Episode 42 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

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

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on our awesome quiz champions today are Angus Links.

Now, everyone on this team hails from the historic county of Angus,

and they're all keen quizzers,

and have merged a few teams together to tackle the Eggheads today.

Let's meet them.

Hi, my name's Bazz, and I'm 65, retired.

Hi, I'm Ken, I'm 42, and I'm a technical director.

Hi, I'm Galen, 36, and I'm a quality analyst.

Hi, I'm Mike, I'm 49, I'm currently unemployed.

I'm Gordon, I'm 48, and I'm a support worker.

Well, welcome to you, Angus Links. And tell me about the links.

Tell me about lovely Angus as well there, Bazz.

It's beautiful, it's famous, we sacked two kings in Angus.

And what about the quiz links then?

I know you're keen quizzers, and you win quite a lot of them, don't you?

We ruin it for most towns.

DERMOT LAUGHS

-Do you travel around like hired quiz guns?

-Hustlers.

-Come into town and people scatter.

-Yep.

OK, let's see how you do against no mean gunslingers themselves

when it comes to quizzing - the Eggheads.

Let's see how you do against them.

Every day, there's £1,000 worth of cash

up for grabs for our challengers,

however, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Angus Links, the challengers actually won the last game,

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

And our first head-to-head, the first subject, is Film & Television.

You know how it works, pick a player and try to knock an Egghead out.

-Galen.

-Yes.

-It's been decided it's me.

-Quite a simple one.

-It seems to have been decided in advance.

-Who are we going for?

-It's up to you. You pick.

-Shall we possibly put Chris in?

I'll take Chris on, then. Yeah. Chris, please.

Chris, OK.

Chris and Galen contesting the opening round - Film & Television.

And Galen, as you know, you need to go to the Question Room

so you can't confer with your team-mates.

Off you go, please.

Well, Galen, I know you're itching to play, so let's get quizzing!

Do you want to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please, Dermot.

And good luck, Galen. First question on Film & Television is this -

what was the setting for the reality show Celebrity Scissorhands?

I'd like to say... I don't think it's hospital or garden centre.

They just sound wrong, so I'm going to go for hairdressing salon.

Hairdressing salon is the right answer. Well started, Galen.

And Chris -

which actor joined the cast of EastEnders in 2008

playing the role of Archie Mitchell?

Hmm, interesting. As you know, I never, ever watch EastEnders.

Yes, we do. So you remind us.

Judith is probably bouncing up and down in her seat.

I think Larry Lamb's been there a long time and so has Scott Maslen.

I think Shane Richie went in in '08, so I'll say Shane Richie.

-You really don't watch it, do you?

-No.

-Um, well, Judith?

-Well, it's Larry Lamb, and he's already gone.

-Yeah.

Larry Lamb.

And Shane Ritchie, well, Shane Ritchie joined long before 2008.

So, nothing there, and a great chance for you, Galen, then.

For a really big lead, now - Mr Tumble, Grandad Tumble

and Baby Tumble all feature in which children's programme?

Unfortunately, I'm not sure on this one,

so this will be a bit of a guess. I will...

Hmm...

I'll go for Clutter Nutters. Not... Not very confidently, though.

Not a watcher of children's television.

And you didn't get it then.

No, it's not that. Anyone tell me?

-Something Special.

-Something Special from the Angus Links.

Something Special.

And the chance to get back in the game, Chris.

Who served as director general of the BBC from 1987 until 1992?

I think John Birt came in in '92.

Alasdair Milne was sometime previous,

and I think there was an interregnum with Michael Checkland.

-I have to say Michael Checkland.

-Michael Checkland.

On surer ground there with the history of DGs of the BBC.

Got it. Michael Checkland there during those years, '87 to '92.

So, all-square as we approach the third question apiece.

And Galen - in the 1999 Roman Polanski film The Ninth Gate,

what is the profession of the leading character,

played by Johnny Depp?

It could be any one of these, I think.

Though, I'm going to discount courier and journalist

and I'm going go to plump for book dealer.

I'm pretty sure he was involved with books some way or other.

OK, book dealer. A bookish Johnny Depp.

It's the right answer. Well done.

You're back on surer ground there.

Well, let's see if Chris is, and if he is, we go to Sudden Death.

If not, he's out of the game.

Chris, which American film actor who died in 1952 at the age of 39

was Oscar-nominated for his performances in the films

Four Daughters and Body And Soul?

Well, Tom Mix was a cowboy back in the silent days, so it's not him.

