Episode 89 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 challenging our resident quiz champions today are Melody's People.

The team are family and friends from the Ark Church in York,

and amongst the many congregational activities they take part in,

quizzing and the Swedish game of kubb are two of the most popular.

Let's meet them.

I'm Stephen. I'm 48 years old, and I'm a minister.

Hello, I'm Melody. I'm 18 and I'm an A-level student.

Hi, I'm Calvin. I'm 52 and I'm a property renovator.

Hi, I'm Pauline. I'm 44 and I'm a teacher.

Hi, I'm Paul. I'm 26, and I'm a mature student.

So, Stephen, kubb, I'm told, is horseshoes and chess combined.

Well, whoever told you that didn't research it very well.

You throw the horseshoe at a chess piece?

You throw sticks at blocks, really, and it's just great fun.

There's a lot of skill.

There's a lot of excitement, and all the family can do it.

And is this going on in the church in the morning?

Well, probably not. We try to discourage it.

While I'm preaching, I try to discourage it.

You're the father of Melody. Melody, you're working hard at school.

-And your name is given to the team, right?

-Yes.

-Melody's People.

-I can't help it. They just love me so much!

Let's see whether the love survives the afternoon.

Every day, there is £1,000 worth of 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, Melody's People, the Eggheads have won the last five games,

which means £6,000 says you can't beat them.

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

Challengers, you get to choose which one of you plays against

which Egghead. Tell us. Geography.

Calvin, this looks like you're on first.

-Lamb to the slaughter.

-Absolutely.

You look as if you want to vanish into the floor.

-I do, I do! Dreading the first one.

-You can do it.

You've got all five Eggheads to choose from.

Which Egghead is looking like he's got, or she's got, a thin shell?

-Judith, I think.

-Judith?

-Yes.

-Looks like we're going for Judith.

-I've got a very thin shell. Very fragile.

-Yes.

Let's see if it breaks.

It's Calvin from Melody's People versus Judith from the Eggheads,

and to ensure there's no conferring,

would you please take your positions in the question room?

Would you like the first set of questions or the second set on geography, Calvin?

I'll go first and get it over and done with.

Calvin, Oporto is the second largest city in which country?

Oporto is the second largest city in which country?

The sound of the word sounds more Spanishy,

so I won't say it's in Belgium.

I think I'm going to go with Portugal.

Yeah, I'll go with Portugal.

That's the right answer.

When you said, "It sounds more Spanishy",

I just more or less assumed you would say Spain.

No. When I said "Spanishy",

it means anywhere in that sort of neck of the...

-Anywhere near Spain?

-Yes.

-OK.

-Portugal and Spain run together, don't they? So...

You use this kind of logic when you play kubb?

Yes. But you can't do it that way. You've got to throw sticks.

First blood to you.

Judith, anything could happen in this round, I'm sensing.

What is the capital of Canada, Judith?

Well, it's definitely not Winnipeg.

And Quebec is the French bit. I think it's Ottawa.

You're quite right. It is Ottawa. One point apiece.

Calvin...

The Bonneville Salt Flats, often used to set many land speed records,

are a feature of which US state?

Well, I would say definitely not New York.

There's too much water on New York.

So it's either Massachusetts or Utah.

My gut feeling is Utah, so I'm going to go with Utah.

Your gut feeling is spot on. It is Utah.

Your question, Judith.

In which Italian region is the city of Naples?

Well...

Venice is in the Veneto.

Florence is in Tuscany. So Naples is in Campania.

Judith, you're quite right. It is in Campania.

Next question to you, Calvin.

The Mariana Trench, the deepest known part of the earth's crust,

is formed where the Pacific tectonic plate meets which other?

I'll read the question again for you.

The Mariana Trench, the deepest known part of the earth's crust,

is formed where the Pacific tectonic plate meets which other?

Well, if it's in the Pacific, then it can't be Caribbean,

cos Caribbean's over towards the Atlantic side.

So I think I'm going to go with the Philippine Plate,

is that how you pronounce it?

It's the right answer, Calvin. Well done.

