Episode 9 Eggheads

'These people are amongst the greatest quiz players in Britain.

'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 a team of five quiz challengers

pit their wits against possibly the greatest team in Britain.

They've won some of the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are, of course, the Eggheads.

Challenging our champions today...

Apart from their ex-colleague Martyn

they all for a company in London's Regent Street - let's meet them.

I'm Steve. I'm 27 and I'm a sales team leader.

I'm Andrew, 42 years old and I'm a publishing broker.

I'm Benjy. I'm 22 and I'm a sales broker.

I'm Martyn. I'm 28 and I'm a sales supervisor.

My name's Owen. I'm 38 and I'm a sales manager.

Welcome to you, Regents. Martin, you're an ex-colleague.

-Yes.

-All in sales. Who's the best salesman amongst you?

Ben's the most modest(!)

I'd have to say Owen. He's the manager with the most experience.

How's your quizzing been? Steven, you've organised the team.

We've had a few practices at work.

In sales, everyone thinks they're the best, so it's a chance to prove it.

Benjy thinks he's the best!

We don't have a sales category, but plenty of others. Best of luck.

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

If they fail to defeat the Eggheads, it rolls over to the next show.

The Eggheads have won the last six games.

Which means £7,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

The first head-to-head battle. The subject is geography.

Who'd like to play this?

-Benjy.

-Benjy.

-Straight in to prove it, Benjy.

-You didn't say you were the best quizzer.

-No.

-Who would you like to play?

-I would like to play Judith, please.

Let's have Benjy and Millionaire winner Judith into the question room

so there's no conferring.

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

-I will go second, please.

Judith to kick off, which European country

is divided into the predominantly Dutch dialect-speaking north

and the predominantly French-dialect speaking south?

That's the Flemings and the Walloons, isn't it? Belgium.

Belgium is the right answer.

Benjy, your first question.

Between 1974 and 1997, Rutland was part of which English county?

Hm. Right, counties not my best,

as I'm sure that London's a county.

I'm going to have to go with Cambridgeshire. Yeah.

Cambridgeshire, you like. '74 and '97, Rutland was abolished.

Amalgamated with...

Leicestershire. Nothing for you.

It means Judith has a chance

to take a 2-0 lead with this one - what is the capital of the US state of North Dakota?

You need CJ for this kind of thing.

I have a feeling it's Bismarck.

Bismarck is the capital of North Dakota. It's correct.

So, 2-0. Benjy you need this.

A moor and tor landscape is usually associated with what type of rock?

I'm assuming "moor" like the...

I don't know whether... Sussex Downs and moors.

Chalk is in Brighton. It makes me think that could be a moor.

Granite is very hard, obviously.

Um... It's going to be a guess again, I suppose.

Chalk...

-Is that your answer?

-It is, indeed my answer.

Not chalk. No.

It is, Eggheads...?

ALL: Granite.

A moor and tor landscape associated with granite.

2-0 to Judith. We don't get to put another question to either of you.

Benjy, you won't be playing in the final round. Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Bad luck, Benjy. Still there for moral support.

Regents, you've lost one brain from the final round. Eggheads haven't lost any yet.

Let's play our second round, music.

This might suit a few of you.

-Who'd like to play? Can't be Benjy.

-Andrew?

-I think we should go for you.

-Looking very eager, Andrew.

You didn't look around at your team mates. who would you like to play?

Not Judith, but any of the other Eggheads.

She is wearing the same colour shirt and looking radiant as ever.

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

-Some kind of duet!

-DAPHNE LAUGHS

-I can imagine.

Andrew and Daphne duetting in the question room. The subject's music.

-Andrew, I know why you were so keen. You're a talented musician.

-I try.

Aren't you a concert grade pianist?

-Yes. That's right.

-Where have you played?

Well, I've played at the Royal Festival Hall.

I've been playing since I was three. I went to the Royal College as well.

A real prodigy. Played with the Barnet Symphony Orchestra?

-Yeah. Played Rach 2 with them when I was 17, 18.

-Andrew, best of luck.

-Thank you.

-First or second? Which set of questions do you want?

Um... I'll try going first.

Your question then, Andrew.

The musical Never Forget is based on the songs of which boy band?

Well, um... I think 'N Sync had Justin Timberlake, didn't they?

I think... I don't recall there being a musical on his life.

Boyzone is all ballads. I'd rather forget their music.

