Episode 86 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 five quiz challengers pit their wits

against possibly the greatest quiz team in Britain. They are the Eggheads.

Taking on the might of our Eggheads today are the Quizzer Sisters from Essex.

This team of friends and colleagues

like to test their general knowledge know-how and despite Matt not quite fitting the team's name,

he's happy being an honorary sister for quizzing. Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Bev, I'm 57 years old and I'm a town centres and bids manager.

Hi, I'm Maureen, I'm 53 years old and I'm a secretary.

Hi, I'm Betty, I'm 60 years old and I'm an accounts manager.

Hi, I'm Carly, I'm 25 and a systems administrator.

Hi, my name's Matt, I'm 39 and I'm a planner.

-So Bev and team, welcome.

-Thank you.

-Three of you met on the school run?

That's right. Maureen, Betty and I, over 20 years ago.

-Are you fans of the Scissor Sisters?

-It's just a play on words, actually.

We're made up of two teams and Matt is our honorary guy for our team tonight.

There is a bloke in the Scissor Sisters, isn't there? And one here. Well, good luck to you.

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

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

So the challengers won the last game, proving it can be done,

-which means £1,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads. Shall we get cracking?

-Yes.

The first Head to Head is on Music.

Who wants this?

- Matt? - Shall I take that?

-OK.

-All right. Before you go, choose an Egghead.

Which one does not look musical?

I think I will take on...

em, Daphne.

-I hope there's lots of classical!

-And musicals.

-Yes, yes.

-And musicals.

So Matt versus our own Daphne from the Eggheads on Music.

To ensure no conferring, please take your positions in the Question Room.

I'll ask each of you three multiple choice questions. Whoever gets the most right goes through.

The other person gets knocked out. Matt, the first or second set?

I'll go for the second set, I think.

Here we go, Daphne. The entertainer Liberace was best known for his skill on which musical instrument?

Liberace was a pianist.

The piano is quite right. Well done. Matt,

the opera singer Placido Domingo was born in 1941 in which country?

Oh, dear.

I think it's, em...

Placido Domingo is not a French name.

I'm going to go...

Spain.

I'm glad you did. Spain is right. Well done, Matt.

First point to a Quizzer Sister.

What was the title of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's first UK number one?

I think... it was Relax.

How do you know that?

-Didn't it get banned or something?

-I think it was banned by Radio One.

-Yes.

-Mike Read wouldn't play it.

Relax is the right answer. OK, Matt,

try and stay level with Daphne. What is the name of the lead singer of the band Mumford and Sons?

Right, OK. Mumford and Sons.

I don't know this one, so I'm going to take an educated guess.

Not a Morgan. I can see his face.

I think I'm going to go Marcus.

-Is he right, team?

-I think so.

-Yeah, you are. Well done, Matt.

It would have been easy to get that wrong. Two points each. Daphne,

which musician and band leader was known as the Sentimental Gentleman of Swing?

I can't believe it! I actually read this this morning,

so I know it is...

Tommy Dorsey.

-Where did you read that?

-I was looking through some music questions

and there it was.

-It's what you do of a morning - look through potential music questions.

-I do!

Tommy Dorsey is right. That doesn't seem fair, Matt.

-Maybe you were doing the same thing.

-I've done a bit of reading.

-See if it covers this question.

The Perfect Fool and At The Boar's Head are operas by which composer?

I...

Well, they're English titles. I know Gustav Holst spent a lot of time in England.

Obviously, Benjamin Britten would be the obvious choice.

I think I'm going to take a punt and go for Gustav Holst.

-Is he right, Daphne?

-Yes, he is!

-Well done, Matt.

We go to sudden death. It gets just a touch harder.

-I don't give you alternatives. Ready, Daphne?

-Yeah.

In 1964, which singer and trumpeter became the oldest man to have a US number one single with Hello, Dolly?

Oh.

Louis Armstrong?

Louis Armstrong is the right answer.

He was in his early 60s.

Matt, you need to get this right or you've been knocked out.

Which Emmy, Classical Brit and BAFTA-winning composer wrote the theme tune for QI?

For QI.

Em...I'm trying to think of the sound of the QI soundtrack now.

Maybe...

No, I'm struggling a little bit. I'll go for the only one I can think of, which is Maurice Jarre.

It doesn't sound right.

-It's not. It's Howard Goodall...

-Of course it is.

-..who wrote it.

You've been knocked out.

You won't be in the final round. Daphne will be. Please come back and rejoin your teams.

Daphne, when you say you look at lists of questions, what are they?

Em, well, I've got all sorts.

I categorise them and...

I put them in a form where I've got the question and then I leave a space

if I can remember what the answer is. And I was just looking at them, and there was Tommy Dorsey!

As it stands, the challengers have lost a brain from the final round, but it's very early days.

The next subject is Science.

Who would like this?

- Who's doing Science? - Do you want me to take that one?

I'll take Science.

-I'll take that one.

-Against which Egghead? It can't be Daphne.

-Let's go for...Tremendous Knowledge Dave.

-Right. Glad you're picking up on the nickname. That's good.

So Bev from Quizzer Sisters versus Tremendous Knowledge Dave.

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

-Bev, you've got a quizzical claim to fame?

-Yes, I have, yes.

-Go on, tell us.

-On a radio quiz, a phone-in, I actually beat Ben Elton on a battle of the sexes.

-Do you remember the question?

-He got his wrong and I got my next one right, so I won more than him.

-This is right up your street, Dave. Your public life started on the radio.

-Yes, it did,

with people phoning in with questions. I try to answer as best I can.

Presumably people could ring in on this radio station and they could completely stump you?

Absolutely. They'd phone in with anything. One that Chris would like,

somebody asked me about the Leeds-Middlesbrough Line and wanted every station on it.

I think I got Leeds and Middlesbrough!

So we're on Science now. I'll ask three questions in turn.

Whoever answers the most wins. Bev, the first or second set?

I think I'll go first, please.

What name is given to the method of preserving organic material by removing its water content?

Em...detoxification is the removal of chemicals and toxins, so I don't think it's that one.

And...

I really do think it's desiccation,

as in coconut and stuff for cooking, so I'll go for desiccation, please.

Desiccation is right. Well done. Tremendous Knowledge Dave,

which famous scientist and inventor was killed during a Roman attack of Syracuse in the 3rd century BC?

Right, OK. I'm going to go for...

Archimedes.

You've got it bang-on, Dave. Archimedes is the right answer.

One-each. Back to you, Bev.

In the animal kingdom, the pectoralis and supracoracoideus muscles

work in tandem to achieve what?

OK.

Well, pector is the chest muscles.

So that could be for flight.

I don't think it's digestion.

I'm going to go with flight, Jeremy. I think it's something to do with...

So I'm going to go for flight.

OK, flight is your answer. Flight is correct. Well done.

Back to you, Dave.

What type of creatures are the British grey dagger and the shark?

Well...

I'll go for fish.

-No, they're moths.

-Fair enough.

Bev, if you get this one right

you're in the final round and you will have knocked out Dave. Take your time.

The American Edwin Drake is often credited with contributing to the invention of what device

in the 19th century?

I have to be honest, Jeremy, and say I really don't know this one!

Refrigerator - I don't think it's refrigerator.

Telegraph? Drake. Doesn't ring a bell.

Em...I'm going to go for oil well,

only because I think the other two were other people.

-Let's see if the Eggheads know.

-Yes. The first was in Pennsylvania.

Barry says the first one was in Pennsylvania. You're quite right.

It was the oil well. Well done.

So no way back for Dave.

A celebration for your team. You've got a player in the final.

Please rejoin your teams.

-Nice work, Bev.

-Thank you.

-You knocked out an Egghead.

The challengers have lost one brain, as have the Eggheads. Come on!

The next subject is Geography.

Oh, that's me!

-OK, Betty.

-That's me, yes.

-And which Egghead?

-And...

I'll take Chris, please.

-How's that for you today, Chris?

-It's OK.

Overwhelmed. He's overwhelmed.

So Betty from the Quizzer Sisters versus an overwhelmed Chris.

To make sure there's no conferring, please take your positions.

When I said Geography, Betty, everyone said your name.

-Because nobody else likes it.

-And you've done a bit of travelling?

Not extensively, but quite a bit of Europe and I had a trip to the Far East.

I just quite like the subject, so fingers crossed.

I'll ask each of you three questions on Geography in turn.

-Betty, first or second?

-First, please.

Good luck. Atlantic City is located on which coast of the USA?

Atlantic City... Atlantic City.

I don't think it's the west.

Atlantic... I'm not sure, but I'm going to go for east coast.

Very good. It is the east coast.

OK, Chris, your question.

England's Lyme Bay is located on which body of water?

Lyme Bay is on the English Channel.

English Channel is right. Back to you, Betty.

In which country is the most westerly point on the African mainland?

Em... Well, it's not Sudan because that's over on the east.

I think I'll go Senegal.

Is she right, team? Yeah! Bev has punched the air again.

Senegal it is. Well done. Chris, to catch up...

Mount Narodnaya is the highest peak in which mountain range?

Er, it's not the Dolomites. They're in Italy.

It's Elbrus in the Caucasus, so the Urals.

You are right. It is the Urals. OK, Betty, your third question.

The islands of Panay, Mindoro and Negros are a part of which country?

Right. I'm afraid it will have to be a guess.

And I think I'll go...

Philippines.

You've got it right!

You're very good at this.

Chris,

get this wrong, you're knocked out.

The Asinelli and Garisenda Towers are well-known landmarks in which Italian city?

Well, Milan's not a very ancient place at all.

Unlikely to be Milan.

Probably because it's got the richer architectural and artistic heritage, I'll say Florence.

Florence is wrong! Well done, Betty! You're in the final!

-I couldn't wait to tell you! It's Bologna.

-As in sausage!

Exactly!

Sorry. Well done, Betty. You are also through to the final round. Chris has been knocked out.

Please come back and rejoin your teams.

So the challengers have lost one brain, the Eggheads have lost two!

Is this exciting or what? The last subject is Film and TV.

Who would like this?

-Carly?

-I'll give it a go.

-Carly?

-Yeah.

-Ready?

-As I can be!

You can have Barry or Pat. Which is the most attractive?

What a choice! I'll give Pat a go, please.

OK, so Carly from Quizzer Sisters versus Pat.

Please go to the Question Room.

-OK, Film and TV, three questions. Would you like first or second?

-First, please.

Here we go. The fictional adventurer Indiana Jones was initially created by which filmmaker?

Right.

I'm not too sure.

I'll take a guess and say George Lucas.

-Very good. It is George Lucas.

-Well done!

-OK, Pat.

In 2006, Chelsee Healey took on the role of Janeece Bryant in which TV series?

Oh, dear.

I have no idea. I'll guess EastEnders.

-I know Daphne will know this.

-It's Waterloo Road.

Waterloo Road, Pat. Hear that, Carly?

-I did.

-That's good news for you. Here's your question.

Liz Lemon is a character in which TV comedy series?

Comedy.

I've only ever seen one episode of 30 Rock. I'm pretty sure she wasn't in that.

I will go with Modern Family, please.

-Modern Family is wrong. It's actually 30 Rock.

-Oh!

Pat, your question.

Carol Kirkwood and Lucy Verasamy are famous in which capacity on TV?

Carol Kirkwood... Certainly I've seen a Carol presenting the weather.

I don't know anything about Lucy, but there certainly is a regular weather presenter called Carol,

so I'll go for weather presenters.

Weather presenters is right.

OK, it's one point each.

Carly, who was the writer and director of the 2011 British film Tyrannosaur?

I never saw it, so this is going to be a complete mess.

Michael Winterbottom.

Is the wrong answer.

Paddy Considine it is. So we're swinging this way and that. Pat now has a chance.

Who was the first person to be Oscar-nominated in four categories for one film

on two separate occasions - once in the '70s, once in the '80s?

-Crikey.

-It's the longest question we've had for a while, isn't it?

Quite an achievement to be Oscar-nominated in four categories for one film on two occasions.

My first thought is Warren Beatty with Reds, which he wrote, directed, starred in and something else.

That could be one leg of the double. Robert Redford had Ordinary People. He directed, but didn't star.

Francis Ford Coppola usually stays behind the camera, so he'd be possibly a producer.

He could be producer, director and writer, possibly.

I think because of Reds,

where Warren Beatty did everything, I'll go for Warren Beatty.

You've gone for Warren Beatty.

-Is he right, Eggheads?

-We think so.

-What's the other film?

-One is Reds.

-Did he do Heaven's...?

-The other one is Heaven Can Wait, Pat.

You're absolutely right about Reds.

He made the tea there as well! Pat's taken it. Sorry, Carly.

You've been knocked out, I'm afraid. Pat will be in the final.

If you both come back to us, we will play that final round.

This is what we've been playing towards. Time for the final round on general knowledge.

But those of you who lost

won't be allowed to take part. So Carly and Matt from the Quizzer Sisters

and Dave and Chris from the Eggheads, please leave the studio.

Bev, Maureen and Betty, you are playing in the final.

-We've got the original Quizzer Sisters, the school run.

-That's right.

-Well, good luck.

You're playing to win the team £1,000. Daphne, Barry and Pat are playing for the Eggheads' reputation

and it was badly dented in the last contest. I will ask each team three questions in turn.

They're all general knowledge and you can confer.

So are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three?

-And would you like to go first or second?

-Go first, please.

Here we go.

Good luck. Which word taken from the Latin for "do everything" is given to someone

regarded as a Jack of all trades?

I would have thought it was factotum. Isn't facto "to do"?

-Yeah.

-Caveat is... Caveat emptor, "beware".

-Yeah.

Erratum is an error. So my guess would be factotum.

-Happy with that?

-Yeah.

We'll go with factotum, please.

Factotum is the right answer.

Eggheads,

I can see you're nervous. You don't want to lose again.

What phrase is a financial term referring to the brief temporary recovery in the value of stocks

immediately following a major fall in the market?

Dead Cat Bounce.

The wonderfully-named Dead Cat Bounce.

It IS Dead Cat Bounce. Well done.

OK, your question. One each.

Which country was the setting for the film The Year of Living Dangerously starring Mel Gibson?

-The Year of Living Dangerously?

-I've not heard of this film at all.

-And you're so good on films!

-I know. Not this.

-The Year of Living Dangerously.

Let's try and work that one out.

-Why would they be living dangerously?

-Indonesia?

-What would you lean towards?

-I'll probably lean towards...

-Vietnam, maybe.

-Vietnam?

-The landscape?

-I've just come back from Vietnam. Let's go for it.

Yeah, as a lucky charm, let's go for it.

We don't really know this one. It's a bit of a guess.

We're going to go for Vietnam.

OK. Eggheads, which is it?

-I think it's Indonesia.

-Sorry - Indonesia is the answer.

Eggheads,

what is the title of John Le Carre's sequel to his novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?

They're all Le Carre titles.

I'm not sure.

-We've nothing really to go on.

-No.

My goodness. We're not doing very well, are we?

-We should know this.

-Any preference?

-A slight preference for Perfect Spy,

-but I don't have anything.

-We're all at sea on this one.

The three of us have a slight preference for A Perfect Spy.

I don't know if three slight preferences equal a right answer!

-We'll go for A Perfect Spy.

-Do you know?

-I went for Perfect Spy.

-Tailor of Panama.

-Honourable Schoolboy!

OK! Betty, you got it right. The answer is Honourable Schoolboy.

Honourable Schoolboy. Oh, this is interesting.

Isn't it? You've got the wind behind you.

What was the first name of the Royal Navy officer after whom the Canadian city of Vancouver was named?

It'll be somebody Vancouver. Geoffrey, George, Giles Vancouver?

-Is Giles more of a modern-day name?

-Geoffrey's a very old name.

-Possibly.

-A very old name. And so is George.

-Yeah.

And when was it? Named after...

-It's a pure guess.

-Again!

Is Geoffrey more clerical? I'd go George.

-Geoffrey?

-Go with your gut instinct.

You were right last time.

I'm not feeling anything. I was on the last one. I don't know.

-Perhaps George.

-Perhaps George?

-What do you think?

-It's a decision.

-Go on, then.

Pretty much no idea. We're going to go for George.

So interesting listening to you.

-You're right, well done! It IS George.

-Well done.

OK, Eggheads, pressure on you.

If you don't get this right, you've been defeated again.

Drottningholm is the name of a palace traditionally belonging to the royal family of which country?

I think it means Queen's Island. Near Stockholm.

-I'm pretty certain that's Sweden.

-Yes.

-Are we all agreed?

-Yeah.

We're on firmer ground here. Sweden.

That's a shame, isn't it? They are right. It's sudden death.

It's a bit harder. I don't give you alternatives.

Which band had UK top 40 singles with Fisherman's Blues and The Whole of The Moon?

-I know this one...

-Do you?

I know the song. It's a great song, but I can't remember who recorded it.

-It can't come.

-I can't remember.

-No idea, sorry.

-We need to come up with somebody, then.

-We do.

-What year? What decade?

-You think it's early '90s?

-I think so. Late '80s, early '90s.

-So who are we looking at then?

-Toploader?

-I can't think of anyone else.

-I can't think of any names.

-Toploader?

-Deacon Blue?

No, I don't think Deacon Blue.

-Maybe... Yeah, go with that.

-Go with that?

It's a pure guess. I really don't know, but something's leading me to that.

OK, purely on a hunch, we're going to go with Deacon Blue.

The answer is The Waterboys.

Sorry.

The Eggheads have a chance to win.

In Norse mythology, who was the father of the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jormungandr?

-Loki?

-Loki. Yes.

We all love mythology on our side and the answer to that is Loki.

The father of the wolf Fenrir and the serpent Jormungandr is indeed Loki.

So we say congratulations, Eggheads. You have won.

-Commiserations, Quizzer Sisters. It was nip and tuck.

-Certainly was.

You ended up equal in the final round and they struggled a bit.

It would have been nice to have The Waterboys. Good to see you. Thank you for coming in.

Well done to the Eggheads. They have done what comes naturally to them.

They reign supreme over quizland once again. You won't be going home with £1,000, so it rolls over.

Eggheads, very well done. Will you win the next game?

Join us next time to see if a new team can defeat them.

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

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd