Episode 57 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.

You may recognise them as they've won some of the toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads. Taking on our quiz champions today

are The Mighty Oaks from West Sussex.

This team is formed from members of two rival quiz teams

who usually go head-to-head at the Royal Oak in Worthing.

Let's meet them.

Hi. I'm Dave. I'm 53 and I'm a graphic designer.

Hi, my name is Bernie. I'm 65 and a retired electronic technician.

Hi, I'm Sandy. I'm 61 and a retired civil servant.

I'm Mick. I'm 48 and I own a fish and chip shop.

Hello, I'm Margaret. I'm 64 and a retired pub landlady.

Welcome, Mighty Oaks. That's a self-explanatory name.

The Royal Oak. What's the quizzing like there?

-It's very good. It's fun. Serious but fun.

-I see.

-A bit of banter, but...

-Yeah.

A lot of banter, a lot of laughter.

But we like to win.

-Very competitive.

-Every day there's £1,000 up for grabs

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

The Eggheads have won the last 18 games

so that means £19,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Let's get on with the task, trying to knock Eggheads out

for the next four rounds in the head-to-heads.

The first of those is on the subject of music.

Who'd like to play this opening round?

-Right.

-Dave?

-What do you think?

I'll put myself up for music.

-Anyone else want a go?

-Definitely not me.

-Go on, Dave.

-OK, I think I'll go for it.

I'll go for music. Who should we play against?

Chris?

-Go against Chris.

-Chris.

He's quite happy with that. He has no choice!

These are the rules. You choose, they play!

Let's have Dave and Chris into the question room, please.

Dave, would you like to go first or second?

First if I can, please.

You can go first. This is the question coming right at you.

Which band had a top-selling album in 2010 with the soundtrack for the film Iron Man 2?

Right. I think I know this,

but I'll try and establish that I really do know it.

I think Elbow wouldn't really. They're a bit more melodic.

I think they had an album called Seldom Seen Kid,

which was out a couple of years ago and won a prize.

Boyzone I can't really imagine being on Iron Man.

But I'm sure AC/DC. Thunderstruck and a couple of others.

Highway to Hell is featured in the film. So I think it's AC/DC.

-Have you seen the film?

-I've seen the first one, not the second.

It's the right answer. AC/DC. You knew that very well.

The album

and the subsequent world tour made AC/DC the second most profitable band in the world in 2010.

Goes to show the power of a successful film.

And first question to you, Chris. Which texting abbreviation

formed the title of the 2010 UK hit single by Usher, featuring will.i.am?

-What's appropriate? As far as I know...

-Do you text, Chris?

I've never seen you with a mobile.

No, I've just about got up to semaphore! No, I've got a mobile.

Album title. Oh My God, OMG.

That's the right answer, yes!

He's even astonished himself there, Chris.

OMG is the right answer. OK. Dave.

What name is used for the traditional military band instrument

that's also been called the Turkish crescent or the Chinese pavilion?

I'd like to make an educated guess, but I think I can't at all!

I think it'll be called just a simple guess.

Jingling Johnny.

Tommy is sort of a regimental term.

Is a soldier called a Tommy?

I don't know whether that'll just send me off on a tangent.

But...

Mind you, Johnny. Johnny Comes Home. Comes Marching Home.

Could be that.

-This is a pure guess. Tinkling Tommy.

-Tinkling Tommy

as in Tommies for soldiers.

No, it's the other one you were thinking of. Jingling Johnny.

Chris, what is a Jingling Johnny or Turkish crescent?

It's like a fairly long staff with branches on it and bells on.

OK. Jingling Johnny.

Let's see how you do with your second question, Chris.

The composers Dominico Scarlatti and Johan Sebastian Bach

were both born in which year?

Born. Well, 1785 is too late

for J.S. Bach.

High Baroque period, so he'd have been top of his game in 1710, 1720.

So it's got to be 1685.

It's the right answer. Those Eggheads enjoying it.

Also the year Handel was born.

-Handel as well?

-Yeah, 1685.

-OK. 1685.

You need to get this, Dave.

Which member of Fairport Convention

wrote the song entitled Who Knows Where The Time Goes?

All three, I think, were in Fairport Convention.

Richard Thompson was the guitarist.

I think Dave Pegg, he played violin.

Sandy Denny was the singer.

I think she actually wrote the lyrics and the songs.

-So I'll say Sandy Denny.

-OK.

On surer ground there than your Jingling Johnnies!

-Yeah!

-It's the right answer.

Well done. Sandy Denny.

But there is that blemish to the record in the middle there,

which gives this opportunity to Chris. Which opera soprano

was nicknamed La Stupenda, or The Stupendous One?

That was Joan Sutherland.

Joan Sutherland. He was on surer ground than he was with texting

which he got as well. But Joan Sutherland is correct, Chris.

