Episode 25 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.

They are the Eggheads.

Taking on the might of our quiz Goliaths today

are Tony and the Wailers from London.

The inspiration for this team's name

comes from the first ever quiz

that they took part in together, where the tie-break question

related to Bob Marley's famous band. Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Tony. I'm 22 and I'm an office assistant.

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm 22, I'm a recruitment consultant.

I'm Ben, I'm 26, I'm a draughtsman.

Hi, I'm James. I'm 22 and I'm a student.

Hi, I'm Dan. I'm 23 and I'm a student.

Welcome, Tony and the Wailers. Can you remember that question, Tony?

Was Bob Marley and the Wailers the answer or was it about the band?

No, no, it was about the band.

It was in the pub so we were all under, we'd all been drinking,

so my memory from that night was quite slim,

but it related to the combined age of the Wailers

-at the time of one of his album releases.

-Oh, wow!

So then that became the team name.

-I mean, do you actually sing as well?

-Certainly don't!

Bit of reggae. No, OK, we don't want to listen to that.

What about the quizzing, then?

How's it gone since you assumed the name Tony and the Wailers?

It's gone OK. I mean, we've never taken anything on this level,

but, you know, a number of victories under our belts

and hopefully another one today.

Hopefully another one today, and it would be very good if you did

because this is something of a landmark we've reached in Eggheads.

I don't know if the Eggheads know this, but this is our 1,000th show!

Did you ever think, when it started,

it would last this long or that YOU would last this long?!

Neither of the above, no.

I suppose our statisticians can tell us how many editions each of you

have appeared in, how many questions you've answered,

but has it made you different in terms of being a quizzer, Chris,

being an Egghead?

Well, I'm not really a quizzer, Dermot, these days.

I dropped out of competitive quizzing years ago.

Hasn't made any difference to me,

I'm still the same old thing I've always been.

Well, thank you for saying that, Chris. We were going to do that.

Barry, does it make you realise this is a profession?

-"I've got to work at this."

-Yes.

The only difference now is

I now have to learn things I'm not interested in.

Of course you do, or else you get picked on it all the time.

-Don't you, Kevin?

-Don't know what you could possibly be referring to.

Food & Drink. Judith, there is,

I've learnt, during the course of Eggheads,

a very distinctive kind of quiz world out there.

Your route was different. You entered Millionaire

and we all watched you, first ever person

to win the British Millionaire.

Thought, "Gosh, she's great."

And they've welcomed you with open arms, of course.

Well, I'm not sure.

I think they were rather suspicious of me to begin with.

And also, I hadn't... I mean, I never do

any of the quiz world's quizzes, and I still don't either.

To reverse that question I put to Judith, Pat, you know,

you came from the intensive quiz world AND won Millionaire as well.

Yes, yeah. And then a couple of years ago, I joined Eggheads.

Yeah, and still out there at the...

I'm going to call it the hardcore quizzing.

Yes, I'm very busy. I take part in lots of quizzes. Really enjoy it.

Including the World Quiz Championships.

I mean, at the time of recording,

you are the reigning World Quiz Champion.

And hopefully, I can remain so for another 1,000 episodes!

Oh, my goodness me! Yeah, well,

I think Kevin might have one or two things to say about all that.

It's great to know there are rivalries within the Eggheads

outside the Eggheads studio, of course.

OK, so here we are, marking 1,000 editions of Eggheads

with Tony and the Wailers. Attention now upon you guys.

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

However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

The Eggheads have won the last two games.

That means £3,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

And let's see what our first head-to-head battle throws up.

Ah, it's Film & Television,

and you know the way it works. Any one of you can volunteer now

to take on an Egghead to try and knock them out.

-Tone? Tony?

-I don't mind doing it.

-Yeah?

-Go on, then.

Looks like I'll be lamb to the slaughter. I'll go.

OK, first up, Tony, and any Egghead you like.

-I'll tell you what, I'll take Barry cos he's my favourite.

-Ah, good idea!

All right, Tony.

Well, it's going to be Tony and Barry, Tony's favourite,

playing Film & Television, and into the question room you go,

to make sure you can't talk to your team mates.

Well, Tony, I suppose you go in there with a heavy heart,

-trying to knock your favourite player out of Eggheads.

-I'll try.

It's got to be done, though.

-D'you want to go first or second?

-First, please, Dermot.

All right, best of luck, Tony, and here's your first question.

In which 2010 film does Natalie Portman play a ballerina

called Nina Sayers?

Erm, I think I know. I think it won a few awards in 2010. Is it Black Swan?

Black Swan is indeed the answer for Natalie Portman, there. Well done.

And your first question, Barry.

Which actor appeared

in the films Face/Off, Get Shorty and Pulp Fiction?

Well, I think Sylvester Stallone really ought to have appeared

in Face/Off, but that's just a personal view.

But it was actually John Travolta.

Better watch it. He might be on a celebrity edition!

John Travolta is the right answer there.

Tony, who played the character of Chachi Arcola

in the sitcom Happy Days?

Ah, I wish I'd sat down with my dad and watched Happy Days now.

He's quite a fan, but I'm certainly not.

Erm, this literally has to be a guess.

-I'll go down the middle at Jason Bateman.

-Jason Bateman for Chachi

in Happy Days. It's not. Well, you should have sat down there.

-Barry?

-Scott Baio.

-Scott Baio.

There was a spin-off, wasn't there, with Joanie?

Joanie Loves Chachi, or Chachi Loves Joanie, I can't remember.

Two characters from Happy Days, anyway.

Erm, right, a chance for the lead then, Barry.

In 2010, Joshua Pascoe took over the role of which EastEnders character?

Er, I don't think it was Peter Beale. I think he's died, hasn't he?

Not a great EastEnders fan.

Corrie is my absolute soap of choice,

so sorry to all the EastEnders cast.

But I believe Ben Mitchell has changed recently,

-so I'll go for him.

-It's the right answer, yes, Ben Mitchell.

You picked it out anyway, in spite of not having it

as your number one soap.

Well, it means you've got to get this then, Tony.

Which English actress won a Golden Globe for her performance

in the Mike Leigh film Happy-Go-Lucky?

Again, Dermot, I'm not too sure, to be honest,

but I'll take a punt at Sally Hawkins.

Sally Hawkins is a good punt. It's the right answer. You're still in.

Hoping for a slip from Barry.

Barry, in 1943, the film director and producer Herbert Wilcox

married which actress?

Gosh. I've heard of Herbert Wilcox

and I certainly know all those three actresses.

But which two went together is another question altogether.

Herbert Wilcox.

I really don't know the answer to this, so it will have to be a guess.

For some reason, I think it was an actress

better known than Wendy Hiller.

So, I think I will... It's either...

That leaves Anna Neagle or Deborah Kerr.

-Herbert Wilcox... Deborah Kerr.

-Deborah Kerr.

It's not. It is, Eggheads?

-ALL: Anna Neagle.

-Anna Neagle.

-Ah!

-You were choosing between the two, as you told us,

but picked the wrong one,

which is great news for you, Tony. Still in it,

but we go to Sudden Death

and remove those options to try to sort out a winner here.

Tony, your question.

Hayley Mills, the daughter of Sir John Mills,

won an Honorary Juvenile Oscar for her performance in which 1960 film?

I can't even think of any 1960 films, so...

sorry, I'm going to have to pass.

OK, a pass. Over to Barry, see if you know.

-I don't think it'd be Pollyanna. How about Tiger Bay?

-No, stop there!

Pollyanna. Pollyanna will do. Well, that wasn't your question, Barry,

so it doesn't get you through.

A correct answer here will, though.

Which film, directed by and starring Ben Stiller,

revolves around a plot to kill the Prime Minister of Malaysia?

Well, I have a simple answer here.

I really don't know, I'm afraid, so it's a pass.

I'll put it back to Tony. D'you know, Tony? Any idea?

-Doesn't matter if you don't, of course.

-I don't, actually.

-Only out of interest, Eggheads?

-Zoolander?

-Zoolander!

Doesn't matter, Tony.

Ignore that, this is your question.

Who played the title role in the 1970s horror film Carrie,

based on the novel by Stephen King?

I wish you gave me some questions from my era, Dermot.

-Erm... No, again, sorry. Pass.

-Do you know, Barry?

-I think it was Sissy Spacek.

-It was Sissy Spacek.

Barry, which Hollywood matinee idol,

who died in 1958 at the age of 44, was the star of the films

The Mark of Zorro, The Black Swan and Blood and Sand?

-Could that be Tyrone Power?

-Is that your answer?

-Yes.

It is Tyrone Power. It is correct, Barry.

You are through to the final round. Bad luck, Tony.

The questions didn't really fall your way.

Barry's through to the final and you're not, I'm sorry to say.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, Tony and the Wailers, one brain down. Tony's down.

He's out of the final round. The Eggheads are all there.

We play our second head-to-head now, and this one is Music

which, given your team name, I would expect you to enjoy.

Who wants to play this? Can't be Tony.

-Go on, Greg.

-OK.

-Greg's going.

All right, Greg, stay with us,

because you need to choose an Egghead.

I'll go for Judith, I think.

Judith on Music. OK, well, best of luck.

Greg and Judith contesting this one.

Into the question room, both of you, please.

OK, then, Greg. Putting your music knowledge to the test.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first, please, Dermot.

Good luck, Greg.

"You ain't never caught a rabbit and you ain't no friend of mine,"

is a line from which song? A UK hit for Elvis Presley in 1956.

Erm, I was going to sing it then, but I don't think I will.

Out of the three, I'm pretty sure it's Hound Dog.

Hound Dog for "You ain't never caught a rabbit" etc.

It is, of course, yes, it's the right answer.

Given it's our 1,000th edition, it'd be rude not to ask Chris

just to give us a little rendition.

# You ain't nothing but a hound dog crying all the time. #

Thank you very much, Chris. Had to have it, though.

It's the right answer. Let's confirm that. Your question, Judith.

What is the title of the 1991 UK number one single for Cher

that has the subtitle It's In His Kiss?

Well, the only one that seems to make sort of sense

is The Beep Beep Song.

-OK.

-Don't tell me it's not that!

No, it's not. That was a reincarnation, wasn't it?

It was originally an earlier song, wasn't it?

Yeah, someone did it years and years and years ago.

-It's The Shoop Shoop Song.

-Oh, for goodness' sake!

-Well, good. Right.

For goodness' sake!

Greg, let's get this one, if we can. I know you're trying.

Me saying that doesn't help very much,

but let's see if you can get this and take a two-nil lead.

More I Cannot Wish You, sung by Arvide, appears in which musical?

I'm not sure, Dermot. Erm, I'm drawn to Sweet Charity over the other two.

Erm, and that's what I'm going to... I'm going to plug my guess at.

-I think it's Sweet Charity.

-OK, have a guess at Sweet Charity.

More I Cannot Wish You is in Guys and Dolls.

Well, you still might hold onto that lead.

Judith has got to face her second question.

Brown Sugar is the opening track on which album by the Rolling Stones?

Oh, God, I don't know! Erm...

Well, sugar and Sticky Fingers...

I don't suppose that has anything to do with it. Erm, Let It Bleed.

Let It Bleed. It's Sticky Fingers.

-Oh!

-Oh, Judith!

-Oh, honestly!

You talked yourself out of it.

Well, that's great news for you, Greg.

Which member of Take That had solo UK number one singles

with Forever Love and Love Won't Wait?

I'm actually quite a big Take That fan, which is pathetic,

but I'm still struggling here.

I don't think it's Robbie Williams,

cos I would have recognised his songs, I think, a bit more.

-I think it's Gary Barlow.

-I don't think it's Robbie.

I'm going to go for Gary Barlow.

Gary Barlow. So, you've admitted that you're a Take That fan?

-I am, Dermot, yeah.

-It's interesting with Take That,

having had two periods of success. They've got guys like Greg,

and I suppose when you, I mean, have you ever seen them in concert?

I certainly am not that big of a fan, but...

OK, yeah, but I mean, some people have been, I haven't.

You get guys like Greg there

and then all these women in their 30s and 40s as well.

Nice mix. Get you along there, Chris.

Erm, Gary Barlow, of course, is correct.

That is great news there, Greg.

You've won through to the final round. Judith,

you won't be playing there. You can, I suppose,

take that score sheet away with you and hang it on your wall.

Could I ask you both to come back and join your teams?

Better for Tony and the Wailers, knocked an Egghead out.

It's all-square now, both teams have lost one brain from the final round.

Third head-to-head, and this one is History.

Who'd like to play this?

Ben, James or Dan?

THEY CONFER

Considering Ben's got a degree in history, we'll go with Ben.

-I don't know why he's reluctant to take it!

-Didn't want to mention that.

Maybe he's reluctant cos he's got to play Kevin, Pat or Chris.

I'll give Chris a go. I'll give Chris a go, yeah.

-Let him out there, yeah.

-I like history.

-We know!

You've won plenty of times at it over those 1,000 shows.

Let's have Ben and Chris, once again,

into the question room, please.

All right, then, Ben. Well, it got a lot better there, didn't it?

Greg getting through.

Will you book a place in the final round with these questions?

-Do you want to go first or second, Ben?

-I'll go second, please, Dermot.

And, Chris, in relation to Africa in the 1960s,

for what did the letter I stand in the acronym NIBMAR?

Well, it's not involvement. And I don't think it's influence.

It's National Independence something or other.

Independence anyway, Dermot.

That's the right answer, Chris.

OK, your first question then, Ben.

Who immediately succeeded Henry I as King of England in 1135?

Erm, I think Henry II appears the obvious answer,

but I'm a bit worried it's just too good to be true,

but, well, I'm going to run with Henry II, see what happens.

OK, Henry One, Henry Two.

It's not Henry II who came after Henry I.

It is, Chris?

-Stephen.

-Stephen. So, a chance for a big lead for Chris here.

Chris, in the 18th century, the Hawkhurst Gang

was a notorious criminal gang named after a village

in which English county?

Used to be a branch line from Paddock Wood. It's in Kent.

What?! It's typical of you to get trains in there, somehow.

This is the 18th century! They didn't have trains!

-No, but Hawkhurst is in Kent.

-Sorry, where was the branch line?

Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst. Closed in '61.

By, of course, the name we shall not speak!

No, before him, actually.

-Oh, before Dr Beeching?

-Yeah, Beeching was '63, '64.

-Oh, I see.

OK. Why did I even try?

Right, but the Hawkhurst gang operated

in the 18th century in Kent. It's correct. You have a two-nil lead.

And it means you need to get this, Ben.

During World War One,

which country did Germany defeat in the 1914 Battle of Tannenberg?

Unfortunately, I've never covered the First World War, Dermot.

Oof! I'm just going to have a guess at France.

France, going for the Battle of Tannenberg.

France, no. Chris?

Yeah, it was the big battle on the Eastern Front

in the first months of the war against Russia.

Yeah, against Russia, as Chris identified.

Chris, you've taken the round there.

Ben, no place for you there in the final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

So, three rounds gone.

One Egghead, two members of Tony and the Wailers,

and we reach our last subject before the final,

and this one is Arts & Books.

Who'd like to play this?

THEY CONFER

-OK, we're going James.

-James?

OK, stay with us, James. See, you're poised.

You're all keen to get there. You're like coiled springs ready to erupt,

so keen to play the Eggheads.

But you have to pick an Egghead to play, and you can pick Kevin or Pat.

