Episode 99 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

attempt to beat possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

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

Taking on our quiz Goliaths today

are the Glos-Stars. By taking on

and hopefully beating the Eggheads, this friends and family team hope to put Gloucester on the map.

We thought it was there already.

Hi, I'm Mark, I'm 38 and a customer adviser.

Hi, I'm Scott, I'm 44 and a civil servant.

Hello, I'm Phil, I'm 55 and I'm a housing officer.

Hi, I'm Adam, I'm 41 and I'm a mortgage underwriter.

Hello, I'm John, I'm 33 and I'm a customer adviser.

Mark and team, welcome. It's friends and family and it's Gloucester.

-That's pretty much it.

-And you sell suits for a living?

-I work for a well-known retail firm on the high street.

-Yep.

-I've worked there for two years now.

-You went to Britain's Got Talent?

-It was X Factor.

-Dressed as?

-A cowboy.

-And singing?

-Rhinestone Cowboy.

-Right!

-Did that get you through the initial rounds?

-I didn't even get through...

-The door!

-No.

I did enjoy the five and a half hours queuing in the cold.

Perfect. OK, I'm sure you'll do well here, with or without the outfit.

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. The Eggheads won just the last game,

which means £2,000 says you can't beat them.

-Are you ready?

-Oh, yes.

-The first Head-to-Head is on History.

Do you have a history person?

- We do, if he hasn't run off. - Is that me, is it?

-Yeah.

-All right, John. Against which Egghead?

Barry. We'll have Barry, please.

OK, so it's John against Barry on History.

He's pretty good on it. To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions in the Question Room.

I'll ask each of you three multiple choice questions on History.

Whoever answers the most goes through to the final.

-John, do you want the first or the second set?

-I'll go first, please.

Which queen, the wife of both a French and an English king,

was the mother of Kings Richard I and John?

Right. It wasn't Anne of Cleves. I think I know this.

-It's Eleanor of Aquitaine.

-Well done. Eleanor it is.

Barry,

in 1945, Eva Duarte married the future Argentine President Juan Peron

after her career as what?

I'm glad those three options are up. Eva Duarte was an actress.

She was indeed an actress. Well done. Over to you, John.

Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills mounted an ill-fated 19th-C exploration of which country?

Oh. Em... I'm pretty sure it wasn't Australia.

-I'm going to go for...Chile.

-Chile is wrong. The answer is Australia.

-Why was it ill-fated? Anyone know?

-They died.

-They died!

Just leave it there. Don't tell me any more.

-There was one survivor.

-OK, so not a good idea.

Which British king died of a stroke on his way to Hanover in 1727?

George I was the Elector of Hanover. William II was much earlier,

back in the early 12th century,

and James II was the 17th century, but earlier, so it's George I.

Correct. You're in the lead. John, you need this or you're out.

Which nephew of Claudius actually ruled before him,

becoming the third Roman emperor in AD37?

Now I know the answer to this one purely through

I, Claudius on both the television and the recent BBC radio.

It was Caligula.

Caligula is correct. Nice one.

But if Barry gets this one right

he'll go through. Which duchess famously held a ball in Brussels for Wellington's soldiers

on the eve of the Battle of Quatre Bras in June, 1815?

This was the battle on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo.

I'm not 100% certain on this one, but I believe it's Richmond.

You've got it right, Barry. Well done. You've taken the round.

Barry's very strong on history. I don't think he's lost a round on it in the last 20.

Do both of you please come back and rejoin your team-mates.

So the challengers have lost one brain from the final round, the Eggheads have lost no brains.

The next subject is Music.

Which of you would like this?

- Music. I think Adam.

-You take it, Adam?

-Yeah.

-Adam on Music, OK. Against which Egghead?

It's got to be CJ.

-Oh, dear.

-Your love of music is well-known.

-Exactly.

It's all learnt from lists.

So Adam versus CJ, please go to the Question Room now.

I'll ask each of you three questions on music in turn.

Whoever answers the most correctly will go through to the final.

-Adam, the first or second set?

-I'd like to go first, please.

Here we go.

In which decade did Cliff Richard have his first UK number one single?

I believe 1940s was a little bit early even for Cliff Richard.

I believe it was the tail end of the '50s.

Round about '59. So 1950s.

It's a very good answer. It was '59. Living Doll. 1950s was right.

Well done. Easy to go for '60s.

OK, CJ, "Ground Control to Major Tom" is the opening line of which UK number one single?

I believe that's David Bowie and Space Oddity.

Space Oddity is correct. OK, Adam, your question.

Madness had a UK number one single in 1982 with which song?

I believe it was their only number one. I did actually see them in concert a month ago,

so hopefully I'll get this right. House of Fun.

-House of Fun is correct. Were they good?

-Yes.

-Still got the energy?

-I'd say so.

-Still got the crazy dancing?

-Yes.

-Which I still try to copy.

-CJ,

in which country was the conductor Zubin Mehta born?

I haven't heard of him.

I don't think it's Iraq. I don't know any conductors from India, but Israel has a tradition.

-It sounds Israeli, so Israel.

-Israel is your answer?

While you were going through your reasoning, the Eggheads,

notably Daphne and Barry, were so exasperated that they amused the other team.

-Barry, explain why.

-He was born in India.

-I believe he's a Parsi.

-But he's one of the big names?

-He is.

-I think he may have conducted the Haifa Philharmonic.

-Zubin Mehta.

The answer was India. All right.

So we're on the edge of something here. Get this one right, Adam, you're in the final.

Which British composer dedicated his cello symphony to his friend Mstislav Rostropovich

who performed at its Moscow premiere in 1964?

I must admit, classical music is not one of my fortes.

Em... I'll have to take a guess here.

I'm going to go Benjamin Britten.

You've got the right answer. Well done!

You've beaten CJ.

CJ will be in the sin bin during the final and you'll be with your team.

Please come back and rejoin us here.

The challengers have lost one brain from the final round, the Eggheads have lost one brain as well.

The next subject is Geography.

Who would like this?

-Do you want to take it? No?

-Do you want to take it?

-If you like.

-But I'm not... Yeah, I'll take it.

-Who would you like?

-Chris?

-If it's on a train track, we're knackered.

-Yeah, train lines. I think I'll take on Chris.

-All right.

Phil versus Chris. And to ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions in the Question Room.

I will ask each of you three questions on Geography.

-Phil, first or second set?

-I'll take the first set, please.

Here we go, then.

Apart from indigenous Indian languages, what is the official language of Venezuela?

It's very close between Portuguese and Spanish. I don't think English.

But on Venezuela I'm going to punt on...Spanish.

Nicely done. You're right. Spanish it is.

Chris, your question.

Which volcano forms half of Hawaii?

That is Mauna Loa, Jeremy.

Mauna Loa is quite right.

Your question, Phil.

What is the capital of the US state of Wisconsin?

US states...

I don't think it's McKinley. I think it's between Monroe and Madison.

Em...I should know this because one of my friends was out there for about a year.

-I think it's Madison, but I'm not 100% certain.

-Team?

-Yes.

-They agree. Madison is right. Well done.

Chris, your question.

Which British overseas territory is situated approximately 1,200 miles off the west coast of Africa?

Out in the middle of the Atlantic, it's St Helena, where Napoleon was exiled.

St Helena is quite right. So it's two points each.

-Phil, feeling tense yet?

-It's getting to that point!

-Let's see if we can get this one.

-And maybe he will crumble.

Which of Japan's four main islands lies furthest south?

I don't really know.

This is purely a stab in the dark, I'm afraid, but I'm going to go for Kyushu.

Kyushu. CJ, I have a feeling you might know it.

-I don't know it, but it's the one I'd go for.

-It is correct.

OK, so pressure on Chris now.

The source of the Paraguay River lies in which country?

Ah, yeah, well, it flows south and forms the border between Argentina and Uruguay.

It must rise somewhere up in the Mato Grosso in Brazil.

Brazil is the right answer. Well done.

Playing well, both of you.

So it goes to sudden death. It's a bit harder now.

I don't give you alternatives. Which island in the Mediterranean looks like it is being kicked

by the so-called "Boot of Italy"?

I'm going to take a chance on it being Corsica.

-Not Corsica, no. Eggheads?

-Sicily.

-They all chorus!

Chris, your question.

To be in the final. Sochi is a Russian port and holiday resort on which body of water?

Must be on the Black Sea.

The Black Sea is correct.

-Phil, sorry.

-I knew that one!

It was toe to toe for quite some part of that round there.

Both please come back and rejoin us.

As it stands, the challengers have lost two brains, whilst the Eggheads have lost one brain.

Still, you can win. They've been beaten a number of times recently, though I mustn't rub it in.

The last subject is Sport. A good one for you?

-Not great.

-It's me or you.

-I'll keep you to the last. I'll take it. I'll have a go.

-So Mark against?

-Well, Kevin, I suppose. Might as well have a fighting chance.

-What's that supposed to mean? I don't quite know what he meant.

