Episode 94 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 taking on the awesome might of our quiz champions today

are The Pork Scratchings.

This team of friends all agree

that the pork scratching is the ultimate pub snack.

They consume as many of them as possible when they quiz together. Let's meet them.

Hi, my name is Christian, I'm 28 and I'm a managing director.

I'm Joe, I'm 27, and I'm an apprentice electrician.

I'm Pat, I'm 30 and I'm a recruitment consultant.

Hi, I'm James, I'm 32 and I'm a shipping lawyer.

Hi, I'm James, I'm 30 and I'm a construction lawyer.

-Christian and team, welcome.

-Thank you.

-The pork scratching is crucial, is it?

Yeah. We should have brought some today because it does boost your brain power.

When you're quizzing, at least the noise will put off your opponents?

Yeah, the smell, almost everything related to it.

-Anyone here into their pork scratchings? I'm looking at you, Chris.

-Yeah, I quite like them.

A pint and a bag of scratchings maybe of a Saturday night.

But there's always one - you bite into it and there's a bit of pig fat in the middle!

I almost broke a tooth on one once. Is it pig fat?

-Well, it's basically crackling.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

OK, I think we've exhausted conversation. Let's get on with it.

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

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

So, Pork Scratchings, the Eggheads have won the last two games

which means £3,000 says you can't beat them today. Shall we start?

-Yes.

-Get out the pork scratchings. The first head-to-head battle is on History.

Who would like this?

-Well...

-Who wants History?

-Pat?

-Are you going to do History?

-Fine.

-You go for History, Pat.

-More importantly, who against?

-Pat on History against which Egghead? Who's shaky on their History?

-I think...

-Pat?

-..not Barry.

Barry's very good at History.

Pat perhaps?

-Pat or Judith?

-No, don't go Judith.

-Daphne or Chris?

-Oh.

-Yeah, I think one of those - Daphne or Chris.

-I'd say Daphne or Chris.

-You've named them all so far!

-Daphne it is then.

-We'll try and speed this decision up.

-You've spared us Pat and Pat. That's good.

-So it's Pat from The Pork Scratchings against...?

-Daphne.

-Daphne from the Eggheads.

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

Daphne, how's your History?

Well, I'm old enough to remember most of it.

And Pat, you've been studying, have you, in preparation for all this?

I've been reading a few books, yes. We'll see. It depends what comes up.

Good luck. Three multiple choice questions on History.

Whoever answers the most correctly goes into the final and the other person gets knocked out.

-Do you want the first or second set?

-First set, please.

Here we go. Good luck.

Which explorer used the timbers from his flagship Santa Maria

to help build a settlement on the island of Haiti in the 15th century?

In the 15th century...

Goodness me!

I'm going to plump for a guess, unfortunately,

and I'm going to go with Christopher Columbus.

Christopher Columbus is the right answer. Well done.

Daphne, your question.

Which historical figure is known in France as Le Vieux Lion, or The Old Lion?

Gosh! I've never heard it.

The Old Lion?

Well, out of the three of them,

I would call Winston Churchill The Old Lion,

so that's my answer.

Winston Churchill is the right answer.

Back to you, Pat.

The Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine, which was famously captured by the US Army in 1945,

became known as the Bridge at which town?

I must admit, World War Two, I guess is not...

It's going to be a guess

and I think I'm going to go for the Bridge at, um...I think Oberhausen.

Oberhausen is wrong. It's Remagen. Chris?

The only bridge they captured intact across the Rhine, a railway bridge.

Daphne, your question. The so-called Anaconda Plan was a strategy devised to win which conflict?

I've got a feeling...

Something in the back of my mind said

it's something to do with the American Civil War.

Um, I... Yeah.

American Civil War.

American Civil War is the right answer.

-She's in the lead. Pat, you need this one right, OK?

-OK.

Which 19th century American general was known at different times

as The Marble Model, The Great Tycoon and The King of Spades?

I don't think...

For some reason, I don't think it's going to be George Custer.

I've no idea who Joseph Hooker is,

so I will go with Robert E Lee.

Robert E Lee is correct.

-Well done, Pat.

-Nice work. That's the way to play it.

Daphne, if you get this one wrong, it's Sudden Death.

In the early 20th century, Omar al-Mukhtar was a resistance leader in which country?

I have never heard of it, so it will have to be a guess.

Libya.

You are an amazing Egghead. Libya is correct. You've taken the round.

Sorry, Pat. We don't know how Daphne's guesswork works.

-There's something mystical about it.

-Is it guesswork?

There's a single cell in there which suddenly just pumps out "Libya".

She's in the final and you're not. Both of you come back and rejoin your teams.

-Early days, Christian.

-Early days, but I think Pat did admirably.

Some good guessing by him as well.

The challengers have lost one brain. The Eggheads have not lost a brain yet. The next subject is Film & TV.

Which of you would like this?

-It's got to be Christian.

-It's yours, Christian.

-I was hoping this one would come up, so I'll take this one.

-Against...? Anyone but Daphne.

-Talk it through.

-Who are you thinking?

It would be quite good for me, Chris Hughes, to take on Chris Hughes.

-Chris versus Chris. So are we cool with that?

-Yeah, that's a good idea.

-I'll take on Chris.

-OK, Christian from The Pork Scratchings against Chris from the Eggheads.

-We both have the same name.

-The same surname as well. That's amazing. Please take your positions now.

-So two Chris Hugheses, is that right?

-That's correct. How odd!

We know Chris Hughes will win this round, but we don't know which one.

I'll ask each of you three questions on Film & TV. Christian, do you want the first or second set?

I'll go first.

Here we go.

Who played Waynetta Slob opposite Harry Enfield as Wayne Slob?

OK, I'm immediately drawn to Kathy Burke.

Yeah, I'm confident it's Kathy Burke.

Kathy Burke is the right answer. Well done, Christian.

Chris, which former Blue Peter presenter was a contestant

in the 2010 series of Strictly Come Dancing?

I don't think John Noakes would have done it and I don't know Matt Baker.

-Em, let's go with Peter Duncan.

-What do your team think?

-It's Matt Baker.

-Matt Baker they all chorus!

Christian, you have a chance to take this round.

The Twilight series of films based on books by Stephenie Meyer are set in which town?

These books and films are everywhere and I'm regretting not ever picking one up or going to the cinema,

but I know Pat is probably shouting at me right now.

I know it's about vampires,

so it's got to be something that probably can inflict damage or something like that.

So it's between Knives and Forks.

I really don't have a clue.

Right, I'm going to go 50/50 between Knives and Forks

-and I'm going to say...Forks.

-Forks is your answer?

Forks is right. Guys, you're relieved about that.

-Thanks, guys.

-I'm thinking you were laughing here because Forks sounds more like a town than Knives.

- Maybe. - That's some of the logic.

Chris, the comedy series Getting On, starring Jo Brand, is set in what type of establishment?

If you get this wrong, you're out.

Getting On. Yeah, she's a nurse in an old folks' home.

-What's your answer? Old folks' home?

-Mm-hm.

-Wrong. The answer is hospital.

The answer is hospital, but you said it with such great conviction

that I thought you must be right, but not so.

It's Christian, not Chris in the final.

Do both please come back and rejoin your teammates.

We've got a fan of Twilight here. You read it, Pat, do you?

I have, yeah, and it's a big favourite of my wife.

I sense Christian was lucky. Lucky because if he hadn't got it you'd have all duffed him up.

-Absolutely.

-OK.

The challengers have lost one brain and the Eggheads have lost one. Evenly matched so far.

The next subject is Science. Who wants this?

-- I think you, Joe. - I'll take that, Jeremy.

-OK.

-So it's Joe on Science against which Egghead?

-I think...Judith?

What does everyone think? Science.

- Any better options? - Good call.

-She's sitting very quietly.

-Trying to throw me off the scent.

-Are you with us?

-Absolutely. You're just out of it down this end.

-Nobody pays any attention to you at all.

-Speak up and say amusing things, tell stories, whatever.

OK, so Joe from Pork Scratchings against Judith. Have you ever eaten a pork scratching, Judith?

-Well, if it's the same as pork crackling, I adore crackling!

-It kind of is, but it kind of isn't.

- With more chemicals. - It's the same stuff, though.

Let's get back to the game, shall we? Please take your positions in the question room now.

-Joe, you did a marketing degree?

-I did, yeah, at Bristol.

-And you're training now as...?

-An electrician.

-Will you go round to people's houses to fix their wiring or is it bigger than that?

You've got to get a good base. I'll probably do that for a few years and see how that goes.

-Maybe bigger things in the future.

-Would you fix Judith's wiring?

Absolutely, if she lets me win.

-We always like to meet electricians and plumbers.

-Very useful. He can give me his telephone number.

I think he probably will!

I'll ask... Go escorted, Joe, if you go round there!

I'll ask each of you three questions and you can choose the first or second set.

I think I'll take the second set, Jeremy.

We start with Judith. What term is used to describe something on the opposite side of the Earth?

I haven't heard of any of those words! Oh, God...antigenal?

That sounds as if it's the opposite kind of thing. Anticlinal...

I think it's antipodal. Maybe something to do with poles.

-What do they call Australians?

-Anti...

-Antipodeans!

-Of course!

-Antipodal.

-Haven't woken up yet.

-But you're right anyway.

Joe, your first question.

For what does the letter P stand in the acronym WAP,

commonly used in describing the linking of mobile phones to the internet?

Em...when you first said the question I was thinking protocol

and the other two haven't made me think anything else, so protocol.

Nice one. Protocol is right.

What does it stand for? WAP, anyone?

- Wireless Access Protocol. - Application.

-Wireless Application Protocol says Daphne.

-I thought it was Access.

-Access or Application?

-Application.

OK, Judith, the 18th-century anatomist Luigi Galvani

developed an influential theory of electricity by conducting experiments on corpses

of which creatures?

It could have been any of them.

Why would it be one above another? Whatever he got hold of.

Em, I don't know. Frogs.

Frogs is the right answer. What was he doing? Making them twitch?

-Yeah, with electric current.

-Yes, to make their legs twitch.

-I now remember! Absolutely!

-Joe, the Surveyor probes launched by NASA in the 1960s

were sent to land where?

The '60s.

Jupiter seems a bit far away for the '60s.

Em... I think I'm going to say Venus, but I'm not 100% sure.

I'm definitely not sure why I'm saying it. I'll just go Venus.

Venus is your answer. It's wrong. It's the Moon.

The '60s. The Moon was, you know, a stretch.

I think they were preparatory explorations for the Apollo missions.

So, Judith, get this one and you have taken the round.

Ambroise Pare, who lived in the 16th century, is considered a pioneer in which field?

Ambroise Pare?

I think it might be chemistry. The alchemists were very active in those days.

Maybe he was on the transition between alchemy and proper chemistry.

It's a fantastic and creative answer, but it is a work of fiction.

-The answer is surgery.

-Oh.

-What did he do?

Used a saw? Hacksaw?

-I think he was just a cut above the rest.

-OK, we don't mind that.

We can have one joke per series. Joe, here's your question. You have a chance to get back in,

but you've got to get this right. The alloy electrum, used extensively in the making of ancient coins,

is principally composed of gold and which other metal?

Sounds like something I should know about, but...I don't.

So...

Maybe they'd want their coins to be quite strong and durable, so I'll say iron.

I'm afraid it is silver. Silver is the answer.

Composed of gold and silver,

the alloy electrum. Joe, you've been knocked out by Judith.

Well done, Judith. You're in the final round on Science, winning against an electrician.

-Hm, fantastic.

-Do both of you please come back to us here.

As it stands, the challengers have lost two brains from the final round and the Eggheads have lost just one.

Our last subject is Sport. Who'd like this?

- No doubt about it. - You're the master.

-That'll be me.

-The two James. James C, right. Against which Egghead?

- Go for Barry? - I'm thinking Barry.

-Barry, please.

-James C from the Pork Scratchings versus Barry from the Eggheads on Sport.

Please go to the Question Room now.

-I'll ask you three questions. James, you can choose the first or second set.

-First, please.

Here we go, James.

What term is used for a race where horses carry different weights according to their rating?

Horse racing is one that I was hoping didn't come up.

Em...the only thing I'm thinking is handicap.

For no real reason I'll go handicap.

-Handicap is the right answer. Well done.

-Well done, Jim.

Barry, in dog sled racing, what name is given to the human driver of a team of harnessed dogs?

Well, the only word that makes any sense to me is musher, so musher.

Lovely word it is, too. Musher is right. Over to you, James.

At which tournament did Steffi Graf win her last Grand Slam singles title in 1999?

Em...if I get this wrong, I'll be in trouble.

1999...

Tough one.

For some reason I've got the French Open in my head

and playing against Hingis.

Em, I don't think it's the US. And I don't think she was still winning Wimbledon at those times,

so I'm going to go French Open.

Nicely done. You're right, James. That is a difficult question.

At the 2008 Olympic Games, British swimmer Rebecca Adlington won a gold medal in the freestyle

over 400m and which other distance?

Rebecca was a distance swimmer, so she won the 400m and the 800m.

800m is the right answer. Well done.

This is a good round.

OK, third question, James.

Which Australian cricket captain of the 1980s and 1990s

had the nickname Captain Grumpy?

Em...

I had Allan Border in my head when you asked the question.

I don't think Mark Taylor would have captained in the '80s.

And I'm not sure if Kim Hughes captained in the '90s.

Just for longevity of career, I'll go for Allan Border.

Allan Border is the right answer. A perfect three.

So now it's Barry

who is on the rack. Billy Bingham managed which football side at the World Cup finals

in both 1982 and 1986?

That's a name from the past. I always associate Billy Bingham with Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is right. Well done. You got all three right.

We go to Sudden Death. I don't give you alternatives. Ready?

-Ready.

-In 1999, Brian O'Driscoll made his debut for which of the four provincial Irish rugby union teams?

Em...

I'm glad this one's come up, I hope.

-I think that's Leinster.

-Leinster is right. Well done.

Over to you, Barry.

Which of the golf majors did Fred Couples win in 1992? Get this wrong and you're out.

Which of the Majors. We have four, don't we?

The PGA, US Open, Masters and the Open.

Something is telling me he won the US Open that year.

-Anyone want to tell us the answer?

-Masters?

-Not the US Open, then!

-US Masters.

-I knew it was an American one.

You've been knocked out by James.

That's good news for your team. Both of you please come back to us in the studio.

-OK, you've effectively drawn level.

-Good news.

-You all laughed when we said Captain Grump there.

James is known amongst friends as Mister Grumpy.

-It's just an act. I'm always smiling.

-Sometimes the questions just do that.

This is what we've played towards. It is time for the final round

but those of you who lost

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

So Joe and Pat from Pork Scratchings and Chris and Barry from Eggheads, now please leave the studio.

Christian, James and James, you're playing to win £3,000.

Daphne, Pat and Judith are playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I will ask each team three questions all on General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

So are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I think first has worked out quite well, so we'll go first, please.

Pork Scratchings, good luck. Russell Kane and Russell Howard are well-known names in which field?

-They're comedians, aren't they?

-Russell Howard's on Mock The Week.

-He's that cuddly guy.

I don't recognise Russell Kane, but he's definitely comedy.

-Definitely a comedian. OK, Jeremy, we think it's comedy.

-That's right.

Over to you three Eggheads.

What nickname was often given to Henry Ford's Model T car?

-Tin Lizzie. Everyone agreed?

-Yeah.

-We believe that's Tin Lizzie.

-Tin Lizzie is the right answer.

Back to you, Pork Scratchings.

Who once described the House of Lords as the British Outer Mongolia for retired politicians?

That's tough. I can imagine them all saying it.

I'd take out Tony Benn because he would have been sat in there himself.

- Alan Sugar's in the Lords now. - But he might have backtracked.

I'd say it's Livingstone or Sugar.

-I'd like Sugar, but I don't know.

-I'd say Sugar, but it's a guess.

-What do you think?

- Would he necessarily be commenting on politics, though? - Why say it? Livingstone...?

-I reckon it's ironic because he's in there.

-It's probably Tony Benn now!

-So you do think Alan Sugar?

-I'd prefer Alan Sugar.

-We don't know, so...

-Yeah?

-Yeah.

-We'll go with Alan Sugar, please.

-Alan Sugar is wrong. Tony Benn.

-There we go.

-Tony Benn.

Over to you, Eggheads.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Gondwana Rain Forests are located in which country?

It sounds Australian, but...

Gondwanaland is named after a place in central India.

-I thought India.

-So there definitely is a Gondwana on that plateau.

Although it sounds very Australian. We have to go with India.

It's a rain forest. India.

-Where is that plateau?

-The southern bit pointing into the Indian Ocean.

-That's the rain foresty area.

You could get rain forests there. I think we go with India. OK?

-We're going to go with India.

-India is wrong.

-Oh.

-It's Australia. What is the place in India? Gondwanaland?

Gondwanaland is named after a region of south central India.

-So the knowledge got in your way almost there.

-Sounds Australian.

-OK.

Third question. In his will, JMW Turner left two paintings -

Dido Building Carthage and Sun Rising Through Vapour to the National Gallery

on condition that they should hang next to two pictures by which French painter?

- I'm drawing a complete blank! - I'm...

-struggling.

-Poussin's possibly the more...

seminal French artist, so maybe Poussin. And I think they are quite big.

They might hang in the same place, but it's a complete guess.

-It's a shot in the dark, so let's go with your instinct.

-Right, OK.

-Let's go for it.

-It's a bit of a guess, but we'll go with Poussin.

You think they had to hang next to Poussin? No. Claude it was.

OK, here's your third question.

Get this right, you've taken it. Wrong and it's Sudden Death.

Which American alternative rock band, formed in the '70s, had founding members including

Fred Schneider and Cindy Wilson?

-Fred Schneider?

-I'll leave that up to you!

He's the lead singer of the B-52s from Athens, Georgia.

-We'll go for B-52s.

-Your answer is B-52s.

The answer is not Devo or the New York Dolls. It is the B-52s.

Congratulations, Eggheads. You've won.

-That's bad luck.

-It's tough in the final round.

-I thought that might throw them,

-but it didn't. Did you know that, Daphne?

-No. Only Pat knew it. So...

Thanks for coming in. Commiserations. The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

They still reign supreme. I'm afraid the Pork Scratchings are not going home with the £3,000.

The money rolls over. Eggheads, very well done. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers can beat them. £4,000 says they don't.

Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2012

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