Episode 91 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 quiz-challengers

attempt to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

Their pedigree is well-known, as they've won the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on our quiz champions today, are She Who Must Be Obeyed.

Now, this team all quizzed together in the Hare and Hounds pub

in Rochdale, and because team captain Sue is always

in charge of the answer pen, then you guessed it, she must be obeyed.

Let's meet them.

Hello, my name's Sue, I'm 48 years old and I'm a midwife.

Hi, I'm Malcolm, I'm 66, and I'm a retired probation service manager.

Hi, I'm Andrew, I'm 56, and I sell music online.

Hi, I'm Alex, I'm 42, and I'm a computer systems analyst.

Hi, I'm David, I'm 55, and I work for a local water company.

So, Sue and team, welcome to you.

And just tell us, at what point did you join the rest of them

in this legendary team?

Three years ago, we were two teams.

Here you have a combination of two teams.

And basically, I got sick of losing,

because there's a couple of very strong players on the other team,

so I, kind of, muscled my way in and took over!

The strong players, you don't have to identify them, but they are here today?

-A couple of them are, yes.

-Well, good luck against the Eggheads.

Every day, £1,000 of cash is up for grabs

for our Challengers. However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over.

So, She Who Must Be Obeyed, the Eggheads won the last five games,

which means £6,000 says you can't beat them.

-Shall we try 'em?

-Yes, please!

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

-OK.

Do we have a politics specialist?

-Do we?

-I don't think we really have a specialist.

-We don't, no.

But we were going to discuss this.

Now, it's not a subject we particularly wanted.

How do you feel about doing this?

-But how do you feel about this, Malcolm?

-I'll have a go!

I think Malcolm would probably be our...

It's going to be Malcolm, and as Basil Fawlty said, "Now for the tricky bit."

-Who do you want from the Eggheads?

-Well, they're all so good.

-I want Chris.

-Do you think, Chris?

-Chris?

-Yeah, Chris.

-All right.

-We'll go for Chris.

Without any good reason, we'll take Chris.

Right, Malcolm from She Who Must Be Obeyed,

against Chris from the Eggheads. To the Question Room, please.

Three multiple choice questions, Malcolm, you can choose the first

-or second set.

-I'll go for the first set, please.

Here we go, and good luck.

What name did David Cameron give to his baby, born in August 2010?

Was it...

I don't know precisely, but I'll take a guess.

I can't see it being Paris.

I don't think he's that much of a Francophile, but you never know.

Don't think it'll be London, so I'm going for Florence.

Well done, Florence is correct.

OK, Chris, your question.

The Dail Eireann

is the House of Representatives of which country's Parliament? Is it...

That's the Parliament of the Irish Republic, so it's Ireland.

Ireland is correct, well done. The Dail for short.

OK, Malcolm. In UK politics, the Labour Party first obtained

an overall majority in the general election of which year?

Well, it's certainly before 1945,

so it's a toss-up between 1931 and 1924.

But although I wasn't there at the time,

I've got a vague recollection that 1924 was the year.

-1924.

-1924 is your answer.

-Actually, it was 1945.

-Oh, right.

It was that election Atlee won and the election Churchill lost.

Chris, your question.

"While the State exists, there can be no freedom.

"When there is freedom, there will be no State,"

is a quote from which 1917 work by Lenin?

Is it called...

Ah! Well, What Is To Be Done?

was a programme for post-revolutionary Russia,

if I remember right.

Materialism And Empirio-criticism

sounds a bit too philosophical for Lenin,

who was basically a practical man.

So the obvious title is The State and Revolution.

The State and Revolution is quite right. Well done.

Back to you, Malcolm. You need to get this one right or you're out.

No easy way to say it, I'm afraid. Here is your question.

The Confessions, published posthumously in the 1780s,

is the autobiography of which political philosopher?

Is it...

I'm certainly not sure on this answer.

Don't think it's Montesquieu.

So I think I've got to go for either Locke or Rousseau.

And it's purely a guess, I'll go for Locke.

I'm afraid to say that Locke is wrong,

but you were halfway right, cos it was Rousseau.

-Yeah.

-But not Locke. Chris has taken the round and will be in the final.

Malcolm, sorry, you won't be there,

-but plenty of time for your team to come back.

-OK.

Do, please, both of you, rejoin us now.

There we go, Malcolm. There's plenty of time, though, for your team.

The Challengers lost one brain.

The Eggheads are still with all five brains. The next subject is Science.

Which of you would like Science?

We have discussed this one,

and I think our main person for Science is Dave.

-Dave.

-Dave.

-Down the end there.

-Dave, down the end.

OK, against an Egghead.

-Who would you like to take on?

-Can't be Chris.

-Erm, Daphne.

-Daphne? Daphne.

-Dave, from She Who Must Be Obeyed against the Egghead

who must definitely be obeyed as well, Daphne from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring, please go to the Question Rooms now.

Good luck in this round.

Three questions on Science in turn, and you can choose the first

or second set of multiple choice questions.

Er, I think I'll go first, please.

Here we go, David. Good luck.

According to the Environment Agency,

what is the most invasive non-native species of plant in Britain?

Is it...

Well, purely on the basis that I've not heard of either A or C,

I've got to go for Japanese knotweed.

Famously so. You're quite right, it is Japanese knotweed. How did it..?

Does anyone know how it got here?

Anyone? Have you got any of that in your garden, Daphne?

Um, no, but apparently it was quite a pretty,

sort of, ornamental plant and then just spread.

Here's your question.

Kwok's disease is the name given to an intolerance to which

ingredient found in Chinese food? Is it...

That's monosodium glutamate.

Monosodium glutamate is the right answer.

Kwok's disease, OK.

Question two for you, David, now.

Which toad, characterised, by a bumpy, grey-green back and limbs,

bright orange markings on the belly and skin that secretes

a toxic fluid, has the scientific name Bombina bombina?

Is it...

Er, I'm no herpetologist, but this is a process of elimination really.

All toads have lumpy, warty skins.

But you did mention, was it an orange belly?

So, just the obvious, I'm going to go for fire-bellied,

but I've no idea, really.

Great logic, you're right. Fire-bellied it is.

Daphne, your question.

Which mathematician and astronomer, born in Scotland in 1638,

described a design for a new type of reflecting telescope?

I don't know why, but I think I'm going to guess

at James Gregory.

James Gregory is correct.

You must tell me why,

because your guessing reaches extraordinary levels.

-You never guess wrong!

-It's what I call an inkle.

But where are these inkles coming from?

-They're lodged in the attic of my brain.

-Yeah.

David, Southern blot is a technique used specifically to analyse what?

Erm, as again, I have no idea.

I think they may use chromatography for DNA sampling.

Colour blots are involved in chromatography,

so I'm going to plump for DNA samples, but I really don't know.

Well done, DNA samples is correct. Good stuff!

Three points, so Daphne, this is a tough round.

See if you can draw level.

Which physicist's law states that the direction of an induced current

is always such as to oppose the change in the circuit

or the magnetic field that produces it?

No inkles at all.

Erm...

Oh, dear!

-Lenz.

-Heinrich Lenz is your answer?

-Yeah, but it's Abbe, isn't it?

-No, it's Lenz. You're correct.

I honestly...

It's mystical, what you're doing! All right, it's three-all.

David, sorry you couldn't shake her off that easily.

It's Sudden Death now. So it's a bit harder. It's not multiple choice.

The computer peripheral invented by Douglas Engelbart and called,

in his patent application filed in 1967,

"an XY position indicator for a display system,"

is now universally known by what zoological name?

Well, I can only think it's mouse.

I don't know, but I can only think it's mouse.

The longest question and shortest answer. Very good. Mouse is right.

OK, Daphne. What is the highest prime number below 100?

Oh, for goodness sakes!

Right. Let's work out...

I'm bound to get it wrong!

What could you divide into 97?

Now, you can't divide nine, eight, seven.

Right, 97.

Is the right answer! Well done! Very good.

-How about that, David?

-Well, I wouldn't have got it!

Here's your question. Sudden Death, remember.

Which element, discovered in 1669,

has a white allotrope which must be stored underwater to prevent

spontaneous ignition on contact with air?

I'm torn between sodium and phosphorus.

Er...

I'll go for sodium.

Oh, I'm so sorry, it's phosphorus.

But everyone can witness that you were very close!

Daphne, your question, for the round.

Which Apollo mission was the first human space-flight

to orbit the moon?

8?

-Apollo 8 is your answer?

-Yep.

And it is correct. 1968, it was.

Well played, Daphne. Really well done, David.

Sorry, you won't be in the final round, and the Egghead will.

Please, both of you, come back and rejoin your team-mates.

So, the Challengers have lost two brains from the final round,

while the Eggheads have lost no brains.

The next subject is Geography. Sue, who would like this?

-Ooh, they're not going our way today, these.

-Geography.

I don't know who we're going to... I think it's got to be...

-Alex has kindly volunteered.

-Thank you, Alex. I think...

-OK, Alex, on Geography.

-We've got to save Andrew.

-And an Egghead, Sue?

Erm, who do we think?

-CJ's not very good on British geography.

-Well, let's pick CJ.

-Obviously want to take CJ.

-Yeah? Take CJ?

-Yep, CJ, please.

-CJ.

Alex, from She Who Must Be Obeyed, then, against CJ from the Eggheads.

Please take your positions in the Question Room, now.

Alex, Geography for you, and three questions, multiple choice.

And Alex, you can choose whether you go first or second.

I'll go first, please.

Good luck to you, Alex.

What colour is the middle stripe on the flag of Spain? Is it...

I don't think it's red.

I think that's the top.

I don't think it's green, so I think I'll go for yellow.

Well done, yellow is correct.

CJ, Crummock Water is a feature of which national park in England?

Is it...

-I've never heard of it!

-England, or...?

Well I'll start there,

but I've certainly not heard of Crummock Water.

I've no idea. Sounds Yorkshire to me. Yorkshire Dales.

No, it's the Lake District. Brilliant play.

Brilliant strategy by this team.

It's exactly the right question for him!

A chance to pull ahead, Alex.

Mount Cook, the tallest mountain in New Zealand, was officially

re-named what, in 1998, to honour its original Maori name?

Was it...

I've got lots of relatives in New Zealand as well,

so I feel like I ought to know this.

Erm, but I'm not familiar with any of those names.

Erm, I'll have to go with the one which I think sounds most Maori,

which I'll take a guess at Tekapo/Mount Cook.

I'm afraid you're wrong. Aoraki/Mount Cook is the answer.

CJ, in which country is the ski resort of Courmayeur located?

Is it...

Sorry, not heard of this one either. Doing well here, aren't we?

I mean, it doesn't sound French or Italian to me.

Just the language, but I don't know.

No, I've no idea. I'll try Switzerland.

-It's not Switzerland. Daphne knows.

-Italy.

And you know where it is on the boot?

Well, it's right at the top in the Alps, in the north.

-Just over from France.

-Just over from France.

That means that, Alex, you have a chance to take the round.

The Amur River flows along the border of which two countries?

Unfortunately, I've not heard of that river.

I'll have to take a guess, I think.

I'll go for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

No, I'm sorry, it's Russia and China.

So, Challengers still have one point here, Eggheads on zero.

If you get this right, CJ, we go to Sudden Death. If not...

The four cascades that make up the Gersoppa or Jog Falls

are located in which country?

I've not heard of these either.

So, I mean, there are an awful lot of waterfalls in Venezuela.

There are some quite nice ones in South Africa.

I don't know of any in India

but Jog does sound as if it should be an Indian word.

OK, I'm just going to take a punt here. I've not heard of them.

Jog sounds like an Indian word to me, I'll try India.

Well done, India is the right answer.

We go to Sudden Death.

-Alex, are you ready?

-Yes.

County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland

is bounded by three other counties - Kildare, Meath and which other?

Again, I'm not sure at all. My geography's sadly lacking.

-County Clare?

-No, it's not Clare, it's Wicklow to the south.

CJ, the Bishop Rock Lighthouse is located

on a tiny island at the western tip of which group of British islands?

Get this right, you've taken it.

Is that the one to the west of the Isles of Scilly?

What's your answer?

-The Isles of Scilly.

-Is the right answer, CJ, well done.

And a British geography question, wonders will never cease!

CJ, you're in the final. Alex, I'm sorry, you're not.

Do please come back and rejoin your team-mates.

As it stands, the Challengers have lost

three brains from the final round.

The Eggheads have lost no brains. The last subject is Film & TV.

-TV, what do you reckon?

-Who would like that?

Andrew or Sue?

-You're the boss, Sue.

-I know, but, really?

-You tell me what to do, and I shall obey.

-I think, shall I take it?

-No, I'll take it.

-Are you sure?

You don't want to take it, I know you don't.

-I don't mind!

-You don't want to!

-I don't mind Film & TV.

-It's entirely up to you.

-Go on, then, you do this one.

-I'll do it, Jeremy.

Against which Egghead? It can be Kevin or Judith.

We're going to pick Judith, please.

Andrew, from She Who Must Be Obeyed, against Judith.

Please take your positions in the Question Room.

OK, I'll ask each of you three questions.

You can choose the first or second set, Andrew.

I will stick to our plan that's worked so perfectly well so far,

we'll go first.

Here we go.

The TV personality Gillian McKeith

took part as a contestant in which TV reality show in 2010?

She would have been fantastically entertaining in all of those,

but I watched it with my son and we nearly fell off the settee laughing

and it was I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, it was.

She kept fainting.

Judith, which cartoon character has a sidekick called Penfold?

Oh, God. This is all Chris territory.

Oh! Dangermouse.

-Dangermouse is right.

-Phew!

Andrew, Alan Sillitoe's story,

The Loneliness of the Long-distance Runner,

was made into a film starring which actor in the main role?

I am old enough to have seen this film.

I know it wasn't Richard Harris.

Albert Finney and Tom Courtenay

appeared in at least one film together but in this film,

it was definitely Tom Courtenay.

Well done, Tom Courtenay is right, Andrew.

Judith, who played the title role in the 2010 film Tamara Drewe?

I did see this, so it was Gemma Arterton.

Well done, Gemma Arterton, it was.

Playing well, keeping the pressure on you, Andrew.

See if you can get this right.

The 2010 French romantic comedy, L'Arnacoeur,

starring Vanessa Paradis, Romain Duris and Andrew Lincoln

was released in the UK under what name?

I've never heard of it, to be honest, and I'm not a big film fan.

I'm completely guessing,

I would say, because there's been several films called Heartbreaker,

I think I would go for Heartache.

I'm sorry, just slid a couple of inches too far to the right there.

Heartbreaker is the answer.

So, Judith, if you get this right you've taken the round.

Which actor played Max Headroom

in the cult 1980s TV show of the same name?

I don't know because I didn't see it, so it's a guess.

I'm going to forsake the right and go for the left

and go for Gary Houston.

-CJ knows, CJ?

-It's Matt Frewer.

-Matt Frewer is the answer.

-You should have gone down the middle, in fact.

-Should have.

So, you're level and we go to Sudden Death on Film & TV.

It's that bit harder, Andrew,

I don't give you options, you've got to give me the answer.

Who directed the 1967 film, The Graduate?

The Graduate was definitely written by Mike Nichols and Elaine May

and I've got a funny feeling somewhere in the back of my mind

that Mike Nichols directed it, so I'll say Mike Nichols.

Brilliant, you're quite right,

he won the Best Director Oscar, Mike Nichols.

Judith, the pressure on you now.

Which 1992 Oscar-nominated film stars Jeremy Irons

as an MP who falls in love with his son's fiancee,

played by Juliette Binoche?

If you get this wrong, you are out.

I simply can't think.

1992...

I think I might kick myself when you tell me because I might have seen it.

-I don't know, I have to pass, can't think.

-Nothing coming?

-No.

The film is Damage.

That was a novel by Josephine Hart, wasn't it?

Was it? Yes it was. Kevin confirms.

It was also a film and it means you've been knocked out.

I have seen it, what's more! Dash it!

Well done to you, Andrew, you've played really well

and spirits are rising in your team, I can sense that.

You've knocked out an Egghead and you will be in the final.

Please, both of you come back to us now.

This is what we've been playing towards,

it's time for the final round, which is General Knowledge

but I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads

won't be allowed to take part in this round.

So, Malcolm, Alex and David from She Who Must Be Obeyed

and also Judith from the Eggheads,

would you please now leave the studio.

Sue and Andrew, you are playing to win She Who Must Be Obeyed £6,000.

Kevin, CJ, Daphne and Chris,

you're playing for something that money can't buy -

the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn.

