Episode 23 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.

Question is - can they be beaten?

Welcome to Eggheads,

the show where a team of five quiz challengers pit their wits against

possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain - they are the Eggheads!

Taking on the awesome might of our quiz Goliaths today

are the Mammoth Quizzers from Northamptonshire.

They all devote a great deal of time

to supporting the Macmillan Mammoth Quiz for Cancer Research,

and are this year hoping that they will help to break a world record.

-Let's meet them.

-Hello. I'm Anna, I'm 53 years of age,

and I'm a volunteer charity fund-raiser.

Hello. I'm David. I'm 57, and I'm a solicitor.

Hello. I'm Ann, I'm 57 and I'm a solicitor.

Hello. My name is Jeff. I'm 67 and I'm a company director.

Hello. I'm Wendy. I'm 68 years of age,

and I'm a retired dance teacher.

Welcome to you, Mammoth Quizzers - tell me all about this Mammoth Quiz.

Well, the idea started three years ago, and since then,

we've raised 35...just over 35,000.

I set the quiz, then we put together the quiz pack,

we sell that to various groups all round the country,

and internationally if we can - we had one in Thailand last year...

-Really?

-We charge for the quiz pack, then people hold their own quizzes,

as they want to, with the same questions. So, it's same questions,

same day, and then they just donate back

whatever money they would like to Macmillan.

-You provide the questions and they can get on with it!

-Exactly.

It's always the questions, as we know, that make a quiz.

Any of you lot interested, then, Eggheads?

Erm, I think I saw the pack a few...

I think it was last year - but I didn't actually take part myself.

But it's a wonderful thing - if I can do anything to help next year,

-tie me in.

-And so say all of us!

-Thank you!

-We're all signed up now, aren't we, Eggheads?!

-Yeah.

Well, there's a few more. A quiz amongst the Eggheads,

that would be a good one to watch.

Can you do them an extra-special hard pack?!

We'll do our best!

OK, then. Well, as I say,

it's questions that make quizzes, and we've got plenty coming up today.

Let me tell you what's been happening.

There's been a lot of drama recently.

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

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

So, Mammoth Quizzers, the challengers won the last game,

the Eggheads lost - it proves they can be beaten,

and that means £1,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Let's ask some of those questions right now,

with our first head-to-head battle, Arts & Books.

-Who'd like to play this one?

-Shall I take this one?

-Who's going to play this one?

-I'll take this one, yeah?

-Ann volunteering - and which Egghead would you like to play?

-Ooh,

-I'll play Chris.

-Chris, then, on Arts & Books.

-Pretty good subject for you, Chris?

-It's been...

I've been known to win it, yeah.

-LAUGHTER

-Modest!

-Ominous!

-And to make sure you can't confer, Ann,

could you please go to the Question Room, accompanied by Chris?

OK, then, and now,

what's the Arts & Books knowledge like from your point of view, Ann?

-Probably no better than average, but we'll give it a go.

-Give it a go,

by going first or second - what do you want to do, Ann?

I'll go first, please.

Good luck. Here's your first question -

in 2010, which British artist

created a controversial new title sequence

for the animated sitcom The Simpsons?

Ooh, dear. My son likes The Simpsons

but I'm afraid I don't really watch it.

So it's going to have to be a complete guess!

I will go for...

Tracey Emin.

-Tracey Emin, a complete guess.

-Yes.

-Well, we're honoured to have

a Simpsons expert...

-Oh, dear.

-..in our midst. I like the way you say your son watches it,

well, erm, yeah! CJ, you're keen on it - it's not just for children...

-It was by Banksy.

-It's Banksy.

-Oh.

-Banksy there, Ann, but

well off the radar for you. Chris...

-Mmm.

-Which former First Lady of the United States

wrote the foreword to Michael Jackson's 1988 book Moonwalk?

Well, I think Jackie Kennedy, or Jackie Onassis,

as she would have been by then, was too busy.

I don't think Lady Bird Johnson would have.

But Jimmy Carter's wife, Rosalynn Carter, probably did,

-so I'll go with Rosalynn Carter.

-Rosalynn Carter

is incorrect!

-Other Eggheads?

-It's probably Jackie Kennedy, she worked in publishing.

She worked in publishing, as Pat is pointing out there.

So, well, after the first exchanges, both firing blanks!

Ann - which actress won the first of her seven Olivier Awards

in 1977 for her role

in the RSC production of Macbeth?

If it's the production I'm thinking of, I actually think I saw it,

-and so I think I'm right, in that it was Judi Dench.

-Think you saw it -

I think you did, it's the right answer! Judi Dench!

Well done. Chris - which author

created the character of the fictional spy Alec Leamas?

Ah, yeah, he's the spy who came in from the cold, isn't he?

That's by John le Carre.

It is, yes. John le Carre is correct.

After both failing with your first,

you've matched each other with the second, so it stays all square.

Ann - which painter was killed when

a gunpowder store in Delft exploded in 1654?

Erm, I think that might be a bit late for Vermeer.

I don't think I've heard of Carel Fabritius, I'm afraid.

I'm going to try Pieter de Hooch.

-It's incorrect. Other Eggheads, do you know?

-It's Carel Fabritius.

-He was Rembrandt's student.

-Yep, that's right, Carel Fabritius.

Nothing there, and a chance, then, for Chris

to steal in - The Crows Of Pearblossom

is a posthumously published children's book by which author?

Who would write children's literature?

I haven't actually got a clue, Dermot,

but it sounds like a piece of whimsy that might have come from HG Wells,

so that's who I'll go with.

The answer is Aldous Huxley.

-Oh!

-Well!

Every chance for both of you to clinch it,

-but neither of you have, so it's Sudden Death.

-OK.

Let's make it harder - that means you don't see any more choices.

The 1923 novel entitled Jigsaw was the first by which

-prolific author?

-Erm...

The only prolific author I can think of that might be from that period

-might be Agatha Christie?

-Agatha Christie...

-Yep.

It's not. I think Chris has read every one of her books -

-what is it, Chris?

-I haven't a clue, Dermot.

-Oh, really?

-Yeah.

I know you've got bookshelves full of them! Other Eggheads?

-Barbara Cartland!

-Barbara Cartland!

-Of course!

Chris, your question - another chance for you...

Who wrote the 1970 espionage novel Passenger To Frankfurt?

Er, whoa...

Not le Carre. Len Deighton?

No. I refer you to the previous answer,

as they say in Prime Minister's Questions, it is Agatha Christie!

LAUGHTER

It's like that Two Ronnies sketch about Mastermind,

-where it was the previous answer.

-Answering the question before last!

Yeah! It is Agatha Christie -

the largest first-edition print of any of her books.

Well, this is... I mean, not very high scoring,

but a fascinating round.

And your question, Ann - Sue Bridehead is a character

in which Thomas Hardy novel?

Erm...

It's possib... I've only read a couple of them,

and I don't remember the name.

So I'm going to pick one I haven't read!

-The Woodlanders.

-The Woodlanders you haven't read,

so it might be in that - which ones have you read?

I've read Far From The Madding Crowd.

It might be in that, but I don't remember.

-It is, Eggheads?

-Jude The Obscure.

-Jude The Obscure.

I'm sure you were thinking, the answer was obscure to you.

"The intelligent and unstable cousin of Jude Fawley,

"to whom Jude is attracted." Sue Bridehead. Chris -

what is the title of the 2006 fictional novel by Sara Gruen

about the circus life memories of an elderly man called Jacob Jankowski?

That's a film. Erm...

Water For Elephants?

Water For Elephants... is correct, Chris!

Water For Elephants has clinched

-a very, very tight round there - bad luck, Ann.

-Thank you.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Ann there just failing to dislodge Chris, so, as it stands,

the Mammoth Quizzers have lost one brain from the final round.

Second head-to-head coming up right now is Geography.

Who'd like to play this one?

-It can't be you, Ann, you've just played.

-Yep.

-It's Jeff.

-I'll take Geography.

-OK, Jeff, good man.

And which Egghead would you like to play?

-It can't be Chris, but any of the others...

-(CJ!)

-CJ, if I may, please.

-That's a very loud stage whisper there! CJ!

We all know his vulnerabilities in this.

Could I ask you both please to go to the Question Room?

Jeff, how do you want to play this? First or second for you?

I think I'll take the second questions.

OK, decided to put Egghead CJ in first, then,

and this is your question, then, CJ - the French city of Lille

is located near the border of which country?

That's just far enough away from Britain

for me to have a chance of getting it.

-I think it's Belgium.

-It is the right answer!

Yes, Belgium. OK, your first question, then, Jeff -

Nantucket is an island off the coast of which American state?

Mmm. Nantucket is a famous whaling station,

and it's certainly not Florida.

So it's a choice between Maryland and Massachusetts.

Now, where is...? Massachutiss... I can't even say it!

Not Maryland! Massachusetts!

-When you look at it, it's hard to read out! It's Massachusetts...

-Yes.

..is your answer, and it is the correct answer!

All square after the first

pair of questions, and CJ -

the Negev is a desert area in which part of the world?

I think, I think it's in the Middle East.

Yes! Any Eggheads be more specific?

-It's in Israel.

-Israel.

-Yes. Middle East will do, from CJ.

And over to you, Jeff.

Mount Logan, the highest point in Canada,

is approximately how many metres high?

Mmm, now, that's a difficult question. Erm...

Mount Logan - 2,000, four or six...

I have a feeling it's 4,000 metres.

4,000 metres for Mount Logan.

-It's 6,000.

-Ooh.

-It's even higher.

-Yeah.

-6,000 metres.

-Surprising.

Right, well, nothing there for Jeff,

which means CJ has a chance to win the round, but...

-Oh, no.

-Domestic, UK!

-Oh, no!

Manston airport is in which English county?

Well, you'll be shocked to know I've never heard of it.

The good thing is,

I do actually recognise those three as English counties.

CHUCKLING

Ah... I've just never heard of this place. Erm...

Kent.

-Kent.

-I don't know!

-Well, that's what you've gone for.

Well, one-in-three guess...

It is the right answer. Yes, Manston airport in Kent.

Which means, Jeff,

you don't get to face another question - CJ has

done enough to see you off.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, Eggheads striking some form here.

Two members of the Mammoth Quizzers have now been ejected from the game.

We have two more head-to-heads to play,

and our next subject today is Film & Television.

So, who fancies this from the remaining players - Anna,

-David or Wendy?

-I think you, Anna?!

I think I've drawn the short straw on this one.

Who would you like to play from the Eggheads - Daphne, Pat or Barry?

-Daphne, go Daphne.

-Yes, I'll play Daphne, please.

OK, Daphne and Anna, attempting Film & Television -

would you both please go to the Question Room?

Right, Anna, do you want to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please.

Here you go - to what does the term Black Hawk refer

in the title of the 2001 film Black Hawk Down?

Very oddly, I saw this with my son,

and I felt as if I'd been shot when I came home from it.

-I believe it may be helicopter.

-Yeah!

Exceptionally violent - is the right answer. Black Hawk is a helicopter.

And your first question, Daphne -

which EastEnders character was played by Gretchen Franklin?

Oh, this was in the days when I did watch it,

and she was Ethel.

-Ethel.

-Yes.

Ethel is the right answer. OK, Anna...

Good start. Which actress

took on the role of Stevie the shop assistant to Miranda

when the TV series Miranda started in 2009?

I have to say, I think Miranda is hysterically funny,

-and I do watch this.

-Good!

I'm just trying to remember which one it was,

-and Sarah Hadland springs to mind.

-Sarah Hadland...

is the right answer. Yes, well done!

It was one of those almost a word-of-mouth hit, wasn't it,

after that first series? Fantastic stuff,

lots of fans building for that, and you got the right answer.

Daphne, your question -

the actress Stefanie Powers had a nine-year relationship

with which Oscar-winning actor until his death in 1981?

That was William Holden.

William Holden is the correct answer.

That relationship until 1981. You've got it. So,

2-2. And Anna,

can you put a bid of pressure on Daphne here?

John Hawkes and Jennifer Lawrence

received acting nominations

for which film at the 2011 Academy Awards?

Unfortunately, I don't know this at all,

so it's going to have to be a pure guess.

-Erm, I think I'll go for The Social Network.

-OK, The Social Network.

Lots of nominations in various categories for those films.

It is not The Social Network. Do you know, Daphne, of the other two?

-Obviously easier for you, with just two...

-But it's Winter's Bone.

Yes, with John Hawkes and Jennifer Lawrence.

So, will that prove decisive?

Let's find out. Daphne -

which Italian film director and actor

received the Palme d'Or at Cannes in 2001

for his film The Son's Room?

SHE SIGHS Oh, dear.

I think the only one

that I know is an actor is Roberto Benigni.

-So, that's my answer.

-OK,

down the middle, with Roberto Benigni. It's not,

it's incorrect. It is Nanni Moretti.

So, you're familiar with Sudden Death, Anna,

you've made it there,

but can you go the whole hog and get rid of Daphne?

Here's your question - who played John Prentice

in the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

Er, it might be a bit late, but I'm going to go Gregory Peck.

It's not Gregory Peck. Do you know, Daphne, out of interest?

Is it Sidney Poitier?

It's Sidney Poitier.

So, Daphne, your question -

which film actress, born in 1907,

published an autobiography entitled Me: Stories Of My Life

in 1991, and died in 2003 at the age of 96?

Erm...

Lillian Gish?

No, it's not Lillian Gish - Katharine Hepburn.

-Oh, God!

-Katharine Hepburn!

OK, it's still all-square,

and Anna -

who hosted the 1970s and 1980s

nostalgia-based quiz show Looks Familiar?

Erm...

I'm going to go for Nicholas Parsons.

Nicholas Parsons.

Not Nicholas Parsons. Anyone know?

-Denis Norden.

-Denis Norden, in Looks Familiar.

And another chance for Daphne -

which Oscar-nominated English actress

was married to the playwright Robert Bolt twice,

from 1967 until 1975, and again from 1988 until his death in 1995?

At last! One I know!

Sarah...Miles.

I thought you were going to get it wrong, the way you paused there!

Sarah Miles is correct, Daphne.

You are through to the final round,

you are limping over the line!

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, tremendous efforts here by the Mammoth Quizzers,

but they've still not managed to dislodge an Egghead!

Three brains gone for the final round, I don't really know how!

But you've reached the last chance to eject an Egghead,

and this is Politics. And you've got two players left, David and Wendy.

-Go on. Go, Wendy?

-What shall we do, guys?

-Are you going to do it, Wendy?

-Go for Wendy.

-Go on, go for it, Wendy!

-Yes, we'll go for Wendy.

OK, Wendy, and who would you like to play from the Eggheads,

Barry or Pat?

I think I'll go with Barry.

OK, it's going to be Wendy and Barry, playing politics.

Could I ask you both pleased to go to the Question Room?

Wendy, hoping you can make it - do you want to go first or second?

Erm, I'll go first, please.

Off we go, then,

with Politics - who became president of the Russian Federation in 1991?

Erm, I think it was Boris Yeltsin.

It was Boris Yeltsin, yes. Well done, well identified.

And Barry -

which politician was involved in a plane crash

on the day of the 2010 general election?

Ah, yes, I remember this. I believe it was Nigel Farage.

It was, yes. Nigel Farage.

And your second question, Wendy -

what is the maiden name of Michelle Obama?

Erm, I can remember reading this.

I think it's Robinson.

Well done, yes!

Like an Egghead there, reading about it AND remembering it!

And Barry -

what was the first name of Harold Macmillan's son,

who served as Paymaster General in the 1970s?

That's a good question! I'm not sure on this,

but Maurice Macmillan is ringing a sort of bell!

-And as that's all I've got to go on, I'll go for Maurice.

-OK.

Maurice is the right answer. Same as Wendy, I guess,

you've read about it somewhere, and you've recalled it,

as we would expect of an Egghead! OK, Wendy -

which leader was the reported author of a number of novels, among them

epic romances entitled Zabibah And The King

and The Fortified Castle?

Oh, I don't know this one.

Erm, I'm just trying to think who would have time to write.

Erm...

I'll go for Saddam Hussein.

Erm, it is Saddam Hussein! Well done!

OK, pressure's all on Barry now.

In 1953, Muhammad Naguib became the first president of which country?

I believe he was the leader of the Colonel's Revolt

that saw the exit of King Farouk.

And the country is Egypt.

It is, yes.

Muhammad Naguib of Egypt so, yet again, we go to sudden death.

We're all very familiar with the rules of this part of head-to-head.

No choices.

Which member of the Beatles faced deportation hearings

in the United States in the early 1970s?

Um, I think I'll go with John Lennon.

You'd be right to, yes, John Lennon... obviously...

A long-time resident of the United States before his assassination.

And, Barry, it means you need to get this. Who directly succeeded

Sir Alec Douglas-Home as British Prime Minister?

Oh, goodness me. Let me think. Alec Douglas-Home?

I seem to remember Harold Wilson talking about Alec Douglas-Home

and his method of working out economic strategy with matchsticks.

-I'll go with Harold Wilson.

-Harold Wilson, well done, you've got it.

OK, Wendy.

In which city did Enoch Powell make what became known as his

Rivers of Blood speech in 1968?

It's either Bristol, Birmingham or Manchester, I think.

I'll go for Birmingham.

Birmingham for Enoch Powell's Rivers of Blood speech? You're right!

Birmingham is correct.

OK, well, will that be enough?

Barry, Brian Mulroney was Prime Minister of

which country from 1984 until 1993?

Perversely, I have two countries in my mind.

One of them sounds daft and I can't seem to get it out of my mind.

I was thinking is it Northern Ireland or New Zealand?

I'm pretty certain it's one of those two.

New Zealand.

It's comforting to know, Barry,

from your point of view that neither of them were correct.

Oh!

-What got into you there, Barry? It is, other Eggheads?

-ALL: Canada.

-Canada.

-Oh, of course!

-Mulroney.

Well, great news, great news. So obvious now, Barry.

But not when you were asked! Wendy, you're in the final round.

Fantastic! APPLAUSE

At least one of us is.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

so, this is what we've been playing towards.

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

But I'm afraid those who lost head-to-heads won't be

allowed to take part in this round so, Anna, Ann

and Jeff from The Mammoth Quizzers and Barry from the Eggheads,

would you leave the studio, please?

So, then, David and Wendy,

you're playing to win The Mammoth Quizzers £1,000.

CJ, Daphne, Chris and Pat, you're playing for something which money can't buy.

The Eggheads' reputation.

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

This time the questions are all General Knowledge

and you are allowed to confer.

So, David and Wendy, the question is,

are you two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

How do you want to play, David and Wendy? Want to go first or second?

We'll go first.

And good luck to you both.

And for the team, here's your first question.

Men Very Easily Make Jugs Serve Useful Needs

is an mnemonic for remembering what?

It's got to be the planets.

-Got to be the planets.

-Has it?

-Men, Mercury.

Very, Venus.

Easily, Earth.

-It's got to be the planets.

-OK.

You got it easily. It is the right answer.

It is an mnemonic for remembering planets.

Eggheads, your question.

In which decade did the Church of England ordain its first female priests?

-It's the '90s.

-I imagine it's the '90s. Certainly not the '70s.

-I don't think it was even the late '80s.

-I think it's the '90s.

-Are you happy with that?

-I don't really know.

-We're going for the '90s.

-'90s? OK.

That's when The Vicar Of Dibley started.

There is that, yes.

That's how we can date it. It's the right answer. 1990s.

One each and back to The Mammoth Quizzers.

A police chief called Baron Scarpia is a character in which

Puccini opera?

-I can't say opera's my favourite pastime.

-No.

-Wendy?

-Em...

C, I'll be lucky. Let's go for a lucky one, shall we? La Boheme.

-If you don't know.

-I have no idea.

-Well, let's go for that, then.

Well, Wendy's on a roll, so, we're going for what she says.

-La Boheme.

-OK, La Boheme.

Well, not opera fans, I heard you saying there. It's not La Boheme.

-The luck's run out. Eggheads?

-Tosca.

-It's Tosca.

With the Police Chief Baron Scarpia, so, chance for the lead, Eggheads.

What was the name of the ship in which Roald Amundsen sailed

on his journey to become the first person to reach the South Pole?

-It's one of his ships.

-We're both saying Fram is Amundsen's ship?

One of his ships, yeah.

-Are we definite that that's the Antarctic one?

-Definite.

-OK.

It was crushed in the ice.

Fram, Dermot.

Fram is the ship in question, it is, it is the right answer. The Fram.

So, you need to get this then and good luck with it, David and Wendy.

The 19th-century German scholar Bernhard Reimann

was a specialist in which field?

-If I had to go for...

-I really don't know.

If I had to go for one, I'd go for chemistry, what would you go for?

I was going to say mathematics but I don't know.

I guessed last time, you go this time.

Well, on the basis that Wendy's guess last time was wrong,

we'll have my guess this time and see if we can get it wrong twice.

-Mathematics.

-OK, so you've gone for mathematics.

It's the right answer, yes. Mathematics, well done.

OK, well you are, you're still in it

and hoping that the Eggheads don't get this one, then.

Eggheads, what name is given to the global event

approximately 65.5 million years ago which wiped out the dinosaurs?

-K-T.

-K-T.

-K-T Extinction. K-T from the German for Cretaceous Triassic.

I think you know that means the Eggheads are correct,

which means you've won.

Well, talking about the dinosaurs being made extinct, well,

Mammoths certainly know they've gone too

but you put up a great performance there, Mammoth Quizzers.

Each of those head-to-heads, so many of them went against you

in the end but so many of them going to the sudden death.

A real struggle there and showed what good quizzers you are

but not to be on the day

but what we want to send you away with is our very best wishes

for the Mammoth Quiz and all the fantastic work you do for charity.

It's really great to see you here today, Mammoth Quizzers.

But unfortunately not to be against the Eggheads.

And the Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them

and they reign supreme over quizland once again.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with £1,000, which means

the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Join us next time to see

if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£2,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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