Episode 93 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 a team of five quiz challengers attempt

to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

They've won some of the country's toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

And challenging our resident quiz champions today

are Box Clever. This team work as merchandisers

at the head office of a major supermarket. Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Iris, I'm 36 and I'm a category merchandiser.

Hi, I'm Mark, I'm 47 and I'm a category merchandiser.

Hi, I'm Davina, I'm 27 and I'm a category merchandiser.

Hi, I'm Simon, I'm 39 and I'm a category manager.

Hi, my name's Nick, I'm 26 and I'm also a category merchandiser.

-Iris and team, welcome.

-Thank you.

-So all working for the supermarket doing something to do with boxes?

Yes, we're all part of the same team. We're all merchandisers.

So basically, it's our job to look at how products are displayed in store.

We have to do that for every range.

When we're working on our computer system doing it,

every product is represented by a box, hence the name Box Clever.

-And "Clever" because you are all supremely bright?

-Hopefully.

-Have you done any quizzing?

Yeah, we do. There used to be a quiz club at work, a league,

so we quizzed as a team in that. When that finished,

we did individual ones on a Friday lunchtime, so we do quite a bit.

-How does it feel sitting opposite this lot?

-It's good.

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

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

So, Box Clever, the Eggheads won just the last game,

which means £2,000 says you can't beat them. Shall we start?

The first head-to-head battle is on Film & TV.

Choose somebody to play this one.

OK, Davina, Film & TV is yours.

-Yeah. Who should I take on?

-Davina.

-I think Barry maybe?

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-We'd like to take on Barry, please.

Decisive, this team. Some people take five minutes to sort that out.

OK, Davina from Box Clever against Barry from the Eggheads.

To ensure no conferring, take your positions in the question room.

-OK, Davina, are you ready?

-Yes.

-You have got an adventurous spirit. You got married last year where?

-Wookey Hole Caves.

-Is that a licensed venue for such a thing?

Yes, it's a tourist attraction, but you can get married there in the evening.

-I've been in it. I remember it being very dark. Have they got seats in there and stuff?

-No.

-It's all standing, but it's got beautifully coloured lights and candles.

-Must've been amazing.

It sounds almost like a movie, so you're in the right category. You're against Barry.

-Three multiple choice questions. You choose the first or second set.

-I'd like to go first, please.

All the very best to you, Davina.

What name is given to fund-raising events broadcast on television

that last many hours or in some countries, many days?

Well, I've never heard of a telerun

or a teleround,

so that would be a telethon.

Telethon is the right answer. Well done. Barry, your question.

Which comedy double act performed a sketch in which they recreated Gene Kelly's number, Singin' In The Rain?

It was the inimitable Morecambe and Wise.

It was, yes.

Can we say they're inimitable when they were imitating somebody else?

-Good point.

-Their style is inimitable.

-OK, Davina...

Kylie Flinker, Sasha Close

and Melissa Bell all played which character in the TV soap Neighbours?

I think I only remember Helen Daniels ever being played by one actress.

I'm going to go with Lucy Robinson.

You had us in suspense, but you've got it right. Well done.

Your team are pleased.

Barry, in which 2010 film is one of the main characters a pink teddy bear called Lotso?

Oh, yes, Lotso was the teddy bear with the southern US drawl

who was the evil character in Toy Story 3.

The right answer is Toy Story 3.

-Who has seen that? Anybody here?

-Yes, I've seen it.

-Did you cry, Barry?

-Yes.

-I cried. Did you cry, Pat?

-I bet you didn't.

-I don't think so.

OK, your question, Davina.

Which rapper played Huggy Bear in the 2004 Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson film, Starsky And Hutch?

OK, um, I haven't actually seen that film.

I think Snoop Dogg is quite often in films.

But so is Ice-T.

I'm going to go with Snoop Dogg.

You're a really good quizzer. Well done. Snoop Dogg is correct.

I sense an Egghead in our midst.

I don't know what you're doing, but it's working. OK, Barry...

What was the name of the convict played by Peter Vaughan in Porridge?

What was the name of the convict played by Peter Vaughan

in the TV sitcom Porridge?

If you get this wrong, you're out.

I don't know how he kept a straight face in it, but it was Harry Grout.

The right answer is Harry Grout. So it's three each.

A perfect round for you both.

We go to Sudden Death, Davina. It gets a bit harder. I don't give you the alternative options.

In the 1990 film Home Alone, Kevin, played by Macaulay Culkin,

is left behind when his family go on a Christmas vacation to which European city?

I have seen the film, but it was many years ago.

European city...

Something in the back of my mind is telling me Paris, so I'm going to go with that.

Paris is correct. Nicely done.