Three out of three gives you the round. A tight round

but Dave's been edged out. So you won't play in the final round.

Both please come and join your teams.

One of the branches lopped off The Mighty Oaks there in the form of Dave.

Bad luck, Dave. A good round but Chris on good form.

So one brain missing from The Mighty Oaks. All the Eggheads there.

The next subject coming up is Geography. Who'll play Geography?

I think two or three of us could.

-Do you want to do Geography?

-Yes, I'll do Geography.

That'll do. Who do you want to go with?

-Daphne.

-I saw Daphne lose on Geography.

-Daphne?

-OK. Bernie is going to play Daphne.

-And the subject is Geography. I'll add that bit!

Bernie and Daphne into the question room.

Bernie, do you want to go first or second?

I'd like to go second, please.

Daphne, first question to you.

Which English city is nicknamed Pompey?

I bet Bernie wishes he went first!

He is!

-It's Portsmouth.

-Don't rub it in, Daphne!

It is the right answer. Portsmouth, Pompey. OK.

Let's hope you're not challenged with this, Bernie.

On Ordnance Survey Land Ranger maps,

what is indicated by a blue flag?

Blue flag.

Wish I'd had Daphne's question!

I'll have to say nature reserve, cos I don't think it's a golf course or theme park.

Nature reserve.

-Nature reserve, blue flag. It's a golf course.

-Unlucky.

You really did wish you'd had that one.

Let's see what Daphne gets on the second question.

Daphne, what's the approximate population of Greenland?

For goodness' sake!

What's the approximate population of Greenland?

You know I hate these questions!

I would say... Greenland.

Greenland.

57,000.

57,000. Yes, you're right.

Yes, big and empty!

So you've got to get this, Bernie.

The local authority called Tameside is part of which metropolitan county?

I don't know this one at all.

I'll have to guess on this one also.

I don't think it's Merseyside.

That's more Liverpool.

-I'll go for Greater Manchester.

-Greater Manchester. Right answer.

Well done, Bernie.

Still in it. But might be short-lived if Daphne gets this.

The city of Djenne whose Great Mosque is said to be

the largest mud-brick or adobe building in the world

is in which African country?

I think, it's another inkle, I think that might be Mali.

For the Great Mosque of Djenne.

-Yes.

-It's the right answer. Yes.

-Sorry!

We were getting going, Bernie, but we don't know how good you were because of your blue flags.

So not in the final round. Both please come and join your teams.

Mighty Oaks have lost two members. No Eggheads have gone.

A third head-to-head coming up. Food & Drink. Who'd like to play this?

Sandy, Mick or Margaret?

-We know who's playing this.

-This is one we do know

-who's playing this. It'll be Sandy and...

-Can't be Chris or Daphne.

-Who would you like to choose?

-I think Kevin.

-You choose Kevin.

-Yeah, Kevin.

Sandy and Kevin into the question room, please.

Let's put some questions to you. Do you want to go first or second?

After Bernie's experience, I'll go first, please.

Don't want to be kicking yourself if an easy one goes to the Eggheads. First question.

What name is used for a common variety of potato

and for a dessert made with apples and either sponge fingers or bread slices?

I can't think of any potatoes called Caroline or Claire.

I know that Charlotte is sold as a salad potato variety.

So I'm pretty certain that the dessert is Apple Charlotte.

You got that one locked down. That's the right answer.

Kevin, which term refers to meat that has been browned, then placed in a tightly-closed dish

to cook slowly in liquid?

I think that's braised.

Yes, that's the right answer. Braised.

One each. Sandy,

the cheese called Camembert

originated in which region of France?

Burgundy is best known for things like wine

which is a French region.

Provence I think more of herbs and things.

I'm trying to think of packaging for Camembert.

I think it's Normandy.

Well done. Normandy for Camembert. Two out of two.

Kevin,

in Indian cuisine to which foodstuff does the word "mutter" refer?

Don't know that one.

It could be anything, basically.

-I'll go for green peas.

-Green peas.

-You like that, Daphne?

-I like the fact that he's right!

-Are you a fan of curry?

-No. No, no.

-Just know this.

-Yes.

-It's the right answer, Kevin, yes.

Two each.

Both quizzing well. Sandy a little easier to this point than Kevin.

Sandy,

marmande, striped stuffer and green sausage

are varieties of which foodstuff?

I'm afraid this will have to be a guess.

It's something I don't know the answer to.

Doesn't sound like mushroom.

It could be tomato or lemon.

This really has to be a guess.

I think I'm going to go for lemon.

-And I don't know why.

-OK.

Lemon for marmande, striped stuffer and green sausage.

It's not lemon. No, it's incorrect.

Do you Eggheads have any idea?

-No. I thought it was lemon, so...

-It's not lemon, it's tomato.

They're varieties of tomatoes.

Well, Kevin,

an opportunity here.

The classic cookery book entitled Roast Chicken and Other Stories, published in 1994,

was written by Lindsey Bareham and which chef?

I simply don't know it. So Alistair Little.

Alistair Little. No.

Other Eggheads?

-Rowley Leigh?

-No, Simon Hopkinson.

Lindsey Bareham and Simon Hopkinson, Roast Chicken and Other Stories.

For the first time it's Sudden Death

and take away those choices.

Here's your Sudden Death question.

What nut flavours the essence used to make ratafia biscuits?

This is slightly difficult

because I know if it was amaretto, that's peach kernels.

But I'm wondering if this is the nut itself and it's almond.

-Is that your answer?

-My answer's almond, yes.

-Almond. OK.

Taking that. The answer is almond.

Correct answer. Well done.

OK, Kevin.

Which slang word for tea is also the name of a fish related to salmon?

Char.

It is, yes. Char for tea

and char for the fish.

Back we go to Sandy.

What flavour jam is an essential and traditional ingredient

of the cake known as sachertorte?

-Can you spell sacher for me?

-S-A-C-H-E-R-T-O-R-T-E.

-Sachertorte.

-I don't think I really know this,

but I'm thinking of jams that are used with cake-making.

I would guess at apricot.

Apricot is the right answer. Well done, Sandy.

Great answer.

Kevin, which famous cheese named after a Belgian town where it's believed to have originated

has a distinctive pungent smell

caused by the micro-organism Bacterium linens used in its fermentation?

I should know more Belgian cheeses.

I can think of one that's Belgian but whether it fits, I don't know.

Tomme. T-O-M-M-E.

T-O-M-M-E?

No, it's not!

Other Eggheads?

-Limburger.

-To clear this up, it's Limburger.

Limburger, yeah! Sorry. Of course, yes.

-You've heard of it?

-Yes.

-The stinking cheese.

The same bacterium that causes human body odour!

-That's nice to know.

-Lovely, yeah.

Limburger. Let's concentrate on what Sandy's done.

Great quizzing there, Sandy. Apricot and almond stick in the mind.

Through to the final. Come back and join your teams.

The Mighty Oaks doing a lot better there

and knocked Kevin out of the final round. Two Mighty Oaks gone.

Our last head-to-head coming up before the final.

It's Politics.

Who'd like to play this, Mick or Margaret?

-That's the one we didn't want!

-Fighting not to get this one!

It's not a great one of mine, no.

Do you want to sacrifice me?

-Who do we want to play?

-It's a choice between Barry and CJ.

-Shall we have CJ?

-Right.

Go with CJ?

-Right, so Mick is going to play CJ at Politics, please.

-OK.

Into the Question Room, Mick and CJ.

Mick, would you like the first set of questions or the second?

I'll go first, please.

What is the name of the union formed in 1993

from the merger of the National and Local Government Officers Association,

the National Union of Public Employees

and the Confederation of Health Service Employees?

Well. I think...

I don't know this one.

I think I'd better have a stab at UNISON.

UNISON. That's where NUPE, NALGO and COHSE

went and joined up and formed UNISON. Right answer.

The other two are far away from being trade unions. OK.

CJ, what does the letter O represent in the abbreviation NGO,

referring to bodies such as the Red Cross?

I don't believe I've ever heard this.

I wonder if it's a shorter version of quango

which is a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation.

NGO are the last three letters so I'll try organisation.

Organisation is the right answer.

I suppose it is. NGOs are organisations that normally, in a crisis,

you get obviously governments and NGOs like the Red Cross are non-governmental organisations.

Got it there, CJ.

Second question coming your way, Mick.

According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947,

the holder of which office ranks second after the Vice President

if a US president leaves office in mid-term?

I don't think it's the Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

-I'll go for Speaker of the House.

-Speaker of the House.

Spot on. Well done. Right answer.

OK. Your second question, CJ. Which monarch

donated 10 Downing Street to be used as a political residence for the First Lord of the Treasury?

Right. What have we got for dates here?

George II.

1727 to 1760.

The First Lord of the Treasury was Robert Walpole.

He essentially took power in 1721. So the dates fit.

The last private resident of 10 Downing Street was a Mr Chicken.

I'm trying to think when he left.

I don't think it was as late as 1837

because no records exist about Mr Chicken apart from his name.

We know nothing about him.

If it was in Victoria's reign, there must have been some records left.

Purely on those little scraps, I will try George II.

It's the right answer. Well done. George II.

Two each. Going well here, Mick.

Which British prime minister known for his love of music

was an organ scholar at Balliol College?

Hmm.

I know Edward Heath liked his music.

I don't know about Harold Wilson or Winston Churchill.

It's not my subject, really.

I'll plump for Edward Heath.

Edward Heath is the right answer.

For a man who thought he was a sacrificial lamb, you've got three out of three.

One foot in the final round. Can CJ prevent it with this?

Which early 20th-century Labour politician

received the 1934 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in the field of disarmament?

I vaguely recognise the name John Hodge and George Barnes.

I don't recognise the name Arthur Henderson.

I'll go for the one that I was going to say means slightly more to me

but I get nothing from any of them.

-I'll go for George Barnes.

-George Barnes. Nobel Peace Prize winner.

-Eggheads?

-Arthur Henderson.

-Arthur Henderson.

You're through to the final round, Mick!

-You never thought that would happen!

-No. "Sacrificial lamb"!

Both come back and join your teams, please.

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 take part in this round.

So, Dave and Bernie from The Mighty Oaks

and Kevin and CJ from the Eggheads, would you leave the studio, please?

Sandy, Mick and Margaret, you're playing to win £19,000!

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

the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn, all general knowledge.

And you're allowed to confer.

Mighty Oaks, are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

Do you want to go first or second?

We'd like to go first, please.

Best of luck. First question.

Which British Formula 1 driver was awarded an MBE in June 2010?

Sport's your subject, your real subject, as opposed to politics.

-Motor racing isn't.

-Any ideas?

Coulthard's been out of racing for a while.

Formula 1. And so's Mark Blundell, actually.

The one that's currently racing is Jenson Button.

-I'd have gone for Jenson Button.

-Shall we opt for Jenson Button?

-Are you happy with that?

-I'm happy cos I have no idea.

-I'd have gone Jenson Button.

-Agreed?

We're going for Jenson Button, Dermot.

Good choice. Reigning world champion at the time. Yes.

Jenson Button is the right answer.

So Jenson Button getting you off to that start you wanted.

Eggheads, who played the role of former British prime minister

Adam Lang in the 2010 film The Ghost?

-I don't know.

-I don't.

-Have any of us seen this film?

-No.

Oh. This is fun.

-Who's more likely...

-If I had a guess, I'd say Pierce Brosnan.

I'd say David Tennant, myself.

I was thinking Jim Broadbent, so we're in real trouble!

-I've got a feeling...

-Pierce Brosnan has some recollection for me.

-Yeah.

-The synapses are firing.

-We'll go for that. All happy with that?

-Yes.

None of us really know, but we've got three hints that suggest Pierce Brosnan.

So Pierce Brosnan.

It's the right answer.

Tricky one there!

OK. Second question each.

On which part of the body were galligaskins worn?

-Smacks of those things people...

-Gaiters.

-Yes, that's what I think.

-Gaiters are worn on the legs.

-Legs or..?

-Or are they feet?

-Skins.

-I'm thinking legs.

-Thinking legs.

-Yeah.

-Are we all thinking legs?

-Yeah.

-We're going for legs.

-Legs for the galligaskins.

It's the right answer. Well done.

-What precisely are they? Gaiters?

-Like leggings, yeah.

Galligaskins. Legs.

Eggheads, what type of weapon is a falchion? F-A-L-C-H-I-O-N.

-Sword.

-Sword. Definitely.

What type of weapon is a falchion?

It's a sword.

It is a sword. That's right.

You've got two and The Mighty Oaks have two.

Can The Mighty Oaks make it three?

The siamang is the largest of which group of primates?

Siamang.

S-I-A-M-A-N-G.

The Siamang is the largest of which group of primates?

Siamang.

-Is it something to do with Siam?

-Simian means monkey.

QUIET CONFERRING

-Lemurs are things with long tails.

-Siamang.

-What were you thinking?

-Lemurs.

Lemurs. Cos we've never heard of it?

-We don't know, do we?

-Go for that?

-Yeah.

-Yep? We're going down the middle for lemurs.

-Siamang.

The largest of the lemurs, you think.

It's incorrect. It is the largest - do you know, Eggheads?

-A gibbon.

-It's a gibbon.

Siamang, largest of the gibbons.

So, a chance for the Eggheads.

What instrument was developed by Jagadish Chandra Bose

to measure the rate of growth of plants?

Crescograph, definitely!

-Crescograph.

-What instrument was developed by Jagadish Chandra Bose

to measure the rate of growth of plants?

I haven't a clue, but my colleagues assure me it's a crescograph.

-Crescograph.

-Yes.

-Daphne.

-Yes.

-So sure!

-Yes.

I can tell you it is the right answer. Eggheads, you've won!

Mighty Oaks, that was mighty quizzing from you.

Congratulations from the Eggheads go to you for giving them a thorough workout.

A really competitive quiz, there.

Only one question in it, at the very end there. Primates versus crescograph.

Some memorable head-to-heads, particularly by Sandy and Mick.

Thank you very much for taking on the Eggheads.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally. Their winning streak continues.

You won't be going home with £19,000. The money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£20,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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