-James, your choice.

-It's completely up to you, mate.

-I'll just go with Pat, then. He's the nearest.

-OK, geographically.

Not too much further for Kevin.

I'm sure he wouldn't have minded the walk to the question room,

but it's going to be Pat.

So let's have James and Pat, please, playing this.

James, if you win this, it's going to be all-square in the final round.

Let's see what happens. Do you want to go first or second?

Erm, I'll go first, please.

Here you go then, James. First question.

Mrs Coulter is a character in a series of books by which writer?

Well, I haven't heard of her,

and I think maybe I would have done is she was JK Rowling.

So between Lewis and Pullman.

I think I'm just going to plump for Pullman.

OK, and right to do so.

It's the right answer. Philip Pullman. He did His Dark Materials.

And your first question, Pat.

Max Stafford-Clark became famous as a leading figure

in which area of the arts?

I'm not sure I've ever heard of him. Max Stafford-Clark.

I'm going to have to guess. I'm torn between theatre and photography.

Max Stafford-Clark.

I'll go for theatre. Absolutely no confidence.

No confidence. It's the right answer, Pat!

Maybe something in there. Whenever an Egghead's guessing.

I always think there must be something,

even subliminally in there.

Max Stafford-Clark, just, did what?

Director. Director-producer.

-What kind of era?

-Oh, he's still around!

-OK.

Right, it's all-square, then.

Bad luck from your point of view there, James.

Pat just got that with a guess. And your second question.

Bessie Lee, John Reed and Grace Poole

are characters in which 1847 Bronte novel?

I think this is the kind of answer you should know, but I don't,

so on that basis, I'll also go for the book that I've never read

or heard of, which is Agnes Grey.

Agnes Grey, OK.

Erm, it's not.

It's one of the ones you either have read or heard of. It is, Pat?

-I don't know.

-Oh, other Eggheads?

-Jane Eyre.

-Jane Eyre.

It is Jane Eyre. And, Pat, your second question then.

The Courtauld Institute of Art has its headquarters

in which London building?

I'm pretty sure it's not Kensington Palace.

Apsley House, Somerset House.

I'll go for Somerset House.

Somerset House for the Courtauld Institute of Art. It's correct, Pat.

You've got a lead.

And, James, you need this, then.

The painting Dulle Griet

by the Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder

is also known by which other name?

Well, again, it's one I don't know the answer to. Erm...

I'm just trying to think what name might lend itself...

I'm going to go for, erm...

..Mad Meg, cos it's got the nicest ring to it, I think.

Mad Meg, and it is the right answer! OK, Mad Meg.

Is it of... I'm not familiar with it myself, like you, James.

-I'll ask the Eggheads. Is it of... Do you know the painting?

-Yeah.

She was a mad woman.

"Dulle" means mad and "Griet" is a Dutch diminutive of Margaret,

so that's why it's Meg.

Mad Meg, OK.

You're still in it there, James, but will you last much longer?

Depends on this answer from Pat.

When Pearl Buck, the best-selling American author

of the 1930s, won the Nobel Prize for Literature,

the citation mentioned her "epic descriptions of peasant life"

in which country?

Well, her father was an extremely zealous missionary

and he dragged his family all over China,

so her book was based on China.

It is the right answer, Pat, yes.

China is correct, which means you've just pipped James in this round,

so no place for you in the final round, James.

Would you both 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.

Those of you who lost your head-to-heads won't be allowed

to take part in this round.

Tony, Ben and James from Tony and the Wailers,

and Judith from the Eggheads, would you leave the studio, please?

Greg and Dan, you're playing to win Tony and the Wailers £3,000.

Chris, Barry, Pat and Kevin, you're playing for something

which money cannot buy on this, our 1,000th edition.

The Eggheads' reputation.

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

This time, the questions, just to reaffirm that for you,

are all General Knowledge. You are allowed to confer.

So, Greg and Dan, the question is,

are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Greg and Dan, what are the tactics going to be?

