Episode 67 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.

If you'd like to work on a question from the Eggheads while you watch at home, Beth has one for you now.

-Beth?

-Yes.

According to estimates, how many bacteria are there on the Earth?

The answer is coming later.

Challenging our resident quiz champions today

are the Mages from Manchester.

Now, this team met through their local Greek Cypriot

community and regularly get together to review restaurants.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Andy, and I'm an engineer.

Hi, I'm Sam, and I'm an economics and finance student.

Hi, I'm Josh, and I'm a recruitment consultant.

Hello, I'm Ken, I'm a maintenance engineer.

Hi, I'm Jimmy, and I'm front-of-house staff.

So, Andy and team, hello.

-Hi.

-Hi.

So, tell us about the Mages. What does the name mean, Andy?

Mages stands for Manchester, where we live,

Aphrodite Gastronomics Epicurean Society.

Manchester Aphrodite Gastronomic Epicurean Society...

-Meaning that you review restaurants?

-We do.

-Right.

As a society, yes. So, it's not just the team name for Eggheads,

-it's...

-No, no. This has...

-It's a real thing.

..been going a while, quite a few years.

OK. So, you get in there, you sit down, incognito.

-That's right, yeah.

-Do he pens come out at any point?

-Because I always think that's a giveaway.

-No, no, we don't...

-Just knives and forks.

-Knives and forks!

Do you quiz together, Andy, as well?

-Not as a team, no.

-It's the first time as a team.

We, er, individually, I think we just do quizzes as a family.

But you used to set a quiz, is that right?

Yes, when I was a...

I was a landlord, I used to set questions for quiz teams, yeah.

OK. Well, good luck here.

Every day, there is £1,000 worth of cash up for up for grabs for our

Challengers. However, if they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Mages, these Eggs are on a bit of a roll.

You may sense their confidence.

They've won the last 14 on the trot.

So, there's £15,000 to play for, which is good.

-Shall we go for it?

-Let's go for it.

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

Science. And so, it's one of you against either Dave, Pat, Beth,

Kevin or Judith.

It fell just right, didn't it?

Who's going to take it?

I'm not too sure!

-Yeah?

-Yeah, I can go for it.

-Are you sure?

-Yeah.

-Do you want to do it?

-Yeah. I'll do it.

-Yeah, go on.

-OK, go on.

-Good man.

-Jimmy.

-Jimmy, front-of-house staff,

against which Egghead?

Who do you fancy? Who do you fancy?

-I fancy Beth.

-OK.

-Yeah?

-Beth, please.

Very good. Jimmy, from the Mages,

taking on Beth from the Eggheads on Science.

First round, here we go,

please take your positions in the legendary Question Room.

All right, Science, it's Beth versus Jimmy, and Jimmy,

you can choose whether you go first or second.

Er, I think I'll go first.

Here's your question.

What is the largest species of shark in the world?

Er, I think probably...

From the name "whale shark", er,

whale is one of the largest mammals in the ocean -

I'll go for whale shark.

Whale shark is correct, brilliant.

First point to you. Beth -

the plumage of the common magpie is largely made up of which two colours?

We have loads of these around our house.

So... They come and invade our garden.

Magpies are black and white.

Back and white is correct.

Jimmy, back to you.

Bubonic plague is believed to be spread by which method?

I don't think it's an insect bite.

Erm... I think it's probably contaminated water.

Beth will know this, as a microbiologist?

It's an insect bite from a flea.

Yeah, it's a flea that does it.

Insect bite was the answer.

So, to take the lead, your question, Beth.

Which of these is the name of a species of turtle native to the Pacific,

Indian and Atlantic oceans?

Oh, erm...

I'm probably in a good position here,

my children are huge fans of a cartoon series called The Octonauts,

and there is a loggerhead turtle in The Octonauts.

So, I'm hoping the answer is loggerhead.

Quite right, well done.

So, Jimmy, you need to get this one right.

The elasticity of a material is quantified by a calculation usually known as Young's what?

Erm...

Doctrine doesn't sound like the right answer.

Probably... Er, the one that sounds

correct to me would probably be statement.

Young's statement.

I'm sorry, you've got it wrong, it's Young's modulus, Jimmy.

So, bad luck, you've been knocked out by Beth.

Beth will be in the final round.

Please return to us, both of you, and we'll play Round Two.

All right. As it stands, the Mages have lost a brain from the final round.

The Eggheads have not lost any.

The next subject is Sport.

Who would like Sport?

I don't know.

I'll do it if no-one wants this.

-All right, you do it.

-No, I'm not doing it.

Who have we got now?!

-All right, then.

-Ken?

-I'll do it.

-All right, Ken, our maintenance engineer.

And against which Egghead, Ken? It can be anyone but Beth.

-Take Kevin down.

-Take Kevin down!

Really?!

HE LAUGHS

-I'll leave it to you.

-Hey?

-I'll leave it to you.

-Go on, then.

Go on, Kevin.

Ken from the Mages, taking on Kevin, known as the Grand Master,

from the Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring,

please go to the special Question Room.

OK, Ken, Sport - first or second?

Er, I'll go first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go. Which of these sporting events typically takes place latest in the year?

I know the Grand National, that's the end of March, April...?

I think...

I'll go with the FA Cup final,

I think, that's always the end of May, isn't it?

Yeah, I'll go with the FA Cup.

FA Cup final is right, well done.

Halfway through the year, but the latest one of the three.

Kevin, your question.

Which fast bowler took 37 wickets at an average of 13.97

in England's ill-fated 2013-14 tour of Australia?

It's just remembering which tour is which year.

Obviously, not Dennis Lillee, because he's much further back.

But...

What seems to be the obvious answer would be Mitchell Johnson.

It's certainly his heyday.

I'm just sli... I don't recall Pat Cummins, I have to say.

That's the problem.

Because he could be somebody who came out for one

series, and had a very good time.

But I think on balance, I...

It would be daft not to go for Mitchell Johnson,

since he's the one I recognised.

So, Mitchell Johnson.

Mitchell Johnson is quite right.

OK, we go back to you, Ken.

Which footballer was named PFA Young Player of the Year in 2017 for the second time in two years?

That's a good one. Er...

I'm sure Dele Alli won it.

Erm...

I bet it's Harry Kane, you know.

But...

I'll go with Dele Alli.

All Spurs players, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-Dele Alli is the right answer.

-Oh!

-Well done!

Kevin -

which African city announced that it would not be able to host the

2022 Commonwealth Games as scheduled,

due to financial restraints?

Yeah, they were supposed to be in Durban.

Had to pull out.

Durban is correct. 2-2.

Nothing to choose between you at the moment.

Ken, keep the pressure up.

Which Federation Cup tennis captain was suspended in 2017 for his

controversial behaviour before and during a tie against Great Britain?

I...

..don't think Jimmy Connors was a cap...

..a Federation captain.

Ilie Nastase rings a bell,

because he's always been a bit controversial.

Er...

That's the only reason.

I'm going to plump for Ilie Nastase.

OK, yes, you're right. He behaved in a really bad way.

Ilie Nastase is the right answer.

All right, Kevin, you need to get this one right to stay in.

Who was the captain of the 1989 British and Irish Lions tour to Australia?

I'm really not sure there.

All members of the Scotland team...

..which was very good at the time.

It could actually be any of those three.

I'm going to say Finlay Calder.

I don't... They're all plausible.

Finlay Calder is the right answer, Kevin.

3-3. This is getting competitive now.

So, we go to Sudden Death, and I don't give you alternative options.

You might just knock Kevin out here.

Which world heavyweight boxing champion of the 1970s

was nicknamed Smokin' Joe?

Oh, that's...

Yeah, I know this one. It's Joe Frazier.

Joe Frazier is quite right.

Kevin, to stay in.

In which year was the England football team,

under the management of Ron Greenwood,

knocked out of the World Cup Finals despite not losing a game?

Yeah, well, they had the group structure, whereby, erm,

basically, if you just had...

I think England had two draws and they lost out.

I think it was 1982.

1982 is correct.

Back we go to Ken.

At the 1930 British Empire Games,

the forerunner to today's Commonwealth Games,

what was the only sport in which women were allowed to compete?

I'm trying to think now.

I don't know if that was included,

tennis...

Er...

No, there's nothing...

Nothing coming up.

Er...

I'll go for 100 metres.

No, it's swimming.

Oh!

OK, Kevin.

Which businessman born in 1948 was the founder of the

promotions company Matchroom Sport?

If you get this, you're in the final round.

Matchroom, I believe, is Barry Hearn.

Barry Hearn is the right answer, Kevin, well done.

Sorry, Ken, beaten by our Egghead.

-Just the swimming answer we needed, didn't we?

-Yeah.

Bad luck there, you took it to Sudden Death.

Come back to us, both of you, we'll play Round Three.

As it stands, the Mages have lost a couple of brains from the final round.

-You want to get the skewers out soon.

-Yeah!

-They're coming out, don't worry.

-OK, do something!

Eggheads have not lost any, but you're playing well,

and I feel that the dam's going to be breached in a moment.

The next subject for you is Geography.

Who would like this?

-I'd rather not have it.

-I'll do it.

-What do you reckon?

-Andy, Sam or Josh?

I can do... I'll try it, and then...

-I'll do it.

-Sam, all right, our economics student.

Against which Egghead - Judith, Pat or Dave?

-Pat or...?

-Geography...

-Just say who you fancy.

-I'll take Dave, please.

OK, Sam from the Mages takes on Tremendous Knowledge Dave from the

Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring, please go to the Question Room.

All right, Geography, Sam - would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please.

Here we go. Stratford-upon-Avon is an historic town in which traditional English county?

Sam, is it...?

I've travelled past it quite a few times.

Erm, I don't think it's Cornwall.

Erm, I used to live in Kent, and it's not there,

so I'll go for Warwickshire, please.

Yes, very good, Warwickshire's right.

OK. Dave,

which of these US cities lies adjacent to the border with Mexico?

Well, Seattle's up north...west.

Dallas, Texas. I believe it's San Diego.

San Diego's right, well done.

Over to you, Sam.

Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal

capital of which country?

I have heard of it.

I was thinking in that sort of area of the world.

I don't think it's Japan.

I'm going to go with Burma, please.

Burma's right, well done, Sam.

Dave, your question. What is the capital

of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes

region of France?

Auvergne is A-U-V-E-R-G-N-E.

Hyphen R-H-O-chapeau-N-E.

Hyphen A-L-P-E-S.

It's a choice of two.

I don't think it's Paris.

Auvergne...

I've got to go Lyon, but I'm not certain about that at all.

Eggheads, is he right?

Judith, you'll know this, you live in France.

I think he's right, yeah.

Lyon is the right answer, David, well done. So, 2-2.

We go back to you, Sam.

The third question can be crucial,

let's see if we can turn this around now.

Ferries from the Welsh port of Fishguard

typically sail to which Irish port?

I can't say I've heard of any of them.

None of them are drawing me out.

I'm just going to have to take a stab at Kinsale, please.

It's Rosslare.

And that gives Dave a chance.

Dave, Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America,

is in which country?

Argentina.

No hesitation. Argentina is the right answer.

Well done, Dave, you've taken that round.

So, Sam, you've been beaten by our Egghead,

and it's looking difficult, but not impossible for the Challengers.

Return to us, gentlemen.

One more round to play, before the all-important final, for £15,000.

As it stands, the Mages have lost three brains from the final round.

The Eggheads are still sitting pretty.

So, you've got to dislodge one now.

This is the moment. The next subject is Music, so,

which of you would like this?

-Are you confident?

-Yeah.

-Are you sure?

-No, you do it.

-Let me do it.

-Nah.

-You do it.

-You do it.

-No, no, you do it.

I'll do it, please, Jeremy.

OK. So, it's Josh from the Mages against which Egghead -

either Judith or Pat?

I'll play Judith, please.

Very good. So, Josh from the Mages is going to hurl himself at Judith

now...from the Eggheads!

Please, for the last time, go to the Question Room.

It seems you're the man to do Music, then, Josh.

Apparently so.

So, do you go on these restaurant review trips as well as the others?

Erm, I've been on a few.

I'm actually... My girlfriend is actually Andy's daughter,

and so I've been there for more of the barbecues in all weathers,

festive times and that sort of thing.

So, not too many actual reviews, but I think that's my next stage.

So, the Greek Cypriot connection is through Andy's daughter.

-Yes.

-Oh, I see. OK, fine. Well, brilliant, good luck on this.

Let's see if we can get you in the final. You're against Judith.

Judith, any weak spots on Music?

Jeremy, you know them as well as I do!

And I'm not going to reveal them!

-Well, usually, AC/DC's early albums....

-Is that what it is?

..we've struggled with in the past.

And what about Depeche Mode, didn't something happen there?

Well, there was something with Depeche Mode.

-And there was also...

-And there was Barcelona!

Barcelona, yes.

OK, so, here we go, Josh, good luck with this.

Would you like to go first or second on Music?

Er, first, please, Jeremy.

Here we go with your first question, Josh.

Which of these songs by Elton John was recorded first?

I don't really know the answer to this one, to be honest with you.

Erm...

Circle Of Life was around The Lion King time.

Erm...

Your Song, I think, was...

Was recorded once and then again later on,

but I'm not sure when it was originally.

Erm...

I'm going to have to go for Sacrifice, because I don't know,

-it's just a complete guess.

-I am just looking at them and thinking,

you're absolutely right about Circle Of Life.

I think Sacrifice might have been the '80s.

Your Song, 1970s?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, Your Song is the earliest.

Right, Judith, your question.

The singer-songwriter Willie Nelson is best known for what genre of music?

Willie Nelson, I thought he was a country singer.

Country is right, well done.

-Phew!

-OK, Josh.

Niccolo Paganini, born in 1782,

was best known for his expertise on which instrument?

This isn't one again that I can say I definitely know the answer on.

Erm...

I don't think it's piano.

I've not really heard his name related to that,

and I think I may have done...

Erm, don't know about trumpet.

I'm going to go with violin, please, Jeremy.

Violin is correct, well done, Josh.

OK, Judith, back to you.

In which 2017 hit single do these lyrics appear?

"Maybe I'm foolish, maybe I'm blind,

"thinking I can see through this, and see what's behind."

Well, Ed Sheeran has got...

I mean, he's got more hits than anybody else in 2017, hasn't he?

Erm...

I think I'm going to say Rag'n'Bone man, though.

Ah! Why did you veer?

I thought the title and the words matched better than the others.

OK, you got it right, Judith.

Josh, that's annoying!

You're not supposed to hear that!

So, Josh, you've got to get this one right,

otherwise the Challengers will be down to one.

Here we go. Who had a UK number one single in 2017

with the song Symphony?

I think I do know this one.

I know it's definitely not Coldplay.

I'm a big fan of theirs.

I don't think it's Selena Gomez, so I'm going to go with Clean Bandit.

Clean Bandit featuring Zara Larsson is absolutely right,

well done, Josh.

So, two out of three, is it enough to go to Sudden Death?

Judith, if you get this right, you're in the final round.

Matt Helders is the drummer of which band, formed in Sheffield in 2002?

I don't think it's the Kaiser Chiefs,

so, maybe one of the other two.

Oh, lordie. Erm...

-Muse.

-Muse is your answer.

Judith, you got that wrong.

The answer was Arctic Monkeys.

Josh, we go to Sudden Death.

It gets a bit harder, I don't give you alternative answers,

here's your question. The first performance of Wagner's opera Lohengrin

took place under the direction of which composer -

Wagner being in exile at the time?

Erm, I haven't really got any idea for this,

but I'm going to go with Mozart.

I'm afraid you're wrong. Franz Liszt.

Judith, for the round.

The leading concert pianists Martha Argerich

and Daniel Barenboim were both born in which South American city?

Daniel Barenboim, erm, I don't know, Buenos Aires?

Buenos Aries is the right answer.

They were born in 1941 and 1942 and have been lifelong friends.

Well done, Judith, you've taken the round.

Josh, sorry, knocked out by our Egghead, and as a result,

not in the final. So, it's looking difficult for our Challengers in

the final. Come back to us, both of you, and we will play the final round.

So, this is what we have been playing towards.

It is time for the final round,

which, as always, is General Knowledge.

But I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads won't be allowed

to take part in this round.

So, Sam, Josh, Ken and Jimmy from the Mages, all from this side,

would you please leave the studio, gents?

Well, here we are, Andy, good luck.

-Thank you.

-Playing to win the Mages £15,000.

On the other side, we've got Dave, Pat, Beth, Kevin and Judith,

playing for something that money can't buy,

which is the Eggheads' reputation.

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

They're all General Knowledge, and normally, I say you can confer,

but obviously today, that's awkward.

So, the question, Andy, is, can your one brain defeat these five?

Would you like to go first or second, Andy?

Er, I'll go first, please, Jeremy.

OK, I really wish you all the best, Andy.

Which of these actors was born in New Zealand?

New Zealand...

Russell Crowe...

..is Australian, isn't he?

I think.

Mel Gibson is Australian, I'm sure he is.

Tom Hanks is American. I'm going to go for Russell Crowe.

You've done well there, it is Russell Crowe, well done.

Because Tom Hanks, yeah, Tom Hanks is American.

Right, and Mel Gibson is Australian.

-But he was born in America.

-Oh, born in America?

Born in the States, yeah.

OK. Your question, Eggheads.

In terms of men's grooming, what is a Van Dyke?

-Beard.

-It's a beard.

-It's a smart little beard, isn't it?

Yes, a very smart, pointed beard, as in portraits of Charles I.

Beard. Beard for you, Pat.

OK. It's a smart little beard.

Yes, it is. Beard is the answer.

Your question, then, Andy,

keep the pressure on them.

Which spy novelist is the author of the cookbook French Cooking For Men?

Of course, John le Carre is a famous spy writer.

I can't think... I don't think it was him, though.

Two big names there, Frederick Forsyth and John le Carre.

I don't think it's any of them, so I'm going for Len Deighton.

Len Deighton is your answer. Is he right?

-Yes.

-I think so, yes.

-Yes, you are right.

You've got two out of two so far.

I'm loving the way you're playing this.

I can't work the logic out, but you're doing it!

Just don't change anything, Andy.

OK, Eggheads, which footballer was banned from the sport

for 18 months in 2017 after admitting to a misconduct charge

relating to betting?

-Joey Barton.

-Joey Barton.

-Joey Barton.

-Joey Barton, isn't it?

-Yeah, I am pretty sure.

That was Joey Barton.

It was Joey Barton, well done, Eggheads.

So, 2-2.

Oh, I feel the tension here because it's £15,000 that we're playing for.

Get this right and you may have won the money.

Pteronophobia is the irrational fear of what?

Now, that is spelt...

P-T-E-R-O-N-O-P-H-O-B-I-A.

So, it starts P-T.

Right, I think, er, being Greek,

I'm at a bit of an advantage here.

Because "ftera"...

..in Greek means feathers.

So, that's the one I'm going for.

Which word means feathers in Greek?

-Ftera.

-Pftera, spelt with a P?

It's spelt different in Greek, it starts with an F.

Feathers is right!

Brilliant quizzing! Absolutely storming it here!

Three out of three in the final round, this is the time to hit the

gas, and that's what you're doing.

£15,000, if the Eggheads get this question wrong.

Eggheads, your question.

What is the first name of the Irish naval officer, born in 1774,

after whom the Beaufort wind scale is named?

-Francis.

-I thought it was Francis.

-I thought it was Francis.

-Is it Francis?

-Yeah, it's not Albert Beaufort or Joseph Beaufort, no.

-It's Francis.

-I think it's Francis.

-Yeah? Everybody's happy with that?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

We think that's Francis.

If you've got this wrong, £15,000 goes to our Challengers,

after Andy's brilliant playing.

If you got it right, we go to Sudden Death.

The Beaufort wind scale is named after an Irish naval officer

whose first name...

..is Francis. Well done, Eggheads.

You're playing in a very sure-footed way, as well.

So, it goes to Sudden Death.

Gets a bit harder, Andy,

I don't give you alternatives.

.cn is the internet top-level domain extension for which country?

.Cn.

What have we got now? Cn...

China...?

Canada...?

Cn. Cn.

.cn.

I'm going for Canada.

Could easily be Canada. Is it, Eggheads?

Canada I think is .ca.

It's China.

Ca. It's China, Andy.

China. This gives the Eggheads a bit of an advantage,

the first bit of daylight they've had in this round.

And you can take the contest on

Sudden Death with this question, Eggheads.

Apart from the X,

which is the only letter in Scrabble that is worth eight points?

-It's J?

-J? I always get muddled up with that and K.

-Well, Q and Z are ten.

-Q and Z are ten.

-K is five.

And X and J are on...

-..eight points.

-Eight, yeah.

-So, it's J, right?

-It's J.

We think that's J.

If you've got it right, you've taken the contest on Sudden Death.

Do you play Scrabble, Andy?

Occasionally, Christmas and family get-togethers, yeah.

-You think they've got this right?

-Yeah.

The correct answer is J.

We say congratulations, Eggheads, you have won.

Well, what a performance in the final round there.

And they were all sitting back just...

-That was impressive, guys.

-That was brilliant, well done, Andy!

People have got the jackpot with those three correct questions before.

Commiserations, Mages, you really did it at the end there.

But the Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

This winning streak continues, and again, you haven't lost a player, Eggheads.

It does mean you don't go home with the £15,000,

so we're going to roll that money over to our next show.

Eggheads, are you going to get to 20?

I wonder. It's a very impressive run.

Oh, before we go, Beth, you had that question?

I did. I asked you, according to estimates,

how many bacteria are there on Earth?

And I was thinking thousands...?

A few more than that. So, in 1998,

the University of Georgia estimated there were

five million trillion trillion bacteria.

So, that's five, with 30 zeros after it.

Gosh! Beth, thank you.

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

to defeat the Eggheads. £16,000 will be the jackpot.

Until then, goodbye.