Episode 71 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 our awesome champions are the Sand Dancers from South Shields.

This team got to know one another through attending various quizzes.

Despite competing on opposing teams, they've now joined forces.

Let's meet them.

Hi, my name's Steve, I'm 51 and I'm an operations manager.

Hello, I'm David, I'm 57,

I'm a quality assurance administrator.

Hi, my name's John, I'm 65 and I'm a retired fire-fighter.

Hello, I'm Fred, I'm 66 and I'm a retired school teacher.

Hello, I'm Dave, I'm 63 and I'm also a retired school teacher.

Welcome, Sand Dancers. Explain the name.

This is a term used for people from South Shields.

That's right. There's various theories, but the main one -

you've got Geordies from Newcastle, the Mackems from Sunderland

and sandwiched in between those two cities is South Shields,

and the colloquial name for someone from South Shields is a sand dancer.

-Yes, but are the beaches sandy?

-Absolutely.

Very sandy.

My father-in-law told me a story. After the Second World War,

people in South Shields took various staging onto the beach,

lots of parties and dancing,

-and that's another reason why the name may've stuck.

-Could be.

Interesting stuff! And it's The Beacon pub you quiz in?

-That's right.

-You're quiz master?

-I'm the quiz master

and I started 25 years ago,

and we just celebrated 25 years of quizzes.

One of the reasons we got together is to do this.

-And celebrate by beating the Eggheads.

-Let's hope so!

OK, good luck, Sand Dancers.

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 four games.

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

The quiz starts with our opening round - Film & Television.

Choose a player to take this one on, please.

Film & Television.

-Film & Television?

-What do you reckon?

-I think that's me, isn't it?

-I think that's you.

-Yes.

-Well, we're all agreed, that's me.

-OK.

-Choose an Egghead.

-Chris.

-Shall we go for Chris?

-Try him.

-Your trainspotting colleague!

-We'll go for Chris.

We'll go with Chris, please.

Chris on Film & TV. How are you feeling about this one, Chris?

A sudden sense of deja vu!

It's going to be Steve and Chris playing Film & TV.

Could I ask you both please to go to the Question Room?

All right, Steve, do you want to go first or second?

I'll go second, please.

Chris first. Here's your question. On which children's TV programme

was Valerie Singleton a regular presenter between 1962 and 1972?

I won't do the John Noakes voice, but it was Blue Peter.

Yes, Blue Peter is correct. Certainly not Magpie.

One to you.

And, Steve, your first question. Which TV presenter

hosted her own short-lived talk show in 2006,

which was cancelled due to low ratings?

I haven't seen this one, actually.

I don't think it's Tess Daly.

I can't remember Tess being in any kind of TV programme,

though, she might've been.

Davina McCall or Amanda Holden?

Davina's been in a lot and I remember, vaguely,

she was doing some kind of chat show and I think it got shelved.

Not at all sure, but I'll go for Davina McCall.

Little tentative there. You've got the right answer, though.

-JOHN: Good lad, Steve.

-Well done.

Get you off to a good start.

Chris, "Jen", played by Katherine Parkinson

is a character in which TV sitcom?

It's not The Royle Family.

And The Inbetweeners is a bunch of spotty teens.

I don't think that's it.

I think it's The IT Crowd.

It is, yes.

Accurate representation, isn't it, Barry, of life in IT departments?

Oh, totally!

It's the right answer. Jen, played Katherine Parkinson.

Your second question, Steve.

Who won an Oscar for directing the 1994 film Forrest Gump?

I don't think it's Tim Robbins.

I've never heard of Mike Figgis before.

I've heard of Robert Zemeckis. Forrest Gump...

Tom Hanks...

I think I probably would've heard if it had been Robert Zemeckis. I think.

Given all of that, I'll have a stab at Mike Figgis.

Mike Figgis, because you haven't heard of him,

the director of Forrest Gump?

It's Robert Zemeckis.

-Oh, dear!

-It's the one you were thinking of.

You were conjuring around with that, but didn't select it.

A chance for Chris to win the round.

For what did the "D" stand in the initials

of the silent film director known as DW Griffiths?

You don't need the "W", as well, do you? But it's "D" for David.

No, don't need the W, we just need the D.

And it is...

..David. It is correct.

Anyone know what the "W" is?

-Wark.

-Wark.

-As in Kirsty.

David Llewelyn Wark was the full name.

DW Griffith. "David" is what we wanted and you supplied it,

so you're through to the Final Round.

Bad luck, Steve.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Eggheads triumphing first in those head-to-heads.

Knocked a Sand Dancer out. All the Eggheads are still there.

Let's play our second head-to-head. This one is Science.

Who'd like to play this? Steve, any of your four teammates.

I think it should be you or Dave.

I thought you were going to leave Dave till the end.

-Do you want to have a go?

-I'll have a try.

-I'll have a try.

-OK. Good lad.

-We're going down in order!

-David, please.

OK. You kicked off and now David.

Who would you like to take from the Eggheads? Anyone, apart from Chris.

Barry or CJ.

We'll take Barry.

Let's have you both into the Question Room, David and Barry.

OK, David, would you like to go first or second?

First, please.

Good luck, David.

What term is used to refer to the partly digested food

that's returned from the first stomach of a cow

to its mouth for further chewing?

Well, I take it as "chewing the cud",

so I'll stick with cud, please.

Indeed. Chewing it over. Cud is the right answer.

In chemistry, what term is used to describe the stage

at which no more solute can be dissolved in a solution?

That is normally the saturation point,

but under certain conditions, you can dissolve more solid in a solution,

and that is supersaturation.

-But the answer here is saturation.

-Yes, OK. Got it.

-Thank you, Barry.

-CHUCKLING

There you are. Saturation point.

David, in geological time,

which period comes immediately before the Triassic period?

Erm, I'm not 100 percent sure. I like my dinosaur films,

but I'll have to have a guess. I would say the Cretaceous.

Cretaceous, immediately before the Triassic.

It's not. David, that's incorrect.

-Barry, do you know?

-It's the Permian.

There's a wonderful way to remember the order of geologic ages.

There's a mnemonic that goes "Camels Often Sit Down Carefully

"Perhaps Their Joints Creak

"Early Oiling Might Prevent Permanent Rheumatism".

That's the first letter of every geologic age in order.

Say them.

Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian,

Devonian, Carboniferous, Permian,

Triassic, Jurassic and so on!

Right! Very good! That's impressive, Barry.

-"Camels..." Whatever.

-DERMOT LAUGHS

Permian is the answer we were looking for,

as you heard from Barry's list.

Permian, not Cretaceous. A chance for the lead, Barry.

In 1958, the world's first fully implantable pacemaker

was given to a patient in which country?

Gosh! I've never come across this before!

What a good question.

I think I'll go for Sweden, but I'm not sure at all.

Sweden?

It's the right answer, yes.

In 1958. It means you've got to get this, David.

In relation to television and computer screen technology,

for what does the letter "F" stand in the abbreviation TFT?

Now, if this was Dave's question, he would have no problem,

being a camera geek.

But me, I'll have to have a pure guess,

and I will say function.

OK, function.

-Is it function, Barry?

-No.

I think it stands for Thin-Film Transistor, so film.

It does stand for Thin-Film Transistor.

It is film. That means bad luck to you, David.

You won't be in the Final Round.

Would you both come back and join your teams?

Two members of the Sand Dancers have now been ejected.

All the Eggheads are still there.

Our next subject today is Arts & Books.

Who'd like to play this one?

John, Fred or Dave?

-John.

-Lamb to the slaughter!

-Lamb to the slaughter!

You're working up from this end in sequence.

You've got to end up in the middle with Daphne,

because you've played Barry and Chris.

You don't have to. You can choose Daphne, CJ or Kevin.

I'll take CJ, I think.

-ALL: OK.

-CJ.

-CJ?

-Yes.

-That's an invitation.

John and CJ, into the Question Room, please.

OK, then, John, let's hope you're not a lamb to the slaughter.

I'm sure we can give CJ a run for the money.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first.

Best of luck. Here's your first question.

Which writer coined the word "runcible" in his works?

I don't really know.

It sounds a bit like an Edward Lear word,

so I'll go for Edward Lear.

It is an Edward Lear word, yes.

A "runcible spoon". What is that? The Owl and the Pussycat, isn't it?

-A pickle spoon, isn't it?

-What?

-One with two sharp prongs on.

-Ahh, I see.

So it's a spoon with those... So you can get the pickled onion.

Right, CJ.

Penelope Lively won the Carnegie Medal in 1973

for her children's novel "The Ghost of..." who?

Absolutely no idea. Never heard of it!

Well, simply on scansion, I don't like Bobby Brewster.

No. I prefer two syllables in the first name and one in the surname.

So Thomas Kempe... The Ghost of Thomas Kempe.

The Ghost of Samson Young.

-I don't like Thomas Kempe. I'll try Samson Young.

-OK.

Good technique. Nearly got it, but you didn't. Thomas Kempe.

Certainly not Bobby Brewster. Bad luck, CJ.

Great news for John.

Concentrate on this one, John.

Scott Turow, author of many books, including Presumed Innocent,

has held which other job throughout his writing career?

Erm, I don't think it's lawyer.

Erm...

I think it could be dentist.

-I'll go for dentist.

-Dentist. Scott Turow.

-No, it's not.

-Blimey.

-Quite interesting if he had been.

-Do you know, Eggheads?

-ALL: Lawyer.

Yes, a lawyer.

OK, well, nothing there,

but CJ still needs to get this to catch up.

In Thomas Gainsborough's painting The Blue Boy,

what does the boy hold in his right hand?

I don't think it's a telescope. Erm...

He's sort of standing more at an angle, isn't he?

There's a hat in the picture. Is it on his head or in his hand?

I don't think it's on his head, but I may be misplacing the picture.

I'll go for hat.

Hat's correct. Well done, CJ.

Right back in the game. It's all square.

John, how did Marcel Duchamp sign the urinal he exhibited in 1917?

How did Marcel Duchamp sign the urinal he exhibited in 1917?

I really don't know.

Er, I'll go for J.Nutt.

-J.Nutt?

-Yes.

Signing the urinal he exhibited in 1917.

It's... R.Mutt.

R.Mutt.

Anyone tell us more about it? CJ?

I don't know why.

It was voted the most important piece of art in the entire 20th century.

-Was it?

-Exhibiting a urinal as a piece of art,

changed people's perceptions of how to view objects.

OK, right. Nothing there. A chance for CJ to win this round.

CJ, in 1870, Claude Monet temporarily moved to which city

to escape the Franco-Prussian War?

-Sorry, 1870?

-Yes.

He would've been quite young, wouldn't he? He didn't die till '26.

Offhand, I can't remember what year he was born in.

I think it's Monet who's 1926.

Erm, I've got some niggling recollection

that he spent time in London, it may've been later, but I'll try it.

London. Claude Monet.

Fleeing France and ending up in London.

It's the right answer. Well done.

Worked that one out. It means another Sand Dancer bites the dust.

Bad luck, John. Good start. Seemed to be going well.

CJ fought back, though.

Please come back and join your teams.

As it stands now, three Sand Dancers have gone from the Final Round.

All the Eggheads are still there.

Final chance to knock one out here. This subject is History.

Who'd like to play this? History - Fred or Dave?

-First bit of good luck.

-Yes.

-Who against?

-You can do it, Fred.

Daphne or Kevin.

Daphne's smiling at me. I'll go for Daphne!

Almost winking!

OK, it's going to be Fred and Daphne playing this one.

It's History. Could I ask you both to go to the Question Room?

Fred, this round always had your name on it,

being a retired history teacher.

I suppose this is the one I was dreading, Dermot.

I can just imagine all my ex-pupils walking in

and me making a fool of myself and getting them wrong!

I suppose some of them, very grown men and women by now.

Very much so.

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

-I'll go first, Dermot.

Good luck, Fred. Here's your question.

The part of the Roman Empire

called Mare Nostrum is known today by what name?

The part of the Roman Empire called Mare Nostrum

is known today by what name?

Well, "Mare" is sea. I think it refers to "our sea".

So it should be Mediterranean Sea.

It should be, yes! "Our sea" - the Med.

-And, Daphne...

-SAND DANCERS: Well done, Fred.

As a result of the Suez Crisis, rationing of which item

was introduced in the UK in December 1956?

I know we didn't have a car at the time,

but I would assume it was petrol.

Petrol is correct. Well identified.

OK, Fred, second question.

Robert Banks Jenkinson,

who was the British prime minister between 1812 and 1827,

is better known by which title?

He took over from Spencer Percival,

who was shot and killed, assassinated.

I thought it was Lord Liverpool, but Earl of Liverpool will do.

Earl of Liverpool will do, yes! Or Lord Liverpool.

Correct answer. Well done.

Daphne, the elite soldiers known as the Varangian Guards

served the ruler of which empire?

I think that was the Byzantine Empire.

Kind of like a Praetorian Guard.

I suppose so. I don't know.

-I see! You just know that.

-I just knew it was Byzantine.

That's the correct answer, yes. Any more from the other Eggheads?

They were of Viking descent.

They came to Byzantine by a most circuitous route through Russia.

Right. Thank you, Barry!

OK, all square. Good quizzing. Two all. Fred, third question.

The Battle of Kadesh was a significant moment

in the reign of which Ancient Egyptian ruler?

I haven't got a clue, Dermot.

I'll go for Ramses.

If in doubt, go for Ramses. It's the right answer!

Ramses II. The Battle of Kadesh.

This is a real battle over History.

Daphne, John Hampden came to prominence

when he refused to pay which financial measure

imposed by Charles I?

That was ship money. I think he was annoyed

because he represented a place that wasn't on the coast.

Ship money is correct, yes. Forms of taxation. Ship money.

Unblemished record for both players in this round.

We ratchet it up a bit, Fred, and turn it into Sudden Death.

So here's your question.

Martin Luther, the German priest who sparked the Reformation,

was born in which century?

Well, I think he pinned the notices in 1521,

and he must've been getting on a bit then,

so it must be the 15th century.

-15th century?

-Yes.

It's the right answer. Date, to be precise, Eggheads?

-1483.

-1483.

Fred was incorrect when he said 1521 for the nailing of the Theses.

The Diet of Worms was 1521.

-He nailed the Theses four years earlier.

-OK.

Thank you, Eggheads. Like to be clear about those things!

Your question, then, Daphne.

Which Canadian city was founded by Samuel de Champlain?

C-H-A-M-P-L-A-I-N.

"Champ-lane", to Anglicise it.

Which Canadian city was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608?

Oh, dear. It's either...

Either Montreal or Quebec. Erm...

If it's 50/50, I always get it wrong.

I can't...

I'll go for Quebec.

Going for the French cities there. You got the right one. Quebec.

Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608.

OK, Fred.

After being elected president in 1924,

Gerardo Machado became dictator of which Caribbean island country?

Gerardo, G-E-R-A-R-D-O is his first name.

Machado, M-A-C-H-A-D-O.

You can spell it as much as you like, Dermot, I have no idea!

-Gerardo Machado...

-Caribbean country?

..became dictator of which Caribbean island country

after being elected president in 1924?

-Barbados.

-Barbados for Gerardo Machado.

It's not.

I think, with that name, looking for the Spanish influence.

-Do you know, Daphne?

-No.

I'd have gone for something like the Dominican Republic.

No. Closer. Other Eggheads?

-ALL: Cuba.

-Cuba.

-Cuba?

-It's Cuba.

Cuba there, Fred, not Barbados.

First opportunity to win the round goes to Daphne.

Ordinances, an attempt to control royal finance and appointments,

were issued by the nobles during the reign

of which 14th century English king?

Edward II.

The answer is Edward II. It is correct, Daphne,

which I'm sure Fred knew, as well,

but it fell to Daphne in a very hard-fought round.

Some quality quizzing there, but Fred ending up the victim.

Would you 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 of you who lost your head-to-heads won't take part.

Steve, David, John and Fred from the Sand Dancers,

would you leave the studio, please?

Dave, you're playing to win the Sand Dancers £5,000.

Kevin, CJ, Daphne, Chris and Barry,

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

that is the Eggheads' reputation.

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

You are allowed to confer.

Dave, the question is, is your brain better than the Eggheads' five?

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please.

Let's get on with it, then.

The first question in the Final Round going to you, Dave.

In the common abbreviation for a term of affection,

for what does the "T" stand in the phrase TLC?

In the common abbreviation for a term of affection,

for what does the "T" stand in the phrase TLC?

That's something I'm going to need a lot of after this. It's "tender".

-Tender Loving Care.

-Right answer, yes. "T" for Tender.

Eggheads, in the Christian calendar,

the period of Advent begins on which day of the week?

In the Christian calendar, The period of Advent

begins on which day of the week?

-I think it's Sunday.

-It should be Sunday, shouldn't it?

-Let's just double check.

-The first Sunday.

It should be a Sunday.

You've got Advent Sunday, so... It should be Sunday.

-Sunday?

-Mm.

-It's the right answer, Eggheads.

Having a moment there,

the five Eggheads assembled against Dave.

Matched on those first questions. Second question, Dave.

Which singing star played a character called Bert Rudge,

who takes on the stage name Bongo Herbert

in the 1959 film musical Expresso Bongo?

Which singing star played a character called Bert Rudge,

who takes on the stage name Bongo Herbert

in the 1959 film musical Expresso Bongo?

That would be Cliff Richard.

It would! It's Cliff Richard. Back in 1959,

playing Bongo Herbert.

He should've stuck with that name. He would've gone far.

-He should've stuck with Harry Webb!

-"Sir Bongo", we'd be calling him!

It trips off the tongue.

Second question, Eggheads. Which utensil is referred to in French

as a tire-bouchon?

Which utensil is referred to in French

as a tire-bouchon?

-ALL: Corkscrew.

-It pulls corks.

Yes, it's literally a corkscrew.

-Corkscrew?

-Yes.

-Right answer. As Chris was saying,

The translation is pull - tire, and bouchon - the cork.

Two all.

Dave, this might win the money for you.

Which British motorcyclist won seven consecutive individual trials titles

at the Outdoor World Championships between 1997 and 2003?

Which British motorcyclist won seven consecutive individual trials titles

at the Outdoor World Championships between 1997 and 2003?

I'd have preferred football to motorcycling.

-I'll go for Steve Webster.

-Steve Webster.

Seven consecutive individual trials titles

between 1997 and 2003...

It's incorrect. It's not Steve Webster.

-Do you know, Eggheads?

-Dougie Lampkin.

-Dougie Lampkin.

So a chance here for the Eggheads.

The French fleur-de-lis symbol

hasn't been a feature of the British royal coat of arms since which year?

The French fleur-de-lis symbol

hasn't been a feature of the British royal coat of arms since which year?

All significant years, but...

When did we give up our final claim on France?

That was 1558, wasn't it? With Calais.

But having said that,

even George III claimed that he was King of France,

didn't he?

-Sorry?

-George III claimed it.

-It could be as late as 1801.

-George III was king in 1801.

Yes. I don't really know.

But 1801 was my inclination.

-CJ SIGHS

-I've got nothing.

-I've got nothing.

-I'll go for 1801.

-Just for George III?

-Yes.

-OK.

We don't know.

They're all significant dates, in terms of constitutional history,

but we think that George III, who came to the throne in 1760,

still was making an official claim,

so on that basis, we'll go for 1801.

You're going for 1801. It's the right answer.

Eggheads, you've won.

Bad luck, Dave. I think one of the guys knew that.

It's always so difficult on your own.

The tale of this game was all about those head-to-heads.

Some very good quizzers, but not to be on this day.

-Good luck in The Beacon.

-Thank you.

Thank you very much for the explanation of sand dancing.

Those Eggheads still reign supreme over quiz land.

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

The money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us to see if a new team of challengers can defeat the Eggheads.

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

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