Episode 37 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 challengers

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

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on the might of our quiz Goliaths are...

This team of old school friends

all attended Bishop Vesey's Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm James, I'm 18 and a student of Spanish and Italian.

Hi, I'm Jacob, I'm 18 and I'm a medical science student.

Hi, I'm Georgina, I'm 18 and I'm a human biology student.

Hi, I'm Will, I'm 18 and I'm a product design student.

Hi, I'm George, I'm 18 and I'm an ancient history student.

Welcome to you, Vesey Peasy. Loving the team name.

You know that, of course, it won't be easy-peasy against the Eggheads!

What made you decide to try to take them on?

We all went to school together, as you said,

and then we took part in some pub quizzes,

and a couple of us are big fans of it,

well, quite a few of us are,

and we thought we'd like to meet them and try our chances against them.

So it's big in the student world. You've moved on from school, haven't you?

I notice you've got a pretty good spread of expertise.

We've got a couple of science students in the middle,

you're foreign languages,

let's see if you can put that knowledge to the test today.

Every day there's £1,000 up for grabs for our Challengers.

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

Vesey Peasy, the Eggheads have won the last three games.

That means £4,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

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

Who'd like to take this one on?

-VARIOUS: George?

-If I let you down, I'll cry.

George, you've got this one. You're the best at this.

-I'll be bold.

-All right, George, you've got this one.

Which Egghead would you like to take into the Question Room?

I'll take Pat.

Let's have George and Pat, contesting our opening round, Film & Television,

into the Question Room.

George, you're kicking off for Vesey Peasy against the Eggheads.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please, Dermot.

Best of luck, George. First question of then day, then.

What was the title of the 1970s and '80s TV cartoon series

that featured a superhero team called G-Force?

I have got literally no idea. Let me have a think.

G-Force...

G-Force... Battle of the Planets?

I'm not thinking it's Battle of the Planets. It doesn't sound right.

War of the Worlds...

Erm... G-Force... Could there be a "G" in the War of the Worlds?

I don't know. I've never heard of Scuffle of the Stars.

I'm going to go down the middle. War of the Worlds. Sorry.

All right! Bit of a rap there, really!

-I know. I didn't stop. Sorry about that.

-It's very good!

Nice to share your thinking with us, we like it.

War of the Worlds, it is not, though.

It is... Do you know, Pat?

-Battle of the Planets.

-Battle of the Planets,

with G-Force in it.

We'll see how Pat does with his first one.

"I'm just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her"

is a line from which film, starring Hugh Grant?

I think he's been in all of those three films,

playing a tongue-tied, slightly toff Englishman.

It sounds a little too modern for Sense and Sensibility,

assuming they stuck to the original Austen style.

I think I'll pick between About A Boy and Notting Hill.

Notting Hill is the really big film and an unashamed rom-com.

-I'll go for Notting Hill.

-Notting Hill.

It's the right answer, yes. You got that, Pat.

We need you to get this, George.

Who plays the title role in the 2012 film Anna Karenina?

Er, I don't even know what that film is.

This hasn't been a very successful run of questions.

I think you've given Pat all the easy ones.

Emma Watson...

I don't think she's done too much since being Hermione.

Keira Knightley, I don't think she's done anything for ages.

I don't even know what she's doing, probably working in a Little Chef.

Carey Mulligan... She seems a bit popular lately.

I'm reckoning Carey Mulligan. Let's go with that.

OK. Carey Mulligan, because Keira was too busy.

She actually had time to be Anna Karenina, as well, in 2012.

-She managed to fit that in.

-She's a busy girl.

Well, she got a few evenings off. They let her do that.

As for Pat, he did get your first one right, as well,

on his questions.

Pat, here is your question, to maybe take the round.

What was the title of the 2012 BBC series of Shakespeare plays,

starring Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston?

I've seen some of these. They're very, very good.

Erm... I think they're collectively known as The Hollow Crown.

The Hollow Crown...

..is the right answer, Pat. It's all over, George!

Bad luck! No place for you in the Final Round.

Would you both please come back here?

As it stands, Vesey Peasy have lost one brain from the Final Round.

The Eggheads haven't lost any.

Our next subject is History.

Who would like to play this? It would've been you, I guess, George, but you can't play.

-I think it's going to have to be you.

-Jacob. Come on, mate.

I'll take that one, please, Dermot.

OK, Jacob. Choose an Egghead. Remember, it can't be Pat.

-I'll take Barry.

-It's going to be Jacob and Barry

playing the History round.

You know where to go - the Question Room, please.

Jacob, you're a football referee, fully qualified?

I've been doing it for four years. I do it most weekends.

Are you a bit of a masochist? Do you like the abuse?

I can't say I do, but it's good money, it's a good hobby and it's good to watch some good football.

Do you get quite a lot of lip?

You don't tend to. A quiet word and a calm influence

normally does the right thing.

Anyway, what about your interest in history, then?

You're a medical science student, aren't you?

Yes, but I did A Level history

and GCSE history and did quite well in it,

so I've got a decent knowledge, I like to think.

-Let's hope you do very well. Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first.

Good luck, Jacob.

During the Battle Of Britain,

what informal order was given for RAF fighter pilots to take off

to intercept a bombing raid?

I don't think they'd tell them to scamper, so I'll discard that one.

Scurry doesn't sound like the right terminology they'd use,

so I'm going to go for scramble.

It is the right answer, yes. Scramble.

Barry,

who was declared First Consul of France in 1799?

Charlemagne was crowned King of the Franks in 800,

and de Gaulle was the first president of the Fifth Republic

about 19... just thinking ..58 about,

so that leaves us with Napoleon,

who was declared First Consul of France in 1790-whatever.

-Nine.

-Nine.

Which you would've known, anyway. Show off!

It's the right answer, Barry!

No extra points for that.

Over to you, Jacob, for number two.

What name for feudal land-holders

was superseded by the term "knights"

after the Norman Conquest of England?

Right, so if it's knights,

that's Ealdermen Knights, Fyrds Knights or Thanes Knights.

Erm... I don't think I'll go with Ealdermen.

I think I'll go with Thanes.

Thane. It's the right answer.

Well done. You've got two.

Good start.

Barry, second question.

From which part of Britain did the medieval Tudor dynasty originate?

Well, the Tudor dynasty originated with Henry VII,

who I believe was born in Pembroke Castle,

and Pembroke is in Wales so my answer is Wales.

Needing that knowledge to work that one out.

It's the correct answer. Both got two.

OK, Jacob, good luck with this one.

It could be the one that gets rid of Barry

but you need to get it.

In what secret arrangement of 1670

did Charles II agree to receive financial subsidies from the French?

Right, Hastings, I'm thinking Battle of Hastings.

I haven't heard of the Treaty of Hastings, so I'll count that one out.

So the Treaty of Dover or the Treaty of Sandwich.

I think I'll go with Treaty of Sandwich, please.

OK, Treaty of Sandwich.

Rejecting Hastings because of the battle there.

It's not Hastings, but it's not Sandwich. It is Dover.

Dover. OK.

Barry, who became Roman Emperor in 193 AD

by being the highest bidder in an auction for the support of the Praetorian Guard?

I think 193 AD was when Commodus was assassinated.

I think it might've been one of the Praetorian Guard, but I'm not sure.

But there was then a bidding auction and I seem to remember that Didius Julianus bid the most money,

so my answer is Didius Julianus.

It is the right answer, Didius Julianus,

which means you just made it into the Final Round.

You were going well, Jacob, but just hit that Treaty of Dover, which means it is over for you.

No place in the Final Round. Barry, you will be there.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, close there for Jacob, but it didn't happen.

It means Vesey Peasy have lost two brains from the Final Round. The Eggheads are all there.

We've got our third head-to-head and it's Sport.

Three of you left there to potentially play it.

James, Georgina or Will?

I vote you two.

We might be better off keeping James to the end.

-What do you want?

-Because you're an idiot!

-James has got better general.

-Go for it.

-I think I'm going to have it.

All right, Will. You can play Chris, Daphne or Dave.

-VARIOUS: Chris?

-Chris, please.

OK, let's have Will and Chris into the Question Room to play this Sport round.

I just heard a growl there, like a bear waking up from hibernation!

-Horrible sense of deja vu!

-DERMOT LAUGHS

Let's hope it goes well for you, then!

Will and Chris, into the Question Room.

You seem to be edging up on the Eggheads, Vesey Peasy.

Let's see if Will can go all the way and knock Chris out,

as Chris would admit, not his strongest subject. He does well at everything, though.

-Will, do you want to go first or second?

-First, please.

First question, here you go. In which of these sports

would you be most likely to perform a Flic-Flac?

Erm...

I wouldn't go with sailing. I don't know much about that.

Volleyball...

I only know stuff like dig and spike,

so I don't think it's that.

I'm going to have to go with gymnastics.

Gymnastics is the right answer, yes.

Chris, what is the name of the FA's national football centre

that opened in Burton Upon Trent in 2012?

I've never heard of St Trevor's Park and St James's Park is Newcastle's ground

so it's got to be St George's Park.

Yep. It's St George's Park, by elimination there.

Will,

the American Ryan Lochte became famous as a leading name in which sport?

I've never heard of him

so it's not a good start.

The Americans are quite...

I'd say they're quite keen on swimming at the moment,

so I'm going to have to say swimming.

OK. Have to say swimming.

-Did you watch any of The Olympics, then? You didn't?

-Erm...

Not much of it. I did watch bits and bobs.

All right. It's the right answer. Well done. Good guess!

Chris, second question.

In ounces, what is the minimum weight of a cricket ball,

used in Test matches?

Well, 12.5 is almost a pound.

9's just over half a pound, which is still a bit heavy,

so it's got to be 5.5.

It's the right answer! Well done, as you flick your imaginary cricket ball.

Yes, see what it feels like.

Did you play a bit in your time?

Strangely enough, at school,

-I did get my arm twisted to play a few games of cricket.

-Good to hear.

I was quite a useful batsman.

Well, it means it's all square as we go into that third question.

Will, good luck with this.

Which horse won the Epsom Derby and the 2,000 Guineas in 2012?

Erm, Henrythenavigator sounds like an absolute mad name

and I probably would've heard it and recognise it,

but I don't.

Cockney Rebel...

Again, I don't think it's that,

-so I'm going to have to go with Camelot.

-OK, Camelot.

-Again, a bit of a guess, is it?

-Ish.

It's the right answer. Well done!

He's got in there and got three out of three

and he's not really been confident about any of them.

But a foot in the Final Round. Let's see how Chris does.

What name is given to the part of the bow handle

that faces an archer when he or she is shooting?

Hm... Hang on.

-That's the belly, Dermot.

-DERMOT LAUGHS

We've had you tossing a cricket ball and now you're lining up an arrow.

-Yes.

-Belly is correct! It's all square.

Three each. We go to Sudden Death.

Will, I'm sure you know, being an avid viewer of the programme,

but just to remind you, we remove the options now so you've just got to answer.

Which Scottish footballer

became manager of Rangers Football Club in 2011?

I'm trying to think of his name. Erm...

I know Jacob knows this, as well. This is frustrating.

Erm...

Scottish footballer... Erm...

I'm trying to think of some.

2011...

I don't know. I've no idea.

Nothing there you can't guess? They quite often get landed.

Scottish footballer, manager of Rangers?

-No, I've had a block. I don't know.

-OK.

No answer there, then. I'll put it to your teammates.

-He wants to know if you know, Jacob.

-Ally McCoist.

It's Ally McCoist, which you would've got from a list.

It's so much harder in Sudden Death, as hopefully Chris will demonstrate!

You're not out yet, Will.

Chris, in 2008,

which rower swam the Strait of Gibraltar with comedian David Walliams

in aid of Sport Relief?

Hm...

Steve Redgrave.

No, it's incorrect.

-Other Eggheads?

-James Cracknell.

-It's James Cracknell.

So you're still alive, Will. On we go. Another pair of questions.

Tito Vilanova became the new manager of which Spanish football club

for the start of the 2012/13 season?

I'm not a follower of La Liga, or any Spanish leagues,

but I believe Barcelona lost a manager

at the end of the 2011 season,

so I'm going to say Barcelona.

Barcelona's your answer.

Succeeding Pep Guardiola, it's the right answer. Well done.

So, Chris, the Nassau Stakes is a Group 1 horse race

which takes place on which British race course?

Epsom.

-No!

-No?

-Pat? Anyone?

-Goodwood.

It's Goodwood, from Dave. Goodwood. Glorious Goodwood.

So it means you're in the Final Round, Will!

-Well done! You made it!

-Thank you.

I'm glad you're made up about it(!) Really excited!

No place for you, Chris. Would you both come back and join your teams?

That's looking much better now. Vesey Peasy have lost two brains

but the Eggheads have lost their first.

Our last head-to-head is Geography.

Who'd like to play this? It's Georgina or James.

I didn't even know Reading was south!

I think we'll have to go James.

-Don't forget your passport, though!

-I think I'm going to take this one.

All right, James. Who would you like to play?

-It's Daphne or Dave.

-What do you think?

-Dave's new, so...

-Is he not good on geography?

I think he knows his geography.

I think we're going to go with Dave.

James and Dave for this one, please, into the Question Room.

James, an important round, as you well know.

Would you like to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please.

OK, it's Geography. Off we go, James. First question...

What term is used to refer to a weather front,

represented on a map by solid blue triangles,

joined by a solid line?

Right, well, I don't think it's tepid front,

so it's between the other two.

Purely based on the fact it's a blue line,

I'm going to go down the middle with cold front.

OK. Blue - cold. Yes, it's the right answer. Well done.

Dave, Bournemouth and Poole are towns in which English county?

Bournemouth and Poole are towns in which English county?

-IN WEST COUNTRY ACCENT:

-They're in Dorset.

-I can't do the accent, can I?

-Was that your attempt at one?

I can't do the accent. That sounded more like... It could be anywhere!

-But it is Dorset.

-It is Dorset!

-Sorry, Daph.

That's all we needed!

James, second question. Which shipping forecast area lies directly south of Viking

and directly north of Dogger?

Which shipping forecast area lies directly south of Viking

and directly north of Dogger?

-Well...

-Do you listen to the shipping forecast?

I can honestly say I've never heard the shipping forecast.

Er... It's going to have to be a complete guess, I think.

Erm...

I like the look of Fair Isle, I think.

I don't know why, it's just standing out to me.

Fair Isle. That's where the Eggheads get a lot of their jumpers from.

But it's not the right answer.

-Do you know, Dave?

-I'd have gone Forties.

It is Forties.

Directly south of Viking and north of Dogger.

Well, a chance for Dave to go ahead.

Dave, what name is given to the accumulation of sediment on a coral reef or shoreline?

Abrasion, I thought, was to do with rocks that have abrasion on them.

And then accretion,

I thought that was the growth of continents and countries.

I'm going to go for accentuation, but I'm not entirely sure.

OK, accentuation.

Daphne's looking a bit stern, Dave.

Looking like a headmistress and you got...

I think you got the answer wrong. I would just guess.

-Daphne?

-Accretion.

-It is accretion.

It is? I just associated that with the growing of continents.

-OK.

-Bad mistake.

Well, it means it stays all square as we go into a third question each.

James, the River Pangani flows through which African country?

Pangani.

Right, erm,

I don't know how I'm going to eliminate some here.

Tanzania... My friend's been to Tanzania.

and although she never mentioned any rivers,

I'm just going to eliminate that one.

Er... I think I'm going to go for...

..Kenya.

-Kenya for the Pangani.

-Yes.

-OK.

Dave, do you know?

-Is it Kenya?

-I don't know. I'd have gone Tanzania myself.

It is Tanzania.

Tanzania. So a chance for Dave.

Dave, the site of which US state's capital

was originally called Last Chance Gulch,

after the gold discovered there in the 19th century?

Right, well, we've got Helena in Montana,

and Bismarck, North Dakota,

and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

So let's have a think. I'll have to go for Cheyenne.

-I'll go for Wyoming.

-Wyoming.

I was just impressed while you were doing your deliberations.

-Every Egghead has to know them.

-They all sound fairly obscure.

But Last Chance Gulch was, you said it, Helena,

-Montana.

-Oh, right. I didn't know that.

-Yes.

OK, well, it's all square still.

Everything to play for in Sudden Death now.

Eden and South Lakeland

are districts of which administrative county in the north of England?

Eden and South Lakeland

are districts of which administrative county in the north of England?

Right, erm...

What shall I go for? Erm...

