Episode 109 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

pits their wits against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain.

They are the Eggheads.

And challenging our resident champions today are Inquizativs.

This team all went to Grangefield School in Stockton-on-Tees,

except, that is, for Chris,

who is in an on-going process having his intelligence tested by Ben

to see if he's suitable boyfriend material for Ben's sister.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Gavin, I'm 25 and I'm a student teacher.

Hi, I'm Chris, I'm 29 and I'm a dentist.

Hi, I'm Ben, I'm 24 and I'm a computer forensics student.

Hi, I'm Phil, I'm 25 and I'm an administrator.

Hi, I'm Peter, I'm 25 and I'm a physics PhD student.

-Gavin and team, welcome.

-Welcome.

-Great to see you.

And Inquizativs, why have you chosen that name?

It was actually Phil's creation.

It's an anagram of "is in a TV quiz".

-"Is in a TV quiz".

-Yeah.

OK, good.

I've got to ask about the Chris, Ben situation.

Chris, you are being intelligence-tested, here.

Apparently, that's correct.

And at some point, Ben will decide, it's OK, you can go out with his sister?

He's been quite reluctant recently but, yes, hopefully in the future.

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

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

So, Inquizativs, I can tell you the Eggheads have won the last 19 games,

which is pretty good for you,

although also a bit forbidding, probably.

£20,000, therefore, says you can't beat them today.

So the first head to head battle is on the subject of Film and Television.

-Is that going to me?

-So that's you, then, Pete, is it?

-Yeah.

-Who are you choosing?

-Peter, is that you?

-Yeah, it's me, I think.

-OK.

Against which Egghead? You can have any one of them.

-I was just thinking Chris.

-Chris, yeah?

-Chris.

-So it's going to be Peter from Inquizativs versus Chris.

-Film and TV.

-Yeah, I get that a lot, these days.

-You like it as well, don't you?

-I don't mind it.

-You've got a TV.

Yeah. Black and white, 405 lines but it works.

Please take your positions, just to ensure there's no conferring, in the question room.

So, Peter, you're quite good on Film and TV because of your incredible DVD collection?

Erm, yeah. It totals about 650, currently.

I've been collecting them since about 2000.

And what? Black and white, colour, horror and action and comedy and romance or what?

Yeah, I cover all the genres but I'm not as good on older films as more modern films

but I'm all right.

Three multiple choice questions, the subject Film and TV

-and, Peter, you can choose the first or second set.

-I'll go first, please.

Here we go. When the TV series Sherlock was first shown in 2010,

which actor played Jim Moriarty?

Erm, right, so TV... TV's not as good as film, obviously,

so my collection of films is the big bit.

But erm... So I've heard of Matthew Goode -

I believe he's an American actor, I think -

and I haven't really heard of the other two.

But I don't think it's Matthew Goode

because I think the TV show was English I never watched it, though, so...

Erm...

So it's a choice of Ben Whishaw and Andrew Scott.

I'll go with Andrew Scott.

Andrew Scott is correct. Very nicely done.

Considering you haven't seen it, excellent.

Chris, which actress co-wrote and starred as Annie

in the 2011 film Bridesmaids?

Good question.

Well, the only one of those that I know does do a bit of writing

is Ellen DeGeneres, so I'll go with her.

-No, it's not her.

-Mm?

-Co-writer and star of Annie is Kristen Wiig.

Oh.

OK, back with you, Peter.

The 1960 Western The Magnificent Seven was a remake of a film from which country?

The Magnificent Seven was, I believe, Seven Samurai, is that right?

So in that reasoning, it's not Italian, it's not Australian,

it would be Japanese, I think.

-Is that in your collection?

-It's not, sadly, but it should be.

It's funny, last week someone lent me that very film, Seven Samurai.

-Yeah?

-Isn't that amazing? Japan is the right answer. Well done.

Well done. So over to you, Chris.

In what role on TV did Sir Alastair Burnet achieve fame

in the 20th century?

Oh, I remember him. Alastair Burnet was a newsreader.

He was. ITN newscaster. You're right.

Newsreader is the right answer.

So, you've got a point but Peter's got two.

If you get this one right, Peter, you will have knocked Chris out.

Which British actor played the lead roles in the 2011 film The Devil's Double?

Yes, I've heard of all those. I don't think it's Andrew Lincoln

because he's currently in The Walking Dead, I believe,

so I assume he's not in that as well.

Erm, James McAvoy also I wouldn't think

because it's an English film and he does Hollywood blockbusters now,

he's in them quite a lot,

so for that reason, I'm going to go with the third option, Dominic Cooper.

You're a very good player. Dominic Cooper is right.

So well done. You got three out of three.

You've knocked out Chris from the final round.

He's good, isn't he, Chris?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Generous of spirit, Chris is, as well, on a good day.

Congratulations. Please, both of you, come back and rejoin your teams.

Good play, Peter, well done.

As it stands, the challengers have not lost a brain,

the Eggheads have lost Chris.

Let's see where we go from here.

It's Geography. Who would like this?

-I think Chris.

-I think so.

-Sorry, Chris.

-I'll do Geography.

Chris on Geography, OK. Against which Egghead? It can't be this Chris.

-Where do you think we should go?

-Kevin?

-Try him, yeah.

-Er, Kevin, please.

-Ooh!

-OK, the stakes are high.

Chris from Inquizativs versus Kevin from the Eggheads on Geography

and to ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

So, Chris, you're going out with Ben's sister...

-Yeah, that's right.

-..and he's putting you through a kind of initiation process, here?

Apparently, he is, yeah.

-If you crash out on Geography...

-That might be the end.

-That's what I'm worried about.

-What is his sister's name?

-Leah.

-So you've got to stop Leah watching if you fail to win this round.

-OK, I will.

-You could say, "I was playing Kevin, it was very hard."

-OK, thanks.

-I'll try and help you if you come back and you're not in the final.

-Thanks.

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

Whoever answers the most is in the final and it's multiple choice

and, Chris, you can choose the first or second set.

First, please.

Here we go. Good luck.

The Algarve is a popular tourist region on which body of water?

Erm... well, it's in Portugal, which is on the Mediterranean and the Atlantic

but I think it's on the southern coast of Portugal,

so that would be the Mediterranean Sea.

Mediterranean is your answer. Let me see if the Eggheads know.

-It's Atlantic.

-Atlantic.

Portugal's got no Mediterranean coastline.

Portugal hasn't got a Mediterranean coast.

-It's got, what, a west coast, effectively?

-West and south, yeah.

You hit Spain and then Gibraltar and then round the corner's the Med.

Yeah, the first time you get to the Mediterranean you have to go through Spain.

-OK.

-Atlantic is the answer.

Kevin, which two colours are featured on the national flag of Pakistan?

Er, well, no point going all around the bush. It's green and white.

Green and white is the correct answer.

Chris, the French region of Gascony is located in which part of France?

Erm... I don't know the answer.

I've been to the French Alps quite a lot

and I've been to the north coast quite a lot.

I'm going to say south-west.

Good. You're right. Well done.

It's in the south-west of France. That's good.

Kevin, the Minch is a channel of water separating the UK mainland

from which group of islands?

Well, it's not either of the southern ones, there.

It's between the mainland of Scotland and the Hebrides,

which I always want to call the He Brides. Silly, isn't it?

But it's the Outer Hebrides, anyway.

Outer He Brides is the right answer. Well done.

OK, so you need to get this one right, Chris,

otherwise, firstly, you're going to be out

and secondly, we've then got some explaining to do to Ben.

Here's your third question, Chris.

The Asian Hainan Island is a part of which country?

Erm, the only one of those I've been to is Thailand

and I don't recognise it from Thailand.

Obviously, China and Japan have both got quite a few islands.

I'm going to guess Japan.

-Anyone know?

-China?

-China.

-You think China. Anyone know, here?

-China.

-China.

China is the answer, Chris. I'm sorry. One right out of three

and you've been bounced out by our own Kevin

and you won't be in the final round.

Please, both of you, return to the studio and rejoin your teams.

So, where does that leave us, Chris?

HE SIGHS

-Or maybe I should ask Ben.

-Ask Ben, yeah.

-You've got to give him another chance.

-Stern words will be had.

-Stern words.

So you're still in with a shout, anyway.

The challengers have lost one brain, the Eggheads have lost one brain, too, from the final.

The next subject is Politics. Who wants this?

-That'll be Gav or Ben.

-Do you want to do it?

-What you think?

-Gav or Ben, I'd say.

-Am I doing it?

-I'd rather you did but...

-Yeah, do it.

-Yeah, I'll do it.

-Who is it? Ben? OK.

-Who do you want to go against?

Against an Egghead? Barry or Pat or Judith. In the middle.

-Go for Judith?

-Judith, yeah.

-Who do you think? Judith?

-Yeah, Judith, then, please.

-OK.

It is Ben from Inquizativs versus Judith from the Eggheads on Politics.

Please take your positions.

Ben, you're studying for a degree in what?

Computer forensics.

So that's a very 21st century thing, isn't it?

That means crime scenes inside computers?

Yeah, you usually get given like a general idea

of what they're under suspicion of doing

and we have to try and find evidence of that on their hard drives

or any kind of removable media like USB sticks or phones, as well.

Doesn't that take forever, looking through their computer?

You get a lot of programmes that use like search terms

-so that narrows out all the redundant files.

-Right.

And you'd hope to use that how?

-Hopefully I'll get a job with the police.

-Right.

-And then just do computers forever.

-Yeah, pretty much, yeah.

-OK, well, I hope you enjoy that.

-Cheers.

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

and, Ben, you can choose the first or second set.

I'll go first, please.

Here we go. What name is given to the economic policies prevalent in the USA in the early 1980s

involving tax cuts and a heavy military build-up?

I think Reagan might have been the president around that time.

I'm not sure but I'll go for Reaganomics.

-What year were you born?

-'87.

Just before he left office but you're absolutely right.

Reaganomics is correct.

OK, Judith, your question.

The term neverendum has been used to describe

the protracted quest for independence of which region?

-Can you say the word you said?

-Neverendum.

-Neverendum.

Well, Gibraltar...

No, wait a second, sorry.

I nearly fell into Gibraltar

but Gibraltar's trying to stay in rather than get independence.

I think that is probably Quebec.

Quebec is the right answer.

Over to you, Ben. Your question.

What two-word phrase is often used

to describe someone with an almost obsessive interest in governmental policies?

Erm...

I'm not entirely sure.

Erm...

There's quite weird reasoning of this,

but Professor Frink in the Simpsons is quite obsessed with things

so I would policy frink.

No, no, no, no, no.

-Team-mates? No? Don't know?

-Is it wonk?

-Policy wonk, yeah.

-Oh!

-It's an Americanism, probably.

I remember people saying Clinton was a policy wonk.

Judith, which politician famously issued a challenge of put up or shut up

to critics from within his own party in June 1995?

That was John Major.

I think it was.

John Major is the right answer.

So, Judith is in the lead. You need to get this one right, Ben.

Which former leader of the SDP became Baron of the city of Plymouth following the 1992 general election?

I have absolutely no idea,

so this is going to be a complete shot in the dark.

Erm...

I'll go down the middle. David Owen.

David Owen is quite right.

-JEREMY CHUCKLES

-Well done!

I think his seat was Plymouth... What was it?

-Devonport, I think.

-Devonport, I think, yeah.

That's where he stood as an MP when he had his seat. That's the reason.

Yes because Alan Clark was the other bit of Plymouth.

Oh, yes. Which seat was he, then?

The other bit of Plymouth, whatever that's called.

-He wasn't Plymouth Devonport?

-No, Plymouth something else.

Judith, you will get the round if you get this right.

The phrase "We are all the President's men"

is said to have been originally coined by which politician?

Erm...

I'm not quite sure.

"We are all the President's men."

I think it must be Henry Kissinger trying to be loyal to Nixon.

I think you're absolutely right.

And it's the title of... All The President's Men was the book.

-Do you remember?

-Yeah.

-About?

-Woodward and Bernstein.

-About Watergate, yes. So it's from that time.

-Yeah.

Judith, you've taken the round. Ben, I'm sorry.

Chris can feel a bit better now, can't you?

-He's going to keep his girlfriend.

-I might keep my double standards.

Ben, bad luck. You will not be able to help your team in the final.

Judith most definitely will.

Both of you, please rejoin your teams.

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

the Eggheads have lost one brain.

We'll play on. The last subject is Sport.

-Which...?

-That's you, Gav.

-That's me.

That's you, is it, Gavin? Against which Egghead?

-What do we think? Pat or Barry?

-I'd say Barry.

-Shall I take Barry?

-Barry.

-We'll go with Barry.

So it is Gavin from Inquizativs versus Barry from the Eggheads on Sport.

Please go to the question room.

-Gavin, you love your sport.

-I do, yeah. I'm quite passionate about sport.

-Season ticket holder where?

-At Darlington Football Club.

Why did you laugh when you said that?

It's not going too well - now or the last ten years, really.

-And you play as well?

-I do. I play mainly five-a-side at the moment.

-And how often?

-Usually two or three times a week.

We're in between seasons at the moment, though, for the Monday night league.

So you're a football addict, maybe?

Er, I think people might agree with you, yeah.

Do you sit down of a Saturday, Sunday and watch football matches, Barry, or not?

Yes, I've known a lot of agony and ecstasy as a Leeds United fan.

-You get the full gamut of emotions.

-OK. Good luck in this round.

Three questions, multiple choice, Sport.

-Gavin, you can choose the first or second set.

-I'll go first, please.

Off we go. Good luck.

What type of controversial putter was used by the golfer Keegan Bradley

in winning the 2011 US PGA?

Well, I'm not very good with my golf.

Erm, I've only played a few times and I wasn't very good at it.

Erm...

I think blade putter sounds like it could be...

I'm going to go with blade putter.

That sounds the most reasonable to me.

No, it was a belly putter. Why was it controversial? Anyone know?

Well, most players use the standard putter and the belly putter...

He was the first person to win a major using a belly putter.

You hold it against your stomach and swing it like a pendulum.

Controversial is perhaps a bit strong

but it's not the standard weapon of choice.

It's shaped differently, is it?

-It's probably almost a foot longer than a standard putter.

-I see. OK.

It's more accurate because the weight is at the bottom?

The theory is you get a better line

and it's thought to be better for players who are a bit nervous.

Interesting. Sorry about that, Gavin. First one wrong.

Barry, what was the highest world ranking

that Jeremy Bates attained in his tennis career?

Oh, that's an interesting question.

Jeremy Bates. It's going back a few years.

Mm.

I really don't know this.

Did he get as high as 104...? As 54?

I don't think he was as low as 154, so it's between 54 and 104.

But I'm really not sure.

Let me think. I think he was a little more successful.

He did get to the semi-finals of some major tournaments,

so I'll go for 54.

54 is correct.

Gavin, England's Jos Buttler is a rising star in which sport?

Jos Buttler.

I've heard of that but I don't think it's through football.

Erm... Cricket...

The name... Athletics is quite a broad thing,

so on that basis I'm going to go with athletics.

-Anyone know on your team?

-We don't know. That's what we'd guess.

It's lucky you're not going out with Ben's sister.

-The answer is cricket.

-Oh, no.

So, Barry, if you get this right, you'll be in the final.

Which rugby union player won the New Zealand heavyweight boxing title

in February 2012?

Wow, what a great question.

I don't think it was Richie McCaw.

He was the New Zealand captain and I can't see him as a boxer.

Dan Carter certainly comes to mind for somebody who might be a boxer

and I don't know much about Sonny Bill Williams.

So who could it be?

Dan Carter's been in the news a lot recently

and I'm pretty certain I'd have seen him in the news if he'd been a boxer,

so I'll go for Sonny Bill Williams.

Sonny Bill Williams is the right answer, Barry.

Yes! JEREMY CHUCKLES

OK, well, Gavin, I'm sorry. He's got two and you've got none,

so you have been knocked out.

You won't be in the final round.

Your team started very strongly and then wobbled.

Let's see how you do in the final.

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

So, this is what we have been playing towards.

It is time for the final round, which, as always, is General Knowledge.

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

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

So, Gavin, Chris and Ben from the Inquizativs

and Chris from the Eggheads,

would you please now leave the studio?

Phil and Pete, here we go.

Phil, tell us about you. What do you do?

I'm an administrator at the Shaw Trust,

which is a national charity for disabled and disadvantaged adults.

And you also coach a disabled football team?

Yeah, it's part of the job, a little extra thing that I do.

We're pretty good. We had our first game of the season. We won 9-3, so...

-You won 9-3?

-9-3.

It's five-a-side so scores are often quite high with things like that.

OK. Good luck in this round.

What have you made of the team playing so far? Impressed?

I think some of the questions were really difficult.

I think Pete did really well.

-It's that massive DVD collection.

-Yeah, it paid off.

It really did. Actually, when you came out the traps like that and knocked Chris out,

I thought, "Oh, wow, this is going to be... You're going to overpower them."

-We might have peaked too early.

-But you could still win from here -

people have won with only one player, so no question about that.

Phil and Peter, you're playing for £20,000 for the Inquizativs.

-Would that come in handy?

-It would.

-I could put it to use, yeah.

Barry, Pat, Judith and Kevin, you're playing for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

As usual, I will ask each team three questions in turn.

This time the questions are all General Knowledge

and you are allowed to confer.

So, Phil and Peter, the question is

are your two brains able to defeat the Eggheads' four?

-And would you like to go first or second?

-Let's go first.

-Yeah.

Best of luck. Hope you win. Good luck.

What is as escritoire?

And it's all one word. E-S-C-R-I-TOI-R-E.

Ecrit is French for writing, so...

-Yes. Are we happy to go with that?

-Yes.

We'll go with writing desk.

Writing desk is correct.

Good.

We've had games where people have got the first one wrong in the final

-and it's... it can be painful.

-Yeah.

It's very difficult to get back.

Eggheads, in military slang, how far is a click?

-I thought it was a kilometre, a click.

-Yeah, it is a kilometre.

One click is a kilometre, yes.

-Much used in American military slang.

-OK.

Er, that's a kilometre, Jeremy.

It is a kilometre.

Do we say ki-LO-metre or KI-lometre? You help me.

I was saying ki-LO-metre for a long time

because of speedometer then someone said, "It's KI-lometre"

because of pedometer.

Chris says miles.

Yes, he does. Yes, he does indeed and there's no trouble with that.

OK, your answer's correct. It's one point each.

Over to you.

The American fashion designer and critic Richard Sylvan Seltzer

published an annual worst-dressed list under what name?

I've never heard of him.

-I don't know who that is, even looking at the list.

-I've never heard of those.

-Mr Buckwell.

-Buckwell.

-Blackwell.

-That sounds like the most feasible.

-Brightwell.

-What, Buckwell?

-I don't know.

-Buck, Black, Bright.

-Bright, yeah.

-It's going to be a guess, isn't it?

-Let me read it again.

The American fashion designer and critic Richard Sylvan Seltzer

published an annual worst-dressed list under what name?

-Brightwell?

-I don't know.

-It's going to be a guess, isn't it?

-It is.

I wish we had something closer to what we know.

Erm... It's General Knowledge, I suppose.

-I think Blackwell sounds all right.

-You want to go Blackwell?

There's no reasoning. It's just a guess.

It's up to you. I'm tempted... I'd go with Buckwell

-because I've really got...

-I don't know.

-I've got no idea.

I can't even think why it would be any of them.

Let's just go Buckwell, then.

OK, final answer. Mr Buckwell.

All right. You veered around a bit there.

-Did you rule out Brightwell?

-Erm...

-Didn't like that?

I think it was a guess.

-Sort of trying to think, "What would he call himself?"

-Yeah.

There's no real way of guessing. Should we ask them? Do you know?

-I thought it was Blackwell, myself.

-What do you think?

-But I don't know.

Blackwell? Only one of them, that is.

-The answer is Mr Blackwell.

-THEY GROAN

-You were about to go for it.

-Yeah.

Eggheads, your question, to take the lead.

By what name is the comic-book character Johnny Blaze better known?

-I don't know.

-Erm, Johnny Blaze? B-LAZ-E?

-Yes.

-Or "Zee-E."

-Was it Ghost Rider?

-I think it was Ghost Rider.

-Because Daredevil is Matt Murdock.

-That's right, he was.

Green Lantern... Can't remember his name at the moment

but it's not Johnny Blaze, so I think it's Ghost Rider.

I think the posters and artwork for Ghost Rider, he's on a motorbike

-and there are flames behind him.

-There's a skull with flames.

-So Blaze might fit in with that.

-Yes, it does.

There's endless films of all these things, of course.

I think Nicolas Cage was involved in one of those. That was Ghost Rider.

-I think it's Ghost Rider.

-OK, we'll go for that.

We're going for Ghost Rider, Jeremy.

I'm impressed with your knowledge of cartoon characters, I must say.

Played by Nicolas Cage in the films, Ghost Rider is the right answer.

So you need to get this one right.

If you get it wrong, the contest is over.

Get it right, anything can happen.

Mama Do The Hump was a 2011 UK hit single by which act?

-Well, it's... It's not going to be One Direction, is it?

-No.

I wouldn't say One Direction.

I listen to Chase and Status and I don't remember...

What was the title again?

Mama Do The Hump was a 2011 UK hit single by which act?

They haven't... Chase and Status haven't released that.

They've released Blind Faith, so it's not that.

-I assume it's Rizzle Kicks.

-OK, we're happy to go with Rizzle Kicks.

Rizzle Kicks. I like the way you did that.

Rizzle Kicks is the right answer. Well done.

Two out of three. Is it good enough to get to Sudden Death? Let's see.

If the Eggheads get this right, the contest is over.

Here's your question, Eggs.

Which Soviet soldier, born in 1896, oversaw the WWII defences of Moscow and Leningrad

and personally commanded the final assault on Berlin?

-I think it's Zhukov.

-It is Zhukov, yes.

I've been reading Max Hastings on Zhukov.

-Zhukov got there with a bigger force, didn't he?

-Yeah.

-Zhukov.

-Yeah.

Yeah?

That's Georgy Zhukov.

They do seem very certain.

The Soviet soldier who commanded the final assault on Berlin

was Georgy Zhukov.

Well done, Eggheads, you got it right.

We say congratulations, you have won.

Do you know the last one, out of interest?

-No.

-Not the last one. I knew the Ghost Rider one but not that.

As I saw it, I thought... They're very good on the history.

-Actually, you love history, I think, all four of you.

-Yes.

And is there a park named after him or is there...?

-He's buried at Stalingrad, I think.

-Buried at Stalingrad. All right.

Well, you won't want to hear the name Zhukov for a little while.

-The same goes for Blackwell.

-Yeah.

But you played well and commiserations to you.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them

and their winning streak continues.

I'm afraid it means you won't be going home with the £20,000,

so that 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.

£21,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye.

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