Episode 70 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 quiz challengers

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

they are the Eggheads.

Taking on our quiz Goliaths today are Murphmania.

They all met at Plymouth University

and, aside from their shared love of football,

do a great deal to raise awareness of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Hi, Ryan here. I'm 29 and I'm in IT sales.

I'm Mark, I'm 25 and a trainee analytical scientist.

I'm James, I'm 25 and a product manager.

I'm Jamie, I'm 25 and I'm a recruitment consultant.

I'm Jonathan, I'm 25 and I work in IT sales.

Ryan and team, welcome. Tell us why you're called Murphmania.

It's actually a Twitter campaign that we've set up

due to a friend and team-mate of ours at university of Plymouth.

We played football with him.

Unfortunately, he had cancer and lost a leg.

We don't want to make a big deal of it, X Factor style,

Coldplay in the background kind of thing,

but that's what's happened and we want to raise awareness on Twitter.

Tell us his name. Ben. And he'll be watching today?

I hope so! So he's Ben Murphy, in fact, hence the name.

OK, well, good luck to you guys.

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

If you fail to beat the Eggheads, it rolls over to the next show.

It's getting exciting because the Eggheads have won the last 20 games,

which means £21,000 says you can't beat them today.

Would you like to have a go? We'll have a try. Why not?

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

What shall we do? It's got to be... Mark or Jonathan.

Do you want to go for it or me?

Jon? The likelihood of entertainment or something coming up,

do you want to go for it?

I think we'll go with Mark for this round. I'll go for this one.

OK. Mark. Now, you can choose an Egghead.

Which one looks lost? Well, they all do!

I think they all do, spiritually.

Got to be Dave. It's got to be.

We think Tremendous Knowledge Dave doesn't know where he is.

HE LAUGHS OK!

Depends where I've been. And how his football team's doing.

OK, Mark from Murphmania versus Dave from the Eggheads.

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

So how come you got volunteered for geography, Mark?

I think I'm probably the best - although Jonathan would argue -

I think I'm the best at geography. And you've done a lot of cycling?

Yeah, I cycled through France with my dad. We did 11 days,

75 miles a day on average

and we went from Saint-Malo in the north, down the west coast,

cut across down the Canal du Midi and ended up in Narbonne.

That sounds exhausting, but also rather wonderful.

It was probably the best and worst experience of my life.

Geography is the subject. You can choose to go first or second.

I'd like to go first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go, Mark. Good luck.

The Flemish Diamond is a nickname given to a metropolitan region

of which European country?

OK, then. Flemish.

So... I wouldn't associate Flemish with Spain.

For some reason, Belgium's standing out for me.

I can't make a relationship between Flemish and these answers though.

Erm...

OK. So I'm going to...

I'm going to guess between Belgium and Denmark

because I don't think it's Spain.

I'm going to go for Denmark, Jeremy.

THEY GROAN You got it wrong.

You were right to go for one or the other, but it's Belgium.

OK. Sorry, Mark. Bad start. Yeah, bad start.

Tremendous Knowledge Dave -

what name is sometimes given to the heavily industrialised areas

of the Northeastern and Midwest United States,

characterised by having older factories and industries?

I've never heard of this at all.

I'm going to go Rust Belt, but I'll be regretting it, I'm sure.

Rust Belt. Rust Belt is the right answer.

I've never heard of that phrase!

It comes up at elections because of the Republicans' attempts to win

in places like Pennsylvania and Ohio and it's Joe the plumber...

Indiana. Exactly, yeah.

Right, I've got you. So that's where you tend to hear it.

Mark, your question - the Five Pits Trail is a walking and cycling route

in which English county?

OK. I went to university in Plymouth, which is is Devon

and they've got a nice coastline round there, so it could be there,

but I think I would've heard of it.

Derbyshire's got a lot of caving and things like that round there,

so the pits comes in with that.

