Episode 95 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 won some of the country's toughest quiz shows.

They are the Eggheads.

Taking on our quiz champions today

are the...

The team all compete

in the rough-and-tumble of the Great British Roller Derby League,

except for Big Cat Merv, who's the League's announcer.

Let's meet them.

Hi, I'm Bette, I'm 34, and I'm a Group Production Director.

I'm Dot, I'm 29, and I work in IT.

Hi, I'm Big Cat Merv, I'm 29, and I'm a Retail Manager.

Hi, I'm Miffy, I'm 27, and I'm a Sales Operations Assistant.

I'm Fox, I'm 23, and I'm in IT Support.

So, Roller Derby, Bette... all female?

-It is all female, yes.

-On skates?

On quad skates, four wheels...

And what do you do? Knock people off the track?

It's like a full-contact race. Two girls are trying to score,

and the rest of us are either trying to help them, or stop them.

Big Cat Merv, where do you come in?

I'm Fox's husband, and I had a choice of either getting involved

or never seeing her, so I do live commentaries at the bouts.

-Do you want to announce the contest now?

-I'll give it a go.

-Come on.

SHOUTS: Ladies and Gentlemen,

we are the London Roller Girls - Bette, Dot, Miffy, Fox.

Now, let's play Egghe-e-e-ads!

I'm sorry, I missed that.

THEY LAUGH

Thank you. Every day there is £1,000 cash up for grabs

for our challengers. If they fail to defeat the Eggheads,

the prize money rolls over to the next show.

London Roller Girls, the Eggheads have won the last 11 games.

Which means, yes,

£12,000 says you can't beat them.

Big prize money today. The first head-to-head battle

will be on the subject of Film & Television.

Challengers, which one of you wants to play, and against who?

-I'll give it a go.

-All right, it's going to have to be Big Cat.

-Yeah.

-Yeah.

-All right.

-OK, I'll give it a go.

-Big Cat first?

-You've got the limelight today.

-I have.

So, who do you fancy pawing?

I'll go against Chris, please.

OK, so it's Big Cat Merv, from the London Roller Girls,

versus Chris from the Eggheads,

and to ensure there's no conferring

please take your positions in the question room.

I'll ask each of you three multiple choice questions,

on Film & Television, in turn,

whoever answers the most questions correctly is the winner.

-Big Cat Merv, are you ready?

-I am.

-Feeling confident?

-Just about.

You get to choose the first or the second set.

I'll go first, please.

Which BBC sitcom set in France during World War II

returned to the BBC for a one-off special in 2007?

Was it...

Well, only one of those is set in France. So it must be 'Allo 'Allo.

Quite right, Big Cat Merv.

THEY CHEER

Your team are louder than you now!

-Chris, you ready?

-Mm.

-In which fictional coastal town

is the Australian soap Home And Away set?

Is it...

That is set in Summer Bay.

One point apiece. You are right.

Your second question, Big Cat.

Which actress received

a record-breaking 14th Oscar nomination in 2007?

Is it...

I can't think of anything that...

Ooh, I'm not sure about this one.

I'm going to rule Jane Fonda out

because I can't remember her being in anything in that period.

I'll take a punt at Meryl Streep.

-You're taking a punt at Meryl?

-Yeah.

You're quite right.

You've got two points. Good work!

Chris, your question.

In which TV sitcom does James Corden play the role of Smithy?

Is it...

It's not Peep Show, because that's Mitchell and Webb.

I don't think it's Gavin and Stacey, because they're all Welsh.

So, it's got to be Pulling.

The logic sounded so compelling,

I'm staring at the card and I can't believe you're wrong, but you are.

It's Gavin and Stacey.

-How about that, Big Cat?

-Yes!

It's going to be time to shout again soon.

Your third question. Who starred opposite Audrey Hepburn

in the 1963 comedy thriller Charade?

Was it...

Right. Totally out of my era, now.

I'm going to take out George Peppard.

Hopefully that's not going to throw me a curve ball.

This, again, is a guess. James Stewart?

No, it wasn't.

It was Cary Grant.

You had the opportunity to knock Chris out of the track,

and didn't take it. So, Chris, your third question.

Which actor played Jesus Quintana

in the 1998 Coen brothers film The Big Lebowski?

Was it...

Well, I think it's "Hay-zus", but we'll let that go.

-Spelled "Jesus". Um...

-Glad you're going to let that go(!)

Don't think it was Hank Azaria...

Don't think it was John Tur...well, I'll take a punt on Steve Buscemi.

There's a lot of punting going on in this round(!)

And...you're wrong!

It wasn't. It was John Turturro.

-So, Big Cat Merv...

-YES!

CHEERING

The pink shirts have gone an even brighter shade of pink.

Big Cat, you took on one of the Eggheads, you emerged triumphant.

Good news for our challengers,

because it means you can play in today's final round.

You're getting closer to the big money.

Both of you, please come back and join your team-mates.

Great start for our challengers, as it stands,

the Eggheads have lost one brain from the final round.

The challengers haven't lost any.

The next subject is Geography.

Which of you wants that,

and who do you want to pick,

to take on?

-All right, I'll do it, if no-one else wants to.

-Are you sure?

-Bette.

-Yeah.

-All right. I'll do it.

-Yeah?

OK. Bette... Which one?

Geography. Which one of them looks lost?

All right, CJ(!)

LAUGHTER

So, Bette, from the London Roller Girls,

versus CJ from the Eggheads, on Geography.

To ensure there's no conferring

please take your positions in the question room.

So, Bette, you of course have multiple choice questions,

to start with here, and you can choose the first or second set.

I'm going to go first.

Good luck, Bette.

What are the Quantocks of Somerset?

Wow. Um...

I keep thinking of Quantocks of Maine, since I'm from America.

But that's not really helping me.

So, Quantocks of Somerset...

Ooh, I think I'm going to be guessing, here. Um...

I'm going to eliminate valleys.

I think I'm going to go with hills.

-Hills is your answer.

-Yes.

How's she done, team?

You're more local than Bette. You don't know?

They don't know either, so, being American wasn't a disadvantage -

you got it right.

CJ. What is Scandinavia's most southerly country?

That's Denmark.

Quite right, CJ.

Not even a flicker of hesitation.

OK, Bette. In which British city

is the independent boarding school Fettes College situated?

Is it...

Mm. You guys are really throwing me for a loop on these, aren't you?

Can you spell that for me?

I can. Fettes College, F-E-T-T-E-S.

I don't think it's Cardiff.

I hope I'm not wrong.

I know a little bit of Welsh and that doesn't sound very Welsh to me.

So the tough one is Edinburgh or London.

Just out of sheer size, because this is a guess as well,

I'm going to say London.

I was willing you on there.

-It was Edinburgh.

-Oh! Oh well.

Most famous alumnus...?

-ALL: Tony Blair.

-Tony Blair.

Bad luck, Bette.

CJ - this is the question Bette should have had! -

which New England state,

bordered on the north by the Canadian province of Quebec,

is known as "The Granite State"?

I've never heard of that. Umm... All right.

New Jersey's got a Canadian border, don't know about New Hampshire.

I've never heard it, but I'll try Pennsylvania.

-You're trying Pennsylvania?

-Yeah. I've never heard "Granite State".

Pennsylvania is incorrect. It's New Hampshire, CJ.

-You would've known that, Bette.

-I did actually know that, yes.

Was the clue in New England? Is that the only New England state there?

No, it's just I went to university in Boston,

which is close to New Hampshire, so, I know it's the "Granite State".

-Why is it the "Granite State"?

-I assume they mine a lot of granite.

-Don't know...!

-Anyway, it helped you out there, because it held him back.

Your third question, Bette.

The Chao Phraya river runs through which capital city?

Well, I'm a big fan of Thai food, so I know this one for sure,

because I've been to a few restaurants called "The Chao Phraya".

And that would be Bangkok.

Spot-on, well done!

They're coming back at you, CJ.

Help(!)

You need to take up Rollerblading.

In which ocean are the Admiralty Islands located?

I've never heard of them.

Oh dear! I've got nothing to go on.

Well, I'm going to go for the Atlantic or Pacific, not Indian...

With the conviction you're always demanding we give,

without a shadow of a doubt,

they are in the Atlantic.

Without a shadow of a doubt,

they are in the Pacific. You're wrong.

THEY CHEER AND CLAP

How about that, Bette?

You came into a Geography quiz as an American, and beat him. Well done.

You took on one of our Eggheads,

you emerged triumphant, good news for the challengers,

because it means Bette can play in today's final round as well.

Congratulations! Please come back and join your teams.

As it stands, the Eggheads have lost two brains from the final round,

the challengers still haven't lost any.

The next subject is Sport.

Which of you,

London Roller Girls, and Big Cat Merv -

of course, you can't, Big Cat -

which would you like to take on Sport?

-It's going to have to be Fox.

-Yeah, I'll do it.

-Fox?

-Dark horse on the sport.

-Yeah.

Fox, have a look at the Eggheads. You can't take Chris or CJ.

-Who would you take on?

-Judith.

Judith on Sport.

Ha ha ha!

Fox, from the London Roller Girls, versus Judith from the Eggheads,

to ensure there's no conferring, please take your positions

in the question room.

-Well, good luck, Fox.

-Thank you.

I'll ask each of you three questions on sport in turn,

Fox, you can choose the first set or the second set.

I'll go first, please.

You're looking very intense.

-Yeah.

-That's my gimmick.

Here's your first question.

In which country was the snooker player Mark Williams born?

I don't watch a huge amount of snooker.

But I'm almost certain that he is Welsh.

So, I'm going to go with Wales.

Good guess, well done. He is.

Judith!

Who, in 1994,

became the oldest world heavyweight boxing champion in history?

Was it...

Um, I don't think it's Muhammad Ali,

because I think he was well out of it, by then.

So it's either of the other two.

I think it might be Joe Frazier.

-Joe Frazier?

-Yeah.

-No. George Foreman.

-Oh.

It's all going very well, isn't it(!)

At this rate there won't be any of you left for the final round!

You're doing well, Fox. Second question.

Which football team played in a style

that was known as "total football", in the 1970s?

Was it...

It most definitely wasn't England.

I'm quite a football fan.

I'm pretty sure that was Holland.

Yes, it was. Holland.

Who was the main proponent,

-Eggheads?

-Johan Cruyff.

Judith. To hang on -

Liverpool-born Steve Smith won world and Olympic medals

in which athletics event in the 1990s?

Was it...

I think that was Triple Jump.

The sound you hear is CJ's head hitting the desk-top.

Well, this time maybe he WILL crack his skull.

We'll let you know. Triple Jump is wrong, it was the High Jump.

I thought it would be.

So, I won't even go on to the next question,

because you have no chance of winning this round, Judith.

Well done, Fox. You took on the Eggheads,

you emerged triumphant as well,

good news for our challengers, with so much money at stake,

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

Congratulations. Please both come back to your teams.

As it stands, the Eggheads have lost three brains,

the challengers still haven't lost any. Last subject is Music.

Who wants to take that on,

and who do you want to take on?

-It's got to be Dot.

-Well, I think...

-Well, I don't mind, but I think you're stronger.

-Come on, Dot.

-Who shall we pit me against?

-Well, is it definitely you?

-I'll do it, then.

Who's the music person?

It's you. Dot.

OK. And who is NOT the music person?

Which one do you want to come up against?

I'll take Daphne.

So, it's Dot, from the London Roller Girls,

versus Daphne from the Eggheads,

to ensure there's no conferring,

please take your positions in the question room.

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

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

I'd like to go for the first set, please.

It's working well for your team so far.

Which musical, set in a mining camp in gold-rush era California,

features the songs I Talk To The Trees,

and They Call The Wind Mariah?

Is it -

Well, I'm definitely sure it's not My Fair Lady...

I'm not really a big musical person, per se,

but I know my mum used to watch a lot of musicals,

and I have a feeling that it is Paint Your Wagon.

How strong is your feeling?

Let's hope it's a good feeling!

It is good, it's right, well done!

-Feeling the pressure, now, Daphne?

-Oh, I am!

Here's your first question.

Which former X Factor finalist represented the United Kingdom

at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest?

Yeah, it wasn't a bad song, was it?

And it was Andy Abraham.

It was indeed. Were you watching?

No.

Your next question, Dot.

Paint It Black was a UK number one hit single in 1966, for which group?

I actually know this one,

because I used this as a question in my pub quiz that I recently did.

The answer is The Rolling Stones.

Quite right, well done.

A bit before your time.

So, Daphne, which West End musical,

which opened with Michael Ball and Leanne Jones in lead roles,

won four Olivier awards in 2008?

Was it...

That's Hairspray.

It is, indeed! Correct answer.

Two-two. Your third multiple choice question.

How many strings does a ukulele normally have?

I've absolutely no idea. I've never played a ukulele in my life.

Seeing as it's probably quite a simple instrument,

therefore I think simplicity may be the key here,

I am going to say it has four.

Guess?

Definitely.

But the right one.

Yes!

Three out of three!

This team is inspired!

Daphne.

Which American composer,

famous for his use of Celtic elements in his music,

won two Oscars for his work on the 1997 film Titanic?

Oh, dear! I think Kevin might be left on his own!

With absolutely no conviction, Jeremy, but lots of crossed fingers,

James Horner.

...is the right answer.

Thing about Daphne is,

she's a brilliant guesser.

After three questions each, the scores are level,

We'll go now to Sudden Death.

To make it harder, these questions are not multiple choice.

-You've got to give me an answer, Dot, OK?

-OK.

Dot. Golden Touch and America

are UK top 40 hit singles released by which band?

One of my favourite bands - Razorlight.

You're right. Spot-on!

-DAPHNE:

-Oh, my goodness!

On 31st May 1976, which band performed

what has been described as the loudest concert of all time,

at the home ground of Charlton Athletic Football Club?

Sorry, Kevin.

I really don't know. '76...

..Status Quo.

-You know if you get this wrong...

-I know...

-..you're leaving Kevin on his own?

-I know!

I'm sorry, Kevin, I know it's wrong, but...

I'm told it's the first time ever that it's happened?

All right. It's wrong, isn't it?

Yes, it is wrong.

-It's not The Who, is it?

-The answer is The Who.

-Oh, they were the other one I was thinking about!

-Apparently,

126 decibels measured 30 metres from the stage,

which is even louder than Big Cat Merv.

Well, well, well.

This is really quite amazing. Well done, Dot! Sensational work.

You took on one of the Eggheads, you emerged triumphant,

brilliant news for the challengers, because it means you'll all be able

to play in today's final round. Congratulations.

Meanwhile, the Eggheads are going to be somewhat depleted.

Please, come back and join your teams.

This is what we've been playing towards -

it's time for the final round, General Knowledge.

I'm afraid those of you who lost your head-to-heads... Who was that?

Shall we rack our brains? ..won't be allowed to take part.

So, and this has never happened before on Eggheads,

the team to the right of me has been strafed by the London Roller Girls.

Judith, CJ, Daphne and Chris from the Eggheads,

you all lost your head-to-heads,

and it's the first time I've ever just faced THIS way to say this,

I'm going to have to ask you, please, to leave the studio.

So - Bette, Dot, Big Cat Merv, Miffy, Fox,

you are playing to win the London Roller Girls £12,000.

You must be feeling pretty good at this stage.

-We're hopeful.

-But no complacency.

Kevin, on the other hand,

you are playing for something money can't buy -

the Eggheads' reputation. Although, looking at the scene in front of me,

I'm wondering how much of it there is left.

I will ask each team three questions in turn.

This time the questions are all general knowledge,

you are, of course, allowed to confer.

London Roller Girls, the question is, are your five brains

better than the Eggheads' one?

Would you like to go first, or second?

First has been good to us. We'll go first.

In which country is Yeti Airlines based?

Ooh, the abominable snowman.

I would think that was Nepal.

But that could be an obvious choice.

Yeti is cold, isn't it?

It's the abominable snowman.

I've been to New Zealand and I don't recognise it.

I'm from America, I don't know anything about Canada!

-I think it's Nepal.

-I would go for Nepal, personally.

-Are you sure?

-All right. Nepal.

-Nepal.

-Nepal.

The abominable snowman jumped out at you.

You're right.

It was Nepal. Well done.

Kevin. Which mythological figure

is said to have pulled the sword from the stone?

Was it...

They've all had a go at one time or another, but it's King Arthur.

You're correct.

One point apiece. Challengers -

in Greek mythology,

what did Dionysius suspend above Damocles' head during a banquet

to demonstrate the constant peril faced by those in power?

Was it...

-I sit out!

-It's a sword. The sword of Damocles.

-Yeah.

We know that one. It's the sword.

You're right.

-Yes!

-Sword of Damocles.

-Can you see it?

-Yeah, I was just...

-The thread is fraying, Kevin.

-Mm.

In which film does the character known as Jack Robin famously say,

"Wait a minute, wait a minute, you ain't heard nothing yet."

That was The Jazz Singer, Jeremy, with Al Jolson.

Supposedly the first words spoken on film.

You're right, it was.

So, two points apiece.

It couldn't be tighter. £12,000 to play for.

From Hell and The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen

are graphic novels by which comic book writer?

-It's Alan Moore.

-Miffy, the publishing expert!

Yeah. I work in publishing, and my boyfriend's into graphic novels.

It's definitely Alan Moore.

I love the way you said, "I know this", after I'd read four words!

It is Alan Moore, you're right.

If Kevin gets the next answer wrong, you have £12,000.

Kevin, the Eggheads' reputation is in the balance.

What is the name of the statue

that sits on top of the Old Bailey, in London?

It's Justice.

Those being law courts.

-You sure about that?

-Yeah.

Well done, you're right.

After three questions each, the scores are level,

we will now go to Sudden Death, and remember, to make it harder,

these questions are not multiple choice.

£12,000 in the balance, on one side,

the Eggheads' reputation on the other.

Good luck, everyone. I'm nervous now!

Under what name did the writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee

produce detective novels -

a name they also gave to their fictional detective?

Under what name did the writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Lee

produce detective novels -

a name they also gave to their fictional detective?

Don't know. I honestly can't think of anything.

-Is it a combination of their names, perhaps?

-Could try "Danny Lee".

-Danny Lee. That's all I can think of.

-It's a complete guess.

-And the guess is...?

-Danny Lee.

Danny Lee.

The answer is Ellery Queen.

Oh! Ellery Queen. One of the most famous mystery writers ever!

-Never heard of it.

-Still don't know that one.

-Doesn't ring any bells.

It was a TV serial in the '70s. Kevin, would you have got that?

Yeah. I knew that one.

A bit before our time.

Well, a bit before mine, as well, but...(!)

Kevin, you now have the initiative.

If you get this right, then London Roller Girls go home with nothing.

Which model and singer, who came to fame by stripping to his underwear

in a laundrette, in a 1980s TV advertisement,

had a UK top ten hit in 1986 with Each Time You Break My Heart,

written by Madonna?

I think his name is Nick Kamen, K-A-M-E-N.

-Is that your answer?

-Yeah.

-You're right.

-OTHER TEAM: Ohh!

-KEVIN:

-Sorry, guys. Sorry.

You're right. Eggheads, against the odds, you've won.

Commiserations to our challengers.

The Eggheads, or rather, Kevin on his own,

has done what seems to come naturally to them.

You won't be going home with £12,000.

I don't want to rub it in! The money now rolls over to the next show.

Eggheads, congratulations. Shouldn't be saying it to you lot, should I -

well done, Kevin! Who's going to beat any team with Kevin in?

Join us next time to see if the new challengers have the brains

to defeat the Eggheads. £13,000 says they don't.

Till then, goodbye.

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