Episode 121 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 challengers

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

You might recognise them as they've won

some of the country's toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

Challenging the awesome might of our quiz champions today

are The Plough Boys. The team have been friends for over 20 years.

They ply their quizzing trade in the Wrexham Quiz League.

Let's meet them.

Hi, my name's Brian, I'm 62, I'm a media distribution operative.

Hello, my name is John, I'm 68, I'm a retired teacher.

Hello, my name's Peter, I'm 65, and I'm a retired transport manager.

Hello, I'm Les, I'm 65, I'm a part-time journalist.

Hello, I'm Kaz, I'm 64 and I'm a retired builder.

-So, welcome, Plough Boys.

-Thank you.

Just tell us about how you all got together.

It's mainly through our love of quizzing and we are now two teams,

four of the members here play in the Plough Inn in Gresford,

hence the name,

and the gentleman here plays in our local rival team, the Trevor Arms.

So it's through quizzing we got together.

Les there is a journalist,

you're a journalist too or have been?

-I was a journalist.

-And doing what now?

A media distribution operative. I deliver newspapers basically

and phonebooks etc, but it sounds posher, doesn't it?

Media distribution operative?

I picked that up from the press a few years ago.

All right, well good luck to you.

The exciting thing is we've got a new Egghead here.

Welcome to you, Barry. Very exciting to see you win

all the knockout rounds that got you here, you must have been pleased.

I was ecstatic.

I couldn't believe I could beat such a challenging field.

Your wife calls you the human dustbin, I gather.

She picked up a phrase that people in Japan

with particular skills are called national treasures,

and she thought that because I have such a knowledge

of obscure and weird facts, that I am a national dustbin.

I always wonder with you guys, you know all the stuff

because you are interested in it or because you learn it?

It's a mixture of both but the interest has to come first.

Like all of us, we suffer from intense curiosity.

If the interest is there, we follow it up and read as much as we can.

Tell us your quizzing pedigree if that's not an embarrassing question.

Well, I've played on England teams with Kevin

and we were fortunate to win a European team quiz championship.

I have been a semi-finalist on Mastermind and Brain of Britain

so I still have hopes in those areas.

I'm the current Masterteam Champion of Britain

and I won Come and Have a Go If You Think You're Smart Enough.

-I think he's going to fit in, Eggheads. What do you think?

-Yeah.

Great to have you, Barry.

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

for our challengers. If they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

Plough Boys, the challengers won the last game,

proving it can be done, which means £1,000 says

you can't beat the Eggheads. Are you ready to try?

We are, we certainly are, Jeremy.

Our first head-to-head battle is on of Film & Television.

Which of you wants this

and against which Egghead?

-Are you happy for Pete to do it?

-I am too.

-I'll give it a go.

Peter will give that a go.

Peter? And who do you fancy taking on here? Film & TV.

That's a good question but I think I'll try Judith, please.

All right. So Peter from the Plough Boys against Judith.

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

in the Question Room. Here we go.

Good luck, Peter. Now you choose -

we'll have three multiple-choice questions, Film & Television.

Whoever answers the most questions wins the round.

Do you want to go first or second?

I'll go second, please.

First question to you then, Judith.

Who played Maggie Pollitt in the 1958 film Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

I do know that one. I think, probably because I saw it.

I think it's Elizabeth Taylor.

You are quite right. Well done, first point to the Eggheads.

Back to you, Peter.

In which country was the actor Hugh Jackman born?

I really don't know, erm... I'm going to rule out Ireland

because I don't think it was Ireland.

An even-money shot. I'll take Australia.

Lucky man, you're right. Well done.

Second one to you now, Judith.

The Phantom Raspberry Blower of Old London Town

and The Worm That Turned

are comedy skits starring which comedians?

I don't think it's Mitchell and Webb.

I'm just trying to remember, I know I ought to know this.

I think it's the Two Ronnies.

-You're guessing as well, are you?

-Well, I'm half guessing.

OK, you got it right. Half a guess was good enough.

I think I did see that but I couldn't remember.

They probably were a bit ruder as well.

Well, I think they were, weren't they?

-Marginally.

-Over to you now, Peter.

Who is the regular host of the TV show American Idol?

I really haven't again got the faintest idea unfortunately.

I'll take a complete shot in the dark, Todd Newton.

Is wrong, I'm afraid. It's Ryan Seacrest.

So, Judith, if you get this one right,

you have taken the round.

The 2008 TV series Johnny's New Kingdom

was based around Johnny Kingdom developing a plot of land

in which part of the UK?

Didn't watch that.

I saw it in the Radio Times, kind of thing, erm...

Didn't notice where he was doing it.

I don't think it's the New Forest.

I have a feeling it might be Exmoor.

If you get this right, you are through

to the final and Peter is not.

That's your answer, is it?

-I'm afraid so, yes.

-Now don't be afraid, it is Exmoor.

You are right, Judith, well done. You've taken the round.

-That's a first!

-It's not a first, you're too modest.

Peter, sadly you were beaten by our Egghead, as a result,

you won't be able to help your team in the final round

so please, both of you, come back here to the studio.

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

The Eggheads have lost no brains.

Our next subject is History. Which of you challengers...

Ah, sudden nod here. You've got a player?

-Well, we've got a good idea.

-OK.

-Yes, yes.

-John, without any doubt.

-Shall I baptise Barry?

Yes, we're going to nominate John.

-Or shall I take out Kevin? It's a high-risk strategy.

-Take out Kevin!

It's a choice, you see.

I think I'll baptise Barry. See how good he is at history.

Here we go then. It is an exciting moment.

John from the Plough Boys against Barry our new Egghead

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

How are you feeling, Barry?

I'm raring to go.

-This is not the first time you've been in the question booth on Eggheads, is it?

No, it isn't. I was on here just a few weeks ago.

-Competing as part of a team.

-I was indeed and we had a good start.

We managed to knock out Kevin and CJ and we were going great guns

and then the Eggheads made a brilliant comeback.

Well, sometimes that happens and the tactics are part of it but they only get you so far.

Yes, indeed. I mean, it all comes down to the questions in the end

but they're such a tough team to beat.

Let's play. I'll ask each of you three questions on History in turn

and, John, you can choose the first or the second set.

Well, I wish to put Barry under greater pressure by going first.

John, the Phoney War was the name of a period of relative inactivity

at the start of which 20th-century conflict?

Well, I didn't live through World War I,

and I do not remember it being applied to the Korean War.

I saw that war.

So I would opt for World War II.

Quite right, John, well done. It was World War II.

So, Barry, here we go.

Your first question as an Egghead.

In 1606, the flag of which saint was displayed with that of St George

to form the first Union flag?

St Patrick's flag isn't part of the Union flag

and St David, a Welsh flag, 1606.

Mmm, I have to think. St Andrew is a Scottish one obviously,

which one would it be in 1606.

The Act of Union with Scotland

was later in 1707, so I think it would be St David.

Is the wrong answer, Barry. As a matter of fact, it's St Andrew.

It means the Plough Boys are ahead. John, your second question -

What was the name of the ship in which Captain Scott set off

for his second Antarctic expedition in 1910?

I believe the answer to that question lies in Cardiff

where I believe that that ship is the Terra Nova.

Why does it lie in Cardiff, out of interest?

In Roath Park, there's a monument to Captain Scott

and I gather Cardiff was a port of call where he refuelled for coal

and various things like that.

Therefore it is. There's a monument in Roath Park on Terra Nova.

Good play and you're quite right. Well done, John, excellent.

So hang on...

If you don't get this right, Barry,

you're in a bit of trouble.

Claretta Petacci was the mistress of which dictator who was executed in 1945?

I'm unaware that Franco had any mistresses

and Hitler's mistress was Eva Braun,

but Clara Petacci was the mistress of Mussolini.

Quite right! You're on your way. Well done.

So Eggheads have one,

challengers have two. John, if you take this

you will take the round and stop Barry playing in the final round.

Here's your third question.

In Viking society, what was the name for a slave?

I'm not 100% certain but of those terms, Viking terms,

I've heard of jarl, J-A-R-L, and I would opt for that.

It wasn't that. It was actually the more obvious one, thrall.

-Oh, "enthral".

-Exactly, yeah.

-Yeah, yep.

So we now have a situation where you can

take it to sudden death, Barry, if you get this right.

Your third question -

Who was on the British throne when the explorer Captain James Cook

was killed on Hawaii?

James II would be too early and William IV would be too late,

In the 18th... Yes.

William IV would definitely be too late, so it was George III.

Delivered with great conviction and Daphne is very happy,

smiling at your answer. You're right, well done.

So, two points apiece,

You're level after three questions which means we go to sudden death.

Just to make it a bit harder, these questions won't be multiple choice.

-You ready, John?

-Yes.

Which Native American princess reputedly saved the life

of the explorer John Smith when in 1607, as a young girl,

she prevented her father Powhatan, having him clubbed to death?

Buried in Gravesend, that lady is called Pocahontas.

Quite right.

She jumped between Smith

and his executioners.

So to you, Barry, you need to get this right or you're gone.

Which order of chivalry created by Edward III in 1348,

was supposedly named when Joan,

Countess of Salisbury, lost an item of clothing during a dance at Court?

The item of clothing that Joan lost was a garter,

so the order of chivalry was the Garter,

whose motto aptly is, "Honi soit qui mal y pense",

or "evil be to he who evil thinks".

You're quite right.

Your next question now, John.

Which historic house near Maidenhead in Buckinghamshire was the site

of the first meeting of John Profumo and Christine Keeler?

Saw the film.

It had a swimming pool...

but honestly I do not know.

My mind is a blank.

-You're taking a pass, are you?

-Yes.

The answer was Cliveden.

Barry, this for the round now.

You've pulled it back well.

The Battle of Caporetto was a disastrous World War I defeat

for which country's army?

I believe it was right at the end of World War I, which is why

it's not as well known, but the Italians, I believe,

were fighting the Austrians and the defeated side were the Italians.

Quite right. Well done, Barry.

You've pulled it back. John, we thought

you were going to take out Barry in his first round

as an Egghead but you didn't, I'm sorry to say.

You can't play in the final round. Barry can.

Please both of you come back and rejoin your teams.

So as it stands, the challengers have lost two brains

from the final round. The Eggheads are doing well, they've lost none.

The next subject is Sport. Sport, challengers.

Who wants to go for that?

-Obviously not John or Peter.

-No, I think Les or Kaz will do.

Which would you prefer to do?

-We don't know at the last round.

-That's the tricky point.

Yeah, we don't know what's coming up. I don't know.

-Why don't you try to do sport?

-Mmm.

-Yeah. Kaz. Kaz, go on.

-OK?

-Yep. Kaz.

Kaz? You've got to choose who you're going against, Kaz?

-Erm...

-Who looks the least sporty?

-Chris is the least sporty.

-Is he? Oh, I'll try against Chris.

So, it's Kaz from the Plough Boys

against Chris from the Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring

please do take your positions in the question room.

Kaz, good luck with this and I will ask

if you want the first or second set of questions.

I'll go first, please.

So here we go, Sport, Kaz. Which city hosted the 1984 summer Olympic Games?

Not Moscow, I think that was 1980.

Montreal was earlier. I'll go for Los Angeles.

Spot on, you're right. well done.

Chris, your question. In the hockey move known as the bully-off,

how many times do the two opponents strike each other's sticks before going for the ball?

Well, seven would be a little grotesque, wouldn't it?

And five is a bit time wasting, so one, two, three. I'll go for 3.

I love your logic, Chris. I've been missing it.

Three, yes. Correct, well done.

One apiece. Back to you, Kaz.

Which snooker player scored the second 147 break

of the 2008 World Championship at the Crucible?

Peter Ebdon, I don't think Peter Ebdon.

Between Ali Carter and Ryan Day... I think it was Ali Carter.

Well, you just grabbed that answer with sudden certainty.

-You had a flashback or something?

-I think I remember seeing that.

You're right. Well done. It was.

Pressure on you, Chris, and how you love it

-in the sporting round.

-I hate sport.

What is... I'm glad we got that out of the way early.

What is the first event in the Olympic modern pentathlon?

I don't honestly know. I know rifle shooting's somewhere in there

but I think it's based on the skills necessary for battlefield couriers...

Sort of First World War-type milieu.

It would be leaping on a bike and peddling like mad

to get out of the line of fire. So, cycling.

Because it's based on the First World War, you think it's cycling?

-Yeah.

-OK. It wouldn't be shooting or anything?

-Shooting comes later.

-I see. The answer is shooting.

Sorry, Chris. So Eggheads one,

challengers two. That means, Kaz, you get this right, you've knocked out an Egghead.

Smashed the shell.

In which year did the Ireland Rugby Union team win their only Grand Slam title?

Mmm... I'm not sure about this one.

I'll go for 1968.

That's wrong, Kaz. Just missed the chance there.

1948 is the correct answer, not 1968.

Chris, your question.

Which Italian football team's players are sometimes referred to as the Rosoneri?

Ah, the red and blacks, erm...

Isn't there some Italian football team

that borrowed a kit from Notts County

and have played in red and black ever since?

And I would think that would be Juventus.

Pure guess, knowing nothing whatever about Italian football,

so I'll say Juventus.

That's the wrong answer, Chris. It's AC Milan.

Well, Kaz, well done.

You took on an Egghead. You emerged triumphant.

Very good news for our challengers because it means Kaz can join them in the final round.

Congratulations. Please, both of you come back and rejoin your teams.

So as it stands, the challengers have lost two brains from the final round,

The Eggheads have only lost one.

The last subject is Food & Drink.

Which is the foodie or the drinkie?

-I think it might be Les.

-Yes.

I think the gentleman in yellow, Les, will volunteer for that one, please.

This is the former or current journalist who's doing Food & Drink.

-Yeah.

-Always the right association. Who do you want to play?

Would you try Kevin?

Kevin because he's probably their weakest.

All right. So it's Les from the Plough Boys against Kevin

from the Eggheads on Food & Drink and to ensure there's no conferring

please take your positions.

I'm going to ask each of you three questions.

Les, as you know, you can choose the first or second set.

I think I'll try the first, please.

So here we go.

Which foodstuff can be served over easy, or sunny side up?

I'm actually going to know a question about Food and Drink

because this was the one I just didn't wanna get.

I don't think it's Scotch pancakes or cheese on toast,

so can we try fried eggs, please?

We can try them. You can have them over easy or sunny side up,

whichever way you want. Well done.

OK, Kevin, here we go.

What is the term for small cubes of fried or toasted bread

that are used as a garnish for soups or salads?

Those are croutons.

They are indeed croutons, well done.

OK, second question now for you, Les.

Which sauce is often served with warm asparagus?

Well, all journalists are honest in everything they say,

as you probably realise...

..but really the honest truth is I ain't got a clue.

For the reason that the first on the screen

was the correct answer in the first round...

..and the fact that I would associate chasseur with chicken,

I'm gonna go to the last of the answers in this round.

So I'm gonna say Hollandaise for no really logical reason.

OK. We followed that when you ruled out chasseur.

Quite how you then jumped to Hollandaise, I don't know!

But don't give up with that logic cos it's working. You're right.

Poor old pomodoro was passed over.

Kevin, Nam Prik is a spicy sauce central to the cuisine of which country?

I believe that's much used in Thai cuisine.

-So Thailand.

-You're right, Thailand it is, Kevin.

Well done.

He's pushing you hard, Les.

I think you're going to have to get this right.

-I think so.

-All right, keep that logic button going.

Here we are. Which nut is used in the Italian liqueur Frangelico?

Heaven knows what that could be...

but I'll go for pistachio.

Pistachio is wrong. It's hazelnut.

So you are now open to the possibility Kevin may knock you out.

Your third question, Kevin...

Which fruits are an essential ingredient of the French dish Sole Veronique?

I'm not absolutely certain on this one.

Who knows, there may be variations,

but I think what would be included in a Sole Veronique would be grapes.

-So, grapes.

-I don't know how you do it

but you're right, Kevin, it is grapes.

Which means you've taken the round.

Les, sorry, brilliant early play

but you have been beaten by an Egghead so you won't play in the final round.

Please, players, will you come back and rejoin your teams.

This is what we've been playing towards - the final round,

which as always is General Knowledge.

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

So that is John, Peter, and Les, I'm afraid, from the Plough Boys

and Chris from the Eggheads, please leave the studio.

So Brian and Kaz, you are playing to win the Plough Boys £1,000. Daphne, Barry, Judith, and Kevin,

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

the Eggheads' reputation.

As usual, I will ask each team three questions.

This time the questions are all General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

Plough Boys, the question is, are your two brains

better than the Eggheads' four brains?

Brian and Kaz, do you want to go first or second?

-Yes.

-First, please.

So your first question -

Which baby accessory is known in North America as a pacifier?

THEY CONFER INAUDIBLY

We're gonna dismiss the rattle and the nappy

and go for the dummy.

You didn't think it was the nappy?

-We're almost sure.

-It depends where you put it!

Well, it does... We think it pacifies the mouth so...

It's the dummy. You're right, well done.

First to you. Good stuff. Eggheads...

In Greek mythology, what was left in Pandora's Box after all the evils of the world had escaped?

That would be hope.

You all lit up and said hope at the same moment.

-It was an exciting moment.

-We love Greek mythology.

You do? Quizzers always do. You're right, hope is correct.

Left in Pandora's Box. Plough Boys...

Second question to you.

The first holes in the ozone layer were spotted during the 1970s by scientists working in which area?

I think it's Antarctica.

I've no idea at all, yeah?

Dismiss the other, are you sure?

After much discussion, Jeremy,

by my colleague here, we're gonna go for Antarctica.

Antarctica - after much discussion by him on his own, you mean?

Yes, after him telling me.

You're right. Antarctica's correct, two out of two.

Hey...

Could there be an upset? Barry's first run out.

Here's your second question, Eggs.

A well known saying to suggest innuendo is, "As the actress said..." to whom?

I think it's the bishop.

-He's well known for it.

-Yeah, "As the actress said to the bishop".

You're right. Bishop is the correct answer.

Two points apiece.

Next question is for the Plough Boys.

Acedia is the Latin word for which of the seven deadly sins?

How do you spell that, please?

Acedia, A-C-E-D-I-A.

A-C-E-D-I-A...

I've no idea if it would be sloth, lust, or envy.

You're the captain, you can pick the...

Not sure about this at all.

Acedia, not giving us any clues really, so.

Our fearless leader will pick an answer.

I'll have to plump for lust, Jeremy, please.

What's brought you to lust?

Well, as a pure guess.

I'm sorry, it's wrong. It's sloth.

Third question wrong, guys. You're in their hands.

Eggheads, the Pritzker Prize is a prestigious award

that is presented annually to members of which profession?

That would be architecture, Jeremy.

-You sure about that?

-Oh, definitely!

-All of you?

-Yes.

It's viewed as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for architecture.

Yeah, Nobel Prize in the architecture field.

Barry, I'm so glad you knew the last one,

and you're right, Eggheads. Congratulations, you've won.

Commiserations, challengers. It does happen like that -

you track each other and then ping. They just get the last one right.

How's it been playing Barry?

We've tried to take you out, Barry, but we couldn't do it. Sorry!

-Barry, you pleased?

-Relieved, I think, yes.

You've got one under your belt. It would have been a classic if you'd all gone down on this one.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

They reign supreme over Quizland again.

You won't be going home with the £1,000, which means

that the money rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if the new challengers

have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£2,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye.

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