Episode 60 Eggheads

These people are amongst the greatest quiz players in Britain.

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 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 awesome might of our quiz Goliaths today

are Sir Quiztopher Wren.

They're studying for their Blue Badge qualification,

the award given by the Institute of Tourist Guiding,

which allows them to become tour guides in and around London.

Let's meet them.

I'm David, I'm 37, and I'm a primary school teacher.

I'm Adam, I'm 32, and I'm an actor and copywriter.

Hello, I'm Jane, I'm 54, and I'm training to be a Blue Badge guide.

I'm Nigel, I'm 45, and I'm a consultant.

Hi, I'm Steven, I'm 42, and I'm a business support officer.

Quite a mouthful for the quiz name!

Sir Quiztopher Wren, you're very welcome!

Sir Christopher Wren, no doubt,

features largely in many of the tours that are led round London.

He's pretty much the chief architect after the Great Fire of London.

-You can't really go too far without seeing one of his churches.

-I see.

How intensive is the studying to get one of these badges?

It's 18 months, two evenings a week,

-and then Saturdays we have practical stuff.

-OK.

Presumably, you have some kind of exam.

-Lots of exams.

-Do you have to take an examiner round?

-We've got three coming up shortly and then another six next year.

-OK.

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

However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the money rolls over.

So, Sir Quiztopher Wren, the Eggheads have won the last 21 games

and that means £22,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

No doubt hoping for History to come up. First, it's Politics.

Who'd like to take this battle on?

-Oh, dear!

-I was hoping to stay to the end, but that's me!

That's you straight in, Captain David there.

You get to choose any Egghead. Any one of those five.

I'd like to take the best-looking one, so I'll take Judith.

-LAUGHTER

-Thank you.

Lot a competition there!

Let's have Judith and David.

The subject's Politics. Please go to the Question Room.

David, do you want to go first or second?

I know it's not very sporting, but I'll go first.

£22,000 at stake. Here's your first question.

What is the name of the process that a bill must pass through

immediately after its second reading on its way to becoming law?

Er, I don't think it's cabinet discussion,

because I don't think that's involved.

And I'm not too sure,

but I think I'm going to go for Royal Assent.

OK. Royal Assent.

It's not the right answer. That, I think, is when it does become law.

Before that, there's the committee stage.

It's the next part of the process after the second reading.

So, Judith, the UK Government's agency

for marketing and communications

is known as the Central Office of what?

I think the most likely is Information.

Information is the right answer.

Judith has one and David needs to get off the mark.

Second question.

"Ergatocracy" means government by whom?

This is why I didn't want to do Politics. Erm...

It just would seem insane for it to be The Insane.

I'm going to go for The Most Wealthy.

The Most Wealthy, ergatocracy. It's the other way round.

It's The Workers. Government by the workers.

OK, Judith, you win the round if you get this.

In the British political system,

which position has traditionally referred to as "primus inter pares"?

I think that means "first among equals".

It's the prime minister.

First amongst equals.

That's what it means. I'm not sure it's how it operates!

It's the right answer, yes.

That makes you the prime quizzer. You're through to the Final Round.

David, no place for you. Come back and join your teams.

Well, first round over.

The hopes of David participating in the Final Round are over.

The Eggheads are all still there. One of Sir Quiztopher Wren missing.

But only one round gone. Let's get onto our second.

This is Film & Television.

Who'd like to play this?

-It's going to be Adam, I think.

-Adam. OK.

Which Egghead would you like to choose?

Any one of the men there.

I'd like... I'd love to play Chris.

-You'd love to!

-I'd love to!

-Lifetime ambition fulfilled!

-It's one of them!

-OK! Let's hope you fulfil it by knocking him out!

Adam and Chris, into the Question Room, please.

So, Adam, a keen admirer of Chris,

fulfilling this ambition to play him.

-First or second?

-First, please, Dermot. Thank you.

Adam, good luck. First question.

"Are you telling me that you built a time machine out of a DeLorean?"

is a quote from which 1985 film?

I know this.

It's not The Breakfast Club. That's at a school.

It's not Weird Science. It is Back to the Future.

Back to the Future. The time machine made out of the DeLorean.

Chris, you're our transport correspondent.

The DeLorean car, made in Belfast and made famous by Hollywood.

Gull-wing doors and...

Quite an advanced machine. Didn't really catch on.

The DeLorean, featuring in Back to the Future, identified by Adam.

What was the profession of Peter Davison's character

in the TV comedy drama A Very Peculiar Practice?

It was peculiar, too. He was a doctor.

Doctor is the right answer. One each.

Adam. Which film, directed by Alfred Hitchcock,

had the tagline "Handcuffed to the girl who double-crossed him"?

I haven't seen Notorious.

I have seen North By Northwest.

I have seen The 39 Steps

and I do remember he was handcuffed to a lady in that,

so I think it's The 39 Steps.

-The 39 Steps.

-Yes.

It's the right answer. Yes, The 39 Steps,

with that tagline, "Handcuffed to the girl who double-crossed him".

Second question, Chris.

Which title is common to both a 1975 film

starring Catherine Deneuve and Burt Reynolds

and a BBC TV drama that was first aired in 2004?

It's not New Tricks.

Erm...

Spooks.

-Spooks?

-Mm.

No, it's Hustle.

-Oh.

-Hustle.

OK, well, great news there,

potentially, for you.

A correct answer and you're in the Final Round.

In 1959, the actress Sian Phillips married which fellow thespian?

-I've got to be honest with you, I know this one, as well.

-A-ha!

It's not Albert Finney. I don't think it's Richard Harris.

I'm pretty sure it's Peter O'Toole.

OK, gone for Peter O'Toole. It's the right answer.

Booked a place in the Final Round, Adam. Come back and join your teams.

Two rounds gone. It's all square. Both teams have lost one brain.

Our next subject today, the third head-to-head, is on Food & Drink.

Who likes their grub and glug? Who wants to play?

Kevin.

This is more like the plan!

Good.

Jane is going to take on Kevin.

OK. Jane's going to take on Kevin. That was thought out in advance.

Could I ask you both to take your positions in the Question Room?

Jane, would you like to go first or second?

I would like to go first, please.

Good luck. Your first question coming right up.

Kerrs Pink and Golden Wonder

are varieties of which food stuff?

Well, I don't think there are enough brands of celeriac,

and it could be onion,

but I have a funny feeling that Kerrs Pink is a potato.

-I'm going to plump for potato.

-Potatoes.

That's the right answer.

Golden Wonder.

Kevin, what term is used

for a cup-shaped sweet cake that originated in the US,

and for a small, round type of bread from the UK?

Right. A small, round type of bread?

-A small -

-I didn't know the US one,

but, erm, the other two don't fit the UK bread description,

so that must be crumpet.

I mean, seriously, Kevin, we are gobsmacked by that!

We know it's not your favourite subject, but my goodness!

-Have I not understood the question?

-I think maybe not.

-Oh, it's a muffin.

-It's a muffin. Yes, it's a muffin.

Well, fantastic from your point of view, Jane. Not for Kevin.

A nonic is a type of glass designed for which alcoholic drink?

N-O-N-I-C.

A nonic is a type of glass designed for which alcoholic drink?

Well, I don't know.

Nonic, to me, sounds like it's a unit

to do with the number nine.

Er, I don't think they sell beer in ninths.

It's either brandy, and they think that there's nine units in a bottle,

or they think it's wine, and there are nine units in a bottle,

which would make for a jolly small glass.

Er... I think I'll plump for brandy.

Brandy, a nonic.

-It's actually beer.

-Ahh.

I'm listening to your logic and thinking, "Why is it beer?"

I'm going to ask the Eggheads.

Presumably the linguistic route that Jane identified is correct?

No. It's a new type of beer glass that won't nick.

-It's to avoid glassing incidents in pubs.

-Oh, my goodness!

-No-Nick.

-It's for safety reasons.

Well, the explanation from Pat there.

You're still in the lead.

Kevin, what is the meaning of the Italian word "cacciatore",

often used in English to describe a stew or casserole?

What is the meaning of the Italian word "cacciatore",

often used in English to describe a stew or casserole?

It's a hunter's stew.

Hunter stew. Correct.

He's back in the game.

Dangerous when injured, these Eggheads.

It's all square. Jane...

What type of food is the traditional Swiss product called sbrinz?

Again, I don't know. Erm...

Pickled cabbage, I'd expect a more familiar word.

I'm going to plump for hard cheese.

If it's from Switzerland, go for cheese! It's the right answer!

Swiss cheese. Hard cheese.

OK. Kevin, you need to get this one.

Which style of sherry has a Spanish name that translates as "fragrant"?

I'm taking my time. I think I know which one it is.

Fragrant, in terms of the nose and all of that, it's Oloroso.

It is.

He's back in it.

It's going to Sudden Death, Jane.

That means, as I'm sure you're aware, that we remove the choices.

Which variety of lentil, distinctive for its dark green colouring,

is named after the capital of the Haute-Loir Department

in south-central France?

That's a puy lentil, Dermot.

It is, Jane! Puy lentils.

Grown in Le Puy-en-Velay.

Again, Kevin, you've got to get this.

What is the surname of the French chef

who wrote the 1903 reference book "Le Guide Culinaire",

and is known for his instruction to chefs, "faites simple",

"keep it simple"?

Lots of famous French chefs, of course.

Le Guide Culinaire...

The only thing I can think of is Le Roux, and I don't think it's him.

Erm... There are two very famous French chefs of the time,

both of whose names I know perfectly well,

and they're just not surfacing.

The names, I'm afraid... There's nothing.

-I'll say Le Roux, but it's not right.

-OK.

-I'm sorry.

-Le Roux is your answer.

And, as you probably know, that's incorrect.

Do you know, Jane? It doesn't matter if you don't.

-My guess is Escoffier.

-Escoffier. It's the right answer.

-That's what I was trying to think of.

-Escoffier!

That's a two-point victory.

Interesting that you knew that. A below-par Kevin,

but it doesn't make your performance any less impressive, Jane.

You're through to the Final Round. Come back and join your teams.

Well, it's changing very rapidly, this game.

As it stands, the challengers have knocked two Eggheads out,

and one of them has gone.

We reach our last head-to-head before the Final Round.

This one is Sport. Nigel or Steve can play this.

-Let me do it.

-Steve's very good at Sport,

-but we're going to hold him back and use Nigel.

-Thank you!

-Down boy!

OK...

Nigel, who would you like to play? Judith, Chris and Kevin have played.

You have, therefore, Barry or Pat.

-Barry.

-I think take Barry.

-I think we'll go for Barry.

-OK. Nigel playing Barry on Sport.

Both of you into the Question Room, then.

Nigel, first or second?

First, please, Dermot.

Nigel, first question.

The reigning World Champion in Formula 1

traditionally has which number on their car?

Well, I have to confess,

my geography revision probably won't help on this one.

Erm...

I don't know the answer. I can't see why it would be ten.

I think the most logical construct would be zero or one.

So I suppose I'll have to go for one, please.

That's the right answer. Well done.

Barry, the title of Champion Lady Rider,

awarded to the winner of the most amateur horse races,

was won by which TV sports presenter in 1990?

The only one of those ladies

that I know is actively involved in horse racing

is Clare Balding, so I shall go for Clare Balding.

Good choice. It's the right answer.

OK, Nigel, in cricket,

a correctly-played leg glance by the batsman

directs the ball towards which fielding position?

It's a few years since I've played cricket,

but I believe gully and mid-off would take it onto the offside,

so I think the answer has to be fine leg.

It does indeed. Fine leg's correct.

Barry, in 2010, golf professionals

Scott McCarron and Phil Mickelson were involved in a controversy

over the design of which aspect of a golf club?

Mm... I don't remember this one. Let's have a think about it.

I can't imagine there'd be much controversy over the grip,

because I can't see that different grips would...

..give much of an advantage to anyone.

Similarly with the shaft.

But I can see that controversy over the grooves

would affect the way the club would play,

so I'll say the grooves.

Grooves. Good analysis. Right answer. Well done, Barry.

All square into the third question.

Will this decide who plays in the Final Round?

Which club was the first to win the top division in English football

for three seasons in succession?

Apologies to any Sunderland fans, but I'm pretty sure it's not them.

I know Huddersfield, in the early 20th century, probably did that.

Whether Blackburn did, as well, I'm not too sure.

Out of those, I think I'm going to have to go for Huddersfield Town.

Huddersfield Town. Three successive championships.

It's the right answer. Well done.

Under the cosh here, Barry.

Knightshayes Court in Devon and Hartham Park in Wiltshire

are the locations of the only two playable courts in the UK

for which indoor sport?

Devon and Wiltshire...

I can't imagine it's rackets.

I'm sure there must be more racket courts in the country.

And I've never heard of sticke tennis,

-so I shall say Winchester fives.

-Winchester fives.

It's the wrong answer.

-It's sticke tennis.

-I knew I should've gone for that!

We turn our attention to Nigel

and say you also are playing in the Final Round for £22,000.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

This is what we've been playing towards, the Final Round,

which, as always, is general knowledge.

Those who lost your head-to-heads

won't be allowed to take part.

So Dave from Sir Quiztopher Wren,

and Chris, Barry and Kevin from the Eggheads,

would you leave the studio, please?

Adam, Jane, Nigel and Steven,

you're playing to win Sir Quiztopher Wren £22,000.

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

the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn.

They are general knowledge. You are allowed to confer.

The question is, are your four brains

better than the Eggheads' two?

Sir Quiztopher Wren, would you like to go first or second?

First has been successful so far, so we'll go first.

Right, then, good luck in the Final Round.

Let's see if you can win the money.

Who represented the UK at the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest,

coming last with ten points?

-I think it was a boy, a man.

-It was a man.

-Definitely a man.

-I remember it was a man.

-Definitely a solo artist.

-Josh?

-Yes.

We think it was a solo artist and a man, as well.

We're going to go for Josh Dubovie.

OK. Josh Dubovie.

Right answer. Yes, well done.

OK, Eggheads, which superhero and alter ego of Mr Benny Krupp

features in the titles of children's books

by the American author Dav Pilkey?

-No idea!

-Doesn't mean very much to me.

-Me, either.

Captain Underpants.

-That's quite jolly.

-Major Bloomers.

-Major Bloomers.

-General Y-Fronts.

-I have no idea.

I haven't heard of these books.

Do the Americans speak of underpants? I don't think they do.

-Do they speak of Y-fronts?

-They do.

Bloomer was obviously a woman from America, so...

It's not very much to go on,

but I don't think underpants is an American thing.

I think that's a very British name.

Captain Underpants sounds more superhero-ish,

but there's that slight linguistic argument.

Which one? I trust your instinct.

-Major Bloomers.

-Incorrect. It's Captain Underpants.

Which, I heard you say,

was your instinct and switched it at the last minute.

So, Sir Quiztopher Wren,

which two colours appear on the flag of Greenland

that was officially adopted in 1985?

NIGEL: I think it's blue and white.

-My instinct's blue and white.

-OK.

I don't know. But if it was adopted by Denmark,

will it be a reverse of the Danish flag and be red and white?

I don't know, but I'd say more than 50 percent that it's blue and white.

OK, as you can tell,

we don't actually know the answer, so we're having to figure out.

It's a toss up between whether it's blue or red.

-And we think it's...

-Blue.

-Blue.

The consensus is, we think it's blue and white.

OK. Blue and white.

It's red and white. Red and white. The other one you were thinking of.

Bit like the Eggheads,

tossing up between two and getting the wrong one.

Eggheads, what's the name of the monthly film magazine,

published by the British Film Institute,

that first appeared in 1932?

Empire is a magazine,

-but I think it's a standard commercial film magazine.

-Yes.

Sight & Sound is all about synthesizers and mixing desks.

I don't think it's concerned with cinema at all.

I thought Sight & Sound was a film magazine.

If you think so.

Sight & Sound? If you think it's a film magazine...

-I think it is.

-Sight & Sound?

-I thought that was a film magazine.

-OK.

-That was my immediate instinct.

-Do you want to?

-If you don't blame me if it's wrong.

I think Empire's a straightforward commercial magazine.

-We'll go with Sight & Sound.

-OK.

-We're going for Sight & Sound.

Sight & Sound.

It's the right answer.

-Thank God for that.

-Well played, Judith Keppel!

Yep! Sight & Sound, the magazine of the British Film Institute.

So, Sir Quiztopher Wren,

the muskox is native to which region?

-The muskox...

-There's not a lot in the Arctic.

-It gets cold in the Himalayas.

-I think it's going to be...

The Himalayas sounds most likely.

You would get yaks and things like that.

It sounds more like the Himalayas.

-I'll go with that.

-We'll go with Himalayas?

We don't think they live in the Sahara.

Once again, we're not particularly certain, so it's a choice of two.

We think... We don't think we've heard of them in the Arctic,

-so we're going for Himalayas.

-Himalayas for the muskox.

It's native to... the Arctic.

Not the Himalayas.

I can't believe I'm saying this,

Eggheads, you win the round if you answer correctly here.

The subacromial space is in which part of the human body?

Subacromial - "underneath".

"Acromial..." "Acro" is high.

Doesn't help. It could be any of the three.

The brain is the most complicated, so it's got the most scope

for having little cavities and little recesses.

The hip has got the general saddle-shaped pelvic bone

The shoulder has the clavicle and scapula.

-It hasn't got space under it, the hip.

-My instinct is the brain.

I think it's the best percentage.

-We're just going on percentages here.

-OK.

The sheer complexity of the brain

makes it more likely to have such a spot in it.

The subacromial space in the brain, to win the game, Eggheads...

It is in the shoulder. It's incorrect. You play on.

A let-off.

In just three questions, this game has swung back and forth.

The Eggheads are all over the place! It's all down to Sudden Death.

In the technology of flat-panel televisions,

for what does the "O" stand in the abbreviation "OLED"?

OLED. We want the O.

Organic Light-Emitting Diode.

-The "O" is Organic.

-Yes.

OK, we think the "O" stands for Organic, Dermot.

-Organic?

-Organic.

-Right answer.

-Well done, Nigel.

What was the rest of it?

-Light-Emitting Diode?

-Yes. That's it in full.

Eggheads, Rue Crebillon

is the heart of the shopping district in which French city,

the birthplace of Jules Verne?

I think Jules Verne...

..was born in either Nancy or Nantes.

-In fact, I think it was Nantes.

-Was he?

-I don't know.

Nantes. Jules Verne.

-I think he was born over towards the west.

-Of Nantes? OK, it's yours.

I have a feeling that Jules Verne was born in Nantes.

Nantes. It is the right answer.

Nantes.

Back we go to Sir Quiztopher Wren.

John Birks were the first two names

of which world-famous jazz musician who died in 1993?

John Birks were the first two names

of which world-famous jazz musician who died in 1993?

-Jazz music...

-Jazz musicians...

-Humphrey Lyttelton?

-He died after that.

John Birks... Is it someone "JB"?

-Is it John Coltrane?

-JB...

-JB someone.

-Is he more blues?

-Is he more blues than jazz?

I think he's more blues.

JB something...

Not necessarily. It could just be known as...

Buzz somebody or other!

Fats Domino or Muddy Waters, something like that.

It's not Muddy Waters.

We're not going to do any better than John Coltrane.

-Go with him, yes?

-Yes.

We're going to go with John Coltrane.

John Coltrane.

It's not the right answer. Do you know, Eggheads?

-Dizzy Gillespie?

-Dizzy Gillespie.

Dizzy Gillespie died in 1993.

Well, another chance for the Eggheads.

What was the name of the novel by Richard Llewellyn

which was published in the 1930s

and told the story of a poor Welsh family named the Morgans?

What was the name of the novel by Richard Llewellyn

which was published in the 1930s

and told the story of a poor Welsh family named the Morgans?

-It fits the bill.

-I think it is.

-Leading to the big film.

-Happy with that?

-Yes.

We're going for How Green Was My Valley?

How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn.

It's the right answer, Eggheads! You've won.

After an inept, tentative,

-fumbling and bumbling performance by the Eggheads...

-Enough!

The first three questions, they were all over the place.

Just not to be. Just couldn't get one of those other questions right.

You covered yourself in glory. Didn't get the £22,000.

But some great quizzing and good luck with all those exams.

The Eggheads did what comes naturally.

Their winning streak continues.

You won't be going home with the £22,000.

That means 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

have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£23,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

E-mail [email protected]