Episode 151 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?

Hello, and 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've won some of the country's toughest quiz shows. They are the Eggheads.

Taking on our awesome quiz champions today are the Dean Road Rivals.

The team all quiz at Dean Road social club in Southampton,

and have known one another for ten years or more.

They form three separate rival quiz teams, but have decided to form a superteam

to take on the Eggheads now. Let's meet them.

Hello, I'm Pauline, I'm 58, and I'm a housewife.

Hi, I'm Alan. I'm 70, and I'm retired.

Hi, I'm Sharon, I'm 47, and I'm an office administrator.

Hi, I'm Ray, I'm 44, and I'm a neighbourhood warden.

Hello, I'm Dave, I'm 46, and I'm an accounts manager.

Welcome, Dean Road Rivals.

So three separate teams. How does that work exactly?

Right, I'm married to Alan - we're in one team.

Sharon and Ray are in another team, and Dave plays in another team.

And this is the best of the best of all coming together now, is this?

Well, it could be!

Say yes. You need to frighten them early!

You met, I gather, in an airport ticket counter.

-You were, Pauline, and then Alan was at customs, is that right?

-Yes.

-So how did you come together?

-Well, we were actually playing indoor cricket.

I don't think our paths would ever have crossed at work,

but we were playing for an indoor cricket team for the airport, and that's how we met.

-Which airport was this?

-Southampton.

-With its own indoor cricket team!

I never knew that! Good luck today. See how you do.

Every day, there's £1,000 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, Dean Road Rivals, the Eggheads have won the last four games,

which means £5,000 says you can't beat them. Nice handy number, that!

You can work out how to split that.

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

Have you got a plan on Sport, challengers?

-You're probably best, Ray?

-What do you think?

-Go for it.

-No problem. I'm gonna do that.

-Egghead?

-Who do you want?

I think I'll take on Chris.

There are ancient Arab curses - the flays of a thousand camels and various other afflictions,

all of which I would cheerfully visit upon the purveyors and practitioners of Sport.

You got your sports speech out the way early.

It's not his favourite subject. So, Ray from the Dean Road Rivals against Chris from the Eggheads,

please take your positions in the question room.

-Ray, you're a neighbourhood warden, is that correct?

-Yes, it is.

-So, if Chris beats you, you can arrest him?

-No, not quite.

We're not enforcement people.

We work with people in the community to improve their lives and help with community safety.

So you're just talking to people about how is everything, and seeing if there's trouble?

Absolutely, mediators between the people and their local authority,

-and make the place a decent neighbourhood to live in.

-Is it working?

Absolutely. Six years of success. We've had great things with junior neighbourhood wardens

-and working with the elderly in the community we live.

-Interesting.

Chris and Ray, it's Sport. It's multiple choice.

-Ray, you can choose whether you go first or second.

-First, please.

Ray, Lionel Messi represents which country in international football?

Messi spelt M-E-S-S-I.

I remember way back in the start of the year

watching the Euro championships

and Messi didn't seem to play for France or Portugal.

I never saw him then, so I'm assuming he plays for Argentina,

so Argentina is my guess.

Quite right. It is Argentina.

Chris, Bruno and Nero are the middle names

of which former England Rugby Union international?

Rory Bruno Nero Underwood doesn't sound right,

neither does Phil Bruno Nero de Glanville,

so it must be Lawrence Dallaglio.

Does Lawrence Bruno Nero Dallaglio sound right?

-Mmm.

-It's the correct answer. You've got a point.

OK, Ray. What is the nickname of former England cricket international Marcus Trescothick.

Well, I've no idea.

Let's have a look at these.

Chipolata seems a bit strange.

He's a batsman, so I assume it would be something to do

with the force he hits the ball,

and hotdog doesn't really come into that, so I'm assuming it's banger.

Yes, you got it right. Good.

It's because he loves sausages.

-He loves sausages? I see, so the other names were not so silly?

-No!

Chris, over to you. Do you love sausages, Chris?

I like a good sausage, yes.

-Good meaning what? Large?

-Plenty of meat, not so much filling.

Doesn't burst in the pan, reasonable flavour, reasonable texture. Need I go on?

Yes, OK. I'm just wondering if we should call you Banger from now on!

Here's your question -

according to the sporting adage, form is temporary, class is what?

Well, it wouldn't be mercurial and ephemeral

cos they mean the same thing as temporary, so it must be permanent.

Quite right. Permanent. Form is temporary, class is permanent.

Ray, your third question, keep the pressure on Chris with this.

Which basketball team won the 2008 NBA title?

Well, I don't rightly know.

I remember way, way back in the...20 or so years ago,

Boston Celtics were a big team then,

and I'm not sure about the New York Knicks,

but I'm going to guess at the Detroit Pistons.

It was actually the Boston Celtics, I'm afraid to say.

Chris, you can take the round and get your place in the final.

Which tennis player won the ladies' singles title at the 2008 French Open?

Hmm. You know my opinion of tennis and all that therein is.

I don't think it was Ana Ivanovic, I don't think it was Dinara Safina.

I think it was Jelena Jankovic.

CJ loves his tennis. He can tell us.

The beaten finalist was Safina and she lost to Ivanovic.

Ivanovic was the correct answer.

We're moving on to sudden death in Sport.

Questions are not multiple choice now, Ray.

I'm going to need an answer from you.

It gets harder. Fans of which US golfer are known as Arnie's Army?

Hmm. I suppose the obvious choice would be Arnold Palmer.

I've no other option. I'm going to go for Arnold Palmer.

You're right, Ray. Arnold Palmer.

APPLAUSE

Chris, you get this wrong, you're out.

Which England footballer, who played professionally from 1932 to 1965,

was known as the Wizard of the Dribble?

Plays for Preston North End, it was Tom Finney.

No, you said it with such conviction, I doubted myself for a second, but it was Stanley Matthews.

-Oh, the other one.

-The other one.

-The obvious one.

You went for the least obvious, which sometimes is a mistake.

Chris, you have got it wrong, you're out of the final. Ray will be helping his team in the final.

Well done to you.

Do come back and rejoin us here.

-Great start for our neighbourhood warden. Well done, Ray.

-Thanks very much.

So, the challengers have not lost any Brains from the final round, while the Eggheads have lost one.

Our next subject is Film and Television.

So, again, you have to choose who goes on this. And against whom.

-Go on, then.

-What are you looking at me for?

-Because it's Film.

-Yeah, I'll do it, if you like.

-It looks like it's me, then.

-It's you, Dave, against which Egghead?

TV and Films.

I'd like to take on...

Barry, please.

Barry, our newest Egghead, against Dave from the Dean Road Rivals.

Please take your positions.

So I'm going to ask each of you three questions on Film and TV.

-Dave, you can choose the first or second set?

-I'll go first, please.

Dave, in June 2008, who was named as Sharon Osbourne's replacement as a judge on the TV show The X Factor?

Jeremy, I'm probably the only person in the country who doesn't watch it,

so this is going to have to be a completely wild guess,

and I will go for Cheryl Cole.

Wild, but good. Well done.

Barry, your question.

In which country was the film director Pedro Almodovar born?

Pedro Almodovar is probably the greatest ever Spanish film director,

so the answer is Spain.

Well done, Barry.

Great knowledge.

Your question, Dave.

Juliette Binoche received a second Oscar nomination for her performance in which film of 2000?

Again, I'm not too sure.

Juliette Binoche, I certainly know that she was in Chocolat.

2000 sounds about right, so I'm going to plump for Chocolat.

Chocolat is the right answer, well done.

Barry, which TV presenter hosted the children's science show Think Of A Number?

I've not seen this show, and sadly I have no grandchildren yet,

so I won't be looking at children's programmes for quite some time,

so this will have to be a guess. But children's TV presenter,

it doesn't sound like Johnny Ball, so I'll take a stab at the other two

and take that well-known path of going down the middle, Fred Harris.

Well, Chris, CJ both know the answer here.

It's Zoe's dad, Johnny Ball.

And from a long time ago? '70s?

-'60s, '70s, yes.

-'60s, '70s.

A long time ago. Fred Harris was wrong, Barry, it's Johnny Ball.

So, with this answer, Dave, you can knock Barry out.

How many episodes of the TV comedy Fawlty Towers were made?

I'm pretty certain, having watched this when it first came out,

that there were 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers,

so I'm going to go for 12.

Going for the lowest number.

If you get this, you've knocked Barry out and you're in the final.

It is the right answer. Well done.

Good play by the Dean Road Rivals.

And tough luck, Barry. You will sit out the final.

Dave, you've beaten an Egghead, you're in the final.

Please, both of you, come back to the studio.

As it stands, the challengers haven't lost any Brains,

while the Eggheads have lost two Brains.

Next subject is Music.

-You can do Music, Sharon.

-OK.

-Sharon, is that you?

-I'll give it a go.

Who do you want? CJ, Daphne or Kevin?

-Daphne, please.

-OK.

The tone-deaf Daphne.

Well, you say that. You'll go and get three in a row!

Sharon from the Dean Road Rivals will play Daphne from the Eggheads.

Please take your positions.

Good luck to you both. I'm going to ask you three questions on Music.

It's multiple choice. Sharon, you can choose the first or second set?

I'll stick to the plan and go first, please.

In 1981, Under Pressure was a UK number one hit single for Queen and which singer?

I don't really like Queen at all,

but I seem to remember it was David Bowie that was involved in this.

Yes, it's the correct answer. Well done. Can you hum it?

-No.

-What's the famous bass line?

CJ HUMS BASS LINE

That's right. No points, but that's right.

Daphne, your question,

and, famously, your weak points on Music are the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s,

-anything except the 1950s and last week.

-Yes!

My Heart Will Go On was a UK number one hit single in 1998 for which singer?

Well, I do remember this. It's from Titanic, and it's Celine Dion.

Is the correct answer.

Over to you, Sharon.

Sharon, the Derek and the Domino song Layla was inspired by Eric Clapton's love for whom?

I can say that I've never heard of Yvonne Kelly or Lory del Santo,

so my answer will be Pattie Boyd.

It's a great bit of logic. You're right. It is Pattie Boyd.

Daphne, which Rodgers and Hammerstein musical

won seven Tony awards in 2008, including those for Best Director and Musical Revival?

Ooh.

I can't even think that any of them, you know,

have been in the West End or anything. I just...

Oh, dear.

Think positive and still nothing's coming! South Pacific.

-Why do you choose that?

-Pure guess. Please tell me it's right, Jeremy.

I don't know how you done it, Daphne, but you're right.

-Oh, thank goodness!

-You're the best guesser in the building.

There is no doubt. Time and again that happens.

Out of nothing. So, Sharon, the one-act opera Gianni Schicchi,

based on a story referred to in the Divine Comedy, is by which composer?

It's a pure guess, and I'm sorry, team, but I'm going for Puccini.

Daphne, is she right?

Yes, that was a one-act opera that Oh, My Beloved Father comes from

-and it's part of a trilogy.

-You're right.

Puccini it was. So, Daphne, if you get this wrong,

you are out of the final, along with Barry.

Pete Docherty, Joe Strummer and Rod Stewart

all worked in which profession before finding fame as musicians?

The only thing I know about Rod Stewart

is that he was once a gravedigger, so that's what I'll go for.

I haven't got a clue about the others.

But that shred of information is enough, because you're right,

it was gravedigging that they all have in common.

I can't imagine Pete Docherty gravedigging!

-You wouldn't think he'd turn up, would you?

-No. Or else fall in!

Sharon, we now go to sudden death.

Not multiple choice now, you have to give me the answer. Your question.

Nashville Skyline and Blood On The Tracks are albums by which singer-songwriter?

It sounds very country and western,

and the biggest country and western singer that I can think of is Johnny Cash,

so I will go for Johnny Cash.

-It wasn't Johnny Cash, it was Bob Dylan.

-Oh.

Daphne, get this, you get the round.

In 2004, who became the first brother and sister

to have each had solo UK number one singles?

We need both names.

Was it Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield?

-Say yes, Jeremy!

-Yes, Daphne, it was!

Well done, Daphne.

You've taken the round with that amazing shaft of light there on Daniel and Natasha Bedingfield.

Sorry, Sharon, beaten by our Eggheads, you won't be in the final.

Please come back to us here in the studio.

So, now the challengers have lost one Brain from the final round and Eggheads have lost two Brains,

the last subject is Food and Drink.

It's Pauline or Alan on this.

-Husband and wife?

-Yes.

-Who does the cooking?

-I do.

-Pauline does the cooking.

-So I think I had better take on Kevin, I think.

Kevin. Reputedly not very good on Food and Drink, but actually scored quite well recently on it.

Pauline from the Dean Road Rivals against Kevin from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring, please go to the question room.

-Pauline, you were saying you do the cooking.

-Yes.

-You've been married for how long?

-18 years.

-And no longer working at the airport, I'm assuming?

No, when Alan retired, I retired.

Good stuff. Good luck against Kevin. Three questions, Food and Drink, multiple choice.

Pauline, tell me if you want the first or second set?

I think I'll go first.

What does the word "sekt" indicate on a bottle of German wine?

I don't think I've ever read that on German wine, to be honest.

It's spelt S-E-K-T.

I think maybe I'll go for sweet.

It doesn't sound as if it would be the others, but I'm probably wrong.

It's difficult, because it sounds like the French "sec",

which is dry, but it's... Eggheads?

-Sparkling wine.

-Sparkling wine is the answer, Pauline.

Bad luck on that. Kevin, over to you.

What fruit provides the flavour of the liqueur Grand Marnier?

I believe Grand Marnier is orange.

Is it is orange. Well done.

Pauline, what is the more common name of the British window cake?

Well, I do know this because it's one of my favourites,

and it's Battenberg.

Correct.

Well done.

-Do you make it or buy it?

-Buy it, every time.

I was going to say, I've never heard of anyone making that cake.

Your question, Kevin,

what type of vegetable is a marrowfat?

I'm sure there are marrowfat peas.

Never heard of a marrowfat cabbage or a marrowfat runner bean,

as far as I can recall. I'm sure there is a marrowfat pea, so pea.

Pea is the right answer. So, Kevin has two, you've got one, Pauline.

You need to get this one right to have a chance here.

Which seafood is an accompaniment to lava bread in a traditional Welsh breakfast dish?

There again, it's something I've never actually heard of.

I'm just trying to think what would be typically Welsh,

and...

I think...

maybe cockles...

..would be...typically Welsh,

rather than the other two. I'm probably wrong.

-Is that your answer?

-Yes.

-Well done, you're right.

Great stuff, Pauline.

So Kevin, this for the round, otherwise we go to sudden death.

What is another name for beef taken from the neck area of the animal?

The only term I recognise there as being a cut of beef is clod,

so that's what I'll go for, clod with an O.

I don't know where you get it from, Kevin, but you're absolutely right.

Clod is correct. Well done. Tough question there.

Kevin takes the round, so sorry, Pauline, pipped at the post there.

Please, both of you, come back and rejoin your team-mates.

So this is what we've been playing towards, it's time for our final round which is General Knowledge.

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

So, Pauline and Sharon from the Dean Road Rivals, and Chris and Barry from the Eggheads,

would you please now leave the studio?

Final round, Alan, Ray and Dave, you're playing to win the Dean Road Rivals £5,000.

Daphne, CJ, and Kevin, you are playing for the Eggheads' reputation.

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

The questions are all General Knowledge and you are allowed to confer.

So, Dean Road Rivals, the question is, are your three Brains better than the Eggheads' three?

And, Alan, Ray and Dave, do you want to go first or second?

-We've gone first up to now.

-It worked up to now.

-We're going to go first, please, Jeremy.

Good luck to you. According to the saying, what goes before a fall?

As far as I can remember, we've all been accused of that!

-I think it's pride.

-I thought you were gonna say vanity!

-We think it's pride, Jeremy.

-Your answer is correct.

Pride, it is. Eggheads, back to you.

Which popular Christmas carol ends with the refrain "hosanna in excelsis"?

Ding Dong Merrily On High.

-I wouldn't try and do it with that...

-No.

-But happy with that?

-Yes. It is.

Ding Dong Merrily On High.

-Were you warning CJ against singing that?

-Yes.

-Very severe warning.

It works, as a general rule, anyway.

Ding Dong Merrily On High is the correct answer.

Back to you, guys.

In 1984, the stage musical Me And My Girl opened in the West End

with a new script updated and adapted by which comedian?

-Ben Elton, I think.

-In 1984?

The only thing that worries me about Ben Elton is,

is that a little bit early for him?

I've not heard of Tony Slattery as a producer.

I don't think Stephen Fry.

Stephen Fry was in the West End, but disappeared.

Go with Ben Elton?

I think so, yes.

We're going to take a stab at Ben Elton, please, Jeremy.

Ben Elton is your answer.

The person who updated and adapted

that great musical script was Stephen Fry.

Sorry about that, guys. You got the question wrong.

Eggheads, who became the chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club in 2000?

THEY SPEAK AMONG THEMSELVES

Barry Fry has been around a lot clubs, but it's Simon Jordan.

Could we call Simon Jordan controversial?

Well, I mean, he's outspoken, shall we say?

Simon Jordan is the correct answer.

So they've got two, you've got one.

That means you need to get this one right. Here's your question.

Josiah Wedgwood III and Caroline Darwin, sister of Charles Darwin,

were the maternal grandparents of which British composer?

See, looking at this, Charles Darwin's sister...

he was writing The Origin Of Species...

in the...

latter half of the 19th century, so...

50 years onto that for grandchildren.

So you're looking at somebody born around about 19...

the early part of the 20th century, coming into prominence...

..mid-20th century.

Ooh. Vaughan Williams?

-I think it's Birtwistle.

-I'm not sure with Birtwistle.

I think Thomas Arne was earlier than that.

I reckon go with that, yes.

OK, without any great...hope,

we're going to take a stab at Ralph Vaughan Williams.

If you get this wrong, then the contest is over,

the Eggheads have won, but you've got it right.

Well done, so you're alive and fighting for that £5,000.

Eggheads, back to you.

"Are you courting?" was the catchphrase of which presenter

who hosted the radio quiz show Have A Go between 1946 and 1967?

-Wilfred Pickles.

-The host of Have A Go was Wilfred Pickles.

-Is that your answer?

-Yes.

Congratulations, Eggheads. You got it right, and you've won.

-Commiserations, challengers. Not everyone gets to three on three, so you got that far.

-Almost.

We're quite pleased with that.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them, and they still reign supreme over quizland.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with that £5,000, which means the money rolls over.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us next time to see if a new team of challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£6,000 says they don't.

Until then, goodbye.