Episode 40 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 challenging our resident quiz champions today

are the Parry Band from Kent.

This family team are all extremely musical

and often get together to perform on stage. Let's meet them.

Hi. I'm David. I'm 55 and I'm a chief executive.

Hi. I'm Andrew. I'm 25 and I'm a music teacher.

Hello. I'm Jonathan. I'm 27 and I'm an account manager.

Hi. I'm Sarah. I'm 21 and I'm a medical student.

Hi. I'm Carol. I'm 53 and I'm a speech and language therapist.

Welcome to you, Parry Band.

-You all play in the band.

-Indeed we do, yes.

-What kind of music?

We can play almost any music, I think.

We do it to order. We've got some classical training,

we enjoy a bit of jazz but we do '60s, '70s

-and even contemporary stuff, Coldplay, whatever.

-OK.

-Do you perform for audiences or for yourselves?

-We play for birthdays,

for weddings, we play in church occasionally as well, yeah.

Wow! Fantastic stuff. Do you do any quizzing together as well?

We do a certain amount of quizzing.

It's probably more within the family at Christmas.

But we do watch Eggheads and we've had a challenge from our sofas

occasionally as a team and there are five of us, so we thought, "Great!"

-And now here you are doing it for real.

-We are.

Well, let's see how it goes because

every day there is £1,000 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, Parry Band, the Eggheads have won the last six games,

which means £7,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

Look what's come up first. The first head-to-head battle is on Music.

Who would like to play this?

We'll have to get our resident music teacher to do this one, I think.

Who are we going to challenge?

-What do you reckon?

-What about Barry, do you think?

-Yeah.

-Barry, what do you think? I'll go for Barry

-and you can take on Judith later on.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-I think I'll take on Barry.

-OK. A well-oiled plan being put in place.

Let's see how oiled it stays during the course of the game.

To kick-off, it's going to be Andrew and Barry playing the Music round.

Could you both please go to the Question Room?

So, Andrew, you were the obvious choice for this as a music teacher.

I guess so, yeah. Music teacher.

I did music at university. It means, if I slip up, it'll be embarrassing.

But, there we go, you've got to do it, haven't you?

What do you play in the band?

Drums mainly. I'm the drummer. Hence the hair.

A little bit of clarinet if we're doing

the jazz numbers, the slower numbers, as well.

OK. Well, let's put that music knowledge to the test, shall we?

-Would you like to go first or second?

-I will go first, please.

OK. Good luck, Andrew. First question is this.

What was the title of the official Diamond Jubilee song

written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber,

which topped the UK Singles Chart in June 2012?

What was the title of the official Diamond Jubilee song

written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber,

which topped the UK Singles Chart in June 2012?

I think I know this. Interestingly,

I teach in a primary school and they performed this

at their end-of-year concert. I had to play the piano.

They roped in the piano, drum and guitar teacher.

-They had a choir. I think it is called Sing.

-OK.

Yes, well remembered. You'd have to get it after that.

-Right, yes. Sing.

-Go on. Played, And.

Well, Barry, which two characters

sing a song called Anything You Can Do in a stage musical?

Which two characters sing a song called

Anything You Can Do in a stage musical?

It's an excellent song. It's an early example of feminism on the stage.

I seem to remember them singing it in Western outfits,

so it's Annie Oakley and Frank Butler.

And the musical is?

-Annie Get Your Gun.

-Yes. It's the right answer. Well done, Barry.

Andrew, in Puccini's opera La Boheme,

set in Paris, what is the occupation of the hero Rodolfo?

In Puccini's opera La Boheme, set in Paris,

what is the occupation of the hero Rodolfo?

Now, opera is maybe not my strong point, unfortunately.

But, set in Paris, um, so...

It could be poetic in terms of French people maybe being poetic.

But then, also, bell-ringer. I like the idea of that in an opera,

that style of person being a hero. Maybe... I'll go for bell-ringer.

OK. A bell-ringer. Paris.

Like Quasimodo. It's not. No.

-Not bell-ringer.

-Never mind.

-Do you know, Barry?

It's one of my all-time-favourite operas. Rodolfo is a poet.

Yes. That's what you were thinking.

Andrew had considered that but opted instead for

bell-ringer. So nothing there. And, Barry,

in Plan B's song She Said,

what are the first words that she said according to the lyrics?

In Plan B's song She Said,

what are the first words she said according to the lyrics?

I think the only thing I know about Plan B

was the artist's real name is Ben Drew.

But I don't know this song. So this is an out-and-out guess

-and I will go for "Tell me boy."

-"Tell me boy." OK. Well,

It's not. Let's see if Andrew knows. Get one back on you. Do you know?

-I don't but maybe "It's strange boy."

-No, it's "I love you boy."

-Good job I didn't have that one.

-No, you didn't. It stays all square.

Both failing on their second question.

So, Andrew, third question.

Maddy Prior is best known as the lead singer of which folk group?

Maddy Prior is best known as the lead singer of which folk group?

Again, if it was an indie question maybe, that would've been good.

But folk, again, I'm not too sure.

I've heard of Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention.

Not too familiar with Bellowhead.

I'm going to... Because I don't know exactly,

I would've recognised the name of the Fairport Convention singer,

-I'm going to go for Bellowhead.

-OK. Bellowhead.

Um, the other members of the band not agreeing, I don't think.

-Not really sure, to be honest.

-We know it's not that one.

But we don't know if it's Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span.

-It's Steeleye Span.

-Yeah.

-OK.

Barry's got a chance here.

To get into the final round, who wrote the lyrics for

the songs Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever?

Who wrote the lyrics for the songs

Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever?

I don't think it was Leslie Bricusse. And I think Jackie Trent wrote,

I think it was, more lyrics for soaps.

-So I'm going to go for Don Black.

-Don Black

for Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever.

You may not be forever but you are appearing in the final round

with that answer. It's correct, Barry, Don Black.

It clinches you that place in the final round.

Bad luck, Andrew. No place for you. Both come back and join your teams.

As it stands, the Parry Band a bit smaller,

lost one brain from the final round.

The Eggheads haven't lost any. But we've only played one round,

so we will play another one. And this is Science.

-Who'd like to play this one?

-What do you think?

-Sarah, what do you reckon?

-I think it might be Sarah.

-Yeah, I reckon.

-Our medical student.

-It will have to be me this round.

It has. Who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

-It can't be Barry.

-We're going to go for Dave.

Tremendous Knowledge Dave, if that's OK.

-Is that OK with you?

-It's going to have to be, isn't it?

-Exactly.

Exactly. OK, let's have Sarah and Dave into the Question Room, please.

-So, Sarah, you're a medical student.

-I am, that's right, yep.

What role do you play in the band?

I do a little bit of backing vocals and keyboard.

I do play the flute as well but only a little bit.

All right. Well, medical student on Science,

the same position as Andrew was, I suppose.

Let's not dwell on it.

Would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please, Dermot.

First question then, Sarah, and good luck. In biology,

what term can be defined as a change

in the genetic material of an organism?

In biology, what term can be defined as a change

in the genetic material of an organism?

OK, Dermot. From biology at school, I think I should know this one.

-I think it's mutation.

-Mutation is correct.

Hooray.

And, Dave, which of these is an

alternative name for the white rhinoceros?

Which of these is an alternative name for the white rhinoceros?

Never heard of this phrase at all.

Everybody will know this.

I won't.

I've got no idea at all.

-I'm going to go for the wide-eyed rhinoceros.

-OK.

Wide-eyed rhinoceros. There's a few Eggheads looking a little wide-eyed.

-I drew the short straw.

-And they're going square-lipped.

-Square-lipped?

-It's what the answer is.

-Never heard of it.

No. No. You're saying everyone else will know. I've never heard of it.

But you have, other Eggheads?

-Yes.

-Square-lipped rhino. OK.

Well, that fell very nicely for you, Sarah.

It puts you into the lead after the opening questions.

Second question for a mighty lead if you get it.

What type of tree is the plant known as Leylandii?

What type of tree is the plant known as Leylandii?

I know my dad will probably be sighing here.

Leylandii?

It's going to have to be a bit of a guess.

Um, but I will go for cypress.

-Is your dad happy?

-I'm fairly happy.

-He's fairly happy because it's the right answer.

-Yes!

-Go on!

-No way.

Well, two-nil.

And you might not need to face another question.

-Might not.

-Dave needs this. Diverticulitis

is usually an inflammation in which part of the body?

Diverticulitis is usually an inflammation in which

part of the body? D-I-V-E-R-T-I-C-U-L-I-T-I-S.

I'll go intestine.

Ah, good, yes. It's the right answer.

Intestine is the right answer, well done.

But Sarah goes straight into the final round with a correct answer.

And it's this. Which part of the human brain

contains a control centre that regulates

body temperature and hunger and thirst?

Which part of the human brain contains a control centre

that regulates body temperature and hunger and thirst?

I think I'm going to have to go for hypothalamus, Dermot.

-You'd be in trouble if you got this wrong.

-I know. I was worried.

Booted out of the course. Well, you've booted Dave out of the game.

-It's the right answer.

-Played, Sarah.

That did really fall very nicely for you.

In actual fact, a biology question to start as well.

OK. Well, you're in the final round.

No place for Dave. Come back and join your teams.

The Eggheads who hit the wrong note there, which means it's all square

Parry Band and the Eggheads have lost one brain each.

Our next subject today is Film & Television.

Who would like to take this one on from the remaining

three players, who are David, Jonathan or Carol?

-I'll go next.

-Do you reckon?

-That's OK.

-I think you can do it.

-I'll take this one, Dermot.

-OK.

-Who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

-I'll play Judith.

Let's have you into the Question Room, please, Judith and Jonathan.

So, Jonathan, we're putting this band together now.

You are what in the band?

-I play lead guitar, Dermot.

-OK. Well, playing solo here now against

-your Egghead. Would you like to go first or second?

-I'll go first.

First on Film & Television. The song Wind Beneath My Wings

was sung by Bette Midler on the soundtrack to which film?

The song Wind Beneath My Wings

was sung by Bette Midler on the soundtrack to which film?

OK. Wind Beneath My Wings?

Um, I'll be perfectly honest, I'm not entirely sure on this one.

Um, and just really by the nature of the title,

a slight guess, I'm going to go down the middle for Beaches.

OK. Beaches. And Barry chuckling. Why so, Barry?

-Because he's right.

-Because it's the right answer.

Good guess.

And, Judith,

which former Emmerdale actress

was named as the new Doctor Who companion in 2012?

Which former Emmerdale actress

was named as the new Doctor Who companion in 2012?

I don't watch Emmerdale. And I don't watch Doctor Who either.

And this has completely passed me by.

So it's a guess.

I don't know. Jenna-Louise Coleman.

I suppose it's only fair that Jonathan started with a guess.

-It's the right answer. Yes.

-It's the magic right.

-Yeah.

Jenna-Louise Coleman. OK. All square.

Jonathan, which county is the setting

for the Only Fools And Horses spin-off The Green Green Grass?

Which county is the setting for the Only Fools And Horses spin-off

The Green Green Grass?

OK. I used to watch the original series.

I'll be honest, I wasn't even aware that there was a spin-off.

Um, Green Green Grass. I grew up in Shropshire, it's a green place.

But I can't really imagine a spin-off series would be set there.

I guess there's certainly

visions of the Yorkshire countryside being green.

You could say the same about Devon, actually.

I guess it rains quite a lot there.

I'm going to have to go for North Yorkshire.

OK. North Yorkshire. Well, as you

went through them all, yeah,

green, green grass, a lot of it in all of them.

Um, it's Shropshire.

-Oh, dear.

-Ah!

-Shropshire.

-Unlucky.

It means you've got a chance, Judith, to go into the lead.

Judith, "Make it so" is a phrase associated

with which character from the Star Trek franchise?

"Make it so" is a phrase associated

with which character from the Star Trek franchise?

Don't know that either.

Um... Oh!

-You're not a Trekkie, then?

-No. Um...

-Well, I think it's James T Kirk.

-OK.

The original captain of the Starship Enterprise.

-Other Eggheads?

-Jean-Luc Picard.

Jean-Luc Picard is "Make it so."

But there we are. Stays all square. Jonathan,

who played the title role in the 1949 film The History Of Mr Polly?

Who played the title role in the 1949 film The History Of Mr Polly?

The History Of Mr Polly?

Um, again, that's quite tricky.

I think I'm going to rule out Richard Attenborough

on account of his directing work.

I know, obviously, he may well have appeared in films.

Dirk Bogarde is standing out there.

Maybe a little bit too obvious.

But I'm probably going to go with it. I'll go for Dirk Bogarde.

No, it's not. Bad luck.

-Judith, any idea?

-John Mills.

-Yep. John Mills

as Mr Polly. So...

HG Wells, is it?

-Yep.

-And, um,

Judith, the actress Dyan Cannon was married

to which Hollywood legend in the 1960s?

The actress Dyan Cannon

was married to which Hollywood legend in the 1960s?