I'm going to go for Derbyshire

based on the fact that there's the pits and caving round there.

Good stuff, Mark. It's right. Derbyshire it is.

Very good logic.

OK, Dave, your question -

the Eternity Range of mountains, which contains peaks

called Faith, Hope and Charity,

is located on which land mass?

I'm going to go Antarctica.

Straight there with it.

Spot on. Antarctica is right.

So he's taken the lead, Mark. You need to get this one right.

Yeah, OK. Here we go.

The disputed region of South Ossetia

lies within which former Soviet republic?

I'm not sure about this one.

I'm just trying to think where all these countries are, geographically.

Kazakhstan is a huge country just south of Russia.

Georgia's really small.

Belarus seems too far down. South Ossetia.

I'm going to discount Belarus. It seems too far down.

I'm pretty sure there were rockets taking off from Kazakhstan

and the Russians weren't happy.

That's the only dispute I can think of with any relationship at all,

so I'm going to go for Kazakhstan.

OK. Team, what do you think here?

ALL: Georgia. They all say Georgia.

It is Georgia. OK.

Sorry, Mark, you've been knocked out by Dave.

Well, it's early days for this team.

Both of you, please come back, rejoin your team-mates.

OK, Ryan, not the ideal start. Bad luck, Mark.

Any thoughts? We should've put Jon up, definitely.

He would've got them. He knew all the answers and Mark's let us down.

THEY ALL LAUGH

Let myself down, let my team down...

There was a cycling question, which is his thing. The one I got.

Yeah, you got that right. Good guess. I see you're a tough captain.

As it stands, Murphmania have lost one brain from the final round.

Plenty of time to turn it around.

The Eggheads are intact. Tremendous Knowledge Dave is in the final.

The next subject is film and television.

Murphmania, who wants this?

I think this time Jonathan's going to step up.

OK, Jonathan against which Egghead? Can't be Dave.

Who do you fancy? I think Chris, yeah?

Yeah. We're going to take Chris down. So Jonathan from Murphmania

is going to take Chris down on film and TV.

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

So you were the choice for film and TV, Jonathan.

It appears so. TV I'm quite strong with,

but I think, film - there's certain gaps in my knowledge,

but let's see how we get on.

I've got a list of places you've been to - really unusual places.

Kavos, Malia, Magaluf and Zante.

Yes, that was the university football tours

where no football whatsoever was played.

There was a large group, maybe 35 of us, went out to these islands

and have quite an enjoyable week.

OK, no-one ended up in jail? No-one got hurt?

THEY ALL LAUGH

Don't answer that. Yeah, I won't answer.

OK, it's film and television.

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

I'd like to go first, please.

Here's your first question.

The TV drama series The Flying Doctors, first broadcast in 1986,

was set in which country?

OK, so...

Australia was what I had in my head before the options came up.

I can't associate it with the other two,

so I will have to go with Australia.

And Australia is the right answer. Lots of distance to travel.

Chris - in 2012, Britney Spears joined the judging panel

of the American version of which TV talent show?

I avoid all these sorts of shows like the plague.

They cause me a sharp pain.

Britney Spears - which one would she go for?

The highest profile, presumably, so it's got to be American Idol.

No! It's The X Factor.

Uh-huh.

Jonathan, you've got a scent of blood here.

Don't let the chance go.

The Oceanic Six were characters in which US TV series?

OK. I remember watching The X-Files quite a lot when I was younger.

My parents were quite big on it.

There was only really two characters in that - Mulder and Scully -

so I can't think it was The X-Files.

And it just doesn't ring any bells with vampires and Buffy.

It makes sense with Lost. They were on an island in the ocean,

so I'm going to put Lost as my answer.

You've got two out of two. Lost is correct.

Chris, your question -

who plays the role of Dr Watson

in the US Sherlock-Holmes-inspired TV series Elementary,

which was first broadcast in 2012?

Yeah.

Well, it's not Ellen DeGeneres, she's a talk-show hostess.

Er...

Don't think it's Calista Flockhart.

I think I'll play Lucy Liu.

Lucy Liu. Is it right or wrong, Eggheads?

Right. It's right. Yes, it is. Well done, Chris.

But if you get this right, Jonathan,

you knock out Chris with a great big thump.

What is the first name of the film-director sister Ralph Fiennes,

whose works include Chromophobia and Onegin?

OK, well, I haven't got a clue, to be honest.

I mean, I'm really not sure,

so I'm going down the middle with Penelope. I really don't know.

Penelope. Team-mates, do you know?

Not a clue, but judging by Daphne's reaction, that wasn't right.

The name before Fiennes - what is it, Eggs?

Martha. Martha. Martha they all say. OK. Not a clue.

Chris has a chance to come back in.

Chris, if you get this wrong, you're out.

Which English actress plays a woman who falls in love with a chimpanzee

in the 1986 film Max, Mon Amour?

Well, they're all known for slightly kinky stuff, aren't they?

Er...

Max, Mon Amour, which is French.

Jane Birkin did Je T'Aime Non Plus avec Serge Gainsbourg.

Is it her?

Don't think it's Charlotte Rampling.

Don't... think it's Sarah Miles.

On account of the French connection, I'll go with Jane Birkin.

Not Jane Birkin, it's Charlotte Rampling. You've been knocked out.

Jonathan, you've beaten an Egghead

and you will be in the final round.

Things are turning for Murphmania.

Please, both of you, rejoin your team-mates.

As it stands, Murphmania have lost one brain, the Eggheads have too.

Good work. The next subject is arts and books.

Who wants this? Who wants to go up out of you three?

Luckily, I've already gone. I know nothing.

This is going to be a sacrificial lamb.

We read Match magazine, that's about it.

Who's going to go? I'm stronger on other things.

I know you don't think you're that strong,

but you do come out with some good arts and books answers.

Out of the three of us. Looks like I'm the sacrificial lamb!

OK, it's Jamie from Murphmania against which Egghead?

Can't be Chris, can't be Dave.

Yeah. Daphne, please. Daphne can have an easy round.

All right, Jamie from Murphmania versus Daphne.

You'll be knocked out now they've said that!

Please go to the question room now.

Arts and books. Jamie, first or second set of questions?

I think I'd like to go first.

Good luck. Here's your first question.

The annual literary Funny Prize,

which is awarded to writers of books aimed at readers aged 14 and under,

is named after which writer?

OK.

If it's that sort of age group, the one that sticks out is Roald Dahl,

so I'll go with Roald Dahl.

Roald Dahl is the right answer, well done.

Daphne - the Rijksmuseum -

R-I-J-K-S-M-U-S-E-U-M, the Rijksmuseum -

is an art gallery in which European city?

It's in Amsterdam.

You said that with such certainty, I thought you must've been there.

No! I've been to Holland.

How did you know it was there? It's a quiz question, Jeremy.

She just knows everything!

Yes, you're right.

OK, your question, Jamie -

Proesch and Passmore

are the surnames of which collaborative artists

who won the Turner Prize in 1986?

I'll spell them for you. Proesch is P-R-O-E-S-C-H.

Passmore is as you would imagine.

OK, that's before my time and I'm struggling with that,

so this one's going to have to be a stab in the dark.

I will go with...

Robert and Ray.

No, it's Gilbert and George.

OK, Daphne, your question to pull ahead here.

Who created the fictional cities of Minas Tirith

and Minas Morgul

in an epic fantasy novel?

Tolkien?

You're talking Tolkien.

You're correct.

OK. Jamie, I'm sorry, she's playing well.

It means you need this question, otherwise you'll be knocked out.

According to a quote by Mark Twain, libraries would be better places

if they contained no works by which author?

Mm. Up against it here.

Erm...

Again, the name isn't jumping out at me.

Erm...

I don't think someone would say that about Shakespeare.

Edgar Allan Poe...

It's a stab in the dark, but I'm going for Jane Austen.

You're right, well done. Jane Austen it is.

So you're level with Daphne.

Daphne, if you get this right, you will be in the final.

Which crime writer created a series of books

featuring the Brighton-based detective Roy Grace?

Sorry. It's Peter James.

I'll bet you've read them, have you?

No, it's another writer where I've got them all

and I haven't had time to read them. One day.

The answer is Peter James, you've got it right, so you take the round.

It's hard to play her when she gets three in a row.

You won't be in the final. Please, both of you, come back in.

So Murphmania have lost two brains from the final round

whilst the Eggheads have lost one.

The next subject is sport. Is that good?

Come on, yes. Very good.

The only thing we know about!

It's got to be James.

There's two of us that like sport,

but we're going to stick James up

and we've got to take the champ out.

OK, this could be interesting.

You're very sporty. Sport brought you together, in a way.

Probably wouldn't say the same of this team over here.

James from Murphmania

versus Kevin from the Eggheads on sport - who will win this contest?

Please go to the question room.

This is a sporting team, James, but they chose you. You love your sport?

Yes, it was a toss-up between me and Ryan,

but, yeah, I love sport, so hopefully it'll go well.

Let's see. You can choose to go first or second, James.

I'll go first, please.

Good luck. Your first question -

what is the lowest number of darts that must be thrown

to win a game of 501?

9.

You didn't have to spend a second thinking about that.

You're quite right. 9 it is.

Your question, Kevin - in November 2012,

which Formula 1 team had its first Grand Prix victory in 25 years?

Just thinking... HE MUTTERS

I think it's got to be Lotus.

Yes, it was at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. It was Lotus.

OK. James -

how many major golf titles did Jack Nicklaus win

between 1962 and 1986?

I know it's not 24.

Erm...

My gut is that it's 18,

so I'm going to stick with that and go for 18.

Good on the numbers here.

9 was correct and 18 is correct. Well done.

18 is right.

OK. Kevin - in a September 2012 match against Ukraine,

who became the oldest footballer to be sent off for England?

I really don't know.

I have a vague recollection of the incident,

but I didn't see that particular match

and I can't remember who it was.

The only faint thing that's ringing at the back of my mind

is Steven Gerrard, so I'll go for Gerrard.

You're right. Steven Gerrard.

Third question. This is sometimes where challengers come unstuck.

James, here we go.

Which term, deriving from a Slovakian handball player's surname,

is applied to foreign cricketers who play for a county,

but are not classed as overseas players?

Kolpak. 100 per cent.

OK. You're right.

Go on, James. Never doubted it.

Three out of three and very swiftly.

Kevin, get this wrong, you're out.

The World Elephant Polo Tournament

takes place annually in which country?

I'm... thinking it's Nepal, but I may be wrong there.

Technically, it could be any of them,

but I know that big tournaments are held in Nepal, so I'll go for Nepal.

Let's see. James, do you know?

Wouldn't have a clue. I'd guess Nepal or Sri Lanka,

but I have no idea. I'm glad I went first!

Nepal is correct. You both have three. We go to sudden death.

I don't give you alternatives, OK, James? Yep.

Which Renfrewshire town

is home to St Mirren FC?

Geography is not my strong point, I honestly don't have a clue.

Obviously St Mirren are based in Scotland.

Erm...

For some reason, I think it could be Dumfries, but I'm not sure why.

Erm...

So I'll go with that - Dumfries.

The town that is home to St Mirren FC is Paisley.

OK, Kevin. Sudden death,

which means that you can go through to the final in one stroke now.

The Pakistani Test-cricket ground

named the Gaddafi Stadium in 1974

is in which city?

I think... There are, obviously,

potentially any number of Pakistani cities that it could be.

The one that popped into my head - I have to go on the first instinct,

but I have no idea whether it's correct -

is Lahore. So I'll say Lahore.

Team, is he right? Yeah.

Comfirmation from Murphmania. Kevin, you got it right - Lahore.

You've won through on sport. Sorry, James. Beaten by an Egghead.

Yeah, he did really well. And you won't be in the final round.

Both of you, return to your teams and we will play that final.

This is what we've been heading towards - our final round,

which is general knowledge.

Those of you who lost your head-to-heads won't be taking part,

so that is Mark, James and Jamie from Murphmania

and Chris from the Eggheads.

Would you please leave the studio?

So, Ryan and Jonathan, you are playing to win Murphmania £21,000.

Judith, Kevin, Dave and Daphne,

you play for something money can't buy - the Eggheads' reputation.

I'll ask each team three questions in turn.

This time, the questions are general knowledge and you can confer.

So, Murphmania, the question is are your two brains

better than the Eggheads' four?

Ryan and Jonathan, first or second?

We'll go first.

OK, here we go. Good luck to you.

Which superhero has a secret headquarters in the Arctic

known as the Fortress of Solitude?

Superman...

I... I've got nothing else.

It makes sense. Gotham City and... Yeah, Gotham City for Batman.

Spider-Man... Don't know. Not really into comics.

But I think Superman was the one that jumped out.

That's what we have to go with.

So we'll go for Superman, please.

Superman is the right answer. Good.

One out of one. Good start.

Your question, Eggheads.

On what items of apparel

would you be most likely to see cleats?

Cleats. OK, Judith?

What are they? The little studs underneath shoes.

Erm, that would be shoes.

You're right. Shoes is correct.

Right, Murphmania.

The musician Jon Lord, who died in 2012,

was best known as a founding member of which group?

I'm looking at you, Jon.

'70s music. Ten years before we were born. Not too keen on.

I think my dad's quite a big fan of Deep Purple,

so I don't recognise him from that.

I can't say... I don't know much about the other bands,

but I think, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd, we'd maybe have heard of him.

That's my reasoning. Better than me. I really don't know.

So I'll with Judas Priest. Yeah, we'll go Judas Priest, then.

Judas Priest is your answer.

So your dad is a Deep Purple fan?

Yeah, so he'll kill me if it's Deep Purple or Pink Floyd, but...

You were going the right way then diverted and your dad will kill you

because it is Deep Purple. Sorry. Sorry.

I know that's painful. Because you're close to that.

Here's your question, Eggheads - what type of creature is a kudu?

Antelope. It is an antelope.

It's always an antelope when there's a choice.

Is that one of your rules? Yes. Islands live in the Pacific,

Cheese. Cheese. And it's always an antelope.

Antelope is the correct answer.

OK. So they've got two.

Come on, courage, guys. You can do it. Third question.

What was the name of the Texan politician

who was a passenger

in the car in which John F Kennedy was shot

and who later made a failed attempt to run for President?

Do we know? I watched a documentary on it.

I've watched numerous documentaries on it.

I thought I'd recognise one of those names slightly more than the rest.

I'm trying to think of a brash Texas name!

The only name that's stuck out for me is Henry Grover,

but when you mention about a brash Texas name

like Will Wilson... Will Wilson.

I just...

Skip, mate, it's down to you unfortunately.

What shall we do? Go with... You can choose, mate.

Will Wilson.

Will Wilson. It wasn't Will Wilson, it was John Connally.

The answer is John Connally

so we have to say congratulations, Eggheads, you have won!

Commiserations, Murphmania. Two wrong answers in the final round,

but great fun to play you guys or to see them play against you.

Good to hear about your charity work. Cheers.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally

and their winning streak continues.

That does mean you don't take home the £21,000,

which means that the money rolls over to our next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. You know, I can't see you losing.

Here we go! That's it.

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

to defeat the Eggheads. £22,000 says they don't.

Until then, goodbye.

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