Um... I think it's likely to be Take That. Yup.

-Never Forget.

-Take That.

It's correct. Well done. Good solid start.

Susanna Hoffs became famous as the lead singer of which girl group?

Chris so wishes he was facing this(!)

Well, it's not TLC but I don't know which of the others it is.

Um... Oh, dear. 50-50.

Always get it wrong, don't I? So...

Oh...!

-The Bangles.

-The Bangles.

-Sorry.

Chris, you're keen on Bananarama.

-You know all their names.

-No.

-Apart from Siobhan Fahey.

-He knows.

No. It is The Bangles. All cheering along here, the Eggheads.

Andrew, second question for you.

Good luck with this one.

Who had a 1996 UK hit with the dance anthem Born Slippy?

Right, I... Dance?

It's not my biggest... area of expertise.

ANDREW: '96?

I think it might be a bit early for Chemical Brothers.

So it may be one of the other two.

I'll...try Orbital.

It's the other one. It's Underworld. Born Slippy.

In '96. Daphne, this is yours.

In which Verdi opera does the famous Chorus Of The Hebrew Slaves appear?

Now, that's what I call music.

Nabucco.

All the Eggheads grinning. It's the right answer.

You've got to get this, Andrew.

Suzanne and Bird On A Wire are songs by which singer songwriter?

Well, this sounds very folky.

Don't know Pete Seeger's songs.

I know one or two Joni Mitchell songs.

I don't know. I'll have to go for Leonard Cohen.

Not too sure about this one, either. Can't afford to get it wrong.

You haven't. It's correct, Andrew. Susanne and Bird On A Wire.

Got to hope Daphne doesn't get this.

Californication was a hit album released in 1999 by which rock band?

Foo Fighters.

Foo Fighters. Californication. Chris?

-Red Hot Chili Peppers.

-It's the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So, we go to sudden death and remove the choices.

This is your question, Andrew.

What is the title of the hymn that features the line All Creatures Great And Small?

Being a church organist, I'd be ashamed if I got this wrong! All Things Bright And Beautiful.

Great the way that felt for you. It's the right answer!

Daphne, your question

to stay in the game.

Whitney Houston's hits I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You

appeared on the soundtrack of which 1992 film?

-The Bodyguard.

-A steely glare again.

It's the right answer.

The Bodyguard, I Have Nothing and I Will Always Love You.

Starring Kevin Costner, wasn't it?

KEVIN: And Whitney Houston.

Andrew, another question for you.

The album Blue Train released in 1957 is by which jazz musician?

-How's your jazz, Andrew?

-Er... Shaky!

Blue Train, released in 1957.

-If it's '57... It's jazz.

-I need an answer.

It's going to be one of the greats.

Somebody like Charlie Parker, Johnny Coltrane.

ANDREW: Um... The Duke.

-Blue Train. Train, train, train.

-Blue Train.

This is so difficult.

The only...people I think may stick that in the title might be the Duke, Duke Ellington, or Johnny Coltrane.

I'll go for Johnny Coltrane.

You got it! Well done, Andrew.

Well worked out.

John Coltrane. Blue Train.

Well done, Andrew. That is a tough question. By gum, you worked hard.

Let's see if it's enough to win the round.

Daphne, which band had UK top 40 hit singles with Everyday People and Family Affair?

No idea. I pass. Not a clue.

-Congratulations, Andrew.

-You are laying down the sword?

I really don't know. Bands? There's hundreds of them.

I'm taking that pass. I know what you Eggheads are like. Probably have a guess and get it.

Congratulations, Andrew. You're through to the next round.

Everyday People and Family Affair?

-Sly And The Family Stone.

-From Chris!

Sly And The Family Stone.

Daphne didn't hazard a guess.

Andrew worked incredibly hard to give me John Coltrane, the writer and performer of Blue Train.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

That stunning performance has levelled it up, I'm glad to say.

One Egghead missing and one of the Regents so far.

Let's play another round. Getting very exciting.

Who'd like to play this?

Steve, Martyn or Owen?

MARTYN: I wouldn't mind, but you're the captain, it's up to you.

We'll go with what we said, then. We'll play Martyn.

Martyn, who would you like to play? The women have played.

One of the chaps - Kevin, Barry or Chris?

We'd like to try out Barry.

-"Try out Barry."

-REGENTS LAUGH

I know what you mean, in quiz terms.

Let's have Martyn and Barry into the question room.

Martyn, how do you want to play it? Go first or let Barry begin?

I think I'll let Barry begin, please.

This one's for you, Barry.

Which character from the TV soap Dallas was famously brought back from the dead,

when the events in the previous series turned out to be a dream?

The chap who played the man from Atlantis.

-It was Bobby.

-Bobby!

Yes, Bobby is the right answer. Bobby Ewing.

Martyn, how did the central characters in the TV sitcom Steptoe And Son make their living?

-Steptoe And Son?

-Yes.

I used to watch this with my father when I was very small.

I always had visions of a really old man in a sink.

MARTYN: Which isn't nice.

As far as I can remember, I believe they were rag and bone men.

Rag and bone men, Steptoe And Son?

Absolutely right. Chris might do his Albert Steptoe for us.

I do Harold Steptoe, not Albert.

AS HAROLD: You dirty old man!

What is the name of Ali G's girlfriend?

Gosh. I watched a few of these and I never saw a girlfriend ever.

Who's she likely to be?

Katy sounds too English for Ali G.

On no evidence whatsoever I'll go for Suzie.

Ali G's girlfriend is "me Julie".

BARRY: Of course! Yes.

I don't remember seeing her. He talked about her a lot.

I think she's a character that never appears, like Mrs Mainwaring.

The way it stuck in my mind was that cringe-making moment

when Richard Madeley dressed up as Ali G and referred to "me Judy".

Nothing there for Barry.

Chance for Martyn.

In which film did Julia Roberts play a character called Vivian Ward?

I think my better half would be better to answer this question.

MARTYN: Vivian Ward? The name does definitely ring a bell.

Something's making me think Pretty Woman.

Perhaps she was nicknamed Viv. I'm going with Pretty Woman.

Vivian Ward. Julia Roberts. Um...

-Oh, no.

-Barry's got one wrong. A real chance to capitalise.

You have! Correct! Pretty Woman.

This to save yourself, Barry. Cato Fong is a character in which series of films?

Definitely The Pink Panther. I won't do the accent.

Pink Panther. Yeah. Cato Fong.

Martyn, you need to get this

to win the round.

Who plays the British soldier Jody in the 1992 film The Crying Game?

I've not seen this film for many, many years. So this will be...

-At least you've seen it, Martyn.

-This is an educated guess.

I don't think Laurence Fishburne.

I can't remember him in any movies prior to the Tina Turner,

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Something is drawing me to Forest Whitaker.

I'm going to have to take an educated guess at Forest Whitaker.

The British soldier Jody in The Crying Game

is played by Forest Whitaker.

You're through to the final round.

Three out of three.

Impeccable performance, Martyn. Please come back and join your teams.

Another Egghead cracks.

Swung it your way now, The Regents. Eggheads have lost two brains, you've lost one.

Our last head-to-head now. History. Two eligible players.

Steve or Owen, who's it to be?

It's got to be you!

Is that OK?

It has to be Owen. You pulling the age card?

STEVE: Yes.

We'll go with Owen.

-Owen's seen a bit more of it?

-That's what we're going with.

We do go back several thousand years in the category.

But, Owen, who would you like to play?

The Eggheads' two remaining are Kevin and Chris.

Kevin. He's wearing a similar...

-STEVE: We'll go with shirt colours.

-It worked for Andrew!

Let's see if it works again.

Owen and Kevin, please, into the question room to play history.

-First or second, Owen?

-First. I might as well get used to it.

Let's hope this one settles you in.

Owen, good luck.

The Hansom, designed in 1834 by the architect Joseph Hansom,

was what type of transport?

Um... Doesn't ring any bells with bicycle.

I don't know anything about steam engines.

I have heard of a Hansom cab so I'm aiming for cab.

I'll go for cab.

Of course. It's the right answer.

Ho Chi Minh was President of which country between 1954 and 1969?

It was North Vietnam, the leader for most of the Vietnam War.

Yes, it's the right answer.

Good start for you both.

Owen, which King was accused of smuggling a changeling in a warming pan into his wife's chambers

in the desire to produce a male heir?

This is purely down to the fact that he was struggling to have an heir,

-I'd say it's Henry VIII.

-A changeling and warming pan!

It's not Henry VIII. Eggheads?

ALL: James II.

Nothing for you, Owen.

Who denounced Stalin as a brutal despot

in "the secret speech" in the 20th congress of the Communist Party?

