Episode 60 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're looking focused.

-Yes, we are.

-Especially Judith!

-Yes, absolutely.

-Yeah.

-Gimlet-eyed.

-Gimlet-eyed! Very good.

Challenging the might of our quiz Goliaths today are

To The Manor Born. This team from Dorset are

all members of the Wimborne branch

of the University of the Third Age and each year,

go on a spring break together to the Manor House Activity Centre.

-Let's meet them.

-Hi, I'm Paul, I'm a retired civil servant.

Hello, my name is Mary and I'm a retired teacher.

Hi, I'm Ashley and I'm a retired company director.

Hello, I'm Maggie and I'm a retired nurse.

Hi, I'm Kate and I'm a retired teacher.

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

-Hi.

-ALL:

-Hello.

Tell us about the University of the Third Age.

Well, the University of the Third Age is an organisation that is national

and the Wimborne branch, we decided some time ago to play

badminton under the banner of the U3A, so some of us play

badminton and others are partners to those who play badminton.

OK, and the University of the Third Age is like the Open University, or what?

It's designed for over 55s, either people who are retired or semi-retired.

And it's very much self-help groups and they engage in all sorts of

activities, sporting, crafts, and volunteers come

and teach members of the different groups.

Right, brilliant. And you quiz a bit?

We quiz a little bit, not together so much,

but we've all quizzed at different times and in different locations.

Well, good luck, I wish you well in your quest to take the jackpot.

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.

So, To The Manor Born, the Eggheads have won the last 11 games-

they're doing really well.

Ups and downs there - the up is that £12,000 says you can't beat them,

the down is obviously that they are on good form.

-Would you like to start?

-We would.

Brilliant. I think you're going to be a good quizzing team.

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

-Who would like this?

-Who would like to take Politics?

Shall we do Ashley?

-I don't know.

-Or Mary?

Would you like to have a go?

-If you want me to.

-Yes!

-OK.

-Ashley.

-Ashley. OK. And which Egghead would you like?

-Any one of the five.

-Lisa?

-Possibly, yeah.

I mean, I'll take your advice on that.

Yes? I think we'll try Lisa.

OK. Ashley, from To The Manor Born versus Lisa from the Eggheads.

And just to make sure there's no conferring,

please go to our famous question room.

OK. Politics, Ashley, your choice.

Would you like to go first or second?

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

And good luck here, Ashley.

See if you can just get the edge in the early part of the contest.

In which year was Vladimir Putin born?

OK. Um...

He's probably late 50s now.

Um... I'll say

it's 1962.

1952 is the answer.

So he's in his...

Well into his 60s.

OK. Lisa.

Your question. The former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan was a member of

which political party during his term of office?

He was a Conservative.

He was indeed. Supermac.

OK, Ashley, despite there being 650 MPs,

there is only seating room for how many in the House of Commons?

I've certainly visited

a couple of times, but I haven't done a head count.

I would say

it's got to be 427.

Yes, absolutely right, it is.

OK, Lisa.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has admitted that he has an interest in,

and regularly photographs, which of these things?

That would make the most fantastic programme -

a sort of dull men thing where men who are generally interesting talk

about their dull habits.

Your first guest should actually be Corbyn...talking about -

sorry, I'll get to the point - his love of drain covers.

Yes, well done, drain covers is right. Pretty un-guessable this,

actually. OK, Ashley, we're back with you.

And you need to get this right. Between 2001 and 2004,

David Cameron wrote a blog for the website of which newspaper?

I'm going to go for The Sun.

Yeah, I see why you've done that, because it's on the right.

He's a bit more complicated than that, I think,

-and he wrote for the Guardian.

-Oh, right.

-So I'm sorry.

No way back for you, Lisa has taken the round. Lisa, you'll be in

-the final.

-Wow.

-And Ashley, you won't, but don't worry. It's very, very early.

Come back to us, both of you, and we'll play on.

OK, so The Manor Born have lost a brain.

The Eggheads have not lost any so far.

Our second round is Film & TV.

-Who would like this?

-Who would like that?

-I'm happy to have a go.

-Have a go at Kate, yeah?

-Yeah.

-Kate?

-Kate, yeah.

-OK, retired teacher against which Egghead?

Judith, Dave?

-I would have thought possibly Dave, yes.

-Dave? Dave.

-Good stuff.

OK, Kate from To The Manor Born, Dave from the Eggheads,

will go to the question room now.

So, you used to teach, Kate?

-I did, yes.

-For a long time?

Quite a long time, yes - over 30 years.

-And what was your subject?

-Mainly English and textiles.

Great stuff. Well, good luck, Kate.

And Film and TV is the subject against Tremendous Knowledge Dave.

-Would you like to go first or second?

-First, please.

Here is your first question.

The actor Steve McFadden is famous for playing which character

in EastEnders?

I don't think it's Ian Beale.

I'm not a soap watcher, so I'm not absolutely sure on this one.

Erm... I think I will probably go for Phil Mitchell.

-Dave, what do you think?

-Yes, absolutely right.

Absolutely right, well done. OK, Dave.

Who wrote the 1984 British film Four Weddings And A Funeral?

I believe it was Richard Curtis.

Richard Curtis is correct, well done.

Brilliant writer. One each. Kate, back to you.

The 2015 film Creed features characters

first seen in which film franchise?

I'm not sure about this one, it's not one I've seen.

I don't think it's Jaws. I'll go for...

Rocky.

I'm glad you did, you're right. Very good.

Dave, what is the first name of the character played by Aidan Turner

in the TV series Poldark?

Erm...

I don't think it's Ray, don't think it's Richard.

I'll get Lisa excited by saying Ross.

It is Ross.

Well done. OK, it's going well.

Two each, get this one right, Kate, put a bit of pressure on Dave.

Which of these writing partnerships are best known for co-creating and

writing the TV sitcom Peep Show?

There's only one pair I've heard of there.

Is it best to go with the one you've heard of?

I'm going to go for the one I know, Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.

Graham will be excited by that. I think he watches the programme.

-He's the not the right answer, though.

-Right.

Sam Bain and Jesse Armstrong, Kate.

OK. So a chance for Dave to take the round.

Which Oscar-winning actor played the role of Dr Hank Pym

in the 2015 film Ant-Man?

Gene Hackman, Robert Duval, Michael Douglas, they've won Oscars,

and I don't know the film.

Right, I'm going for Michael Douglas.

Yeah, you've got it right, Dave.

Good quizzing, well done, with not much to go on.

-Maybe nothing to go on?

-I just thought he's younger, so...

-in that particular genre, it would be him.

-It's 3-2, so Kate,

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

But don't worry, plenty of time - well, some time.

Come back, both of you, and we'll play on.

So, as it stands, To The Manor Born have lost a couple of brains now from

the final round. Eggheads are still sitting rather happily in their manor.

So see if you can take one of them out now.

The next subject is Food & Drink. Who wants this?

-I think that's Maggie.

-Maggie.

-Yes. Maggie against?

-Kevin is the infamous one.

-I think I shall go for Kevin.

-All right.

-Why not?

-I wasn't predicting that.

They obviously don't watch the show, do they?

So, Maggie from To The Manor Are Born versus Kevin from the Eggheads.

Let's see if she can knock out the Grand Master.

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

Now, Maggie, you were one of the first qualified nurse practitioners.

I was, yes.

And that's different from just being a nurse, right?

Well, it's another set of skills. Diagnosing illness.

And then after that I did a prescribing course so I could prescribe medication.

So, very useful.

Oh, I see. So, they added a band above regular nurse, did they?

Yes. To take some of the load off doctors.

-Yes.

-And did you enjoy that?

Yes, I did. I did that for a number of years until I retired

-coming up for five years ago.

-And I know you've won £80 in a quiz.

-Tell me, was that Millionaire? Which one was that?

-No!

I've done a few local pub quizzes in places where I've lived

and the place I lived before where I am now, there was a resident team that always won.

We thought we'd go and challenge them and the prize was £80,

which we won. So, yeah. They weren't happy.

There were lots of them and only four of us. So, I think we did well.

That sounds like a very good omen for today.

So, here's the resident team. You're taking them on. They're used to winning, they've got that swagger,

and you're going to take them down. So, Food & Drink, Maggie. Do you want to go first or second?

Oh, I'll go first.

Here we go. Good luck.

What type of food are Indian chapatis?

OK, well, I'm sure we've all had these.

Erm... They're not chicken balls or kebabs.

They are bread.

Bread is correct.

Kevin, which of these is a traditional

British desert made with apples?

Eton mess tends to involve things like meringue and strawberries

and that sort of thing. It's not spotted dick, either.

But Eve's pudding, being a reference to Eve and the Apple.

-Eve's pudding.

-Yeah, I didn't know this.

Eve's pudding is the right answer, Kevin. Well done.

OK, Maggie. Your question.

Which of these Greek dishes is typically made with lamb,

bechamel sauce and aubergines?

OK. Erm... Well, kofta is like

a pressed meat in a sausage shape, I think.

Stifado, I can't remember what that is.

But it sounds like moussaka to me.

Sounds like moussaka to me, as well.

Well done. Moussaka is right, well done.

Kevin, which of these is

traditionally a gin-based cocktail?

OK, I'm not a cocktail person at all.

But I don't believe it's a Rusty Nail.

My initial thought, well, my more or less instant thought,

was Singapore sling. But I'm just having a...

I can't remember. I think maybe a Sea Breeze involves rum.

So, anyway, I shall say Singapore Sling.

Anyone know here? Yes, he's right. Yep, they say you're right, Kevin.

Singapore sling. It's 2-2.

And, Maggie, we go back to you.

Now, if you get this right, this is where you've all come unstuck so far.

Get the third question right so you've got a chance here, Maggie.

The fermented vegetable dish of kimchee

originated in which part of the world?

Hmm. I have heard of this.

It doesn't sound Scandinavian.

It doesn't really sound like a Thai word.

So, I think I'm going to go for Korea.

-Korea is correct.

-Oh! Wow.

Well done. Three out of three.

OK, now, some pressure on the Grand Master.

Let's see. The Italian dish of bollito misto

consists of what, Kevin?

Ah.

You've caught me out there, because that's not what

I was expecting to see.

B-O-L-L-I-TO?

Yeah. Bollito misto.

Obviously, eggs is one thing. So, I'll rule them out.

I suppose it could be a mixture of shellfish,

different types of shellfish, hence it could be mixed.

But it sounds, because boiled meats is nicely vague,

since it's a mixed dish...

I think I'll go for boiled meats.

Yeah, I was thinking it's sort of almost too obviously boiled meats

because bollito misto sounds like boiled meats.

Boiled meats is correct. You're still in it, Kevin.

So, three out of three for you both.

Tight round. Is this the moment the tide turns for To The Manor Born?

We go to sudden death, it gets a bit harder -

I don't give you alternatives. Maggie, here's your question.

The Swiss doctor Bircher-Benner was a pioneer of what type of food

typically eaten at breakfast?

I believe that was muesli.

Muesli is correct, well done.

OK, Kevin.

Manchego cheese is traditionally made from the milk of which animal?

OK, comes from an...

Comes from Spain, I believe.

It's going to be either cow or sheep.

I'm thinking, I may be wrong here,

but I'm thinking Manchego is a sheep's cheese.

-So, I'll say sheep.

-Sheep is correct.

Oh, so close, Maggie.

So close to that final round. Come on, keep going here.

Pesto is said to have been invented in which Italian city,

the capital of Liguria?

I can't, er... I can't think of what that is.

Liguria...

I'm struggling with that!

Erm...

-Naples?

-Liguria - where is Liguria, first of all?

-Kevin, do you know?

-Well, it's the north-western coastal bit of Italy.

It's Genoa.

-The other side of Italy from Naples.

-That's what I thought, yes.

-After I'd said it!

-Don't worry.

But it gives Kevin a chance.

Kevin, what is the name of the powder typically used in Asian cuisine that

is made from cinnamon, star anise and various other spices such as fennel,

cloves and Szechuan pepper?

Well, the thing that... Hmm.

There's one thing that springs to mind,

and I think it's not necessarily an entirely accurately named thing

because I think the number of ingredients can vary.

But there is a thing called five spice powder,

which does include those ingredients.

It's not the only one. Five spice powder is not the only one

to include ingredients like that.

But, at the moment, I'm afraid it's the only thing I can think of.

So, I shall say five spice powder.

Yes, you're bang on and your explanation is quite right because it can have more or less

than five spices. But, absolutely, five spice powder.

You're in the final round. Maggie, sorry, he's a very good player,

-isn't he?

-I knew that answer.

-I'm sure you did. Please come back and join your teams,

and we will see if the challengers can rescue it.

So, To The Manor Born have now lost three brains.

Paul, any change of game plan?

-No, I think we'll stick to our original strategy.

-And what was that?

Well, we have certain subjects and we're rather hoping a certain subject

-might come up next. OK. Do you want to tell me which one?

-No!

So, the Eggheads have not lost a brain so far and they're also on this run.

So, you can just see the confidence.

There's still time to stop it. The next subject is Sport.

-Is that the one or not?

-No, no.

-What did you want?

-Any other.

-Oh, OK.

So, Sport. With Paul or Mary.

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

-Yeah.

-Shall I take it?

-Yeah. Yes, it'll be myself.

-OK. Paul against either Judith or Pat.

I think we'll go Judith?

Haven't done sport for a while!

She loves sport. She's been doing a lot of reading back pages,

supports a football team. All kinds of things. So,

Paul from To The Manor Born versus our own Judith from the Eggheads.

Please go to the question room.

Paul, when you're not with University of the Third Age,

I gather you sing in a barbershop choir?

-I do, indeed.

-And I love barbershop, so tell us about the origins of that.

It, I think, came from America back in the early part of the 20th century

and seemed to spread over here around the 1970s.

Most of the singing over here is in choruses, as opposed to quartets.

Which I think is the traditional way they sang it.

-And do you do a quarter or a chorus?

-No, we do a chorus. And I sing bass.

So, anything I sang, you wouldn't recognise.

So, Paul, would you like to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please.

And here we go, Paul, with your first question.

Didier Drogba played international football for which team?

It's certainly not Mexico.

I'm pretty confident it's the Ivory Coast, Cote d'Ivoire.

Absolutely right, well done. Cote d'Ivoire. Judith.

Joe Bugner was a leading name in which sport in the 1970s?

He was a boxer.

He was indeed a boxer.

OK, Paul. Your question.

A match in which of these sports typically ends with the sounding of

a hooter?

Not tennis. I can't imagine it is rugby league.

So, I don't know,

but I think by process of elimination it must be baseball.

-Eggheads?

-Rugby league!

-It's a rugby league, Paul.

-Oh!

-Yeah!

OK, Judith. Your chance to take the lead on sport.

Let's treasure this moment.

What was the nickname of the snooker player Ray Reardon,

a six-time world champion in the 1970s?

I did once learn

snooker players' nicknames.

But it was rather a long time ago.

I have a feeling he was called Dracula, actually.

He had that sort of Dracula hairstyle.

-Yeah, he was very dark, all black.

-Black head, sweptback, yeah.

-And he wore black.

-Dracula is correct.

Two out of two, Judith.

OK, Paul. This is to stay in.

Who was the captain of the England cricket team from 1999 to 2003?

Cricket is not my strongest subject, I'm afraid.

I have to think about this.

I think they've all been England captains.

I think I will have two go down the middle with Alec Stewart.

OK. If you've got this wrong, you're out. I wonder if you know,

-Judith, is he right?

-I think it's Nasser Hussain.

It is Nasser Hussain, Paul.

-Ah, yes.

-You've been knocked out by Judith, and Judith,

you've won a sport round. Nothing to fear, you see.

-Made my day.

-Well done.

So, four of you have been knocked out, challengers.

Come back to us and we will play the final round.

So, this is what we have been playing towards.

It is time for our 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, all from this side I'm afraid. Paul, Ashley, Maggie and Kate from To The Manor Born,

would you please now leave the studio?

OK, Mary, good luck.

-How are you feeling?

-Bit nervous.

OK, well, don't worry.

You're playing to win To The Manor Born £12,000.

Judith, Kevin, Dave, Lisa and Pat,

you're playing for something that money can't buy -

the Eggheads' reputation. You haven't got a question wrong so far today.

I think you might do now.

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

They're all general knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

Sorry, that doesn't help you. So, Mary, the question is, is your one brain able to defeat these five?

-Don't answer that.

-I know!

-Would you like to go first or second?

Yes, please, first.

OK, the routine for you, Mary.

Which of these is a cunning trickster from Norse mythology who has the

ability to change his shape and sex?

I think it's Loki because Thor is the god of war

and he's symbolised by a hammer.

And Odin, I think also is a warlike god. He's certainly an important

God - he wouldn't be up to anything frivolous like playing tricks.

Loki is right. Oh, you're a quizzer, I can tell.

If you know mythology, you're a quizzer.

So, Eggheads, what is the capital of Pakistan?

Islamabad?

-Purpose-built.

-Was it?

It was Karachi once upon a time.

-Yes, it was.

-It used to be Karachi.

-Rawalpindi once...

It's Islamabad now.

It was purpose-built, and it's Islamabad.

Islamabad is correct.

I thought you might go wrong there.

Mary, the large lizard known as the Komodo dragon

is native to which country?

Komodo dragon, it sounds...

very oriental, and those are all very oriental places.

I'm not absolutely sure which one it is. I can picture it in my mind.

So, I'll pick Japan.

-Eggheads, is that right?

-No, Indonesia.

Indonesia is the correct answer.

It gives them possibly the advantage, but let's see.

Which of these board games was invented first?

-Monopoly was the '30s.

-Monopoly was the 1930s.

-Yeah, Depression.

-Scrabble, Alfred Butts.

-Yeah.

-Cluedo...

-Um...

I'd say Cluedo was later.

I mean, in one or two cases they took a long time to get

to the development stage, didn't they?

-Become actually invented.

-Yeah.

Yeah, invented, because Monopoly's the '30s with Darrow, isn't it?

Monopoly's a Depression game.

I think Scrabble might be the '20s.

-Do you?

-Really? OK.

I thought that was the '50s.

Well, it's Butts, isn't it?

-It's Alfred Butts.

-Hmm.

-But...

-I think Cluedo is later.

I think that probably dates to the late '40s, something like that.

I'm a bit... Hm.

I have no idea on this. Pat?

-Any thoughts?

-What do you think, Pat?

I should know, but...

Well, of the two...

-Which?

-..I think I would favour Monopoly.

DAVE LAUGHS

Here we go.

I haven't got enough to be able to go, "Right, Scrabble.

"That's Scrabble." I haven't got enough, you know, to...

But you know who invented it.

I know who invented it, but I haven't got a time.

I've got the '20s in my head, but...

It's quite a strong inkling, isn't it?

But I haven't got the conviction - I'll be honest with you.

I haven't got the conviction to say, right, you know...

Scrabble, I really...

That's where I'm at.

So we've got an inkling and no evidence.

And then not really any ideas.

Well, I think,

on the basis that Dave's got the inkling, so...

It's all your fault, Dave.

If I'm on my own, I'd say Scrabble,

-so I'll back you.

-Fair enough.

-OK.

Well, it's on my head, be it.

That's where we're going? OK.

After a troubled discussion, we're going to go for Scrabble.

OK, Scrabble, you say.

Well, Cluedo was later, so you're right to stick on those two.

-Do you do the answer?

-I would have said Monopoly,

but I'm not absolutely sure about it.

Actually, Scrabble was 1938 and Monopoly was 1935.

So you're wrong. You are wrong.

It was Monopoly.

So your Japan answer is forgiven.

-Good.

-Because they've got one wrong.

But you really need to get this right to keep them pressured, OK?

Don Van Vliet was the real name of which avant-garde musician

and recording artist?

Well, I've heard of some of these,

but I don't know the answer straight off.

Captain sounds like a good one.

I'm not sure, but...

I think I'll go for Iggy Pop because I like the sound of it

and also because if you've got one name that is difficult,

you might as well get another name that's completely different.

So on that reasoning, I would say Iggy Pop.

All right. It's difficult.

I know these three and I wasn't sure myself.

It's the kind of thing you guys love.

-Who is it?

-Captain Beefheart.

-Captain Beefheart is the answer.

-Right.

So, Eggheads, this for the round and the contest.

Christopher Kane and Luella Bartley are famous names in which field?

Fashion designers.

Christopher Kane's clothes and Luella Bartley's mainly accessories.

-Burberry, isn't he?

-He was Burberry,

he's branched out into his own local stuff.

But, yes, fashion.

We're going for fashion, Jeremy.

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

The correct answer is fashion.

We say congratulations, Eggheads, you have won.

Bad luck, Mary. I could hear you just tangling

with Captain Beefheart there for a second.

Yeah, I did think of that as a possibility.

Very hard to do it on no information.

I was trying to reason it out, but there weren't any clues, really.

No, there aren't clues there. But thank you for playing.

It's been fun to meet you all.

Commiserations to To The Manor Born.

The Eggheads have done what comes increasingly naturally to them,

and this roll continues.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £12,000,

so the money rolls over to our next show.

Eggheads, congratulations - unbeatable.

Never going to happen. Can't foresee it.

Maybe it'll happen next time.

Do join us to see if a new team of challengers have the brains

to finally defeat this lot.

£13,000 will be on the table.

Till then, goodbye.