Episode 21 Pointless

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you very much. Hello, I'm Alexander Armstrong.

Welcome to Pointless - the show where the aim of the game

is to score as few points as you can

and you do that by coming up with the answers no-one else thinks of.

Let's meet today's players.

And couple number one.

Hi there. We're Ben and Pippa.

We're from Tunbridge and we're work colleagues.

Couple number two.

Hi, my name's Steve. This is Ruth, my daughter,

and we're from Saddleworth near Manchester.

-Couple number three.

-Hiya, I'm Ben. This is my friend Amy

and we're a couple of medical students from Manchester.

And couple number four.

Hello, I'm Brenda. This is my husband, Brian,

and we're from Clacton-on-Sea.

And these are today's contestants.

Thanks very much. We'll find out more about you throughout the show.

That just leaves one more person for me to introduce.

If he was in the army, his title would be General Knowledge.

It's my Pointless friend - it's Richard.

Hiya.

Hey, everybody. Hiya.

-Afternoon.

-And to you.

-How are you doing?

-Oh, I'm well.

-Oh, that's nice.

-I am well.

-Nice little jackpot building up.

Four brand-new pairs, we don't know them at all.

A couple of them are going to be right characters.

Bound to be, aren't they?

-We'll have one difficult one.

-Yes.

-Hard to tell who that's going to be.

And a couple of...absolute maniacs, as usual.

-ALEXANDER LAUGHS

-Looking forward to that. Thanks.

We asked all our questions to 100 people before the show.

As ever, the aim is to find a pointless answer -

that's an answer that none of our 100 people gave.

Each time that happens, we add £250 to the jackpot.

Now, Gary and Graham didn't win the jackpot last time

so today's jackpot, with another £1,000 added to it,

starts off at £5,000.

AUDIENCE: Ooh!

Right, if everyone's ready, let's play Pointless.

OK, the pair with the highest score at the end of each round

will be eliminated.

You have to make sure that's not you.

Our first category today is...

Pop Music. Oh, Brian.

That was a look of despair from Brian.

-Oh...can't please everyone, can you?

-You can't.

-No.

I'm sorry, Brian. Pop Music. Can you decide who's going first and second?

Whoever's going first, please step up to the podium.

OK, and our first question concerns...

One and only number one singles. Richard?

On each pass, we'll show you the names of seven number one singles.

You need to tell us the act that had a number one with them, please.

In each case, it's the only number one single they ever had.

There will be 14 in all to have a go at.

We can put the dates up as well.

OK, we're looking for the acts who had number one singles

with these songs in the year shown.

Here's our first board.

I'll read those one last time.

-Ben B, welcome.

-Hello.

-What do you do, Ben?

-I'm an outdoors instructor.

-You instruct the outdoors.

-I instruct the outdoors, yeah.

Without you...

You bring on the seasons, you put the leaves up,

-take 'em down...

-All down to me.

-Wow. You are doing a cracking job, by the way.

-Thank you!

-I love what you've done out there.

-Brilliant.

What actually do you instruct?

So I trained to do outdoor activities,

so I'm a rock climbing instructor, canoeing, kayaking,

I've done a little bit of skiing as well.

What about what they call backwoods skills?

Is it called backwoods skills?

Back to the woods skills? Is that what you mean?

-I think so.

-That was the first time I've ever heard of that.

You haven't heard of that? Not part of your course?

-Afraid not.

-It's to do with eating moss and things like that.

-Survival.

-Survival, Pippa, it is about survival.

OK, Ben, talking of survival, look at this board.

We need a low score from you to get the ball rolling.

I don't think I'll be getting a low score.

I'll have to play it safe, because the only one I think I know

is Sex On Fire by Kings Of Leon.

"Kings Of Leon," says Ben. Let's see if that's right

and, if so, how many of our 100 people said it.

It is right.

41.

Not bad. 41.

Yeah, number one for three weeks.

They were named after their grandfather,

cos they're all related in that group.

Thanks very much indeed. Now, Ruth, welcome to the show.

-Thank you.

-What do you do?

I'm actually a personal trainer.

Are you connected to a gym, or do you work freelance?

I'm freelance, yeah.

-Very nice.

-Ruth, do you cover indoor stuff?

Not really, no. I like to slog people outdoors.

What tools do you take with you for the outdoor training sessions?

-Lots of skipping ropes.

-Skipping ropes.

But I like to use the natural environment - the park.

-Lots of benches.

-A lot of benches.

Do we have anybody here who works indoors at some point?

If we get to podium three and Ben is a lumberjack, that's it.

LAUGHTER

I won't be happy.

Um, now, Ruth, what are you going to go for?

Well, Ben took the only one that I was sure about.

I'm just going to take a guess, or a punt,

and say Wuthering Heights, Kate Bush?

Kate Bush. "Kate Bush," says Ruth. Let's see if that's right.

Let's see how many people said Kate Bush.

-Ah!

-It is right, very well done.

73 - it's a highish score,

but it's a lot better than 100.

Yeah, well done, Ruth - damage limitation, there.

Rather aptly shares a birthday with Emily Bronte, Kate Bush.

-That's nice. That is nice.

-I say shares - it's the same day.

They don't have joint parties.

-Uh, now, Ben A. Welcome.

-Thank you.

-Welcome to the show.

What do you do, Ben?

My lumberjack days are behind me. I'm a medical student nowadays.

OK - there you are, that's fine. You happy with that?

Depends - is it a battlefield medic?

LAUGHTER

Not decided yet - maybe.

-You're in what year?

-Fourth year.

-Of how many years?

It's five, but I'm interrupting next year

to do Ethics and Law.

Whoa! Is that a normal thing for medics to do, Ethics and Law?

Only if you're as bright as me(!)

-LAUGHTER

-No, no...

-OK.

Big talk on a quiz show, I've just realised.

OK - well, you don't have to make your mind up yet, do you?

Although you do on the issue of one and only number one singles.

Right...I went first because this isn't my sort of round,

but...I'm quite lucky that I know Bulletproof.

I shouldn't, but I do.

Bulletproof was by La Roux.

"La Roux," says Ben A. Let's see if that's right.

Let's see how many of our 100 people said La Roux for Bulletproof.

Absolutely spot-on.

Well, 41 is our low score so far.

You pass that comfortably - look at that.

La Roux down to 8!

Good answer, Ben A.

That's a good song, Bulletproof. I like Bulletproof.

Yeah, La Roux.

She's June Ackland from The Bill's daughter...La Roux.

Thank you, Richard. Now then, Brenda.

Welcome to the show, Brenda. What do you get up to?

-You're from Clacton-on-Sea.

-Yes.

-What do you get up to there, Brenda?

Well, I help Brian with the gardening.

Important. Is he a hard taskmaster?

No. I only go out when the weather's nice.

And what are your other interests, Brenda?

-I like to write a bit of poetry. Yeah.

-Very good.

When I was at work, if people retired or left or something,

there were a couple of us used to write odes.

Wonderful. OK, Brenda, you're the last person to have this board.

Want to talk us through it and fill in as many blanks as you can?

-I only know one for sure.

-Yeah.

I would have a guess at the first one -

that's not going to be my answer.

I don't know - I want to say Charles Aznavour,

but I don't think it's right.

But I'm going to say I'm A Believer,

-The Monkees.

-I'm A Believer, "The Monkees," says Brenda.

Let's see if that's right. Let's see how many people said The Monkees.

Absolutely right.

62 - not bad.

62 for The Monkees.

Well done, Brenda - a good first answer on the show.

-Lucky you didn't go for Charles Aznavour...

-OK.

..cos it's Julio Iglesias.

And that would have scored you 16 points.

You know True, I'm guessing?

-Spandau Ballet.

-Spandau Ballet.

Their only number one single, amazingly -

loads of huge hits, but only one number one.

40 points for that. Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

-1991?

-Mm-hm.

-Well, The Clash.

-It was, but it came from an advert.

-Oh, I see. Right.

-That's why it went back in the charts,

25 points for that.

So La Roux is the best answer there, Ben, well played.

Thanks very much. We're halfway through the round.

Let's look at those scores - Ben A,

look at that!

La Roux. 8 points, there.

Then up to 41, where we find Ben and Pippa.

62, Brenda and Brian.

Then 73, Ruth and Steve. So, Steve...

Yes, there is a burden on your shoulders here, Steve.

Let's hope you...did you like this board?

I could've done two of them.

Let's hope you can find more on the next -

a low-scoring one might keep you in.

Best of luck. We'll come back down the line.

Can the second players step up to the podium?

We're going to put seven more one and only number ones

up on the board, here they are.

We've got...

I'll read those all one last time.

Now, Brian, has that confirmed all your worst fears?

-It has indeed.

-Oh!

Well, we'll come back to the board in a second.

Brian, a very warm welcome to Pointless.

What do you get up to in Clacton? We've heard you're a keen gardener.

-Yes - well, I'm retired, now.

-What's your background?

Can I guess? I think...I think...

It's a hunch. I think Brian might have been in the forces.

-Oh, do you think?

-Yes, I was.

-Ah!

I was going to say hairdresser.

LAUGHTER

-In the forces.

-In the forces.

-I don't know why I thought that.

-I just took a guess. I took a guess.

-You're very good.

-Yeah.

-Which force were you in?

-In the Royal Signals.

In the Royal Signals.

Right - now, Brian, there you are. You're on 62.

We need a low score from you.

Is there a single thing on that board

you think you might know an answer to?

Something has just come to me.

Excellent.

Bridge Over Troubled Water -

Simon and Garfunkel.

"Simon and Garfunkel," says Brian.

You get a red line, you're not the high-scorers.

It's quite low, but that is where you are aiming.

Let's see how far down the column you can get

with Simon and Garfunkel.

75.

Not a terrible answer. Your total is 137, Brian.

I... That might get you through. It might get you through. Richard?

Yeah, very well played. When they first split up in 1972,

Paul Simon continued his career.

Art Garfunkel briefly became a maths teacher.

-Did he?

-He did, yeah.

-OK, thanks.

Now, Amy, good news - you're through to the next round.

-Yeah.

-Amy, you're also a medical student.

I am, yeah - I'm intercalating this year,

like Ben's going to do next year.

Oh, right. So how did you and Ben get to meet each other?

Um...we're at university in Manchester

and when we were in second year, we got put together to do

a mentoring scheme for younger medics.

So we got given 11...children.

And we were the mummies and daddies with them.

Hang on...

A lot of medics, medical students, playing mummies and daddies...

-LAUGHTER

-..with some freshers.

-Yeah.

-OK.

What are your interests, Amy?

SHE LAUGHS

Um, I do a lot of music and I also play netball.

-What music do you do?

-I play the oboe and piano and I sing.

-I play the oboe.

-Do you?

-Yeah!

I say that - I haven't played it for far too long.

-But I do play the oboe.

-You should get back into it.

I should. Anyway, listen, you're on 8.

Doesn't matter what you score, you're through.

But why not find a nice low scorer on that board?

Um, I know a few of them,

but I think I'll go for Stay Another Day.

-East 17.

-"East 17," says Amy.

No red line, you're already through, but let's see how many said East 17.

28.

Takes your total up to 36.

Well played, Amy. Christmas number one in 1994.

-OK, thank you very much indeed. Now, Steve.

-Hi.

-Steve, what do you do?

-I'm retired.

-What did you do?

The last job I had, I used to teach dyslexic children one-to-one,

in Manchester.

Before that, I did the same as him.

I used to be an outdoor pursuits instructor.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-Any backwoods skills, Steve?

At least I knew what they were, but you know...

OK, you're on 73. The high-scorers, Brian and Brenda, on 137.

63 or less, Steve, is your target.

Now, I knew three.

I know two of the remaining ones.

But I'm going to stick with my lifelong obsession for music,

the man that's always inspired me

and follows me round the country.

I Would Do Anything For Love

is my old friend Meatloaf.

He follows you round the country?

In the car. In the car. Meatloaf is on continually.

That's just terrifying. What does he drive?

-LAUGHTER

-Fantastic.

Oh, this is exciting.

Meatloaf has to get you below that red line, Steve.

Let's find out if he's going to do it.

Well, it's right.

You've done it...

Oh, just!

63, you needed.

60, you got - 133.

You're through to Round Two, Steve. Well done.

He's helped you out there, Steve. Well played.

Interestingly, I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)

is the only number one single in history

about taking the bins out.

LAUGHTER

Thanks, Richard.

Pippa, welcome. What do you do, Pippa?

I work for the same outdoor adventure centre as Ben,

but I work in the office.

Oh, to be stuck inside in an outdoor theme park!

What a cruel irony.

-The office will be in a tree.

-In a treehouse.

Sort of a triangular hut, yeah.

Do you look out the windows with a sense of longing,

wish you could get out to the great outdoors?

I have a sense of delight that other people can do that

and that I can facilitate that by drawing in the customers.

Very good, good stuff. OK - now, Pippa, this is your board.

This is your board, you can do what you like with it.

Talk us through it.

Fill in as many of those blanks as you can.

You have to score 95 or less.

I only knew two anyway, cos I'm not great at pop music.

Um...I'll go with Get Lucky,

which is one of my favourite songs of all time.

I think it's Daft Punk.

I don't know if I need to do the featuring of Nile Rodgers

and Pharrell Williams, but...they were in it as well.

You've done it. You're going to say Daft Punk.

There's your red line.

Get below that, you are through to the next round.

How many of our 100 people said Daft Punk?

Absolutely right, and through you go. Very well done.

23 - good answer.

64, your total.

Through you go to Round Two.

Yeah, very well played. Daft Punk. Now, the rest of these...

-Are you any good at the rest?

-Yeah, I'm still...

-I mean...

-Return Of The Mack?

-What the heck's his name?

-M...M...

-Ma...

-Ma...

-Ma...

..ark Morrison - Mark Morrison!

Mark Morrison, it's exactly him.

I don't know how you do it.

Oh, lordy! Sorry.

Your recall is extraordinary. 11 points for that.

Brick In The Wall?

-Pink Floyd.

-Pink Floyd, yes.

That would have scored 62.

Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter?

This is Iron Maiden, the mighty Iron Maiden.

That would have scored you 15.

So Mark Morrison is the best answer up there,

and Xander just got it, like that.

-LAUGHTER

-Brilliant.

-There you go.

Thanks very much indeed.

At the end of our first round, the pair heading home

with a score of 137, I'm so sorry, Brian and Brenda.

It was very close, though - only four points in it.

You did pretty well, actually, considering.

Always tough to be the last to answer on a board like that

and you did perfectly well.

We'll see you next time, look forward to that.

Brian and Brenda, thanks very much for playing.

APPLAUSE

For the remaining three pairs, it's time for Round Two.

So three pairs remain.

At the end of this round, we have to say goodbye to another pair.

Best of luck to all three pairs. Our category for Round Two is...

Can you all decide in your pairs who'll go first and second?

Whoever's first, please step up to the podium.

OK, and the question concerns...

Male protagonists. Richard?

In a moment, Xander's going to show you the names of four authors.

We're looking for any book written by any of those authors

which has a male character as its title, please.

So any book whose title is that of a male character

by any of the following four authors.

-Very best of luck.

-OK, so as Richard's just mentioned,

we'll put the names of four authors on the board.

They'll remain on the board all the way up the line and all the way back down -

they won't change halfway through, OK?

Here are those four authors.

There we are. Now then, Pippa.

I can only think of Beatrix Potter characters.

That's perfect - she's up there.

-LAUGHTER

-Yes, true!

But they won't be pointless. Um...

Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.

Do you remember there was a key word in that, which was, um...

Oh, no, I've said it wrong.

..the word "male".

-Oh!

-Remember that, "male"?

-The word "male".

-Oh.

-I have to take your answer, I'm really sorry.

-I'm so sorry, Ben.

I'm so sorry.

Let's see if Mrs Tiggy-Winkle...

-AUDIENCE LAUGHS, PIPPA GROANS

-..is a male protagonist.

Let's find out. Is it right?

I'm sorry, Pippa.

I'm afraid she is very much a female protagonist.

I'm sorry. An incorrect answer, there.

Yeah, sorry, it wasn't a stage name.

That's her real name, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle.

That's... You know what?

That's...one of those things that happens, sometimes.

-It does.

-Tough luck.

-Usually on the first podium to answer, as well.

I'm sorry, Pippa.

-Ruth.

-Hello.

-What are you going to go for?

I'm going to go for...

I know there's one by George Eliot in my head,

and I can't remember.

I'm just going to go with the obvious Dickens one

and Oliver Twist.

-Oliver Twist.

-I hope it's obvious.

-Let's hope it's not.

Let's see how many said Oliver Twist.

It's right.

Not that obvious - 41.

Yeah, very well done.

It's a nice position to be in when someone's just scored 100.

You can go for an obvious one. From 1838, Oliver Twist.

Thanks very much. Ben...

Embarrassingly - I'm going to say this on TV -

I'm named after this character.

Benjamin Bunny.

-LAUGHTER

-Aww!

Was it...?

Is he a relation?

LAUGHTER

Benjamin Bunny - let's see if that's right.

Let's see how many of our 100 people said Benjamin Bunny.

It's right.

1!

That is a great answer, Ben.

Oh, that's so much pressure off me!

Yeah, The Tale Of Benjamin Bunny.

-That's nice, isn't it?

-Yeah.

There's worse Beatrix Potter characters to be named after.

-Well, we'll have a look later.

-We will.

Thanks very much.

We're halfway through - let's look at the scores.

1, the best score of that pass, Ben. Very well done indeed, Ben and Amy.

Then up to 41, where we find Ruth and Steve.

Pippa and Ben B, up on 100.

We'll need a low score from you. Best of luck.

We'll come back down the line. Can the second players step up to the podium?

OK, so we're looking for the title of any work

by any of these authors that contains the name

of a male protagonist.

Now, Amy...

-Pressure's been taken off a bit.

-A little bit.

In fact, 98 or less sees you through.

Yeah. Um, I can literally only think of one

so I'm going to go with David Copperfield.

"David Copperfield," says Amy. David Copperfield.

Here's your red line, lovely and high.

Let's see how many people said David Copperfield.

It's right. You're through.

31.

Very well done - 32, your total.

-Lowest total of the round.

-Yeah, safe and sound.

Dickens said of all his books, he liked that the best,

David Copperfield.

Also the only Dickens book to contain the word "kangaroo".

But I don't know if those two facts are linked.

Well, clearly, clearly.

Thanks very much.

Now, Steve, you have to score 58. That's your task.

-58 or less.

-Right.

Well, I should know lots more Beatrix Potter...tales,

being brought up in Ambleside, just down the road from her house.

But in fact, I'm going to go for Nicholas Nickleby.

"Nicholas Nickleby," says Steve. Nicholas Nickleby.

Here's your red line.

You have to get below that to get through.

Let's see if Nicholas Nickleby can do it for you.

It's right.

Very well done.

20.

-61 is your total.

-Well played, Steve.

Famously doesn't include the word "kangaroo", Nicholas Nickleby.

OK - now, Ben, listen. I'm sorry to say this to you,

but you are the high-scorers even before you've given your excellent answer.

Yeah. Uh...books aren't really my greatest subject.

-I can only think of one.

-Some of these books are set in the outdoors!

Yeah. Yeah, I'm going to go for Peter Rabbit.

OK - Peter Rabbit.

Let's see how many of our 100 people said Peter Rabbit.

No red line, as you're already the high-scorers.

How many people said Peter Rabbit?

It's right.

36.

136 is your total.

Yeah, over 40 million copies of that sold worldwide,

The Tale Of Peter Rabbit.

Now, let's take a look at the different authors, cos, in fact,

Beatrix Potter's got the most pointless answers of any of these.

You could have had The Tale Of Tuppenny,

you could've had The Tale Of Timmy Tiptoes.

Both of those were pointless.

The Tale Of Ginger And Pickles, The Tale Of Johnny Town-Mouse,

The Tale Of Little Pig Robinson.

That would be a worse one to be named after.

Imagine on podium four, there was Amy and Little Pig Robinson.

All of those, pointless.

You've got Dickens - the best answer you could have had

was Dombey And Son, which would have scored you 2.

Barnaby Rudge would've scored you 3.

Uh, George Eliot, the best answer, Felix Holt, The Radical.

Would've scored 1 point, terrific answer.

4 points for Daniel Deronda, 5 for Adam Bede,

6 for Silas Marner.

And Thomas Hardy, the best answer,

The Trumpet Major is a pointless answer.

Thanks very much, Richard. At the end of our second round,

the pair heading home, with a high score of 136,

I'm afraid it's Ben and Pippa. I'm sorry. Next time, maybe.

We'll look forward to you coming back.

You did pretty well, up till now - let's hope you can take it further next time.

Thanks for playing, Ben and Pippa.

APPLAUSE

But for the remaining two pairs, it's now time for the head-to-head.

Congratulations, Amy and Ben, Steve and Ruth.

You're one step closer to the final

and a chance to play for our jackpot,

which currently stands at...

Here's the bit where we decide who's going to play for that jackpot.

We do that by making you go head-to-head.

The difference is you're now allowed to confer before you give your answers.

The first pair to win two questions will be playing for that five grand.

I think this is going to be very exciting.

Best of luck to both pairs - let's play the head-to-head.

OK, here comes your first question, and it concerns...

US cities. Richard?

Going to show you five pictures of US cities.

Can you identify the most obscure of these five?

OK - let's reveal our five US cities, here they come.

We've got...

There we are - five US cities for you to identify.

Amy and Ben, you've scored lowest throughout this show so far,

so you'll go first.

Well, I don't know any.

THEY LAUGH

I think I know three, but I don't want to take a risk

on either of the beach ones,

and I think I only know B, C and D.

We'll go for B, which is the obvious one -

San Francisco.

OK, you're saying San Francisco for B.

Now, then, Steve and Ruth, fancy talking us through that board?

-Not really.

-You can do some thinking out loud, if you like.

Well, I think A or D is probably Miami, one of them.

I thought E might be Boston, because it's built of granite, that church.

Oh, I like that, Steve.

But that might be a completely erroneous guess. Um...

-Go for your granite.

-Let's go for E - Boston.

OK - E, Boston. So we have San Francisco and Boston.

Amy and Ben said San Francisco for B.

Let's see how many of our 100 people said that.

Well, obviously, it's right.

70 of our 100 got that.

Now, Steve - E, you are saying, is Boston,

because you think that church is built of granite.

Let's find out - is it Boston? If so, how many said it?

-It's right!

-Oh, my God!

-It is, the granite city itself.

And it wins you the point.

That...oh...

11.

Wow.

Yeah - the really interesting thing is that building is not made of granite.

LAUGHTER

No, it is! It is, it is.

It is made of granite.

That's Faneuil Hall and it is absolutely made of granite.

But the key thing is, after one question, Steve and Ruth,

you're up 1-0 - just had to let you know that.

One of those interesting ones where you're forced to go

for a risky one when you go second on that, so that was an advantage.

-I think you'd have gone for San Francisco.

-Yeah.

A, it is Miami.

Would have scored you 21 points.

I think people worried about it

because they thought D might have been Miami.

C is Seattle.

-That the space needle, there.

-That's the tagine in the sky.

36 points.

And so the other beach one, D...

That is Honolulu.

You'll notice, in the buildings in the background,

very little granite, there...

LAUGHTER

That's how you can tell it's Honolulu.

SHE GIGGLES

Wonderful. Well, thank you very much indeed.

So, here comes your second question.

Amy and Ben, you have to win this one to stay in the game,

but Steve and Ruth get to answer it first.

It concerns...

Leaders of the Soviet Union. Richard.

We'll give you five first names of men who've led the Soviet Union.

You have to give us the surnames, please. Good luck.

Thanks - let's reveal our five leaders of the Soviet Union

with their first names. Here they are...

I'll read those all again.

Steve and Ruth will go first.

THEY WHISPER

We're going to go for Leonid.

-That's Leonid Brezhnev.

-Leonid Brezhnev, say Steve and Ruth.

Amy and Ben,

all those other Soviet leaders are yours.

Talk us through them, if you can.

The top one is Mikhail Gorbachev.

That's not going to be it.

And Joseph Stalin won't be it.

I only know Yuri Gagarin.

I think he was in space, so...

AMY LAUGHS

You can't do both at once, can you?

So, I'm going to have to go with the bottom one,

which is Nikita Khrushchev.

Nikita Khrushchev. So, we have Brezhnev versus Khrushchev.

Steve and Ruth said Brezhnev.

Let's see if that's right and, if it is, let's see

how many of our 100 people said Brezhnev.

It's right.

30.

APPLAUSE

Now, then, Amy and Ben

have said Khrushchev, for Nikita.

Let's see if that's right and how many people said that.

It's right. It's going to be hard to call, this one.

You need to win it to stay in the game. And you do! 28!

Very well done, indeed! Khrushchev, 28.

You are back in the game. After two questions, it's 1-1.

Yep, Brezhnev and Khrushchev there.

Let's fill in the rest of the board.

Stalin, he would have scored you 63.

The big scorer is at the top there,

Mikhail Gorbachev.

Would have scored you 74.

The best answer is Andropov.

Would have scored you 10 points.

Thanks very much. OK, here comes your third question.

This is the one which will decide who goes through to the final,

to play for that decent jackpot.

Best of luck to both pairs. It concerns...

AMY LAUGHS

OK. Plants. Richard...

That got a reaction, didn't it?! I was surprised. I'll show you

five clues now to facts about plants.

Give us the most obscure answer. The team that does is going through

-to play for the jackpot.

-Let's reveal the clues...

HE READS OUT THE CLUES

I'll read those again.

HE READS OUT THE CLUES AGAIN

Now, then, Amy and Ben, you go first this time.

THEY CONFER IN WHISPERS

We're going to have to go with the top one and we are going to say

-chlorophyll.

-Chlorophyll, say Amy and Ben. Chlorophyll.

Now, then, Steve and Ruth, the board is all yours.

Well, chlorophyll I guessed at. I guessed that was that one.

Erm, we don't know any of the others,

but I have an inkling that the third one, the bedding plant -

and that is what we are going to have to go for -

is a Busy Lizzie.

A Busy Lizzie.

Busy Lizzie,

say Steve and Ruth. So, Amy and Ben went with chlorophyll.

Let's see if that's right and, if so, how many people said it.

It's right.

38.

APPLAUSE

38. That's what you have to beat, Steve and Ruth, but first,

you have to be right with Busy Lizzie. Let's find out if it is.

-It's right!

-Hey!

-Very well done, indeed.

Is it going to beat 38?

Yes, it is! Very well done! 35.

That is quite close,

but it does it for you. Steve and Ruth, very well done.

After three questions, you are through to the final, 2-1.

Two points on the last question, three points on that one.

A terrific head-to-head. Well played.

The part of the stamen that produces pollen is the best answer.

It is the anther. That would have scored 6 points.

Well done if you said that. The fossilised tree resin is amber,

of course. The biggest scorer. Would have scored you 53.

And the film, also a good scorer, is Jacob's Ladder. Yeah.

-It would have scored you 8 points.

-Thanks very much, indeed, Richard.

So, the pair we say goodbye to at the end of this round

are Amy and Ben. That was a very exciting head-to-head.

So little in it. 3 points in the last question, 2 in the one before.

Yeah, superb play throughout, actually.

We look forward to seeing you again next time, but meantime, thank you,

Amy and Ben.

APPLAUSE

For Steve and Ruth, it's time for our Pointless final!

Congratulations, Steve and Ruth. You have seen off the competition

and you have won our coveted Pointless trophy.

You now have a chance to win

our Pointless jackpot, which stands at £5,000.

ALL: Whoo!

APPLAUSE

As always, you get to choose your category.

Here are your four options to choose from. They are...

HE READS OUT OPTIONS

Right, I think we should go for International Organisations,

because it sounds quite generalised. What do you think?

Very reluctantly, International Organisations, yes.

You never know. It could be anything.

International Organisations. It really could be anything.

Let's find out exactly which "anything" it is going to be.

Three different options. Hopefully, one suits you.

We are looking for...

Any country which is a member of the UN Security Council,

as of February, 2014.

We are looking for any country that has joined NATO since 1995.

Or we are looking for anyone who has been

a permanent president of the EU Commission

since it was set up in 1958.

So, any members of the UN Security Council, by February, 2014.

Any countries which have joined NATO since 1995

or any permanent president of the EU Commission since 1958.

Very best of luck.

OK. As always, you have got

up to one minute to come up with three answers

and all you need is for just one of those answers to be pointless.

-Right.

-Are you ready?

-Yep.

OK, let's put 60 seconds on the clock.

OK, your time starts now.

UN Security Council.

-Do you know members of that?

-Yeah.

-OK, let's concentrate on that.

No, I know answers in all of these.

Countries that joined NATO since 1995...

The three Baltic states - Latvia, Lithuania

-and, erm, Estonia. Right?

-Right.

Presidents of the EU Commission. The present president is a guy

-called Manuel Barroso.

-Yeah, but he won't be...

-He will,

because no-one will know his name, cos he's that bloody obscure!

-He's that obscure! Right.

-Members of the UN Security Council...

-Yep.

-There's China, Russia, Britain,

-erm...

-Japan?

-No, I don't think so,

at the moment. China, Russia, Britain, France...

-I think Brazil is a member at the moment.

-But less likely

-to be obscure, though, aren't they?

-Ten seconds left.

-So, Brazil...

-Do you think? Do you not think countries joining NATO

since 1995? And do you know any more presidents of the EU Commission?

-No, that's the only one I know.

-Right, OK. Do one of each.

That is your time up. I now need to know what your three answers

-are going to be.

-The president of the EU Commission that you...

The president of the EU Commission, Manuel Barroso.

Barroso. Manuel Barroso. OK.

Countries joining NATO since 1995...

Slovenia.

Slovenia.

And, er, Estonia.

-And Estonia. Those are your three answers.

-Yes.

OK, of those three, which is your best shot at a pointless answer?

-Slovenia.

-Slovenia.

OK, we'll put that last. And your least likely?

-Manuel Barroso.

-OK, Manuel Barroso, we'll put first.

OK, let's put those answers up on the board. And here they are...

HE REPEATS ANSWERS

Well, very, very best of luck.

Your first answer was Manuel Barroso. Let's just see.

One of these answers might be pointless and, if it is,

it will win you that jackpot of 5,000 quid.

-What would you do with that, Steve?

-My wife and I are visiting Borneo

in the near future and that would help pay for the big holiday,

-wouldn't it?

-Very good. Ruth, how about you?

I would probably be irresponsible and go skiing,

to Verbier in Switzerland and take all the girls out

for a big slap-up meal.

OK, well, very, very best of luck. Three good answers up there.

Your first answer, Manuel Barroso. This was the one you thought was

probably least likely to be pointless. We are looking

for presidents of the EU Commission. Let's find out if it's right.

If it's pointless, it wins you £5,000.

How many people said Manuel Barroso?

It's right.

Now, if this goes all the way down to 0,

as I say, it will win you £5,000.

Down it goes, through the 20s, through the teens,

into single figures. Still going down! Down it goes!

Oh! 2.

APPLAUSE

Try again!

That is a great first answer.

That was the one you thought was least likely to be pointless.

It scored you 2. Obviously, not pointless, so only two more shots

at today's jackpot. But as I say,

very, very reassuring. Bodes well for your next two answers.

We were looking for members of NATO since 1995. The first of those

was Estonia.

Obviously, it has to be right and then has to be pointless

for you to win that jackpot. For £5,000, let's find out

how many people said Estonia.

It's another correct answer.

Your first answer took us all the way down to 2.

Your second answer, Estonia, now taking us down through

into single figures. Still going down...

4, for Estonia.

APPLAUSE

Another very, very good score. Lovely low single-figure score.

However, not pointless. Everything is now riding on your third

and final answer, Slovenia. Again, we are looking for countries

that joined NATO since 1995. You thought this was your best shot

at a pointless answer. Let's find out if it is.

For £5,000, let's see how many people said Slovenia.

Well, it's right.

Your first answer, Manuel Barroso, took us all the way down to 2.

Your second answer, Estonia, took us down to 4.

Slovenia now taking us down into single figures.

Passing four! 3!

Oh, bad luck.

APPLAUSE

That is so unfortunate. Three excellent answers there.

Oh, to go down to 2 with your first answer.

Oh, I'm sorry. That's really disappointing

not to find a pointless answer there,

but I'm afraid you didn't, which means you don't win today's

jackpot of £5,000. That rolls over to the next show.

But you have been fabulous. We've loved having you on

and you get to take home a Pointless trophy each, so very well done.

BOTH: Thank you.

APPLAUSE

Well played. A valiant effort.

2, 4 and 3. 9 points between 3 answers is good going.

The other two you mentioned for countries joining NATO were

Latvia and Lithuania. Both would have scored you points -

5 and 4. However, Lithuania would have been a terrific answer

for members of the UN Security Council.

It would have won you £5,000. Let's take a look at some others...

HE READS OUT ANSWERS

You also could have has Luxembourg, Rwanda and South Korea.

There is only one pointless answer for countries that have joined NATO.

And that was Hungary.

It would have been very tough to get. Heads of the EU Commission...

You had Jose Manuel Barroso. The bottom two there would be

the big names. Romano Prodi, the Italian Prime Minister,

and Roy Jenkins, the former Chancellor and Home Secretary,

and leader of the SDP, as well. And Franco Maria Malfatti

and Gaston Thorn, also pointless. Well done if you got one of those.

A good category. Really well played. Sorry you didn't take home the money.

Thanks very much, Richard. We have to say goodbye to you,

Steven and Ruth, but it's been great having you on the show.

-Thank you for playing. Steve and Ruth, great contestants.

-Thank you.

Sadly, Steve and Ruth didn't win our jackpot today, which means

it rolls over on to the next show, when we will be playing for £6,000.

ALL: Whoo!

Join us then, to see if someone can win it.

-Meanwhile, goodbye from Richard...

-Goodbye.

-..and me. Goodbye.

APPLAUSE