Episode 78 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 where five quiz challengers pit their wits

against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

You might recognise them as they've won some of the country's toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

Challenging our quiz champions today are the Exmoor Muppets.

This team has a connection through the police force in Minehead and was formed by team captain Andy.

I'll let him explain why they're called Muppets. Let's meet them.

Hiya, I'm Andy, I'm 53 and I'm a police constable.

Hello, I'm Andy, I'm 49 years old and I'm a police constable.

Hello, I'm Jim, I'm 38 years old and I'm a driver and a special constable

Hi, I'm Denise, I'm 57 and I'm a customer services manager.

Hello, I'm Mark, I'm 35 and I'm a PCSO support officer.

Welcome to you, Exmoor Muppets. Andy, "the muppet", that's not a nice thing to call yourselves.

It's an unusual acronym, Dermot. It means Most Useless Police Person Ever Trained.

-Apparently.

-I knew it stood for that(!) This is ironic, of course.

Yes, I don't think we're quite as bad as we're made out to be.

But it's something you say about colleagues every now and again if things go a bit wrong?

"Bit of a muppet there!" Let's switch from policing then to quizzing.

Have you quizzed together as a team or part of a team?

We've been quizzing for ten years in the district league. We're now in the second division.

-So then got different expertises covered here, I would guess?

-Yeah.

All right, let's see if you can stop the Eggheads in their tracks.

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

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

Exmoor Muppets, the Eggheads have won the last five games

and that means £6,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads today.

Our first head-to-head battle is on the subject of Politics.

Politics has come up.

-Who wants to play this?

-I think Jim.

-We'll have to go with Jim for that one.

-Jim, you can choose any Egghead you like. It's the opening round.

-I think we should go with CJ.

-CJ?

-Yeah, CJ.

-OK, I'll go with CJ then, Dermot.

All right, Jim and CJ playing Politics.

Could I ask you both to go to the question room to make sure you can't confer with your team-mates?

Jim, as a special constable, how does that differ from a full-time constable?

I do fairly much the same job on a part-time basis, about 17 hours a month.

The only difference is I don't get paid.

-You're a sworn constable, you have all the same powers?

-I have all the same powers.

I go out usually on a Friday and Saturday night

and crew up with another police officer and do the same job.

You choose the easy shifts, Friday and Saturday night(!) It must keep you busy.

It does. There's more to learn at that time of night.

You're not sitting around twiddling your thumbs, that's for sure.

-Nor will you be in the question room today. Jim, do you want to go first or second?

-I'd like to go first.

First question, Jim, and best of luck with it.

What derogatory term is used to describe someone who espouses left-wing views

while enjoying a rich lifestyle?

Well, I met a few of those at university.

They're champagne socialists.

Champagne socialists, yes, it's the right answer. OK, CJ...

Name the regular occasion when an MP is available to his or her constituents for consultation.

I'd like to see quite a lot of them experimented on in laboratories.

Most don't do enough to qualify for a workshop, so I'll go for surgery.

It's the right answer, yes, surgery.

Back to Jim for his second question.

In the names of political or economic forums such as G8 and G20, for what does the letter G stand?

Well, I don't think it's Government.

Certainly within the G8, there are countries thought of as major powers

so I would consider probably...

-I think it's Global, Dermot.

-OK, Global...

Yes, certainly a highly international, um... G8 and the G20.

But it's just simply Group.

Group of 8 or Group of 20.

So, CJ,

can he take the lead with a question on American politics?

The United States House Committee on Ways and Means is a legislative committee

in the House of Representatives charged with what?

It's not Supreme Court judges.

Does the House of Representatives have that much influence

over the Senate that it would have a House Committee on it?

I'll go with my first instinct which was raising revenue.

Yeah, it's the right answer, raising revenue.

Well, Jim, you need to get this one.

The Wilson Doctrine, established in 1966 by the then Prime Minister Harold Wilson,

is a ban on doing what to MPs and peers?

Dermot, I seem to recall...

I don't know why that this suddenly sort of...

I'd like to go with "tapping their phones", please, Dermot.

It's the right answer, yes. "Tapping their phones", identified by Jim,

but that G8, G20 slip-up means CJ has a chance to take the round with this question.

What is the name of the independent body set up by the Coalition Government in May 2010

to provide economic forecasting for the preparation of the UK Budget?

Oh, dear.

I don't like Budget Responsibility.

And the use of the word "independent in the question

makes me think that it wouldn't be Treasury Management.

I apologise profusely to the team. I should know this straight away.

But I'll go for the Office for Financial Oversight.

-Do you accept his apology, other Eggheads?

-No!

-It's the wrong answer.

-Budget Responsibility.

-It is the Office for Budget Responsibility.

-Oh, dear, dear.

Jim's very keen on you getting that wrong. You're still in it then, Jim.

All square, both got one wrong in those first three.

We go to Sudden Death and we remove the choices. Just got to hear the answer from you.

Here's your question. In 1975, which politician and future Conservative Party leader

married Sandra Paul, a model of the 1960s?

That's quite a difficult one.

It wasn't John Major because that was Norma.

It wasn't David Cameron.

It wasn't William Hague.

I have a sneaking suspicion and this is just a guess by a process of elimination

that it is Michael Howard.

It's the right answer, yes, well done. Sandra Howard as she became,

a noted novelist as well. Michael Howard, yeah. Well done.

CJ, which former Minister for Sport called Margaret Thatcher a "half-mad, old bag lady"

and accused her of having "the sensitivity of a sex-starved boa constrictor"

during a Commons debate?

I haven't got a clue. I've never heard this.

So I'm just going to try and pick a rather outspoken Sports Minister.

I don't know. I'll try Tony Banks.

Tony Banks is the right answer, yes. Well known for his well-turned phrases.

There's a couple of them concerning Margaret Thatcher.

Jim, another question for you. The term One Nation Toryism,

used to refer to the left-wing strand of the Conservative Party,

comes indirectly from a novel by which 19th century British Prime Minister?

I honestly don't know. I will have to take a guess.

And I would have to take a guess at Benjamin Disraeli.

Spot-on, Jim. Well done.

Benjamin Disraeli,

well identified by Jim.

CJ, which EU treaty, signed in October 1997,

focused on clarifying and updating the Maastricht Treaty?

This one I don't know at all.

I've got nothing to go on, so I'm just going to have to make a blind guess.

-Vienna.

-Vienna...

It's not. Think of Tony Blair racing EU leaders on a bicycle. Do you remember that?

-No.

-Amsterdam.

-Amsterdam Treaty. Oh, yes, CJ, bicycles.

-No, no, no.

Amsterdam Treaty is what we wanted and Jim, that means

you're through to the final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Jim, no danger of you being called "the muppet". Fantastic round. You're in the final round.

The Eggheads have lost one brain. Our next head-to-head is Music. Who'd like to play?

Music. It can't be Jim.

-Mark, do you think?

-I'm not that good on Music, no.

-TV and Film are OK.

-I'll throw myself on it then.

-I think Andy M is going to have to do Music.

-Andy M. And which Egghead would you like to play? Anyone apart from CJ.

-I think Chris.

-I think Chris.

-Chris.

-OK, Andy M and Chris contesting this one. Into the question room, please.

Andy, I could tell from the choosing there that this isn't your favourite subject.

-What ideally would you have played?

-I think Andy had it in mind for me to stay till the end,

-but I'd better get through this to get to the end.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please.

Good luck, Andy.

"Go on now, go, walk out the door, just turn around now cos you're not welcome any more" are lines

from which disco favourite?

Well, I've got that tune going through my head now

and I think it's I Will Survive.

Yes, I Will Survive which is what you're trying to do in this round.

First question for you, Chris.

What's the title of Kylie Minogue's album that reached the top of the UK chart in July 2010?

Ah...

Well, Salome is an opera by Richard Strauss

with Aubrey Beardsley and all that, so it wouldn't be Salome.

She's not got the right sort of looks for Cleopatra,

but Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love which would appeal to her,

-so I'll say Aphrodite.

-Yes, you're right, Aphrodite. Well done.

July 2010, that was released. Andy, second question.

Which comedy duo in collaboration with EMF had a UK top ten single in 1995

with a cover of The Monkees' I'm A Believer?

I think I know this one. I think it's Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer.

Reeves and Mortimer, it's the right answer. Well done.

OK, well, going strongly there, Andy.

Chris, who sang lead vocals on the song Instant Karma

that appeared in the UK singles chart in 1970?

# Instant Karma's gonna get you... #

No, not Ringo Starr.

Was it McCartney? No, it was John Lennon.

It was, yeah, John Lennon is the right answer.

Which classical composer spent a number of years from 1703 onwards

teaching music to the inhabitants of an orphanage in Venice?

I was dreading the classical question coming up and here it is,

so this is going to have to be a complete guess.

I think I'll go for Paganini.

Paganini teaching in an orphanage in 1703...

It's not the right answer. Chris, do you know? Monteverdi or Vivaldi?

I'd go for Monteverdi, but I'm not too sure.

No, it's Vivaldi.

Not identified by Andy, so a chance for Chris.

Mexican Reggae was the original title of which classic rock track?

Ah...

Well, House Of The Rising Sun hasn't got a reggae beat to it.

Neither has Bohemian Rhapsody.

# Welcome to the Hotel California... #

That's almost a reggae beat. Hotel California.

Thanks for rendering it in that fashion.

Mexican Reggae is the original title of Hotel California. It's right.

Well done, Chris. You're in the final round.

He survived a Music round there and I'm afraid you didn't, Andy.

You won't be in the final round. Come back and join your teams.

-Bad luck, Andy. I bet you knew that Hotel California question.

-I did.

-The classical got you.

It means both teams have lost one brain from the final round.

Our third head-to-head, this one is Sport.

Who'd like to play this? Andy C, Denise or Mark?

Normally, I would go for Sport, but I think I should be there for the last round.

-You'll go for that one, yeah?

-Shall I go and throw myself on the sword?

-Yeah.

He probably won't want to do it, but he's going to do it.

Mark, which Egghead would you like to play?

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

-I think we'll go for Barry.

It's Mark and Barry playing the Sport round. Into the question room, please.

Mark, you're playing Sport. Would you like to go first or second?

I'll get it over with quicker, so I'll go first.

Best of luck, Mark.

What term is given to the parts of a golf course

where the grass is grown longer than on the fairways, greens and tees?

I'm rather pleased that the answer that was in my head

before the choices came up is up there.

And I don't think it's scrub or pasture. I believe it's rough.

Yeah, the rough. Well done.

Good start. Over to Barry.

Which natural material from the intestines of animals has been used for the strings of tennis racquets?

I believe ambergris comes from whales and is used in perfumery.

-The answer is catgut.

-Catgut is the right answer, yes.

OK, Mark, in which sport did Dick McTaggart win a gold medal for Great Britain

at the 1956 Olympic Games?

This will be a complete guess. It's way before my time and...

at least two of the sports there I know nothing about.

It sounds like the name of a boxer. A good, strong name. Boxing.

A good, strong name! Not to say that rowers and gymnasts aren't strong,

but Dick McTaggart was a boxer. It's the right answer.

Well identified there by Mark.

Your question, Barry. The world-famous horse race the Kentucky Derby

takes place on what surface?

What a lovely question. I've known of the Kentucky Derby for years,

but I can't remember what surface it is. I can't for a moment believe that it's artificial turf.

-A lot of American races are on dirt tracks, so dirt.

-Dirt?

It's the right answer. Well done. Good guess. It's all square

going into the third question.

At the 1984 Olympic Games, who won the gold medal in the 800 metres

leaving Sebastian Coe with silver?

Right.

I can honestly say I don't have a clue with this one.

So I'm just going to take a straight guess and go down the middle with Carlos Lopes.

Carlos Lopes beating Seb Coe there to the gold in 1984. No.

-Do you know, Barry?

-I think it was Joaquim Cruz.

It was. Taking gold in the 800 metres in Los Angeles.

So it means

a chance for Barry to wrap it up. Which rugby union club won

its fourth Heineken Cup in 2010?

Oh, gosh. I read this recently and have now completely forgotten it.

Munster, Leicester Tigers or Toulouse.

I know Munster have won something recently. I'll go for Munster.

For their fourth Heineken Cup in 2010.

-You're looking stern, Daphne.

-Oh, is it Leicester Tigers?

I might have gone for Toulouse.

Barry's second guess is Leicester. It's not them or Munster.

It is Toulouse. So you didn't know it.

-I knew it once!

-You forgot it.

-But not now.

-Bad luck, Barry.

Well, we go to sudden death.

The tennis player Samantha Stosur made her Fed Cup debut in 2003 playing for which country?

Em...OK.

Samantha's a fairly English name, so I can't work it out from that.

Go with the surname and I'm going to plump with...

The first one that came into my head was Hungary.

OK, Hungary. Samantha Stosur played for...Australia.

Australia, believe it or not.

OK, a chance then again.

Which former footballer was appointed manager of Argentina's national side in November, 2008?

In the recent World Cup, the manager was Diego Maradona. Was he appointed manager as early as 2008?

I think he was. And what a wonderful spectacle he made of it!

It is the right answer. Diego Maradona took over the national side

in 2008.

That gives you the round. Mark, you won't be in the final round.

Both please rejoin your teams.

As it stands, the Exmoor Muppets are missing two brains, Eggheads one.

And our last Head to Head before the final round is Food and Drink.

Who's playing this? Denise?

-Me.

-Who would you like to play from the Eggheads - Kevin or Daphne?

-Kevin.

-I think we'll go with Kevin.

It's Denise and Kevin, then. Into the Question Room, please.

Well, Denise, if you can knock Kevin out, it'll even it up.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First if I may, please.

Of course you may.

This is your question. A snifter is a type of what?

OK, I think the clue is maybe in the name, the snifter part.

I would rule out a spoon and plate. I would go for a glass.

It's a type of glass, yes. Hence the phrase. "Going for a snifter."

OK, Kevin, what type of foodstuff is mizuna?

M-I-Z-U-N-A.

Oh, right.

Em, I don't think it's anything to do with fish.

-I won't go for the salad. I'll go for curd cheese.

-Curd cheese.

-Other Eggheads?

-I'd say salad.

-Salad leaf.

-Is it? OK. I've not come across that.

-Well, Denise, looking good.

Early days, though. Squab is the term for meat from which creature?

I knew reading all these cookery books would pay off one day. Pigeon.

Pigeon is correct, yes. OK, well,

one incorrect answer away. If Kevin doesn't get this, he's out.

What is the typical strength of the alcoholic drink Marc de Bourgogne?

Well, marc is a sort of brandy-like drink

that is made from the leftovers after the wine-making process.

Em...and I think it's supposed to be pretty strong,

so I would just go for the strongest. 40%.

And right to do so. Yes, you've got it. Never down for long, that man.

You need to get this.

Don't give him another chance, Denise.

He won't open his mouth again if you get this.

What type of foodstuff is the Portuguese linguica?

Now this one I really don't have a clue.

I'm thinking the fact it's Portuguese, I can't see it being an egg noodle.

-So I'll go for pork sausage.

-Pork sausage?

Linguica. Faultless round. It's correct and you're in the final.

Well, summarily despatched there, the World Quiz Champion.

Denise, Kevin, both please come back and join your teams.

So this is what we've been playing towards. It's the final round on general knowledge.

But those of you who lost

won't be allowed to take part, so Andy and Mark

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

Andy, Jim and Denise, you're playing to win the Exmoor Muppets £6,000.

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

I'll ask each team three questions. They're all general knowledge and you can confer.

Andy, Jim and Denise, are your three brains better than the Eggheads'?

-Would you like to go first or second?

-I think we'll go first.

Right, first question to the Exmoor Muppets. Here you go.

The detectives Piggy Malone and Charlie Farley were played by which comedy double act?

I think we're of an age to have watched it. So I think we're quite agreed it's The Two Ronnies.

A rather appropriate question given the job you do.

Know any detectives like that? Don't answer that!

It is The Two Ronnies. Well done.

Which famous figure appears on the Bank of England £20 note that ceased to be legal tender in June, 2010?

That would be Edward Elgar.

Too late for that stash you've got under the floorboards.

It's Elgar. Yes, correct.

OK, back to the Muppets.

Which traditional game uses 180 white stones, 181 black stones

and a board marked with a grid of 19 vertical and 19 horizontal lines?

-It's not backgammon.

-It's not.

-So it's one of the other two.

A stab in the dark. Any idea?

-No.

-Middle for diddle?

-No inkling?

No, I'd go for the middle.

The Eggheads say when in doubt, go for the middle,

-so we'll go for the middle and Parcheesi.

-OK, for a lot of stones.

361 in total and 19 horizontal lines. It is not right. Barry?

It's Go. And I once played for an England team

in the 1974 European competition.

-Wow.

-Very complex. Tell us about its origins.

It started off as a Chinese game, reputedly invented by an emperor

to allow his son to think logically.

For many years it was in China. It came to Japan in the 7th century

and they're the strongest players in the world.

Thank you very much for that, Barry,

but we didn't get the right answer so Eggheads have a chance.

What was the real surname of the author Nevil Shute?

He was Nevil Shute Norway.

It's the right answer, yes. Norway.

So you need to get this.

In Greek mythology, which god was the patron of thieves and merchants and the protector of travellers?

It would be Hermes?

He was a traveller, with wings.

-What do you think, Jim?

-It's not my thing.

It's not mine!

I don't know about thieves. Go with your first thought.

-We'll say Hermes.

-OK, Hermes. Patron of thieves and merchants.

Why lump them together?

It's the right answer, yes. Hermes.

Again, rather appropriate.

-Patron of thieves and merchants?

-When he was one day old,

he stole Apollo's cattle and led them out backwards so no one would be able to trace him,

but in Ancient Greece Hermes was the god that was used on milestone markers

and all over the roads you would see little statues of him.

You're a little mine of information today, Barry. First Go, now a man who teaches cows to walk backwards.

How did he train them to do that?!

OK, well done there, but the Eggheads win the game if they get this.

The dilator naris muscle aids in opening which parts of the human body?

All right?

We think that is probably the nostrils.

The dilator naris muscle aids in opening the nostrils.

It is right. You've won.

Well, bad luck, Exmoor Muppets. Just that question about Go there.

Those Head to Heads went really well and could have been better.

Thank you very much for coming in to play the Eggheads today.

Not to be on the day. Best of luck with working with no muppets in the future.

You aren't amongst them! The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

You won't be going home with £6,000 and that means it rolls over.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers defeat them. £7,000 says they don't.

Until then, goodbye.

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