It didn't stay secret for long. It became a big news story.

Krushchev, 1956.

Thanks for the date, Kevin. That's the right answer.

You've got to get this, Owen.

Which President of the United States signed the 1812 Declaration of War against Great Britain

because of violations of US maritime rights during the Napoleonic Wars?

This really... I have to really pick one out of the hat.

I'm being pushed towards James Buchanan but I don't know why.

I'm going to go for my gut feeling.

The President who signed that declaration was James...

Madison. James Madison, Owen.

Kevin's 100 percent record

stays intact.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

This is evenly balanced, what we've been playing towards - the final round.

Those of you who lost those head-to-heads won't take part, so Benjy and Owen,

and Daphne and Barry, would you all leave the studio, please?

Steve, Andrew and Martyn, you're playing to win the Regents £7,000.

Chris, Judith and Kevin, you're playing for something which money can't buy, the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn, this time, all general knowledge.

And, of course, big difference, you are allowed to confer.

Regents, are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

Will you go first or second?

-You're the team leader.

-We'll go second.

Here we go, Eggheads.

Rincewind is a character in a series of books by which writer?

Rincewind is a character in a series of books by which writer?

-Let's have a spelling.

-R-I-N-C-E-W-I-N-D

-Pratchett.

-Are you fairly sure?

Yes, Terry Pratchett.

-Bit of discussion.

-But it's Terry Pratchett.

Your two colleagues behind you rather relieved.

It is the correct answer. Rincewind.

Good luck, guys.

The Venus Rosewater Dish is awarded to the ladies' singles champion of which tennis tournament?

The Venus Rosewater Dish...

We're all agreed so we'll go Wimbledon.

So eager I didn't get to read it twice!

You are correct. One each.

Eggheads, second question.

In the 1980s television advertisement for the Yellow Pages,

the fictional author JR Hartley was looking for his book on which sport?

In the 1980s TV advertisement for the Yellow Pages,

the fictional author JR Hartley was looking for his book on which sport?

"I wonder if you have a copy of Fly Fishing..."

It's fly fishing.

They ask for his name and it's JR Hartley. It's the right answer.

Some publisher did bring out a book called Fly Fishing by JR Hartley.

Regents, in which decade did the Thames Barrier become operational?

In which decade did the Thames Barrier become operational?

No, it can't be the '80s.

-Don't rule it out.

-"Operational".

I know it was being built during the '70s but if you think the '80s.

I'm tempted to go towards that.

We're all tempted but we're not 100 percent sure.

-The '80s.

-OK, I heard that you think construction started in the '70s.

-Believe so, yeah.

-The question was clear, "become operational".

You've got it. Well done.

Two each.

Important questions coming up.

Which philosopher argued that unenlightened humans were like people in a cave

who assumed that the shadows on the wall were real?

-Definitely Plato.

-Certainly not Machiavelli.

It's called the Analogy of the Cave.

-Definitely Plato.

-Not Heidegger?

-No.

It's Plato.

Plato is correct. Yes, shadows on the cave wall.

Regents, you put them in first. They haven't done what you hoped for.

This takes us to sudden death, if, of course, you get it.

Which Hollywood star was pelted with flour thrown by protesting feminists

when he hosted the 1970 Miss World competition?

Which Hollywood star was pelted with flour thrown by protesting feminists

when he hosted the 1970 Miss World competition?

-Who's likely not to be liked by feminists?

-Jack Nicholson.

Or Charlton Heston.

Bob Hope is so loveable!

I thought Jack or Bob, I'd rather go with Jack rather than Charlton.

Charlton Heston's likely to be a bigger star.

-But would he be disliked?

-Yes, he would.

-Let's go with Heston.

-Are you happy, Martyn?

-Yeah.

-Andrew?

-Pretty sure.

OK, let's go for Heston.

We'll go for Charlton Heston. Not confident at all.

I can tell that. Charlton Heston. The 1970 Miss World competition.

And the answer's Bob Hope.

Oh, no!

You have some consolation in that he wasn't really front of the list.

He'd have been third choice.

It does mean, Eggheads, you've won.

Yeah, Jack Nicholson

and Miss World - like putting a kid in charge of a sweetie shop!

Bad luck.

Very, very close game and some great individual performances.

Thanks very much for playing today, Regents.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £7,000.

The money rolls over. Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us to see if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£8,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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