Episode 23 Pointless

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Hello, I'm Alexander Armstrong, and welcome to Pointless.

The aim of the game is to score as few points as you can.

To do that, you need the answers that no-one else could think of.

-Let's meet today's players.

-APPLAUSE

Couple number one.

I'm Simon. This is Emma. We're friends from work and we're from Leicester.

-Couple number two.

-I'm Paul. This is my wife, Nicki. We're from Chandler's Ford in Hampshire.

-Couple number three.

-My name's Matthew. I'm from Manchester.

This is my mum, Lynda. She's from Chorley.

-And couple number four.

-My name's Hugh. I work in IT.

This is my brother-in-law James, who is a professional gambler.

We're both from Glasgow.

These, ladies and gentlemen, are today's contestants.

We'll be finding out more about you throughout the show.

There's only one person left to introduce.

His Latin name is Factius obscurius.

-He's my Pointless friend, Richard.

-Hiya.

-CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

-Hi, everyone.

-Did you just hear what I heard?

-A cheer?

-No, before that.

-The words "professional gambler".

-Yeah!

-Yeah.

-I wish they weren't on podium four.

It's going to take you ages to get to James and talk to him.

-We could always talk to him now.

-No, no.

-No, let's save it.

-OK.

-What sort of gambler do you think he is?

I think he does a bit of everything. I think he plays the Pools.

-LAUGHTER

-Horses.

-Lottery.

-"I'm a professional Lottery player!"

-A scratch-carder.

-"I'm a EuroMillions professional."

-That's the one.

-Anyway, in terms of the show...

-Yeah.

-You're gonna love round one.

-Am I?

-Yeah, you are.

-I LOVE round one.

I'm going to like it cos we'll find out a little bit more about being a professional gambler.

Now, all of our questions have been put to 100 people before the show.

Our contestants need to find the obscure answers those 100 people didn't get.

Everyone's looking for a pointless answer, which none of our 100 people gave.

Each time, we will add £250 to the jackpot.

Neil and Scott didn't win the jackpot last time, so we add another £1,000.

Today's jackpot starts off at...

If everyone's ready, let's play Pointless.

In this round, I'll take an answer from each of you and there's no conferring.

Whichever pair has the highest score will be eliminated, so make sure that's not you.

Our first category today is...

Can you decide in your pairs who's going first and who's going second?

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

Let's find out what the question is.

We gave 100 people 100 seconds to name as many

words ending in "..ear" as they could.

"..ear". Richard.

We're looking for any word with its own entry in the Oxford Dictionary of English that ends "..ear".

As always, no proper nouns or hyphenated words.

We won't accept the word "ear" itself.

-Thanks very much indeed, Richard. Simon, welcome to the show.

-Hello.

-What do you do, Simon?

-I'm a PhD student.

-What's your discipline?

-Physics.

-Which aspect of physics?

-Planetary science. I look at Mercury.

-Wow!

-As in the planet.

-Specifically Mercury?

-Yes, indeed.

-What drew you to Mercury?

The university has a stake in the spacecraft that's going there in five years or so.

-So, er...

-I can see what drew you to Mercury. That's fantastic!

-Where's it going to leave from?

-I think Kourou in French Guiana.

I thought you were going to say somewhere in the Lake District! That'd be fun!

-Isn't Kourou south of Manchester?

-Yeah. It's a lovely spot.

-Yeah, near Nantwich.

-Lovely spot.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah. Very good.

-How long does it take to get to Mercury?

-About six years.

-Wow!

-So, 11 years from now...

-Thereabouts.

-I can do maths!

-..we'll be getting some exciting data back from Mercury.

-We hope so.

Wow!

-Now, Simon.

-Yes.

-All this is well and good.

-But do any of these words end in "..ear"?

-OK.

I've got one very dodgy one.

I'm hoping there's a singular as well as a plural.

I'm going to say "arrear", as in "arrears".

"Arrea". "Arrea", says Simon. Let's see if that's right.

