Episode 146 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.

You might recognise them as they are goliaths

in the world of TV quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads and taking on our awesome quiz champions today

are the Abbey Revellers.

The team quiz each week at the Hog's Head pub in Omagh.

They are usually friendly adversaries

but have come together to take on the Eggheads today. Let's meet them.

Hello, I'm Michael, I'm 51 and I'm a business proprietor.

Hello, I'm Kieran, I'm 40 and I'm a nurse.

Hello, I'm Damien, I'm 43 and I'm a lorry driver.

Hello, I'm Tommy, I'm 55 and a solicitor.

Hello, I'm Gerry, I'm 54 and I'm a retired teacher.

So welcome, Abbey Revellers.

You do different things in life but you all meet in the pub

and you all do quizzes.

-We do indeed.

-And tell us what you do, Michael?

Well, as I've indicated there, I'm a business proprietor.

Myself and my wife work together.

We manufacture and sell mobile clothes lines.

It's a relatively new idea.

It sounds like a Dragon's Den kind of thing! A clothes line

you can take out of the rain?

Absolutely, because sometimes it rains in Omagh

and to that end it's a very popular item. It's going very well.

Right. Let's see how you do, good luck.

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

for our challengers. However, if they fail to defeat

the Eggheads, the money rolls over to the next show.

So, Abbey Revellers, the challengers won the last game,

proving it can be done.

That means £1,000 says you can't beat the Eggheads.

First head-to-head battle is on the subject of History.

Which one wants to play this?

Who's the history man here?

-I'd say Tommy.

-Do you want History, Tommy?

Tommy, History, OK and against which Egghead?

-We'll go with Barry and see how we go.

-OK, we'll do that.

Tommy from the Abbey Revellers against

Barry, our newest Egghead.

To ensure there's no conferring,

take your positions in the question room.

Tommy, would you like the first or second set of questions?

I'll go first.

The Battle of Flodden took place during

the reign of which English king?

Oh...

this is one which I do not know the answer to.

It's one of the Henries, OK, but which one it is...

I would guess Henry...

IV.

It was Henry VIII, actually.

Sorry about that, that answer is wrong.

So on we go with Barry.

Barry, the KGB spies Donald Maclean,

Guy Burgess, Harold "Kim" Philby and Anthony Blunt,

met at which university?

They were all members of a club.

I'm just trying to remember the name.

I think it may have been called the Apostles,

but it was certainly at Cambridge.

Yes, it was, Cambridge University. They all met there.

Tommy,

the 19th-century Scottish blacksmith Kirkpatrick Macmillan

is credited with the invention of what?

I'll just have to guess. Pedal bicycle.

Let's ask the Eggheads. Is he right?

Oh, yes!

Yes, you're right!

Pure luck!

Barry, which Russian Tsar was strangled in 1762,

reputedly on the orders of his own wife?

Well, it certainly wasn't Nicholas II,

because he was the last of the Romanovs and he was murdered

by the communists at Yekaterinburg in 1917.

Alexander III was a...

19th-century tsar and it wasn't him, but I believe that Peter III

was the unfortunate husband of Catherine the Great

who had ordered him to be strangled, so the answer is Peter III.

You're quite right, Barry, well done. Two points, so far.

Tommy, if you get this question wrong,

then you've lost the head to head.

Pontiac's War in the 18th- century was directed mainly

against the British occupation of which American region?

I've got a feeling it may be the Great Lakes because the Canadians

influenced Pontiac, so I'll go for Great Lakes.

Great Lakes is correct.

OK, Barry, your third question now.

If you get this right, you'll be in the final, not Tommy.

In which modern day country was

the Roman Army victorious at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 84 AD?

I'm just trying to remember who was in charge

at the Battle of Mons Graupius. It may have been Agricola,

but it certainly took place against the Picts,

and it was held in Scotland.

-You sound SO certain.

-Yes, I'm absolutely certain on this.

We're beginning to get the sense that you are quite good at history.

Scotland is right.

So well done, the Eggheads were triumphant.

