Episode 58 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, where five quiz challengers pit their wits

against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain. They are Goliaths in the world of TV quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

And challenging them today are the Wilton Wyverns.

They work at Wilton House, stately home of the Earl of Pembroke.

The house is now open to the public. Let's meet them.

Hello. My name's Jeremy, I'm 51 years old and I'm a tour guide.

Hello. I'm Sarah, I'm 41 and I'm an assistant to the house manager.

Hello. I'm Carol, I'm 68 and I'm a tour guide.

Hello. I'm Jane, I'm 59 and I'm a tour guide.

Hello. I'm Roger, I'm 56 and I'm also a tour guide.

Welcome to you. Tell me about Wilton House.

Paint me a mental picture of it.

Wilton House is the ancestral home of the Earl of Pembroke.

And the lands around Wilton were granted to the first Earl of Pembroke by Henry VIII.

And he built a Tudor house back in the 1550s

and it's had modifications since, the most famous part being the Palladian Wing,

designed by Inigo Jones using the Palladian design,

considered the finest 17th century state rooms in the country.

And you show people round and tell them the history.

-It must have a wide and varied history.

-Absolutely.

Carol's our head guide and she's taught us very well.

-You get people from all round the world.

-We do indeed, yes.

They make pilgrimages to there?

-Some of them do, certainly, to see the Inigo Jones state rooms.

-Sounds like you should go, Eggheads.

-Lots of knowledge to soak up. Any of you been? Kevin?

-A couple of times.

-Yes.

Of course you've been, Judith. Just measuring it up to see if you'd like to buy it.

-I don't think it's for sale!

-Probably a bit small for you.

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

but if they fail, the prize money rolls over to the next show. The Eggheads have won the last three,

so £4,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Our first head-to-head battle is going to be on Politics.

Who'd like to play this one?

-Politics.

-I think that's Master Roger.

-OK?

-Yes, all right. That will be me, then.

-Roger, who would you like to play?

-Any of them to kick off.

-Barry? We'll try Barry. Yes, OK.

You'll try Barry. OK, let's have Roger and Barry into the Question Room, please,

to make sure you can't confer.

-Roger, would you like to go first or second?

-Oh, I think I'll go first, please.

Good luck, Roger.

Which leading Labour politician was recalled to the Cabinet as Business Secretary in October 2008?

Which leading Labour politician was recalled to the Cabinet as Business Secretary in October 2008?

It wasn't David Blunkett.

And I don't think it was Frank Dobson.

So I'm going to say Peter Mandelson.

Peter Mandelson, ennobled to take up the post. Lord Mandelson.

It's the right answer. Well done.

OK, Barry,

which Conservative MP became Shadow Chancellor at the age of 33 in 2005?

-It was George Osborne.

-That's correct, Barry. Well done.

Roger, which subject did Barack Obama teach at the University of Chicago for 12 years?

Now that's one of those questions that's probably really easy when I'm sitting at home.

Now you know what it feels like!

Yes...

I have a gut feeling, and I hope my gut is telling me the right thing,

I think it's the one that is the least likely, which is Chemistry.

-Is that your answer?

-I think it has to be, yes.

No, it's the other end, Roger. It's the obvious one.

It's the law.

If you were sitting at home, you'd have gone, "Law".

Which prominent Labour Party figure is a lifelong Burnley FC fan?

I'm not sure on this, but Gordon Brown's Scottish, so it's unlikely.

Tony Blair, I think, is a Newcastle supporter,

so I will go for Alastair Campbell.

-He's Scottish, too.

-Is he? Oh!

It's the right answer, though.

Roger, you've got to get this.

Which Liberal Democrat MP was once chief economist for Shell International?

I think that was Vince Cable.

I'm sure Nick Clegg is too young.

I'm not sure about Chris Huhne, but I think it was Vince Cable.

Hence his assuredness on economic issues.

It is Vince Cable. OK.

A chance for Barry to win.

Which phrase was historically used to refer to the Speaker of the House adjourning a debate

in order to have a meal?

I don't know the answer to this one, but Speaker's Chop could be a pun

as a chop for a meal or to adjourn a debate.

On the basis that the House of Commons are not very original, I shall go for Speaker's Chop.

Speaker's Chop.

I'm afraid it leads to the chop for Roger.

It's the right answer. Bad luck, Roger.

-You really confused yourself with that Barack Obama one.

-Yep.

You won't play in the final round. Both please rejoin your teams.

As it stands, the challengers have lost one brain. The Eggheads are all still there.

Our second category today might suit many of you - Arts and Books.

Who'd like to play this?

Roger says, "I'd like to play it!"

It'll be Head Guide Carol.

Who would you like to play? Not Barry.

-I'll try CJ.

-OK, let's have Carol and CJ into the Question Room, please.

-OK, Carol, would you like the first or second set of questions?

-I'd like to go first, please.

OK, good luck, Carol. Arts and Books. Here's your question.

Which book concerns children called Bobby, Peter and Phyllis,

and their move from London to live in the country with their mother?

Well, that's lucky. It's one of my favourite books.

I love this book. It is The Railway Children.

The Railway Children. Yes, of course it is. Well done.

Good start for you, Carol.

CJ, murals are typically painted on which surface of a building?

Murals are typically painted on which surface of a building?

They're normally found on walls, Dermot.

They are, murals, on walls.

OK, back to you, Carol.

Robert Doisneau's Kiss By The Hotel De Ville is a much-copied art work that takes which form?

Ahh. I'm trying to recall this.

I'm pretty sure it's not a painting.

-I think it's a photograph.

-OK. You're going for photograph.

It IS a photograph. Well worked out.

CJ, second question for you.

Which author created the detective Alex Cross for the novels Kiss The Girls and Along Came A Spider?

I don't think it's Yann Martel.

My first instinct was James Patterson, so on that basis

-I'll go for James Patterson.

-That was your first instinct?

-Yeah.

We've had a lot of discussion about instincts on Eggheads.

It's the right answer.

OK, back to Carol.

Which artist's works include a 1988 life-size, gold-plated, ceramic sculpture of Michael Jackson

and his pet chimpanzee Bubbles?

Oh, dear.

Um...

I was rather dreading we might come into the 20th century!

Everyone at Wilton says I live in the 17th century!

Now if it's of Michael Jackson...

I'm just going along with the idea that it will be an American sculptor.

I think I will go for Jeff Koons.

OK.

Jeff Koons. American.

It is the right answer! Jeff Koons!

CJ has to get this. The Welsh poet Dannie Abse was also a full-time professional in which field?

I've never heard of the chap!

Oh, hold on...

I'm just wondering if it's this chap who died in '08.

I'd never heard of him before and just saw in his obituary

that he was a very outspoken proponent of gay rights and he was...

I think he was a Welsh politician,

so that is the only scrap I've got to go on. I hope it's the same person, so I'll go for politics.

Dannie Abse, a politician.

-It's not politics, CJ. Eggheads?

-Medicine.

-A doctor.

-Leo Abse was the politician.

-Leo Abse, yes, was a politician.

But this is Dannie Abse. Great news for the Wilton Wyverns.

Carol is through to the final round. Well played.

Both, please, rejoin your teams.

It's level-pegging. Both teams have lost one brain.

We move on to our third category. This one is Music. Who'd like to play this one?

Jeremy, Sarah or Jane? Music.

Music?

I know you're good on the modern stuff. Or better on the modern stuff than us!

-Are you going to give it a whirl?

-OK.

-It's going to be Sarah.

And who would you like to play from the Eggheads? It can be Kevin, Judith or Chris.

-I think perhaps Chris.

-Yes, fine.

-Chris, Dermot.

-Let's have Sarah and Chris heading for the Question Room.

OK, Sarah, would you like first or second?

-I don't know if it will make much difference. I'm a lamb to the slaughter on this.

-Oh, get away!

But I'll go first.

Sarah, your first question, then. Which Queen hit single contains the lyrics,

"You got mud on your face you big disgrace"?

Ah, well. I'm lucky.

Queen were very popular when I was at university.

It's one group I did get into.

I believe it's We Will Rock You.

OK. The answer is We Will Rock You! Well done!

Chris.

Which singer had hit singles in the 1980s with Smooth Operator and Your Love Is King?

Smooth Operator was Sade.

-One of your favourites, I'd guess.

-No...

-Kind of describes you.

-Smooth Operator.

-No.

-It's the right answer! Sade.

From the '80s. Sarah,

which band released the album Dig Out Your Soul in October, 2008?

Oh, I was hoping something like this wouldn't come up, actually!

See if I can eliminate anything. Em...

For some reason I want to eliminate Oasis.

I don't know why. I've a feeling they haven't done a lot recently.

Something at the back of my mind is drawing me to Blur. I'll say Blur.

-Blur.

-Yeah.

-The band who released Dig Out Your Soul in October, 2008,

-is Oasis!

-Oh!

And you ruled that out first off.

OK, let's see how Chris does.

What was the profession of the father of Aretha Franklin?

I don't think he was a trucker.

I think I'd have remembered if he was a dentist.

She got into gospel music so presumably he was a preacher.

Yeah, that's the right answer. Her dad was a preacher.

Well, Sarah,

you need to get this one to keep the game alive.

Which British composer wrote the 1969 work entitled Eight Songs For A Mad King?

Ah.

Now I think Michael Tippett is slightly more contemporary. She says hopefully.

Em...

The same with Peter Maxwell Davies.

I'm thinking of the few music lessons I did have at school.

I'm kind of drawn toward Harrison Birtwistle.

A bit of a guess. I'm going to say Harrison Birtwistle.

OK, Harrison Birtwistle.

Eight Songs For A Mad King is by...

Peter Maxwell Davies! Sorry, Sarah.

-Never mind.

-Chris is through to the final round.

Both please rejoin your teams.

That means the Wyverns have now lost two brains from the final round. The Eggheads have lost one.

You fought back before. Let's see if you can do it again.

This one is Sport.

Jeremy or Jane remain.

-Jane, do you think it'll be you or me?

-Well...

-It's going to be me.

-It's going to be me.

-OK, Jeremy, and who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

-It's Kevin or Judith.

-Sorry, Judith!

Be original!

-I'm afraid I can't be.

-You can discuss Wilton House.

Much more fun than playing sport.

Could I ask Jeremy and Judith to go into the Question Room, please?

-Will you go first or second, Jeremy?

-I'll stick with going first, please.

OK, Sport. Here we go.

Which famous European football club traditionally plays home matches in an all-white strip?

I'm glad you asked. When I was growing up, I was near Leeds

and Leeds United changed their kit to all-white in recognition of Real Madrid.

So my answer is Real Madrid.

Real Madrid is the right answer. Good start.

-Judith thanking her lucky stars it didn't come her way.

-Quite right.

Try this one. Tennis. The former world number one Lindsay Davenport was born in which country?

Well, I thought she was American. Doesn't mean she was born there.

-I think she's USA.

-It's the right answer. USA.

Lindsay Davenport, born in the USA.

Jeremy, second question. Who came second in the 2008 Formula One drivers' championship,

finishing one point behind Lewis Hamilton?

I can rule out Alonso. It was a Ferrari driver.

It's Massa or Raikkonen. Raikkonen had a pretty mixed season,

but Massa kept the pressure up until the last race in Brazil.

Massa's Brazilian, but lucky for Hamilton he didn't get enough points in the race

and so the answer is Felipe Massa.

Felipe Massa. Right answer.

OK, Judith, second question.

How high off the ground is the top of the net in men's volleyball?

Six foot would be about the size of the people who play it.

Eight feet, they'd have to jump.

Do they have to jump 10 foot high, I ask myself?

Eight feet...

How high is eight feet? Two foot higher...

I think it's probably eight feet.

Eight feet?

Eight feet...is the right answer. You've worked it out, Judith.

OK, Jeremy,

the State of Origin series contested annually between Queensland and New South Wales since 1980

is a competition in which sport?

I've never heard of the State of Origin.

I'm wondering what it could mean.

State of Origin? There's got to be a clue in that.

I'm going to go for golf simply because I haven't heard of it in the other two.

OK, golf.

It's a contest between... Queensland and New South Wales,

but the sport is...

-rugby league!

-Oh, dear.

-Yes, a very popular sport there.

Jeremy didn't get that.

It means Judith has a chance to win.

Judith, Wisden's poll naming the five greatest cricketers of the 20th century

included Gary Sobers and which other West Indian?

Why didn't it include Brian Lara?

That's what I was looking for.

I don't know.

Viv Richards.

He comes from South Africa or something?

No, they are all West Indian.

And all very good, but the one that made it onto that list, top five...

..is Viv Richards! Well done.

Jeremy knew that as well.

That was really all about deciding to go first or second.

That second set would have suited you, but Judith is through

and you're not, Jeremy. Both, please, rejoin your teams.

OK, this is what we've been playing towards. Time for the final round, which is General Knowledge.

Those who lost don't take part.

Jeremy, Sarah and Roger and CJ from the Eggheads, would you leave the studio, please?

So, Carol and Jane, you're playing to win the Wilton Wyverns £4,000.

Chris, Barry, Judith and Kevin play for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions. They're all General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

Wilton Wyverns, the question is are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Carol and Jane, first or second?

-First?

-We'd like to go first, please.

OK.

Best of luck. Magnus Magnusson, the original host of Mastermind, was born in which capital city?

Some of our Eggheads there knew him very well.

-It's not Berlin.

-Reykjavik, I think.

-Reykjavik?

-I'm pretty sure.

-He was definitely Icelandic.

-Not Berlin. Going for Reykjavik?

-Yeah.

-We're going for Reykjavik.

-Reykjavik?

Magnus Magnusson, from Iceland.

Yeah, it's the right answer.

Eggheads, first question to you.

Who played the role of King Arthur in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

Who played the role of King Arthur in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail?

Chris is our Monty Python expert, but it was Graham Chapman.

You're strong students of Monty Python. Graham Chapman, yes.

The Holy Grail. Right.

I wonder if this one will suit you. Here it is.

Where in London is the National Gallery?

Where in London is the National Gallery? I see you grinning!

Yes.

-Been there a few times?

-We have.

It's Trafalgar Square.

It is. Absolutely right. OK.

Next question is for the Eggheads.

The phrase, "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama," is an example of which figure of speech?

The phrase, "A man, a plan, a canal, Panama," is an example of which figure of speech?

-Happy with palindrome? A palindrome.

-A palindrome?

-Yeah.

The same forwards as backwards. Yep, you're right.

If you reverse that...

-It works.

-It's all there.

OK, two-each, then.

Good going, Wilton Wyverns. This just might win you the money.

In Hungarian cuisine, what are kifli? K-I-F-L-I.

In Hungarian cuisine, what are kifli? K-I-F-L-I. What are kifli?

Have you got any idea?

Not really.

-It sounds like pastry to me.

-You think it sounds like pastries?

I think so, but... I could very well be wrong. Never having been to Hungary.

It sounds a bit spicy, doesn't it? Spicy sausages?

Stuffed cabbage parcels?

-I'm slightly drawn to sausages.

-I'll defer to you as Head Guide.

-Oh, don't!

Oh, dear.

-Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

-It's tough.

Cabbage parcels, spicy sausages or crescent-shaped pastries?

I'm going for spicy sausages.

OK, spicy sausages. Kifli.

They are...

..crescent-shaped pastries.

-Oh, sorry, Jane!

-Never mind.

Sorry.

Just an inkling there.

Went in the wrong direction, but the Eggheads have got to get this if they are to win.

Mount Marcy is the highest point of which US mountain chain?

Mount Marcy is the highest point of which US mountain chain?

I think it's the Adirondacks.

In North Carolina.

The Adirondacks are in New York.

-Is that M-A-R-C-Y?

-Yeah.

Mount Marcy. The highest point of which chain?

The Ozarks aren't in North Carolina, either.

No, they're in Missouri.

-High Cascades are in Washington.

-Adirondacks came to mind.

With me, too, actually, but I don't actually know it.

It sounds sort of upstate New Yorkish.

I'm remembering now. It is Adirondacks.

Yeah, OK, fair enough.

Not certain on this,

but our instincts are leading us to the Adirondacks.

-Where are they?

-New York. Upper New York State.

Mount Marcy is the highest point of the...Adirondacks. It's correct!

Eggheads, you've won.

Dash it!

That was very close. Just that one slip up and they're in.

They've had a couple of shocks - they lost one and very nearly lost one the other day,

but thanks very much for playing Eggheads, Wilton Wyverns,

and telling us about Wilton House.

We'll be making an appointment in our diaries to get there.

-Thank you very much for playing.

-Thank you.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally and still reign quiz land.

You won't be going home with £4,000, so the money rolls over.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you? Join us next time to see if a new team can do it.

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

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2009

Email [email protected]