If it is, let's see how many of our 100 people said it.

-Oh!

-Oh, no!

Bad luck, Simon. I'm afraid that's an incorrect answer.

-That scores you the maximum of 100 points. I'm sorry.

-Oh, well.

-Richard.

-Quite a good logical physics brain.

It's only there as a plural, I'm afraid - "arrears".

You cannot be "in arrea".

-Hm. Now then, Paul. Welcome to the show.

-Thank you.

-Paul, what do you do?

-I'm a design engineer.

-What particular sort of things do you design?

-Equipment for divers to use underwater.

-Oh, fun!

-Do you have an interest in diving?

-No.

-Really?

LAUGHTER No.

-What do you like to get up to if you're NOT diving?

-I like to play snooker and squash.

-Go on long walks.

-Do you do proper, proper long, long walks?

No. We just walk to pubs, really. LAUGHTER

That's MY kind of walk!

OK, Paul, words ending in "..ear".

Right, um...

I'm going to say "bugbear".

-APPRECIATIVELY:

-"Bugbear".

-Oh, he's good, Paul.

-Yeah.

-LAUGHTER

Let's see if it's right and how many of our 100 people said "bugbear".

It's right.

Very well done indeed, Paul.

That's exactly how you play this round.

"Bugbear" is a pointless answer. It adds 250 quid to the jackpot.

Taking the total up to £2,500.

It scores you nothing.

Excellent start to the game. Very well done. Richard.

Welcome to Pointless, Paul. Cause of obsessive fear, anxiety or irritation - bugbear.

-Lynda.

-Hello.

-Welcome back. Tell us what happened last time.

-Well, we got Olympic sports.

-Mm-hm.

We got two answers, but I'm afraid they weren't low enough.

-You were for the high jump!

-We were for the high jump, yes!

-High jump scored VERY high! 55 for high jump?

-I know.

We'll put all that behind us.

We're looking for words ending in "..ear". What are you thinking?

I'm going to go for..."linear".

Oh, very good!

Lynda's gone "linear". Let's see if that's right.

And let's see how many of our 100 people said "linear".

Absolutely right.

-Five for "linear".

-Another VERY good answer.

"Linear", meaning in a straight line or consisting of only one dimension or lots of straight lines.

-Linear.

-Linear, thank you.

-Yeah, linear.

-That's good. Linear.

Hugh, welcome to the show. Great to have you here.

I can't ask James yet. Have to do it on the way back.

-Hugh's an IT consultant. You could ask about that.

-Watch.

-What do you do, Hugh?

-I work in IT.

-Tell us about that. That's fascinating(!)

-Fascinating.

Yes. How does that work?

-I break computers.

-You fix computers.

-I break them.

-Really?

-I test them and break them.

-The way people break horses?

-Yeah.

-You tame them.

-Yes. I'm a computer whisperer.

-LAUGHTER

-Ah! Very good.

-What do you get up to in your spare time, Hugh?

-I collect ties.

-But chose not to wear one for us!

-LAUGHTER

Yeah, go figure!

-Yeah, go figure.

-Yeah.

-Couldn't find one that worked with this shirt.

-I'm not going to argue with that.

-LAUGHTER

Anyway, Hugh, we're wanting a word ending in "..ear".

Um..."underwear".

"Under..." Could you say that with less of a smile on your lips?

"Underwear", says Hugh. "Underwear".

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

It's right.

Very well done indeed, Hugh. Two for "underwear".

-You know what underwear is?

-Yeah.

I know you don't wear it, but you know what it is, right?

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

Let's take a look at the scores, as they stand.

Paul and Nicki looking extremely strong

after that excellent answer of Paul's.

Then up to two, when we find Hugh and James.

Up to five, where we find Lynda and Matt.

Then up to 100, where we find Simon and Emma.

Let's have a nice low-scoring answer from you in the next pass. I think a pointless!

-That's all I'm saying.

-No pressure, then(!)

Masses of pressure. A pointless answer, please.

Can the second players please take their places at the podium?

We're looking for words ending in "..ear".

James! What kind of gambling do you specialise in?

-Mainly horse racing.

-Presumably, it's a very disciplined approach?

-Lots and lots of studying.

-What's the most you've made on one bet?

I think my favourite ever bet is... I won £15,000 for a £100 stake.

On the jackpot once. That was my favourite.

Yeah, I think that'd be my favourite, too!

Don't know if it's the biggest, but that's my favourite.

OK, very good. I'm now going to ask you for a word ending in "..ear".

Just, I mean... Let's try and get a pointless answer.

Well, um...

Going along the same lines as Hugh, I'm going to try "swimwear".

"Swimwear" says James. The high-scorers on 100 are Emma and Simon.

You're on two. A score of 97 or less will see you through to the next round.

"Swimwear". How many people said "swimwear"?

You're through to the next round.

Oh! Very well done indeed!

That's what I asked for. That's what I got - a pointless answer.

It adds £250 to today's jackpot, taking the total up to £2,750.

It scores you nothing and it leaves your total at two.

-Very well done indeed, James.

-Brilliant. Two debutants both getting pointless answers.

-James and Hugh have done very well. We might have to close down your account.

-Please don't!

Thanks very much. Now, then, Matt. Matt. Remind us what you do, Matt.

I work with, not only children, but adults with disabilities.

-Varying all kinds.

-That's right.

In both the domestic and sporting capacity.

Do you have any interesting hobbies or areas of expertise, Matt?

I like watching films, a lot of films.

OK, very good. And how about a word ending in "..ear"?

I'm going to go with..."Tupperware".

-SURPRISED:

-"Tupperware", says Matt.

"Tupperware". The high-scorers are Emma and Simon.

You're on five. They're on 100.

If you can score 94 or less, you are through to the next round.

Let's see if "Tupperware" is right and, if it is, how many people said it.

Ooh, bad luck, Matt! I'm really sorry. That's an incorrect answer.

You score the maximum of 100 points.

You've thrown a massive lifeline there to Emma.

That takes your total up to 105. I'm really sorry.

Sorry, Matt. Firstly, it's a brand. Secondly, it ends "..are".

-Rather than "..ear".

-Nicki, Nicki.

I've got fabulous news for you. Round two awaits.

-It has your name written on it.

-I'm so pleased!

You'll never overtake the high score of Matt and Lynda.

-Paul did brilliantly well there, a lovely low score.

-He did.

Shall we try and make it a double pointless?

Well, I will go for what I consider to be a risky one,

seeing as we're safe.

I'm going to say "overbear".

"Overbear". "Overbear" says Nicki.

Let's see if "overbear" is right and how many people said it.

It's right.

Let's see if it's going to go all the way down.

Yes, it has done! Very well done! A double pointless, Nicki!

Your pointless also adds £250 to today's jackpot.

Takes the total up to £3,000.

It scores you nothing and it leaves your total at nothing.

-Very well done indeed.

-How about that from Nicki and Paul?

That's now three debutants and three pointless answers.

You've both gone with "bear" words.

-"Overbear" is, in any group of bears, the biggest one - the overbear.

-Yeah.

Thank you very much. Now then, Emma.

Ooh, this is exciting.

-Terrible!

-We need to score four or less from you.

-Emma, what do you do?

-I'm also doing a PhD, but in biophysics.

-You're not working on the Mercury trip?

-No.

I'm looking at how certain chemicals interact with cell membranes.

-It's not as exciting as it sounds!

-No, it is! I bet!

Now then, Emma. This is very close now.

Matt and Lynda on 105. You're on 100.

You have to score four or less.

I seem to have forgotten all the words I know!

I'm going to risk "teddy bear".

It might be hyphenated, I'm not sure. It might be separate words, but "teddy bear".

OK, "teddy bear".

"Teddy bear", is it right? How many people said it?

Oooh, Emma! I'm so sorry. You scored the maximum of 100 points.

That takes your total up to 200. Richard.

So, you're a biophysicist.

-With a physicist.

-Yeah!

Neither of you thought to say "nuclear"?

-Oh, yeah! That's a word!

-Oh!

Four points. Would have seen you through.

Pointless answers - "thermonuclear", "mononuclear", "supranuclear",

"internuclear", "subnuclear", "perinuclear".

AUDIENCE GROANS

-And, of course, "polymorphonuclear".

-Well, of course!

All of those would have been pointless answers.

"Teddy bear" is two words, I'm afraid.

Let's take a look at some pointless answers. Some familiar words.

Particularly the first one...

..As was "nightwear", "leisurewear", "loungewear"...

.."Thermonuclear", pointless answer.

If there's, say, a biophysicist out there,

you would probably have got that, I think.

"Workwear" and "yesteryear", which is rather a nice one.

Very well done if you got any of those at home.

Thanks very much indeed.

At the end of our first round, our losing pair with a ridiculously high score!

-Really very high.

-I don't think it could be higher.

We'll see you again next time.

Emma, Simon, great to have you on the show.

APPLAUSE

For the remaining three pairs, it's time for round two.

Obviously, there's only room for two pairs in our head-to-head round,

so one of the pairs will be leaving at the end of this round.

Nicki and Paul, I have to say,

after that performance, it looks like it's not going to be you.

Don't say that. Don't jinx us!

I don't know, but Hugh and James did very, very well there.

-What do you think the odds are that you make it to the final?

-Making it to the final - 2/1 on.

-2/1 on.

-Yeah.

-Well, best of luck to all three pairs.

Our category for round two is...

Can you decide in your pairs who's going first, who's going second?

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

And the question concerns...

-Richard.

-We're going to give you six islands on each pass, all governed by another country.

Tell us which countries govern the islands you're about to see.

Give us a nice obscure answer, you'll score fewer points. An incorrect answer will score 100.

As always, by country, we mean a sovereign state that is a member of the UN in its own right.

12 islands in all to guess at home. Good luck.

We're looking for the countries to which these islands belong or are affiliated, and here they are...

..I'll read those all one last time...

There we are - six non-sovereign islands.

-Paul?

-I think I'm going to say Corsica is owned by France.

Corsica, France, says Paul.

Let's see if that's right and, if it is, how many people said France for Corsica.

Very good. That's right.

40 for France.

Closer to Italy than France, but governed from France.

Lynda. So, Corsica's gone.

-Mm-hm.

-That leaves five other islands.

You, then, to name the country to which they belong or are affiliated.

I've got an idea about Newfoundland Island,

but I don't know whether to risk it.

So I'm going to go safe and go for Crete and Greece.

Crete, Greece. Let's see if that's right and, if it is, how many people said it.

It is right.

Another pretty big score but much better than 100.

The largest of the Greek islands. 160 miles long.

Now then, James, you're the last person to have this board.

-You can take us through it.

-I wish very much that I could.

There is one that I can have a guess at

and there are three that I can't, so my mind is made up.

I sincerely hope that Newfoundland Island is governed by Canada.

James is saying Canada for Newfoundland Island.

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

It's right. 40 is our lowest score.

Not bad.

Not bad at all. Richard.

Newfoundland off the east coast of Canada.

The capital of Newfoundland, St John's, is closer to Ireland than it is to Winnipeg in Canada.

-Really?

-Yeah.

-That's a big country, Canada.

-That IS a big country!

Let's go through the rest of this board.

You've picked off the simpler ones...

-..Do you know what they need in Krk?

-Vowels.

-Vowels. Yes.

-No kidding.

Four points, that would have scored. And the Bouvet Island?

It's a one-pointer. It belongs to Norway.

I expect you wouldn't have got it unless you'd been there. If you did, well done.

Thank you very much indeed. We're halfway through the round. Let's take a look at the scores.

40, the best score of the pass, Paul.

Paul and Nicki, once again looking pretty strong.

Up to 43, where we find James and Hugh.

Then up to 62, where Lynda and Matt are.

So, Matt, we need some good answering from you in the next pass.

Can the second players please take their places at the podium?

We're going to put six more islands on the board and here they are...

..I'll read those once more...

..We are looking for the country to which these islands belong or are affiliated.

Now, Hugh, you're three points ahead of our low-scorers,

and you are 18 points behind our high-scorers.

So a score of 18 or less will avoid you becoming our new high-scorers.

What do you make of that board?

I think I know some of them, but I don't think I know anything

that's going to score low enough to get straight through.

So what I'll do is I'll go for Madeira Island and say Portugal.

Madeira, Portugal, says Hugh. Madeira, Portugal.

There is your red line.

Below that, you are straight through to the next round.

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

Absolutely right.

Not bad at all. Our lowest score so far.

-It takes your total up to 78.

-Good answer, Hugh.

-It's in the North Atlantic, Madeira.

-Now then, Matt.

-Yeah.

-Now then, Matt.

78 is the high score. You're on 62.

A score of 15 or less will keep you in the game.

I'm going to have to take a gamble.

So, I'm going to go Stewart Island...

and Scotland.

Stewart Island, Scotland, says Matt.

-Going to have to.

-Here's your red line.

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

Bad luck, Matt. I'm afraid that's an incorrect answer.

It scores you the maximum of 100 points.

Takes your total up to 162. Richard.

Did what you had to do. Perfectly reasonable guess for Stewart Island.

I'll give the correct answer at the end of the pass.

And finally, Nicki, it's you.

I'm going to have to take a punt as well.

I'm going for Stewart Island as well.

Something is leading me towards... New Zealand?

-For that.

-So let's see. Stewart Island, New Zealand.

Is it right? How many people said it?

It's right!

Very well done, Nicki!

Superb!

Paul and Nicki's supremacy confirmed by that lovely total of 48.

Nicki's pretty good, isn't she? Two very good rounds.

New Zealand's third largest island, off the North and South Islands.

Let's look at the rest of the answers. Sardinia?

-Italy.

-Absolutely right.

Now...

-Kangaroo Island!

-Kangaroo Island.

-James, you're a gambling man.

-JAMES CHUCKLES

We know what it sounds like, but is that a bluff or not?

Think that's Australia or not Australia?

I would say probably not.

-Oh! You've just lost £40,000!

-LAUGHTER

Oh, yeah. It's Australia, I'm afraid.

Inishmore, I'm sure loads of people know is the Republic of Ireland.

-And Marion Island?

-It's South Africa, I think.

It IS South Africa, yeah.

Well done to anyone who got all of those. Very impressive.

Thank you very much indeed, Richard.

At the end of round two, the losing pair with the high score of 162...

Oh! Matt and Lynda, I'm afraid this time it is goodbye.

-I know.

-Never mind. It's been lovely having you on the show.

-I'm sorry we have to say goodbye.

-Lovely being here.

-Brilliant contestants.

APPLAUSE

But the two remaining pairs get one step closer to the final

and the chance of taking home our jackpot, as we enter the head-to-head.

Congratulations, Nicki and Paul, Hugh and James,

you are only one round away from the final and a chance to play for the jackpot,

which currently stands at £3,000.

AUDIENCE: Ooooh!

Clearly, only one pair can play for that money.

You're now going to go head to head. This time, you're allowed to confer.

And the first player to win two questions will be playing for that jackpot.

-Let's play the head-to-head.

-APPLAUSE

Here comes your first question, and it concerns...

Members of Michael Jackson's family. Richard.

We'll show you five pictures of relatives of Michael Jackson.

-Can you name the most obscure?

-Thanks, Richard.

Let's reveal our five members of Michael Jackson's family...

Five members of Michael Jackson's family.

Nicki and Paul, you played best throughout the show so far, so you go first.

THEY WHISPER

OK, I think we're going to go for C, Latoya.

C, Latoya.

C, Latoya, say Nicki and Paul.