George Reeves was Superman and died in rather strange circumstances,

but the person you're looking for is John Garfield.

-No, the person YOU'RE looking for.

-Mm.

It's John Garfield. It is the right answer.

Right, Sudden Death, then, beckons.

First round, first Sudden Death, and Galen, just to remind you,

in case you're waiting for it, you won't see any choices from here on.

We've just got to hear an answer from you until we get a winner.

Which actor, star of the comedy series The Detectives,

started playing Mark Williams in Holby City in 2005?

I'm possibly barking up the wrong tree,

but the only person I can think of would be Robert Powell.

Not barking up the wrong tree at all, it's the right answer.

Robert Powell.

And to save yourself again, Chris -

which Oscar-winning film director, who died in 2008,

once worked as a writer and script editor

on the BBC series Grange Hill?

Hmm, who died in '08? Um...

Stanley Kubrick?

Stanley Kubrick.

No, it's not! Other Eggheads?

-Anthony Minghella.

-Anthony Minghella.

Anthony Minghella, which means, Galen, you're in the final round.

Well played.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, a very confident start there by Angus Links,

and in particular, Galen.

It means the Eggheads are missing one brain from the final round.

Let's play our next subject, then. Our second head-to-head - Sport.

Who thinks they can be equally successful?

-You're the man.

-Predetermined again, Gordon.

-Yes, Gordon.

-Gordon.

OK, Gordon, and choose an Egghead. Just remember, it can't be Chris.

-Any of the other four for you.

-Judith?

Why don't you consider taking on Daphne?

-Oh, you want to take Daphne on instead?

-She's good at sport.

I think it'll be really brave...

-Go for Judith.

-Judith?

-Judith, please.

-OK, then.

OK, a bit of consideration about who to take on, ending up with Judith.

And it therefore is you two, Gordon and Judith,

going to the Question Room please.

Gordon, do you want to go first or let Judith begin?

I'll go first, please.

Best of luck to you, Gordon. Here's your first question.

The famous 1963 boxing match between Henry Cooper and Cassius Clay,

during which Cooper downed Clay in the fourth round,

took place in which city?

That was the first of their two fights in London.

Oh, two fights in London?

And it is the right answer, yes. London.

And good start.

Judith, in 2003, Alistair Cook made his first class debut

for which county cricket team?

Well, it's a guess. Erm...

Lancashire.

Lancashire is incorrect.

Other Eggheads?

-Essex.

-Essex.

-Essex?

Your chance, then, for you, Gordon.

Which creatures are integral to the Argentinian sport of sport of pato?

P-A-T-O.

Well, I'll discount elephants straight away.

Um...

Argentina, well-known for horsemen. I'll go for horses.

You've gone for horses... It's the right answer. Well done.

And it means you need to get this, Judith.

Will Genia and Quade Cooper

have played test match rugby union for which country?

Um, well, I don't suppose it's Wales.

It doesn't sound particularly South African.

I think Quade might be Australian. So, Australia.

Australia is correct. Just keeping you in it.

I wonder if you'll last much longer, though.

Here you go, Gordon.

Which Scottish football team won the European Cup Winners Cup in 1972

but was subsequently banned from defending it the next year

due to a pitch invasion by their fans?

That was played in Barcelona. Rangers won.

You've gone for Rangers...

You go into the final round, it's the right answer.

Well done, Gordon.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Skittling through the Eggheads.

Two of them gone from the final round.

All the Angus Links there. Our next subject is Arts & Books.

Who wants to play this?

Remember that Gordon and Galen have played, so one of your other three.

THEY DISCUSS

I'd like to take somebody on.

-You're going to have to, obviously.

-It'll be you, Mike.

-Right.

I've met a certain person in a previous life,

and it wouldn't be any disgrace to come second to Mr Ashman, so, Kevin.

You said you met him... Have you quizzed against each other?

No, he was in the audience on Mastermind 20 years ago.

And he remembered me, which is good.

You were in the audience, so you were competing?

-It was in his hometown, if I remember rightly.

-Yeah, in Great Hall.

So, how did you do, Mike?

I won. I got into the semifinal.

OK, well, got a Mastermind champion there as you know, as well.

OK, well, let's have Mike and Kevin into the Question Room, please.

Well, Mike straining at the leash to play there.

Do you want to go first or second?

I don't usually buck any trends, so I think I'll go first again, please.

Right, first question, Mike. Arts & Books.

Lisbeth Salander is a character created by which writer?

Right, it sounds Scandinavian.

So I'm inclined towards a certain answer, at the moment.

It's definitely not Philip Pullman, as I know from experience.

Dan Brown...

I don't think he'd make up a name like that, so, I say Stieg Larsson.

Yeah, she's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

It's the right answer, Stieg Larsson.

And Kevin, what is the literal translation of the French term,

"fin de siecle", which has its roots in 19th century literary

and artistic events?

That's "end of the century."

Is correct. And Mike...

Where and when did the artist Cimabue live

and do most of his work?

Now, fortunately, I did a bit of reading up on the history of art.

Doesn't mean I'm going to get it right, of course,

but I remember Cimabue is definitely Italian,

so I'd have to say 13th century Italy.

Is the right answer, yes. Reading did stand you in good stead.

So, Kevin, born in Saint Petersburg in 1940,

Natalia Makarova became a leading figure in which area of the arts?

I don't associate her name with either of the others.

I think she was a ballerina, so I think, dance.

Dance is correct.

Back to Mike.

The Supper At Emmaus by Dutch artist Han van Meegeren

was purchased by the Boijmans gallery in Rotterdam

who believed it to be an original painting by which artist?

Well, again, art, so... Right. Um...

Well, I certainly don't think it'd be Van Gogh,

cos he's so distinctive in his style. Rembrandt...

There's...

I'm going to say, cos I know he's been copied quite a bit,

I'll have to go for Vermeer.

OK, Vermeer...

is the right answer.

Well done. Three out of three. All the pressure on Kevin.

One of the earliest works by which Victorian illustrator

was for a new edition of Malory's Morte D'Arthur in the 1890s?

Mm.

I don't think... Kate Greenaway was particularly known as an illustrator

of children's stories, so I'll eliminate her.

But the other two are actually both plausible.

Beardsley...

..did nearly all his work during the 1890s.

He died very young in 1898.

It could be Arthur... Oh, dear. Hmm.

I'm going to go for Aubrey Beardsley.

OK, are you going to go?

You're not! It's the right answer. Aubrey Beardsley is correct.

We go to Sudden Death, then.

And, Mike, The Prostrate Years is the subtitle of the 2009 book

featuring which famous fictional diary writer?

Well, I'm glad you mentioned a diary writer.

I'm inclined to go towards Sue Townsend's Adrian Mole.

Adrian Mole is correct.

Adrian Mole: The Prostrate Years by Sue Townsend, as you mentioned.

Kevin, Painting By Numbers, part of which was tidied up

by an overenthusiastic cleaner of the gallery where it was displayed,

was a 2001 exhibition by which British artist?

Hmm. I can remember the incident, I think,

but I can't remember who it was.

I think it's one of the big names,

so it's just a question of which big name I go for.

-Tracey Emin.

-Tracey Emin.

Well, beer bottles and ashtrays part of the exhibit,

tidied up by that cleaner, but it was Damien Hirst.

-It was one or the other...

-CJ:

-Oh, God!

Which means you're out of the game, Kevin.

Mike, you're in the final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, this is turning into a rout.

Can the Eggheads stop the rot?

Three Eggheads gone,

will CJ or Daphne be on their own in the final round?

We'll find out as we play our next head-to-head. This is Politics,

going for a clean sweep, Angus Links.

It's going to be Bazz or Ken, and as I say, you're playing Daphne or CJ.

You do read up on it a lot, don't you? Come on.

Who's going for it?

I was expecting it to be me, but this is the subject that's...

I absolutely HATE it.

-Ah!

-Go on, Bazz.

That just leaves me, then.

Oh, well.

Well, stay with us, Bazz, because you've got to choose an opponent.

And it's Daphne or CJ, the only two Eggheads left standing.

-Let's have a think about this.

-It's up to you.

-Oh, I don't know. CJ...

She knows her stuff as well. See, I don't know.

Let's face it, they're both good.

-Take on Daphne.

-OK.

-Take on Daphne.

-Daphne. Daphne, please.

It's going to be you, Bazz, playing Daphne. It's Politics.

Crucial game for the Eggheads.

Bazz and Daphne into the Question Room, please.

Well, Bazz, as I say, crucial round for the Eggheads.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first, please, Dermot.

Politics it is, and Bazz, off you go then.

What name did Nelson Mandela give to the group he founded in 2007

consisting of experienced global leaders with a collective aim

to support peace and eliminate human suffering?

I can't see it being the Extremists,

and as he was never part of the establishment anyway,

I'd say it was the Elders.

The Elders, that's correct, yes.

Daphne, in 2011, it was announced that Helle Thorning-Schmidt

was to become the first female prime minister of which country?

She was the daughter-in-law of Neil Kinnock, and it was Denmark.

Denmark, that's right. And married to Neil Kinnock's son, isn't she?

Denmark is correct,

and all-square after the opening exchanges.

OK, Bazz. Which country became the 17th member of the euro

when it adopted the euro as its currency in January 2011?

I'll discount Finland.

Mm. Slovenia.

Slovenia...

is incorrect!

Been going so well, all of you, so far,

but Slovenia is not. It is... Daphne?

-Estonia.

-Estonia, yeah.

Around about Finland there, Bazz, but Estonia. OK, well...

at last, another opportunity for the Eggheads.

In 2010, which former children's TV presenter was introduced

to the House of Lords as a life peer nominated by the Liberal Democrats?

I actually her at 1997 Woman Of The Year,

and it's Floella Benjamin.

Just adding that in for us, are you? 1997 Woman Of The Year,

and it is Floella Benjamin, yes.

It means you've got to get this, then, Bazz.

Which US president owned a Scottish terrier called Fala

who was nicknamed "The Informer"?

Hmm.

I don't actually know this one, but...

..I like the name Herbert Hoover.

-Is that your answer?

-That's my answer.

Herbert Hoover with his dog called "The Informer,"

nicknamed "The Informer," called Fala, and it's not!

-It is, Daphne?

-FDR.

-FDR - Franklin D Roosevelt.

Well, Fala "The Informer,"

and I can inform you that AT LAST the Eggheads

have managed to stop the avalanche that's been falling upon them.

Bazz is the only member of the Angus Links who will not be in the final,

and, CJ, I think, breathing a sigh of relief there,

that he'll be accompanied by Daphne in that final round.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

This is what we've been playing towards. Time for the final round,

which, as always, is General Knowledge.

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

aren't allowed to take part in this round,

so just Bazz from the Angus Links

and Judith, Kevin and Chris from the Eggheads,

would you leave the studio, please?

So then, Ken, Galen, Mike and Gordon,

you are playing to win, Angus Links, £1,000.

CJ and Daphne, you're playing for something which money can't buy -

it is the Eggheads' reputation.

An endangered reputation at the moment.

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

This time, the questions are all General Knowledge,

just to underline that for you.

And, of course, the big difference from the head-to-heads -

you are allowed to confer in this the final round.

So, Ken, Galen, Mike and Gordon, the question is,

are your four brains

better than the Eggheads' two?

And do you want to go first or second?

Once again, we're not going to buck the trend,

and we're going to go first.

Well, best of luck to you. Will the Eggheads be beaten again?

Off we go then. Bletchley Park, home to the National Museum of Computing,

is located in which English county?

Yep, we know this one. It's in Buckinghamshire.

Buckinghamshire for Bletchley Park. It's correct. It's the right answer.

Eggheads, the electronic stock exchange called the NASDAQ

is based in which city?

-It's in New York.

-New York. Mm-hmm.

It's in New York.

OK. New York.

-We're nervous, but it's in New York.

-I know!

Happiest I've seen you!

New York is correct, so it's all-square. 1-1. Angus Links...

Apart from a shield,

the type of Roman gladiator known as a "secutor" carried which weapon?

-I don't reckon it's long bow.

-A secutor was a light gladiator.

-Right.

-Um...

Javelin would just be a single use.

So, whereas a retiarius would have a trident...

Yeah, he was the trident one, wasn't he?

-Who was the one with the net?

-BOTH TALK AT ONCE

But he would have a small sword,

but he might have had a javelin as well.

-It's a short sword, isn't it?

-It was a short sword.

-A javelin would be for throwing...

-That's one use, isn't it?

..rather than a spear for stabbing. So, it's a sword.

A small sword.

After a little bit of discussion here, a sword.

Most of it from you, Ken, it must be said.

I must admit, talking is something I do.

But a knowledge of gladiators as well, you seem to have there.

It's the right answer. Yeah, sword is correct.

Over to the Eggheads,

and your question -

what was the title of Middle Of The Road's 1971 follow-up

to their chart-topping hit Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep?

I've no... I'll leave it up to you.

Have you heard of any of them?

I think the other one I've heard of is the first one, Hi-Lili, Hi Lo.

I'm not sure I've... But, I've heard of something similar to that.

Whether it's that are not, whether it's by this group, I've NO idea.

Bop Ting A Ling, not heard of.

Tweedle Dum Tweedle Dee...possibly.

Hi-Lili, Hi Lo came from a film in the '50s

-with Leslie Caron.

-OK.

But... But it...

Maybe that's where I've heard it from, then. Obviously...

Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum...

Maybe that does ring a bell as a song, though.

Yeah, cos Hi-Lili, Hi Lo was...

-SINGSONG:

-It goes, Hi-Lili, Hi Lo.

-Yeah.

-Oh, right.

-And that came from a Leslie...

-That's a Leslie Caron film?

-Yeah.

Well, maybe Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum maybe rings a bell, then.

Well, if we were discounting Bop Ting A Ling,

and we've got a source for Hi-Lili, Hi Lo,

-do you want to go for Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum?

-Yeah.

Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum?

Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum. From the history of gladiators

to Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep's follow-up.

What a wonderful game this is!

The Eggheads, will they be

Tweedledee and Tweedledum there?

-Come on!

-It's the right answer, Eggheads!

You worked it out, and in actual fact, you know,

did very well on that.

You know, they're all valid questions,

and you used a lot of your quizzing knowledge there

to eliminate one of them,

and just got it there by the skin of their teeth. All-square.

Angus Links, the red time ball positioned on a mast on the roof of

the Royal Observatory in Greenwich,

drops each day at the stroke of which hour?

It's three. But I'm not 100% sure.

I've never...

One o'clock you associate with Mons Meg, don't you? So...

But that doesn't mean anything.

I've got a funny feeling it's three. I don't know why.

You have this feeling? Gordon, do you know?

-Not 100% sure...

-Never heard of it.

I just have this feeling about one o'clock again,

but maybe I'm thinking of Mons Meg.

Yeah, that's why I kind of discounted it,

but there's no reason to discount it, you know.

I have no input here, unfortunately.

Well, is there any reason why they would drop it at any time?

No.

-For example, there would be a reason to drop it at 12 o'clock.

-Yes.

-Maybe it's lunchtime at one o'clock.

-Three o'clock's like...

-middle of the afternoon, isn't it, really?

-Yes.

So, I'm inclined to go for three for that reason.

-I've not got any real 100% insight into it, you know?

-Mm-hmm.

I'll leave it with you, man.

OK, we don't know.

We are thinking that one o'clock is when Mons Meg,

the Edinburgh Castle cannon,

gets fired at.

We cannot discount 2pm...

but we're going to, and we're going to opt for 3pm.

OK, 3pm for the red time ball positioned on a mast

in the Royal Observatory in Greenwich.

It drops each day at the stroke of...

-1pm.

-THEY GROAN

It is 1pm.

Well, the Eggheads going through agonies with their second question,

but now have the upper hand.

And being on the ropes throughout the quiz,

but a chance here, an opening.

OK, Eggheads, you win the game if you give me a correct answer here.

Wladimir Coppen - C-O with an umlaut, P-P-E-N -

gave his name to a classification system for what?

-Coppen.

-Coppen.

-OK, have you heard of him?

-No.

Good, that's a good start.

Could you just repeat it, Dermot?

Wladimir Coppen gave his name to a classification system for what...?

-I don't think it's vitamins.

-Well, that's...

-You don't think it's vitamins, no?

-No. And blood is Landsteiner.

Well, Landsteiner did the blood groups, yeah.

-And Coppen...

-Coppen...

-That was...

Why does that ring a bell with clouds or something?

Yeah. Climate.

I mean, if we're going to guess...

C-O-umlaut-P-P-E-N.

I...

If I was on my own, I'd go for climate, and I don't know why.

Shall we try climate?

Yeah.

We're going to try climate, Dermot.

Climate, OK. As I say, a rare chance coming your way, Eggheads.

After what you've been through in those head-to-heads

and indeed in this final round...

A real tough one there with your second question, got past that.

If you get this, you've won.

And Wladimir Coppen gave his name to a classification system for...

for climate!

-YES!

-Eggheads, you've won.

-DAPHNE LAUGHS

Ooh! How tight was that?

Well, you won the head-to-heads but not the final round where it counts.

We had a question earlier on there, didn't we, for you, Gordon,

about Muhammad Ali. Cassius Clay as he then was.

I remember he perfected the rope-a-dope system, didn't he?

Taking all the punches for round after round after round

and then coming off the ropes to clinch the bout towards the end.

They've done it. Rope-a-dopes. There we go.

Well, congratulations, Eggheads. You've done what comes naturally

and you reign supreme over quizland once again.

Afraid you won't be going home with the £1,000,

and that means the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Really hard-fought, who will beat you?

Do 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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