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,

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've won

some of the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on the awesome might of our quiz goliaths today

are the Middleton Moonrakers from Lancashire.

Alongside his own quizzing expertise as the question-setter for the local

quiz league, team captain, Barry,

has recruited four of his quizziest friends, if that's a word,

including the brains of Rochdale and Yorkshire to challenge the Eggheads.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Barry, I'm 66 years old and I'm a retired printer.

Hi, I'm Geoff, I too am 66 years old

and I'm a retired shipping account executive.

Hi, I'm Ian, I'm 52, I'm a retired marketing controller.

Hi, I'm Mick. I'm 57 and I'm a retired office manager.

Hello, I'm John, I'm 64 years old and I am a retired school teacher.

Welcome to you, Middleton Moonrakers and your quizzy friends.

Tell me about the team name, what is the Moonraker bit?

Middleton's a small town to the north of Manchester and we're known

as Moonrakers because legend has it, in days gone by, a long time ago,

some drunken men,

like us, on the way home from the pub saw the moon in a pond

and thought they'd rake it out and take it home with them

-so the name's stuck.

-So tell me about the quizzing, Barry.

You've recruited your finest pals here?

John, Ian and I

have been playing together for 30 years.

Nick's been playing with us for about 20

and Geoff's the new kid on the block.

Still wet behind the ears, is he?

Still wet behind the ears,

but I'm sure he'll give a good account of himself.

Let me tell you what happens.

I'm sure you know, but let's just confirm it.

There's £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 Middleton Moonrakers,

the challengers actually won the last game

proving it can be done

and that means £1,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Let's set about the task. First head-to-head today is Politics.

-Who'd like to play Politics?

-We decided.

That's me. That's me, Dermot.

I'm going to be the sacrificial lamb!

Young Geoff. Who would you like to play from the Eggheads,

-Geoff?

-Shall I try Daphne?

Geoff and Daphne into the Question Room,

please, just to make sure you can't confer.

So, Geoff, do you have an interest in politics, current affairs,

things like that?

I like to keep abreast of most things, Dermot,

but, yes, I do have more than a passing interest in politics.

Good, good, just as well. Would you like to go first or second?

Having given it due consideration, we've decided

I've got to go first please, Dermot.

You're sounding like a politician there

saying, "having given it due consideration."

That's political phraseology. Here's your first question then, Geoff.

In 2009 it was revealed that which MP claimed expenses twice

for having a lavatory seat repaired?

This is one

that I have got to really think about

because there were an awful lot at this time

including duck houses and all sorts of things.

This one particularly doesn't spring to mind.

I'm sure it wasn't John Prescott, Eric Pickles, I'm not...

I think I'll go for Nicholas Soames.

Nicholas Soames.

The lavatory seat claims

came from John Prescott.

It was John Prescott.

OK, Daphne.

What term is often used to describe

the circle of MPs, political journalists, spin doctors

and others connected to the House of Commons and the House of Lords?

I've never heard of that expression.

To me, I'd go to Westminster Village

because of the gossipiness.

That's the right answer.

Well done, Daphne,

you've worked that out.

Geoff, which American president was suddenly taken ill at dinner

during a state visit to Japan

vomiting and collapsing into the lap of his host,

Japanese Prime Minister, Miyazawa.

I'm certainly a little bit happier with this question

Dermot, I believe that I do know the answer to this,

Ronald Reagan - no, Richard Nixon - no,

I am sure it was good old George HW.

George HW Bush, George W Bush's father.

George Bush Snr when he was president there at the end

of the '80s, the beginning of the '90s. You are right, yes.

Daphne, what's the name of the crown worn by the Queen

during the state opening of Parliament?

Gosh, I don't know.

For some reason I hope it's St Edward's Crown?

St Edward's Crown.

A guess?

It is a guess, sorry.

It's a wrong one too.

-Imperial State Crown?

-Imperial State Crown.

And leaves it all square

so Geoff still very much back in it.

This to take the lead.

The 1997 Dearing Report looked into the future of what?

The Dearing Report. Again I'll have to put my thinking cap on.

I don't think it was...

the armed forces.

There seems to be a lot happening

with the NHS, but on this one I think I would down the middle

and go for higher education.

Daphne went down the middle

and missed it. You though,

it's a hit. It's the right one. Higher education.

And Daphne.

-I know.

-It means you've got to get this.

In 1981 who became

the first woman to be appointed as a member of America's Supreme Court?

I think

it's Sandra Day O'Connor.

-Put me out of my misery, Dermot.

-You think?

I'm just looking at the other Eggheads.

It is Sandra Day O'Connor. It is correct.

So it's all square

and that means, Geoff, we go to sudden death

and we take away the multiple choice

and I've got to hear an answer from you.

When the abbreviation NOC is used on a list of results

for local government elections, for what does the O stand?

I can't honestly

say I remember ever seeing this in local elections.

I'll just have a guess at other.

Other is incorrect. It's no overall control. Overall.

NOC. No overall control.

So, Daphne,

Boutros Boutros-Ghali,

the former Secretary General of the United Nations

was born in which country?

Egypt?

It is the right answer.

Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Egyptian.

So, you have managed to clinch that round.

Bad luck, Geoff.

I thought you might have done it in sudden death.

Foxed with no overall control.

You won't be playing in the final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

After the first round the Middleton Moonrakers are one brain down.

The Eggheads, all still there.

Our next subject today is going to be Arts & Books.

Who'd like to play this? It can't be you, Geoff.

-I think it's you, Mick.

-I think it's you, Mick.

-It's me, then.

-I think it's you, Mick.

Who would you like to play from the Eggheads? It can't be Daphne.

I think I'll try Chris, please.

Chris on Arts & Books. There we are.

An academic subject, Chris.

And about time too, Dermot!

HE LAUGHS

OK, let's have Mick and Chris into the Question Room, please.

So, Mick, in relation to this category,

what's your favourite reading material?

I've been reading a lot of science fiction books,

but recently I've started reading a lot of exploration,

mountain climbing, biography type books.

What about the greats of literature?

I'm not really good on the greats, on the classics.

I'm a lot better on popular books, I think.

All kinds come up in this category, certainly plenty of science fiction.

Let's see what you get.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first, please.

First it is. This is your question, Mick.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks" is the line

spoken by which character in the Shakespeare play Romeo And Juliet?

I'm not very good on Shakespeare, but I do know that's Romeo.

Did you like my delivery, Eggheads?

Do you think if Trevor Nunn is watching I'm in there? The RSC?

A grand future awaiting you.

We'll put in a good word.

Romeo is correct.

"But soft! What light through yonder window breaks."

And, Chris,

in what setting does the majority of the story

in Paul Gallico's 1969 novel The Poseidon Adventure take place?

It's set in a capsized ocean liner.

Ocean liner is correct

for The Poseidon Adventure.

And back to you, Mick, your second question.

In Keats' poem Isabella

where does the eponymous heroine

hide her murdered lover's severed head?

I don't know the poem,

but if I was hiding a severed head I'd hide it in a vase.

Isabella wasn't that clever, she went for a pot of basil.

A pot of basil.

And, Chris, your second question.

The impressionist artist Berthe Morisot

became the sister-in-law of which French painter

when she married his brother Eugene in 1874?

Hmm.

It would have to be a pure guess here, Dermot.

I think Renoir was actually slightly later.

I'll have to go with Edouard Manet.

It's correct. Well done, Chris.

So you've got some work to do, Mick, starting here.

Never Let Me Go is the 2005 novel by which Booker Prize winner?

It's not one I've heard of here

so again it's going to have to be another guess.

I think I'll guess at...

Kazuo Ishiguro.

It's the right answer.

You've got to hope Chris doesn't get this.

Chris, in which borough of London

was the playwright Harold Pinter born and brought up?

Ah, yes, he's a Jewish lad,

isn't he, from Stamford Hill which is part of the borough of Hackney.

Do you know your London well?

And it is Hackney. It's the right answer, Chris.

Not enough there with that Booker Prize answer, Mick.

Good answer, but didn't get your pot of basil on the second one.

You won't be in the final round.

Please, come back and join you teams.

Well, second round gone and second member

of the Middleton Moonrakers gone.

All the Eggheads are still there.

Our next subject, it's Music now.

Who would like to play this? Barry, Ian

-or John? John, would you fancy it?

-Yes.

OK. Which Egghead would you like to play, Barry, Pat or Judith?

I think I'll trade blows with Barry.

"Trade blows"? That could be quite a tussle there.

Shall we just have a fight instead of a quiz?!

Let's have John and Barry into the Question Room to play Music.

John, I believe you're a part-time registrar.

Have you helped many couples tie the knot?

Yes, I have, Dermot. I've been doing it now for over six years

and I've married... I thought maybe 300,

but probably 400 couples including my sister-in-law

who came down from Scotland to be married by me.

Fantastic. Now, John, would you like to go first or second?

I'll follow the tradition and go first.

Let's see if we can get you through, John.

Your first question.

Sweet Little Mystery

and Angel Eyes were UK hit singles in 1987 for which band?

I've heard of all three of them, but I haven't got a clue

what any of them recorded so this is going to be a guess.

I'm going to go for...

M People.

It is Wet Wet Wet.

Not M People. So, Barry,

which French word is used to describe

an extra performance of a musical piece at the end of a recital?

The French don't actually use this word.

If they want a repeat performance

they shout out "biz".

But the word we use in England is encore.

Encore, you've got it, correct.

And second question,

let's get you off the mark, John,

in the song Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

features in which musical?

Right, I'm fairly sure it's not Showboat.

I went for the first

last time, I'm going for the first again this time,

Meet Me In St Louis.

I thought you'd go off the first one,

but luckily you didn't cos it's the right answer.

Meet Me In St Louis.

One to you and Barry's second question.

You've Come A Long Way Baby

was a UK number one album by which artist in 1998?

The wheels rather came off for me in the last game

and I've a feeling they're going to be doing it again on this question.

I don't think it's a Madonna album

and I haven't a clue about any Eminem albums

so I'll go for Fatboy Slim.

It is Fatboy Slim, it is correct.

You're back in the lead and, John, you need to get this.

Which country singer known for his yodelling had hits in America

with Miss The Mississippi And You and Brakeman's Blues?

It wasn't Jim Reeves, I'm sure of that.

I'll go for, because I like her very much, Gene Autry.

Gene Autry for yodelling,

Miss The Mississippi And You and Brakeman's Blues.

It's Jimmie Rodgers.

Jimmie Rogers, John, so I'm afraid you're attempt at knocking Barry out

has failed. He's got those two on the border.

A score you can't beat with just the one out of three.

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

As it stands now, three brains gone from the Middleton Moonrakers team. None of the Eggheads.

Time to get that quiz rake out and pull some of these Eggheads out of the competition.

Last head-to-head before the final round is Sport.

We are down to two.

I saw Ian go, "Here we go."

All right, Ian. Your choices are Pat or Judith.

I'll play Judith, please.

OK. Let's have Ian and Judith into the question room, please.

Ian, would you like to go first or second?

I'll stick with tradition and go first please, Dermot.

Good luck. First question to you.

Which football team won the English Premier League title in May 2009?

It pains me to say it was Manchester United.

You are from that part of the world. Can I take it from that

that you support the other team in Manchester, or another one?

-I support another one, actually. I support Leeds United.

-Oh, I see.

You made Barry very happy.

A fellow Loiner there,

as I learnt very recently.

Manchester United won the Premier League title in 2009.

Judith, Shane Warne is one of the greatest-ever exponents of which discipline in the game of cricket?

Not a wicketkeeper.

I'm fairly sure he's a bowler.

So the middle one.

That would be it. A middle one for all those middle stumps he took out.

Leg-spin bowling. Well done.

Ian, in which year did Billie Jean King win

the ladies' singles competition at Wimbledon for the last time?

I'm fairly sure she didn't play as late as 1985.

And 1965 seems a tad early because I know she won it quite a few times.

So I'll plump for 1975, please.

That's correct. 1975, Billie Jean King's last title at Wimbledon.

And, Judith, what was the time in seconds

run by Michael Johnson when he broke the 400 metres world record at the 1999 Athletics World Championships?

I have absolutely no idea.

I have no idea! I have nothing to base it on at all.

It's a one-in-three guess, then.

400 metres in...

..well, he ran fast. 43.

I don't know.

He ran fast. He did run fast because he did break the world record.

43.18, you think. That's correct, Judith. You've got it.

Well done. All square

and going into the third question each, this for you, Ian.

The Italian Giacomo Agostini and the Australian Michael Doohan

are former world champions in which sport?

Well, I follow boxing to a certain extent

and I don't recall those names in connection with boxing.

They don't ring a bell as being rowers, either,

so I guess that leaves motorcycling, please, Dermot.

It's the right answer. Well done.

Have you made your way into the final round with that?

In May 2009, it was announced Jonny Wilkinson was leaving

Newcastle Falcons to join which French rugby union club?

Oh, dear.

I didn't read this.

If I were him, I'd go and join Stade Francais, I think, because that's the one in Paris, isn't it?

Well, Jonny, ignoring Judith's advice, he signed for Toulon.

He went to Toulon after Newcastle Falcons,

which means you've done it, Middleton Moonrakers.

You've got somebody into the final round. That is Ian. Well done.

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

So this is what we've been playing towards.

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

I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads

won't be allowed to take part in this round, so Geoff, Mick and John from the Middleton Moonrakers

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

So, Barry and Ian, you're playing to win the Middleton Moonrakers £1,000.

Daphne, Chris, Barry and Pat, you're playing for something which money can't buy -

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.

Middleton Moonrakers, are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Barry and Ian, would you like to go first or second?

We'll go first, please, Dermot.

Best of luck to you, Barry and Ian. Here's your first question.

What name is given to the practice of skimming stones across the surface of water?

It's certainly not cobs and pens.

It doesn't sound as though it should be ganders and hens.

It's definitely ducks and drakes.

It is ducks and drakes, the right answer, of course.

Eggheads, who was appointed Chief Scout in May 2009?

Who was appointed Chief Scout in May 2009?

We think it's Bear Grylls, television adventurer.

Bear Grylls is correct. Well done.

Good start there for Ian and Barry. Your second question,

what was the name of the short, full skirt usually layered or with rows of frills popular in the 1980s?

I've not really come across a prairie or a tulip.

I thought ra-ra was earlier than the '80s,

but I'm going to say, we've decided,

we haven't heard of tulip or prairie, so we're going for ra-ra.

The short, full skirt usually layered or with rows of frills was the ra-ra.

It is the right answer.

It's pretty popular now again.

So you have two. Eggheads, is it beginning to slip away again?

We'll find out with this question.

The Brazilian Sebastiao Salgado is best known for his work in which area of the arts?

I'm not sure. I don't know. He could be a photographer.

I don't think he's a sculptor.

I'm not sure, it's just a hunch. He's a photographer.

Go for that.

We'll go for photography, but it's just a hunch. Not confident.

Salgado is a photographer. It's the right answer.

Just the hunch maybe saving your bacon. OK,

close there, Middleton Moonrakers. Get this right and the pressure will go back on the Eggheads.

Your third question. Which English cathedral is famous for its imp?

The football team in Lincoln is nicknamed the Red Imps.

The Red Imps.

I would think on that basis we have to go for Lincoln.

We know the Lincoln football team are nicknamed the Red Imps,

so we're going to go for Lincoln.

OK, through the football team

and their nickname, imp. You've got it, well done. Lincoln.

So, Eggheads, if you don't get this, it'll be two in a row.

In the long-running Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs,

how many pieces of music are the guests allowed to choose?

In the long-running Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs,

how many pieces of music are the guests allowed to choose?

We believe it's eight pieces.

Yes, it is eight.

It is the right answer.

So we go to sudden death.

And a very, very, assured performance so far

from Ian and Barry, but sudden death means we take away the multiple choice.

Just got to hear an answer from you.

Your sudden-death question is this.

Which comedian, perhaps as well known for her plastic surgery as for her jokes,

was born Joan Molinsky in 1933?

Which famous comedian, perhaps as well known for her plastic surgery

as for her jokes, was born Joan Molinsky in 1933?

It is a Jewish name. She is Jewish, it's Joan Rivers.

John Rivers is correct, yes.

Or Joan Molinsky.

Eggheads,

people whose birthdays fall between November 22nd and December 21st

are considered to have been born under which sign of the zodiac?

People whose birthdays fall between November 22nd and December 21st

are considered to have been born under which sign of the zodiac?

I'm a Sagittarian.

It's Sagittarius.

Two birthdays falling within said sign, it is Sagittarius.

Back to Ian and Barry.

What is the usual name given to the rail fixed horizontally

to an interior wall at waist height to protect the wall decoration?

What's the usual name given to the rail fixed horizontally

to an interior wall at waist height to protect the wall decoration?

I spent a fortnight putting one up and I only mean one piece.

It's a dado rail.

It is the right answer. Well done.

OK, Eggheads, right.

The Cobalt Silver Rush and the Porcupine Gold Rush

took place in which country in the early part of the 20th century?

Silver and gold? Canada.

A huge mining country. It is vast.

Early 20th century.

-Klondike was 1896, so it's post-Klondike.

-Cobalt.

Could it be Australia, though?

It certainly could be. The porcupine is an African animal, but that doesn't help us.

Why would they call it porcupine?

In the USA, there are porcupines.

That's suggesting USA.

Reno and Nevada?

I don't really know.

I have a hunch for Canada.

I think there is a town called Cobalt in Nevada.

I think. I'm not sure.

What do people fancy?

USA.

I've come to that as well.

OK. We think it's either Canada

or the United States.

-And on balance, we're going to go for the United States.

-OK.

United States. The Cobalt Silver Rush and the Porcupine Gold Rush

took place in the early part of the 20th century in...

..Canada.

Which means you have won, Middleton Moonrakers.

Well, that's another back-to-back defeat for the Eggheads.

They keep doing this. This is the seventh time you've followed up a loss with a loss.

That was a bit different from a dado rail.

Let's focus on your performance. Well played, Middleton Moonrakers. Particularly Ian there.

It was very important you made it through there to the final round.

You were in the last head-to-head. The first three went against you.

Geoff, Mick and John tried valiantly but couldn't get past the Eggheads.

You did and gave Barry some valuable back-up in the final round and look what's happened!

You've taken the money and the Eggheads' crown again.

So congratulations to you, Middleton Moonrakers. Do join us next time on Eggheads

to see if a new team of challengers will be just as successful.

Until then, goodbye.

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