Barry, to stay in it,

in the children's TV series Rag, Tag And Bobtail, first broadcast in 1953,

what type of creature was Rag?

I'm sure there was a rabbit in that.

But that could well be Bobtail, given the scut that rabbits have as a tail.

Rag, Tag and Bobtail...

I can't think of anything else. I'm going to have to say...

Oh, hang on. Was there a mouse in it as well?

Rag...

Rabbit.

No, I'm going to try "rabbit".

-You think there was a rabbit. There was one. You think there was a mouse.

-Mm-hm.

-There was a third creature. No? Anyone?

-Hedgehog.

-Hedgehog. Rag was a hedgehog.

And Barry, you're not in the final.

Davina, well done. You will be in the final round. Please come back here and rejoin your team-mates.

The challengers have started well. You've lost no brains. The Eggheads have had a brain taken out.

Next, it's Arts & Books. Who would like this one?

That was Davina's other subject,

so it's probably Mark, unless, Nick, you fancy it?

-Probably not.

-No.

-It's going to have to be me, is it?

-Yeah, I think so.

-It's me.

-Mark, is it you?

-Yeah, it's me, Jeremy.

-Against which Egghead?

That's a tough one. I'd say not Pat.

-I don't know. It's whoever you fancy, really.

-Chris?

-Yeah.

-I'll take on Chris.

OK. You don't sound very certain. Certainty is dropping, but you're doing well. Don't worry.

So it's Mark from Box Clever and Chris from the Eggheads on Arts & Books. Go to the question room now.

-Three questions on Arts & Books. Mark, choose the first or second set of questions.

-I'll go first.

Where is Shakespeare's play The Tempest set?

I've done this one at school, I'm sure.

I'm pretty sure it's not up a mountain or in the clouds.

I'm fairly sure it's on an island.

On an island is correct.

In which country did the ballet The Nutcracker have its premiere?

Well, it's by Tchaikovsky who was Russian.

Ballet was a Russian art form.

So it's got to be Russia.

Russia is right.

Who was the first woman to win the Turner Prize?

Unfortunately, I've not heard of Gillian Wearing

or Rachel Whiteread.

I've heard of Tracey Emin,

but that was fairly recent,

probably in the 1990s.

Um...

I'll go with...

Gillian Wearing.

Gillian Wearing is your answer.

It's actually Rachel Whiteread. What did she win it for, Chris?

Didn't she fill an old house with concrete?

-I can't remember. Anyone?

-Yes, that was it.

She filled an old house. We should ask your views on the Turner Prize.

Pretentious rubbish, allowing silly people to think they're important!

We stand well back and light the blue touch paper

when we discuss the Turner Prize, rap or most sport with Chris.

Your question to pull ahead, Chris.

What is the title of the 2009 novel by David Nicholls

which visits its two central characters on the 15th of July each year for 20 years?

Well, since it deals with a specific date...

If it's two people, it won't be One Life. A day wouldn't be One Moment.

It's got to be One Day.

Brilliant logic and you are correct. It is One Day.

It's in my bag and it's the next book I'll read. Has anyone read it?

I gather it's good.

The Screwtape Letters, a novel made up of imaginary letters from a senior devil to his junior,

is a work by which author?

And you need this one to stay in.

It doesn't sound like a CS Lewis book to me.

Again I don't know, so I'm going to have to take a guess.

I'll go with Mervyn Peake.

Funnily enough, it is CS Lewis.

Mark, sorry, there's no way back for you there. Chris has beaten you.

He will be in the final and you will not. Please come back and rejoin your teams.

-Iris, team spirit, how is it going?

-Still good, yeah.

-Still positive?

-Yes.

-Just to draw on your expertise for a second,

if you were stacking a shelf, would you put them like that?

-Is that attractive?

-No, you'd probably put Chris on the end, then Daphne on the other end.

That's how I'd merchandise the Eggheads.

-You'd try and spread them a bit?

-Yeah.

The challengers have lost one brain from the final round and the Eggheads have lost one brain.

-The next subject is Sport. Who would like this?

-That would be me.

Iris, I love the decisiveness here. It's very good. Iris on Sport versus...?

I think it will have to be CJ.

Iris from Box Clever against CJ, so please go to the question room now.

-Three questions on Sport in turn and Iris, you can choose the first or second set.

-I'll go first, please.

Iris, good luck. In the US, what name is given to a first year player in a professional sport?

Right, um...

I'm not 100% sure on this one.

Cowpoke or stalwart...

A stalwart, I think, is something that...

It's more like steady,

so "rookie" is jumping out at me as the one that makes sense.

So I think I'll go for "rookie".

And "rookie" is correct.

CJ...

The International Circuit at Yeongam staged which country's 2010 Formula 1 Grand Prix?

Well, South Korea had a Grand Prix in 2010.

Hungary is usually at the Hungaroring.

Has Turkey had one yet? I know they're planning to have one.

I know South Korea had a Grand Prix in 2010, so I'll try South Korea.

South Korea is correct. One each.

Back to you, Iris.

The tennis player Greg Rusedski was born in which city?

I was hoping you were just going to ask me what country he was born in

because I knew he was Canadian.

I really don't know which city it actually is.

This is going to be a guess.

I'll go for Montreal.

CJ will know this.

I knew it wasn't Montreal. I'd have gone for Ottawa with his accent.

You're wrong, CJ. It IS Montreal.

That doesn't happen very often.

OK, CJ.

The two Olympic artistic gymnastic events in which only women take part

are the balance beam and what?

Those are the uneven bars.

Uneven bars is correct. I feel sure I've seen men swinging off them.

-Only off one bar, I'm afraid.

-OK.

Over to you, Iris.

What is the horse racing venue where the Melbourne Cup takes place?

OK, unfortunately, horse racing isn't my strongest bit of sport.

So this has to be a guess.

I haven't heard of any of them to be honest.

So I'm going to go for... Caulfield.

-Just a guess?

-Yep.

-It's wrong.

Flemington is the right answer.

CJ, get this to take the round.

Which county selected the long-serving cricketer Glen Chapel as captain in 2009?

I really don't have the first idea about this.

-Blind guess - Somerset.

-Blind guess.

It's wrong. Lancashire is the answer.

So you're tied.

Good fortune there, Iris. You get to sudden death on sport,

which is sometimes difficult territory for our Eggheads.

What name taken from French is given to an arena with a specially banked track used for cycle racing?

OK, the only thing that is coming to mind is velodrome.

Velodrome is correct. Nice one.

CJ, this to stay in it.

Which tennis player was voted winner of the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year Award every year

from 2005 to 2008?

-Roger Federer.

-Roger Federer is correct.

Playing well. Back to Iris.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club play some of their home matches at North Marine Road in which seaside resort?

OK. I'm just trying to think of a seaside resort in Yorkshire.

English geography isn't my strongpoint. Em, I'll go for...

Scarborough.

-Is she right, Eggheads?

-Yes.

-Really?!

-My God!

-Hosted one-day internationals

in '76 and '78.

CJ, at the 2000 Olympic Games, Judy Oakes at the age of 42

competed for Great Britain in which athletics field event?

I think she's the shot putt, but let me have a moment to think.

-Yeah, shot putt.

-One of the most bizarre sports. Shot putt is right.

Ever done that, Daphne?

-No!

-What would that be like to train for? OK, you're level.

Which US city staged a Formula 1 World Championship Grand Prix in 1981

and 1982?

OK, I'm just trying to think what American cities might stage it.

-I'll try Indianapolis.

-Las Vegas is the answer.

The track was set up in the parking lot of Caesar's Palace.

CJ, for the round. Which country's national rugby union team has been known by the nicknames

the Cherry Blossoms and the Brave Blossoms?

-Japan.

-Japan is the right answer! You've taken it on sudden death.

But, Iris, well done.

Some great correct answers.

CJ, you'll be in the final. Sadly, Iris, you won't. Both please rejoin your teams.

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

while the Eggheads have lost one. The last subject is Geography.

Who wants this?

-Nick, that's one of yours.

-Nick, OK. Against?

-Daphne, I reckon.

-I'm going for Daphne, I think.

Nick versus Daphne on Geography. Please take your positions in the Question Room.

Good luck. Three questions. Multiple choice.

-You can choose first or second.

-Everyone's going first. So will I.

Good luck, Nick.

Prior to adopting the euro, what was the official currency of the Vatican City state?

Em, I believe it was the lira.

Also the currency of Italy, isn't it?

-Lira is the right answer.

-Thank you.

Daphne,

Sana'a is the capital of which Middle Eastern state?

That's the capital of Yemen.

Yemen it is. Well done. Back to you, Nick.

Roughly what percentage of the Swiss population speaks its fourth official language, Romansh?

Fourth official language.

Can't be too popular, so it would be 1% or 21%, perhaps.

I'll go for 1%.

It's a pure guess, but I'll guess with 1%.

1% is right, actually. Nice work.

The point of that being

that Switzerland is quite a homogenous society?

I think it's only spoken in one canton.

In which body of water is the Bismarck Archipelago located?

I think...

Bismarck Archipelago.

I think that's the Pacific Ocean.

Pacific is the right answer. This is an Egghead rule.

It's a good one for quizzers.

If the word Pacific is in the options, go for that. There's just more stuff in there.

If one of the answers is cheese, go for that. What's the other one?

Antelope. The other one is antelope. Or potato is usually a good one to choose if you're stuck.

OK.

Nick, you're equal.

Sky Harbour International Airport is located in which US city?

Something's saying Seattle, but I can't be sure.

I'll go with instinct and say Seattle, I think.

I would have guessed that, too.

It's Phoenix, though.

It's Phoenix. OK, Daphne,

get this and you're in the final. The only two countries with land borders with Afghanistan and Iran

are Pakistan and which other?

Tajikistan.

Tajikistan is the wrong answer. It's Turkmenistan.

-Which was the Borat country?

-Kazakhstan.

-For Tajikistan, the Caspian is in the way.

-CJ thinks the Caspian is in the way, but he said it quietly,

which means he's not totally sure. Scores are equal now.

We go to Sudden Death.

No options now. You've got to give me the answer.

Mount Whitney is the highest point in which North American mountain range?

I'm trying to think of mountain ranges in America, obviously.

I think I'll guess again. I'm going for Rocky Mountains.

Sierra Nevada is the correct answer.

Daphne, the Donets,

the main tributary of the Don river, flows through Russia and which other country?

-The Ukraine?

-Ukraine is the right answer. You are in the final.

Sorry, Nick.

These Eggheads, it's hard to beat them. Do both of you please come back and join your teams.

Given what you do for the supermarket, a couple of you have been swept off the shelf,

-but you're still very much in it.

-We've got two in the final.

-At least it's not one.

-It's time for the final round, which as always is general knowledge.

But those of you who lost

won't be allowed to take part. So that's Iris, Mark and Nick from Box Clever,

and Barry from the Eggheads. Please now leave the studio.

Davina and Simon, it's down to you.

You're playing to win £2,000. CJ, Daphne, Chris and Pat

are playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

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

The question is are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

-Do you want to go first or second?

-First, please.

All the very best. The Latin phrase "cave canem" means beware of the what?

The Latin phrase "cave canem" means beware of the what?

-It means dog, so we'll say dog.

-Dog is correct.

Well done.

Simple as that.

Which female singer starred with Tom Hanks and Geena Davis in the 1992 baseball comedy drama

A League Of Their Own?

Madonna?

That's Madonna, Jeremy.

Madonna is the right answer.

OK, back to you, Box Clever.

What is the name of the band who won the 2010 Mercury Music Prize?

-No idea.

-I've no idea, either.

-Any idea? None at all?

-No.

I really don't know, you know.

Any favourites of the three?

No!

OK, pot luck.

We'll go for...The XX.

Nicely done. It's right. Well done. The XX it is.

I've heard of them only.

-Anyone into The XX here?

-No.

-They make nice music.

-It sounded to me like Portishead.

-And there's echoes of The Cure.

-They're a real indy band.

They're not on the radio much. I don't think I've played them.

Eggheads, under whose premiership was the Citizens' Charter launched?

Under whose premiership was the Citizens' Charter launched?

John Major.

Er, John Major, Jeremy.

Along with the Cones Hotline. Yes, you're right.

OK, you're playing well.

If you get this one right, there's a chance. There's definitely a chance.

In 2009, whom did Vincent Nichols succeed as Archbishop of Westminster?

-I'm not sure.

-I've heard of Basil Hume.

But I don't know if it's the right context.

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor as well.

Em, I've certainly heard of Basil Hume.

-Want to go for that?

-I don't know. Guess?

-If you're happy with that, I'll go with your...

-Basil Hume?

No, Basil Hume was long gone. It's Cormac Murphy-O'Connor

who was Archbishop of Westminster before Vincent Nichols.

Eggheads, get this for the contest. Who wrote the 18th-century poem Comin' Thro' The Rye,

which inspired the title of JD Salinger's novel The Catcher In The Rye?

Is it Burns? "When a body meets a body comin' thro' the rye"?

-Is it "come in" or "comin'"?

-Good question. Comin', one word, with an apostrophe.

That sounds like Scots dialect, so it's got to be Burns.

We're going for Robert Burns.

Your answer is Robert Burns.

-Are they right about this?

-I think so.

Eggheads, you're right. Robert Burns is the answer. You've won.

Yeah. Bad luck to you. Thanks for coming in. It's great to meet the nuclear core of the supermarket.

All the boxing, the marketing.

Thanks and commiserations to you.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally and they reign supreme over quizland again.

You won't be going home with the £2,000, so that money rolls over.

Eggheads, many congratulations. Who, I wonder, will ever beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers can defeat them. £3,000 says they don't.

Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media - 2012

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