You will play in the final round.

Tommy, I'm sorry to say, you won't. You were beaten by our Egghead

and both of you come and rejoin your teams.

So, as it stands the challengers have lost

one brain from the final round. The Eggheads have lost no brains.

The next subject is Arts and Books.

Which Abbey Reveller wants to be literary?

-It can't be Tommy.

-Well, get it out of the way. I'll go for it.

OK, Michael. Which Egghead?

Which Egghead looks as if...

they've never opened a book in their life?

Well, that's debatable, isn't it? Do better than last time!

I like watching CJ's programmes, so I'll go with CJ.

Bit of a celebrity thing going on there!

Michael from the Abbey Revellers against CJ from the Eggheads.

Please take your positions in the question room.

So Michael, you're a bit of a fan of CJ?

Absolutely, I admire him.

-We've been hunting for that person for years!

-Well, I've arrived!

How about that, CJ?

-You can't beat him now, can you, CJ?

-On Arts and Books,

I don't think there's any chance!

CJ's great strength

is that he thinks every single category is his worst...

I've noticed that! Which it isn't!

Arts and Books, then. Three questions, multiple choice

and you can choose the first or second set.

Well, following in Tommy's footsteps, I'll go with the first set.

And good luck, Michael.

What term is used to describe a collection of works

by an artist or sometimes the folder in which they're held?

Well, it's not one that readily comes to mind.

I'll rule out provenance.

I don't believe it's portfolio, so I'll go with pastiche.

Team mates, has he done the right thing, there?

Portfolio, I think.

Portfolio it is.

What is it with the first questions today? They're tripping you up!

So, sorry, Michael, portfolio is correct.

CJ, David Balfour is the young hero of which

Robert Louis Stevenson novel?

He is the hero of Kidnapped.

He is indeed.

Point to you. Back to you, Michael.

A History Of Modern Britain, published in 2007,

is a book by which journalist and TV presenter?

Well, it's definitely not one I'm familiar with.

At this stage, I probably wish I had gone for the second set of questions!

I don't think it's Jeremy Paxman,

or Jeremy Bowen. I'll go with Andrew Marr.

He's gonna be relieved, sitting at home watching.

It is Andrew Marr. Well, done.

-Thank you.

-Over to you, CJ.

Siobhan Davis is an important name in which field of the Arts?

No, I don't know, so I'm gonna go for contemporary dance.

And you are completely right.

How did she draw you to the right answer there?

Women can't use cameras, cos they're too complicated,

and they can't chip stone for sculpture,

cos they're not strong enough, so they dance.

-Don't rise, don't rise.

-I wish I hadn't asked now!

OK. Over to you, Michael.

You need to get this right or CJ will be in the final.

Mirabel and Millamant are characters in which play by William Congreve?

So far it's not typically my set of questions at all!

William Congreve...

The only one I'm familiar with

is Love For Love, so on that basis, I'll go for that.

The correct answer is The Way Of The World,

so you're wrong on Love For Love, which means CJ has won the round.

As a fan of his,

I guess you have to applaud in some way

-and be delighted.

-I have no problem with that!

You were beaten so you can't play in the final round.

Please, both of you, come back.

As it stands, the challengers have lost two brains

from the final round, whilst the Eggheads have lost none.

Next subject is Sport. Guessing you've got a plan here?

Who wants this, and against which Egghead?

THEY CONFER

-You happy up there?

-You go with it.

-You want to do it, go ahead.

-I think it's me, Jeremy.

-OK, Damien, our lorry driver,

the Abbey Reveller and...

which Egghead?

Who would you go for? >

ABBEY REVELLERS CONFER >

I think it's Chris >

-OK.

-Chris...

-Hopefully.

-He hates it, he hates it.

The day I don't get picked for Sport,

the oceans will fall into the sky and the trees will hang with fishes!

Why do people keep picking on you for Sport? Can we explain this now?

Cos they know I loathe, abominate and detest the entire subject

and would willingly see it consigned

to the remoter reaches of sulphurous hell, there to rot for all eternity!

-So, no strong views, then?

-No, not really!

He doesn't like it!

So, Damien from Abbey Revellers against Chris,

angry Chris, from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

OK, three questions on Sport in turn, multiple choice

and Damien you can decide first or second set?

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

Here we go, good luck.

What's the collective name

for the runners in a horse race?

I think I might know this one.

I'm fairly confident that the answer is field.

Yes, field is the correct answer.

What is the word peloton doing in there?

It's in the Tour de France.

-Oh, the cyclists, is it?

-The chasing pack of the leader.

So, in other words, "I couldn't get to work

"because I ran into a large peloton"?

-You could try that!

-Would that work?

Maybe in France!

Over to you, Chris. In which country was the golfer Sam Torrance born?

There's a place called Torrance,

just up the road from Milngavie in Scotland,

so that would incline me to believe that he was born in Scotland.

Love the logic. Is that your answer?

-Mm-hm.

-It's right, well done.

Damien, here's your next question.

Which cricketer was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year

in 2007, the year after he won TV's Strictly Come Dancing?

Cricket would not be one of my choices for watching sport.

I know that both

Mark Ramprakash and Darren Gough were...

involved in the...the dancing.

I recall Darren Gough

winning the dancing...

I'm not too sure about Mark. I know he was very good.

I think I'll have to go for Darren Gough.

You had it narrowed down right,

but you got the wrong answer.

It's Mark Ramprakash.

Chris, here's your next question.

Chris, in which sporting event

is the Coupe des Mousquetaires presented?

The Coupe des Mousquetaires.

Well, it's not Le Mans, because that's a motor-racing event.

I can't think why they'd have a Musketeer cup.

And The Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe is surely just a monetary award,

so I'll say the French Open Tennis.

Again, the logic is mystifying,

but the answer is correct.

It is the French Open. Well, done.

In the first half of the 20th century

you had four very famous French players who were known as

"The Four Musketeers", Jean Borotra and Rene Lacoste amongst them,

and they just won everything at the time.

So Musketeer, tennis, there is that connection?

OK, Damien, get this one right,

please, because then that keeps you in it, otherwise

Chris takes your place in the final.

Here we go. The so-called Cambridge Rules

were an early version of the rules of which sport?

I must confess I'm not sure on this question of the answer.

Cambridge Rules...

I think I'll go for Boxing.

-It's not Boxing, which I guess was Queensberry, was it?

-Mm-hm.

It's Football, which means, Damien, you're not in the final round.

Chris the Egghead is,

so both of you please come back and rejoin your teams.

The challengers have lost three brains.

Eggheads have lost no brains from that final round.

Our last subject is Music.

Who wants this?

-I'll have a stab at it.

-That's Kieran's department.

-Do you want Judith?

-Kieran?

-Yeah.

Kieran from Abbey Revellers against?

-Judith.

-Judith from the Eggheads.

Please take your positions.

Kieran, there's a big weight on your shoulders.

Well, I'm a big weight myself, so I'm well used to it, like!

And you've been a nurse for 21 years?

Unfortunately, yes. The length of time sort of wears on me.

Right. It's Music,

it's three questions, multiple choice.

Kieran, you can be first or second.

No point in breaking the habit. I'll go first.

And it's working so well for your team(!)

Well, hopefully it will change!

What was the title of a 1990s UK hit single for The La's?

Well, I'm quite confident on this one,

because when I was in my thinner days

I used to dance to it for a while

at the discos and it was There She Goes.

-That'll do.

-Yes!

Finally!

The dreaded first question and you guys have got it right.

Full steam ahead.

Judith, with which genre of music is Jimmy Cliff most associated?

Reggae, Heavy Metal or Opera?

I don't think I've heard of an opera singer called Jimmy Cliff.

I think he might be Heavy Metal.

Heavy Metal? Which band was he in?

I've no idea! I've no idea!

AC/DC, was it, or Metallica?

I don't know.

I don't have to know that, luckily.

-He was a Reggae artist.

-Oh, was he?

Oh well, there you are.

Things are looking up for our Revellers.

-I take it you knew Jimmy Cliff, Kieran?

-Straight away.

-The modern stuff I'm OK on.

-OK. Let's see how you do on this one.

In classical music,

what name is given to a piece

originally intended for technical practice by the player?

I have not got one clue about this,

but the only one that kind of sticks out to me that I've kind of heard of

in relation to music would be Etude, so I'll go with Etude.

It was enough information to get it right.

You're correct.

Etude it was.

Back to you, Judith.

Shiny Happy People and Near Wild Heaven were UK hit singles

for which band, Judith?

I don't think it was Queen, but I've absolutely no idea.

Funnily enough they ring bells but I don't know who on earth did them.

So it's...

What about REM?

Just, maybe...

I don't know. Guess.

Is that your answer?

-Yep.

-It's right.

Oh, really! Gosh!

Judith on pop...

Kieran, that's a sight we like to see!

If you get this question right then you've won the head to head.

Which US soul singer had UK hit singles with

First Time Ever I Saw Your Face and Feel Like Making Love?

Well, I'm not quite too sure about this one again.

I'm not sure...

I don't think it's Sharon Redd.

Roberta Flack and Randy Crawford...

which one was it?

I'm gonna guess Roberta Flack.

Team mates, Tommy, what do you think?

-Yes.

-Yes!

APPLAUSE

Well, it's turning round for the Abbey Revellers.

Judith, you will not be in the final round

and no point in me asking you the third question. Kieran, well done.

You took on an Egghead and you won.

You will play in the final round

which follows this as soon as you come back.

So, this is what we've been playing towards.

It's the final round, which, as always, is General Knowledge,

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

won't be allowed to take part.

So, Michael, Damien and Tommy from the Abbey Revellers

and Judith from the Eggheads, would you please leave the studio?

Gerry, we haven't met you yet, but you're a primary school teacher?

-I was for some years... 28 years.

-28 years?

And a footballer before that?

I had a junior international cap in 1976, in Northern Ireland v Scotland.

Northern Ireland v Scotland, 1976. Who won?

1-0 to Scotland. Sorry, 1-0 to us!

LAUGHTER

It's an easy mistake to make!

Shows you how nervous you can be up here!

Let's get that mistake out of the way now, OK.

Kieran and Gerry you are playing to win the Abbey Revellers £1,000.

Chris, Barry, Kevin and CJ,

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

the Eggheads' reputation.

I will ask each team three questions in turn.

The questions are all General Knowledge.

You are allowed to confer,

so Abbey Revellers,

are your two brains better than the Eggheads' four?

Kieran and Gerry, do you want to go first or second?

-Shall we stick with tradition?

-Yep.

-We'll go first.

Here are the questions.

What is an informal way of referring to the entrance to heaven?

(Diamond Doors...)

I don't think there's any doubt really what it is, you know, Gerry!

Eliminate Golden Arches.

It's patently obvious it's Pearly Gates.

Pearly Gates...

is correct, well done.

SCATTERED APPLAUSE

Your question, Eggheads. As what is Roberto Cavalli,

born in 1940, best known?

Fashion Designer.

It is a Fashion Designer.

I'm sure Cavalli is a designer.

OK, that's fine.

Fashion Designer.

Fashion Designer is correct, Kevin, well done.

Back to you guys,

the Abbey Revellers.

Sid James and Diana Coupland starred

as married couple Sid and Jean Abbott in which TV sitcom?

I think it was Patrick Cargill was in Father, Dear Father.

That's right.

And it was your man, what do you call him, used to be in...

with Paula Wilcox and Sally Thomsett, Man About The House.

-Robin...

-Robin's Nest.

-Robin's Nest.

So, that just leaves Bless This House,

Sid James and that's what I think.

I think Diana Coupland played the long-suffering wife.

OK. We know Sid James was in Bless This House.

Bless This House.

Good stuff, you're right.

You're right.

Eggheads, your question.

What is the literal translation of "coup de foudre",

a French expression for love at first sight?

Stroke of Lightning,

Stroke of Lightning, isn't it?

That's Stroke of Lightning.

Stroke of Lightning is right.

So, two points each.

Next question is for the Abbey Revellers.

In 1898, Brighton businessman Henry Linfield

became the first man to die

as a result of what?

I don't think that's the name for a train crash.

1898...

I'm not sure, but...

I'm thinking car crash,

for some reason, I don't know why.

I think it was definitely too early for a plane crash,

1898, for starters.

I think that's not the name associated with a train crash.

I haven't heard this name but...

I'm only going on a hunch here, you know.

-As I say, I'm not 100% sure.

-I'm in agreement with you on car crash.

I think it's between car crash...

Cars were only just, sort of, starting at that time, really.

1898... Kitty Hawk... The Wright Brothers.

I think that was 190...

so, it's definitely not a plane crash.

We'll have to go with car crash.

There's a different name for a train crash.

-Will we chance car crash?

-I think we'll go with it.

-Yeah.

-We'll chance Car Crash.

The Brighton businessman Henry Linfield

was the first man to die...

in a car crash.

APPLAUSE

Interesting question.

Chris will tell you the name of the first train crash victim.

That could have been more than one person.

It would have been earlier.

The first man to be killed by a train

was an MP, William Huskisson, back in about 1830.

The first fully documented serious train crash

was Christmas Eve 1841, when a Great Western train

ran into a landslip in Sonning Cutting,

after weeks of torrential rain.

There were several people killed

and it's the first one fully documented and investigated

-by the Board of Trade. That was 1841.

-OK.

Eggheads, your question.

If you get this wrong, our visitors have taken the prize money.

Here is your question. What is the skateboarding term

for riding backwards?

Well, Fakie is a skateboard term.

Is it?

I think it is.

I was just thinking a Goofy Foot if you ride backwards with the pedals

-in the other direction?

-That was my thought,

but you reckon Fakie is...

Well, I'm sure they all are, and Goofy Foot sounds logical.

McTwist sounds as though

there's some sort of turning motion involved,

so it doesn't seem likely.

I think Goofy Foot sounds more realistic.

I think I may even have vaguely heard the term somewhere...

I'm not sure, but I...

-No prob.

-All I'm saying is, if it was me

by myself, I would go for Fakie.

-That's all I'm saying.

-Nothing like hedging your bets, is there?

No. If I was by myself,

I would go for Fakie.

Hang on. If you're going backwards,

you're looking over your shoulder,

aren't you?

-See where you're going.

-Yeah?

-Twist.

Oh, for God's sake!

We think it's one of those three(!)

We're not even sure of that, now!

OK. I say Fakie.

Chris, what do you think?

I'll still go with Goofy Foot.

I'll go with Goofy Foot.

-Go on, Kevin.

-Oh, great(!)

If you were by yourself,

which one would you go for?

-Goofy Foot.

-Yeah?

-Goofy Foot.

Goofy Foot is your answer? OK.

That was just such a brilliant discussion! Wasn't that fantastic?

Very, very good.

CJ, gradually,

becoming more certain it's Fakie...

no, but more and more certain

that Fakie needed listening to,

and the others conjuring up

Goofy Foot from nowhere,

and then McTwist coming in at the end

and guys, you've only

ever lost two in a row...

twice before...

in the history of Eggheads?

You've blown a gasket again.

It's Fakie!

Put it there!

CJ was right!

CJ was right! There will be recriminations from this.

Challengers,

congratulations, you've won.

Thank you.

-This is great, well done!

-Thank you.

-Thank you, Jeremy.

Cos it was shaky at the start.

-Very shaky.

-You've just won £1,000.

We're glad we didn't get their questions!

And you are officially cleverer than the Eggheads!

Twice in a row they've lost!

Thanks to the Eggheads, they're very sporting!

They are always sporting, that's true!

Join us next time on Eggheads

to see if a new team of challengers will be just as successful.

Till then, goodbye.

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