Episode 152 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 challengers

attempt to be beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

Their quiz pedigree is well-known

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

And challenging our resident quiz champions today are...

This team all work for the same firm of solicitors

in the Somerset towns of Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Libby, I'm 32, and I'm a solicitor.

Hello, I'm Robin, I'm 62, I'm also a solicitor.

Hello, I'm Liz, I'm 63, and I'm a legal cashier.

Hello, I'm Warren, I'm 60, and I'm a family lawyer.

Hello, I'm Heather, I'm 40, and I'm a legal cashier.

-So, Libby and team, welcome to you.

-Hi.

-Hello.

-Hello.

And Castle Cary, Shepton Mallet, beautiful places, we should say.

-Yeah, they are.

-And do you quiz together? Informally or formally?

Informally. Every morning we...

Warren's our quizmaster, and he asks us a few questions

and we all try and see who can get the right answer.

-Is that right?

-Yes, that's correct.

-And what sort of subjects?

-It's everything, really.

-OK, so that could prepare you for this lot?

I hope so!

Have you worked out who's got strengths and weaknesses

and who wants which subject and all that?

I think so. I think we've got it sorted

but it just depends what comes up, really.

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

but if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Law Unto Themselves, I can tell you that the Eggheads

have won the last two games,

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

-Shall we start?

-Yes.

The first head-to-head is on the subject of Film And Television.

-Who would like this?

-Yeah, Libby, go.

Everybody happy for me to do it?

-That will be me, Jeremy.

-Libby, OK. Right in there.

Against which Egghead? You can take your pick.

-Who do you think - Pat?

-I don't know.

-I think CJ.

-CJ, I think.

-Definitely CJ.

-CJ on Film... Look at that reaction!

-On Film And Television.

-It is years since I was picked for the subject.

-Ages since you were picked for Television?

-Yeah.

-Is that his favourite subject?

-He's only interested in television if he's on it.

-LAUGHTER

It is the best kind.

So Libby from Law Unto Themselves versus CJ from the Eggheads on Film And TV.

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

So, three multiple-choice questions on Film And TV, Libby.

The person who answers the most questions correctly goes into to the final.

See if you can knock out CJ. Do you want the first or the second set?

I'll go first, please, Jeremy.

So, here we go with your first question.

Which actor appeared in the films

Godzilla, The Cable Guy, and Inspector Gadget?

Right, I don't think it's Mark Wahlberg,

because it's not like him to do a film like Inspector Gadget.

And I think Michael Douglas is too old.

I think it's Matthew Broderick.

Matthew Broderick is the right answer, well done.

Easy to come a cropper on that one.

CJ, your question.

What is the profession of William Garrow

in the TV series Garrow's Law?

Ah! This one I haven't seen.

I'm always better on films than I am on TV.

I've got an image in my head,

I don't know if it's the right person,

but a guy in his early 50s maybe?

Dark hair. I think that the right one, but I'll try barrister.

-Barrister's the right answer. You knew that, Libby, didn't you?

-Yeah.

Firm of solicitors. That was your question.

OK, here's your second question.

Elvis Cridlington and Bella Lasagne

are characters in which children's animated series?

I'm pretty sure I know this one,

which is really quite sad, I think, because it's after my time.

I think it's Fireman Sam.

Fireman Sam is the right answer, well done.

So, two points to you. You're ahead of CJ. See if he can catch up.

CJ, what mode of transport is referred to in the title of the 2010

Denzel Washington film Unstoppable?

It was, um, a so-called disaster movie with Chris Pine,

and it's a train.

Train is the right answer. Good.

Libby, your question.

Third question, see if you can get this right.

Who wrote the play A Few Good Men,

which he later adapted into a screenplay

for the Tom Cruise film of the same name?

Something's drawn me to Peter Morgan so I'll go for that. I don't know.

-What is the answer, Eggheads?

-Aaron Sorkin.

Aaron Sorkin is the right answer, Libby. You've got it wrong,

so CJ can take the round now with his third question.

The film director Joseph McGinty Nichol

became well-known by what name?

I'm afraid he's McG.

McG is the right answer, CJ, well done. You're in the final.

Libby, you've been knocked out

by CJ and you won't be in the final round.

Please, both of you, come back and rejoin your teams.

So, as it stands, the challengers have lost

one brain from the final round,

whilst the Eggheads have lost no brains.

The next subject is Science.

Where is the scientist on your team among the solicitors?

-Do you want to go for that?

-I don't think we have one!

I think maybe Heather. I think Heather.

-Yeah.

-Which Egghead, Heather? It can't be CJ, obviously.

Ooh, gosh, they're all brainy on Science.

-Judith?

-No, sorry, Judith, yeah.

-Judith?

-I think, yeah.

-Go for Judith.

-Judith, science again.

-Again!

-You have a run on science.

-A big run on science.

And it's quite successful so far, isn't it?

It's always a mistake to say that!

OK, so Heather from Law Unto Themselves

versus Judith from the Eggheads on Science.

To ensure there is no conferring, please go to the Question Room.

-Heather, you are the newest recruit to this firm of solicitors, I gather?

-I am, yes.

-And are you enjoying it?

-Yes, I really am.

-I suppose you can't say no, can you?

-They're looking after me.

They are in a beautiful part of the country.

Yeah, cos we moved down from Derby, so, like a city,

and now I'm in the country, so it's lovely.

Heather, three multiple-choice questions on Science. You can choose the first or second set.

I'll go first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go, Heather, good luck to you.

A creature described as hispid is covered in what?

Ooh. Erm, hispid? I'm going to go for scales.

I don't know why, but something is drawing me to scales.

-Judith, you're good on this kind of question.

-I'm not sure.

I think it maybe bristles, though.

Bristles is the right answer. Difficult one to guess.

Bad luck. Judith, your question

to take the lead.

What is the surface area in centimetres squared of a cube

whose edges are 4cm in length?

Um, one, two...

20...

I think there might be 16 sides to measure, so, it's 64.

Hmm, OK, where do we start here?

-One, two, three...

-It's wrong, anyway.

I think the point is that there are six surfaces

and each surface is 4 x 4, which is 16.

-So, Barry, it's 6 x 16?

-Yes.

-Six faces on the cube.

-Well, there you are!

-6 x 16 = 96.

Sorry, Judith.

Give me a calculator and I'd have been all right!

OK, your second question, Heather. You've got the chance to steal

a march on Judith.

In what state does a clinical element barium

exist at room temperature?

Barium. I don't think it's gas.

Or is it? Solid, barium. Um...

I think it could be solid. I'm going to go for solid.

-See if your team knows.

-We were on liquid, I think.

They think it's liquid, but you're right, it's solid.

Well done. So a point to Heather. Back to you, Judith.

In which part of the human body is the ischium found?

-Could you spell it, please?

-I-S-C-H-I-U-M.

Um, dear me.

Which is the most complicated bit? I think it may be in the knee.

Cos that's complicated?

-Well, it's more complicated than hip and shoulder.

-OK!

Who wants to help out here? Eggheads?

-ALL: It's in the hip.

-It's in the hip, anyway, Judith.

-Oh, is it?

I'm not doing too well. I knew you'd jinx it, Jeremy!

-I didn't...

-It's your fault, again.

-I just said you've done really well on science recently.

-I'm boiling up.

LAUGHTER

OK, Heather, if you get this right,

you've knocked out Judith and she'll come back and be cross with me.

A neutron probe is a device normally used by geographers

and farmers to detect the amount of what in soil?

I don't think it's water. Definitely going to rule out water.

I'm going to go for nitrates.

I know nitrates are very important in soil,

so I'm going to go for nitrates.

-It's water, funnily enough!

-Oh, it is water?

-Yeah.

Simple as that.

Thought that was a divining rod!

That's the old-style technique, I think. Judith, your question.

If you get this wrong, you are... I don't even want to say it!

The carboniferous period,

lasting from approximately 360 million to 290 million years ago,

was part of which geological era?

I don't think it was the Palaeozoic cos that's very much further...

That's further back.

I just feel I'm completely and utterly jinxed today.

-Um, the Cenozoic.

-The answer is Palaeozoic, Judith.

Oh, the one I ruled out.

Well, we praised you for your brilliant work in science rounds,

and I'm afraid it's come undone in a terrible way.

Thanks a lot, Jeremy! You've done it again, that's all I'm saying!

-It was just a glancing compliment.

-No, you got magical powers. Jinx.

Heather, well done, you're in the final round.

-You've knocked Judith out.

-Thank you.

-Your team are pulling back.

Please come back and rejoin your team-mates.

-I feel bad, Judith.

-I'm so glad. You ought to.

-I want to apologise.

-After the history incident...

-Yeah. You haven't learned.

I praised the fact that you'd got all the questions right for ages,

and then you got none right, and that was a disaster.

-And I've done it again.

-Yes, you have.

-I didn't mean to.

-Well, I'm sure you didn't. Don't do it a third time is all I'm saying!

-All right! I won't!

The challengers have lost one brain from the final round and the Eggheads have lost one as well.

Next subject is Geography. Who would like this?

-Oh, that's Liz. Your strong subject.

-Good, OK. So, against which Egghead?

-It can't, thankfully, be Judith.

-Right.

-Or CJ.

-Hmm, that's a difficult one.

-Yeah, it is. What about...

-Um, Pat?

-Pat or Kevin?

-Barry?

-Pat, I think.

I think we'll go with Pat.

We heard all three names. Pat, OK. Pat on Geography.

I like Geography. I'm not very well travelled.

Liz from Law Unto Themselves versus Pat from the Eggheads on Geography.

Please go to the question room now.

-So, Pat, you haven't travelled outside Europe?

-No, I haven't.

Just hasn't happened.

-Have you travelled outside the UK and Ireland?

-Oh, yes.

I've been to various places in Europe. I haven't been beyond.

-Liz, are you well travelled?

-Not really.

I have been to New Zealand and I've been to America, but mostly Europe.

But you snapped up Geography,

so I think you really want the subject?

No, I just like the subject of Geography, really,

so whether I'll be able to answer the questions is another matter.

Good luck to you. Three multiple-choice questions.

Liz, you can choose the first or second set.

I'll go with the first, please.

Here we go, good luck. What is the official currency of Luxembourg?

Hmm. Goodness me. My first instinct was the euro.

Um...

I think I'm going to...

..go with the euro.

I'm glad you did. It's right. They're in the Erozone.

Pat, your question.

The island of Sri Lanka is located in which ocean?

It's sometimes, I think, referred to as the teardrop of India

and it lies just to the southeast of India,

which places it in the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Ocean is correct, so one each.

And back to you, Liz.

The great Ocean Road,

featuring the limestone stack formations known as the 12 Apostles,

is a scenic drive along the southern coast of which country?

I'm drawn to Australia. I don't know why.

Um, I don't think it will be along the south coast of the USA.

And the south coast, um,

well, the south coast of New Zealand is pretty mountainous.

Gosh, I have to make a decision.

I'm going to go with New Zealand.

TEAM GROANS

-Oh, you had it and then you let it slip away.

-No!

-Australia is the answer. Your team are mortified.

-Mmm.

OK, Pat, your chance to take the lead now.

The ski resort of Meribel is in which country?

My first instinct is France, it just sounds very French.

But I'm not sure I can place it on a map.

I don't think it's Italy.

I couldn't place it accurately on the map,

but my first instinct was it was in France.

France is the right answer.

Pat, you're ahead. That means you need to get this one right, Liz, OK?

-Right.

-Here's your third question -

what is the largest but most sparsely populated South African province?

Again, I don't have an actual clue.

Um...

and I can't apply too much logic to it,

because I don't actually know where they all are.

I'm going to go with Northern Cape.

Northern Cape is the right answer.

GENTLE CHEERING

-Wow.

-And that is a hard question.

I don't know the answer to that and I used to live there. OK, Pat,

the Essequibo, which is over 600 miles in length,

is the longest river in which country?

If you get this right, Pat, you've taken the round.

Paraguay has the Paraguay River.

Chile has the Biobio and Guyana has Essequibo.

So it's Guyana.

These are all places that you have not been to.

No, I've not been to any of them, sadly.

So you learned about them from poring over books?

Telly, books, whatever, yeah.

Guyana is the right answer.

You've got the round. Three out of three.

Liz, sorry! It was those Apostles, in Australia...

-Yes. They got me.

-..that threw you.

-Yes.

Please, both of you, come back and rejoin your team-mates.

As it stands, the challengers have lost two brains from the final,

whilst the Eggheads have lost one brain.

The last subject is Sport. Who wants it?

-That's you, Warren!

-Sadly, I'm afraid it's me.

OK. Against which Egghead?

It can be Barry or Kevin on sport.

-I think Kevin? I think Kevin, yes.

-Go with Kevin.

-Kevin.

Kevin likes his sports?

It depends on the sport, to a certain extent, yes.

Warren from Law Unto Themselves against Kevin from the Eggheads on Sport.

Last round before the final - please take your positions.

I will ask each of you three questions on Sport in turn,

and, Warren, you can choose the first or the second set.

I'm going to change tradition and go second set.

Kevin, your first question,

Mitchell Johnson is most associated with performing which role

for the Australian cricket team?

Has occasionally been a bit of a hero for them, he's a fast bowler.

Fast bowler is the right answer.

Warren,

China's Lin Dan won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games

in which sport?

Ah. Um, I don't know him.

I really haven't got a clue, so I'll have to take a stab at that.

I think they're pretty good at badminton,

so I'll go badminton.

You've got it right. Well done.

-APPLAUSE

-One point each.

Kevin,

Bebe, Gabriel Obertan and Darron Gibson

were members of which Premier league football squad

during the 2010-11 season?

Bebe I assume is B-E-B-E.

Yes. With accents on both Es.

Obertan and Darron Gibson.

I'm pretty sure that's Manchester United.

The correct answer is Manchester United. Well done, Kevin.

He has the lead, cos you let him go first. See if you can catch up.

Which European country won tennis's Davis Cup

in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2009?

I think I need to get CJ to answer this question for me.

I'm again going to have to take a stab. I'm drawn to Australia.

Um, or France.

I don't think it's Spain.

I'm going to with my gut reaction, Australia.

-Let's see what CJ says.

-I would've gone for Spain.

Spain is the answer, Warren. Bad luck.

Kevin, your chance to take the round.

Under what official name did 12 of the 15 former Soviet republics

compete at the Barcelona Olympics?

If you get this right, you're in the final.

Well, they called themselves the Unified Team.

-What year was that?

-'92.

'92.

Unified Team is right, Kevin. You've taken the round on Sport -

you'll be in the final. Warren, sorry

you've been knocked out. If you rejoin your teams,

we will play the final round.

So this is what we have been playing towards.

It's time for the final round, which 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 Libby, Liz and Warren from Law Unto Themselves

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

Robin, you are now being unleashed into the contest.

-We'll see.

-There's a lot resting on your shoulders here.

Robin and Heather, you are playing to win A Law Unto Themselves £3,000.

Barry, Pat, Kevin and CJ,

you're playing for something money can't buy, the Eggheads' reputation.

As usual, I'll ask each team three questions in turn.

This time, the questions are all General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

So, Law Unto Themselves,

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

And would you like to go first or second, Robin and Heather?

We're going first, please.

Here we go - good luck to you.

In which year were the businessman Richard Branson,

the singer Karen Carpenter and the TV presenter Jay Leno born?

Oh, gosh.

-Before my time.

-I think Karen Carpenter is younger than me.

-Is she? A lot younger?

-No, a bit younger.

-When were you born?

-'49.

-'45.

-No, Richard Branson's younger.

-Is he?

-No, '50.

-Oh, yeah. Sorry, yeah.

-Er...

-So, cross out '45.

It's either '50 or '55.

-I think probably '55.

-Do you think?

-Richard Branson is quite old.

-Is he as old as me?

-Go 1950, then?

-I'm inclined to go 1950.

-OK. We'll do that.

-Go 1950?

-Then I can blame you.

-You can blame me. 1950.

-1950, Jeremy.

1950. I like the way you went one way, went the other.

You've got it right, well done. 1950 it is.

So they are in their 60s now. Yes.

Eggheads, your question,

let's see if you can get this final round.

For what J stand in the name of the author JM Barrie?

-James.

-James Matthew.

-All agreed?

-Yes, James.

We're all agreed on that, and it's James Barrie.

James is the right answer.

Your question,

one point each, here we go.

Who did Mehmet Ali Agca shoot in May, 1981?

It definitely wasn't Ronald Reagan.

I'm certain it was Pope John Paul II.

-I'll go with that one.

-Pope John Paul II.

-You said it's definitely not Ronald Reagan?

-Not Ronald Reagan.

You got it completely right. Pope John Paul II is correct.

Here's your question, Eggheads -

Start Without You was a UK number one single in 2010

for which former X Factor contestant?

X Factor. Are all three of those X Factor veterans?

I think they all are.

Is that the video with Olly Murs,

and there's an ice cream van?

I think it's the one where he's standing on a bridge

and starts going backwards and forwards?

-It said number one, didn't it?

-That was number one.

My instinct is Olly Murs.

-My instinct without a great deal of confidence is Olly Murs.

-Ditto.

That's good enough for me - I can't add anything to this.

-OK...

-OK?

-Yes.

As you probably gathered from the tenor of our conversation,

we're not entirely convinced,

but the general view is that it's Olly Murs.

Olly Murs is your answer. Do you know?

I would've gone Alexandra Burke.

You're wrong, Eggheads. It's Alexandra Burke.

-If you get this one right, you've beaten them.

-No pressure, then(!)

Well, it's a multiple choice question.

The St Scholastica Day Riot,

a dispute over alcohol, which left over 60 people dead,

took place in 1355 in which English city?

-Is it York?

-York, I think York.

I should've done some more historic research when I lived there!

-I think Oxford and Cambridge are too scholastic.

-Yeah.

-Shall we go for York?

-Yeah.

-We'll go for York. It's a bit of a guess.

-York, Jeremy.

Your answer is York, on the basis, I was listening to your logic,

-that Oxford and Cambridge are too scholastic?

-Yes!

-OK.

-Anyone know here?

-I think it's Oxford.

Oxford is the answer.

Oh!

Let's hope that's not curtains for you.

Eggheads, if you get this one wrong, you've lost the contest.

Which artist married the Danish woman Mette-Sophie Gad in 1873?

-Gauguin.

-Gauguin?

-Gauguin was married to a Dane.

-OK.

Matisse would only have been,

er, how old would he have been? He'd have been four in 1873.

So, it's not Matisse.

I'm not aware of Renoir having been married to a Dane,

but Gauguin definitely was married to a Dane.

And he would've been about 25 then.

I'm reliably informed by Kevin that Matisse was only four in 1873,

so it was unlikely to be him.

We're not sure about who Renoir married or if indeed he was married,

but we do believe it was Paul Gauguin.

The correct answer is Paul Gauguin.

Well done, Eggheads, you live to fight another day.

Sudden Death, you're still well in there, you can beat them.

It gets a bit harder, though - I don't give you alternatives.

The brothers Declan and Con Cluskey and John Stokes

comprised which 1960s group

who had a UK number one single in 1964 with the song Diane?

-Diane.

-Diane.

-It's not The Bachelors, is it?

-It could be, yeah.

-It's more of your area than mine!

-Thank you(!)

-Yes, we'll go with The Bachelors.

-The Bachelors.

The only one I can think of. The Bachelors.

-The Bachelors is the right answer.

-Yes!

-Well done, Robin.

If you get this wrong, Eggheads, the contest is over.

Which German manufacturer, best known for producing World War II aircraft,

designed the KR200 bubble car, or Kabinenroller, in the 1950s?

THEY CONFER

Messerschmitt did a bubble car.

-Messerschmitt did a bubble car?

-Mmm.

Anybody have any others?

THEY CONFER

-Fokker...

-Heinkel, Junkers, Fokker...

We know Messerschmitt made a bubble car.

We don't know that anybody else did, but we know Messerschmitt did.

We'll have to go for that one.

There were many German aircraft manufacturers,

of which we've named a few,

but we do know Messerschmitt were one company that made a bubble car, so Messerschmitt is the answer.

I detect you're not totally certain about it,

but you are right, Messerschmitt is the answer,

so you're completely level, you're on Sudden Death,

and the next question to you, Law Unto Themselves -

who was US Secretary of State from 1977 to 1980?

-Um, I don't know this.

-Henry Kissinger, wasn't it?

-Henry Kissinger?

-Henry Kissinger, Jeremy.

Henry Kissinger is wrong - he was a bit earlier, for Nixon.

This is when Jimmy Carter was President. Anyone know?

-Cyrus Vance.

-Cyrus Vance is the answer.

-Cyrus Vance.

-Don't know that name.

OK, Eggheads, if you get this one right, you've taken the contest.

It's been touch and go, but here you are.

Which 19th-century writer was known as the Sage of Chelsea?

-That was Thomas Carlyle.

-Thomas Carlyle.

This is a fine writer, Thomas Carlyle.

You did all seem to know that.

He lived in Cheyne Row in Chelsea, for many years.

His house is a National Trust property now. You can go over it.

The correct answer is Thomas Carlyle.

Congratulations, Eggheads, you have won.

It's a bit like they say in the Premiership,

you've got to take your chances in front of goal...

with that Scholastica question, that was the moment. Sorry about that.

-Never mind.

-They gradually reasserted themselves.

-Thanks for playing such a good game.

-Thank you.

Commiserations to the challengers. The Eggheads have done what comes naturally

and they still reign supreme over Quiz Land.

I'm afraid that means you won't go home with the £3,000,

so the money rolls over to our next show.

Eggheads, very 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. Until then, goodbye.

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