Episode 130 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.

Hoping to beat the might of the Eggheads today are No Direction.

This team of friends from Mirfield, in West Yorkshire,

regularly quiz together at the Pear Tree pub.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm James, I'm 23 and I'm an operational insight analyst.

Hi, I'm Tom, I'm 23 and I am a calculations executive.

Hello, I'm Ryan, I'm 30, and a banking consultant.

Hi, I'm Jonny, I'm 30 years old and I am an IT problem coordinator.

Hi, I'm Adam, I'm 28 and I'm a chemistry student.

-So James and team, welcome, good to see you.

-ALL: Hello.

You quiz together and you do karaoke together.

We do. Certainly, which is where the nickname No Direction comes from.

As a play on One Direction?

Absolutely, which is one of Ryan's favourite bands!

-JEREMY LAUGHS

-Sorry, I shouldn't have laughed.

LAUGHTER

What did you sing when you sang in the karaoke?

We tend to play a game we like to call karaoke roulette,

whereby we pick the most horrible song we can think of,

write it down and then we each pick one out of a hat.

And the serious quiz goes on in this pub?

Absolutely, and a couple of the other local pubs, as well.

We like to get together to give it our best.

Good luck against the Eggheads. Every day, there is £1,000 of cash up for grabs for our Challengers.

If they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, No Direction, the Eggheads have won the last ten games,

which means £11,000 says you can't beat them today.

-Do you want to give it a go?

-ALL: Absolutely.

The first head-to-head battle is on the subject of Film & Television.

Who would like this?

-We've decided?

-Definitely Adam.

-I'll take that one.

-Adam, OK.

Against an Egghead. You can have anyone of them.

THEY CONFER

I think maybe Barry, do you think?

Yes, I think it's a general consensus. I'll take Barry, please.

Good, Adam from No Direction versus Barry from the Eggheads.

Film & Television is the subject. To ensure there is no conferring,

please take your positions in the Question Room.

Film & Television, Adam, would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go, good luck.

Des and Daphne Clarke, played by Paul Keane

and Elaine Smith were a married couple in which TV soap?

Um, I watch a bit of Emmerdale and the names don't ring a bell.

When I was younger, I watched a bit of Neighbours.

I've not watched Hollyoaks much, but I will go for Hollyoaks, please.

It's Neighbours, Adam.

OK, Barry, over to you.

Who played DI Alec Hardy in the 2013 drama series Broadchurch?

My wife has all these on video, recorded for me

for when I come home so I can watch them.

Unfortunately, I haven't watched them yet, so I don't know.

Let me have a think.

I don't think it's Martin Clunes. Broadchurch...

I think it might be David Tennant, but I'm really not sure.

David Tennant is correct. OK, Adam, your question.

In the year in which Bob Fosse won a Best Director Oscar for Cabaret,

which film won the Oscar for Best Film?

I must admit, I've not really seen any of these films,

so I will have to try and work my way through them.

I know...

I'd have thought The Godfather was earlier than Cabaret.

Um, out of the other two, I would be erring towards

The French Connection.

I'll go for The French Connection, please.

It's actually The Godfather.

The Godfather won for Best Film,

Bob Fosse won for Cabaret for Best Director.

Interesting. OK. Barry.

Samantha Barks, who played Eponine

in Tom Hooper's film version of Les Miserables,

came third in which 2008 TV talent show?

Oh, I do try and avoid watching TV talent shows as much as I can.

I think Samantha Barks was wonderful in Les Mis.

I don't think it was I'd Do Anything.

Because that was about finding somebody to play Nancy.

Oh, it could've been.

No, on second thoughts, I will go for I'd Do Anything.

I'd Do Anything is right. Well done.

With two correct answers, Barry, you have taken the round

Adam, I'm sorry, you've been knocked out.

Adam and Barry, please come back and rejoin your teams.

So, as it stands, No Direction have lost one brain from the final round

while the Eggheads have not lost a brain so far.

The next subject is Music.

I'm thinking this is good.

-We should have a music expert. Just to build it up.

