Eggheads (game show)
{{short description|British quiz show}}
{{pp-semi-indef|small=yes}}
{{primary sources|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Eggheads titles.jpg
| genre = Quiz show
| presenter = {{Plainlist|
- Dermot Murnaghan (2003–2014)
- Jeremy Vine (2008–present)
}}
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Current Eggheads:
- Kevin Ashman (2003–present)
- Barry Simmons (2008–present)
- Pat Gibson (2009–present)
- Lisa Thiel (2014–present)
- Steve Cooke (2016–present)
- Beth Webster (2016–present)
- Olav Bjortomt (2021–present)
- Former Eggheads:
- Daphne Fowler (2003–2014)
- CJ de Mooi (2003–2012, 2014–2016)
- Chris Hughes (2003–2023)
- David Rainford (2012–2018)
- Judith Keppel (2003–2022, 2023)
}}
| director = Suzanne Pearse
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Andy Culpin
- Rob Dean
}}
| location = Riverside Studios (2021—){{cite web|url=https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19619625.jeremy-vine-eggheads-moving-channel-5|title=Jeremy Vine on Eggheads moving to Channel 5|date=2 October 2021 |access-date=15 October 2021|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002090510/https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/19619625.jeremy-vine-eggheads-moving-channel-5/|url-status=live}}
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_series = {{Plainlist|
- 20 (regular)
- 8 (celebrity)
}}
| num_episodes = {{Plainlist|
- 1870 (regular)
- 92 (celebrity)
}}
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = 12 Yard
BBC Scotland (2010-2020)
| first_aired = {{Start date|2003|11|10|df=yes}}
| last_aired = present
| related = {{Plainlist|
}}
| channel = {{Plainlist|
}}
}}
Eggheads is a British quiz show produced by 12 Yard. It was first broadcast in November 2003 chaired by Dermot Murnaghan. In 2008, Jeremy Vine became joint chair, and subsequently sole chair. The show has inspired three spinoff series: Are You an Egghead? (2008), Revenge of the Egghead (2014) and Make Me an Egghead (2016). There have also been episodes of the regular series featuring teams of celebrities in their own short series, with their own rolling prize fund.
History
The show began in 2003 with Dermot Murnaghan as the presenter. From 2008, Jeremy Vine presented when Murnaghan was hosting the spinoff series. After the spin-off show finished, Murnaghan and Vine continued to host the series on a rotational basis, with Murnaghan typically hosting the first half of each series and Vine taking over for the second half. From series 16, Vine became the sole presenter.
The series originally broadcast on BBC One at lunchtime beginning in November 2003, and later moved to a primetime slot on BBC Two from 2005 to 2020.
On 31 December 2016, the quiz made a brief cameo in BBC One’s Peter Pan Goes Wrong TV special.
On 12 March 2021, after a year's hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced on Jeremy Vine's titular Channel 5 programme that the quiz show would be moving to Channel 5 with Vine and the most recent Eggheads returning.{{Cite web|url = https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a35821899/eggheads-channel-5-leaving-bbc-two/|title = Eggheads is moving to Channel 5 after 18 years on BBC|website = Digital Spy|date = 12 March 2021|access-date = 12 March 2021|archive-date = 13 March 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210313063816/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a35821899/eggheads-channel-5-leaving-bbc-two/|url-status = live}} The new series premiered on 4 October 2021, and alongside a studio change, only four Eggheads and four contestants now played at a time with a reduction to three one-on-one rounds to accommodate advert breaks (due to Channel 5's status as a commercial broadcaster). Due to social distancing restrictions, the desks were lengthened and perspex screens were added. The first challengers, playing for charity, were Jay's Virtual Quiz, who had become a fundraising hit on social media during the pandemic. An additional Egghead (Olav Bjortomt) was featured on the opening credits and competed from week two.
In May 2024, it was revealed that the show has been permanently shelved and Vine said that 'he hasn't filmed an episode for over a year'.{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/jeremy-vine-admits-fears-long-32793134/ |title=Jeremy Vine admits fears long-running quiz show is cancelled as he hasn't filmed for a year |website=Daily Mirror |date=12 May 2024 }}
Format
In each episode, a team of five quiz and game show champions (the Eggheads) is challenged by a team of five contestants for prize money. If the challengers lose, then £1,000 is added to the prize money fund until the Eggheads are beaten, when the prize will revert to £1,000. The most prize money that has been won is £75,000, in 2007.