Hugh and James, the board is yours.

-Hm!

-I think that's his mother. I don't know her name.

I don't think we'll get Mother Jackson as allowed.

D is Janet. E is Jermaine.

-Could B be Tito?

-I think it might be Tito.

Do we go for Jermaine, hoping it's less than Latoya?

Or do we go for Tito, which might be wrong,

but would almost certainly be less than Latoya?

-I think we go for the gamble.

-OK.

B, Tito.

-B, Tito. I could listen to James's voice.

-Mm.

Very good, isn't it?

Anyway, sorry. B, Tito, say Hugh and James.

Nicki and Paul went with Latoya. Hugh and James have gone with Tito.

Latoya, let's see if that's right and, if it is, how many people said it.

It's right.

36 for Latoya.

Hugh and James have said that B is Tito. B, Tito.

Let's see if it's right. If it is, let's see how many of our 100 said B was Tito.

Ooh! Not Tito, as it turns out.

Which means, after one question, Nicki and Paul, you're up one-nil.

You really did lose the gamble, cos Jermaine Jackson would have won you the point.

B is a pointless answer.

It's the eldest brother of the Jackson family...

Well done if you said that at home.

A is the mother, as you rightly say...

..Thanks very much indeed, Richard. Here comes your second question.

Hugh and James, you need to win this to stay in the game.

It concerns...

-Richard.

-We're going to show you the names of five dances that have been performed at one time or another.

We're only giving you the first and last letters of each word.

-Can you find the most obscure? Good luck.

-Thanks very much, Richard.

Let's reveal our five dances performed on Strictly Come Dancing. We have got...

..I'll read those again, you will be delighted to hear, without the blanks...

..Five dances performed on Strictly Come Dancing.

Hugh and James, you go first this time.

Know some of them.

Not all of them.

Got to work out what's the lowest.

But we'll go for...

-Lindy Hop, the top one.

-You're going for Lindy Hop.

Lindy Hop say Hugh and James.

Nicki and Paul, if you can, try and fill in all the blanks on the board.

I think he's leaving this to me!

I don't know the second one.

The third one, I think, is Waltz.

The fourth one is Paso Doble.

And I can't think of the bottom one.

So, I would say Paso Doble. Yeah, Paso Doble.

You're going with Paso Doble. So we have Lindy Hop and Paso Doble.

Hugh and James said Lindy Hop. Let's see if that's right and how many of our 100 said Lindy Hop.

Absolutely right.

APPLAUSE

Nicki and Paul have said Paso Doble. Let's see if that's right. Let's see how many people said that.

It's right.

Is it going to be beat 30?

Ooh! Not quite!

-APPLAUSE

-Hugh and James back in the game.

-After two questions, it's one-all.

-That was close, wasn't it?

B is Quickstep.

Wouldn't have won the point, though.

-C is Viennese Waltz.

-You know when I read that out with the blanks?

Unwittingly, it was in 3/4 time.

-Yeah, it was terrific. We all spotted that(!)

-Good.

It's a big scorer, though.

Some steps of Viennese Waltz are in the bottom one,

which is the best answer up there, would have won the point.

OK, here comes your third question, the decider, and it concerns...

Giving the brain cells a bit of a stretch from Strictly to the restoration of Charles II.

We're going to give you five clues to facts about the life and times of Charles II.

Can you find the most obscure? Whichever team does is going through to the final.

Let's reveal our five clues to facts about the life and times of Charles II, and here they are...

..I'll read those one last time...

..There we are, five clues to facts about Charles II.

Nicki and Paul, you go first.

I'm very happy to see history. VERY happy.

I think the year he was restored to the throne was 1660.

1660, say Nicki and Paul.

Hugh and James, the board is yours.

-Hm! The Lord Protector is obviously Cromwell.

-Cromwell.

I'm guessing that his mistress is Nell Gwyn.

The first name of Charles' brother who succeeded him is James.

Country he initially escaped to... Ooh! It's either France or Holland.

Unfortunately, I can't remember what I was doing in October 1651.

LAUGHTER

Think I'll go for James. That one, yeah?

First name of Charles' brother who succeeded him was James.

You're going to say James was Charles' brother. James.

Nicki and Paul have gone for 1660. Let's see if that's right as the date of his restoration.

If it is, let's see how many people said it, 1660.

Absolutely right.

Ooh! Very well done indeed, Nicki and Paul.

Five.

Hugh and James have said that James

is the name of Charles' brother who succeeded him.

Let's see if that's right and, if it is, how many of our 100 said James.

It's absolutely right.

Is it going to beat five?

-Ooh! 11!

-APPLAUSE

Very well done, both pairs.

Two brilliant answers there, but Nicki and Paul, you pipped them with 1660.

After three questions, you are through to the final, two-one.

What a terrific head-to-head.

Only one answer would have beaten it and that's Charles' mistress

and mother of Duke of Monmouth, and it's not Nell Gwyn.

It's Lucy Walter and it was a pointless answer.

Very well done to anybody who said that.

The country Charles escaped to. You would have gone with France.

You'd have been right.

And Cromwell was the Lord Protector, but that was the highest score.

Thanks very much indeed.

At the end of our head-to-head, our losing pair, I'm afraid, is Hugh and James.

That was a brilliantly close head-to-head.

The good news for us is, Hugh and James, we see you next time.

We'll look forward to that very much. Hugh and James.

APPLAUSE

But for Nicki and Paul, it's time for our Pointless final.

Congratulations, Nicki and Paul, you fought off all the competition

and you've won our coveted Pointless trophy.

You now have a chance to win our Pointless jackpot.

At the end of today's show, the jackpot stands at £3,000.

AUDIENCE: Ooooh!

You have made a major contribution to that jackpot

by turning up and your first two answers were pointless.

-What would you like to see come up this round?

-'70s and '80s rock music.

Music would be good, cos I can take '80s onwards, and Paul's OK...

-..with the older stuff, you were going to say!

-Yeah.

-Music would be good.

-The rules are very simple.

To win the money, all you have to do is find a pointless answer.

Do that and you'll leave here with £3,000.

First, you choose a category. Here are your five options...

-SHE LAUGHS

-Everything you wanted, isn't it(?)

-Oh, my goodness!

-Latin America.

-Yeah, I guess.

We know nothing about boxing. I think you've stumped us!

Don't read detective fiction. Don't know hip-hop.

Don't know MPs. Got to be Latin America, hasn't it?

-Latin America.

-Yeah.

-Latin America it is. Best of luck.

Let's find out what the question is.

We gave 100 people 100 seconds to name as many...

states of Mexico as they could.

States of Mexico. Richard.

We're looking for any of the 31 federal states that make up the country of Mexico.

We won't accept the Federal District of Mexico City.

Any of the 31 federal states that make up Mexico. Very best of luck.

OK, you now have up to one minute to come up with three answers.

All you need to win that jackpot of £3,000 is for just one of those to be pointless.

-Are you ready?

-LAUGHING:

-Yeah!

You are raring to go(!) Let's put 60 seconds on the clock.

Your time starts now.

-What about...

-Tijuana?

-That's what I was going to say.

-OK.

-I don't know any.

-What's the...? Um...

-Where's the holiday destination that people go to?

-Oh!

-Gosh! Where our friends went to?

-Yeah.

-Um...

Oh!

I don't know! Um...

-I haven't got anything.

-No.

Um...

Gosh, this is hard.

-Never been there.

-Never been to Mexico.

-What about Baja?

-Baja?

Baja. B-A-G-A. B-A-J-A.

Go with it. We've got nothing else.

-Or is Baja California?

-Go for it. We haven't got anything else.

-Need one more.

-Make one up.

Ten seconds left.

I can't remember the name of that holiday place.

Um... OK.

OK, time is up. We were looking for the states of Mexico.

I now need your three answers.

-Baja California.

-Baja California.

-Tijuana.

-Tijuana.

Anything Mexican. Fajita!

-Fajita! Yeah!

-Fajita!

-LAUGHTER

-Of those three, which do you think is your best shot at a pointless answer?

-Tijuana.

-We'll put that last. What do you think is your least likely?

-Fajita, maybe!

Fajita. Very good. Let's pop those up on the board in that order...

We're looking for states of Mexico.

Fajita, strangely, was your least confident shot at...

-Actually, what if that turns out to be a pointless answer and it's right?

-Incredible.

It could be.

-Sandwich is a place.

-LAUGHTER

APPLAUSE

OK, Fajita. Let us find out. This was your least confident answer.

You only have to find one pointless answer to win that jackpot of £3,000.

Did anyone say Fajita? Is it right?

-Ah(!)

-Bad luck.

Bad luck. It turns out it is an incorrect answer.

Unfortunately, not a pointless answer. You only have two more chances to win today's jackpot.

£3,000. That's quite a decent jackpot.

What would you do with that, Paul?

Do a bit of travelling, I think.

Perhaps go up to Scotland and have a look round Scotland.

Or maybe to the states of Mexico, don't you think?

-I think that'd be...

-Visit Fajita!

What about you, Nicki? Anything else you'd like to add?

I would love to go to Venice. He can go to Scotland. I'll go to Venice.

-LAUGHTER

-Fair enough. Very best of luck.

We're looking for the states of Mexico. Two pretty good answers on the board.

Let's hope nobody said your next answer.

This has to be correct, then it has to be pointless to win that jackpot.

So, for £3,000, let's see how many people said Baja California.

Absolutely right.

Fajita turned out to be an incorrect answer.

Baja California is taking us in the right direction...

-There we are!

-APPLAUSE

This is good!

Four. Was it a bit of a stab in the dark?

Yeah, I've seen it on a map next to California, Baja California.

Well, there we are. Only four people said it.

Not a pointless answer, as it turns out, but a very good indication

of how much our 100 people know about the states of Mexico.

-And how much YOU know.

-LAUGHTER

I mean that in a good way! That was a very credible answer for this round.

-Certainly after Fajita!

-HE LAUGHS

Anyway, you only have one more chance to win today's jackpot.

Everything is now riding on Tijuana.

We were looking for the states of Mexico.

If this is right and if it's pointless, you leave with £3,000.

Let's see. Tijuana, how many people said it? Is it right?

Ooh, no! Not a state, as it turns out.

-APPLAUSE

-Oh, bad luck.

-Never mind.

Of your three answers, one was very close indeed.

Unfortunately, you didn't find that all-important pointless answer

so you don't win today's jackpot of £3,000.

That will roll over to the next show.

You have been fabulous contestants, really brilliant performance today.

-You do, of course, get to take home the Pointless trophy. Well done.

-APPLAUSE

We've had quite a few jackpot wins recently, but that was a particularly tough one.

Tijuana is a city, the largest city in Baja California.

So, a connection between the answers.

No Fajita, I'm afraid, but let's take a look at some of the pointless answers...

..Nuevo Leon, which is up on the border with the US...

..It's got lots of silver mines, San Luis Potosi...

..I'm pronouncing these terribly, I'm sure.

-Ooh, blimey!

-LAUGHTER

Tlaxcala would have been a pointless answer.

Zacatecas would also have been...

Zacatecas! Would also have been a pointless answer.

We should go for a Zacatecas, shouldn't we?

Shame they didn't win. They could have "zack-de-cash" and gone home with it.

AUDIENCE GROANS

LAUGHTER

Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye, Nicki and Paul. Thank you so much for playing.

APPLAUSE

Nicki and Paul didn't win our jackpot, which means it rolls over on to the next show,

when we will be playing for £4,000.

AUDIENCE: Oooh!

-Join us then. Meanwhile, it's goodbye from Richard.

-Goodbye.

And it's goodbye from me. Goodbye.

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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