-Go on, then, Jonny.

Jonny. Go, Jonny, go, against which Egghead?

-It's a difficult one.

-It can't be Barry.

-I'm thinking maybe Judith.

-THEY AGREE

We'll take Judith.

OK, Jonny from No Direction versus Judith from the Eggheads on Music.

Please go to the Question Room now.

Here we go with Music, would you like to go first or second?

I'll go second, please.

Here is your question, Judith.

"I'm begging of you, please, don't take my man"

is a phrase addressed to which song title character?

Oh, I think that's Jolene, isn't it?

Jolene. Correct. Can you sing it?

-No, I certainly cannot sing it.

-Written by Dolly herself.

-Gosh.

-Yeah.

Jonny, the 2013 album The 20/20 Experience

is the first album to be released in almost seven years

by which performer?

Bruno Masters has had music out quite regularly, I believe.

And I would say Michael Buble also has had music

in the last three or four years, at least.

Justin Timberlake seems to have been quiet.

I think he's been acting recently,

so I'll go with Justin Timberlake.

Justin Timberlake is the right answer.

Judith, which word from the Italian refers to a passage of music

requiring exceptional ability and brilliance of execution?

I think it's probably bravura.

You are right. Bravura it is.

Jonny, "Up On The Roof", written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King,

was a US chart hit for which band in 1963?

The Four Tops, it sounds like

it should be sung on the rooftops, for sure.

I'm not actually sure of this one.

I'm going to rule out The Drifters.

I don't think it's too much of their style, but I might be wrong.

Process of elimination, and without it sounding too obvious,

I'm going to go for The Temptations.

Yeah, you eliminated the correct one too early. The Drifters it is.

So Judith is in the lead and, because you let her go first,

she can take the round with this one question.

Judith, how is the African musical instrument the balafon played?

Well, I don't know what it is.

There is a wind called the Foehn, but I don't suppose that's

got anything to do with it, but that's what's on my mind.

I've got to just guess between the... I am drawn to blown.

You're drawn to blown, but you're wrong to be drawn to blown,

you should have blown over to the other one.

-Struck.

-Struck it is.

-How annoying.

So you got it wrong, which gives Jonny a chance to stay in.

Jonny, Philip Glass's Symphony No 1, Low,

is based on an album on which rock artist?

I don't really think it would be a Jimi Hendrix type of thing.

I'm stuck between Springsteen and Bowie and I know Bowie is so flexible

with his music, he's done so many things from all types of genres.

I'm going to have to plump with David Bowie.

David Bowie is completely right. Well done.

He had an album called Low.

All right, we go to Sudden Death, Judith, OK? It gets a bit harder.

I don't give you alternative answers. Your question.

A benefit concert held in New York in 1971 was organised

by George Harrison to raise funds for refugees

from which Asian country?

1971. Wasn't there a great flood in Bangladesh or something?

Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is the right answer.

Jonny, to stay in. Sudden Death, remember.

The duet recorded by Johnny Cash and June Carter that opens with

the words "we got married in a fever" is named after which US city?

I'm thinking of random US cities now that it could or could not be.

Johnny Cash, south of North America,

almost Texas style, so... Not quite Texas.

Lots of good songs have been written in and around and about Las Vegas,

so let's go Sin City, Las Vegas.

Las Vegas. No. Anyone else know?

-Jackson.

-Jackson.

So, Jonny, sorry, you've been knocked out by Judith.

On Sudden Death. Judith you've gone through on Music, how about that?

I don't deserve it, really.

So both of you, please, come back and rejoin your teams.

-James, it's a bit tricky at this stage.

-It certainly is.

I know you are wearing an item of clothing that's significant here.

I'd like to think so, but, if not, it's going to be a bit humiliating.

It's actually a sock that you've worn, or both socks,

for all your successful job interviews.

Yeah, there's only one job interview where I wasn't successful, so far.

And, unfortunately, I forgot to wear the socks,

-so I took it as a lucky omen.

-So they're on.

