Episode 70 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.

Question is, can they be beaten?

Welcome to Eggheads, the show where a team of five quiz challengers

pit their wits against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

You might recognise them, they've won some of the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

Taking on the might of our quiz goliaths today

are the Somerset Starlings.

This team of friends regularly take part

in quizzes in and around their home town of Weston-super-Mare

and even do battle at a regular social club quiz

against Daphne!

Let's meet them.

Hello. I'm Alan.

I'm 68 years old and I am a retired local government officer.

Hello. I'm Andrew.

I'm 60 years old and I'm also a retired local government officer.

Hello. I'm Jo.

I'm 61 years old and I work part-time as an admin assistant.

Hello. I'm David.

I'm 67 years old and I'm a retired civil engineer.

Hi. I'm John.

I'm 59 years old and I'm a part-time English college lecturer.

Welcome to you, Somerset Starlings.

Tell me all about this quizzing against our Daphne there.

We were trying to remember how long we'd been quizzing against Daphne.

I think, personally, it may have been up to 25 years.

25? And she's never beaten you once?

LAUGHTER

Just a few times.

When we first went, we were told to look out for this team

called the Quidnuncs, because they were very difficult to beat,

and their star performer was Daphne.

-The Quidnuncs?

-Yes.

Haven't they thrown you out of the quiz? Doesn't it get boring?

How do the Quidnuncs do? Are they close to the top most of the time?

Oh, they were winning most of the time.

Daphne was so laid back,

she would go there and have her knitting at the same time.

-I did.

-That's called not taking it seriously.

What have you got with you today? A bit of crochet or something?

No, no, I've just got CJ.

OK, let's see how you do against the Eggheads today.

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

If they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the money rolls over to the next show.

Somerset Starlings, the Eggheads have won the last three games.

That means £4,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

And our first battle, first head-to-head, is on the subject of Geography.

Who'd like to play this one?

Geography. It can be any one of you.

I think we agreed it was Andrew.

-It was me, wasn't it?

-It was going to be you.

-Yes.

-Andrew.

-Andrew?

-Andrew, we think.

-Andrew?

-Yup, me against...

CJ, because his British geography is terrible.

CJ, apparently.

You said it, David, not me this time.

OK, it's going to be Andrew and CJ

playing Geography in our opening round.

Could you both please go to the Question Room, as you can't confer with your team-mates in there.

OK, Andrew, now, Geography, yes.

You picked CJ there because of his well-known weakness on UK geography,

but do you know what?

He's won his last seven outings in this category.

-Seven on the trot.

-Impressive.

He has a record of going eight unbeaten, so if he wins this,

-he'll equal that record.

-Great!

Hopefully, I've put the kibosh on it now.

Andrew, would you like to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please, Dermot.

OK. Good luck, Andrew.

Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas are tourist resorts on which island?

I have close friends

who have recently been to Playa de las Americas,

and I believe it's on Tenerife.

Yes, it is, the right answer.

Well done. Good start.

CJ, in which sea is the island of Gotland found? G-O-T-L-A-N-D.

Er, not sure, but just from the spelling it sounds Norwegian,

so I'll have to go for the North Sea.

The North Sea for Gotland?

It's not, CJ, no,

it's in the Baltic.

-Who owns it?

-Sweden.

-It's Swedish.

-Just off the Swedish coast.

OK. Well, that's a great start, Andrew. Your question.

Which country is sandwiched between Guyana and French Guiana?

I believe it was formerly known as Dutch Guiana,

and I think it's Suriname.

It is! It's the right answer, well done. Suriname.

Well, you've got a 2-0 lead, and go through if CJ doesn't get this.

CJ, in which US state is the town of Ticonderoga?

I'm not sure about this one.

Um...it's one of those that's associated with the Wild West.

And only one of those states is in the west, so...

I don't know, but I'll have to go for Nebraska.

Nebraska? The Wild West...

-of New York state!

-Oh, well!

Ticonderoga is in New York.

And CJ, that record well and truly smashed to smithereens!

-Thanks for that, Dermot.

-Sorry about that, CJ.

Not one right there, from CJ,

which means you have absolutely breezed into the final round, Andrew.

You'll be playing for the £4,000. Would you both please come back and join your teams?

A great start by the Starlings,

knocked an Egghead out at the first time of asking,

so you're all there, Starlings, and one Egghead has gone.

Our next head-to-head today is on the subject of Film & Television.

Who'd like to play this one? Film & TV.

-I think that was me, wasn't it?

-Think so.

-Was that one of mine?

-If you're happy with that, Jo.

-You happy, Jo?

-I'll give it a go.

Looks like it's me!

All right, Jo, by default, and which Egghead would you like to play?

Anyone apart from that CJ there.

Is it Chris that doesn't watch TV much?

-Or have I got the wrong one?

-You could try Chris.

-Yeah, Chris.

-Shall we try Chris? We'll try Chris.

-Try Chris?

-OK.

-On the hope he's not been watching much TV lately.

-OK, right.

We'll hope he hasn't been watching much.

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

So, Jo, do you want to go first or second?

I'll go first and get it over with, thank you.

Best of luck, Jo. Your first question.

In the Toy Story films, Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, is what type of doll?

Right, fortunately, I have a grandson

who absolutely loves Toy Story.

He does actually prefer Buzz Lightyear,

who would be the astronaut, but I think Woody is the cowboy.

Yes, he is. Woody the cowboy, yes.

See, everyone can play along with Eggheads. And Chris, your first question.

The producer Michael Todd and the construction worker Larry Fortensky

number amongst the former husbands of which movie star?

They were both married to Elizabeth Taylor at various times.

Yes, that's correct.

All square.

Jo, Mark Lester was a star of which 1960s musical film?

Right, fortunately, recently on our local television,

they're doing a version of Oliver

somewhere in Somerset,

and Mark Lester actually lives there, and he was there to help.

So I'm going for Oliver.

The eponymous hero of Oliver,

-yes, correct.

-Well done, Jo.

Chris, Whatever Works,

starring Larry David, is the 2009 film comedy by which director?

Ah, Larry David.

He's best known for Curb Your Enthusiasm, isn't he?

So he's sort of a...bit of a grumpy old man in some ways.

Um...well, the golden rule,

go for the one you've never heard of.

Rob Reiner.

-Rob Reiner?

-Hmm.

-You're not liking that, other Eggheads, are you?

No. It's Woody Allen.

It's Woody Allen, Chris. Woody Allen, not Rob Reiner.

And Larry David, Chris mentioned Curb Your Enthusiasm. Seinfeld, as well, wasn't he a producer of that?

He was a producer, yes.

OK. Means you win the round, Jo, if you get this.

Which comedian wrote and starred in the 1990s sitcom Blue Heaven?

Blue Heaven? Hmm, that's not one I've heard of, I'm afraid.

Um...

Jack Dee did have a bit of a sitcom,

but I don't know what it was called.

I think Al Murray is something to do with pub landlord.

Frank Skinner I associate with football,

so I'll go for Jack Dee.

Jack Dee and Blue Heaven?

It's not the right answer, no, it is Frank Skinner.

OK, didn't get that,

but you still might go through if Chris doesn't get this one.

In 2010, which young entrepreneur

became the first winner of Junior Apprentice?

Hmm. Something I don't watch, since I can't abide Alan Sugar.

Yes, it must have been, it must have been Arjun Rajyagor.

Yes, it's the right answer,

Arjun Rajyagor,

winner of Junior Apprentice in 2010.

Well, he's got back into it there.

Jo let him off the hook with that last one, so we go to Sudden Death

and remove the choices.

It's a lot harder.

Which former Eastenders actor did the former Hear'Say singer Kym Marsh marry in 2002?

Oh, dear.

I don't watch Eastenders, I'm not a soap fan, I'm sorry to say,

especially when it comes to this sort of thing.

Um...I can see what he looks like,

but I'm afraid I can't think of his name.

-Sorry, I have to pass on that.

-OK, a pass.

-Any of the other Eggheads?

-Jack Ryder.

Jack Ryder, there, from Daphne.

OK, Chris, a chance to win it, then.

Which actor took on the role of Arthur Daley's nephew Ray,

who replaced Dennis Waterman's character Terry McCann, in the TV series Minder?

That was Gary Webster.

It was Gary Webster, it's the right answer.

What a comeback. I thought you were going to get booted out.

Didn't clinch it with that third question, Jo, gave him another chance,

so he's playing in the final round. Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, it's all square. Both teams have lost one brain from the final round at this point.

Let's move on to our third head-to-head, Arts & Books.

Who'd like to play this?

-Who have we got? We've got Alan, David or John.

-That's John!

-I think I'll be doing that one, Dermot.

-All right, John,

and who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

CJ and Chris have played, so you've got Daphne, Kevin or Judith.

-Judith?

-Judith?

-Judith, please.

-Judith, OK, on Arts & Books.

John and Judith, into the Question Room, please.

John, you collect autographs, don't you? You've got thousands of them.

Quite a number, yes, towards 2,000.

-Bit sad, really, I suppose, but...

-Not at all.

Who have you got? Who sticks out there?

I suppose it depends on what your interests are.

I suppose the big names would be Frank Sinatra,

I've got a number of prime ministers,

Pope John Paul II,

the list goes on and on, really.

And have you got the Eggheads?

-I hope to, by the end of the day.

-Absolutely.

-It depends on the end result, what kind of mood they're in.

-Yes, probably.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please.

OK, good luck, John.

Andy McNab's book Bravo Two Zero tells the story of a patrol from which regiment of the British Army?

I can say with some confidence I've got no idea.

I'm going to say Special Air Service.

That's right, yes,

the SAS, which is why to this day

we never get to see Andy McNab in anything other than silhouette.

OK, Judith.

Where is the playwright William Shakespeare buried?

Erm....

Why would he be in Portsmouth?

I think he went back home to Stratford-on-Avon.

I don't really know. Stratford-on-Avon

-It's the right answer, yes.

-He ought to be in St Paul's or something.

True, true. Buried in Stratford-upon-Avon anyway.

Your question, then, John.

The memorable phrase, "Try again, fail again, fail better"

appears in a work by which Irish writer?

Regrettably, it's not that memorable to me.

I'm going to eliminate Yeats

and basically toss a coin

and go for James Joyce.

James Joyce. "Try again, fail again, fail better."

-It's incorrect. It's Beckett.

-There we go.

Samuel Beckett.

So, a chance for Judith.

As well as being a TV presenter, Andrew Graham Dixon became famous as a critic of what?

He's a fine art critic,

and his latest book is about Caravaggio.

It's the right answer, Judith. Yes.

Full answer, there, and correct,

so it means you've got to get this, John.

Which painter, born in 1885,

was the central figure of the early 20th-century movement known as Orphism?

Once again, I'm afraid, a total guess.

Robert Delaunay.

It's the right answer, yes!

Well done!

Well done, you got it. But you've got to hope Judith doesn't get this.

Judith, the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780

are central to the storyline of which novel by Charles Dickens?

I'm frightfully bad at Dickens,

because I don't really like reading Dickens very much.

I don't think it's Martin Chuzzlewit.

The Gordon Riots.

I think it might be Barnaby Rudge.

It's the correct answer. It is Barnaby Rudge,

which puts you into that final round.

Bad luck, John, again,

just nudged out there by the Egghead. Means you won't be playing for the money today.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

The flock of Starlings, beginning to get whittled down.

Two brains gone from the final round, one Egghead gone.

Our last head-to-head comes up right now, before that final round.

This one's Sport.

Who can play this? David or Alan.

-David, I think.

-David.

-David.

-Yep.

-David.

-OK, David,

and who would you like to play from Kevin or Daphne?

Oh, we must play Daphne, mustn't we?

-Yes!

-Yes, exactly!

-Let's have David and Daphne into the Question Room, please.

-Oh, flip.

Now, David, do you want to go first or second?

I'll go first, please, Dermot.

Good luck, David.

What name is given to the compartments

from which greyhounds are released at the start of a race?

Well, lures are used, I believe,

in hare coursing

or foxhunting these days.

Pits I can't relate to sport at all.

But I'm pretty certain it's traps.

Traps is right, yes. Pits - motor racing.

Oh, of course.

That'll help you out. But traps, of course, is the right answer.

Daphne. The Grand National-winning jockey Ruby Walsh was born in which country?

I'm sure he's Irish.

-Republic of Ireland.

-Absolutely.

Grand National-winning and many, many other races as well.

OK, one-all,

and your second question, David.

In February 2010 it was announced that the rugby union player Danny Cipriani

would be leaving Wasps to play for a club based in which country?

Sadly, I don't follow rugby union very closely.

I'm more a football fan myself.

I don't think he's going as far away as Australia.

-I'm going to plump for France, but it is a guess.

-OK, France,

a lot of English rugby players playing there,

and did Danny Cipriani decide to join them?

Well, no, not yet.

Not France.

It IS Australia.

Australia, yes, going down under.

It's seen as affecting his chances for future selection for the England team, isn't it?

As they won't be able to keep a close eye on his performances.

OK, Daphne.

Which club has won the top division in Italian football on more occasions than any other?

I've no idea, you know. I hate football.

What would I go for?

AC Milan.

-AC Milan won it more times?

-I don't know!

It is Juventus. Juve.

Right, well, it stays all square after that,

and we go back to you, David, for your third question. In 1968,

the first year prize money was awarded at the Wimbledon tennis championships,

what sum was given to Rod Laver, winner of the men's singles competition?

I know it was fairly modest when professionalism first came in.

It's not 200.

Um...2,000, 20,000...

Erm...

I'll plump for £2,000.

£2,000 for Rod Laver winning the men's singles, the first year they allowed professionals in.

-Isn't that why Rod Laver didn't play in it for a while?

-Not for ages.

It was... What do we think, Eggheads? CJ?

I think I would have gone for 2,000.

It's certainly not as high as 20.

It's 2,000, you're right.

-What do they get now?

-A million.

-A million quid!

-And the women, too.

Both men and women, yes.

That's rather overadjusted for inflation, I would suspect.

There we go. £2,000 for Rod Laver.

So you've got to get this, Daphne.

In 2003, the South African all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate

made his debut for which county cricket team?

You can see the blank look, can't you?

Um...Essex.

That's the right answer, Daphne.

We go to sudden death, then.

Good, I didn't want this round to end. Another question, David.

Former Olympic athlete Marion Jones signed for the Tulsa Shock in 2010

in order to play which sport on a professional basis?

Well, she's obviously built for speed rather than strength.

She was a sprinter.

Shall I say...

basketball?

Yes, you can say that. And I can say that's correct. Well done.

Yes, Marion Jones switched to basketball in 2010 with Tulsa Shock.

Well, Daphne, you've got to get this.

Which British Formula One driver was nicknamed Le Papillon, or The Butterfly, by the French

on account of his habit of wearing a bow tie?

I do not know.

Absolute guess, it'll have to be.

A bow tie. I don't think Jackie Stewart ever did.

Um...

James Hunt.

-James Hunt?

-I don't know!

-That would've been a good look.

-It's the only one I could...

-It's incorrect.

Do you know, other Eggheads?

-Graham Hill?

-No, it's...a previous generation.

-Jackie Stewart?

Mike Hawthorn.

He used to wear a shirt and tie,

but the tie flapped into his face at speed. What an elegant chap.

So he wore a bow tie instead.

Well, David, it's good news and bad news here.

The good news is, of course, you're through to the final round,

but heaven help you when you next play Daphne at the social club.

Nothing to do with us.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

This is what we've been playing towards. Time for the final round.

As always, it's General Knowledge.

Those who lost your head-to-heads won't be taking part in this round.

So Joe and John from the Somerset Starlings,

and CJ and Daphne from the Eggheads,

would you leave the studio, please?

So, Alan, Andrew and David, you are playing to win £4,000.

Judith, Kevin and Chris, you're playing for something which 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 in this round.

So, Alan, Andrew and David, the question is,

are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

Somerset Starlings, would you like to go first or second?

I think we'll go first.

Starlings kicking off then and the best of luck to you,

here's your first question.

The name of which occupation derives from the Latin for door?

The name of which occupation derives from the Latin for door?

Janus means door so I'll go for janitor.

Janitor is the correct answer. Good start.

Eggheads, which verb that means to bend down

is used to refer to the dive of a raptor such as a peregrine falcon?

Which verb that means to bend down

is used to refer to the dive of a raptor such as a peregrine falcon?

That's called a stoop.

Stood is correct, yes, Eggheads.

OK, Starlings.

Born Boris Winogradsky in Russia in 1909,

Bernard Delfont made his name as what?

Born Boris Winogradsky in Russia in 1909,

Bernard Delfont made his name as what?

We're fairly confident it was theatrical impresario.

Theatrical impresario is the correct answer, yes, well done.

-Relative uncle?

-Michael Grade.

-Brother.

-His brother was Lew Grade.

No, Michael Grade.

Eggheads, second question - the 1981 UK top 10 single, Endless Love,

was a duet between Diana Ross and which male singer?

The 1981 UK top ten single, Endless Love,

was a duet between Diana Ross and which male singer?

I think it was Lionel Richie. Yes, it is Lionel Richie.

I think that's Lionel Richie.

It's the right answer, Eggheads, yes, Lionel Richie.

Two all, third question.

Somerset Starlings, the huge hexagonal pillars in Fingal's Cave on the Isle of Staffa

are composed of which rock?

The huge hexagonal pillars in Fingal's Cave on the Isle of Staffa

are composed of which rock?

They are composed of basalt.

Basalt is correct, it's the right answer.

Doesn't it go all the way under the Irish Sea

and comes back up at the Giant's Causeway?

OK, Eggheads, got to get this.

Amongst the various combinations of letters

that can be seen written on and around the Plimsoll line on the side of a ship,

LR stands for what?

Amongst the various combinations of letters

that can be seen written on and around the Plimsoll line

on the side of ship,

LR stands for what?

Ships have to be registered with Lloyd's Register.

Lloyd's Register is the correct answer, Eggheads, well done.

The Plimsoll line, simple but revolutionary.

Before that, ships would sink because they were overloaded.

Unscrupulous owners. Coffin ships, they called them.

Lloyd's Register, let's confirm that. All square, we go to sudden death.

Somerset Starlings, you just breezed through those three out of three.

One question could decide it now.

Which former Labour Party leader was created the Baron of Bedwellty

in the county of Gwent in 2005?

Which former Labour Party leader was created the Baron of Bedwellty

in the county in Gwent in 2005?

-Baronet?

-I think so. I can't think of anybody else with Welsh connections.

Are you happy to go for Neil Kinnock?

OK? We think we'll go for Neil Kinnock.

Neil Kinnock?

It's the right answer, yes, well done.

So, Eggheads, must get this.

By what alternate name was Gareth Jones,

presenter of the 1980s children's show, Get Fresh, better known?

By what alternate name was Gareth Jones,

presenter of the 1980s children's show, Get Fresh, better known?

He was known as Gaz Top.

Gaz Top is correct, Eggheads.

Again, it's Chris, he knows everything about the Plimsoll line

then knows about Gaz Top.

I thought you had a chance there

when I looked at that one but the Eggheads still going strongly

as are you, the Somerset starlings.

Which comedian known for his subversive humour

was born as Arthur Hughes in Lancashire in 1901

and had the catchphrases, "Get off me foot"

and "I've supped some ale tonight"?

I' trying to think, he would be 100 years old, 110? A long time back.

Oh... I don't recognise either of the catchphrases.

Think of a flat cap, he must have a flat pack with a joke like that.

Al Read? Not old enough. Al Read?

I wouldn't have picked him.

-I'm scraping the barrel, here.

-Might as well.

As you can tell, Dermott, we're in dire straits.

We have plumped for, very unconvincingly, Al Read.

Al Read, born Arthur Hughes in 1901.

It's incorrect.

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

-IN NORTHERN ACCENT:

-It's Frank Randle, lad.

It is Frank Randle, ever heard of him?

He had a big battle with the Blackpool police chief.

They kept banning him for obscenities.

Frank Randle there, identified by Chris, but you're still in it.

The Eggheads need to get this if they're going to win.

Eggheads, which General commanded the victorious British forces

at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801

but died from wounds sustained in the fighting?

I know his surname! It's Abercromby.

He's General Abercromby.

Do you need a first name?

We need a first name and surname.

That's fair enough.

The first name that popped into my head was David

but I don't think that's right.

It's not very Scottish.

Do give me a second here.

I've come up with another one, I hope it's right. Ralph.

Ralph? That's not very Scottish either.

We'll go with it.

Not sure about the first name but we'll try Ralph Abercromby.

Ralph Abercromby?

It is Abercromby and his first name is Ralph,

it's the right answer, Eggheads, you've won!

Well, I think you've had a masterclass in quizzing there?

You know how well Daphne does day-in, day-out at the quizzes at the social club

but extraordinary performance there from the Eggheads.

It took something extraordinary to beat you here today.

It's been neck and neck throughout the game.

The Eggheads have just edged it.

So, congratulations Somerset Starlings,

thank you very much indeed for playing the Eggheads today.

You can take it out on Daphne at the social club.

But the Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

They still reign supreme over quizland.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £4,000

and 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.

£5,000 says they don't.

Until then, goodbye.

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