Episode 49 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 you are the greatest, aren't you, Eggheads?

-We were until the last show.

-Hmm, yes. Something happened.

Hoping to beat the might of the Eggheads today

are the Hertford Hopefuls.

Now, this team of friends regularly quiz together at the Duncombe Arms.

-Let's meet them.

-Hello, I'm Michelle and I'm a PA.

Hello, I'm John and I'm a commercial manager.

Hi, I'm Rachel and I work in retail.

Hello, I'm Kate and I'm an employer engagement officer.

Hello, I'm Linda and I work in architectural sales.

-So, Michelle, team, welcome.

-Thank you.

-Good to see you.

-Tell us first about the Duncombe Arms.

-Er...

It's a pub in the centre of Hertford

and it has a weekly quiz, which we go to pretty much every week.

-And you quiz together or against each other?

-No, we quiz together.

We used to quiz separately.

Linda and I were on a quiz team

and the others were on a different quiz team.

But we merged, so that we now quiz together.

-So, you formed a kind of super-team?

-A super-team, yeah.

-Right, and no-one now can beat you at all?

-Well, sometimes.

And what is it about quizzing that you love?

It's the social aspect, actually. It's just fun.

Have a few drinks.

Gosh, you never even realised there was a social aspect,

you five, have you?

What is this social of which you speak?

HE LAUGHS They've never heard of that.

-And I know there's a book club as well.

-Yes.

-Other than John, the rest of us are in a book club.

-OK.

So, John, you don't read much?

I read a lot. Just not fiction, really.

Oh, I see. You're into biographies and histories.

And science-y stuff. A bit boring, maybe, but...

-Blokey thing then?

-Blokey things.

That might come in handy, you need a good spread of skills.

So, good luck in this contest.

Every day, there is £1,000 worth of cash

up for grabs for our Challengers.

However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

Now, CJ has referred to a problem that came up in the last show.

And I can tell you, Hertford Hopefuls,

they were on a brilliant streak, the Eggheads,

they came undone in a question about Peter Pan.

THEY GASP And the Challengers won.

So, that means it can be done.

And it also means that £1,000 is on the table for you to win today.

-Would you like to try?

-Yes, please.

-Yes!

All right, the first head-to-head is on the subject of Politics.

Who would like this?

-Politics?

-Have we decided that was going to be John?

-It's John.

-Is it me?

-Yeah.

OK, John. Against which Egghead?

-I wonder if Lisa might be a good one for politics.

-Yeah.

What do you think, Michelle? What did your mum say?

-She didn't mention politics.

-SHE GASPS

Yeah, no, I think Lisa.

I think we'll take a punt on Lisa then, please.

-Yeah, I think we've been doing some politics recently, haven't we?

-Yes.

-With good results?

-Yes.

-OK.

THEY GROAN But not that good!

-Because your degree was History and English.

-That's right.

So, not politics.

OK, John from Hertford Hopefuls versus our hopeful Egghead Lisa.

Please go to our famous Question Room now.

All right, John, so you're up against Lisa on Politics.

Would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first please, Jeremy.

So, here we go with your first question.

In 2008, the politician Lembit Opik became engaged to

a member of which pop group?

Erm, yes, I do recall this, actually.

I believe it was one of the sisters who were the Cheeky Girls.

So, that's my answer.

You're quite right.

First point to our Challengers. Lisa, over to you.

Who was the only British Prime Minister to win

three consecutive general elections during the 20th century?

'79, '83,

'87.

Just checking, yeah, I'm fairly sure that's Margaret Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher is the right answer.

OK, John, over to you.

In September 2015,

which Labour MP was appointed Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer?

2015, so this is,

I believe this is the Jeremy Corbyn cabinet.

I think it's John McDonnell.

John McDonnell is quite right. Well done.

And, Lisa, over to you.

Which then Labour MP introduced the Commonwealth for Britain Bill

in Parliament in 1991, which proposed abolishing the monarchy?

OK. You said, "Then Labour MP."

Now, Dennis Skinner is still a Labour MP.

Frank Field is also still a Labour MP.

Maybe enough of a basis on which to eliminate them both

and say Tony Benn.

Tony Benn is the right answer.

OK, 2-2, back to you, John.

The so-called Plaza Accord of 1985 in which several governments

agreed to intervene in currency markets

to manage the value of the US dollar

took its name from a hotel in which city where it was signed?

No, I'm afraid I...

I don't know the answer to this one

so I'm going to have to make a guess.

