Episode 61 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.

You can see we've got a new Egghead there, Dave.

We'll find out more about him in just a moment.

Challenging our resident quiz champions today are...

This team of colleagues all work

for the same industrial tape factory in Manchester. Let's meet them.

Hello, I'm Phil. I'm 60, I'm a process operative.

Hello, I'm Sue. I'm 58 and I'm a receptionist.

Hello, I'm Ruth. I'm 35 and I'm a credit controller.

Hi, I'm Simon, I'm 31 and I'm an engineer.

Hi, I'm Tracy. I'm 44 and I'm a credit controller.

So, Phil and team, welcome. And you make tape?

Now, I'm thinking sticky-tape or crime-scene tape or what?

All sorts of tapes for loads of different industries.

Our products go into aeroplane production, car production,

cell phones, buildings.

-You name it, we do it.

-Is there any kind of tape you don't make?

No. Bad tape. Poor tape.

Could you tape this lot up?

-We'd like to.

-To stop them winning.

-We're going to try.

-Good luck.

Every day there is £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, Tapes Of Wrath, I can tell you the Eggheads have won the last

seven games, which means £8,000 says you can't beat them today.

-That's good.

-Good stuff. Would you like to try?

-Oh, yes.

-Definitely.

The first head-to-head battle is going to be

on the subject of Film and TV.

-Now which of you would like this?

-Tracy....

THEY CONFER

-Tracy?

-Definitely.

-Immediate decision, OK.

-Against which Egghead, Tracy?

-I think we should start with Dave.

-Test Dave.

-I think, because he's a local lad, I think Dave.

Yes, he is from Manchester like you, and this is his first show.

You're going to put him in the booth for the first time.

You up for that, Dave?

-I've got to have it, I've got to go for it, haven't I?

-Good stuff.

Tracy versus Dave from the Eggheads, please take your positions

in the Question Room now.

We say welcome to Tracy but also welcome to Dave.

Your first time in the booth, Dave.

Yes, I'm looking forward to it.

Your nickname in Manchester was Tremendous Knowledge.

Why did people call you that?

Because I have a local radio show, where people used to phone up

at late night and ask me questions about all manner of topics.

I even got a question once, someone asking me,

"Who's this in a picture?" on the radio.

And what was weird I got it right, as well.

They would ring up

and they would say...moments of history, geography, whatever?

Anything that came into their minds at all.

I had a reasonable strike rate on it

but there were always questions that are going to stump you.

Good luck in this round to you both. Let's see how you do.

It's three multiple choice questions,

the subject is Film and TV.

Tracy, you can choose the first or the second set of questions.

I'd like to go first please, Jeremy.

All the best. Your question.

Who played Margaret Thatcher in the film The Iron Lady

released in the UK in January 2012?

OK. I haven't actually seen the film

but I'm aware that it did quite well at the Oscars ceremony.

It certainly wasn't Penelope Keith and it certainly wasn't

Patricia Routledge, so I'm going to say it was Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep is the right answer. She does an amazing job.

Who's seen it, actually? Good job.

Amazing. She just becomes her.

-Yes, she does. Dave, your question.

-Yep.

Sarah Lund is the central character in which TV crime series?

You know, I don't know.

Cos Wallander, I thought was Kenneth Branagh as the central character

so it's between Spiral and The Killing.

Just on a hunch I'll have to go The Killing.

-Your hunch is spot-on. Have you not seen it?

-Not seen it at all.

It's one of these Danish sensations along with Borgen,

it's just brilliant, I must say.

Tracy, your question. See if you can shake him off.

In the US TV series The Sopranos,

what is the name of Tony Soprano's wife?

Ah.

This might be quite tricky.

I'm probably one of the few people that hasn't actually

watched The Sopranos.

I can't rule out any, I'm just going to have to take

a massive stab in the dark and say Carmela.

Well that's fair because he got The Killing with a stab in the dark,

Carmela is the right answer.

Dave, which pop star directed the 2011 film W.E.

about the relationship between Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson?

I think Beyonce was busy having children at the time,

so I don't think it's her.

Jennifer Lopez might have got involved with production

and directing but I don't think this is her type of thing.

But Madonna's always wanted to get a name for herself in terms of films

and also get some gravitas in terms of critics.

That would be my answer. Madonna.

Madonna's the right answer, Dave. You're level after two questions.

Here is your third question, Tracy.

The Oscar-winning song The Morning After featured in which film of the 1970s?

I have seen all three films but many years ago.

Complete and utter guess, again, The Towering Inferno.

Let's see if any of your team-mates know.

-It's tricky this, isn't it?

-I'd have gone for the same thing.

-We'd have gone for the same.

-You'd have said Towering Inferno?

-Dave, what do you think?

-I don't know, is it The Poseidon Adventure?

-It is The Poseidon Adventure, Tracy.

-Never mind.

You got it wrong, not The Towering Inferno.

Dave, this for the round,

your first round.

Who won a best actor Oscar for his performance as Antonio Salieri

in the 1984 film Amadeus?

It's a bit better with the options that are there.

If Tom Hulce had come up, that would have been a toss-up but...

Tom Hulce played Mozart and F Murray Abraham played Salieri,

so F Murray Abraham's my answer.

Playing well, Dave, three out of three on your first outing.

Well done. F Murray Abraham is the right answer.

Sorry, Tracy, been knocked out by our new Egghead

and as a result you will not be able to help your team

-in the final round.

-OK, thank you.

Please come back and rejoin your teams.

-Well done, Dave.

-Relieved to get through.

I think Tracy got the rough end with the third question.

-Just relieved to get to this end. Sorry, Tracy.

-No problem.

What does it feel like playing alongside these legendary quiz team?

It's an honour, to be honest, I don't mean that in any glib way,

these are some of the best quiz players

I've encountered in competitions before, so to be sat here

and having to earn my corn with them, it's going to be a challenge.

Doesn't mean you can't win, by the way. Don't be put off by that.

You have lost one brain from the final round, sorry, Tracy,

but let's see what happens now.

Next subject is Music. Who would like this?

-I'll do music.

-Sue against which Egghead? Anyone but Dave.

I'll take Barry.

OK, so Sue from The Tapes Of Wrath

versus Barry from the Eggheads. You up for this, Barry?

-Absolutely.

-On Music?

-Yes.

-OK.

To ensure there's no conferring,

take your positions in the Question Room.

I'm going to ask each of you three questions on Music in turn.

Sue, you can choose the first or the second set of questions.

I'd like to take the first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go, Sue, best of luck.

MMMBop was a UK hit single for Hanson in which year?

MMM is just three Ms.

1977 I presume would be too early.

1987, 1997...

I think I'll go with 1997.

Superb, you're right, well done. '97 it is.

Did I say that right, Barry - MMMBop?

I believe so.

It couldn't really be anything else, could it?

It's not an opera so you won't know.

Here's your question.

Who set up the rock band, the High Flying Birds in 2010?

I believe the High Flying Birds were set up by Noel Gallagher.

Noel Gallagher from Oasis it was, well done.

Sue, Booker T. & the MG's had a UK top-ten single in 1979 with

an instrumental number named Green...what?

Well, I know that one. It's certainly not potatoes.

It's certainly not bananas, but it's onions.

It is onions. Now, I can't place the tune, hum it someone. No, anyone?

De-de-de de de-de-de...

It's a great tune but we're not doing it justice.

OK. Barry, back to you. Which actress had a UK top 20 single

in 1963 with the song All I Want For Christmas Is A Beatle?

I remember this song. I'm pretty certain it wasn't Wendy Craig

and I don't believe it was Barbara Windsor. I think it was Dora Bryan.

Dora Bryan is the right answer. Well done to each.

-Hard to shake off, these Eggheads, aren't they, Sue?

-They are.

In February 2011 London's Royal Opera House produced a work

based on the life of which woman?

That's a bit hard cos I haven't got a clue.

So I think we'll adopt the Judith method and go...

-down the right. Jackie Kennedy.

-Jackie Kennedy is your answer.

Judith, it's catching on.

Obviously national interest in your method, Judith.

Well, it hasn't worked this time.

It hasn't work, it's Anna Nicole Smith,

which is almost un-guessable, I suppose.

Here's your question, Barry, if you get this right

you've taken the round.

Gilbert and Sullivan's operetta The Pirates Of Penzance

had its official premier in which city in 1879?

Gosh, what an interesting question.

Wish I had an interesting answer for it. I really don't know.

I somehow can't imagine Gilbert and Sullivan up as being premiered

anywhere outside the UK. So I will go with Belfast.

Any Eggheads? Kevin?

My instinct was New York, I don't know why.

-New York is the right answer, Barry, it's not Belfast.

-How interesting.

So, you're level after three questions, well done, Sue.

-Thank you.

-Held him off.

We go to Sudden Death now, it gets that bit harder

because I don't give you alternatives.

-Are you ready?

-I am.

Which American pop band had hit singles in the UK in the 1960s

with Daydream and Summer In The City?

Is it The Lovin' Spoonful?

It is The Lovin' Spoonful, really well done.

Now Barry's struggling to stay in.

The singer, Baaba Maal, was born in which African country, Barry?

Hmm.

Well, it definitely sounds African. But I have no idea where he is from.

Baaba Maal...

I shall try Somalia.

-Anyone know, here?

-Senegal.

Senegal is the answer.

-Well, I got the S bit right.

-Barry, not Somalia. Sue, well done.

Hey, The Tapes, well done to you, you will be in the final.

Barry has been knocked out, he will not be.

Bit of good news for your team. Good stuff.

Please both of you rejoin your teams.

We've got a bit of a contest now. As it stands,

the challengers have lost that one brain but the Eggheads have also now

lost a brain and we'll see what happens next.

It's going to be History.

Who would like History?

-Is it me?

-I don't want to do it.

-No, I don't want it.

-I think it'll be me.

-Phil, OK.

Which Egghead would you like, obviously not Barry or Dave?

I think it's Judith.

Phil against Judith from the Eggheads.

Please take your positions in the Question Room.

I'll ask each of you three questions on History in turn and Phil,

you can choose the first or the second set.

I'll got first, please.

Here is your question, Phil, good luck to you.

The former Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain died in which year?

I think it was a long time after 1940.

I think it was before 1980.

I'm drawn to 1960. That's my answer.

I love a bit of politics, I would have said 1960,

but it is wrong.

He died in 1940.

After waving the letter and the Munich moment and all that.

-He died very quickly.

-It was the end of his life, effectively.

Was only a few months after he ceased to be Prime Minister.

He was shattered, was he?

Yes, effectively. He was ill anyway.

But no doubt that hastened things.

OK, Judith, your question.

What derogatory term was used to refer to intellectual women

of the mid-18th century?

I think that might be bluestockings.

Bluestockings is the right answer.

Phil, to catch up.

Of what did the children Elsie Wright

and Francis Griffiths claim that they had taken a photograph in 1917?

I'm fairly certain I can recall one story about people taking

photographs of fairies in the bottom of their garden, so fairies.

Right answer, well done. I can recall that photo as well.

-It was all mocked up, wasn't it?

-It was taken in Cottingley in Leeds.

Arthur Conan Doyle famously fell for it.

OK, Judith.

In 1668 the Bawdy House Riots took place in which English city?

London seems rather obvious. I think I'm going to say London nonetheless.

-What drew you to London?

-Cos it's the main city.

Brilliant logic. You're right, it is London.

OK, Phil, you must get this one right.

William Caxton's first printed book in English

was a history of which city?

I think this might be a hopeless guess, but I'm going to try Rome.

-See if any Eggheads know. Barry?

-It's titled The Recoil Of Troy.

The Recoil Of Troy.

Troy is the answer, sorry you got that one wrong.

Judith has gone through on History,

which is her strongest subject, I must say.

However, modest she appears on it.

Phil you won't be in the final round and Judith will.

Please both of you come back and rejoin your teams.

The challengers have lost two brains,

the Eggheads have lost one brain from that all important final round.

The last subject for you is Arts & Books.

-Is that a sigh of despair or joy?

-Total despair.

I'll go for it.

Ruth, OK. Which Egghead?

I'll go for Pat.

OK, Ruth from Tapes Of Wrath against Pat from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring, take your positions.

-Good luck, Ruth.

-Thank you.

It's going to be Arts & Books. Three questions,

and you get to choose whether you take the first or second set.

I'd like to go first, please.

OK, Ruth, here we go. In the Shakespeare play Hamlet, who says,

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be"?

I've never read Hamlet. I've never seen it on the stage, either.

I'm going to go for Polonius.

Nice job. You got it right.

Pat, who recounted his experiences in the Spanish Civil War

in the book Homage To Catalonia?

I'm not sure that Arthur C Clarke or Kingsley Amis ever took up arms,

but that book was definitely by George Orwell.

George Orwell is correct. One each. Back to you, Ruth.

The painter M F Hussein who died in 2011 was often referred

to as the Picasso of which country?

I'm going to rule out India...

cos the name sounds more like it would be linked with Egypt or Iran.

I'm going to go for Iran.

I can just imagine more chaotic paintings coming from Iran.

The imagination is good, very good.

It's the wrong answer.

-Yes?

-India.

-Eggheads, India?

But the logic was good there, wasn't it?

-Yes, it was, yes.

-Looking for a kind of Arabic name.

Sorry, Ruth. India it was, you ruled out the right one.

Pat, your question. Cup Of Gold, published in 1929,

was the first novel by which Nobel prize-winning author?

All three authors there have won the Nobel.

Saul Bellow was alive in the '80s and '90s I think,

so perhaps that's just slightly too early for him.

I think it might be a bit early for Ernest Hemingway,

but this is all a bit dodgy.

I'll go for John Steinbeck.

And you've got it right, it was Steinbeck, well done.

He's taken the lead, which means you need this one, Ruth.

Which poet married Erica Mann, daughter of the German novelist

Thomas Mann in the mid 1930s so that she could obtain a British passport?

I'm going to just plump for WH Auden.

You got it right.

I'm better off just guessing as opposed to having educated guesses.

You're plumping is going very well.

OK, Pat, to take the round.

Which writer's much quoted ode features the lines,

"We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams?"

I don't know the answer to this.

I don't know much about the poetry of any of those chaps.

I'm reduced to just going for the one that I have definitely

heard of as a poet and I'll go for William Carlos Williams.

It's not William Carlos Williams it's Arthur O'Shaughnessy.

That means you are level after three questions,

we go to sudden death. Again!

Ruth, a bit harder for you, I don't give you alternatives.

Here's your first question.

In 2010 which photographer made his debut as a sculptor

with a first public show in London consisting of a selection of skulls?

I can't think of any famous photographers at all.

I can't even make a guess. I can't think of anyone.

Sorry.

-You want to pass?

-Yes, pass.

-OK, anybody here?

-No.

-No!

They can't answer it either. Anyone on your team?

David Bailey is the answer. David Bailey.

Pat, if you get this one right, you've taken the round.

The 2011 novel Micro is a posthumous work based on writings

left by which author who died in 2008?

Micro has a sort of scientific slant to it.

I know that Michael Crichton died in the last few years

and he had lots of books called Virus, Contact and Outbreak.

I'll go for Michael Crichton, it's a complete guess.

Michael Crichton is the right answer. Sorry, Ruth.

They were tough questions.

There was a moment when I thought you were going to take

him on the curve. You're not in the final, Pat is,

please both of you rejoin your teams

and we will play that final round.

This is what we've been playing towards,

it's 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.

That means Phil, Ruth and Tracy from the Tapes Of Wrath

and Barry from the Eggheads, would you please now leave the studio?

Sue and Simon, you are playing to win The Tapes Of Wrath £8,000.

Pat, Judith, Kevin and Dave,

you're playing for something which 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,

you are allowed to confer.

Sue and Simon, the question is, are your two brains

better than the Eggheads' four?

Would you like the first set of questions or the second?

We'll go first, please.

Best of luck to you and here we go.

What is the name of the parlour game in which two blind-folded

players attempt to hit each other with rolled up newspapers?

-I've never heard of that, have you?

-No. Party game, newspaper.

I can only guess at Are You There, Holmes? What do you want me to say?

-I'll go with you.

-Yeah? Bit of a guess, it's Are you There, Holmes?

Anyone played this on the Egghead side?

Are You There, Moriarty?

Are You There, Moriarty? it is.

All right, so Eggheads have a chance to take the lead

at a very early stage of the final round.

Who was named president of the Royal Geographical Society in 2009?

-Michael Palin.

-Michael Palin.

-Yeah.

A great traveller, of course, done many series for the BBC,

Michael Palin.

Michael Palin is the right answer.

Your question, Tapes Of Wrath.

What is the nickname of the boxer Carl Froch?

-I know this one, do you know?

-You know it.

I know it, yeah, it's The Cobra.

-The Cobra is the right answer.

-Yes.

-Well done.

Eggheads, your question.

Which medical pioneer married Francoise Gilot,

a former mistress of the artist Picasso?

-Jonas Salk was?

-Polio.

Fleming died in the mid '50s.

Crick was quite long lived, so that's possible,

and obviously he had gained a celebrity status because of the DNA.

-Yep, what about Jonas Salk?

-Well, you know, polio vaccine.

-American.

I don't know.

-I don't either.

-I'd probably rule Fleming out.

If I had to guess, I'd guess Crick.

-Would you?

-Yes.

-I think it's so unlikely an English person, a scientist, would marry someone like that.

-Maybe.

He became known as a writer and that sort of thing, as well.

I don't know it, but on balance I'd go for Crick,

but it could be any of them.

-Shall I go for that?

-Yes.

On balance, we'll try Francis Crick.

I'm just trying to see if Barry likes that answer.

That's usually a bad sign. It's Jonas Salk.

Sorry, Barry.

Here we go with the third question. You get this right,

they get theirs wrong, bang you've won. That's all you have to do.

In 2010, Iveta Radicova became the first female

prime minister of which country?

First thoughts?

Radicova is more like Bulgarian,

Baltic sort of surname.

Baltic's, Slovenia, Slovakia...

-Slovakia?

-Slovakia.

-Yeah.

We'll go with Slovakia, just a guess.

-Slovakia's the right answer.

-Way!

-Get in!

Who knows?

Who knows what might happen now.

Eggheads, you get this wrong the contest is over.

Here is your question. Molokai is an island in which archipelago?

Just double check on the spelling, given the situation.

-It's M-O-L-O-K-A-I?

-Yes, it is.

That's one of the Hawaiian islands.

And you're all agreed on that?

Hawaii is the right answer.

Maybe it never was going to be that easy. So we go to Sudden Death.

Bit harder for you, not multiple choice now.

Which England rugby player was fined over his behaviour

in a dwarf-themed bar in New Zealand in 2011?

I think it was...Ashton, erm...

THEY CONFER

I'm thinking Dean Ashton but I don't think it's Dean Ashton.

I can't think of his first name.

I've only got his second name, Ashton,

but I can't remember his first name.

You need the first name and the second name.

I've got to go with Dean Ashton.

It's not anyone Ashton.

The answer is Mike Tindall.

Eggheads, if you get this right you are the winners.

Which singer, actor and songwriter

was the second husband of Joan Collins?

-Just think about it.

-She got a few husbands.

I think I know, cos it's Tara Newley's the daughter...

there was that Swedish geezer, that Peter Holm,

and she's married to Percy Gibson now...

-and then there was another one, Ron Kass...

-Yes, that's right.

-So Anthony Newley...

-Anthony Newley's the celebrity in there.

Can we have the question again?

Which singer, actor and songwriter

was the second husband of Joan Collins?

Yes, Anthony Newley.

I'm loving the fact that the answer came from Tremendous Knowledge

on the end there, who actually has the whole of Joan Collins'

marital history in his mind. Dave, that's scary.

No, it is a bit scary, actually I've scared myself with that.

The correct answer is Anthony Newly. So congratulations, Eggheads,

you have won.

Commiserations, challengers, but you pushed them to the brink there.

We did, we gave it out best shot.

And it was just the chance, if they'd got that one wrong...

So, bad luck.

-Thank you.

-A historic show for us. I hope you enjoyed it, Dave.

Yes, I did, I enjoyed it very much.

You won your round, which is the key thing, the first round.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them,

they reign supreme over quiz land still,

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £8,000

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

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you, I wonder?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers

have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£9,000 says they don't. Till then, goodbye.

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