the flag

for Other Side Of The Mountain is our Rob there.

You're going through to the final round, playing for £15,000.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

You've lost those two brains from the final round,

the Eggheads have now lost their first one.

Our last head-to-head before the final round, chance to even it up, is going to be Film and Television.

Who'd like to play this, Emma or Jonathan?

-I think you've got to take it, Emma.

-Me?

-Don't you think so?

-Emma's got to do it.

-Fine. OK. Fine, I'll do it.

OK, Emma. And who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

Chris or Kevin remaining.

We'll go for Kevin. Kevin, please.

Go for Kevin. OK, let's have Emma and Kevin into the question room, please, to play Film and Television.

Emma, do you want to go first, or do you want to let Kevin begin?

First, to get out of the way.

Here you are. Who was the director of the Godfather trilogy?

I should know this one, but...

The name that's jumping out at me is Martin Scorsese.

I'm just going to go for that one straightaway.

Don't think it's Spielberg and I've never heard of...

Bruce will kill me.

But I'm going to go for Martin, Martin Scorsese.

Martin Scorsese, director of the Godfather trilogy.

It's not Martin Scorsese and Bruce wasn't looking best pleased,

it must be said, as you were giving the answer.

He does do a lot of gangster films, does Scorsese, of course.

But Francis Ford Coppola is the...

Yeah. It's a bit of a boy's question really, though, isn't it?

-Definitely.

-I watched The Godfather Part II

just the other evening, as one does. Martin Scorsese incorrect.

It is Francis Ford Copp-ola. Or Cop-pola.

So first question to Kevin and a chance instantly for the lead.

Teddy and Looby Loo featured in a TV series with which character?

Well, they may have visited the others from time to time.

But most famously associated with Andy Pandy.

It is Andy Pandy. It's the right answer.

So a lead for Kevin. Right, let's get you off the mark, Emma.

Who played Lois Lane in the 2006 film Superman Returns?

Er...

-Kate Bosworth.

-Kate Bosworth.

-That's a complete guess. Sorry, Bruce.

-Complete guess.

OK, Kate Bosworth. Another film question.

You the film buff, then, Bruce? If it had come up before Arts and Books

-would you have played it?

-I think so.

You weren't to know if it's coming up at all. Is it the right answer?

-I'm pretty sure. Yeah, yeah.

-Yeah, it is!

-Kate Bosworth, Lois Lane in Superman Returns.

-I knew it, really.

Course you did. Now you regret saying it was a total guess.

OK, it doesn't matter how you get them.

Kevin, who plays the role of the police officer Jim Gordon

in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight?

Michael Caine is Alfred the butler.

But Jim Gordon who will one day become Commissioner Gordon

is Gary Oldman.

The role of Jim Gordon in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight

is taken by Gary Oldman. It's correct.

So two to you. Means you must get this one right, Emma.

Which former Hollyoaks actor plays the character Gaz

in the TV comedy Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps?

That's Will Mellor.

Will Mellor. Absolutely right.

On very confident ground there.

But because of that early slip-up, the first question,

there's an opportunity for Kevin to take the round.

Kevin, what was David Lean's

first film for which he was credited as sole director?

Ah, that's an interesting one.

It's not Oliver Twist because that's the latest of the three.

That was, that was '48.

Blithe Spirit was '45 and Lean directed that.

I'm going to say Blithe Spirit. It may be that he was credited

as sole director on This Happy Breed, which I think was a year earlier.

-But I'm going to go with Blithe Spirit, I think.

-OK, Blithe Spirit.

It's This Happy Breed.

David Lean's sole director credit on This Happy Breed.

Happy Emma there. Live to fight on

in Sudden Death now. So very rarely you see that.

Kevin very assured normally with his films.

Let's put your Sudden Death question to you, then, Emma.

Which TV series first aired in 1997

was created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone?

I think I know this but I cannot think what it is.

Nothing is coming back to me at all.

I'm sorry. I don't know.

-Pass.

-Want to guess? Last minute guess?

-I can't even think of

-anything to guess. It's all gone blank.

-Gone blank.

-So sorry.

-Do you know, Kevin, if you'd been put in first?

-South Park.

-South Park. It is South Park. Do you know it now, Emma?

-Yup.

-Does it ring a bell?

-It does.

-CJ would have...

second only to The Simpsons for him, I guess. South Park.

Another chance for Kevin then to win the round.

Kevin, what is the name of the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival?

It's the Palme D'Or. Golden Palm.

It is. And you get the Palme d'Or in this round.

It means you've won the round, you're through to the final.

No place for you, Emma, I'm sorry.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

So this is what we've been playing towards.

Time for the final round - General Knowledge.

But those of you who lost your head-to-heads

won't be allowed to take part.

So David, Emma and Bruce from The Other Side Of The Mountain,

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

So Jonathan and Rob, you're playing to win The Other Side Of The Mountain £15,000.

Chris, Barry, Kevin, CJ, you're playing for something

money can't buy... Oh, no -

the Eggheads' reputation.

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

The questions are all General Knowledge.

You are allowed to confer. Other Side Of The Mountain, are your two brains

better than the Eggheads' four? And Jonathan and Rob,

would you like to go first or second?

BOTH: We'll go first, please.

Let's see how you do.

First question, General Knowledge.

What name is given to the large round knob

at the end of a sword handle?

What name is given to the large round knob at the end

of a sword handle?

A hilt's always used as a word to denote the end of something.

-Yeah. But pommel, as well, I've heard of.

-I've heard the word.

Is that not something to do with a pommel horse,

like a vaulting horse? Have I made that up?

You might have just made that up.

-I think it's hilt.

-I think...

-The hilt of the sword.

-Have a go.

We're going with that, yeah? We're going to go with hilt.

The large round knob at the end of a sword handle is a pommel.

It's a pommel. So up to the hilt.

-Is the hilt the cross bit?

-The cross bit, yeah.

Then you've got the handle, then you've got the pommel.

With the Cavalry Sabre, you hold it in your hand,

smash down with the pommel.

-Use it as a cosh.

-Yeah.

-Well...

Not what they hoped for from Other Side Of The Mountain.

Let's see how the Eggheads do. Eggheads.

Pentland, Javelin and Belle de Fontenay are varieties of which food stuff?

Pentland, Javelin, Belle de Fontenay

are varieties of which food stuff?

-Yeah, they're potatoes, Dermot.

-It's the right answer, Eggheads.

Other Side Of The Mountain, important you get this.

Seals and sea lions

are contained within which biological grouping of animals?

Seals and sea lions are contained within which

biological grouping of animals?

Lagomorphs, like, the word "morph" means to change, doesn't it?

I don't know why, I just think it's pinnipeds.

"Ped" is something to do with legs, though.

-Unless pinnipeds means no legs.

-Mmm.

-What does...?

What does the "pinni" bit mean? Obviously...

-You can discuss it...

-I don't know.

-Do we think it's pinnipeds?

-Let's go for pinnipeds,

purely cos we think it means no legs.

-Dermot, we'll go for pinnipeds.

-OK, pinnipeds -

you think it means no legs. You don't know what it means, do you?

-We're guessing.

-Didn't fancy it, Rob, did you?

-Not at first...

Jumped out at you. It's the right answer. Pinnipeds, correct.

Kept you in it, Other Side Of The Mountain.

Very important question there. OK, Eggheads, second question to you.

The Britannia Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson,

and opened in 1850, spans which body of water?

The Britannia Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson,

and opened in 1850, spans which body of water?

It's the Menai Strait, between Bangor and Llanfair PG.

It is the Menai Strait.

It's correct, Eggheads.

No better man than Chris to answer it.

OK, means you've got to get this, Other Side Of The Mountain.

In the plot of which opera is

the leading female character murdered by Jack The Ripper?

In the plot of which opera is

the leading female character murdered by Jack The Ripper?

No idea. Absolutely none. I've only heard of one of them.

Opera is not my strong point.

I've heard of Faust. That's the only one I've heard of.

I know Faust was something evil and demonic.

I don't get that impression from what I've heard about it.

It's the only one I've heard of.

-It jumped out at me again.

-It's probably wrong.

-I don't know. Shall we go for it?

-Yeah. You call it.

-Erm...

For no reason other than it's the only one we've heard of,

-we're going to go for Faust.

-OK, Faust.

The plot of the opera leading... in which the leading female character

is murdered by Jack The Ripper.

The opera in question is Lulu. Lulu.

Which means, Eggheads, you've won.

Well, bad luck,

Other Side Of The Mountain.

I think the tale of today's game has been those Sudden Death rounds

played by David and Emma.

Looked like they had every chance of getting through - they just went blank at crucial moments.

Meant you were under strength there in the final round, and those questions just didn't suit you.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally - that winning streak continues.

I'm afraid, you won't be going home with the £15,000.

And so the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if the challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£16,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]