And I shall go for St Louis.

Let's see if the Eggheads know. Is he right? St Louis, Missouri?

It should be on the famous plaza which is on the south-east corner

of Central Park in New York.

A famous plaza in New York, you think?

Well, the famous Plaza Hotel is there.

Yeah, there is a famous plaza in New York

and that is the right answer, John.

Sorry. So a chance for Lisa to take the round.

Tabare Vazquez was elected president

of which South American country in November 2014,

having previously held the position between 2005 and 2010?

OK.

Don't remember his name coming up in the presidential race in Brazil

and I think that may have been 2015 anyway.

So, it's a toss-up between Chile and Uruguay.

Of the two,

I would have a slight preference for Uruguay

based on absolutely nothing at all.

Yeah, I don't know. I'll say Uruguay.

-Uruguay is the right answer.

-Phew!

Sorry, Challengers. Sorry, John.

You've been knocked out. Lisa will be in the final round.

But it's early days. Please rejoin your teams and we'll play on.

So, as it stands, the Hertford Hopefuls have lost a brain

from the final round,

whilst the Eggheads have not lost any brains at all so far.

Let's see if we can change that, shall we?

The next subject is Film & TV.

So, Michelle, who would like this?

-That's you, Michelle.

-That's me. And that'll be me.

It's you, yourself, the skipper goes in. OK. And which Egghead?

-Do you want Barry?

-If you're happy with that. Or CJ.

What did your mum say?

I love that Michelle's mum is becoming

like Columbo's wife, a legendary figure.

She was the researcher.

I would save CJ for another round. So, I'll take Barry, please.

I'll have Barry.

OK, so it's going to be Michelle from the Hertford Hopefuls

having Barry from the Eggheads.

Film & TV. You're up for this, Barry?

-Very much so.

-You're wide awake?

-Absolutely.

-OK, good stuff.

Please go to our Question Room now.

Well, this is good, Michelle.

-You've got your strongest subject, I gather.

-Yes, hopefully. We'll see.

-And any particular thing you love to watch?

-Er...

Well, I like all sorts of films, really.

I like a good thriller, a good horror film.

And we must ask about your mum

who's obviously been monitoring the programme.

Because she keeps being mentioned.

Yes, well, she loves of the show and since she knew that we were

going to be on, she's been giving me all sorts of statistics

and who I've got to pick if certain topics come up.

So, she said if its Film & TV, you go and choose Barry?

-Along those lines, yes.

-All right, well, let's see what happens.

-And what's your mum's name?

-Jan.

-All right, Jan, here we go. Film & TV.

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

-I'll go first, please.

Here's your first question, Michelle.

In 2015, the entrepreneurs Sarah Willingham, Nick Jenkins

and Touker Suleyman all joined the panel of which BBC TV show?

I believe that's Dragons' Den.

Dragons' Den is correct.

Barry, set during the Cold War, who plays the lawyer

James B Donovan in the 2015 Steven Spielberg film a Bridge Of Spies?

Let me just think on this.

I think that was Tom Hanks.

Yes, it was Tom Hanks.

Back to you, Michelle.

The 2015 BBC sitcom Cradle To Grave is based on the young life

of which broadcaster and DJ?

Well, I did watch this, it was very good,

and it was based on the life of Danny Baker.

Danny Baker is correct, and I think Squeeze did the songs for the show.

Excitingly.

Barry, who was the first person to win consecutive

Best Director Academy Awards, doing so in 1941 and 1942?

Consecutive?

John Ford has won four so I'm just wondering

if two of those were consecutive.

I think I've got to go for John Ford.

John Ford is right.

All right, he's playing well.

Jan's going to be upset about this, Michelle.

It's not going to plan at all.

Michelle, your question.

Which actress received her first Academy Award acting nomination

for the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons?

Well, this is another great film.

I don't recall Sharon Stone or Winona Ryder being in it,

so I'm going to have to say Michelle Pfeiffer.

Michelle Pfeiffer is correct.

So, you've got three out of three.

Let's see if you can shake Barry off.

Barry, this to stay in.

Which German film director won the Palm d'Or at Cannes in 1984

for his film Paris, Texas?

Oh, I love that film, Paris, Texas.

It had really iconic music in by Ry Cooder.

But who directed it? That's a much harder question.

I'll discount Volker Schlondorff.

Wim Wenders or Werner Herzog? Oh.

I think it's just a little early for Werner Herzog,

I'm going to go for Wim Wenders.

-Yes, Wim Wenders is right.

-Oh!

-Barry, good play.

And the three out of three for you both, so we go to Sudden Death.

Michelle, it gets a bit harder. I don't give you alternatives.

Here is your question.

Who directed all three Back To The Future films

which were originally released between 1985 and 1990?

Well, I loved the Michael J Fox, I loved these films,

particularly the first one.

And I think, I had a big poster on my bedroom wall

and I'm pretty sure that the director was Robert Zemeckis.

It was Robert Zemeckis, well done.

OK, Barry, to stay in.

In which series of films are midi-chlorians

a microscopic life force?

Oh, I think the Force is with me on this one,

I think it's the Star Wars series.

It's controversial with Star Wars fans, this, but yes, Star Wars.

OK, level on Sudden Death.

Michelle, what is the surname of the Belgian film-making brothers

who won the Palm d'Or at Cannes in 1999 for their film Rosetta

and again in 2005 for The Child?

I think I'm aware of them

but I absolutely cannot think what their name is.

Belgium.

No, I'm sorry, I think I'm going to have to pass.

OK, it was Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

Barry, for the round.

The 1993 film Bopha, which tells the story of

a black South African policeman during apartheid

was the directorial debut of which American actor?

I don't know. I'll try Morgan Freeman.

-Morgan Freeman is the right answer.

-Oh!

That is the only film he's directed.

So, he had a go at it and that was it.

Barry, you're in the final.

Sorry, Michelle, I can see you know your onions.

Bad luck, though, you've been knocked out by Barry.

-I hope Jan's not too upset.

-Oh, never mind.

So, come back to us and we'll play the next round.

So, as it stands, the Challengers have lost two brains

from the final round, though the last round was very close.

The Eggheads are still there intact,

looking pleased with themselves.

The next subject for you is Music.

THEY GASP Who wants music?

-It has to be Linda.

-I think that's me!

-It has to be Linda.

-Linda?

-Who am I having?

-Who are you having?

-Oh, I've got no idea. Am I having Pat?

-Or Chris?

-Or Chris?

-It was Pat or Chris.

-Ooh. What do you think?

-Who do you fancy?

-You choose.

-I think I'd like Chris.

-OK.

-OK?

-Chris, please.

So, Linda from the Hertford Hopefuls against Chris on Music again.

-Again! Good stuff.

-Again, again. Yeah, OK.

And please take your positions for us.

So, good luck on Music. Would you like to go first or second, Linda?

I'd like to go first, please.

And here is your question.

According to the title of the 1944 novelty song,

I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of what?

I've Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts.

Coconuts is right, well done.

Chris, the 1987 Comic Relief single Rocking Around The Christmas Tree

was performed by the comedian Mel Smith

and which female English singer?

That was Kim Wilde.

-You're quite right.

-Yeah.

-Kim Wilde, well done.

Linda, I Feel The Earth Move and It's Too Late were hit songs

for which female singer-songwriter in 1971?

I'm fairly certain that this was Carole King.

Carole King is correct, yes.

So, Chris?

We'd Like To Thank You, Herbert Hoover

and A New Deal For Christmas are songs from which stage musical?

Well, the Hoover reference gives it away.

It's Annie from the Depression.

Annie is quite right.

All right, we're going great guns here. Two out of three for you both.

This would be a good one to get, Linda.

Jack Payne, born in August 1899, achieved fame in which role?

I don't know this answer, so it's going to be a complete guess.

I'm going to say bandleader.

-Chris, is she right?

-She's right, yes.

-Bandleader it is. Well done.

-Thank you.

-Got the rub of the green there.

OK, Chris, to stay in.

Which member of the Rolling Stones released the 2015 album

Crosseyed Heart, his first solo release in 23 years?

Er, wouldn't be Jagger, I'd have heard of it if it was Jagger.

Must be Keith Richards.

Yes, Keith Richards it is. Well done.

-Sorry, Linda, he's taking you to Sudden Death.

-Painful.

Here we go again.

Which female American folk singer had a hit with the song

Brand New Key in the early 1970s which was later parodied

in a novelty song called Combine Harvester?

That was Melanie.

It was Melanie, yeah!

-Do you remember the group who did Combine Harvester?

-The Wurzels.

Yeah, well done. Good work.

Chris.

Published in 2015, Unfaithful Music And Disappearing Ink

is the title of which singer-songwriter's autobiography?

No, I'm going to have to pass on that, Jeremy. Sorry.