Now that I funnily enough do know. It's Cary Grant.

Oh, dear. Yes, it's the right answer.

Bad luck, Jonathan.

It means Judith has got through there.

You got two wrong and she got one wrong.

So she's in the final round. Both come back and join your teams.

The Eggheads go into the lead.

Parry Band have lost two brains from the final round.

The Eggheads have lost one.

Our last head-to-head before the final round is Geography.

And David or Carol?

-Who wants to play?

-I think we're saving David

-for the final round.

-It's going to have to be me. Yeah.

-So, it will be Carol, I think.

-All right, Carol,

who would you like to play? Barry, Judith and Dave have played.

So you can have Kevin or Pat.

I think you're going to have to do Pat.

-Yeah, I'll take Pat.

-Pat?

Carol and Pat contesting Geography. Into the Question Room, please.

So, Carol, are you still in the band?

Well, I don't tend to play very much any more these days.

I used to play guitar with them a little bit.

But it turned out that John was a lot better than me.

So I let him get on with it.

-So, what do you do, then?

-I try to keep them organised.

Find all the music that they've lost and that kind of thing.

-And do a bit or roadieing, do you?

-Yeah, carrying all their...

-Oh, yeah.

-All right.

-Do you want to go first or second?

-I'll go first, please, Dermot.

Well, Carol, first question on Geography.

What is the three-letter IATA airport code for Heathrow Airport?

What is the three-letter IATA airport code for Heathrow Airport?

Right. Um, I'm not 100% sure of this.

They've all got the letters in that we're going to need.

But I think that the L bit, the London, would come first.

So I'm going to go for the LHR.

Indeed, yes. LHR. London Heathrow.

And, Pat,

the resort of Great Yarmouth is on which major body of water?

The resort of Great Yarmouth is on which major body of water?

Well, it's on the very eastern side of East Anglia.

And I think it's on the North Sea.

You think, do you? Just a wild guess, is it?

-I'm confident it's on the North Sea.

-It's the right answer, yeah.

OK. Right, Carol,

second question. The Murchison Glacier

is one of the largest in which country?

The Murchison, M-U-R-C-H-I-S-O-N,

the Murchison Glacier is one of the largest in which country?

I don't think it sounds like Switzerland.

That doesn't sound like a Swiss word.

It probably is going to be Switzerland.

I'm going to try and decide between New Zealand and Chile.

And I think I'm going to take New Zealand.

And you'd be right to do so.

Come on.

Pat, the city of Duluth, Minnesota,

is situated on which of the Great Lakes?

The city of Duluth, Minnesota,

is situated on which of the Great Lakes?

It's D-U-L-U-T-H. Duluth, Minnesota.

I think it's the birthplace of Bob Dylan.

And I think it's on the extreme west of Lake Superior.

I didn't know that. Birthplace of Bob Dylan? It's the right answer.

Lake Superior.

OK, Carol,

the Abruzzi Spur, named after an Italian nobleman,

is a route of ascent up which mountain?

The Abruzzi Spur, A-B-R-U-Z-Z-I,

the Abruzzi Spur, named after an Italian nobleman,

is a route of ascent up which mountain?

Again, I don't know this.

Um, and I'm not sure if the Italian nobleman

is trying to help me or just confuse me.

Um, but I think I'm going to say, and it is a guess,

-I'm going to say Mont Blanc.

-OK.

You're going on help, then.

That being nearest to Italy, I see where you're thinking.

But it's not the right answer. It's not Mont Blanc. Do you know, Pat?

-I think it's K2.

-It is K2.

So a chance for Pat here.

Which Welsh town is thought to have

been built on the site of a Roman fort called Blestium?

Which Welsh town is thought to have been built

on the site of a Roman fort called Blestium? B-L-E-S-T-I-U-M.

I haven't heard of this Roman fort.

Blestium?

Mold is towards the top. Monmouth in the middle.

And Montgomery, I think, is middle somewhere.

I'm a bit stumped here. No.

It's guess time, I'm afraid.

-I'll go down the middle, Monmouth.

-Monmouth

for Blestium, a Roman fort.

-It is in Monmouth.

-Oh, no!

Oh, groans from the Parry Band.

Bad luck, Carol. A guess there knocking you out.

But knocked out you are. Both come back and join your teams.

And so, this is what we've been playing towards.

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

Those who lost your head-to-heads can't take part in this round.

