Episode 72 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 the awesome might of our quiz Goliaths today

are the Raglan Orphans from Weston-super-Mare.

Until it sadly burnt down last year, this team of friends

used to quiz together at their local, The Raglan Arms.

Thankfully, they have now found a new watering hole,

and their regular quizzing sessions have begun again.

So let's meet them.

Hi. My name's Pete, I'm 58 years old and I'm a newsagent.

Hi. My name's Brig. I'm 75, I'm a retired English language teacher.

Hi. I'm Irene, I'm 68 and I'm a shop manager.

Hi. I'm Kaz, I'm 42 and I'm an admin manager.

Hi. My name's Wendie, I'm 40 and I'm an office manager.

So, Pete and team, welcome. Sad to hear about the Raglan Arms, though.

-Yes, it was a good pub.

-And just burnt down?

Yes. One Sunday morning, it was burnt to the ground.

Now, the interesting thing is you're all from Weston-super-Mare

and that is where Daphne hails from.

Do you know her personally, do you know of her?

I've met her a few times, yes.

-And we did a charity quiz recently for Daphne.

-Terrific.

And when Daphne goes shopping, do people stop her and...?

-I'm sure they do.

-I guess they do.

-Famous in Weston.

-They're lovely.

Everybody you see says, "Oh, we never miss Eggheads."

Well, let's see what happens here. I hope it doesn't take the shine off our Daphne.

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, the Raglan Orphans, I can tell you

that the Eggheads have won the last six games,

which means £7,000 says you can't beat them today.

The first head-to-head battle is on the subject of Geography.

Who would like this?

-I'll take that, if you like, girls?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

Pete, very decisive. OK.

-Brave man.

-So, Pete, the Raglan Orphan,

versus, oh, I'm wondering whether you go straight for your neighbour?

I can't remember if Daphne was good at Geography or not.

Maybe I will, because I've always wanted to play against her in a head-to-head.

This is the moment. OK, Pete from the Raglan Orphans

against Daphne from the Eggheads on Geography.

To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions in the question room.

Pete, just before we crack on, you run a newsagent's on the coast, is that right?

Yes, right opposite the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare.

-Which is, I guess, seasonal, is it?

-It is, yes.

We close at the end of October and open up at the end of March.

Selling newspapers but also the key things like candyfloss and rock?

Candyfloss, rock, fudge, ice cream, you name it.

-Fridge magnets.

-Oh, yeah. You make your own, don't you?

-I do.

Have you been there, Daphne? I bet you have.

I've got a fridge magnet that Pete kindly gave me.

Let's crack on. I'm going to ask each of you

three multiple choice questions on Geography in turn.

Whoever answers the most questions correctly goes though to the final.

Pete, you can choose the first or the second set.

I'll take the first ones, please, Jeremy.

Here we go, good luck to you.

The term Lower 48 is sometimes used to refer

to the continental mainland of which country?

USA...I think.

I've not heard the term before but I'm taking a complete guess on that.

-USA.

-USA is your answer

and it's right. Well done.

Is that meaning, what, the states minus Alaska and Hawaii?

-Yeah, the contiguous states, yeah.

-Right.

Daphne, your question. Which European city

is sometimes referred to as "the pearl of the Danube"?

Well, the only one that's on the Danube is Budapest.

So, it must be Budapest.

Budapest is quite right. Well done.

OK, back to you, Pete. I almost feel you should appeal to her,

and say, "Look, I'm the newsagent on the seafront. For goodness' sake, you can't beat me!"

Calvi, Propriano and Bonifacio are ports on which Mediterranean island?

Having travelled the Mediterranean, I've never heard of those ports.

I was in the merchant navy for 17 years.

I don't think it's Malta. It's between Sardinia and Corsica.

I'm going to plump for Sardinia.

-Daphne?

-Corsica.

-Corsica is the right answer, Pete. Sorry.

The merchant navy probably wouldn't have taken you there.

No. They're very small ports, by the sounds of things.

Yeah. It's a tiny island, Corsica, isn't it?

OK, Daphne.

The Point Of Ayr RSPB site and, by the way, Ayr is A-Y-R,

overlooks which British estuary?

The Point Of Ayr RSPB site overlooks which British estuary?

It's going to be a bit of a guess, this.

Oh, dear.

I can't think.

I'm going to guess at...

..the Dee.

Your guessing is amazing. It is one of these miraculous,

-almost spiritual things. Dee is correct.

-Oh, wow.

All right. Very good.

Pete, back to you. Third question. You need to get this one right, OK?

Cos she's playing well, the girl from Weston.

The Alqueva Dam is located in which country?

Spelt A-L-Q-U-E-V-A. The Alqueva Dam.

The Alqueva.

Having not heard of that again...

Alqueva. It sounds either Spanish or Portuguese.

Alqueva.

I'll plump for Portugal, please.

Nice one. You've got it right, Pete, well done.

If Daphne gets this one, she has taken the round.

What type of geological phenomenon,

Daphne, is a sturzstrom?

I think I might ask you to spell that slowly.

S-T-U-R-Z-S-T-R-O-M,

all one word.

Never heard of it.

Sturzstrom.

Well, another guess.

(A sturzstrom.)

A landslide.

It is a landslide, Daphne. Well done. You've got the round.

-Sorry, Pete, you've been knocked out.

-Oh, dear.

She does do that, even to her friends.

-I'm sorry, Pete.

-That's OK.

So Pete won't be in the final, Daphne will.

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

So, as it stands, the Challengers have lost a brain from the final round.

The Eggheads have not lost a brain yet.

We press on. The next subject is Sport.

Who's the sporting person?

-You're the captain.

-He's going to have to do it.

I can't nominate. You're going to have to choose between yourselves really, cos I know...

It's really not... I am really not into sport.

I'm going to have to be the sacrificial lamb, then, aren't I?

Irene, which Egghead?

OK.

I'm going to take Dave, as he's the new guy.

-Known as Tremendous Knowledge.

-I bet he's good on Sport.

He does know his football.

So, it's Irene from the Raglan Orphans

versus Tremendous Knowledge Dave, our newest Egghead.

To ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions in the question room.

So, Irene, you're also in business on the seafront?

-That's true, just round the corner from Pete.

-And seasonal rock and candy?

Oh, yes. I get stuck up with candyfloss every day of the week.

But it's great. I really feel we're getting the sea breezes in the studio from Weston-super-Mare.

We've got the right people in, haven't we?

It's supposed to be good for you, sea breezes in Weston.

Dave, this is your first Sport round, so we have a moment for you to reveal that you support...

-Manchester United.

-Is that a lifelong thing...

-Yes.

-..or have you got into them in the last couple of years?

-No, I'm from Manchester and it has been lifelong.

-Any other sports you love or hate?

-Cricket I'm a big fan of.

You know, I like a few... Probably only synchronised swimming I can't stand.

I don't class that as a sport at all.

-But, you know, it's going to come up now.

-I know.

That is definitely tempting fate. OK, three questions on Sport,

in turn and, Irene, you can choose the first or the second set of questions.

I'd like to go first, please.

Here we go, Irene, good luck. Joachim Loew was appointed

the head coach of which country's football team in 2006?

Oh, dear.

Judging by the name...

Joachim...

I'm going to try my luck at Germany.

Germany is the right answer, Irene. Well done.

Dave, the description "pound-for-pound" is commonly used

to compare competitors in which sport?

It's not golf, not cricket, it's boxing.

Right again. Well done. Back to you, Irene.

Chaz Davies, the BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year in 2011,

found fame as a leading competitor in which sport?

I've never heard the name, I'm sorry. I just...

..really do not know.

Yachting is...

I'm going to go for yachting.

Let's see if anybody else knows here, anyone?

-I think he's motorcycling.

-He is motorcycling, actually, Irene.

-Oh.

-Sorry to say.

So, you got that one wrong, so Dave could pull ahead.

The Currie Cup is the premier domestic Rugby Union competition in which country?

The Currie Cup, C-U-R-R-I-E,

is the premier domestic Rugby Union competition in which country?

I don't think it's either Australia or New Zealand.

I think the Currie Cup is the major club competition in South Africa.

South Africa is quite right. Well done.

-He loves his sport, I think, Irene.

-Yeah.

He's known as Tremendous Knowledge cos he was on the radio in Manchester answering questions

but I suspect a lot of them were sport questions,

judging by this very sure-footed performance, Dave?

Yeah, I did answer a few sports questions. Got some wrong though, so there's still hope.

OK, Irene, your third question. Don't get this one wrong.

The American Ralph Boston set several world records in which athletics event in the 1960s?

OK, erm...

I might take out the 400m.

I don't...

I don't know why, but I think I'll do a Judith and go down...

..the middle. Pole vault.

Does Judith normally do the middle?

-No, she swerves.

-She goes down on the right, normally.

-Oh.

-And the right would have been right.

-Oh no.

To be fair, she hasn't used that technique for a while.

Long jump is the answer, Irene. So I'm sorry, you got that wrong.

No way back and you have been knocked out.

Dave will be in the final round, winning through on his first attempt at Sport.

Do please, both of you, rejoin your teams.

-Pete, thoughts at this stage?

-We've still got chances.

-You have.

Depends what the categories are, of course.

You have. Let's see what comes up next. You've lost two brains.

The Eggheads have not lost a brain yet from the final round.

And the next subject for you is Arts And Books.

-Uh!

-Oh, a groan.

-Do you want me to take it?

-Do you want to take it?

-Arts And Books.

-I'm useless.

-You were going to do that.

-You said you knew something about it.

-OK, I'll take that one.

-Yeah?

-Wendie against which Egghead?

-Chris maybe?

-Yeah, Chris.

-Go for Chris.

-Chris, please, Jeremy.

Right, so Wendie from the Raglan Orphans against Chris.

-In fact, this is three in a row.

-This is getting predictable.

I said to him in the last game, "What are you reading?" and he said, "Nothing".

So, anyway, Chris from the Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

-So, Wendie, you're an office manager and a mum?

-Yes, that's right, yes.

-With quite a menagerie at home, I gather?

-Absolutely, yes.

-Go on, take us through it.

-We've got two dogs, two cats, two gerbils

-and two children.

-Two little girls?

-Yeah.

-Where does the most serious fighting happen?

-Oh, the kids, definitely.

I'm going to ask each of you three questions on Arts And Books in turn.

Wendie, would you like the first or the second set of questions?

Second, please, Jeremy.

Chris, your first question.

The bicentenary of the birth of which writer was celebrated on the 7th February 2012?

That makes him born 1812, so that's Charles Dickens.

Quite right, he was indeed.

Charles Dickens. Wendie,

which musical instrument does Sherlock Holmes sometimes play?

Oh, goodness.

I would probably go for...

..the violin, Jeremy.

You've got it right, as well. Well done.

Does, in the brilliant adaptation by Steven Moffat,

is Benedict Cumberbatch playing the violin in that?

-I can't remember.

-Yes, I think he is.

-He does, yeah.

I think he probably does. Yeah. OK, Chris, your question.

Have you read any books since the last edition of Eggheads?

-No.

-That wasn't the question, by the way.

-Oh, right.

I just like to keep abreast of things. Here is your question.

In which century did Leonardo da Vinci paint the Mona Lisa?

15...

It wasn't the 14th. 13-something...

15-something, so it was the 16th.

They're sent to try us, those questions,

but it is the 16th. You're quite right.

OK, Wendie,

what name links an iconic sculpture by Rodin

with a 1907-1908 painting by Gustav Klimt?

I really am not sure

but I...

I'm going to go for The Kiss. Down the middle.

It rings a bell.

And you're right cos you got it completely right. Well done.

So you've got two out of two there. Good going.

Chris has got two out of two as well. Let's see if he slips up.

In 1965, which English-born poet was appointed

as the American equivalent of Poet Laureate?

Ah, wasn't Ted Hughes.

Auden was getting on a bit by that time

but wasn't he half-American, anyway?

WH Auden.

-Actually, you're wrong on that. It's Stephen Spender.

-Oh, right.

So, not him. Stephen Spender. This is good, Wendie.

You could trounce an Egghead on Arts And Books.

Get this one right, that's all you have to do. Question three.

Who succeeded Nicholas Grimshaw as President of the Royal Academy of Arts in 2011?

I have no idea, I'm afraid.

It's going to be a complete guess.

I'm going to go for Ian Ritchie.

It's not Ian Ritchie, it's Christopher Le Brun.

So, we go to Sudden Death, which means, Chris,

it's not multiple choice, of course, so that bit harder.

In which 1939 play is the main character a drama critic called Mortimer Brewster?

-The Man Who Came To Dinner.

-I'm afraid you're wrong.

-Is it Arsenic And Old Lace?

-It is.

-Oh, I had it!

By Joseph Kesselring.

So, here we are again, Wendie. This was a stroke of genius, going second, wasn't it?

It's given you the initiative. Get this right, you're in the final.

Which novel of the 1950s is set largely in the fictional Yorkshire town of Warley

and has the young accountant Joe Lampton as its leading character?

I'm really completely blank. I'm sorry.

I'm going to have to pass, I'm afraid. I really don't know. I'm sorry. Sorry, team.

-Chris?

-It's Room At The Top by John Braine.

That's right. So we're back where we started. Sudden Death and equal.

Chris, over to you. The harpooner Queequeg is a character in which 1851 novel?

-Moby Dick.

-Moby Dick is the right answer. Well done. By Herman Melville.

OK, Wendie, you need this to stay in.

Which 20th century play is based around the prosperous, middle class Birling family,

who are questioned about the suicide of a young, working class woman, Eva Smith?

Oh, gosh. I know I should know this.

Oh, my goodness.

I'm not clicking my fingers, so I'm definitely not sure I know it.

I'm going to have to pass. I'm so sorry, team.

-Anyone in your team know?

-I think it's An Inspector Calls.

-It is, Brig, yeah. An Inspector Calls...

-Of course.

-..by JB Priestley.

Chris, you've taken the round. Well done.

You're in the final. Sorry, Wendie, you've been knocked out.

Please, both of you, rejoin your team-mates here in the studio.

So as it stands, the Challengers have lost three brains. The Eggheads have not lost a brain yet.

Now, do you change the formation?

-Do you walk into the waves?

-I think we need Brig, with her old head on her shoulders,

in the final, really, if we lose the next round.

Oh, you're being saved for the final, Brig?

It's beginning to look like it, yes, afraid so.

Well, no-one escapes completely, that's for sure. The last subject is Music.

-Who wants to do it? So it's Kaz. It's you, is it?

-Yeah, it's me.

Right. Against which Egghead? It can be Barry or Pat.

Pete, what do you reckon?

-I think Barry.

-I'm going to take Barry on.

OK. So Kaz on Music against our Egghead over there, Barry,

who likes his music, of various sorts.

And to ensure there's no conferring, please go to the question room.

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

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

I'd like to go first, please.

Here we go. Good luck, Kaz. I know you love your music.

-Yes, I do.

-In which year was the musician Gary Barlow born?

I should know this.

Right.

I'm going to go...

Knowing the year I was born,

I'm going to go 1971.

-Is that the year you were born?

-No, I was born a couple of years

before that, so I think he's just a bit younger than me.

-But not that much younger.

-No.

-You're absolutely right.

Well done, Kaz. Brilliant.

It's tricky, cos he's started looking much younger now

-than he did five years ago.

-Yes.

-He's been reborn.

Barry, your question. The Power, which spent 12 weeks

in the UK top 40 singles chart in 1990 is a single by which group?

The Power.

I'm sorry to say I've never heard of that.

"Snap!" "Crack!"

I can't imagine there's a group called "Crack!"

That has too many connotations.

Or "Whoop!"

-So I shall go for "Snap!"

-And you've got it right, Barry. That's good.

So "Snap!" is the right answer, Barry. Well done.

Kaz, your question, second question. Who wrote the song All Along the Watchtower,

which was a UK top five single for The Jimi Hendrix Experience in 1968?

That's before me, so I am going to have to completely guess at this.

I don't think it's Eric Clapton.

Do I do a Judith and go to the right, or do I go to the left?

I've never heard of Neil Young.

So purely, as a guess,

I'm going to go Bob Dylan.

-You haven't heard of Neil Young?

-No.

OK. I hope he's not watching.

That's the answer.

-Well, Bob Dylan is the answer though. Well done.

-Oh, thank God.

Yeah, how do we introduce the joys of Neil Young, Barry?

I'm sure you like him.

-Yes. He's a...

-Genius, isn't he?

-Heart Of Gold, isn't it? That's a great song.

-Yes.

Heart of Gold, Kaz. Maybe get that on your device.

-I think I will do.

-Honestly, you'll love it, you'll love it.

Barry, here's your question. In 1980, Fern Kinney

had a UK number one single with Together We Are what?

Oh, a second one I've never heard of.

Together We Are Marvellous,

Beautiful or Amazing.

Well, they all could do, but the one that seems to make more sense to me

is Together We Are Beautiful.

-Kaz, I bet you know this one.

-I think he's right.

He is right, yes. Together We Are Beautiful.

-You jammy person.

-Two in a row.

2-2 it is.

Let's see what happens on our third question. Over to you, Kaz.

Which English-born composer won Oscars for his work

on the soundtracks of the films Oklahoma,

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Annie Get Your Gun?

And I just knew one of these questions was going to come up.

And I was looking at musicals earlier.

Can you repeat the question again, please?

Which English-born composer won Oscars for his work

on the soundtracks of the films Oklahoma,

Seven Brides For Seven Brothers and Annie Get Your Gun?

Again, I have no idea.

And this is another guess.

Adolf Doo...Dolch...Dootch...

Dutch. Sorry.

-Adolf Dutch, Dootch, Deutsch.

-I don't think it's him.

I'm going to go down the middle. Ray Heindorf.

Ray Heindorf. I wish you had stayed with Adolf Deutsch.

-Oh!

-It was Mr Deutsch.

So, Barry, you have a chance now. Let's see if you can

produce some knowledge...

-That would help.

-..from that enormous brain.

Which soprano was married to the HMV executive Walter Legge?

You would give me three sopranos, wouldn't you?

I'm really not sure on this one as well.

(Walter Legge.)

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf was famous for when she was on Desert Island Discs,

she chose eight records and they were all her own songs.

I've heard that. That's amazing. I didn't know it was her.

I heard a story vaguely that someone had done that. Is that right?

-Yes, indeed.

-Wonderful.

So, on that basis, which isn't very scientific,

I'll go for Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

So, your answer is Elisabeth Schwarzkopf.

But you haven't really got a clue? You've got a bit of a clue?

OK. If you get this right, the round is over.

Elisabeth Schwarzkopf is the right answer, Barry.

Do we say well played to him, Kaz? I'm not sure.

-Kaz, you played really well there.

-Thank you.

Sorry you've been knocked out. Barry will be in the final.

And if you both come back to us, we will play the final round.

So this is what we have been playing towards.

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

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

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

So, Pete, Irene, Kaz and Wendie

from the Raglan Orphans, please leave the studio.

Well, this is exciting, Brig.

Pete said he was saving me as his secret weapon. I hope I'm not a damp squid.

-Squib.

-Well, squid actually, for Weston-super-Mare, I think we could go squid.

Brig, you're playing to win the Raglan Orphans £7,000.

Dave, Daphne, Chris, Barry and Pat.

Full strength Eggheads, you are playing for something that money can't buy...

the Eggheads' reputation.

Now, as usual, I'm going to ask each team three questions.

They are going to be General Knowledge, Brig,

-and you are allowed to confer. I always say that.

-OK.

It's going to be a bit difficult, unless you confer with me.

So, Raglan Orphans, or Brig, I should say,

the question now is, is your one brain better than the Eggheads' five?

-Believe me, you can win. It's been done.

-It remains to be seen.

One at a time, guys. Don't crowd me.

Do you want to go first or second?

I want to go first, please.

First question. Which gold medallist from the Sydney Olympics

took part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing?

I don't know why, but I have a very strong feeling

..that it was Jonathan Edwards. But I don't why.

I'll go for Jonathan Edwards.

-Actually, it was Audley Harrison.

-Ooh, dear.

Eggheads, your question to take the lead.

The journalist Mazher Mahmood is best known

for assuming the character of which identity for his undercover investigations?

-Sheikh.

-Sheikh.

-Fake sheikh.

Fake sheikh. Fake sheikh.

We think this must be the fake sheikh,

a la Sven-Goran Eriksson and all those sort of...

..exposes. So we think it's a sheikh.

Your answer is sheikh.

Sheikh is the right answer. Well done.

Why do people keep falling for that?

If a sheikh walked in here and tried to... You'd actually immediately think it was him.

-I know.

-OK, Brig, your question.

Harrisburg is the capital of which eastern US state, nicknamed the Keystone State.

Harrisburg. I know it's not Missouri.

And Pennsylvania is kind of over there.

And I'm not really sure where West Virginia is.

It's either Pennsylvania or West Virginia.

Harrisburg.

I've got this feeling about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I'm not really sure. Harrisburg.

I'm going to go for West Virginia.

West Virginia is your answer. Pittsburgh is in Pennsylvania

but sometimes the capital is different.

And in this case, the capital of Pennsylvania

-is Harrisburg, Brig.

-Oh, dear.

You were close, you were oscillating between them.

My team is going to kill me because I was actually studying US state capitals.

Oh, really? For this? And they are, sometimes they're unusual.

-I guess you guys all know them.

-Yeah. Of course, yeah.

-So, West Virginia is what?

-Richmond?

-Is that Charleston?

Charleston. All right.

Now that means if you get this one right, Eggheads, you have won the contest.

Which American film director and comic co-created the 1960s TV series Get Smart?

I thought it was Mel Brooks. I thought it was Mel Brooks.

I thought it was Mel Brooks.

I'm pretty sure we can rule out Woody Allen and Rob Reiner.

I think it's Mel Brooks, that's very much that type of thing.

-It's that zany thing. I think it's Mel Brooks.

-Yes, Mel Brooks.

-I don't know, so...

-Mel Brooks.

We think it's Mel Brooks.

If you've got this right, the contest is over.

The answer is Mel Brooks.

Two points to nil. Sorry, Brig.

We say congratulations, Eggheads. You have won.

-Hard to do it on your own, there.

-Luck of the draw, isn't it?

And I'm really cross about that Harrisburg. I should have known that.

-Well, bad luck to you.

-My team will kill me.

No, they won't, because they're out back, so they can't.

Commiserations to the challengers. The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them

and their winning streak continues.

That does mean, Brig, you won't be going home with the £7,000,

so our money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, many congratulations.

I'm starting to wonder who will ever beat you.

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£8,000 says they don't. Till then, goodbye.

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