-Really?

-Really.

-Nothing?

-Nothing.

-Do you know, Linda?

-I do!

-Go on.

-Elvis Costello.

-Yeah, my hero, as it happens.

-It's waiting for me to read.

-It's at home.

-Yeah, I've read it, it's a great book.

So, Chris, you've been knocked out on an Elvis Costello question,

how painful is that?

-Linda, well done, you're in the final round.

-Thank you.

You played really well there. Fantastic musical knowledge.

Come back to us and we'll play on.

So, as it stands, Hertford Hopefuls have lost two brains

from the final round but they've now fought back successfully

and the Eggheads have lost a brain as well.

And the next subject is Arts & Books.

-OK.

-So...

-That's not me, that's you.

-That's for you, Kate.

-Oh, God!

-We agreed, OK.

-Yeah, OK.

-Who would you like?

-Which Egghead?

-So, Kate.

-What do you think about CJ?

-CJ or Pat?

-CJ?

Yeah, OK, CJ.

All righty.

So, Kate from Hertford Hopefuls versus our own CJ from the Eggheads.

And please go to the Question Room now.

Art & Books we're on.

And, Kate, would you like to go first or second?

I'd like to go first please, Jeremy.

-Kate, good luck.

-Thank you.

In 2015, which actor's starring role in Hamlet

helped break the record for audience figures for a live broadcast

of a National Theatre production?

Well, I think this was one of my favourites

and he is Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch is correct.

CJ.

The Penwith Society of Arts, founded in the 1940s by artists

such as Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson is based in which town?

Well, I think Penwith is in Cornwall and the Hepworth Museum

is in St Ives because I've been to it, so I'll try St Ives.

Yes, I've been to it too and St Ives is quite right.

Back to you, Kate.

Which writer commented about the work of Charles Dickens

by saying, "One would have to have a heart of stone

"to read of the death of Little Nell without laughing"?

I don't know the answer to this one.

I imagine it would be somebody who wrote in a comic way.

I'm going with Oscar Wilde.

Yes, it is Oscar Wilde.

OK, CJ.

The poet Dante Alighieri was born in Florence in which century?

Can't remember the exact year but it's the 13th.

It is the 13th.

So again, this Egghead is proving difficult to shake off,

they're not getting many answers are wrong.

That's the trouble here, Kate, today. Here's your third question.

Horse Devoured By Lion is a famous 18th-century work

by which artist?

I don't know the answer to this one either.

I'm going to go with George Stubbs.

Yes, you're right.

Well done, Kate, three out of three.

CJ, your third question. Get this wrong, you're out.

Which comedienne wrote the 2015 novel According To Yes?

Not 100% sure but I think it's Dawn French.

Dawn French is right.

CJ. Kate, you're tied on three points, we go to Sudden Death again.

-I don't give you alternatives, Kate, OK?

-OK.

In September 2014, a statue of which late female singer

by the sculptor Scott Eaton was unveiled in Camden in North London?

I'm guessing it could be Amy Winehouse.

Is that your answer?

-Yes.

-It's correct, Amy Winehouse. Well done.

CJ, which legendary American singer-songwriter

wrote the children's book If Dogs Run Free,

based on his 1970s song of the same name?

That I have absolutely no idea about.

Absolute blind guess at Paul McCartney.

So Paul McCartney is American now, is he?

Didn't even hear you say that.

It's not Paul McCartney! It's Bob Dylan.

Well done, Kate, you're in the final.

Well done indeed, this is just like the last game.

Congratulations, Kate, you took on an Egghead

and you emerged triumphant.

Both of you rejoin your teams and we will play that final round.

Well, what an intriguing game.

This is what we have been playing towards.

It is time for the final round. As always, it's General Knowledge.

But I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads

are not allowed to take part in this round.

So, that's Michelle and John from the Hertford Hopefuls,

but also CJ and Chris from the Eggheads.

Would you please now leave the studio?

Now, Rachel, Kate and Linda,

you're playing to win the Hertford Hopefuls £1,000.

Oh, Lisa, Pat and Barry,

you're playing for something that I can't even put a price on,

which is to restore the Eggheads' reputation

after the last awful game.

As usual, I will ask each team three questions in turn.

This time, the questions are all General Knowledge

-and you are allowed to confer.

-Excellent.

So, Hertford Hopefuls, the question is -

can your three brains defeat these three over here?

Let's hope so. Rachel, Kate, Linda,

would you like to go first or second?