And, at some point, you're going to have to unleash the socks power.

-Hopefully.

-No Direction have lost two brains from the final round.

The Eggheads have lost no brains. The next subject is History.

-Who would like History?

-It is between us three.

I don't think any of us have particular expertise on it,

but, yes, I'll take on History.

-Hopefully, the lucky socks will prevail.

-We are deploying the socks.

-James, against who?

-Oh, grief, certainly not Kevin.

I think I'd like to take on Chris, if the guys will support me on that.

THEY AGREE

James from No Direction versus Chris on History from the Eggheads.

Chris in a very chipper mood, these days. To ensure

there is no good conferring, please take your positions.

Right, here we go, on History.

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

My birthday is on the 2nd, so I will take the second set, please.

Chris, your question, the rise in popularity in Britain of which

drink is usually credited to the influence of Catherine of Braganza,

the wife of Charles II?

Catherine of Braganza was a great drinker of large quantities of tea.

Yes, she was, and you are right, Chris. Well done. Tea.

Over to you, James.

What name is commonly given to the device worn,

usually by women, as a punishment

in which a plate projected into the mouth prevents speech?

I think I know this one. I've heard about it.

I think it was something used in medieval times.

I don't think it is a gossip's saddle and I'm torn between the other two.

A nag's harness makes me think of horses, for some reason.

I think it was a scold's bridle. I'm going to give that as my answer.

Well done. I've seen one at some point. Scold's bridle is correct.

Chris, Saladin, who fought against Richard I in the Crusades,

died and was buried in which city?

The Moors went to Spain, but Saladin didn't. So it's not Madrid.

Since it's nearer the disputed territories

where they were fighting the Crusades, I'll go with Damascus.

Damascus is the right answer.

The Duke of Windsor, formerly Edward VIII,

married Wallis Simpson in which country?

I know, after he abdicated, they moved to Paris.

So I'm just going to think through the other options,

but my initial reaction would be France.

But I'm just going to think through Portugal and Italy, as well.

I can't see why he would have any connection to the other

two countries, if I'm honest.

Thinking that Italy is predominantly a Catholic country, as well,

and I believe that Portugal may also have Catholic influence.

I wouldn't think they would be married there,

given that he was formerly the head of the Church of England as monarch.

Therefore, given that I think they lived in Paris until he died,

I would go for France.

Excellent. France is the right answer. Well done.

Chris, which College at Oxford University was founded in the 1870s

and named after one of the leading members of the Oxford Movement?

There was a prominent churchmen called Keble, wasn't there? So...

Merton College, Wadham College, no.

No. Keble.

Keble is the right answer.

That is good play, so three out of three for Chris.

James, here is your question.

In India, around the 6th century BC,

Sushruta was a pioneer in which field?

OK.

I have no idea whatsoever.

I am just going to think through and try and be as logical as I can.

I can't see... For some reason, I don't think it's calligraphy.

I might come back to that, but I just don't think it is,

for some reason. Architecture is an interesting one.

I'm just trying to think whether there would have been much scope

for different types of architecture back in India at that time.

Medicine is probably the one that's standing out to me at the moment.

I'm tempted to go for medicine.

And that's my answer.

Medicine is correct.

Very good play from James.

So we go to Sudden Death, Chris, it gets a bit harder,

I don't give you alternatives.

Which country has been ruled since 1818

by members of the Royal House of Bernadotte?

Bernadotte was one of Napoleon's marshals, who became King of Sweden.

-Sweden.

-Sweden is the right answer.

On the back foot, James. You've got to get this one right.

The Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party split

into Mensheviks and Bolsheviks at a meeting held in which city in 1903?

OK. Again, I have no idea whatsoever.

I am going to try to think of Russian cities, first of all.

That would be a good place to start, wouldn't it?

I'm afraid I have no idea and there is nothing coming to mind.

I don't think anything ever will.

I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say Leningrad.

It was closer to home, as a matter of fact.

Chris, you will know this.

-Well, it's London, wasn't it?

-Yes, it was London.

It's where there were

all hanging out at the time, in 1903.

Sorry, James, on Sudden Death, you have been beaten by our Egghead.

Chris will be in the final and you won't.

Please, both of you, return to your teams.

As it stands, No Direction have now lost three brains

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

and the next subject is Arts & Books.

-Is that good?

-It's not particularly...

-It's not a strong subject.

-Not the best.

Let's face it, it's the worst that could come up.

Are you going to take it?

-I think Tom is going to take this one.

-All right, OK, yeah.

-Yes, you will.

-That will be me, then.

Against? You can choose Kevin or Pat.

Whoever you're more confident with.

Go for Kevin? Yeah? Why not?

-Try it.

-Happy with that?

-Yeah, go for Kevin, please.

Excellent. Tom from No Direction versus Kevin from the Eggheads

on Arts & Books and to ensure there is no conferring,

please go to the Question Room.

Tom, would you like to go first or second?

I think I'll go first, please.

In Shakespeare's play Macbeth, who speaks the opening line,

"When shall we three meet again, in thunder, lightning or in rain?"

Um, with it saying, "when shall we three meet again?"

and there being three of them at the start of the play,

I'd have to say it's the first witch.

First witch is correct.

Kevin, in which language was the novel Crime And Punishment originally written?

It is by Dostoevsky. It is Russian.

Russian is correct.

Here's your question.

Lucy Farinelli, Pete Marino and Benton Wesley

are recurring characters in the novels of which crime writer?

Oh.

I've got no idea about this one whatsoever.

I should probably start reading more, it might be a bit easier, then!

I'll just have to take a complete guess at Patricia Cornwell.

Patricia Cornwell is the right answer.

Kevin, which object connected with the London Olympics

won the Visual Art award at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards 2013?

I'm inclined to think it was that fantastic cauldron

by Thomas Heatherwick, I believe.

The movable parts that came together.

I know that has won awards, whether it's this particular one...

Because I could see the torch winning something,

but I'll go for the cauldron.

Cauldron is the right answer.

Tom, here's your third question. Two hit men, Ben and Gus,

are characters in which play by Harold Pinter?

Oh.

Yeah, as well as reading books, I may have to watch more plays!

It's going to have to be a complete guess again. I don't know.

I am being drawn to The Caretaker.

Eggheads?

I think it's The Homecoming. I'm not sure.

No. You're all wrong, it's The Dumb Waiter.

Yeah.

So, Kevin, it's your question. If you get this right,

you've take the round. The 1960s novel A Summer Bird-Cage

was the first published novel by which author?

I don't know it, so I'm trying to do it on a chronological thing.

Beryl Bainbridge is five or six years older than the others.

That is not a title...

I've heard titles of quite a lot of her books

and it's not one I associate with her, but it could be.

The other two are much of an age. I think only a year apart.

On the basis I am less familiar with the works of Margaret Drabble,

I'll say Margaret Drabble.

Very good, Margaret Drabble is the right answer.

Kevin, three out of three, Kevin takes the round.

Tom, sorry, you've been knocked out, as well.

It is looking like a tricky task for the final.

Both of you, please, come back to us and we will play that final round.

This is what we have been playing towards.

It is time for the final round,

which, as always, is General Knowledge. Those of you who lost

your head-to-heads will not be allowed to take part in this round.

So, James, Tom, Jonny

and Adam, from No Direction, would you please leave the studio?

-OK, Ryan, you are playing to win No Direction £11,000.

-Fingers crossed.

Chris, Barry, Pat, Judith and Kevin, you are playing for something

that money can't buy - the Eggheads' precious 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.

The question is - can your one brain overwhelm these five?

-Just tell me if you want to go first or second.

-I will go first, please.

Good luck, Ryan, here we go.

What name is given to the re-use of discarded products

to make something of higher quality or value?

I wouldn't have thought it was uncycling,

because that seems to defeat the object.

Upcycling would sort of give you the idea that they're trying

to make it something better, so I will go for upcycling.

Upcycling is correct. Well done.

Eggheads, in the children's nursery rhyme,

Jack and Jill went to fetch what?

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

A pail of water, Jeremy.

A pail of water is correct.

-A hazardous expedition it turned out to be.

-Indeed, it did.

And there were huge health and safety implications with that!

Ryan, "chitting" is a term generally use for a method of preparing

which of these items for planting?

Chitting.

I've never heard of the term before.

I'm going to discount strawberries, I don't like the sound of that.

I would have thought possibly, with the machinery they use

when they are planting potatoes, possibly, so I'm drawn to potatoes.

Eggheads, is he right?

-ALL: Yes.

-Yeah, chitting is for potatoes. Well done, Ryan.

You are playing well.

-They are pleased behind you.

-I hope so.

Eggheads, astronomical,

civil and nautical are the main categories of what?

Twilight.

Astronomical twilight, civil twilight...

-Happy with that?

-Definitely.

We think that is twilight.

Astronomical, civil and nautical are the main categories of twilight.

Well done, Eggheads, 2-2. Very tight final round.

Cluj-Napoca is a city in which European country?

Um...

I want to discount Albania. We looked at Albania the other day,

we were contemplating visiting. But I want to discount that.

Possibly would have heard of it, if it was in Croatia.

I'm more inclined to... I'm going to say Romania.

-Eggheads?

-Yes.

-Yes.

-You got three out of three.

-That'll do!

Eggheads, a symbol called the Taeguk

features on the flag of which country?

-Do you know?

-It's the symbol on South Korea's flag.

-It's the, um...

-Yeah.

It's a very South Korean sort of word, as well. Yes.

-You happy with that?

-ALL AGREE

-Taeguk.

-South Korea, OK?

We're going for South Korea.

If you've got this right, we go to Sudden Death.

The answer is South Korea.

So you've held off our brilliant challenger.

We go to Sudden Death, Ryan.

You have to hold your nerve. They're excited backstage, I can tell you.

I can tell. I can feel them.

Sudden Death gets a bit harder, no alternatives for you.

You've got to give me the answer.

Alan Sugar was chairman of which football club until 2001?

Um, I should know this, I'm a big Apprentice fan, as well.

But I'm fairly certain it is Tottenham Hotspur.

Jonny'll be pleased. He's an Arsenal fan.

But it's Tottenham Hotspur.

-I have to say, your team that's began their celebrating...

-Before?

..at the end of the question, rather than the answer.

Tottenham Hotspur is right.

JEREMY LAUGHS

You are only one wrong answer away from £11,000.

You don't even have to do any more work to get it. How about that?

Eggheads, Strangeland, released in May 2012,

became the fifth consecutive UK number-one album by which band?

-JUDITH:

-No idea.

-2012?

-Fifth consecutive number one?

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

BARRY: Number ones. Muse?

-Think of girls.

-Muse are fairly big.

-UK.

KEVIN: I think maybe Take That's going to be my best offer.

What about Mumford & Sons?

INDISTINCT CONVERSATION

They've only done a couple. Um...

It's annoying. I know the title. I've heard the title,

but I can't remember who it is.

-Might be the best thing we've got.

-I think it might be.

Anybody else?

At least they have the merit of being heavy selling.

Yeah, I really don't know.

Go with them, Take That?

We're at sea here, but we are going to have to go for Take That.

Take That is your answer.

If you have got this wrong, then you have been defeated,

all five of you go down, playing in combination...

..to a single solo player with everyone else knocked out on the other side.

Here's an interesting thing. What's your surname?

-Keane.

-That's the answer.

Keane is the answer, which means we say congratulations, Challengers.

You have won!

Let's see the socks now! At long last.

-There they are!

-JEREMY LAUGHS

See, they really do work. The socks work. Oh, Eggheads, there we go.

Anyway, No Direction, Ryan, team, well done,

congratulations, you've just won £11,000.

You are officially cleverer than the Eggheads.

You proved they can be beaten.

Join us next time on Eggheads,

to see if a new team of Challengers will be just as successful.

Until then, goodbye.