Episode 93 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.

Challenging our resident quiz champions today are...

The team all work together at the same holiday company in Wigan,

which specialises in coach trips to Europe.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Phillipa, I'm 38 and I'm a Product Co-ordinator.

Hi, I'm Matt, I'm 28 and I'm an Administration Manager.

Hi, I'm Sue, I'm 45 and I'm a Brochure Production Administrator.

Hi, I'm Paul, I'm 29 and I'm a Brochure Production Manager.

Hi, I'm Sharon, I'm 31 and I'm a Product Co-ordinator.

So welcome, Getaway Gang.

-Thank you.

-Hello.

-Hi.

Coach trips around Europe?

-And the UK, yes.

-Yeah. Popular...

-for Wigan?

-Very popular, from all over the country.

We pick up and take, so very popular with our customers, yes.

I'm noticing a musical theme, because we've got Arctic Monkeys on the end, Sharon.

-Yes.

-Then next to you is Paul,

who's managed to get into punk, even though you're only 29.

29, yeah.

Then, Sue, you're a fan of Rash.

Yes.

-You can work together despite all that?

-Oh, yeah.

Let's see how you do.

Every day there is £1,000 worth of cash up for grabs for our challengers.

If they fail to defeat the Eggheads, the prize money rolls over to the next show.

So, Getaway Gang,

the Eggheads have won the last nine games,

which means £10,000 says you can't beat them.

The first head-to-head battle will be on Film & Television.

Challengers, which one of you wants to play?

Against which Egghead?

-Matt, are you gonna take that?

-I don't mind taking that.

-OK, Matt.

-Um...

You've got them all to choose from. Film & TV.

OK, I think I'm gonna take Chris.

So it's Matt, from the Getaway Gang, versus Chris,

from the Eggheads. To ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the Question Room.

Matt, you're playing Chris.

It's multiple choice, three questions, you can choose the first or the second set.

I think I'm gonna go first.

Matt, what was the title of the 2008 TV series

whose prizes were roles as Nancy and Oliver in a West End production of Oliver?

I remember it being on television, but I don't remember watching it.

Consider Yourself doesn't appeal.

I don't remember that being the name of a programme,

neither do It's a Fine Life. So I think we'll go for I'd Do Anything.

I'd Do Anything is the right answer. Well done, Matt!

Chris, your first question - in which 1986 film

did Anthony Edwards play a character nicknamed Goose?

Ah, well, Splash was Daryl Hannah as a mermaid,

so it's not Splash.

Don't think Dirty Dancing was '86.

Goose is the sort of nickname that a trainee fighter pilot might acquire,

so I'll say it was Top Gun, alongside Tom Cruise.

Quite right. It was Top Gun.

One point each.

Matt, who was the director of the 1984 film A Nightmare on Elm Street?

1984, a bit early for me.

But I remember Wes Craven did A Nightmare on Elm Street, I think.

So I'm gonna go for Wes Craven.

You seem not to have clue and then suddenly you knew the answer!

How did that happen?

I don't know. Pulled it out from somewhere.

Unforgettable film. You're quite right, it was Wes Craven.

Chris, by what colloquial name

are the German Film Academy Awards known?

Haven't got a clue on this one, Jeremy.

I don't think it'd be Mias or Lolas.

But sort of hangover from the days of the Kaisers, I'd say Cesars.

So that'd be the answer.

Cesars is the answer you've given,

and it's the wrong one.

-It's Lolas.

-Oh, is it?

Sorry, Chris!

Here we are, Matt. You've got a chance now.

You get this, you've won the round.

In 1961, who became the first person to win the Best Actress Oscar

for a performance in a non-English speaking role?

This is a complete guess for me.

Catherine...I'm not really... I don't recall her at all.

The names Ingrid Bergman and Sophia Loren

are familiar to me, so it's a toss-up between those.

I'm gonna go for Sophia Loren as a guess.

Brilliant guess, you're right!

Congratulations, Matt!

I won't go back to you, Chris, for your question, cos you can't win the round now.

Not that I'm gloating on their behalf.

Well done, Matt. Would you both please come back and rejoin your team-mates.

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

whilst the challengers have lost none.

The next subject is Arts & Books.

Who from the challengers wants to play Arts & Books?

-Everyone says Sue straight away.

-Yes.

-That'll be me.

-And which Egghead?

You can't have Chris who's still looking very upset.

-Who do you think, Phillipa?

-I'm not sure.

Yes, I think I'll take CJ for that, thank you.

So, it is Sue from the Getaway Gang against

CJ from the Eggheads.

As usual no conferring. Please take your places in the Question Room.

We're all just admiring today's hairstyle, CJ.

This is first time I've been on TV with my hair totally natural.

Nothing in it, this is how it is always.

-We thought you had four people working on it earlier.

-That was only to try and tame it to THIS.

Let us know if a bird flies into it or anything.

I'll try.

Sue, good luck!

-Thank you.

-Multiple choice.

You choose whether you have the first or second set of questions.

I'd like to go first please, Jeremy.

Sue, what is the term for the angled stand that supports an artist's canvas?

Well, I know that a quill is what you would write with...

and scumble is a type of paint glaze, I think.

So, I'm going to go for easel.

Quite right. Of course it is easel.

Scumble is a paint glaze. I thought that was a made-up word.

You know that?

-Yes.

-OK, let's see if you can...

scumble CJ.

Your question, CJ. In Alice's Adventures In Wonderland,

who gradually disappears until only their grin is left?

We all keep hoping it'll be Daphne one of these days,

but in this one, it's the Cheshire Cat.

It is the Cheshire Cat.

He'll never get rid of me.

Well, you have got a lovely smile, Daphne.

Sue, your second question.

Moby Dick is an 1851 book by which author?

The strange thing is, I was reading about this book the other day.

And it's gone completely out of my head.

So, it's going to have to be a guess.

And I'm going to say...

..Sinclair Lewis.

You think it's Sinclair Lewis.

I'm sorry, it was Herman Melville,

who wrote Moby Dick.

CJ, here's your next question.

The Prelude,

first published in 1850, is an autobiographical poem

by which writer?

I hate poetry.

But...

just going on the dates here,

I think it's too late for Keats and Wordsworth.

I'll go for Tennyson, cos he was certainly writing at that time.

You're wrong, CJ. It was Wordsworth.

He's got you off the hook there, Sue.

Now can you press the advantage?

Your third multiple choice question.

In the title

of the bestselling children's book by Claire Freedman and Ben Cort,

what do aliens love?

Again, I should know this.

Having a small grandson I've been buying a lot of children's books.

But I don't think I've bought this one.

So, it's going to be another guess.

And I'm going to say...

underpants.

Great guess from the holiday company again.

It is underpants. Correct.

CJ, The Plough And The Stars

and Juno And The Paycock are plays by which Irish writer?

It's Sean O'Casey.

You're right, it is Sean O'Casey.

Which means that the scores are level after three questions each.

So we go to Sudden Death.

Sue, as you know, it's not multiple choice. You have to give us an answer please.

Your first question.

Which character, created by Enid Blyton,

is known as Oui-Oui in France?

Peter Rabbit.

It's Noddy. You're wrong,

it's not Peter Rabbit.

So this for the round, CJ.

Which famous Italian opera house,

built in 1778, is named after a medieval church

on whose grounds it is built?

Don't know it. I'll go for La Scala.

-Good guess, if it was a guess.

-Yes.

It looked like a guess from where I'm sitting.

It is la Scala, after Santa Maria della Scala.

So well done, CJ.

Sue, you were beaten by our Egghead in Sudden Death.

As a result, you will not be able to help your team in the final round.

Would you both come back and rejoin your team-mates.

As it stands, the challengers and the Eggheads

have lost one brain each from the final round.

The next subject is Sport.

Who from the challengers, the Getaway Gang, wants to play Sport?

-It looks like that's going to be myself.

-OK.

Phillipa, you're doing Sport against who?

-Judith.

-Judith, yeah.

Yeah, we're gonna go for Judith, please.

We know she enjoys that one.

You're too polite to say it.

So, it's Phillipa from the Getaway Gang against Judith

from the Eggheads. As usual with these rounds, no conferring.

Take your positions in the Question Room.

Phillipa, you choose whether it's the first or the second set you want.

OK, I'm going to go for the first set, please.

Phillipa, what call is made in tennis

if a serve clips the top of the net but lands within the service court?

I do enjoy watching Wimbledon, so...

I'm hoping I'm going to get the right answer here...

it's Let.

Quite right.

-You would have got that, Judith, wouldn't you?

-Yep.

In which sport can a provisional ball be played, after a bad shot has been made?

Well, I'm sure it's not golf.

I've never played squash or bowls or read the rules either.

So, it's either one of them.

I think it probably might be squash.

I think it's more likely than bowls.

You think it's squash?

It's more likely than bowls.

-It's not squash.

-It's bowls.

-It's not bowls.

-It's golf!

-It's golf.

-I don't believe it!

-I'm amazed.

-Second question to you, Phillipa.

Fernando Alonso moved to which Formula One team at the end of 2007?

Oh dear! OK. Fernando Alonso.

I was watching the Grand Prix only the other day,

and I should know this one.

I don't think it's McLaren...

and then I'm not sure on the other two.

I've got an inkling it's Ferrari, so I'll go for Ferrari, please.

You're wrong, it's Renault.

SHE GROANS

-Bloodcurdling sound there.

-He was with Renault,

moved to McLaren, fell out with Lewis Hamilton, moved back to Renault,

and looks as if he's going to leave them as well.

-So, he was never with Ferrari.

-No.

Judith, which tennis player appeared in the men's singles final

at Wimbledon seven times between 1985 and 1995?

I thought you were going to say Borg.

I'm all flummoxed now.

I think it's too early for Pete Sampras.

What did you say? '85 to '95?

'85 to '95.

I think it's probably Boris Becker.

I know that's as close to certainty as you ever get.

What did I say? I think.

We've lit it up. Boris Becker is your answer and...

it's the right answer.

So, one apiece and the third question now, Phillipa. Here we go.

Which football team knocked both Liverpool and Chelsea out of the FA Cup in 2008?

Being a Liverpool fan, I remember this game,

and I'm hoping I'm going to go for the right B and go for Barnsley.

I'm a Chelsea fan and I remember it too. You're right, it was Barnsley.

Judith, this is your third question.

If you don't get this right, then you're out of the final round.

Shane Gould, born in 1956, won five Olympic medals in which sport?

Um, Shane Gould. I've heard of his name. Oh deary, me.

I'm going to have a go at swimming.

You can picture him swimming, can you?

I can't picture him at all.

Well, that's cos Shane's a woman.

Oh, no!

LAUGHTER

But you've got the right answer.

Really? How did she spell her name?

S-H-A-N-E.

-Like the man?

-Like the man.

Well, that's lucky.

After three questions each, the scores are level.

We now go to Sudden Death and just to make it that bit harder,

-these questions I need an answer to. No multiple choice for you, Phillipa, here.

-OK.

In which year did Anita Lonsbrough win an Olympic gold medal for Britain

in the 200 metre breaststroke?

I go for 19...

..hold on...

..1996.

I had this sudden flash that you were gonna get the year...

spot-on, but you didn't. It's 1960.

Judith, for the round.

Which Colombian goalkeeper memorably performed a scorpion kick

in a friendly match against England in 1995?

I've absolutely not the first clue, so don't let's delay.

-Can you picture the kick?

-No.

I can picture what it might've looked like. It's kicking backwards over his head, presumably.

-What was his name?

-I've no idea.

I'm not even going to guess. I haven't a clue.

You're not even going to say a goalkeeper?

I don't know. I certainly don't know a Colombian goalkeeper.

-It was Rene Higuita.

-Ah, there you are.

Next question, Phillipa.

TV presenter Gaby Logan represented Wales at the 1990 Commonwealth games, in which sport?

Gaby Logan. Right.

She was on Strictly Come Dancing

and she was a very good gymnast.

So we'll go for gymnastics.

Is the right answer!

TEAM-MATES CHEER

Oh, the pressure on you now, Judith!

Oh, my goodness! Here we go.

Which ice hockey player, born in 1961,

holds the NHL record of 92 goals in a single season?

It's no good asking me questions like that.

There is one ice hockey player whose name I have in the back of my mind,

but it won't come to the front of my mind.

What is he called?

We need the first name and the surname.

I'm sure it probably is this one, but it just won't come.

I think it's time this round ended, frankly.

You haven't got a letter or...nothing?

I think it's a W and a T.

No. Finish.

No finish.

No, that's not the name.

LAUGHTER

No, I can't think! Let's finish the round.

I don't know if there was an answer in there, but it wasn't right. Wayne Gretzky...

-That's it. That is the name.

-..is the correct answer,

but the T, where was the T?

-In the middle of Gretzky.

-Oh, I see!

LAUGHTER

-Two letters is not enough, I'm afraid.

-It's so annoying.

I did think of the Wayne, but I couldn't remember the other.

That's the name I would said if it'd only had come from the back of my mind and to the front.

It's obviously got a long way to travel.

Well done, Phillipa. You took on one of the Eggheads...

and you emerged triumphant. Good news for the challengers,

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

Please, both of you come back and join your teams.

As it stands the challengers have lost one brain from the final round,

while the Eggheads have lost two. The last subject is Music.

Who from the challengers wants to play on Music

-and who against?

-Are you gonna take that, Sharon?

-I will take that.

-We need Paul in the final round, really, couldn't we?

-Fine.

-Who do you think?

-Shall I take Kevin?

-Is it Sharon?

-Yes.

Is that cos you've got the best taste in music?

Yeah, that's what it is.

Who do you want to take on, here?

-I'll take Kevin.

-Kevin, OK.

Kevin from the Eggheads,

versus Sharon, from the Getaway Gang.

Please now go to the Question Room.

So, I will ask each of you three questions on music, in turn.

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

I'm gonna say first.

Sharon, Dolores O'Riordan is the lead singer of which group?

Well, there's two that I've never really heard of.

I've heard of The Cranberries, not The Strawberries or The Raspberries.

I'm gonna go with The Cranberries.

There were The Strawbs, but The Cranberries is the right answer.

Well done!

Kevin, "I saw the light, on the night that I passed by her window",

is the opening line to which Tom Jones Hit single?

It's Delilah.

Yep. It is Delilah. Well done.

One apiece.

Sharon, Rumours is a best-selling 1977 album by which band?

I think '77 is too early for Genesis.

I grew up a lot with Fleetwood Mac, my mum's a bit of a fan.

So, I'm swaying towards that, but...

The Rolling Stones for the 70s?

I'm gonna go, Fleetwood Mac.

-That's your answer?

-Yes.

Spot-on! Great answer!

Kevin, your question.

What is the name given to the thin, flat piece of plastic

held by or worn on the fingers and used to pluck the strings

of a musical instrument, such as a guitar.

It's a plectrum.

Quite right. Well done. Plectrum.

Two points apiece.

Sharon, which soprano played Desdemona opposite Placido Domingo

in Franco Zeffirelli's 1986 film version of Verdi's Otello?

This is not my field.

So, it's gonna have to be a bit of a wild guess, really.

I'm gonna guess, with Maria Callas.

Is wrong, it's Katia Ricciarelli.

Bad luck. So, Kevin for the round.

Which male singer topped the UK album charts in 2008

with Sleep Through The Static?

The man from Hawaii, Jack Johnson.

It is the man from Hawaii, Jack Johnson. Well done.

Sharon, 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 to the studio and rejoin your teams.

This is what we've been playing towards. It's time for the final round,

which as always, is General Knowledge.

Those of you who lost your head-to-heads

are not allowed to take part in this round.

So, Sue and Sharon from the Getaway Gang,

and Judith and Chris

from the Eggheads, would you please leave the studio.

Phillipa, Matt and Paul, you are playing to win the Getaway Gang £10,000.

Kevin, CJ and Daphne, you are playing for something which money can't buy -

the Eggheads' reputation.

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

This time the questions are all general knowledge.

You are allowed to confer. So, Getaway Gang the question is -

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

Phillipa, Matt and Paul, do you want to go first or second?

-Do you want to go first?

-Shall we go first? Yeah.

We'll stick with what we've been doing, and we'll go first, please.

First question for the Getaway Gang.

What name did Alfred Hitchcock give to a device or object

that serves to propel the plot of the film,

but has no further significance within the story?

What name did Alfred Hitchcock give to a device or object

that serves to propel the plot of the film,

but has no further significance within the story?

I think it's MacGuffin,

cos a red herring is something that misleads.

-Yeah, I'm sure it's MacGuffin.

-You're quite happy with that?

-I haven't any idea.

-Yeah, on my head be it, we'll go with MacGuffin.

OK. So, we're going to go with MacGuffin, please.

-On your head, Paul.

-On my head.

-You're right. It's MacGuffin.

-Well done, Paul.

Was that named after a particular character in a film or what?

-I don't think so.

-I think it was just a made-up name.

Eggheads, your question.

Which European country's flag consists of three vertical stripes in black, yellow and red?

Which European country's flag

consists of three vertical stripes in black, yellow and red?

-No, CJ, it's not Kazahkstan.

-It's not Kazahkstan, then?

No, you've got a bit of flag history here.

It's Belgium.

It is Belgium. Daphne, you're quite right. One apiece.

Next question's for the Getaway Gang.

Which British conservationist and founder of the Wildfowl Trust,

represented Britain in the America's Cup,

and won a yachting bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics?

Which British conservationist and founder of the Wildfowl Trust,

represented Britain in the America's Cup

and won a yachting bronze medal at the 1936 Olympics?

I've never heard of Fowell Buxton.

I don't think it was David Attenborough. Wasn't likely.

-It could be Peter Scott.

-Peter Scott, yeah.

Could Fowell Buxton be trying to mislead us, cos it's Fowell.

Do you wanna go Peter Scott, process of elimination?

-Yeah, it'll do.

-We're going to go with Peter Scott.

-Peter Scott is the right answer, well done.

-Fantastic!

-Well done!

OK, Eggheads.

The screw is tightening, here.

Which 1924 novel begins with the lines,

"Except for the Marabar caves, and they are 20 miles off,

"the city of Chandrapore presents nothing extraordinary."?

Which 1924 novel begins with the lines,

"Except for the Marabar Caves, and they are 20 miles off,

"the city of Chandrapore presents nothing extraordinary."?

That's A Passage To India, by E M Forster.

It is A Passage To India, you're right.

Your third multiple choice question, Getaway Gang.

Rev the motor.

Which Welsh castle is the second largest in Britain, trailing only Windsor Castle in size?

-Should know this.

-Which Welsh castle

is the second largest in Britain,

trailing only Windsor Castle in size?

I've got a feeling... what's coming to me is...

You get this, you'll really put the pressure on.

Caernarfon, when they came up, was the initial one I was drawn to.

-I don't know if it's right.

-Neither do I.

I can't think of Cardiff Castle.

I can't say it's somewhere that we would go.

-Caernarfon rolls off the tongue.

-We're gonna go for that.

I'm sure we go on excursions there, on our coaches.

I don't think we do on the other two, so it must be pretty big.

So, we're going to go for Caernarfon.

Maybe the coaches should go to Caerphilly,

cos that's where the second largest castle is.

Eggheads, you get this right, you've taken £10,000 -

that we're dangling in front of our Getaway Gang - away.

-Good.

-Here's your question.

What name is given to the group of three stone circles,

found around four miles north of the town of Liskeard on Bodmin Moor?

-Hurlers?

-What name is given to the group of three stone circles,

found around four miles north of the town of Liskeard on Bodmin Moor.

They are the Hurlers.

You didn't even hesitate.

No. I'm afraid we all know it.

Congratulations, Eggheads. You've won.

Hard fought though. But commiserations.

The Eggheads have done what comes naturally to them.

Their winning streak continues.

I'm afraid, Getaway Gang, you won't be going home with the £10,000.

Which means that that money now 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.

£11,000 says they don't. Until then, goodbye!

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