-First?

-Yeah, I think we like to go first.

OK, good luck to you and here we go with your first question.

Accounting dodges known as tobashi schemes

take their name from a term meaning "make fly away" in which language?

-Well, my first...

-My first instinct is Japanese.

-Sounds completely Japanese.

-It has to be Japanese.

We're going to go Japanese, Jeremy.

Japanese is the right answer.

-Excellent.

-Eggheads.

Which of these Italian football clubs

play their home matches at the Stadio Olimpico?

-It's Roma.

-Roma?

-Yes, it's the only city that's held the Olympics.

Yes?

That's Roma.

Roma is right. So, 1-1.

And your question, Challengers.

Which of these London tourist attractions

is located in Regent's Park?

-It's definitely London.

-There's no doubt in any of our minds.

-We know this one.

-We've all been there.

So, it's not Kew Gardens and it's not the National Gallery.

So, we're going to go with London Zoo.

Absolutely right, London Zoo it is.

OK, your question, Eggs.

Which online crowd-funding platform was co-founded by Perry Chen,

Yancey Strickler and Charles Adler in 2009?

Kickstarter is a really big name in crowd-funding sites.

I think it's been around longer than the rest,

-that would be the key on that.

-I don't know this.

Are the other two genuine? Do you recognise the other two?

Yeah, certainly GoFundMe exists and I'm fairly sure Indiegogo exists

but I don't recall it being a crowd-funding site.

I would have thought if you're going back to 2009,

Kickstarter would be the option

on the basis I think it's been

around enough longer than the other two.

But I don't know for sure.

I'd be inclined to go for Kickstarter

because it's such a dominant name.

Yeah, well, it would be my preference.

I have no preference so I'm happy to go with that.

We don't know this

but Kickstarter seems to have by far

the biggest profile, so we're going for Kickstarter.

Yeah, you're right, it exists and it's the right answer. Kickstarter.

2-2. I thought they might come unstuck with that one.

Never mind.

Bright Lights, Big City, published in 1984,

was the first novel by which US author?

My instinctive answer is Bret Easton Ellis.

-I have no idea, what about you, Kate?

-I don't know any of the three.

So, why do you think it's Bret Easton Ellis?

-Why do you think it's him?

-Just a guess?

-I just think it's him.

Well, I have no idea

so unless you've got something better up your sleeve?

That's the only one that rings a bell.

I'm fairly sure it's not Tom Wolfe.

Jay McInerney I don't know an awful lot about.

We don't know the answer to this one,

so I'm going with Linda's guess because Kate and I have no idea.

-And we're going to say Bret Easton Ellis.

-OK.

Tom Wolfe was Bonfire Of The Vanities, right?

Bret Easton Ellis, Less Than Zero.

Who wrote this, though?

-I think it's Jay McInerney.

-It's Jay McInerney.

-Oh, no, I'm so sorry, guys!

-It's not your fault, we didn't know.

All right.

Over to you.

If you get this right, you've won the contest

and you're back on track.

But who knows? After what happened in the last game.

During the Second World War, the actor and writer Peter Ustinov

served in the British Army as a batman

to which other famous actor?

David Niven I think was a private in the Second World War.

-I think it's David Niven. I think he served.

-Hang on, was he?

That just sounds like the sort of thing that you would collect, Pat.

It's right up your street.

Before the options had come up, I would have said David Niven.

I think it rings a bell. I'd be very reluctant not to say David Niven.

I am fully prepared to go with your instinct on this.

Because that's what came into my head before the options.

Well, my instincts haven't been playing too well

so I'm happy to go with yours.

And I haven't got a clue so we'll take that, Pat.

I've a fairly strong feeling this was David Niven.

If you've got this right, if, the contest is over.

Peter Ustinov served as batman to David Niven.

We say congratulations, Eggheads. You have won.

-Well, commiserations, Hertford Hopefuls.

-Thank you. It's been fun.

-We've enjoyed it.

-Yes, and some great rounds you've played.

And there we are, 3-3 in the final. What can I say?

Many, many fail to get that far.

So, Eggheads, you may be back on track. We'll have to see.

After your misfiring, you seem to have won

and you reign supreme again.

It does mean the Challengers don't go home with the £1,000

so we roll that money over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations.

I wonder if you are back on form.

Join us next time to see if a new team of Challengers

have the brains to defeat them.

They're very, very hard to beat when they're on top form.

£2,000 says they won't lose. Till then, goodbye.