So, Andrew, Jonathan and Carol from the Parry Band

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

So, David and Sarah, you're playing to win the Parry Band £7,000.

Barry, Pat, Judith and Kevin, you're playing

for something which money can't buy,

the Eggheads' reputation.

I ask each team three questions in turn.

This time, the questions are General Knowledge

and you are allowed to confer.

So, Parry Band, the question is -

are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

David and Sarah, would you like to go first or second?

I think we'll go first, please, Dermot.

Well, good luck. Here's your first question.

In modern language, to whom is a person referring

if they mention their sibling?

In modern language, to whom is a person referring

if they mention their sibling?

-It might be brother and sister.

-It could be.

-Fairly straightforward.

I think we'll go for brother or sister.

Rather appropriate, isn't it, given the composition of your team?

It's the right answer, yes.

And, Eggheads, what is the usual name for the condition

in which an author is unable to produce new work?

What is the usual name for the condition

in which an author is unable to produce new work?

There's writer's block there. That is writer's block.

-Not getting quizzer's block there?

-That can happen.

-I know.

-I've seen it. Seen all of you.

-That can definitely happen.

Writer's block is the right answer.

Not this time, unfortunately, for the Parry Band.

But let's hope it happens later on. Your second question.

What is the nickname of the Jamaican athlete Yohan Blake?

What is the nickname of the Jamaican athlete Yohan Blake?

-Have you come across Yohan Blake?

-I haven't, no.

-No. Was he an Olympian, do you think, perhaps?

-Could well have been.

I don't know what sport he took part in either. But I just...

-I'm thinking Beanpole.

-Are you? I'm thinking The Beast.

-I don't think it will be The Boy.

-No.

-That wouldn't make sense.

Jamaican. What sort of parlance would they have in Jamaica for nicknames?

-Shall we go with The Beast?

-Yeah, you go with... Yeah.

-We're guessing but we'll go with The Beast.

-The Beast.

You should see behind you. They're doing his trademark.

He was rather overshadowed by...

He's a colleague of Usain Bolt in the sprinting.

And he is The Beast. It's the right answer. You got it. The Beast.

It means the Eggheads need this to draw level.

The German word "Gelb" is usually translated

into English as which colour?

The German word "Gelb", G-E-L-B,

is usually translated into English as which colour?

Yellow.

Gelb is yellow.

It's the right answer. Eggheads know their German. OK.

Back to you. Let's hope you don't have to guess on this one.

And it's this. Which 19th-century author produced lurid tales

under the name AM Barnard?

Which 19th-century author produced lurid tales under the name

AM Barnard?

B-A-R-N-A-R-D. AM Barnard.

Not Louisa May Alcott, she did Little Women.

-That wouldn't be lurid tales.

-I'm relying on my daughter for this one.

-Lurid tales?

-Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

-She is.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning? I really don't know.

-Shall we go for Elizabeth Barrett Browning?

-I don't know.

Yeah. Let's go with Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

OK. Elizabeth Barrett Browning as AM Barnard for the lurid tales.

A pseudonym.

-Well, yes, it is wrong. It's Louisa May Alcott.

-Oh, no!

-That was me.

-Probably why she assumed that name

-to disguise the fact she was writing such sweet novels elsewhere.

-Yeah.

OK, well, the Eggheads have got a chance to win the game here.

What was the codename for the Allied invasion

of southern France in August 1944?

What was the codename for the Allied invasion

of southern France in August 1944?

-Dragoon?

-Yeah. Yeah.

They had a couple of different codenames at different times.

But the one under which it finally took place was Dragoon.

That is Operation Dragoon, Dermot.

A rather under-remembered, if that's a phrase, by history

because it was focused on D-Day and the Allied advance further north.

What was going on in southern France?

In the middle of August, by which time the break out from Normandy

was on the stocks, it hadn't quite happened yet,

they landed on the southern French coast

and worked their way up the Rhone Valley.

It was reasonably heavy fighting but not in comparison

with what was going on in Normandy, so it tended to get overshadowed.

OK. And the answer is... I think you know what you're going to hear.

It is the right answer. Eggheads, you've won.

Bad luck, Parry Band. We hope you've enjoyed yourself.

We've loved having you here, talking music and quizzing.

Keep those shirts for the next time you appear.

It's a good look, isn't it? Thank you very much for playing.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

Their winning streak continues.

You won't be going home with the £7,000, 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 of challengers

have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

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

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd