Episode 43 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

pit their wits against 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 are Royal Albatross.

This team became friends while spending many happy hours

wandering the fairways of Royal Winchester Golf Club.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Mike, I'm 65, and I'm a charity manager.

Hello, I'm Marilyn, I'm 62, and I'm a part-time golf clubhouse manager.

Hi, I'm Keith, I'm 68, and I'm a retired service manager.

Hello, I'm Ailsa, I'm 72, and I'm a housewife.

Hi, I'm Terry, I'm 68, and I'm a retired consulting engineer.

Welcome to you, Royal Albatross. Just explain the team name.

"Royal" stands for Royal Winchester Golf Club,

and "Albatross" is a very special bird, a very rare bird,

and we consider ourselves very rare golfers.

-Rare in that you're so good?

-I think so, yes. Sometimes.

So tell me, we know about the golfing

and no doubt the banter that goes on there,

but do you quiz a bit as you're walking those fairways,

or does it wait till you get in the clubhouse?

I think we wait until we get in the clubhouse.

But we have a good time. We do quiz each other from time to time.

Royal Albatross, let's play the Eggheads today. Best of luck.

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

However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

it rolls over to the next show.

Royal Albatross, the Eggheads have won the last four games.

That means £5,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Our first head-to-head today is on the subject of Food & Drink.

As it's the opening round, any one of you can play.

We'll just have a little discussion. Would anybody like to take it?

-Do you want me to do it?

-No, we want to save you for the end!

Marilyn.

Because I'm no good at Geography, if it comes up.

-Marilyn.

-Me.

-After that, OK!

All right, Marilyn, you now need to choose an Egghead to play.

You think I should go for Kevin? Why not?

-Kevin.

-OK, let's have Marilyn and Kevin into the Question Room

to play Food & Drink.

Marilyn, would you like to go first or second?

First, please.

Best of luck, Marilyn. Food & Drink. Your question is this:

The name of which area of New York City precedes "Iced Tea"

in the name of a popular cocktail often consisting of vodka, rum,

tequila, gin, triple sec and cola?

I don't know. Let me have a little think.

Erm...

I will have to guess, erm...

I'll say Long Island. I really do not know.

No conviction, but your teammates shaking their fists in triumph!

It's the right answer, yes. Long Island Iced Tea.

It is Marge Simpson's favourite cocktail.

Well, I never, CJ! Imagine you knowing that!

Which three-word French phrase indicates the section of the menu

where separate prices are listed for each dish?

That is a la carte, "according to the menu".

Absolutely. A la carte.

Marilyn, second question.

The salad ingredient lambs lettuce is known by what alternative name?

Once again, I don't know.

Erm...

I will guess...

-..corn salad.

-Corn salad.

Bit of a guess with the first. Bit of a guess with the second.

Same result! It's correct.

Corn salad.

Kevin's second question.

What are the main ingredients of the American dish succotash?

It's all one word. Succotash.

As in "sufferin' succotash", a cartoon catchphrase.

What tiny bells are ringing are saying it's to do with corn.

I'll go for sweetcorn and beans.

Bit of a theme in the last two answers.

That's correct. Yes, sweetcorn and beans, after the corn salad.

So you stay all square.

Marilyn, third question.

The Italian delicacy bottarga

consists of dried what?

Once again, just for a change, I don't know.

Erm... There is something in the back of my mind which says fish.

So it's probably totally wrong again.

But I will go with fish roe.

You're quizzing like an Egghead. It's the right answer!

Something in the back of your head enough to clinch another tick.

Kevin needs to get this.

In Japanese cuisine, hiyamugi and kishimen

are what type of food?

Right... As far as I'm aware,

I haven't come across either of those.

So... I mean, they could be types of rice.

I really don't know. So purely on the basis that ramen,

so it's got the same ending as one of them, is noodles,

I'll have to hope they're types of noodles.

Brilliant. Right answer.

I'm loving these scraps of knowledge you're both picking up on

and coming up with some great answers. Quality quizzing.

Enjoying it so much, let's do some more!

Marilyn, it goes to Sudden Death after three questions.

That means we take away the choices. Here you go.

Which pale-coloured and mild-tasting raw cane sugar

takes its name from a former colony situated in modern-day Guyana?

I can't really think of anything else other than Demerara,

so I'll have to say that.

Oh.

-That's all you've come up with?

-Yes.

It's the right answer!

DERMOT LAUGHS

Well done, Marilyn.

Well done. OK, well, Kevin needs to get this.

Which high-quality French brandy takes its name

from a town in the Charente department of western France?

Yes, well, there's more than...

OK, I think there's a couple of candidates.

It'll have to be... I'll say Armagnac.

-What was the other you were thinking of?

-Cognac.

It's cognac. Which means, Marilyn,

-you're in the Final Round, deservedly.

-Brilliant!

Kevin won't. Would you both please come back and join your teams?

"Albatross" in golfing terms means three under par.

That's a good thing in golfing and a bad thing in Eggheads.

They've lost Kevin from the Final Round.

No members of Royal Albatross gone.

Let's play another head-to-head.

This one is Music. Who'd like to play this?

I think it's got to be you. You're the only singer.

-I'll play.

-OK, Mike. You're a bit of a singer, are you?

I used to sing.

-What kind of style?

-I've been a peasant in many operas!

-Some say you still are!

-Indeed!

OK, Mike, who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

I think I'll take the railway man, Chris.

Let's have Mike and Chris into the Question Room, please.

OK, then, Mike, let's see if we can get you into the Final Round.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please.

Best of luck, Mike. Your first question.

What name is given to the skill of being able to perform from a score

without previous rehearsal or study?

Well, let's see. Erm...

Speed reading would be useful,

and is useful in most music things,

but I think the answer is sight reading.

Sight reading, yes. Right answer.

On to you, Chris. In the 1960s and '70s,

Salvatore Bono was better known in the pop world by what single name?

He was married to Cher and he was half of Sonny and Cher.

Sonny is the right answer. Well done.

And, Mike, second question.

When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going

was a UK number-one single in 1986 for which singer?

Well, I think Lionel Richie did the ballad side

and that was certainly not a ballad.

So it's Billy or Stevie.

I will go with Billy Ocean.

Billy or Stevie! Yes, it's Billy. That's right.

Two to you. Chris, which musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

tells the story of the loves and losses of a British girl in America

through the correspondence that she sends home?

I've got the original album of this with Marti Webb.

-It's Tell Me On A Sunday.

-Yes, it is.

On we go. Mike, third question.

Who composed the 1929 opera Sir John In Love

based on Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor?

Oh. I haven't been a peasant in this one.

Erm, let me think.

I will go with Ralph Vaughan Williams.

OK, Vaughan Williams... is the right answer! Yes!

Three out of three. Chris needs this.

Which soprano famously chose seven of her own recordings

when she appeared on the radio show Desert Island Discs?

Ahh.

I don't think it was Victoria de los Angeles.

Er, I don't think Maria Callas was ever on Desert Island Discs.

I think it was Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is correct.

And so, all square after three,

as the last round.

And we go to Sudden Death again. Mike, your question.

The 1981 UK number-one hit Tainted Love by Soft Cell

was originally recorded in the mid-'60s by which female singer?

Tainted Love...

I should know the '60s.

Erm...

Let's go...

..Diana Ross?

No, it's not. It's Gloria Jones.

So, Chris, here's your question.

What was the first Australian act

to top the UK singles charts?

The lovely Judith Durham was the lead singer. The Seekers.

Is the right answer, yes.

-The Seekers. Do you know the song?

-I'll Never Find Another You.

Even more correct. Absolutely right. Gets you into the Final Round.

Tough old battle, that. But Chris has made it there.

No place for you in the Final Round, Mike.

Please come back and join your teams.

Well, then, that leaves both teams on birdies, so to speak.

Both one under par.

Our next round today is History. Who'd like to play this?

-Remember, it can't be Mike or Marilyn.

-Sorry!

Going down the line, it's Keith, Ailsa or Terry.

I think you're better than me on kings and queens.

I think you are, Terry.

OK, well, it could be history when I get back!

-We'll go for me.

-Reluctantly, Terry.

All right, Terry. Who would you like to play?

-You've got Barry, Daphne or CJ.

-Go for CJ.

-I'm instructed to go for CJ.

-OK.

Terry's going to play CJ. The subject is history.

You know where to go. It's the Question Room!

OK, Terry, somewhat reluctantly there.

But these previous rounds have been so close,

the next one might match those previous two.

I suspect you're pretty good.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please, Dermot.

Good luck. Here's your question.

Which empire lasted from about 1300

until it collapsed after its defeat in World War 1?

1300...

Well, the Aztecs, that's kind of, erm, Latin America.

And I know the Incas were round about that time.

Are they similar to the Aztecs?

I have a feeling the Ottoman was before that. Mongol, I don't know.

This is one of these that I am really guessing,

but I think I might go for the Aztec.

Aztec. No, it's incorrect.

It's the Ottoman Empire. It collapsed after World War 1.

And, CJ, in which year did Henry VIII die?

He came to the throne in 1509, which probably means he died in 1547.

Yes. 1647 might've seen him there a while!

It's the right answer.

OK, let's get you off the mark, Terry.

Who was the last English king to be killed in battle?

King John signed the Magna Carta, 1215.

Henry IV was a Shakespeare... Part 1, part 2.

I'm going to go for Henry IV.

OK, Henry IV, last English king to be killed in battle?

-CJ?

-It's Richard III.

-Yes.

So, CJ, an early chance to win the round.

The General Strike of 1926 lasted approximately how long?

-Do you know, I don't know.

-Mm.

-I don't know this.

My first thought was shorter rather than longer,

so I'll guess at 9 days.

It is the correct answer. 9 days. Approximately 9 days.

Which means not approximately, definitely, Terry,

you're not in the Final Round.

Got off on the wrong foot with that first one and never recovered.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

After that shaky start for the Eggheads, they've crept back in.

It means that two members of Royal Albatross will be missing.

One Egghead gone.

A chance now to even it up in our last head-to-head.

It's Arts & Books.

Your remaining players are Keith and Ailsa.

I think we've got to save Ailsa. I'd better take this.

-OK.

-Even though I've never read a book in my life!

Who would you like to choose from the Eggheads?

Let me identify them for you. Daphne and Barry.

-I'll have the charming Daphne.

-The charming Daphne.

Flattery will get you everywhere!

OK, let's have Keith and Daphne into the Question Room.

Right, Keith.

You've another choice now. Do you want to go first or second?

I'll keep up with the rest of them and go first.

OK, here's your question.

Robert Louis Stevenson's novel

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

is set in which city?

I'm not sure of this one.

I know the book.

I would suggest that it's London.

Yes! Right answer. You've got to be careful, though, haven't you?

Yes, London for Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

So, Daphne, your first question.

Major Major Major Major

is a character in which novel, published in 1961?

He is in Catch-22 by Joseph Heller.

Indeed. That's the right answer.

Back to you, Keith.

Charlotte Lucas marries Mr Collins in which Jane Austen novel?

Well...

I saw Mansfield Park.

The name doesn't come back from there.

In which case, I'll try Pride and Prejudice.

Bit of elimination there, bit of a hunch, and the right answer.

Pride and Prejudice. Well done. You have two.

Daphne's second question.

In Rodin's sculpture The Kiss,

the man's right hand is resting on what part of the woman?

Oh, dear.

His right hand...

Well...

Her thigh?

It's the right answer. Well done.

It's still all square.

Keith, third question.

When JMW Turner put the letters PP after his name

in the early 19th century, for what did these letters stand?

I knew this subject would be a bit difficult.

But as far as I can recall,

Turner was a painter,

therefore I'll go for Prince of Painters.

OK. Definitely a painter, that's for sure.

But it's not Prince of Painters. Do you know, Daphne?

I'd have gone for Poet of the Picturesque, but I don't know.

-It's Professor of Perspective.

-Oh!

-Professor of Perspective.

Would've caught Daphne out, as well, but it was your question.

This is Daphne's third question.

The 1934 novel The Nine Tailors

set in a background of bell-ringing, features which detective?

I've read all of them!

-Course you have!

-It's Lord Peter Wimsey.

-Crime novels, your favourite.

-Yes.

Lord Peter Wimsey, it definitely is.

That takes you through to the Final Round. Just the one slip, Keith.

She is charming, but deadly at quizzing, as you've just found out.

You won't be in the Final Round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

This is what we've been playing towards.

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 in this round.

Mike, Keith and Terry from Royal Albatross, all the men,

and Kevin from the Eggheads,

would you leave the studio, please?

Marilyn and Ailsa, you're playing to win Royal Albatross £5,000.

CJ, Daphne, Chris and Barry,

you're playing for something money can't buy -

the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions. They're all general knowledge.

You can confer. That's why your victory, Marilyn, was so important,

otherwise Ailsa would've been there on her own.

Marilyn and Ailsa, the question is, are your two brains

better than the Eggheads' four?

Royal Albatross, would you like to go first or second?

We'll go first.

Best of luck, Marilyn and Ailsa. First question.

In journalism, the name of the writer of an article

is referred to as the what?

Byline. Well, deadline is when the article has to be in by,

dateline is the date it occurred,

so we're going to go for byline.

Yes, of course, it's the right answer.

Eggheads, first question.

On a standard UK computer keyboard,

which letter is furthest to the left on the bottom row?

THEY CONFER

We always get these ones!

-I thought it was Z.

-It is.

X is there, Y is on the top row, so it must be Z.

Zebra... Z would be...

For once, we're all agreed on the keyboard question,

and it's Z.

Doing your virtual typing there! It's the right answer.

OK, Royal Albatross, Marilyn and Ailsa, second question.

Which city is the setting for the 1974 disaster movie

The Towering Inferno?

-That was Steve McQueen, wasn't it?

-Was it?

Wasn't he the fire chief? No? Am I thinking of something else?

I would guess San Francisco, but I don't know.

Wait a minute... There was something about Chicago Fire Service.

Hasn't Chicago got more skyscrapers than San Francisco?

Probably.

I can recall something about the Chicago Fire Service.

-Shall we?

-I don't know. Whatever you like.

With great trepidation, we're going to go for Chicago.

Chicago, on the basis it's got more taller buildings.

Chicago for The Towering Inferno. It's not.

I'll let the Eggheads tell you.

ALL: San Francisco.

You were thinking that first.

Well, a chance for the Eggheads to take the lead.

In which sport has an illegal method known as corking been used,

which supposedly allows players to hit the ball further?

-Somebody got, I can't remember...

-It was an illegal bat.

And it broke and revealed it.

It snapped. It had cork inside. It's baseball.

I'm reliably informed by my sports experts that it's baseball.

Is the correct answer. Yes.

Well done.

That means you need to get this, Marilyn and Ailsa.

In the late 1700s, the Frenchman Francois-Ambroise Didot

developed the point system for use in which area?

I don't think they'd have done commodities trading.

Typography is printing of some sort.

-Navigation... Points.

-Point system?

-Your guess is as good as mine.

-My guess was wrong last time.

I don't know.

Points system...

Erm... Go for it. Whatever.

Yes. FA Didot...

-FAD... No. Can't think of anything.

-There's no bells ringing at all!

We're going to go for typography.

OK. Chuckling Eggheads,

-because it is...

-ALL: Correct.

-Correct!

-LAUGHTER

Nothing wrong with a good old guess,

especially when you get it right. There you are, still alive,

but hoping for the Eggheads not to get this.

Borley Rectory,

reputed to be the most haunted house in England, is in which county?

-Lincolnshire.

-I had a good feel for Lincolnshire.

As soon as I saw it, I thought Lincolnshire.

-I don't think it's Essex.

-No.

There are a few in Dorset, but as soon as it came up,

a little light went on.

The spirits seem to be telling us Lincolnshire. That's our answer.

You know how capricious those spirits can be. It's wrong.

-It is Essex.

-Oh. It is Essex?

And you know what? It's all square.

We go to Sudden Death. You don't see that too often,

the Eggheads getting away with a wrong answer in the Final Round.

Your first Sudden Death question, Marilyn and Ailsa,

which country has ".SY" as its international internet code?

".SY."

-".SY."

-Syria?

-It could be.

-I haven't got a clue.

-Do they all have dots?

Yes, I think.

I would go with your first thought. Syria?

-Guess.

-We don't know this at all,

so we're going to have a little punt on Syria!

A little punt on Syria!

-It's Syria. It's correct!

-Well done!

Well! OK.

Now, this is looking good. Eggheads must get this.

Which Carry On actor

appeared in more films in the series than anyone else, a total of 26?

Kenneth Williams. I've had this question in another quiz.

I can't do the voice, but it's Kenneth Williams.

Kenneth Williams? Correct, Eggheads. Still in it.

And another question for you, Marilyn and Ailsa.

Which city in the south of England is home to the Met Office?

Which city in the south of England is home to the Met Office?

Brighton?

-I thought it was Bristol, but that's west, isn't it?

-It's a city.

Newmarket's not, is it? Not Newmarket. Newbury's not a city.

-No.

-Oxford's more middle England.

-Not Swindon?

-Swindon?

-Or is that west?

-I don't know.

-I don't know why I've got Bristol.

-We're going to have to make a decision.

-We are. Er...

Well, it could be any of the others, but Bristol did spring to mind.

-But I could be totally wrong.

-I said Brighton first.

-You did.

-Go with that if you want.

-Brighton or Bristol?

Bristol's south. We'll go for Bristol.

Bristol, for the home of the Met Office.

You're in the right direction, but not Bristol.

-Do you know, Eggheads?

-Exeter.

-Exeter.

-I didn't know that.

-No.

-That may be some comfort.

But it's not over, as we saw in those first three questions,

The Eggheads have to get theirs right to win.

Which member of Fleetwood Mac released the solo albums

Bella Donna, The Wild Heart and Rock A Little?

I thought Rock A Little was Stevie Nicks.

Lindsey Buckingham released some. But they sound like Stevie Nicks.

-Daphne?

-No idea.

-OK, happy?

-ALL: Yes.

-We're going to go for Stevie Nicks.

Stevie Nicks. Bella Donna, The Wild Heart and Rock A Little...

..are by Stevie Nicks.

It's the correct answer, Eggheads. You've won.

What can I say, Royal Albatross? What a game that was.

-It was good fun.

-Great fun.

-I'm glad you enjoyed it.

It's taken my breath away! It was nail-biting.

Some really memorable head-to-heads. In particular, yours, Marilyn.

We should mention Mike's, as well. Very unlucky to go out.

Great fun. That's what it's all about.

Continue to have fun on the golf course, and watching Eggheads.

-Thank you for coming to see us.

-Thank you.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally. They reign supreme.

You won't be going home with the £5,000,

which means the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us to see if a new team of challengers

have the brains to defeat them.

£6,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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