Episode 73 Eggheads

These five 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've won some of the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

And taking on our awesome quiz champions today are Harry Lime.

The team are old friends who have won quizzes

in the Northwest and take their name

from the classic film, The Third Man. Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Alison, I'm 51, and a part-time volunteer worker.

Hi, I'm Vernon, I'm 63, and I'm a retired teacher.

Hi, I'm Bill, I'm 46, and I'm a betting-shop manager.

Hi, I'm David, I'm 60, and I'm an accountant.

Hello, I'm Travis, I'm 72 and I'm a retired farmer.

Welcome to you, Harry Lime. It seems strange saying that to you, Alison!

-Why the name?

-It's just from the old days when there was two playing

and somebody said in a quiz, "Who's your third man?"

They just said Harry Lime and it stuck. That was it from then on.

So no other... I'm trying to remember the film...

Big ferris wheel in it.

Yeah, Austria, wasn't it? Vienna.

Orson Welles. No, it's just stuck from a joke.

How do those quizzes go that you play?

We do very well.

We've won quite a few.

Travis, at the end, has been on Brain Of Britain.

-Dave's been on Millionaire and everything.

-Ohh.

Between us we've won quite a few things.

How did you do in Millionaire, David?

I won 32,000.

Not bad. It should be a good game with the Eggheads.

Let's get on with it. Every game, there's £1,000-worth of cash up for grabs for our challengers.

But if they don't defeat the Eggheads, the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Harry Lime, the Eggheads have won the last two games,

which means £3,000 says YOU can't beat the Eggheads.

Our first head-to-head is Arts & Books.

-Who'd like to play?

-That's me.

Straight away, Alison.

Which Egghead would you like to take on?

-CJ, please.

-OK, CJ and Alison, please go to the Question Room.

-OK.

Alison, do you want to go first or second on Arts & Books?

I'd go first, please, Dermot.

Going first. Good luck with this.

In JRR Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings trilogy,

what type of creature is Gimli?

I think Gimli was the short, fat one. I think the dwarf.

So I'll say dwarf.

Yes, that's right. Gimli's the dwarf.

CJ, what's the name of the board or tablet with a thumb hole at one end

used by painters for holding and mixing colours?

That would be their colour palette, Dermot.

It would be. Correct. Back to you, Alison.

The Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream is set in and around which European city?

Erm...

Not too sure.

I can't think it's Paris...

No, I think I'll say Milan.

Milan for A Midsummer Night's Dream...

It's actually Athens, Alison.

-Sorry, boys.

-You were right about Paris, but it's Athens.

So, CJ, a chance for the lead.

Which American author wrote the novels The Yiddish Policemen's Union and Wonder Boys?

I've never even heard of the first book,

but I think the second was made into a film with Michael Douglas.

I'm going to go for Michael Chabon.

OK. That's correct, CJ. Gives you the lead.

Means you've got to get this, Alison.

What did the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude

wrap in 454,178 square feet

of golden sandstone fabric in 1985?

I can't remember the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe being wrapped up.

But Pont Neuf...

Erm...

But I can imagine them wrapping the Arc de Triomphe.

I'll say the Arc de Triomphe.

OK, Arc de Triomphe.

Closing your eyes and hoping for the best.

It's not the best. I'm sorry, it's the Pont Neuf.

As you seemed to know, CJ.

I've seen a lovely documentary about it.

So we end the round there.

CJ's got two out of two.

Two slip-ups there, Alison, which means you won't be

playing in the final round. Would you both please rejoin your teams?

OK, first blood to the Eggheads.

Our next round is Geography. Who'd like to play this one?

Can't be you, Alison. Any of the other four.

-Dave.

-Dave?

-OK? Who do you want to play? Judith or Chris?

Judith?

-Judith.

-Judith, please.

OK, David and Judith.

The subject is Geography.

Please take your positions in the Question Room.

David, do you want to go first or second?

First, please, Dermot.

OK, Geography. Here's your question. Salzburg is a city in which country?

Salzburg is a city in which country?

I've been to Vienna... It is Austria.

You'd have to have been to Vienna, being one of the Harry Limes!

You couldn't be wrong. It's the right answer, Austria.

OK, Judith.

What is the capital of Venezuela?

What's the capital of Venezuela?

That is Caracas.

Yes, it is, Caracas. One each.

OK, David. Isabela and Santa Cruz are islands in which volcanic Pacific archipelago?

I don't think it's the Galapagos Islands.

I think it's Hawaii.

Hawaii...

It is the Galapagos Islands.

So the same as Alison, getting the second one wrong.

Gives the Egghead the chance to take the lead.

Judith, what's the official currency of Switzerland?

They famously stay out of the Euro, don't they? Like us. Wisely.

-I think it's the Swiss franc.

-I love the way you say "you think".

This WOULD fall to you. How many accounts have you got there?

-Well, I'm not an illegal currency operator.

-It's perfectly legal.

But nice and secure, isn't it?

Or is it Liechtenstein for you?

That IS illegal, isn't it?

Switzerland used to be illegal, and so did Liechtenstein.

It's not illegal to keep your money offshore,

-only if you don't declare it.

-Oh, right.

You can keep it anywhere you like in the world.

You've got to tell the Inland Revenue.

I've only got Pounds and Euros.

The official currency of Switzerland is, yes, the Swiss Franc.

Puts you in the lead. David, you've got to get this.

Somalia is bordered by Djibouti, Ethiopia and which other country?

I'm not sure...

I don't think it's Kenya.

I think it's Angola.

Angola. I'm afraid it's not. It's Kenya.

A carbon copy of the last round

in terms of the pattern of scoring and the end result.

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

Come back and join your teams.

OK, Harry Lime, a bit of bad luck with those first two rounds.

Two more to go, therefore it could be all square in the final round.

For now, you've lost two brains from the final round. The Eggheads haven't lost any.

Let's play our next round. This subject is Food & Drink.

Who'd like to play?

Can't be David or Alison.

Vernon, Bill or Travis?

It's Verne, and can we take on Kevin, please?

Aha!

-Nice change(!)

-What a surprise(!)

-They know you so well.

OK, let's have Vernon and Kevin into the Question Room, please.

OK, Vernon, let's see if you can get a bit better with the luck.

Would you like to go first or second?

I'd like to go first, please, Dermot.

As you've identified, this is far from Kevin's strongest subject.

In fact, it's by far your weakest subject.

-I think that's a fair assumption, yes.

-OK.

Good luck, Vernon. First question...

Who was the original host of the TV cooking show, MasterChef?

Don't feel as though it's Ainsley Harriott.

I'm going to go for Loyd Grossman.

Loyd Grossman.

Electrified Harry Lime there,

your other team-mates. It's the right answer. Loyd Grossman.

Well worked out, Vernon.

Could have been tricky. OK, Kevin.

In terms of volume, a standard tablespoon is equal to how many teaspoons?

I don't think it's as many...

So one doesn't make sense.

I don't think it's as many as nine. It must be three.

OK. Yeah, of course it is. The right answer.

Funnily enough, I actually thought it was five.

-Ah, I see!

-So there we are.

-Just as well that wasn't sudden-death!

-It was, yeah!

Teaspoon's 5ml, tablespoon's 15.

Yeah. So, three times, there we are.

5ml and 15, the exact measures there from Judith.

OK. Vernon, Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune

are regions in which wine-growing area of France?

Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune

are regions in which wine-growing area of France?

I'm fairly sure they're both reds.

Champagne is not famous for reds to my knowledge.

So, Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune...

I'm always surprised when I look at the label

to see where things are actually from.

You manage to look at the label?

It's always gone before I get round to looking at the label!

You've got the wrong friends!

And it's a gue... It's not a guess, it's a feeling that it is Bordeaux.

OK.

Reds, Bordeaux.

It's not. They're burgundies.

Regions in Burgundy. There we go again, second question.

No members of Harry Lime have got their second question right yet.

But you've got Kevin there,

who's been at sixes and sevens in this category over the last few days and weeks.

So there might be another chance.

Cawl, a stew or broth often made with lamb or bacon,

is a traditional dish of which country of the UK?

Having just recently been in Wales, I hope it's Wales.

Did you have any cawl?

I can't remember. I went to a banquet at Cardiff Castle...

-Judith's place?

-..just about a week ago... Well, one of them.

I went there about a week ago and we had various Welsh delicacies

in the course of this banquet,

including things like laver bread and all that sort of thing.

I think we did actually have some cawl thrown in there,

but there was so much going on... Anyway, I will go for Wales.

Yeah, got the right answer. Two to you. You have to get this, Vernon.

What name is given to the cut of venison or other meat consisting of the back leg and loin?

The saddle is presumably where the saddle on a horse would go,

so that would be the back.

I'll go for shank.

The name given to the cut of venison or other meat

consisting of the back leg and loin...

is haunch.

You will not be playing in the final round, Vernon.

Kevin, you've won the round. You'll be playing.

Please rejoin your teams.

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

The Eggheads haven't lost any.

Next category today is Sport, the last before the head-to-head.

Who'd like to play this one? Has to be Bill or Travis.

-That will be me.

-Bill.

OK, Bill. Who would you like to play from the Eggheads?

I'm going to take on Chris.

Good, right. You wanna play Chris at Sport. You can.

Both, please take your positions in the Question Room.

Bill, would you like to go first or second?

I would like to go second, please.

OK, changing it around. We guarantee it won't be the same pattern

as the previous three rounds! Eggheads go first.

Chris, where did Manchester City Football Club play their home games

until the end of the 2003 season?

Where did Manchester City play their home games

until the end of the 2003 season?

That was at Maine Road.

Maine Road is the right answer, Chris.

And they play now at...?

-Manchester City Stadium.

-City of Manchester Stadium.

-Some new stadium up Openshaw way, I think.

-It's also called Eastlands.

Yeah, Eastlands, OK. First question to you then, Bill.

How many times did Tim Henman reach the Wimbledon singles semi-finals?

How many times did Tim Henman reach the Wimbledon singles semi-finals?

It certainly wasn't six.

That leaves two or four.

I think he reached the semi-final just twice.

-Two?

-Yeah.

-I suppose you're...

as a betting-shop manager, you're sad he retired,

took a lot of patriotic bets?

We certainly did and it's still coming in for Andy Murray,

so bring it on!

Tim Henman, Wimbledon singles semi-finals...

four times. Four times.

Right, Chris, second question.

Which cricketer scored his 39th Test century in January 2008?

Brian Lara's a very prolific run-scorer,

but I think he's semi-retired now.

I don't think it was Ricky Ponting either.

I don't think he's a very prolific goal...

Goalscorer! Run-scorer.

So I think it's Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar is the right answer. Two to you.

Bill, let's get you off the mark.

What is the final event in the Olympic heptathlon?

What's the final event in the Olympic heptathlon?

The DEC-athlon is 1,500 metres.

But we're talking HEPT-athlon.

So I think, again not 100% sure, it's the 800 metres.

Yes, it is. The right answer. 800 metres, final event

-in the heptathlon.

-Hallelujah!

But Chris has a chance to clinch it.

-Chris, in sweep-rowing events, what name is given to the rower nearest the cox?

In sweep-rowing events, what name for the rower nearest the cox?

He's the one they can all see from behind when they're going backwards.

He takes the stroke from the cox, so he's known as the stroke.

The stroke is the right answer, Chris. You've won the round.

Bill, you won't play in the final round.

Please come and rejoin your teams.

Bill, I mentioned there the betting-shop operation.

What's the biggest day of the year?

Still the Grand National?

-Very much so.

-By what proportion above all other events is the Grand National?

I'd say about six or seven times a normal Saturday.

After the Grand National, what's the next biggest?

-Always horses?

-Cheltenham Festival.

-Are you allowed to bet?

-Not with us. But with other people, yeah.

OK, this is what we've been playing towards, the final round. As always, it's General Knowledge.

But those of you who lost your head-to-heads

won't be allowed to take part in this round.

So, Alison, Vernon, Bill and David from Harry Lime,

please leave the studio.

So, Travis, you're playing to win Harry Lime £3,000.

Judith, Kevin, CJ, Daphne and Chris,

you're playing for something which money can't buy, the Eggheads' reputation.

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

This time, the questions are all General Knowledge.

Just to confirm that to you, Travis. And you are allowed to confer,

and I'm afraid that only applies to the Eggheads.

Travis, is your one brain better than the Eggheads' five?

And Travis, would you like to go first or second?

I'll go first, please.

OK, good luck, Travis.

First question to you, then. What is the name of the 2,800-acre Californian ranch

bought by Michael Jackson in 1988?

What's the name of the 2,800-acre Californian ranch

bought by Michael Jackson in 1988?

They're all three fictional names.

Neverland is also the name of his ranch.

-Neverland.

-Neverland? Yep, that's the right answer.

Good start, Travis.

Neverland.

Eggheads, which British actor who starred in 1997 film Nil By Mouth

won 80 of his 88 fights as an amateur welterweight boxer?

Which British actor who starred in the 1997 film Nil By Mouth

won 80 of his 88 fights as an amateur welterweight boxer?

That would be Ray Winstone.

It is Ray Winstone, yes.

Former boxer.

OK, second question, Travis.

The Trooping the Colour ceremony,

which publicly celebrates the sovereign's official birthday

and dates back in its present form to the mid-18th century,

takes place in which month?

Trooping the Colour,

celebrating the sovereign's official birthday

and dating back in its present form to the mid-18th century,

takes place in which month?

It used to take place on the real birthday

but the birthday turned out to be February one year

and the weather was so bad

that the King decided to move it into a warmer month, and they chose June.

June.

There it is, Trooping the Colour is in June.

Full answer, correct as well.

OK, Eggheads,

you're behind. This is your second question.

What does the Latin phrase "Dei gratia" mean?

What does the Latin phrase "Dei gratia" mean?

That's "By the Grace of God".

-You hope?

-No. We know.

-Some of us did Latin.

-Ah.

Some of us were old enough to speak it originally.

"Dei gratia" means "By the Grace of God".

It's the right answer, Eggheads, two to you.

OK, Travis.

In the Bible, which sense does Saul lose on the road to Damascus?

He was struck blind, so he lost his sight.

He did, that's correct. So, three for Travis. It hasn't gone well

in the head-to-heads,

it's going well in the final round for Harry Lime.

That could win it if you don't get this, Eggheads.

Which word describes the practice of creating and reading codes?

Which word describes the practice of creating and reading codes?

That would be cryptology.

-Fascinating, isn't it?

-It is. It's the right answer, Eggheads.

We go, for the first time in this game, to sudden death.

OK, Travis, that means you don't get any choices now.

I've just got to hear an answer.

Which Canadian-born media tycoon

was given a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence in December 2007

for criminal fraud and obstructing justice?

Which Canadian-born media tycoon was given a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence in December 2007

for criminal fraud and obstructing justice?

That was Conrad Black.

It was Conrad Black. That's correct, Travis.

Pressure back on the Eggheads.

Which veteran British rocker was crowned Beard of the Year

in 2007 after his band re-formed for a one-off concert

in honour of Atlantic Records' co-founder Ahmet Ertegun?

Which veteran British rocker was crowned Beard of the Year

in 2007 after his band re-formed for a one-off concert

in honour of Atlantic Records' co-founder Ahmet Ertegun?

-Is the band Led Zeppelin?

-That certainly occurred to me.

That's the first thing. I'm just trying to think if they re-formed because of Ertegun.

-Say it out loud.

-Led Zeppelin.

Which bands re-formed last year? It was a one-off performance.

-Yeah.

-Led Zeppelin did one.

-Yeah, and then they had...John Bonham's son was the drummer.

-Yeah.

Who are the three original members of Led Zeppelin? I don't know.

Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham. Well...

Robert Plant's the singer.

He never used to have a beard,

but Led Zeppelin was the first thing that occurred to me.

-Do you know if Jimmy Page ever had a beard?

-I don't.

I don't recall Robert Plant ever having a beard, but...

-We're assuming it is Led Zeppelin.

-Yes.

-It might not be.

I can't think of anybody else.

-We probably have to hedge our bets and go for Robert Plant.

-I think so.

-We don't know it.

-I need an answer, Eggheads.

-Shall we...?

-Yeah. Shall we go for that?

-What's your answer?

The only band we can think of that re-formed for just one performance

is Led Zeppelin. And out of those, we are going to go for Robert Plant.

-Robert Plant.

-Yes.

-We're hoping it's him, not Jimmy Page.

It is the right answer, Eggheads.

-Robert Plant.

-Well done.

I'm astonished you didn't...

-Ahmet Ertegun, as well.

-Yes, that's the first thing...

The whole re-forming was in his honour. It should've led you straight to Led Zep.

-I couldn't visualise Plant with a beard.

-We got to Led Zeppelin.

-Eventually.

-No!

-The prize was presented by the Beard Liberation Front.

It was designed to highlight those who promote a positive image of hirsuteness in the public arena.

-Do you know who was second? Beard of the Year?

-It wasn't you, was it?

-Rafa Benitez.

And Monty Panesar in third.

YOU were nearly second there. After cruising through

the head-to-heads, it just goes to show the vagaries of Eggheads.

But we continue.

Nearly did it there, Travis.

Another question for you, Travis.

In 1998, which man, now a TV presenter,

became the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest and return alive?

In 1998, which man, now a TV presenter,

became the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest and return alive?

The only man I know that does things like that's Ben Fogle.

-Is that your answer, Travis?

-Yes, it'll have to be.

-Ben Fogle.

Intrepid TV presenter.

It's not the right answer, Travis. It's not Ben Fogle.

-It could've been yours, Eggheads. Do you know?

-Is it Bear Grylls?

-Yes.

OK, the answer is Bear Grylls, not Ben Fogle.

So you have a chance, Eggheads, to win the round

after that agonising question the last time round.

You did manage to get Robert Plant in the end. Can you get this?

Which architect designed the Gherkin,

more formally known as the Swiss Re Tower, or 30 St Mary Axe, in London?

Which architect designed the Gherkin,

more formally known as the Swiss Re Tower, or 30 St Mary Axe, in London?

-It's Norman Foster or Richard Rogers.

-It's one of the two.

-Either Foster or Rogers.

I think it's Foster because of the elegance of it. It's more his style.

-I think it's Foster, too.

-He did the British Museum.

-Hold on, just give it a second.

-THEY DISCUSS FURTHER

-More disarray!

-They do this one-upmanship. What was the last major thing in London...?

Too many of the Eggheads got through to the final round!

-But it's his style.

-Is it?

-If you think of the British Museum roof

-and what the Gherkin looks like...

-Oh, fine, yes, OK.

-So...?

-You want to go for Foster?

-Yeah. OK.

We believe it's Norman Foster.

-Normally, you tell me it IS. You just "believe"?

-No, no.

It sounds cocky when you say, "It is."

-Also, we've lost our nerve completely.

-Lost your nerve, yeah?

-DERMOT LAUGHS

Even if you get this wrong, you won't lose the game.

Norman Foster, you think, designed the Gherkin.

The architect of the Gherkin is...

Sir Norman Foster. Correct, Eggheads. You've won.

Travis, bad luck there. Honour completely restored in that final round.

I've seen Bear Grylls' name.

I thought it was something to do with food and drink, so I left it alone.

-DERMOT LAUGHS

-Thought it was some kind of exotic cookery programme, did you?

He does quite a lot of bush cookery too,

but that was the one that caught you out. Bear Grylls

and Everest. But great quizzing there on your own, Travis.

A pity those head-to-heads went against the others in Harry Lime.

Thanks very much for playing here today, guys.

But the Eggheads have done what comes naturally.

They still reign supreme over quizland.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £3,000,

so the money rolls over to our next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Who will beat you?

Join us again to see if the new challengers have the brains to defeat the Eggheads.

£4,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye.

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