Yeah!

You've got the church folk very excited here.

Singing and dancing in the aisles.

So, Judith, if you fail here, you're not in the final round. No pressure.

Barranquilla is a major port on the Caribbean

for which South American country?

Well, I don't think Ecuador has a port. It's on the Pacific side.

And I think that's the same for Colombia, as well.

I think it's probably Guyana, which IS on the Caribbean.

-Your answer is Guyana?

-Yeah.

-Your answer is wrong.

-What?!

-It's Colombia.

-Oh, no!

-Bother!

-Well done to Melody's People.

-Yeah!

Good on you, Calvin! You won three.

You took on one of the Eggheads. You emerged triumphant.

Good news for you guys,

as it means you'll be able to play Calvin in today's final round.

Congratulations.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

So, as it stands, the challengers have not lost any brains from the final round,

but the Eggheads have lost one brain.

The next subject is music.

Who from the challengers will be playing our music round,

and who do you want to play against?

-Music has to be Melody.

-Yeah.

-Got to.

That's what you get when you have Melody as a name!

There's no other way, is there?

Music, Melody. Now, take that over to the Eggheads.

-Who's got the most musical name of that lot?

-Melody against Daphne?

-Yeah.

-Melody against Daphne.

Daphne, it's going to be you. Daphne from the Eggheads versus

Melody from Melody's People.

To ensure there's no conferring,

would you please take your positions in the question room?

-So, Melody, how are you feeling?

-I'm feeling slightly nervous,

but I'm hoping I'll do OK and won't let my team down.

We're going to have three questions for you.

Multiple choice, as you know,

and you do get to choose the first or the second set of questions.

I think I'll do the same as Calvin,

and go first to get them out of the way.

Here we go, Melody. Which American record producer

and founding member of the gangster rap group NWA

was born Andre Young on February 18th, 1965?

Well, Andre Young, from hearing that, you'd think Dr Dre.

Ooh, I'd best get this one right, otherwise my friends won't be happy.

I think I will go for Dr Dre.

Spot on. It is Dr Dre.

Well done.

Chris, you would have got that.

-He's one of your favourites.

-Possibly!

Well, deconstruct the question, Andre...yeah, "Dre" in the middle.

Yeah, so it's gotta work, hasn't it? As for the music, uh-uh!

Here we go, Daphne, first question to you.

The Worst Pies In London is a song from which stage musical?

My favourite form of music, musicals.

Love them. Sweeney Todd.

It IS Sweeney Todd. Well done, Daphne.

One point apiece.

Melody, I Fought the Law and the Law Won and Rock the Casbah

were UK hit singles for which group?

My dad would know this one, I know.

I've only heard the remix of those songs, but, um...

Well, my dad's had a bit of the Sex Pistols on in the house...

LAUGHTER

-He's a bit of a fan of them.

-This is your dad, the vicar?

-Yes, yes.

-OK!

I don't know. Part of me thinks The Clash.

I think I'll go for The Clash, yes, The Clash.

You're going for The Clash.

Probably before you were born, but you're right. Well done.

So you were born in 1990?

-Yes, I was.

-And we're talking here, what, Stephen? '77?

-78, '77, I think, yeah.

-Hey, well done, Melody. You got it.

-Thank you.

-Two points to you.

Daphne, "I guess now it's time for me to give up"

is the opening line of which Take That single?

Jeremy, I have no idea.

I've never listened to them. I really have no idea.

Could you say the first line again, see if it lights any fires?

The opening line, which I'm not singing,

"I guess now it's time for me to give up".

It's a Take That single.

I'm so sorry, team. Babe.

You think it's Babe?

Yeah. I told you, I haven't got a clue.

-You're joking. You haven't got a clue? We can't tell.

-No.

-It's Back For Good. You're wrong.

-I told you!

Melody...

Sing it to us. I bet you know the song.

I'm not going to sing...

Oh, I love that song, though. That used to be my ringtone.

I wish I'd got that question.

All my friends will laugh at me now, cos they know it's true.

What's your ringtone, Daphne?

I haven't got one.

It just sort of makes a noise, and I answer it.

On that basis, Melody, you ought to win this round.

Question three for you and you could do it if you get this one right.

Who composed the music for the one-act opera Salome,

first performed in 1905?

-Definitely before you were born.

-Yes!

I can picture the poster for it in my head right now,

with the woman stood on the front. Erm...

I'm going to say Richard Strauss, at a guess.

-That's your answer?

-Yes, that's my answer.

Bang on, Melody!

Well done. Well done!

You pictured the poster.

What is that, a famous Klimt picture or something, is it?

The Salome poster.

Yeah, it's all sort of fin de siecle Vienna, yeah.

Somebody doing the Dance of the Seven Veils.

-Yeah, well done, Melody.

-Thank you.

Melody, you took on one of the Eggheads, you emerged triumphant.

Very good news for our challengers,

cos it means that you will be able to play in today's final round.

Congratulations.

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Melody, that caused great excitement.

-Well done.

-Thank you.

The challengers have not lost any brains from the final round,

the Eggheads have lost two brains.

The next subject is Film and Television. Right?

So which one of you wants to try and do that?

Pauline, you're nodding.

Mrs Redman, I think this is your call.

Who do you want to take on?

Er, Kevin. What do you think, Steve?

Can't be Judith, can't be Daphne.

Chris. Chris?

Go on. Have a go.

-Did I hear Chris?

-Yes, Chris.

So it's Pauline from Melody's People,

Melody's mum, in fact, versus Chris from the Eggheads.

To ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

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

I think I'll have the first. I'll go with the team pattern.

Serving you well so far.

Your first question, Pauline.

Who played the title role

in the award-winning 1970s TV series I, Claudius?

Erm, hmmm, I should remember this.

I think it's Derek Jacobi.

That's my gut instinct.

Erm, Derek Jacobi is the one that springs to mind,

-so that's my answer.

-And it's the right answer.

Well done.

Chris, from which town does Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional character Ali G hail?

AS ALI G: Here on de Staines massive.

Staines.

Definitely the Staines massive. Well done, Chris.

I think you're probably a fan of his, are you?

Not particularly, no, but he amuses me.

Very funny. Question two for you, Pauline.

In which 1988 film

does most of the action take place in the Nakatomi building?

Right. I know there's that bit at the end of The Terminator

where they're all in a big building,

and they're in a big building in Aliens,

and they're in a building in Die Hard,

so it's going to be one of those three, definitely.

Erm...

I think it's Die Hard.

Where'd you get that from?

Process of elimination.

Served you well. It is Die Hard. Well done.

Chris, what was the occupation of the character Inch High according to the title of the 1970s cartoon show?

Hanna-Barbera cartoons are one of my areas of expertise,

and he was Inch High Private Eye.

-Private eye.

-He was indeed. He was a private eye.

So question three for you.

Very high scoring team you challengers are today.

Pauline, in the 1970s, who played the role of Leela,

a companion of the Doctor in the TV series Doctor Who?

Now, I actually know this, because I remember hiding behind the sofa

in the '70s when the Daleks were on,

and it was just fantastic stuff, and it was Elisabeth Sladen.

Elisabeth Sladen is your answer.

-It's wrong, though.

-Is it?

-It was Louise Jameson.

-Louise Jameson.

I'm just a decade out, you know.

I'm a bit older than I think I am, that's the problem.

Elisabeth Sladen was Sarah Jane.

Don't worry. You're not out yet.

Chris, your third question for the round.

In which film does Strother Martin say to Paul Newman,

"What we got here is failure to communicate"?

Well, it's not The Sting,

and I don't think it's The Hustler, cos that's about pool.

I think it's a prison drama, and it's Cool Hand Luke.

-The hard-boiled eggs.

-Chris, you're correct. It's Cool Hand Luke.

Well done, Chris. Pauline, you were beaten by our Egghead.

As a result you won't be able to help your team in the final round.

-Oh, too bad.

-Too bad.

But please both come back now and join your team-mates.

So as it stands, the challengers

have lost one brain from the final round,

whilst the Eggheads have lost two brains, and we've also had Chris's impression of Ali G.

So it's going well. The last subject is History.

Who from the challengers will be playing in this round,

and who would you like to take on? Stephen or Paul? History.

-What do you reckon?

-I think you ought to do it.

-I think you ought to do it, Paul.

-Sacrifice myself?

-It isn't your specialist subject...

-We were hoping sport would turn up.

-Lamb to the slaughter.

-Go on, then.

-I'll be a lamb. I'll go for History.

-And who do you want to play?

-CJ.

-CJ or Kevin?

CJ, please.

CJ on history.

Well, I would have been a lamb to the slaughter had it been sport.

So it's Paul from Melody's People against CJ from the Eggheads,

and to ensure there's no conferring,

would you please both take your positions in the question room?

OK, History is the subject.

Three questions, multiple choice, as you know, and I can ask you now

whether you want the first or the second set of questions, Paul.

I'll stick with the first. Thank you.

The Aztec civilisation was primarily based in which modern-day country?

Ancient Egypt was one of my favourite topics at primary school,

and it's definitely not that.

It's not Argentina, either.

The answer is Mexico.

Delivered with great conviction.

You're right. You're right. Well done, Paul.

CJ, in World War One and World War Two,

a depth charge was a weapon used specifically

against what type of vehicle?

They were designed to sink down and explode at a certain depth,

and they were used against submarines.

Quite right, they were. Question two, Paul.

Which English naval victory was commemorated with a medal

bearing a legend which can be translated as "God blew and they were scattered"?

I'm honestly not sure. My dad's a big history fan.

One of our techniques for our burglar alarm is to have different battles as our codes.

So on that logic alone,

we had Trafalgar as one of them, so I will pick that.

But it is really a stab in the dark.

I'm worried that someone's trying to break into your house now...

-It's not that any more!

-..with famous historical dates!

But I'm sorry, you're wrong. It was the Spanish Armada.

Eggheads, chance to take the lead in this round.

In which country in 1492

was the last Moorish kingdom in Europe conquered?

Ah, this is a bit trickier.

I mean, obviously, there were great Moorish communities in Spain.

Um...

I can't imagine it was Italy.

I think it would have to be Spain or Portugal.

I mean, simply because there was a great Moorish presence in Spain,

that's what I'll go for.

You're right. Well done.

Two points to the Eggheads, one to the challengers.

Paul, you need this. Which British Field Marshall of World War II

was responsible for foiling the attempted Japanese invasion

of India in 1944, before going on to rout the Japanese again in Burma?

Once again, I'm not confident on this one.

I don't think it was Montgomery.

I think he was more European-based.

Leaves me a choice of two. I'll go with Harding.

Your logic started right,

but then it failed you, I'm afraid. It was Slim.

So, Paul, you were beaten

by our Egghead. As a result,

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

Would you both please come back and join your teams?

Well, Melody's People, you started strongly

and then the Eggheads found their range.

Keep the faith. This is what we've been playing towards.

It's time for the final round, which as always is general knowledge.

But I'm afraid those who lost your head to heads

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

So Pauline and Paul from Melody's People and Judith and Daphne

from the Eggheads, would you please now leave the studio?

Stephen, Melody and Calvin,

you are playing to win Melody's People £6,000.

Kevin, CJ and Chris, you are playing for something money can't buy,

the Eggheads' reputation.

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

This time the questions are all general knowledge

and you are allowed to confer. Melody's People, the question is,

are your three brains better than the Eggheads' three? So,

Stephen, Melody, Calvin, do you want to take the first set or the second?

-We'd like to go first?

-Yes.

-We'd like to go first.

That was working well as a strategy until it stopped working.

Let's see how you do now. Good luck.

From what is maple syrup derived?

-Well, definitely not beavers.

-Not beavers, no.

So is maple syrup from trees or flowers?

-It's trees.

-Is that because it's a maple tree you're saying that?

-I think it's trees.

-I believe it's trees.

-You think it's trees?

-Yes.

-It's what I've been led to believe.

-My Canadian friend would be proud.

Well, then, we will say that it's trees.

Melody, you haven't got anything wrong so far.

Trees is the correct answer. Well done.

I just love the image

of Canadian people running through the countryside catching beavers

and squeezing them to get the freshly squeezed beaver juice.

Let's not go there.

What name, Eggheads, is given to land surrounding an urban area

which is officially designated as not to be built on?

It might turn funny colours at other times of the year,

but normally it's green belt.

You're correct. One-all.

Challengers,

an "emmet", an informal West Country term for a holiday-maker,

is an old word for what?

Could we have the spelling please?

Emmet is spelt E, M, M, E, T.

Well, holiday-maker...

Ants or wasp?

I suppose when the holiday-makers are covering the beaches,

-they're like ants on the beach maybe.

-Yeah, maybe.

You don't think it's a wasp then?

-No.

-You're the one wearing yellow.

I ain't got the black stripes though.

-No.

-True.

-Erm...

I think I'll go along on the theory of ants on the beach.

We're going to go with the ants.

-You're going with the ant?

-Mmm.

-Right answer.

-Yes!

-Well done.

I like the idea that

because somebody is wearing a yellow shirt,

it can't be wasps. OK, Eggheads, your second question.

What is the literal meaning of pomodoro,

the Italian word for tomato?

What is the literal meaning of pomodoro,

the Italian word for tomato?

-OK, do you agree with that?

-Golden apple.

-Yep.

-Er, golden apple, Jeremy.

Kevin, you're quite right. It is golden apple. Well done.

Two points apiece. Eggheads and challengers neck and neck.

Pressure's on.

Your third multiple choice question.

In which month is the classic horse race the St Leger

traditionally run?

In which month is the classic horse race

the St Leger traditionally run?

Well, I should know this cos I used to work in Doncaster,

-but I really don't.

-It's over sticks, innit?

-Yeah?

So flat races are between... they're run in the summer months.

-Right.

-Being over the sticks,

and Doncaster's got sticks,

and it's the latter part of the season, so it's got to be

the first one of the three choices we've been given.

What's your thinking here?

What I'm thinking is, it's over the sticks, as they call 'em,

so therefore, that's...

The flat season runs on the summer months

and over the winter months you get the sticks season

and the St Leger's one of the sticks from what I can remember.

Or is it a flat race? Oh, now I've confused meself.

Well, other than the connection with Doncaster I haven't a clue, so...

Well, I'm just trying to think if it's flat or... No, no.

You seemed to think it was June, didn't you?

I'm almost sure it's June, Steve.

-Are you trying to talk yourself out of what you know?

-No, I, I...

Well, what else happens...

what happens in those months, sporting events? Think.

The thing is, you get the Grand National, don't you?

Which is sticks. And then, is it Ascot next?

When did the Ascot come to York?

-Exactly.

-Oh, I don't know.

-It was...

-Which is a flat race.

-It was...

-I think if we say something other than

your first thought, we will regret it.

-I'll go along with that.

-Can you remember what his first thought was?

-June.

-We thought June.

-That's your answer?

-It is our answer.

It's wrong. September.

Did you get it the wrong way round, Calvin, there?

Yeah. It's the first race at sticks.

It's a flat race.

It's the latter one of the flat races at the end of the season.

Out of the five classics, the St Leger is the oldest, the longest

-and the latest in the year.

-Your question, Eggheads,

-to take the contest. Filippo Brunelleschi...

-Oh, of course.

Was a leading... You don't know what the question is yet, CJ!

Filippo Brunelleschi was a leading Renaissance figure in which field?

He... Well, primarily an architect, Jeremy.

Designed the dome of Florence cathedral.

That's his most famous achievement.

You believe he was an architect?

-Well, yeah... Know he was an architect.

-He was!

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

Commiserations, challengers. You started so strongly.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them

and their winning streak continues.

I'm afraid you won't be going home with the £6,000,

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.

£7,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye.

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