-So it's Mark from Glos-Stars

against Kevin from the Eggheads. To ensure no conferring, please take your positions.

Good luck. Three questions on sport. First or second set, Mark?

Well, make it last as long as possible. I'll go second.

OK.

So Kevin goes first. How many scores of six, 6.0, did Torvill and Dean achieve

for their ice skating routine to Ravel's Bolero at the 1984 Winter Olympics?

Mm, I don't know.

I can't remember how many judges there were or anything.

Ah...I'll say six.

-Let's see if CJ knows.

-I think there were nine judges and they vote twice

-so you've got a possible 18. I'd have gone for 12.

-It is 12.

Oh, Mark, there we are.

-Did you know that number?

-I knew there were six judges... I thought there were six.

-There were nine, yeah.

-I wasn't sure.

OK. At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Zoe Smith won a bronze for England at the age of 16 in which sport?

I can't imagine it being weightlifting, although that might be me thinking badly.

I don't know. Swimming, possibly.

Maybe archery.

I'm going to take a chance on swimming.

-No, funnily enough. Weightlifting.

-Really?

So, Kevin,

see if you can get off the blocks.

Who did Sir Alex Ferguson appoint as captain of Manchester United at the start of the 2010/11 season?

I don't think it's Berbatov, so this goes back to August, 2010.

There's been some injuries since then.

It could be... They're both senior professionals, van der Sar and Vidic,

so it could be... It could be either of them.

How much does captaincy really make a difference?

I'll try Vidic, I think.

-Vidic is the right answer.

-Well done!

Mark, your question.

In July, 2010, which British cyclist won her third BMX world title in four years?

Well, BMXing is definitely not my strongpoint.

It's a complete guess. Victoria Pendleton, I recognise the name,

but I think that was a different type of bike, if it was bikes.

So I'll choose between Shanaze Reade and Rebecca Romero.

I'm going to have a guess down the middle. Shanaze Reade.

-Let's see what your teammates think. You like that one?

-Absolutely!

It's her - Shanaze Reade.

This is quite a round. OK, Kevin,

racing driver Emerson Fittipaldi, winner of the Formula 1 World Championship in 1972 and '74,

was born in which country?

Unless there's a trick to it, he was Brazilian, so we have to assume he was born in Brazil.

No trick at all. Brazil is the right answer.

You have to get this, Mark. In 2009, who became the first woman

to be named one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year?

Again, cricket is not my strongpoint. Sport isn't my strongpoint, really!

So, um... It's again a complete guess.

I will probably go with Laura Marsh.

-As a complete guess.

-You've been unlucky with the women sportspeople in this round.

-Tell me about it!

-Claire Taylor is the answer, so you got it wrong.

Kevin is in the final round.

Tough questions there, though. Please, Mark and Kevin, come back to us now.

This is what we've been playing towards. It's the final round.

But those of you who lost

won't be allowed to take part. So Mark, Phil and John from the Glos-Stars

and CJ from the Eggheads, please now leave the studio.

Feeling good, guys?

Ask us after!

You're playing to win the Glos-Stars £2,000.

Kevin, Daphne, Chris and Barry, you are playing for the Eggheads' reputation.

I will ask each team three questions. They're all General Knowledge and you can confer.

Scott and Adam, are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

-Do you want to go first or second?

-First?

-First.

-First, please.

Best of luck to you.

First question. Six of One is a fan club dedicated to which cult TV series?

Em...

Star Trek's got 7 of 9 in it.

Blake's 7...

I can't imagine there being a following for that, really.

Prisoner, do you think? Patrick McGoohan thing.

-He was a number, wasn't he?

-Yeah.

-"I am not a number."

It's too obvious for Blake's 7. I can't see that being

linked to Star Trek, so I'm happy to go with The Prisoner.

-OK, yeah?

-Yep.

We'll have a stab at The Prisoner.

The Prisoner is your answer.

-Was the number six important?

-Patrick McGoohan was Number Six.

It's the right answer! Well done.

"I am not a number!"

-"I am a free man!"

-His great line.

We shout that every night, Chris.

If you ordered huitres in a French restaurant, what type of seafood would you expect to be served?

Huitres. It's spelt H-UIchapeau-T-R-E-S.

- Oysters. - Yes, we'll all agree. Oysters.

And you are all right. Oysters it is.

Back to you, Glos-Stars.

Which detective was introduced in the novel Knots and Crosses?

-Knots and Crosses.

-Poirot is...

-Rebus is Ian Rankin, isn't he?

Yeah. Poirot is Agatha Christie.

-I can't recollect any novels like that.

-I don't think it's Rebus. I don't recall that book.

I can't recollect any Agatha Christie novels.

-So by that process of elimination, Wexford?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

We'll have a crack at Wexford, please.

-Wexford is the wrong answer. It's actually Rebus.

-Oh, no!

-I must have missed that one.

-It's the very first

-Rebus novel by Ian Rankin.

-Any good?

Yeah. I've read all of Ian Rankin. I'm a great fan.

I've read all of Agatha Christie.

We don't get enough Agatha Christie questions. I'm longing to pull rank on you.

There's only one or two subjects where I can do that.

Which Roman festival, which was held to honour the god of agriculture,

was marked by a reversal of social roles so that masters waited upon their slaves?

DAPHNE: Saturnalia.

That is Saturnalia.

Saturnalia is the right answer. So you need to get this one right.

I'm sorry to tell you that. I have to rub it in. What adjective is used to describe

a large order of birds distinguished by having feet that are adapted for perching?

-Tell me you know this!

-I'd like to say I knew it.

Passerine. I've heard that related to birds before, but...

Is that...? What's the one where they use their claws to eat with and that?

Oh, I don't know. If it was up to me I would guess at passerine.

-What do you think?

-I'm happy with that because I have not got a clue!

Go with that and share the blame.

We'll have a stab at passerine, please, Jeremy.

Passerine is your answer. What's the thinking?

I think I've heard it somewhere

whereby they use their claws

to...to cut things.

There's a bird in the Amazon jungle that slices through things.

-But I don't know if that's it.

-I don't know either!

-But passerine is the right answer.

-Great.

-Nicely done.

Eggheads need to get this wrong

for you to remain alive in the contest.

Get this and you've taken it.

Which British playwright wrote the screenplays for the films Charlie Bubbles and Dance With A Stranger?

-Well, Charlie Bubbles was about 1967, 1968.

-Albert Finney.

-Dance With A Stranger is the one about Ruth Ellis.

-Yes.

That's heading on into the '80s.

I'm not aware of Shelagh Delaney doing that and I don't associate John Osborne with it.

-Tom Stoppard?

-Yeah, yeah.

So...

I don't know, but I would go for Tom Stoppard. But I don't know it.

OK, we're agreed? Well...

We're not absolutely sure,

but we think it's Tom Stoppard.

-And I think you are wrong. It's Shelagh Delaney.

-Is it?

-Yep.

So how about that?

You're back in it! It's sudden death now.

It's not multiple choice.

-Are you ready for your question?

-Ready as we'll ever be.

The fashion label DKNY is named after which American designer who founded it in the 1980s?

-Donna Karan New York, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-We believe it's Donna Karan.

-Donna Karan is the right answer.

Over to you, Eggheads.

Edward Drummond was mistaken for which PM when he was shot and killed by Daniel McNaughton in 1843?

-I think Peel was Prime Minister from about 1841 to 1846.

-Yeah.

I think you're right.

-So I think...

-The McNaughton Rules on insanity.

-Yeah.

-I'm pretty sure Peel was Prime Minister.

-Yeah, yeah.

-Robert Peel.

-Robert Peel.

-That's the correct answer.

You're still head-to-head, toe-to-toe.

Call it a draw and take half the money!

You may still win. The Bulgarian unit of currency, the lev, is divided

into 100 what?

-Ever been to Bulgaria?

-Unfortunately not.

-Me, neither.

Where are kopeks? Where do they use those?

That's just sprung to mind.

-Any ideas? No?

-No.

-That's no help.

-Thanks!

Em...

The lev. I don't know where I got kopeks from.

-Go with that.

-Yeah?

-Yeah, go with that.

Kopeks sprung to mind, but I don't know where I got it from, so it's probably wrong.

-Let's find out. Kopeks?

-Stotinki.

-Stotinki is the right answer.

-Where are kopeks from?

-Russia.

They can still get this wrong.

Get this right and you win.

"The greatest happiness of the greatest number" is a tenet of which school of philosophy

of which Jeremy Bentham was a leading exponent?

-Utilitarianism.

-Yeah.

-That's utilitarianism.

-Somehow it makes it worse when you all say it together.

The correct answer is utilitarianism. Congratulations, Eggheads, you've won.

-Second place it is, then.

-I think so. You were so close at the end of the multiple choice.

You either know or you don't. You can't guess.

Commiserations. The Eggheads have done what comes naturally

and they still reign supreme over quiz land. You won't be going home with the £2,000. It rolls over

to our next show. Eggheads, congratulations. Who will ever beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£3,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2012

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