Episode 137 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 a team of five quiz challengers

try to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

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

Taking on the might of our quiz Goliaths today

are Beat IT. This team of IT professionals work closely together

on projects for the city of Liverpool. Let's meet them.

Hi, my name's Alan. I'm 54 and I'm an IT project manager.

I'm Richard, I'm 50. I'm a service design and strategy manager.

Hi, I'm Graham, I'm 48 and I'm a senior IT project manager.

Hi, I'm Colin, I'm 44 and I'm an ICT development manager.

Hello, I'm Derek, I'm 51. I'm a senior ICT project manager.

-Alan and team, welcome.

-Thank you.

-So, IT professionals, you're doing all different kinds of computing?

We mainly work on information technology projects, some complex and some not so complex.

-How long have you been doing IT?

-I've been with the council for 25 years.

I've been in IT since 1974.

I thought there wasn't any IT in 1974?

-There was in the health service.

-A computer?

-A massive, big computer.

-So it filled the room and it just stored one phone number on it or something?

-Exactly right.

And so now the phones that we've got are as powerful as that computer?

-More powerful.

-Incredible, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-Do you quiz together?

-Sort of. We have work quizzes from time to time.

Richard here has been a quizmaster on a couple of them, but mainly informal things at Christmas.

We did run a Mastermind at one time which is where we got the idea to enter Eggheads.

I'm glad you made it here. Every day, there is £1,000 up for grabs for our challengers.

If they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the prize money rolls over.

So, Beat IT, the Eggheads have won the last 12 games

which means £13,000 says you can't beat them today.

-Quite a hefty jackpot. Shall we start?

-Certainly.

-You want to try?

The first head-to-head battle is on Politics.

Who would like this?

-That's you, Graham.

-You go for that.

-Go for that, mate.

You want me to do that? OK, I'll do that one.

OK, Graham on Politics. Which Egghead would you like? You can choose any one of them.

I'll have...Judith.

-You were chosen first last time.

-Yes.

-What's happening?

-I don't know.

-You're obviously the most alluring one today.

-Or the worst.

So Graham from Beat IT versus Judith from the Eggheads.

To ensure no conferring, please take your positions in the question room.

-So, Graham, Politics, is this a good subject for you?

-Not really, Jeremy. My main subject was actually Sport.

But I've been designated as Politics for my second subject.

I'll just have to see how I go.

I'll ask each of you three multiple choice questions on Politics.

Whoever answers the most questions correctly wins and goes through to the final.

-Graham, choose the first or second set of questions.

-Can I go first?

You can and here is your question.

In 1989, Kate Hoey became an MP representing which party?

Kate Hoey...

I think Kate Hoey was... Was she Minister for Sport at some stage?

I think...

In '89. Kate Hoey... I'm struggling on this one.

Not Liberal Democrat. It's either Conservative or Labour.

Kate Hoey, I would say...

'89. I would say Labour.

Well done. Labour is the right answer, Graham.

Judith, your question.

The distance between the benches of the House of Commons

is supposed to be equal to the length of what?

I'm trying to think.

I'm inclined towards "two swords".

But it could equally be two strides.

I'll say "two swords" and hope that it's something romantic like that.

It is something romantic like that. "Two swords" is right.

Graham, the organisation known by the acronym EOKA was founded in which country?

-EOAK?

-EOKA.

Oh, again I'm struggling on this one.

EOKA. European...

EOKA.

I'm guessing that the "A" could be Algeria.

I'll eliminate Cyprus and Lebanon and go for Algeria.

Algeria is wrong. It's Cyprus. Anyone know what it stands for?

The K is probably Kypros which is Cyprus.

-Or Kyprion, I think.

-It's an organisation of Greek fighters.

-Or Cypriot fighters.

-Right.

Judith, your question.

When Margaret Thatcher said there would be no woman Prime Minister in her lifetime,

she was being interviewed on which children's TV programme?

Oh, God, I've no idea!

I know there was a programme called Ask Aspel.

Val must refer to Val Singleton who used to present Blue Peter.

I really don't know.

I'm just wondering whether Ask Aspel is the only programme

that did exist in that line-up and the others are inventions.

I think I'm going to...

I'm going to do Ask Aspel.

-No, it's wrong. It's Val Meets The VIPs.

-You know, I wondered.

I'm glad you wondered. I didn't want you to exhaust yourself.

Graham, back to the present.

Who carried out the destruction of the house in which Tsar Nicholas II and his family were murdered?

Hmm.

Obviously, all Russian.

Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin...

I mean, Gorbachev was the one who sort of instigated change,

so I would be inclined to go with Gorbachev.

Gorbachev is wrong, actually. It was Boris Yeltsin.

Judith, if you get this one right, you're in the final round.

What name was given to the peaceful independence movement which began in Estonia in the late 1980s?

I don't think I've ever heard about a revolution in Estonia.

I don't know. I'm going to say the Singing Revolution.

The Singing Revolution is the right answer. You've taken the round.

-Graham, sorry.

-Never mind.

-She just pipped you at the post there.

So she will be in the final. Graham, you won't be. Please, both of you, come back and join your teams.

So the challengers have lost one brain from the final round while the Eggheads have lost no brains.

The next subject for you is Music. Feels good? Music? No?

-That's me, isn't it?

-That's you, Alan.

-That's me, Jeremy.

-OK.

So, Alan against who? Which Egghead is looking non-musical?

It can't be Judith.

-I'll take Chris if that's OK.

-Chris again on Music!

-Not so bad.

-Music and Sport...

-At least it's not Sport.

-Exactly. It's not Sport.

Chris on Not Sport from the Eggheads against Alan from Beat IT. Please go to the question room now.

Is there something about Music, Chris? You just keep getting it?

Well, yeah, I don't mind. The stuff I grew up with and classical music, I'm OK with.

-What's your favourite period?

-I suppose the '60s. I preferred The Beatles to The Stones.

-Right.

Alan, do you agree with any of that?

I'm not very keen on the classics, but I do like the '60s and '70s music, and '80s as well.

I was brought up on The Beatles.

I was a bit too young to have seen them live, but they're still my favourite band.

Good luck in this round. Three questions, multiple choice.

-Alan, choose the first or second set.

-Can I have the second set?

Here we go. First question, Chris.

Which band sang the official 2010 Children In Need single, Love You More?

HE SIGHS Now, then...

Westlife are a boy band, so are McFly, so are JLS.

That's not getting us anywhere.

It sounds like some saccharine thing Westlife would come out with,

so I'm going to go for Westlife.

-No, it's JLS.

-Is it indeed?

-How about that, Alan?

You're already ahead.

Who performed the Oscar-winning song Into The West on the soundtrack

of The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King?

I don't think it's the type of song that Debbie Harry would sing

and Chrissie Hynde is more of a rocky type singer.

I think it's the type of thing I can see Annie Lennox singing,

so I'll go for Annie Lennox.

Annie Lennox is the right answer. Well done.

Chris, the Duke of Plaza Toro is a character in which Gilbert and Sullivan work?

He's that celebrated, underrated nobleman,

the Duke of Plaza Toro in The Gondoliers.

The Gondoliers is the right answer.

Alan, over to you.

Which word described The Alex Harvey Band in the full name of the 1970s group?

I'm pretty sure it's not Unbelievable or Amazing,

so I'm going to go straight down the middle and go with Sensational.

The Sensational Alex Harvey Band is the right answer, so you're ahead.

And, Chris, you need to catch up here.

It's two points to our challenger, one point to you. If you get this one wrong, you're a goner.

The name of which toy formed the title of the UK's 1971 Eurovision Song Contest entry?

-It was Jack In The Box.

-Where did you get that from?

-The depths of the swamp that passes for my mind.

-Just popped out?

-Yeah.

Jack In The Box is right. But if you get this, Alan, you take the round.

The skull of which composer was stolen in order to be studied by a phrenologist

and not reunited with the rest of his body until 1954?

That's a tough one. I've no idea what the answer might be, Jeremy.

I don't think it's Haydn.

I don't think Haydn or Liszt are famous enough to justify that,

so I'll go down the middle again with Beethoven.

-Let's see if our Eggheads know. Beethoven?

-Haydn, I think.

-Haydn.

Somebody nicked his skull to look at it?

Yeah, as simple as that.

Alan, it was Haydn, so you're equal after three questions.

We go to Sudden Death. I don't give you alternative options.

-I don't know why I'm telling you.

-I've been at this game a wee while!

I want the answer from you this time.

Sudden Death. Which singer had Top Five singles in the UK

with That Ole Devil Called Love and Is This Love?

That Ole Devil Called Love... Dinah Washington.

-No, Alison Moyet.

-Oh, yeah.

If you get this, Alan, you're in the final round.

Which Canadian-born singer's albums include It's Time, Call Me Irresponsible and Crazy Love?

Is it Michael Buble?

Michael Buble is right. Well done. You have defeated Chris and you will be in the final round.

So, fortunes are turning.

Chris, you've been knocked out. Please come back here and rejoin your team-mates.

-Great stuff, Alan.

-Thank you.

-The captain led by example.

-And you are in the final.

-More by luck than judgment.

The challengers have lost one brain from the final round,

but the Eggheads have lost a brain as well. It's getting interesting.

The next subject is Sport. Who would like Sport?

I wouldn't want to have a go on that one.

-I think Richard.

-Richard, Colin or Derek.

-Do you think Richard? I'd say Richard.

-Do you want me to go?

-Yeah.

-It's between you two.

-I'd say you.

-I'll go for this one, Jeremy.

And you can have the very sporting Kevin or the sporting Pat or the sporting Barry.

-Who to choose?

-Barry?

-I'll take Barry, please, Jeremy.

-OK.

So Richard against Barry. A bit of trepidation there?

-No, I like sport now.

-Now? Something's happened?

-I've done some reading on it.

OK, to ensure there's no conferring, please go to the Question Room now.

Richard, would you like the first or second set?

Given that the captain went second and was successful, I'll ask whether I can go second as well, please.

So here we go. First question to Barry. The England footballer Bryan Robson played for which club

from 1981 to 1994?

As soon as you said Bryan Robson, Manchester United came to mind.

Manchester United is the right answer, Barry. Yeah.

Richard, which racing event, first held in 1902,

was cancelled in 2001 due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease?

Oh.

Not being a real horse racing fan, they're all horse racing courses.

I don't recall it being Royal Ascot.

Goodwood... I'm really not sure.

I'm going to go with the popular route of straight down the middle

and aim for the Cheltenham Festival.

-Do your team-mates know? Is he right?

-I think he is.

You are right, Richard. Nicely done. Cheltenham Festival.

Barry, your second question.

In which country was the tennis player David Ferrer born?

-Could you spell that name, please?

-F-E-R-R-E-R.

Ferrer. I'm not sure of this, but it doesn't sound Italian or Spanish.

I shall say Switzerland.

-I think it sounds a bit Spanish. He was from Spain.

-Oh.

-What does Ferrer mean?

-Linguistically, it's to do with iron

-so it's probably a smith.

-Yeah, it could be the equivalent of a smith.

Iron smith.

OK, Richard, from 2005 to 2007,

Andy Priaulx was world champion in which form of motorsport?

P-R-I-A-U-L-X. Priaulx.

Em...

I haven't heard the name before, so it's a one in three chance.

I'll take a stab at touring cars.

I just knew you'd get that right. Touring cars is the right answer. I don't know how I knew that.

OK, Barry.

So you've got one wrong. If you get this one wrong, you're out.

Black Rock, the Monk and the Fox are holes at which Scottish golf venue?

I've never heard of any of those. I know some of the holes at Troon.

The Postage Stamp is at Troon.

I'm not sure of any at the other two. Well, the Ryder Cup's at Gleneagles in 2014.

So I'll have a shot at Gleneagles on that basis.

-OK. Anybody here know?

-Possibly Gleneagles.

-Richard?

Only on the ground that Troon is classed as a royal golf course, I'd maybe have gone for Troon.

I think you're a quizzer. Troon is the right answer.

Barry, you've been knocked out. Very well played, Richard.

You will be in the final round. Please both of you come back and rejoin us here.

So the challengers have lost one brain, while the Eggheads have lost two. It's looking better.

The last subject before the final is Science. Who would like

to take Science?

-Derek or Colin?

-I don't think Derek fancies it, so by default that's me!

-OK, Colin. Who would you like? You can take Pat or Kevin.

-Oh, great(!)

-What a choice.

-Pat.

-I'll take Pat, please.

-OK, Colin from Beat IT against Pat.

-Fellow IT professional, I think.

-Yes, you are right.

And the subject is Science. This could be a good round. Please go to your Question Rooms.

So two IT professionals. Three questions, multiple choice.

-Colin, you can choose first or second.

-It's worked so far by going second,

so I think I'll stick with that ploy, please.

OK, Pat, here we go. What is the name of the projection at the tip of a young bird's beak,

used to break open the eggshell?

Er...it's a major task for the chick to escape from a substantial egg.

-I think it's an egg tooth.

-Egg tooth is the right answer.

So, Colin,

the magnetron is a major component of which household appliance?

I don't think it's the vacuum cleaner.

Magnetron sounds magnetic, magnetic coil.

Which leaves me with television and microwave.

If I was to have a guess, I'd say microwave.

Microwave is the right answer. Well done.

Pat,

what is the name of the rough skin of some sharks used as an abrasive?

I haven't... There was a tradition of using it to make instrument cases,

coloured green.

Let me just check... Isinglass comes from innards of fish.

Ambergris comes from the sperm whale for the perfume industry.

So it's shagreen, from sharks.

Shagreen is the right answer. You do know an awful lot.

-Ah, shagreen.

-You ran through the other two as well.

They could have been made up. Wow.

OK, Colin, your question. What type of creature is the endangered Tana River mangabey?

OK...

It doesn't sound like a primate if it's connected with a river.

That leaves bird or reptile.

It sounds to me like a bird. I'll stick with bird.

It's a nice guess, but it's wrong. Primate is the answer. The one you ruled out.

Bird is often correct because there are so many kinds.

Pat, get this to take the round. The superior rectus muscle

is one of a set of muscles that control which part of the body?

Hmm.

We've got hundreds of muscles.

We've got over 200 bones and hundreds of muscles to move them around.

I can't even begin. I don't know any of the names of the foot muscles.

There must be loads.

The eye, eyeball, has an entire set of muscles to enable it to swivel in all directions.

And I think of those three it's the most tempting option, so I'll go for eyeball.

You've done very well. Eyeball is the right answer.

No way back for you, Colin.

You won't be in the final. Pat will. Both please come back and rejoin us here.

So this is what we have been playing towards. It is the final round, which is on general knowledge.

But those of you who lost

won't be allowed to take part, so Graham and Colin from Beat IT

and Chris and Barry, would you please now leave the studio?

Alan, Richard and Derek, you're playing to win £13,000.

Pat, Judith and Kevin are playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I will ask each team three questions in turn. They are all general knowledge and you can confer.

So, Beat IT, are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

-First or second?

-Go second?

-Second, I think.

-Second, please.

Here we go. £13,000 to play for. Eggheads with the first question.

In which 2009 film did George Clooney play corporate downsizer Ryan Bingham?

-It's Up In The Air.

-Yeah.

Very good film. Up In The Air.

Up In The Air is the right answer.

-Good, is it?

-Yes.

-Very.

-Very? Really?

Your question.

Who had a UK hit single in 1978 with Floral Dance?

-Terry Wogan.

-It's Terry Wogan. Yeah, definitely Terry Wogan.

-It was Terry Wogan.

-That's the right answer.

Well done. My Radio Two colleague.

He'll be very pleased.

OK, your question, Eggheads. Jane Smiley's 1991 novel A Thousand Acres

is a modern retelling of which Shakespeare work?

-King Lear.

-Is it?

It's set on an American farm with three daughters.

-Three daughters?

-OK?

-Yeah.

It's King Lear, Jeremy.

You've got it. Well done. Keep at them!

Who is the first god mentioned by name

in the classic Hippocratic Oath?

I don't know...

-Zeus...

-Apollo's war, isn't he?

-Eros is love?

-Eros is love.

-And Zeus was the king...

-He was the top.

-The top one.

-The Hippocratic Oath.

-What is it?

-The royal one?

-No, doctors.

Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath. It was Greek.

Which one of those is a Greek god?

Eros isn't a Greek god, is he?

-Zeus is a Greek god.

-The top one.

I think it's Apollo.

-Are you confident?

-No.

-Is Zeus Roman?

-I'm trying to work it out.

-Zeus was a Greek god.

-He's in the halls.

-He's in Clash of the Titans.

-What was Apollo? A messenger?

-He was a runner, wasn't he?

If it was written by a Greek, Hippocrates,

he'll be mentioning...a Greek god and the top god of the time is Zeus.

We've done well down the middle.

We're not really sure here.

We'll go down the middle. But we think Hippocrates was Greek

and Zeus was the top god at the time!

-So I think we'll go with Zeus.

-Zeus. Let's ask the Eggheads.

-Apollo.

-Sorry, you're wrong.

Apollo is the answer.

I hope that's not too expensive.

Third question, Eggheads. Get this right to take the contest.

In the 17th century, Andre Le Notre was famous in which field?

Gardening.

-Landscape gardening.

-The Versailles chap?

-Exactly.

He was famous as a landscape gardener. He designed Versailles.

If you've got this one right, the contest is over.

Andre Le Notre... was famous for landscape gardening.

Congratulations. You have won.

The trouble with them going first in the final is if they do three in a row, you don't get your third.

-Judith, you knew landscape gardening.

-Yeah.

-You're familiar with his designs?

Yes, absolutely. He did Versailles and Vaux-le-Vicomte.

He was the great landscape gardener of the day.

To go out on a landscape gardener is annoying, but thank you very much for coming in. Great to meet you.

Commiserations. The Eggheads have done what comes naturally.

Their winning streak continues.

You won't be going home with £13,000 so the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers can defeat them.

£14,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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