Episode 45 Eggheads

These people are among 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 the show where a team of five quiz challengers

attempt to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

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

Taking on our quiz Goliaths are the Civic Elves from Merseyside.

This team of civil servants are participants in a quiz

which takes place most Fridays in their office. Let's meet them.

Hello. My name's Chris. I'm 39 and I'm a civil servant.

Hello. My name's David. I'm 56 and I'm a civil servant.

Hi. My name's Barbara. I am 44 years old and I'm a civil servant.

Hi. I'm Clive. I'm 51 and I'm a civil servant.

Hi. I'm Janet. I'm 47 and I'm also a civil servant.

Welcome to you, Civil Elves. Tell me about Friday afternoon in your office!

-Some of the Eggheads should come along.

-Yes!

It tends to be an informal ten to 15 minutes, really.

-Within our lunch break, in case anyone...

-Of course!

-Very important!

-Indeed.

We just like to keep our brains ticking over once a week.

Is it quite formal or is it...? I've heard the Eggheads toss questions around amongst each other.

Is it, "It's your turn, Chris," and you come in with a set of questions?

No. It's more informal than that.

Others who aren't here today like to get involved. It's just whoever sees a good question and stores it up.

-But you do spend all week storing it up?

-If you see something.

-"I'll get them with that."

-Yeah.

From watching quiz shows, reading the paper...?

From wherever, really. From watching TV, reading. Usually from reading.

-Any from Eggheads?

-Yeah, actually. Now and then.

OK, bit of practice for you.

This is the real thing, up against the masters themselves. Let's see how you do, Civic Elves.

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

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

So, Civic Elves, the Eggheads have won the last six games.

£7,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Our first subject today is Film & Television.

Any one of you can play this.

What do we think?

Who wants it? You're quite strong on it.

-Yeah?

-Yeah. I'll take this.

Who do you want to take on?

-Daphne, maybe?

-Daphne.

-Yeah?

-I think I'll challenge Daphne.

Clive has decided he's going to play Daphne in this opening round.

Just to make sure you can't confer, not that you would,

we'll send you to the question room.

OK, Clive. Would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first please, Dermot.

First question, Clive. In the 1994 film The Lion King, who provided the voice for the lion Scar?

Well, um...

I do like film, but this wasn't one of my favourites, I have to say!

I don't think it was John Cleese.

I don't think it was Jeremy Irons.

I'm not too sure, really, about any of them,

but something's telling me to go for James Earl Jones.

It's Jeremy Irons. It is Jeremy Irons.

Another classic case of the Brit

playing the baddy in Hollywood.

Let's see how Daphne does. In which decade did the film Rainman win a Best Picture Oscar?

Just trying to work it out,

logically, cos I think

Kramer Versus Kramer was late '70s, so it must be the '80s.

And Kramer Versus Kramer significant in you trying to identify what?

Dustin Hoffman was in it?

Because Rainman was after Kramer Versus Kramer.

It was after a lot of films!

DAPHNE: Am I wrong?

No! It's correct.

1980s, we'll leave it at that.

1980s is correct. OK, we need to get you off the mark, Clive.

Which English actor played an assassin called the Professor in the 2002 film The Bourne Identity?

Um...I remember this film.

I liked the series of Bourne films.

I don't think it's Colin Firth.

Um...or Ralph Fiennes.

I remember Clive Owen

being in one of the Bourne films.

I'll go with Clive Owen.

Clive Owen is correct. Namesake there.

Clive earning a point for Clive.

Daphne, which fictional English King is played by Brian Blessed in the 1983 TV series The Black Adder?

As you know from a previous round,

I have never seen Black Adder.

CHUCKLES So, I haven't got a clue!

I don't think it'd be George VII, so I'll rule him out.

Brian Blessed is a nice big sort of a chap.

Richard III was a bit weedy.

So I'll go for Henry IX.

-Henry IX?

-Yes.

-It's not. No. It is, other Eggheads?

-BOTH: Richard IV.

-Oh, right. OK.

-It's all-square, clive. Great news.

Your third question. What was the title of the BBC TV arts programme that ran from 1958 to 1965?

Um, well...

I don't recognise any of those.

I do watch a number of BBC arts programmes.

I don't seem to recollect this one!

I don't think it's...

Playback.

I will go for...Monitor.

Why have you gone for that? Just cos it sounds good?

Just as a general feel.

Something was telling me it was Monitor! I don't know!

Maybe you heard it somewhere cos it's the right answer.

From that very shaky start, you've built a lead and if it remains

after Daphne gives me an answer, it'll take you to the final round.

Who wrote the screenplays for the movies Lethal Weapon,

The Long Kiss Goodnight and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang?

Would it surprise you to know I haven't heard of any of them?

I do like the name of the first one, so Akiva Goldsman.

Akiva Goldsman. What do you think, Eggheads?

-Is it Akiva Goldsman?

-BOTH: Don't know.

The other Eggheads are bamboozled. That's as good a guess as any.

-It's the wrong guess, though. It is Shane Black.

-Oh, well. OK.

Which means, Clive,

you went from zero with your first question

to winning the round in the space of three questions.

You've booked your place in the final round. Please come back and join your teams.

The Eggheads have taken their first hit. They'll be missing one brain from the final round.

Our next subject is Arts & Books. Who'd like to play this?

Can't be Clive.

Civic Elves, Arts & Books.

I'm not good at this.

I'm good on books, but not on art. What do you think?

Maybe it's going to be three books!

Let's hope for the best. I'll give it a go.

All right, fine.

Um...Chris? >

-Yeah.

-Yeah? Chris. Yeah.

The decision is Barbara to take on Chris. You know where to go.

Into the question room, please.

Barbara, I understand you haven't won very much at quizzing, apart from a very prized record

by a certain band from the '70s, what was that?

I entered a radio phone-in competition and was lucky enough to come away with a Boney M record.

Prize of the century, obviously!

Can you remember what it was? Which...?

I think Greatest Hits. It had a gold cover, and I was so excited.

I was a teenager. I clung to it on the bus all the way home.

-Right, Barbara, do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go second, please.

You're facing the first question, Chris.

Which writer, actress and comedienne wrote the novels Anita And Me and Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee?

They are by Meera Syal.

They are. That's the right answer.

Barbara, what's the title

of the award-winning play set during the First World War,

first performed in London in 2007, that is based on a children's book by Michael Morpurgo?

Ooh. Now I realise I should have gone first!

I've no idea, so I will think about what's the most logical one.

I'll just guess at War Dance, please.

War Dance, for the play based on the book by Michael Morpurgo.

It's not War Dance. Chris Egghead?

-War Horse.

-It's War Horse.

Second question, Chris.

At what age did the poet John Keats die?

He died young at 25.

Yes. Barbara kicking herself now she sees that first set of questions,

which I'm sure you'd have known.

Let's get you off, though.

In 2010, the Royal Academy in London held a major exhibition subtitled

The Artist And His Letters, featuring the work of which painter?

Ooh, I haven't heard it.

I'm trying to think who might have been famous for letters

as well as just artwork.

I'll have to take a guess. I'll go with Vincent Van Gogh.

It's the right answer. Yes. Well!

Could this be like Clive? He got his first one wrong and won the round.

For that to happen, Chris has to fail here.

Anne Lovell is often believed to be the subject of a painting

by Hans Holbein known as A Lady With A Squirrel And A... what?

I don't think it'd be a starling.

Lady With A Squirrel And A Badger sounds a bit Monty Python-ish.

But Lady With A Squirrel And A Butterfly sounds about right.

I'll go with butterfly.

-LAUGHING:

-You're making me laugh, Lady With A Squirrel And A Badger!

It would by Python-esque! And it's not.

But it's not Lady With A Squirrel And A Butterfly. It's a starling.

Could the revival be starting?

You need to get this, Barbara.

Which American writer won three Pulitzer Prizes for poetry

in the 1920s for his collected poems The Man Who Died Twice and Tristram?

I'm not familiar with those poets.

So I will just have to take a guess.

I think I'll go with... George Dillon, please.

George Dillon for The Man Who Died Twice and Tristram.

Three Pulitzer Prizes for poetry in the '20s

went to Edwin Arlington Robinson.

Edwin Arlington Robinson, not George Dillon.

Chris has pinched the round.

You won't be in the final round, Barbara.

Would you both please join your teams?

After that round, it means one Elf and one Egghead have gone from the final round.

Our third subject today is Sport.

Who'd like to play this?

It can be Chris, David or Janet.

-With Judith.

-Yeah?

I'll take that one, Dermot, against Judith.

Oh!

-LAUGHTER

-Audible groan there from Judith!

Chris and Judith playing sport. Into the question room, please.

Chris, I know you're a footie fan.

Which side of the great Liverpool divide do you come down on?

Firmly on the blue side, Dermot.

Do you go to all the games?

I have done. I've had a season ticket for nine or so years now.

Do you see the glory glory years returning soon?

You've got to be an optimist to be an Evertonian, so let's hope so.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first, please, Dermot.

Best of luck, Chris. What role does Kevin Pietersen usually perform for the England cricket team?

I'll rule out wicket keeper straight away.

He does occasionally do a bit of bowling,

but he's best known as a batsman, that's my answer.

That's for sure. That's the right answer. Kevin Pietersen.

Judith, Ricardo Carvalho

and Michael Essien represented which football team during the 2009/10 season?

Don't look so pained, Judith.

I've heard of their names.

Carvalho and Essien.

Chelsea.

-Yes!

-Yes?

-It's the right answer!

-Hooray!

Don't see that too often. Chris, your second question.

What was the only Grand Slam ladies' single title

that Monica Seles failed to win during her tennis career?

I seem to remember Seles wasn't particularly good on grass.

I don't recall her winning Wimbledon so that's my answer, Wimbledon.

You've given us the reason why as well. Wimbledon is correct.

Judith, which country beat the USA

in the final to win the Olympic gold medal in men's ice hockey in 2010?

They're all winter countries, that's the trouble.

It's a matter of picking. Canada won a lot of medals.

I'm sure they're very good at ice hockey. I'm going to say Canada.

In that North American derby, it's the right answer.

Both going very strongly.

Chris,

in 2004, Ronan Flood became the caddy of which professional golfer?

I have to admit, I don't know this one.

I know Faldo's changed his caddy a few times over the years.

But the name

also suggests an Irish connection.

So I'm torn between Harrington and Faldo.

I'll go for Padraig Harrington, please.

You got the Irish connection. That's correct. Yes.

Three out of three.

Judith needs to get this.

Which prop made his 100th international appearance

for the Irish rugby union team

during the 2010 6 Nations tournament?

The only Irish name is Paul O'Connell.

I suspect that's a red herring but just in case it isn't,

and it's on my lucky righthand side, I'm going to say Paul O'Connell.

There's no red herrings. They're all great servants of the Irish team.

-But it's John Hayes.

-It's not an Irish name, though.

That means he shouldn't be playing?

-Yeah.

-You're not playing in the final round, and you are, Chris.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Looking better for the Civic Elves. They've knocked two Eggheads out and one of the Civic Elves has gone.

In our last head-to-head before the final round, the subject is Music.

Who'd like to play? David or Janet.

Are you OK with it? Yeah.

I'll do it. Who do you want? Pat or Barry?

I'm going to do music.

-Barry, please.

-Barry.

-Looks very happy about it.

Janet and Barry, into the question room then, please.

-Janet, do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first, please.

Janet, first question.

Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of)

was a UK Number One single for Lou Bega in which year?

I remember this one.

I remember looking through a number of compilation CDs to find it.

I think '79 is too early.

It's either '89 or '99.

Um...

I'll say 1999.

Yeah. That's the right answer. Well done.

Your first question, Barry.

Halo, Deja Vu and Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)

are UK Top 40 singles by which pop singer?

I don't think it's Lily Allen.

I've had fun with Lily Allen questions in the past.

I'm pretty certain it's not her.

Halo, Deja... I think it's Beyonce.

-You had fun? You mean you got them wrong?

-Yes!

Mentally scarred.

No. I went back and listened to Lily Allen music. She's very good.

That's what you do as an Egghead, learn from your mistakes.

-So you're going for...?

-Beyonce.

-That's the right answer.

OK, Janet.

People Will Say We're In Love is a song from which musical?

I don't watch musicals, apart from South Pacific. I like that one!

Um...I'd say not Chicago.

Cabaret or Oklahoma!?

I'll go for Oklahoma!

Oklahoma! Daphne?

-She's right.

-It's the right answer.

Checking with our musicals expert.

People Will Say We're In Love.

Barry, the group Bombalurina, who had a UK Number One single in 1990

with Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini,

was fronted by which TV personality?

Oh, it was the unforgettable Timmy Mallett.

Unforgettable's one way of describing him!

-That was the kindest thing I could think of.

-It's the right answer.

I won't say the whole title,

Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.

Janet, what was the first name of the jazz musician

known as "Bix" Beiderbecke?

I thought his name WAS Bix.

Well, it's "Bix" in...

with commas around it, "Bix" Beiderbecke.

-What's his first name?

-I think Mitchell sounds a bit modern.

Um...I'll try Leon.

Leon Beiderbecke?

Barry's nodding. It's the right answer. Three out of three!

Great stuff, Janet. Might get you a place in the final round.

Barry, which Russian composer provided the musical score

for the 1938 film Alexander Nevsky?

Oh. It wasn't Stravinsky.

Was it Prokofiev or Shostakovich?

They're both... They're all of much the same vintage.

Alexander Nevsky?

Prokofiev provided more musical scores so I shall go for him.

-Prokofiev is the right answer.

-Phew.

Relieved Eggheads here,

who've been willing you on, Barry.

Both done so well with your first three questions and it means, Janet,

we go to sudden death and remove the choices you've seen.

It's a lot harder. Just got to hear an answer from you.

Here's your question. On which 1982 Michael Jackson album

did the songs Beat It and Billie Jean feature?

I've got all the Michael Jackson CDs!

Just got to remember which it was on. Um...

I'm trying to remember what was on Bad.

I think that's too late.

I think it was Off The Wall.

Off The Wall for Beat It and Billie Jean. It's not.

No, it's not, Janet. Do you know, Barry?

-I think they were on Thriller.

-Yeah. The big one, on Thriller.

This has been a thriller. Is it going to end? A chance for Barry.

If he doesn't get it, we play on.

The headquarters of the Welsh National Opera are in which city?

Cardiff or Swansea?

Cardiff.

Is correct, Barry. Yes.

Sad to end that there.

-Janet, you quiz in such good heart. You enjoyed it in there.

-Yes.

Some people don't enjoy the experience. You thrived on it.

I'm sorry you won't be in the final round. Would you both please join your teams?

This is what we've been playing towards, the final round which, as always, is General Knowledge.

Those of you who lost your head-to-head

won't be allowed to take part.

So, Barbara and Janet from the Civic Elves,

Daphne and Judith from the Eggheads, leave the studio, please.

Chris, David and Clive, you're playing to win the Civic Elves £7,000.

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

the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn, all General Knowledge, and you are allowed to confer.

Chris, David and Clive, the question is, are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

-Civic Elves, would you like to go first or second?

-We'll go first.

Civic Elves playing for £7,000. This is your first question.

In 2009, who claimed to have predicted the six winning Lottery numbers live on television?

I remember watching that. It was Derren Brown.

-Derren Brown. Yeah.

-Go on.

It was Derren Brown.

It was. One to you, Civic Elves.

White, red and which colour feature on the flag of the Czech Republic?

Blue. Definitely blue.

We think that's blue, Dermot.

-Blue?

-Blue.

-It's the right answer.

They know their flags!

Civic Elves, Halifax is the capital of which Canadian province?

We've got relatives in Canada. >

-I'm pretty sure it's Nova Scotia.

-I think it is, yeah.

I don't think it's Alberta. I'm pretty certain it's Nova Scotia.

We think it's Nova Scotia.

Halifax, Nova Scotia is the right answer. Two to the Civic Elves.

A vicennial event occurs once every how many years?

-"Vi", vicennial.

-I think that's 20. You agree?

-Yeah.

We think that's 20, Dermot.

It is 20, yes.

A bit of doubt there.

I can always see that and exploit it. All right, it's all square.

These are crucial questions for both teams.

The Havanese is a breed of which animal?

The Havanese,

H-A-V-A-N-E-S-E, is a breed of which animal?

I have to confess, I'm not too sure about this.

-I don't think it's a dog.

-No, I don't think it's a dog.

It may be a horse.

Yeah. I don't know so I'm happy to go...

I don't think it's dog. It's one of the other two.

-I'd be inclined to go for horse.

-Go with what you're thinking.

-Horse. Yeah.

-We'll go for horse, Dermot.

-Horse?

No. It's incorrect. Do you know, Eggheads?

-I'd go for dog myself.

-OK, just out of interest.

-What would you have gone for?

-I'd be inclined to say rabbit.

They'd have had a dispute. It's interesting. It's a dog.

-A breed of dog.

-Never heard of it.

Means the Eggheads have an opportunity to win the game.

In which year were the astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin born?

They landed on the moon in '69.

I think loads of astronauts were born in the same year.

I would have thought it was 1930.

39. They all had substantial Air Force careers behind them.

-'35?

-'35 sounds...

-definitely too... They'd be too young.

-Yeah.

'25, they'd be too old.

I'm happy with 1930.

-1930 rings a bell of sorts.

-OK.

We're not entirely certain, Dermot, but we think it's 1930.

1930?

It is the right answer, Eggheads. You've won.

Just one question in it, Civic Elves.

You covered yourselves in glory in those head-to-heads.

Could have been more balanced in your favour if some questions had gone the way of the women.

Janet and Barbara did very well but just didn't manage to get through.

Thank you very much for coming to take on the Eggheads,

and not quite succeeding, Civic Elves.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally and their winning streak continues.

You won't be going home with the £7,000, 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 the Eggheads.

£8,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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