I am going to go for Yorkshire.

OK. Yorkshire.

No. Incorrect. Dave might know.

-Cumbria.

-It's Cumbria.

The lake there, the Lakeland, might've been a clue.

Dave, which group of islands in the Pacific Ocean

takes its name from a Spanish word for tortoises?

Galapagos Islands.

Not messing around. That is the right answer, yes.

The Galapagos Islands is the right answer,

which takes you into 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.

Those who lost your head-to-heads won't be allowed to take part,

so James, Jacob and George from Vesey Peasy,

and Chris from the Eggheads,

would you leave the studio now, please?

Georgina and Will, you're playing to win Vesey Peasy £4,000.

Dave, Daphne, Barry and Pat,

you're playing for something which money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I ask each team three questions in turn.

The questions are general knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

Vesey Peasy, the question is, are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Georgina and Will, do you want to go first or second?

-We'll go first.

-First again.

Best of luck to you. First question is this...

Which of these is a slang term

sometimes used to describe a decrepit car?

Which of these is a slang term

sometimes used to describe a decrepit car?

-Well, we know this one straight off.

-Both of us knew it.

Old banger.

Old banger is the right answer. Well done.

On we go. Eggheads, first question...

Mongo is a fictional planet

in which comic strip and series of films?

Mongo is a fictional planet

in which comic strip and series of films?

ALL: Flash Gordon.

-Ming the Merciless.

-Absolutely.

Brian Blessed comes to mind, as well! Remarkable performance!

I'm afraid we're all old enough to remember this.

It's Flash Gordon.

-Flash Gordon.

-Ming the Merciless from Mongo.

Right, I see. Mongo and Ming the Merciless.

The Eggheads being merciless.

Flash Gordon is the right answer.

OK, let's build on that nice solid start, Vesey Peasy.

Now... Ah!

The temporal bones are found in which part of the human body?

The temporal bones are found in which part of the human body?

OK, temporal... You've got your temporal lobe in your head.

-Is that an option?

-Head is an option,

-so from that...

-Shall we go with head?

-I'm going to go with head.

-OK.

-Bit of pressure on you, Georgina!

-Just a little bit!

Being a human biology student and all that!

You got it, yes. The temporal bones are in the head.

Eggheads, the theatrical producer Hugh Beaumont,

who died in 1973, was known by what nickname?

The theatrical producer Hugh Beaumont, who died in 1973,

was known by what nickname?

-Go for it.

-He was Binkie Beaumont.

-It's got a ring to it, hasn't it?

-Yes!

Binkie Beaumont. Do you know how he got it?

-No.

-It's the right answer, anyway.

-Oh, right!

Binkie Beaumont. It's all square. Anything can happen.

This question could win you the money, you never know!

Which actor wrote and illustrated the book "The Windvale Sprites"?

Which actor wrote and illustrated the book "The Windvale Sprites"?

-It's quite an odd name of a book.

-Yes.

-Ricky Gervais did that Flanimals.

-Yes, he writes a fair bit.

But then, they're all comedians

so it's not like we can eliminate one for not being a comedian.

-I don't think it's Mackenzie Crook.

-I wouldn't say it's Ricky, either.

-Do you want to go with Martin Freeman?

-Shall we?

We're going to go with Martin Freeman as a complete guess!

OK. And, of course, all had huge roles in The Office.

You're going for Martin Freeman. It's not Martin Freeman.

-Do you know, Eggheads?

-Mackenzie Crook.

-Yes.

It's Mackenzie Crook. OK.

Now you have to sit and hope

that the Eggheads don't get this.

What type of insect is responsible for spreading dengue fever?

What type of insect is responsible for spreading dengue fever?

There's three by a mosquito - malaria, yellow fever and dengue.

Definitely, yes.

That is the mosquito.

The mosquito for dengue fever.

It's the right answer, Eggheads. You've won.

Well played, Vesey Peasy. Bad luck in that Final Round.

Memorable round from you, Will, in that head-to-head.

You used some interesting techniques to get through, put it that way!

-Best of luck with all your studies. Keep watching Eggheads and spread the word!

-BOTH: Thank you.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally and reign supreme over quiz land.

You won't be going home with the £4,000,

which means the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

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

£5,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd