Episode 97 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 country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

And challenging our resident quiz Goliaths today

are the Marketors. This team are all livery men with

the Worshipful Company of Marketors.

And as such are all members of trade associations in the City of London.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm June. I'm 59 and I'm a director of a fashion house.

Hi, I'm Jane. I'm 49. I'm a portfolio worker and writer.

Hello, I'm Kathy. I'm 61 and a company director.

Hello, I'm Gerry. I'm 44 and I'm a marketing consultant.

Hi, I'm Jenny. I'm 61 and I'm a marketing consultant.

June, welcome. How did you all meet?

We all met through the Marketors. That's how we got together.

And we thought what a lovely idea to come on Eggheads and join you.

Good luck to you. Every day there is ?1,000 worth of cash up for grabs

for our Challengers. However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Marketors, the Eggheads have won the last two games,

which means ?3,000 says you can't beat them.

First head-to-head battle is on Geography. Who wants this?

What do you think, girls? That's me out, I think.

What do you think? Shall I do it? Yes. Would you do it, Jenny? Yes.

Lovely, you're very good on the old Geography.

Who do you like the look of over here? What do you think?

I think I'll start gently with Daphne.

Oh, Daphne!

OK. Jenny from the Marketors against Daphne from the Eggheads.

And to ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions in the Question Room.

Jenny, good luck. Do you want the first or second set of questions

First, please.

Good luck to you.

First question. Colombo is the largest city in which Asian country?

Well, I don't think it's India.

And Pakistan...

well, it could be Pakistan.

But I think I'm going to go for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka...is correct. You're off the blocks.

Phew!

Hi, Daphne. Hello.

Which strait lies between Canada's Baffin Island and Greenland?

That would be the Davis Strait.

Well done, Daphne, absolutely right. Tricky question as well.

Jenny, your question.

Goonhilly, where the first transatlantic TV transmission

was received in 1962, is in which English county?

Gosh, I've been there, too.

And all the C's...

that doesn't make it any easier.

Cheshire, Cumbria or Cornwall.

I'm afraid I'm going to have plump for Cornwall.

Has she got it right, Eggheads?

Oh, yes. Yes, well done. Cornwall it is. Good stuff.

Daphne, for which industry is the Staffordshire town

of Burton upon Trent most famous?

That would be where they make a lot of beer, Jeremy.

So, it's brewing.

Brewing is right. Level pegging. Third question.

Don't worry.

Which of the Great Lakes of North America

has the smallest surface area, Jenny?

I can tell you which is the largest.

But that's not going to help, is it?

Ontario. I don't think it's that.

I think maybe it's Huron or Erie.

I'm going to go for Huron.

Huron. Any one know on this side?

It's Erie. Been round it on my motorbike.

It's not Erie, actually. It's not Huron.

It's Ontario. Oh, is it? Yeah.

Which you ruled out. Daphne, your chance

to take the round. Which geographical term

concerns the process by which snow and ice is lost from a glacier?

Oh! Never heard of this.

I'm going to guess...

and honestly it's a real guess...

at chelation.

Chelation, Daphne. And normally your guesses are so good.

It's rotten, isn't it? It's not the right one. It's ablation.

Right, OK.

How's that, Jenny? Second chance.

Second chance, exactly.

So we move now to Sudden Death. That bit harder.

This is not multiple choice. Which Australian city was named

after the queen consort of William IV?

I'm just running through the cities that are coming into my mind.

And nothing marries up with the wife of William IV.

The only name that I can think of that's a Christian name is Victoria.

Not Victoria, actually. Adelaide.

Adelaide.

Let's go to Daphne. Daphne,

the city of Boston is the capital of which US state?

Boston, Massachusetts.

You're right. And so you've taken the round, Daphne.

You'll be in the final. Sorry, Jenny.

You were beaten by our Egghead

so won't be able to support your team in the final round.

Both of you come back and join us here in the studio.

You've lost one brain from the final round. They have lost no brains.

Next round is Arts Books. Who wants this?

Girls, what do you think... Arts Books?

I'm not bad at Arts Books. Do you want to do it?

I could do Arts Books, I suppose. Do Arts Books?

I can't see anyone else leaping forward. Want to do Arts Books?

Who do you fancy going against? Thank you, Jane. Shall I try Chris?

He looks very nice and jolly. He does. I think he looks nice.

Yeah. All right. Chris, then.

OK. Jane against Chris on Arts Books. Please take your positions.

Three questions on Arts Books in turn.

Jane, would you like the first or second set?

I think we'll go with ladies first, please.

Here we go. What is the first name of the youngest Bennet daughter

in Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice?

OK, this was my favourite book at school.

I wanted to be Elizabeth Bennet.

I didn't want to be Jane.

She's a bit simpering.

And I know it's not either of those because Jane was the eldest.

Elizabeth was the second eldest.

So, it must be Lydia.

Fantastic. I love the way you got to that.

Chris, which artistic term refers to the altered state

of the colour or texture of a surface due to age or usage?

That is the agglomeration of stale varnish and dust.

Anyway, it's patina.

Quite right. Patina's the right answer.

Back to you, Jane.

Whose painting, entitled No 5, 1948,

is believed to have become the world's most expensive,

when it reportedly changed hands in 2006 for $140 million?

I was really hoping we weren't go to get a question on Art.

I don't think it was Vincent van Gogh.

I can't imagine it was Jackson Pollock,

only because I can't imagine

anybody paying that much for Jackson Pollock.

So I hope...

that it's Pablo Picasso.

Sounds right for Pablo Picasso.

But it's Jackson Pollock.

Oh, no!

Yup, Jackson Pollock.

Chris, you can take the lead.

Which author lived in an East Sussex country house

called Bateman's for more than 30 years?

Yeah, Bateman's was the country house of Rudyard Kipling,

after he came back from India.

You're right. Point to you.

Back to Jane. You need this now.

In 1983 where did the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude

surround 11 islands with 6.5 million square feet

of shiny pink propylene fabric?

I'm afraid this is going to be a pure guess,

with hopefully some logic thrown in.

I'm thinking of islands now.

And I know there are lots of islands around all those places.

But I would have thought...

You see, Miami sounds good

because it's a sort of pink propylene place.

I don't know whether the people of Bangkok

would allow pink propylene.

And Stockholm is just a bit staid, maybe. I don't know.

Oh, dear.

I'm going to go with Miami.

Be confident. It's right.

Oh! Well done.

Pink propylene place.

Chris, this for the round.

Which author's prize-winning novels have included Sacred Country,

Restoration and Music Silence?

Well, I can't say I recognise the titles.

But the most prolific prizewinner of those three is AS Byatt.

So that'll have to be my answer.

Eggheads? Rose Tremain.

Rose Tremain is the answer, Chris. So, level pegging.

You've hung on in there, Jane. We go to Sudden Death.

In William Makepeace Thackeray's novel Vanity Fair,

George Osborne dies during which famous battle?

I'm going to say...

..for no apparent reason, Waterloo.

And you're right.

Chris, to you. What is the first name of the title character

in Louis de Bernieres novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin?

He's Italian.

Enrico?

Your answer is Enrico?

It was Antonio, Chris.

So, Jane, well done.

You've taken on one of the Eggheads.

You've emerged triumphant. Good news for the Challengers,

because you'll be able to join your team in the final round.

Please both of you rejoin us here in the studio.

As it stands, the Challengers and the Eggheads have lost

one brain each from the final round. Next subject is Music.

Who would like this?

It's one of us three, isn't it?

You're our musician, what do you think?

If it's modern, I've no chance. Well, me neither.

Me neither. What do you think?

I'll do it. Yup. Fancy it? Right, Kathy.

OK. Which Egghead? Shall we try Barry? What about Barry?

I like Barry. Yes, Barry.

We don't know Barry's... We don't know much about Barry.

But Barry looks jolly. Yes.

OK. So, Kathy from the Marketors versus Barry from the Eggheads.

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

OK, we're on Music now. And I know that you, Kathy, play the trombone?

I do. Let's see if the trombone comes up here.

Would you like the first or second set of questions? I'd like to go first, please.

Kathy, what title was shared by a UK number-one single

for Frankie Goes To Hollywood in 1984

and a UK number-one single for Jennifer Rush in 1985?

Well, there was one song that I used to

sing to myself and say to myself...

all the time when I was learning to ride my motorbike.

And that was Relax.

And I know that Frankie Goes To Hollywood sang that.

So, that's the one I'm going to go for. Relax.

They did, but they also sang the other two.

And the correct answer was The Power Of Love.

OK.

Sorry. Barry, Fran Healy is lead vocalist with which Scottish band?

Gosh. I've heard the name.

For some reason I think it's Travis.

But I'm not sure on this one.

Travis is correct. Well, done.

OK, Kathy, make up some ground now if you can.

In which role did the Spanish-born classical artist

Victoria de los Angeles achieve fame?

Erm, I don't know a lot of female conductors.

So, I'm going to rule that one out.

I'm going to go with cello player.

She was actually an opera singer, in fact. Unlucky.

Barry, who founded the Memphis-based Sun Records

and nurtured the careers of Elvis Presley,

Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis?

He probably had one of the best ears for talent

of anybody who's ever been involved in the music industry.

It was Sam Phillips.

Sam Phillips is absolutely right.

So, you have two. Which means there is no way back

for you, Kathy, in this round, I'm afraid.

So, Barry will be in the final.

Kathy, you were beaten by our Egghead.

Do please rejoin us in the studio.

So, Challengers have lost two brains from the final round.

Eggheads have lost one. And the last subject is Sport.

Sorry. Can we have another subject?

Do we have to have that one?

It's the last one we wanted. Well, what do you think?

It's you or me. That's my one.

Do you want to stay in for...?

Yeah, OK. I'll, I'll, I'll have a go. I'll have a go.

It's really not my subject.

I'll do it. Gerry, OK. Which Egghead?

CJ or Kevin? Gosh.

CJ or Kevin. What do you think? Shall we go with CJ?

He's wearing the same colour.

That's why you should be with him. That's a good idea.

Our children will be beautiful.

Very pink. OK. Gerry from the Marketors

versus CJ from the Eggheads to the Question Room, please.

Gerry, three questions. And you can choose the first or second set.

I'll go for the first please, Jeremy.

OK, good luck.

In which sport did the New Orleans Saints defeat the San Diego Chargers

37-32 at Wembley in 2008?

OK. This really isn't my subject.

Let me think.

Sounds a bit more like American football.

However, ice hockey's very, very popular as well.

Basketball.

New Orleans Saints.

I'm going to go with basketball.

I'm afraid that's wrong. It was American football at Wembley.

CJ, your chance for the advantage.

What is the nickname of the British boxer David Haye?

Well, there's a boxing punch called the haymaker.

So, let's assume that's been applied to him. The Hayemaker.

CJ, you're right. Hayemaker it is.

Back to you, Gerry. The professional snooker player Neil Robertson

was born in which country?

Neil Robertson.

Could be any one of the three.

I'm going to go with Australia.

Is she right, Eggheads? Yup.

Yes, you are. Australia.

OK, CJ, what name is given to the home ground

of the rugby league team, The Castleford Tigers?

I've heard of The Jungle as a ground.

And I don't think it's in football.

So, let's go for The Jungle.

Your answer is The Jungle.

You're right. Well, done.

OK, Gerry, your third question.

You need this one. In the 1966 football World Cup Final,

which of England's four goals was scored by Martin Peters?

OK. I am not familiar with who scored any of those. So...

And I haven't heard his name before.

So, I'm going to go with second.

Because that's more obscure than first.

The second goal is right.

Good on you. Well, done.

CJ, this to take the round. Which boxer was chosen to be

Ring Magazine's fighter of the year in 2005,

becoming the first British-born fighter to win

since the title was founded in 1928?

I've got nothing to go on apart from the fact that

the year before, Amir Khan won the silver medal at the Olympics.

Let's try Amir Khan.

That's wrong. It's Ricky Hatton.

OK. So, Gerry, Sudden Death. A bit harder. Not multiple choice.

Here we go. Which England fast bowler, nicknamed Typhoon,

had a test bowling average of 18.56

and liked to quote Shakespeare and Wordsworth to batsmen?

I can't even think of a fast bowler.

Ramprakash. That's the only person I can think of.

Ramprakash, it was not. Frank Tyson is the answer.

Oh. CJ, this for the round.

Which English city has a racecourse called The Roodee,

where horse racing has taken place since 1540?

How are you spelling Roodee, please?

R-O-O-D-E-E

As if that helps me, of course.

Let's just pick a city with a racecourse. Chester.

They're laughing because you're right.

Ha! Chester it was.

Sorry, Gerry. You won't be in the final.

Do both of you come back to us here.

So, this is what we've been playing towards -

it's time for the final round which, as always,

is General Knowledge. Those of you who lost your head to heads

won't be allowed to take part.

So, Kathy, Gerry and Jenny from the Marketors, and Chris from the Eggheads, would you please leave?

So, June and Jane, you're playing to win the Marketors ?3,000.

Kevin, CJ, Daphne and Barry, 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 it's General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

So, Marketors,

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

Oh, yes, I think so. Good. Every hope, every hope.

First or second set of questions?

Shall we go first? I think so. We'll go first.

Which James Bond actor played Sam Carmichael

in the 2008 film Mamma Mia!?

OK. I think it's Pierce Brosnan. What do you think?

I saw the film and I remember he sung a bit flat.

Uh, yes. I wouldn't care if he sang flat or not. Do you like him? Yes.

He is very attractive. Shall we...

Shall we go for Pierce? Yes. We'll go for Pierce Brosnan.

Brilliant. Pierce Brosnan is right.

Point to you.

The film is the most successful ever at the British box office,

overtaking Titanic.

And it's estimated that now nearly a third of all British homes

have a copy of the DVD. Isn't that amazing?

I've got one.

I saw it. I saw it when I was away.

So, it was a fun film.

OK, Eggheads. Which astrological age is culturally linked

with an era of freedom and brotherhood, that's said to have started during the 1960s?

I think it's dawning. The attention for the first one who sings.

It's the Age of Aquarius, Jeremy. Quite right.

One all.

Over to you.

Solanum tuberosum is the botanical name for what?

Solanum tuberosum.

Is the botanical name for what?

Could you just spell the first?

S-O-L-A-N-U-M and then T-U-B-E-R-O-S-U-M.

OK. A tuber is a potato, isn't it? I don't, I don't...

Well, a tuber is a.... Potato. Bulb-type thing, isn't it?

So, it's... I doubt it's oak, because oak comes from a nut.

The tree and it's tree-ish.

And daffodil... you see, tuberosum.

Although daffodil's got a bulb as well. It's got a bulb. Sol is sun.

And daffodil is yellow. As is sun.

Potato... But I was thinking of tuberosum is the tuber of the potato.

Yes. I think we should take out oak. What do you think?

Yes. Oak should go. Oak should go.

Right. So, it's the... What was the first word again?

Solanum, which is what's making me think daffodil.

Solanum tuberosum. Yes, OK. It's yellowy, isn't it? The sun's yellowy.

Well, I'm going to pass the buck because you're the captain.

OK. I'll be captain and we'll make a decision. We'll go daffodil.

It's wrong. Potato.

Oh! Gosh, gosh. Oh, well.

Tuber, yeah. Tuber, yeah.

Sunny, sunny. Thought it was a sunny tuber.

OK, Eggheads. Which composer's Waltz in D flat major, opus 64, No. 1

is used as the signature tune for Just A Minute on Radio 4?

That's Chopin. The Minute Waltz.

Chopin is right. Well done.

So, you need this. If you don't get it right, they've won.

In the abbreviation ADSL, for broadband computer networking,

for what does the letter D stand?

ADSL.

ADSL. I think... Dynamic?

I don't think it's dynamic.

Well, shall we take out dynamic and think about digital or data?

Mind you, we did that last time.

Yeah, I know. I know. We took out the middle one.

Well, I just don't think it is dynamic.

So, it's got to be data or digital, I think.

Well, what shall we do?

I don't know.

Try data or shall we try the digital?

One's going to be right. One's going to be wrong.

Well, you choose based on your instinct.

My instinct would go for digital. But I could be wrong. OK.

Let's go for digital. We're going to go for digital.

Digital is right.

Oh, gosh!

OK. Still, Eggheads, you can take it now if you get this one right.

What is the subtitle of the 2008 film Hellboy II?

It's The Golden Army, Jeremy.

How do you know that?

I haven't actually seen it, but you... I've seen it and got the DVD.

I've seen it and I enjoy Ron Perlman in it very much. He's in it.

That's him on the cover. Ha!

The Golden Army is your answer and it is correct.

Congratulations, Eggheads, you've won.

Well, commiserations to you. It's been great having you on board.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them. They reign supreme over quiz land.

So, you won't be going home with the ?3,000, I'm afraid,

which means that money rolls over to our next show. Eggheads, well done.

Who will beat you? Join us next time to see

if a new team of Challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

?4,000 says they don't. Till then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]

I need five minutes of your time. When I say five minutes, I'm lying.

I've got to go and give a lecture. I've seen it. It's great.