This time, the questions are all General Knowledge

and you are allowed to confer.

Sue and Andrew, are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Don't answer that!

She Who Must Be Obeyed, would you like to go first or second?

-First.

-We'll stick to our strategy.

-We'll stick to our game plan.

Here's your first question. Best of luck to you both.

Which American magazine, first published in 1923,

has a famous annual Person of the Year feature?

-Vogue, I don't think, definitely not.

-I'm not sure.

National Enquirer's just the scandal sheet.

I would have gone for Time, but I don't know. Is that? Yeah?

Time.

Time is the right answer, well done.

Eggheads, what specific name is given to the systematic study

of the growth size, composition, distribution

and movement of human populations?

-Demography.

-Will we go for demography?

That's demography, Jeremy.

Demography is the right answer. To you, now.

Which French footballer captained the 1996 FA Cup-winning team?

Well, Michel Platini's never played in England,

so it's definitely not him,

and I think that was the year that Man United beat Liverpool 1-0.

-In that case, is it not Cantona?

-And Eric Cantona scored.

And he was captain. Eric Cantona.

Eric Cantona is right.

Eggheads, what term, employed for a piece of ground

used as a burial place for the poor and strangers,

is taken from the New Testament?

-Potter's Field.

-Potter's Field?

-Definitely.

It's Potter's Field.

Potter's Field is correct.

So, you're level.

This is the one where often people trip up. Good luck.

Which English playwright received his first television credit

as a writer on Coronation Street in 1961?

One of the first two. I've heard it before,

definitely heard this one before.

We're sure Harold Pinter's never written for Coronation Street.

Is it not Jack Rosenthal? I've heard this question before.

-Simon Gray?

-Not certain.

I'd be surprised if Simon Gray had written for Coronation Street.

Jack Rosenthal is obviously from the right part of the world.

-I think we'll go for him, shall we?

-I would be amazed if it's not.

-Not going to rush into it.

-I would be amazed if it's not.

We'll say Jack Rosenthal.

Jack Rosenthal is the correct answer.

Three out of three, great play. Well done.

-Married to, anyone?

-Maureen Lipman.

-Maureen Lipman. That's right.

OK, Eggheads, if you get this wrong the contest is over

and She Who Must Be Obeyed goes away with £6,000.

Boss Mangan is a character in which George Bernard Shaw play?

Major Barbara...

-I don't know, I'm afraid.

-I don't know either.

I'd be inclined towards Man and Superman,

which is more political than the others.

-You think it's not Major Barbara?

-That's about the Salvation Army.

-Andrew Undershaft is the male protagonist of that.

-OK.

Do we know anything about Heartbreak House?

-Do we know any characters from that?

-No, we don't.

So, if we're eliminating Major Barbara

and Man and Superman is a futuristic political setting...

You can see how there would be a character called Boss Mangan in it.

Do I just go for Man and Superman, or what?

Well...

I think in the circumstances, even though

I can't remember anything about Heartbreak House,

it's the percentage one because it is a political fantasy.

-OK... We don't know.

-It could be either.

-We don't think it's Major Barbara.

-No.

Well, got to go for the percentage shot.

I'm a bit worried, but I think it's, yeah...

We don't know, surprisingly, as you may have worked out by now.

We don't think it's Major Barbara.

But unfortunately, today, we're not remembering much

about Heartbreak House, so we'll just plump for Man and Superman.

All right, you said Man and Superman.

Do you know the answer?

We don't think it's Major Barbara, we think Heartbreak House.

Why go for Heartbreak House?

Because they went for Man and Superman.

It was fascinating, watching their brains work

when they're all combined like that is really interesting

and it's a train wreck, Eggheads, because it's Heartbreak House.

Congratulations, Challengers, you've won.

-Watching them struggle.

-That was amazing!

You almost had enough there.

They didn't, anyway. And you've won.

Congratulations, that's brilliant. It was a shaky start as well.

Very shaky. It didn't go our way.

They obeyed you and it all worked out as it should have done.

-Congratulations.

-Thank you.

-You've won £6,000.

You are officially cleverer than the Eggheads.

They can be beaten.

Join us next time on Eggheads to see

if a new team of Challengers will be just as successful.

Till then, what a great game today! Goodbye.

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