Episode 10 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 pit their wits

against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain - the Eggheads.

And taking on our quiz Goliaths are the NSOCers.

They all work at the NHS Service Operation Centre in Sheffield

and were inspired to apply through a competitive spirit and passion for quiz shows. Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Dan, I'm 30 years old and I'm an operations analyst.

Hi. My name's Ikhlaq, I'm 30 and I'm a service analyst.

Hi, I'm Sam, I'm 25 years old and I'm a computer analyst.

Hi. I'm Dom, I'm 28 years old and I'm a solutions consultant.

Hi, I'm Nick, I'm 34 years old and I'm a service support specialist.

Welcome to you, NSOCers. I see you're getting your team name

from the National Health Service. Not football, but do you play a bit?

Yeah, we all play. I play five-a-side and a couple of the boys do, too.

Do you quiz together or just test each other out?

This is the first time we've really quizzed together. It's probably not the best place to start.

What do you do? You watch quiz shows. There's a lot of them around, but only one true quiz.

Obviously, this is our favourite quiz show, but on our days off we're watching various quiz shows.

When we come back to work, we test each other on the questions.

-How do you know the other bloke hasn't watched it as well?

-Well, yeah, they could be!

So you never quiz together, but let's see how you do against the Eggheads today.

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

but if they fail to win the prize money rolls over.

The Eggheads have won the last 20 games.

That means £21,000 says you cannot beat those Eggheads.

Let's get straight to it, then. And our first category, one you may enjoy I hope, is Sport.

Who wants to play this?

-For me, that's the best one, I think. So I'll go for Sport. That'll be me, Dermot.

-OK, Ikhlaq.

-You pick an Egghead, then. Any of those five because you're starting.

-What do you reckon?

-Who'd be the best one to take on?

-What do you think - Barry?

-I've seen Daphne before. I know she's very good at sport.

-Barry.

Go on, Barry. I'll take you on.

-OK.

-Go on, Barry.

Actually, DO go on. You've got to go to the Question Room.

Ikhlaq and Barry.

-Ok, Ikhlaq, you get to choose. Do you want first or second?

-I'll go first, please, Dermot.

OK, first question to you.

This is golf. Which English golfer became the number one ranked player in the world for the first time

in May, 2011?

I've been watching golf a lot recently. I've had days off work.

I know Paul Casey and Ian Poulter haven't been number one yet,

so I'm pretty sure it's Luke Donald.

It is. All that time off has paid dividends.

Luke Donald, correct.

Which sporting event did Mickael Barzalona win in 2011 at the age of 19?

Mickael Barzalona. It wasn't the Tour de France. That was the Australian, Evans.

Mickael Barzalona. It doesn't sound an East African name.

I think the London Marathon was won by a Kenyan. Or an Ethiopian.

So I shall go for the Epsom Derby.

It's the Epsom Derby. One-all.

Ikhlaq, second question.

Fred the Red is the official mascot of which football team?

Em, I'm pretty sure... I don't think it's Manchester Utd. They've got a devil.

I'm not sure what Arsenal's is, but...

-I think it's Liverpool, Dermot.

-OK, Liverpool.

As an Arsenal fan, I can tell you we're all proud of Gunnersaurus.

-And Liverpool are known as the Reds, so...

-Yeah.

But it is Manchester Utd. The Red Devils, but Fred the Red is the official mascot.

So a chance for Barry.

Where did the inaugural Youth Olympic Games take place in 2010?

I'm not sure on this one, but Singapore's come to mind

and I can't see why I should discount it. So as it was the first to come to mind, Singapore.

Singapore is the right answer. Yes.

Ikhlaq, you need to get this.

In 2011, which cricketer became the youngest English bowler to take 50 Test wickets,

breaking Ian Botham's record?

James Anderson's a bit older,

so it's either Stuart Broad, I think, or Steve Finn.

I'm going to go with Stuart Broad.

Stuart Broad it is not. Steve Finn.

He took 50 Test wickets.

The youngest player to do that.

Which means, I'm afraid, the tale of the scoreboard... we cannot argue with that.

We end the round there. You can't beat Barry's score.

So you won't be in the final round. Ikhlaq. Both please join your teams.

Well, first blood to the Eggheads. One NSOCer has gone.

Plenty of quizzing left. Our next round is Film and TV.

Who'd like to play this?

-That's you, Nick.

-It's what we agreed.

-Nick's going to take that.

-OK, Nick. And which Egghead?

-What do you reckon?

-Want to try to knock the best one out early?

I think maybe Pat.

-Pat.

-Do you think, Pat?

-I'll take Pat on, Dermot.

-OK, right. Going for Pat.

Let's have Nick and Pat into the Question Room now, please.

-OK, Nick. Let's hope you have better luck than Ikhlaq. First or second?

-First, please.

Your first question here on Film and Television is this.

"Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed," is a famous line from which film of the 1990s?

I think definitely chick flick.

But they're all chick flicks, so...

I think it's one I've been forced to watch with my wife a few times.

It's the one that popped into my head, so I think I said earlier...

-Four Weddings and a Funeral I think it is.

-OK.

Having been forced to watch it!

Well, it was worth it. It's the right answer, yes.

All those hours of pain.

They paid off. First question, Pat.

Which character in the TV soap Dallas was known to British viewers as the Poison Dwarf?

I think she was played by Charlene Tilson. Lucy Ewing.

-Lucy Ewing. I think it was Tilton.

-Tilton.

We might have disallowed that. Lucy Ewing is the Poison Dwarf.

-Christened by Terry Wogan.

-I think so, yeah.

She was a tiny little woman, about four and a half feet.

He used to call Dynasty Dysentery.

Yeah, I think it was our Tel who called her the Poison Dwarf.

All square. Second question, Nick.

Which American television network is sometimes referred to as the Peacock?

I think it's called the Peacock because of the colours of the logo.

It looks like a peacock's tail. I can see the logo, but I can't think...

I'm going to go with NBC, Dermot.

NBC.

With that rainbow-coloured, peacock-type tail. It's right.

TEAM APPLAUDS

Well remembered there, Nick.

Two on the board. Pat, who starred as the title character

in the 1946 film Gilda?

I think that was an iconic role where she played a femme fatale and it was Rita Hayworth.

Yes. Rita Hayworth is correct.

All square

as we go into a third question each.

Nick, what first name was given to Oliver Hardy when he was born in the 1890s?

For some reason, Norvell's popped out at me. I'm not sure why.

I've no idea what it is really.

So I think I'm going to have to go with my gut instinct. Norvell.

You've got very assured instinct. It's the right answer again.

Three out of three.

You need those in the final round, but you've got the small matter of trying to knock Pat out.

Pat, who directed the films Die Hard II, Cliffhanger and Cutthroat Island?

I think...he's Finnish. He's married to Geena Davis. I think it's Renny Harlin.

Renny Harlin is the right answer.

So it's all square.

And we go to Sudden Death, Nick. That means we remove the choices you've seen so far.

Just give me an answer without any aids.

Who played the title role in the spoof chat show The Keith Barrett Show?

I can't even think of a name to guess.

I'll have a stab in the dark.

I know it's not. Harry Hill. Just to say an answer. I've completely gone blank.

-It's not Harry Hill.

-Go on.

-Pat, do you know?

-Well, Rob Brydon rings a bell.

-That's it. He was Keith Barrett.

It's not over, Nick.

Pat has to get his right to win it. Who played the role of George Smiley

in the 2011 film Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy?

This film is jam-packed with leading British actors.

-I think George Smiley was played by Gary Oldman.

-Gary Oldman...

is the right answer, Pat.

You knew that, Nick.

-I knew that.

-Have you seen it?

-No.

-But you knew it was.

Bad luck. But Rob Brydon cost you a place in the final round.

Please come back and join your teams.

Well, NSOCers, two brains down now. The Eggheads are all still there.

We'll move swiftly on and hope you knock one out in this category. It's Science.

Who'd like to play?

-I think you're the man.

-You've done enough revision!

-It's going to be Dominic.

-OK, Dominic.

And who would you like to play? Remember, Pat and Barry have played.

-Judith?

-Judith, Chris or Daphne?

I think we'll choose Judith.

Judith, on Science.

Smiling there. The rictus grin.

Let's have Dominic and Judith into the Question Room, please.

Well, Dom, I hope this is a category that will suit you.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-First, please.

Best of luck, Dom. Geo-thermal energy is energy that is stored where?

-Geo-thermal energy is energy that is stored where?

-Well...

I'm pretty sure it's not the Moon.

So it's got to be the Sun or the Earth.

Geo-thermal.

I'd go with the "geo" part

being the Earth.

That's correct.

One up there for Dom.

Judith, your first question. What caused the complete disappearance

of the Pacific island of Elugelab in the 1950s?

-It could have been any of those, but it was the '50s?

-Yeah.

They did a lot of bomb testing,

so I'm going to risk hydrogen bomb.

And you're right to do so. Well done, Judith.

And your question, Dom.

The pudu, native to South America, is a small variety of which creature?

For some reason,

I would think it's cat or monkey.

I will go with...

-monkey.

-Monkey. A small monkey.

It's a small deer. A small variety of deer. The pudu.

OK, see how Judith does.

Dolerite and Gabbro are examples of which type of rock?

I think they sound rather hard, so I think they might be igneous.

Igneous. Hard like our questions. But you've got it.

It's the right answer.

You've got to get this, Dom.

In 2009, Omid was the first domestically made satellite to be launched by which country?

Well...

I would assume that Egypt has had satellites for longer than 2009.

The same with Turkey. It's the first satellite that this country...

First domestically made satellite to be launched.

-I would go with Iran.

-And you're right to do so. Yes, Iran.

You've done well, Dom, but you've got to hope Judith doesn't get this.

Judith, kyphosis is a medical condition which affects which part of the body?

This is where I wish I knew Greek.

I bet I could do it if I knew Greek.

Kyphosis, oh, golly!

-I don't know why, but my instinct says "eye".

-You've gone for the eye.

Instinct stood you in good stead on the last two - instinct and logic.

This one is pure instinct. It's not the right answer. Other Eggheads?

Curvature of the spine. Hunchback.

-It's the spine and it's a hunched back, kyphosis.

-Oh, right.

OK, well, a let-off there, Dom.

Good news for you. You're into Sudden Death. That means no more choices or options.

Here's your question. What type of transport was the experimental SR-N1

which made its maiden voyage on the 11th of June, 1959?

1959...

For some reason I think it's the train.

I think it's the fast train.

Um...

Although it could be the hovercraft, but I'm going to go with train probably. Train.

-OK, train?

-Yeah.

It's the other one.

-Oh!

-As you were toying with there.

Hovercraft.

Chris, our transport correspondent, what does SR-N stand for?

-Saunders-Roe who built it.

-Yes.

-I don't know what the N1 stands for.

-And Christopher Cockerell...?

-Christopher Cockerell invented it.

Well, hovercraft. Dom was thinking of that, but didn't change his mind.

He went with the first instinct. It quite often works, but not this time.

Judith, in which century did the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei die?

Um, let's think.

I imagine he was... I think it...

16th century, 15-something.

I think it's either the 16th century or the 17th century.

I'm wondering if it's slightly a trick and he just got over into the 17th century. 17th century.

17th century. It's not slightly a trick. It is the correct answer because it's 1642.

-Well into it.

-All we needed was the century.

You're in the final round.

Bad luck, Dom. Hovercrafts!

So close, but not to be. Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Some great performances, NSOCers, but you still haven't knocked an Egghead out.

You've lost three brains. The Eggheads are all still there.

Let's try and get rid of one of them on Politics.

Who's left to play? It's Sam or Dan.

Guys, what do you reckon?

-I'll try it.

-No...

-I reckon Sam.

If you want to give it a go...

Whoever does this, it's going to be...

-You could be on here last against all the Eggheads.

-I'll try Politics.

-Sure?

-Yeah. I'll try that.

OK, Dan. And Daphne or Chris?

-Shall I take Chris on?

-Yeah.

-I'll take Chris on.

-You'll take Chris on. OK.

Let's have Chris and Dan into the question room now, please.

Dan, best of luck with this Politics round. Last chance to kick one of these Eggheads out.

Kick that Egghead out. Would you like to go first or second?

I'll stick with the winning formula and go first.

OK, first question. How old was Winston Churchill when he died in 1965?

How old was Winston Churchill when he died in 1965?

He was Prime Minister in the Second World War until 1945,

so I think he was around 50, at that age.

If he died in 1965, I think he would have been around 70, maybe 80.

I think he was an Admiral in the First World War again,

so he might have been a bit older.

-I'll try 80, Dermot.

-80, OK.

Going down the middle for Winston Churchill. He was older than that.

-Was he?

-90. He was around in the Boer War.

He was a journalist in South Africa way back at the turn of the century.

But 90, not 80. So, the first question for Chris.

In 1950, Rajendra Prasad became the first President of which country

after it gained its independence?

Well, Rajendra Prasad is a Hindi name.

So it's not Pakistan because that's a Muslim state.

It wouldn't be Sri Lanka. It was called Ceylon then. It's India.

-India?

-Hmm.

-OK...

And it's the right answer. You have the lead.

Dan, who wrote the book Chequers: The Prime Minister's Country House And Its History?

I've never heard of it being a recent book,

so I'll rule out Samantha Cameron.

I'm not sure... Cherie Blair, it doesn't ring a bell.

I'm going to try Norma Major.

Norma Major, you're right, well done. Yes, John Major's missus.

Chris, second question for you.

Michael Ancram and Jeremy Hanley are former Chairmen of which political party?

Jeremy Hanley is the brother of Jenny Hanley

who used to be on Magpie. They're both Conservatives.

Conservative is the right answer.

Weren't they both the son and daughter of Jimmy Hanley?

-Jimmy Hanley and Dinah Sheridan.

-Can I come on the Eggheads?

That's not written down.

Well, you're back in the lead, Chris.

Dan, you've got to get this then.

In the 1970s, Sara Jane Moore was imprisoned after an assassination attempt on which American President?

I think they all were Presidents in the '70s.

I've never heard of this, so I've go no idea of which year in the '70s.

I think the most controversial was Nixon,

so maybe an attempt would have taken place on his life.

But I'm going to try Gerald Ford.

Good on you. It's the right one. Yes, Gerald Ford got it by default,

took over from Richard Nixon when he resigned.

So, you're still in it. Chris, try this for size.

In 1968, the American navy ship the USS Pueblo was captured and held by which country

where it still remains today as a museum ship?

She was spying on the North Koreans at the time, so it's North Korea.

Faint hopes extinguished there, Dan.

It's the right answer, Chris. You're in the final round. Bad luck, Dan.

A real revival after tripping up on the first question, but too little, too late.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

This is what we've been playing towards - the final round which, as always, is General Knowledge.

But I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads can't take part,

so I'm only looking one way - Dan, Ikhlaq, Dom and Nick from the NSOCers,

please leave the studio now.

So, Sam, you're playing to win the NSOCers £21,000.

Daphne, Chris, Barry, Pat and Judith, you're playing for something money can't buy - your reputation.

I ask each team three questions in turn. The questions are all General Knowledge.

You are allowed to confer.

Sam, the question is, is your one brain better than the Eggheads' five?

-Do you want to go first or second?

-First, please.

And your first question is this. Which actress married Daniel Craig in June 2011?

Anna Friel was the first name that came into my head.

Can you read the question again, please?

Yeah. Right, exactly. Just relax.

Which actress married Daniel Craig in June 2011?

I'll go for Rachel Weisz, but it is a bit of a guess.

You changed. Why did you change?

On hearing the question, it jumped out.

-It's the right answer.

-Excellent.

I'm sure my team-mates are happy.

You bet they are! You're making four guys behind you very happy!

OK, Eggheads, in the 20th century,

Leo Burnett, David Ogilvy and J Walter Thompson were leading names in which industry?

In the 20th century, Leo Burnett, David Ogilvy and J Walter Thompson

were leading names in which industry?

That's advertising.

Advertising is correct, Eggheads. So we go back to you, Sam,

after a good start, tricky for you and negotiated it well.

In the 18th century, Deacon William Brodie lived a double life

as part of a gang of burglars while serving as a councillor of which Scottish city?

In the 18th century, Deacon William Brodie lived a double life

as part of a gang of burglars while serving as a councillor

of which Scottish city?

I really don't know. Again this would be a guess.

The answer on the right served me well last time

and that's what's jumping to mind this time as well,

so I'll have to go for Aberdeen.

Aberdeen for Deacon Brodie

and his burglars' gang.

It's not the right answer.

No, not this time. Not on the right. Eggheads?

-Edinburgh.

-Edinburgh.

He inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Well, reading that, it makes sense.

Nothing for Sam. What will the Eggheads get out of their question?

We'll find out now.

Which American band had UK top 40 singles in the 1980s with Big Fun and Oops Upside Your Head?

Which American band had UK top 40 singles

in the 1980s with Big Fun and Oops Upside Your Head?

The big hit for Fat Larry's Band was Zoom.

I'm not sure I've heard of them having many other hits.

I don't know much about The Gap Band and The Average White Band.

I'd suggest eliminating Fat Larry. I don't think it's Fat Larry's Band.

It's a pick between the other two.

My inkling would be The Gap Band, but it's really just a punt.

There's no confidence.

Inklings have served us well in the past.

Right.

Pat's inkling is that it's The Gap Band.

So, five Eggheads and all you've got is a little inkle from Pat?

-Yes.

-That's it.

It's enough. It's the right answer, The Gap Band.

Bad luck, Sam. Hopes rising there, I guess.

But it means you've got to get this.

In which decade did the Rutan Voyager become the first aircraft to fly around the world

without stopping or refuelling?

In which decade did the Rutan Voyager...

That's R-U-T-A-N.

..did the Rutan Voyager become the first aircraft

to fly around the world without stopping or refuelling?

It's obviously a big feat,

but I would have thought it might have been done before the 1990s.

So I'm leaning towards either the '70s or '80s.

I would probably... I'd probably have to go for the '70s

OK, the 1970s for the Rutan Voyager...

What did it do, Eggheads?

Do you know how it did it? It wasn't solar-powered or anything?

No, it was just a weird, higher spec ratio, wing-type thing...

-Was there anyone on board?

-Yeah.

OK. And it did it in the 19...

-80s.

-Oh!

Oh, no. Which means, Eggheads, you've won.

Good analysis on that question - not the '90s. I thought you'd go for the '80s.

But the way those head-to-heads just went a bit wrong for all the other guys, you were left on your own.

I thought I might come in as the Lone Ranger, but I went out as the sacrificial lamb.

You certainly were not that.

You did very, very well there in the final round.

It's always tough, but just the head-to-heads went the wrong way and you had no support.

Thank you, NSOCers, for taking on the Eggheads, but they have done what comes naturally to them

and their winning streak continues.

You won't be going home with the £21,000. The money rolls over to our next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

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

It's £22,000 that says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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