Episode 122 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,

where a team compete against the greatest quiz team in Britain.

You might recognise them, as they are Goliaths in the world of TV quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

Taking on our quiz Goliaths today are the Golf Roses.

The team are all members of the English Women's Golf Association,

the governing body for women's amateur golf in England. Let's meet them.

Hello, I'm Linda. I'm 60 and I'm the performance director.

Hi, I'm Emma. I'm 33 and I'm the tournament secretary.

Hello, I'm Kirstie. I'm 37 and I'm the compliance officer.

Hello, I'm Sara. I'm 29 and I'm a solicitor and a volunteer.

Hello, I'm Karen. I'm 41 and I'm the compliance administrator.

So, welcome, Golf Roses.

And tell us first of all about the sleeveless jumpers.

-Umm...

-You suddenly look down as if you're surprised to find yourself wearing one.

-It's the team uniform. When you play for England, you wear a pink jersey.

-You have done?

I have - 20 years ago now - but very proud to have done so.

This is about being an amateur golfer, correct?

This is amateur golf - preparatory to turning professional in most cases nowadays -

although I didn't choose that path but most of our internationals will go on to become tour professionals.

And have you got the quizzing from the golfing or what?

Um...we'll see.

THEY LAUGH

OK, let's see. Every day, there is £1,000 worth of cash up for grabs for our challengers.

But if they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the money rolls over to the next show.

So, Golf Roses -

the Eggheads have won just the last game

which means £2,000 says you can't beat them.

The first head-to-head battle will be on the subject of Music.

So, challengers,

who wants to go on Music?

-Who's gonna do Music?

-Kirstie.

-Kirstie.

If you really want me to.

Against which Egghead?

-Who looks un-musical?

-Chris.

-Yeah, Chris.

-Chris.

-Yeah, we're going to go with Chris.

OK. Kirstie from the Golf Roses against Chris from the Eggheads.

Please go to the question room.

Chris, we don't want questions on the Sugababes?

Lots of questions on classical music for preference.

Kirstie, what's your strongest area?

Absolutely the opposite.

OK, three multiple choice questions in turn.

Kirstie, you can choose the first or second set.

I'd like to go first, please.

Your first question.

Which nationality was Bizet,

the composer of the operas Carmen and The Pearl Fishers?

Absolutely what I didn't want.

It will have to be an absolute guess.

Bizet doesn't sound an Italian name at all.

I would say...

-French.

-You're right. Well done, it's French.

Chris, your question.

What name is given to the style of close harmony, unaccompanied singing, performed by four males?

That is barbershop.

That's right.

Barbershop is correct. Well done.

Second question for you, Kirstie.

Which Irving Berlin song begins with the line,

"Heaven, I'm in heaven"?

I'm desperately trying to sing it through my head. Um...

Erm, but I don't think I've got that time - so I think Cheek To Cheek.

You can sing it aloud if you want.

I think you'd rather I didn't.

You're right anyway, well done. Two points to you.

Chris - who was the lead singer of the '80s groups The Communards and Bronski Beat?

Oh. Now, it wasn't Boy George - he was Culture Club.

And I think the lead singer of The Communards was Jimmy Somerville,

so I'll say Jimmy Somerville.

Jimmy Somerville is absolutely right, well done.

Two apiece - tight round on music.

Kirstie, "You're twisting my melon, man",

is a recurring line from a hit song by which Manchester band?

This takes me right back to my university days, I'm afraid -

it's Happy Mondays.

It is Happy Mondays. What is the song?

I'm trying to remember - what's the title of that song?

-Step On, was it?

-Step On.

Yes, it was Step On.

OK, Chris, if you get this wrong,

you're out of the final round.

Here's the question.

What is the name of the long-necked, lute-shaped instrument of the Malinke people of Western Africa,

that has 21 strings and is played like a harp?

Ah. Now, I think I've heard of this thing.

I don't think it's called a kora and I don't think it's called a jedinka.

I think it's a djembe.

You think it's a djembe or d-jembe?

Whichever way we pronounce it, it's the wrong answer.

-It's actually a kora.

-Is it?

So, golfers, hole in one.

Well done, Kirstie. Well done to you.

Great news for the challengers -

they haven't lost anyone from the final round, Kirstie can play in that.

Chris can't, of course.

Come back to the studio.

OK, as it stands, Eggheads have lost one brain from the final round,

challengers have lost no brains.

Our next subject is Sport. Sport.

I was wondering what reaction I'd get to that -

crestfallen or excited - somewhere between the two.

-Me? Me?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-I'm going to do that.

-You're going to do it.

OK, Emma, and which Egghead looks desperately unsporting. You can't have Chris.

-Shall we go with Judith?

-With Judith?

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

I want to take on Judith, please.

So, it's going to be Emma from the Golf Roses versus Judith from the Eggheads.

Please go to the question room.

OK, are you ready for this, Emma?

Yes.

Three questions on Sport in turn and you can choose first or second set.

I will go first, please, Jeremy.

The US athlete, Randy Barnes,

set a world record in 1990 with a distance of 23.12 metres in which event?

Well, I'm not too sure. Erm...

it's gonna have to be...

a guess. Erm...

I don't think it's going to be triple jump.

Erm, I think I'm going to go for the hammer.

How you would guess between them, I don't know,

-but you've guessed wrong - it's shot put actually.

-OK.

Not triple jump - that would be inhumanly...

Impossible.

Judith, in which country was the golfer Lee Trevino born?

Ha!

How did that happen?

-Help.

-You've gotta get this wrong now.

Oh, that's really frightening, isn't it? For me, I mean, to get it wrong.

I can sort of see him in my head, actually.

He's got dark hair and he's sort of rather square looking.

Can you see his passport?

Um, no. Um...

I'm sure it's not Spain.

I think that's put in as a kind of spoiler.

I think he's South African.

-Is that your answer?

-I'm afraid so.

-Do you want to clap now, golfing women?

-Oh, no, please!

-Yeah, you got it wrong.

-Is it USA?

-It's USA.

-Oh, no.

-JUDITH LAUGHS

-How about that?

OK, back to you, Emma. The Dragons Rugby Union team play their home matches at Rodney Parade,

in which Welsh city?

Mmm. Another one that I am not sure of.

I'm going to have to guess again.

Erm...

Dragons, Dragons.

I think I'm going to go for Newport, Jeremy.

Based on what?

It was a complete guess.

It was completely right, well done.

Your question, Judith.

David Moyes, named the League Managers Association Manager of the Year

in 2003 and 2005, became manager of which football club in 2002?

In 2002?

-Yup.

-That's far too long ago.

I can't possibly remember that far back.

Well, I don't think it's Portsmouth

because I think Harry Redknapp has been there for quite a long time.

Six years that would be, wouldn't it?

I think it's Everton.

That's the correct answer.

-Well done.

-Oh!

-Well done.

-Something sticks, sometimes.

-Yeah.

Well, the way to get into football, Judith,

is to get season tickets and support a team.

I think I'd rather die, frankly. SHE LAUGHS

I thought you were going to say that.

OK, Emma, back to you.

In which year was the Women's Championship first introduced at Wimbledon?

Oh, wow.

I don't think it was 1884.

Erm...so I think it's between 1924 and 1944.

The first Women's Championship.

I think I'm going to go for 1944, Jeremy.

OK, that's your answer.

-I suspect your team-mate Linda knows.

-1884.

It was that long ago.

-1884.

-Really?

-The ladies had long flowing dresses.

Sorry about that.

Judith, if you get this right,

you've taken the round - in a spectacular display of sporting knowledge.

Here we go.

In 2002, Glynn Pedersen became the first Briton since 1988 to qualify for the Olympics for which event?

It wasn't ski jump because that was Eddie The Eagle

who perhaps shouldn't have qualified.

Table tennis, I shouldn't think... Modern pentathlon.

I think it might be table tennis.

Yeah, you're wrong about that. But you know what?

The Eagle reference was spot on. CJ?

-1988, Calgary.

-Yeah.

That's the point Judith - I think Eddie was '88 and then Glynn...

-Was the next one!

-Was the next one.

Is that right, Eggheads?

-Oh, stupid me.

-2002, it's got to be a Winter Olympics, hasn't it?

-So, it's got to be ski jump.

-OK, so...

That's really stupid. I should have thought that.

Bad luck, Judith. So, it now goes to sudden death.

Emma. Hall Green, Peterborough and Romford stadiums

all host which type of racing?

That would be greyhound racing.

Spot on, well done.

You're right.

Judith - you get this wrong, you're gone.

Which British darts player, born in 1962, was known as The Whippet in his youth,

on account of his athletic physique?

Oh, absolutely no idea. Um...

I don't know anything about darts players.

And anyway, I don't know anything about The Whippet.

I mean...

presumably, he's very tall and thin.

Normally, they're not.

Well, I can think of somebody The Viking and Phil "The Power" Taylor,

who has been on this programme, but I can't think of any other darts players.

I absolutely do not know.

-OK.

-Yup.

I'll take that as your answer. You came close though.

-What?

-Because it was the man they call The Viking - Andy Fordham.

-Oh, no.

And the reason it's interesting is because he's now, well he was 30 stone,

went up to 30 stone,

came down 10 stone,

but he was thin in his youth.

And then he was called The Viking?

He's called The Viking because he got very fat.

Oh, and fierce.

And fierce. And you lost the round.

So, sorry about that, Judith.

Emma, well done.

You took on an Egghead and you won.

Fantastic for our challengers here - the Golf Roses -

because Emma can play in the final round. Both, please, back to the studio.

Eggheads have lost two brains from the final round,

challengers have lost none.

Our next subject is Arts And Books. Which of you wants to play this?

THEY CONFER Would you like me to take it?

You've got two brains left, now.

-OK.

-I think you should have a go.

Well, I'll give it a go,

but at least we have two heads left.

-Who do you want to play against, Linda?

-Arts And Books.

-We've got CJ, Kevin and Barry.

-We'll go with Barry.

-OK.

Linda, from the Golf Roses against Barry, our new Egghead.

Do go to the question rooms, please.

Three questions, multiple choice -

Linda, the first or second set?

We have the honour - I'll stick with it and go first.

In which building are the controversial Elgin Marbles displayed?

Hope they remain there for a long time - they are very fine.

They're in the British Museum.

They are - said with conviction. Well, done.

First point to you.

Barry, by which first name was the playwright Strindberg known?

I seem to remember that he was called August Strindberg.

You're correct, well done.

August, Oug-ust - who wants to go on the pronunciation of that?

-Go with Oug-uost.

-August Strindberg. Well done. One apiece.

Linda, which writer of detective fiction also produced a long series of historical novels,

including The Exploits Of Brigadier Gerard?

Brigadier Gerard, I only remember as a racehorse.

I can only think this is Arthur Conan Doyle, although I don't know them.

It sounds like it comes from longer ago than PD James.

So, I will go with Arthur Conan Doyle.

Correct answer, well done.

Barry over to you.

The portrait of Dr Felix Ray was painted in 1889

and presented to its subject by which artist?

1889. Well, that immediately cuts Picasso out.

Renoir or Van Gogh.

I know Van Gogh did quite a number of portraits around that time.

I've not heard of this one

but on the basis that he painted portraits around that time,

I'll go for Van Gogh.

Van Gogh it was, well done.

Two apiece. Tight round.

Back to you, Linda. Good luck.

The New Zealand writer, Katherine Mansfield,

was particularly associated with which literary form?

I read these at school, fortunately.

They were very, very nice short stories -

beautiful short stories - in the Chekhov genre.

That's right.

Well done, Linda.

Barry, what name was given to the artistic movement founded by Kasimir Malevich around 1915?

Well, it's certainly not Orphism because that was a British movement.

I think Marinetti was Futurism,

so I think Malevich was a Suprematist,

-and the answer is Suprematism.

-Not often talked about,

but that's absolutely right.

Suprematism is the answer.

Scores level,

we move now to sudden death.

Linda -

the novel, Tom Brown's Schooldays,

draws heavily on the author's experience of life at which public school?

Rugby.

Is right, well done!

Written by Thomas Hughes. Over to you, Barry.

Which ballet features an innocent peasant girl

driven mad by her love for the philandering Count Alberecht?

Innocent peasant girl. Her love for the Count Alberecht. Mmm.

I'm not totally sure on this one but I think it may be Les Sylphides?

-Les Sylphides is your answer.

-Uh-huh.

The ballet...

-is Giselle.

-Ah!

I always confuse those two.

Well, Linda -

your knowledge is impressive, that's great for your team because you'll play in the final.

Well done. Sorry, Barry, you won't.

Do both of you come back and join your teams here in the studio.

So, as it stands the Eggheads have lost three brains from the final round.

You don't look good!

The challengers still haven't lost any, our last subject is Science. Which of you wants that?

-Oh, science!

-That's easy!

-Oh, I love that sound!

-That'll be me!

-She's the one with the science degree, so...

OK, Sara, who do you wanna play?

-I think CJ.

-CJ.

-CJ, then, it seems!

CJ, right. So, Sara from the Golf Roses against CJ from the Eggheads.

Let's see what happens. Good luck, no conferring, take your positions, please.

Sara, three multiple choice questions, you choose first or second set.

First has worked well so far so we'll go with that.

Good luck to the pinks.

Calamine lotion is frequently used in the treatment of which condition?

I don't think it would work well with verrucas

and I...I don't really think we'd go for alopecia.

I think it's going to be used for the itchiness of chickenpox.

-That's your answer.

-Yes.

-Well done, one to you.

CJ, limestone is a sedimentary rock consisting chiefly of what?

I think that's calcium carbonate.

It is calcium carbonate. Well done, CJ.

One apiece.

Sara, back to you.

What type of electric charge does an electron have?

That will be a negative charge.

That's right.

OK, CJ, which group of people's eating habits can be described as anthropophagic?

Well, I'm a vegetarian,

I don't think I've ever eaten anything described as anthro.

I suppose it could be applied to infants

but generally it's applied to cannibals.

You're quite right, two points each.

Sara. Which scientist is quoted as saying,

"Imagination is more important than knowledge,"?

This would seem like one I should know, but I genuinely don't.

I'm going to go, just as a real guess, for Albert Einstein.

-That's your answer?

-Yes.

You're right. Well done, three out of three.

CJ if you get this wrong you won't play in the final round.

Here we go - what type of creature is a babbler?

Never heard of it.

So...have fun, Kevin.

A babbler is...

a fish.

No, no, no.

It's a babbling bird. It's a bird.

So, Sara, well done, you took on science, you took on CJ and won,

you will be in the final round, CJ won't.

Please both of you come back and join your teams.

Well, this is most peculiar cos last time we had a team all in pink

they won every round and it was all of them versus one Egghead

and the Egghead was Kevin. That's where we are now.

This is what we've been playing towards. Our final round, General Knowledge.

Of course, those of you who lost your head to heads

will not take part. That's only from the Eggheads.

It's Chris and Barry and Judith and CJ.

In fact, would anyone not wearing pink, please leave the studio.

LAUGHTER

So, Linda, Emma, Kirstie, Sara and Karen,

well done getting this far intact.

You're playing to win the Golf Roses £2,000.

Kevin, you're playing for something that money just can't buy,

the Eggheads' reputation.

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

The questions are all general knowledge. You are allowed to confer.

Golf Roses, the question is,

are your five brains better than the Eggheads one brain?

So, do you want to go with the first or second set of questions?

We will stick with the first, it's stood us in good stead.

So, Golf Roses, what does the Statue of Liberty hold in her right hand?

-Torch?

-Torch.

-Torch.

-It's on her right hand, isn't it?

-Torch.

You're right, torch. One to you.

First question for the Eggheads.

Kevin, what is a chignon?

Spelt, C-H-I-G-N-O-N. Chignon.

It's a hairstyle, the roll at the back of the neck.

Is that the one you've got, or...?

No, I stopped doing that.

Just, um...I thought it wasn't masculine enough.

Hairstyle is correct.

Which historical Spanish sailing ship

was typically square rigged and had three or more decks and masts?

THEY CONFER

A la John Masefield, it's a galleon.

Galleon is right, well done.

Pressure on Kevin,

playing on behalf of all the Eggheads.

On what day of the year did Shakespeare die?

Well, according to, well... yeah, legend, pretty much,

he was both born and died on St George's Day.

That is the correct answer, Kevin.

Next question is for the Golf Roses.

You need this to keep the pressure on him.

Who became the first woman to fly across the English Channel in 1912?

Amy Johnson flew to Australia, didn't she? And she died in the war.

-I have no idea!

-I would have gone for Amy Johnson.

I would have thought Amy Johnson.

But didn't she... She's the only one I've heard of.

I was named after Linda Rhodes Moorhouse

who flew across the Channel in the First World War...

-She's not on the list!

-But she's not on there!

You don't think it's Amy? Did she fly to Australia after 1912?

Well, let's look at the dates here.

She died in the war, delivering planes to airfields,

she disappeared into the Thames, or something,

so supposing she was in her thirties in 1940-something,

she wouldn't have been old enough to fly the Channel in 1912.

-In which case it's...

-I've never heard of either of the other two.

Nancy Bird or Harriet Quimby?

Any ideas?

-No?

-No. No idea.

Due a guess.

Sounds like it ought to be Nancy Bird if she flies the Channel,

but I've never heard of her.

Harriet Quimby is such an unlikely name they couldn't have made it up.

-I think...

-You sure it's not Amy Johnson?

I'm not sure, but by logic, if she...

She would have to have been 20-something in 1912,

would she still have been flying... I suppose she could...

She died delivering Spitfires and Hurricanes

-to airfields...

-How old was she?

-I dunno, I didn't ask her!

-I think we should go with Amy Johnson.

-We'll go with Amy Johnson.

With my reservation. Right, because she is the only one we've heard of

we're gonna go with Amy Johnson.

Amy Johnson is your answer, OK.

You made the mistake of overruling

the person on the team with the most knowledge by far.

Linda, you were on the right track

it wasn't Amy Johnson, it was Harriet Quimby, as it happens.

Oh, nearly got there, too.

Kevin, this is the third question

if you get this right you've taken the contest.

In the US Government what is the official lowest level of classified document?

It depends how closely - as an ex-civil servant -

it depends how closely it follows the parallels of the British system.

Eyes only is really the top secret,

because that's only for certain, specified people.

In the British system confidential ranks lower than secret.

So, it should be confidential,

so I hope it's not different from the British system

in which case it would be confidential.

-Confidential is your answer.

-Yeah.

If you get this right,

you've sent the wonderful Golf Roses home with no prize.

And it is right. Well done, Kevin.

Congratulations, Eggheads, you've won.

Commiserations, challengers! It was the Amy Johnson, and it, oh...!

It's been great having you,

team in pink, you did what the other team in pink did.

In fact, exactly what they did, getting here and then losing to him! Quite extraordinary.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally,

they still reign supreme over quizland

and I'm afraid you won't be going home with £2,000.

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.

£3,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye!

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