-Do you want to go first or second?

-Shall we go first?

-I'm happy to go first.

-We'll go first please, Dermot.

And your first question then, Greg and Dan, is this.

The historic activity of Swan Upping,

when swans on the River Thames are rounded up,

marked and then released, takes place in which month?

-That's tough, isn't it?

-Do you have any ideas?

-Not really.

-May, July, September.

-Try and work it out.

-Erm...

You see, I'm drawn to September.

It's either going to be spring or the start of the autumn, isn't it?

Yeah. September? What are your thoughts? September.

-It's tough, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-It's a guess, mate. Go for it.

I think we can safely say we don't know,

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

-We will go with September.

-September for swan upping,

when they're rounded up, marked then released.

It takes place in, Eggheads, September?

-I thought it was July myself, but...

-July is the answer.

July, we were looking for. And don't all swans belong to the Queen?

Well, they either belong to the Queen or one or other

of two London livery companies.

If they're the Queen's, they leave them alone.

And depending on which of the livery companies they actually...

the other belong to, they cut either one or two notches in their beak.

OK, I'll keep an eye out for that next time I'm looking at swans.

It's July, just to confirm that. Not September.

How will the Eggheads do with their question?

During the 2008 US Presidential campaign,

who travelled across the USA

on a bus called the Straight Talk Express?

-Think it was McCain.

-Yeah.

Thought it was McCain, but I'm not 100% certain.

I mean, Kerry wasn't a candidate in the 2008, was he?

It was 2004.

McCain had that sort of persona as...

Yeah, sort of man of the people. So what do you think, Pat?

Just a suspicion it's McCain, but nothing more.

OK, you happy with McCain? We'll go for that.

Er, we'll go for John McCain.

Straight-talking John McCain is the right answer.

Yes, well done, Eggheads. So you do have a lead.

Right...

Back to Tony and the Wailers, and your question.

The Masurian Lake District, sometimes referred to

as the Land of 1,000 Lakes, is in which European country?

I'll spell the Masurian Lake District.

M-A-S-U-R-I-A-N.

-Do you know?

-I don't, but...

Masurian. I'm trying to think of the name or the place Masurian.

Does it sound Polish?

No, it doesn't sound Polish.

I think it's between Austria and Norway,

but I wouldn't know which one.

Masurian, no. Erm...

I'd maybe lean towards Norway. More lakes in Norway.

Fjords, isn't it? It's fjords rather than lakes.

-Norway.

-Norway?

-Yeah.

Another guess, I think.

We're going to lean towards Norway and go with Norway.

OK, Norway, discussing lakes.

I suppose countries all with a lot of lakes.

The Masurian Lake District is in...? Well, Eggheads, is it in Norway?

-Poland.

-It's in Poland.

Well, at least you have the comfort of knowing you discounted that!

You weren't close, in other words. So bad luck with that.

OK, well, the Eggheads win if they get this.

In cricket, the highest rated international test team

is awarded a trophy designed in the form of what?

In cricket, the highest rated international test team

is awarded a trophy designed in the form of what?

-Giant gaudy mace?

-I have no idea.

I think after England's win,

they were presented with this extraordinary glitzy thing.

Yeah. I don't think it's a sword or...

-After they beat India in 2011...

-Yeah.

..they had a formal presentation of this giant thing.

Cos the end of it is... Yeah, it is.

You wouldn't describe it as an axe.

Yeah, OK. Erm...

We're going for a mace.

A mace for the highest rated international test team.

Trophy in the form of a mace.

It is the correct answer, Eggheads. You've won.

Bad luck, Tony and the Wailers.

You ran into the Eggheads on their 1,000th edition.

I think, very keen to prove their mettle

after one or two losses over the previous few weeks,

so getting right back onto form then, and you ran into them.

But good to see you, Tony and the Wailers.

Don't let it put you off the quizzing.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them

and they still reign supreme over Quizland.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £3,000.

That means the money rolls over to the 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.

£4,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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