Some teams have been reduced to one contestant for the final round, but have still beaten five Eggheads. Occasionally, one remaining Egghead will beat five challengers. Only once have the Eggheads lost four games in succession and only four times has a team of all five challengers won the final round. Since 2021, it has been four Eggheads against four challengers, instead of the previous five.
=Rounds=
The show is played in five rounds. The first four 'one-on-one' 'elimination' rounds each focus on one subject category (of nine) while the final 'conferring' round tests general knowledge. In the first four rounds, the challengers choose a member of their own team to play, and an Egghead against whom they wish to compete. The players for that round then leave the studio to go into the "Question Room". The challenger is given the choice of going first or second. Both players are asked in turn three multiple-choice questions. If there is no winner, the round goes into sudden death with no choices given for answers. Since the show moved to Channel 5, there have only been four players per team, and thus only three 'one-on-one' rounds.
The player who wins each round earns a place in the final round, while losing players are eliminated from the game.
The final general knowledge round is then played between non-eliminated Eggheads and challengers with a similar question format to the previous rounds, with the exception that if more than one remains on a team they may confer. If the challengers win they take the prize money; if the Eggheads win, the prize money is increased by £1,000 for the next quiz.
=Subjects=
There are nine possible subjects for the first rounds. They are:
- Arts & Books (2003–present)
- Entertainment (2003–2008)
- Film & Television (2008–present)
- Food & Drink (2003–present)
- Geography (2003–present)
- History (2003–present)
- Music (2008–present)
- Politics (2003–present)
- Science (2003–present)
- Sport (2003–present)
Music and Film & Television were introduced in Autumn 2008 through a split of the Entertainment category. Subjects can appear in any order, although at least one of Sport, Music or Film & Television will appear in every episode. Despite the splitting of the Entertainment category, Music and Film & Television can appear in the same episode, sometimes consecutively.
"Eggheads"
In the first eight series, the team consisted of only five Eggheads who each appeared in every episode and did not rotate. At the end of 2008, a sixth Egghead was added and appearances rotated. From series 15, five of eight possible Eggheads appear each episode, and later in 2016, two brand-new Eggheads (one male and one female) joined the panel after a spin-off series entitled Make Me an Egghead. Currently, there are 7 Eggheads (5 male and 2 female): Kevin Ashman, Barry Simmons, Pat Gibson, Steve Cooke, Olav Bjortomt, Lisa Thiel and Beth Webster and they currently appear on Channel 5.
=Current Eggheads=
{{multiple image
|align = right
|direction = vertical
|image1 = EuropeanQuizzingChampionship2011-Top3.JPG
|width1 = 350
|caption1 = Pat Gibson, Kevin Ashman, and Olav Bjortomt
}}
- Kevin Ashman (2003–present) is the eight-time winner of the British Quiz Championship, the winner of the third series of Fifteen to One in 1989, the 1995 Mastermind (including all-time record score), the 1996 Brain of Britain (including all-time record score), its 3-yearly Brain of Brains and 9-yearly Top Brain in 1998, the Fifteen to One: Millenium Edition in 1999, the thirteen time Brain of London winner, the twice Gold Medallist for quizzing at the Mind Sports Olympiad, the two time Master Brain, and the winner of Sale of the Century, Quiz Night, Trivial Pursuit and The Great British Quiz. Since joining Eggheads, he has won six European Quizzing Championships and six World Quizzing Championships as well as being the Captain of the England quiz team and being ranked the number one quizzer in the world.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldquizzingchampionships.com/results/archive/wqc2009/ |title=World Quizzing Championships 2009 |access-date=21 November 2015 |archive-date=9 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209110730/http://www.worldquizzingchampionships.com/results/archive/wqc2009/ |url-status=live }}
- Barry Simmons (2008–present) won £64,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2005, a winning member of Masterteam in 2006 and a semi-finalist on Mastermind. He joined Eggheads in 2008 after winning the first series of Are You an Egghead? beating in the final Shaun Wallace, who would become one of two original chasers in The Chase. Since joining Eggheads, he won Brain of Britain in 2013{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04vdnc1 |title=Brain of Brains 2014 |website=BBC Radio 4 |access-date=2 September 2017 |archive-date=16 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216125057/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04vdnc1 |url-status=live }} which garnered controversy amongst listeners.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9920442/BBC-in-row-over-professional-quizzer-on-Brain-of-Britain.html |title=BBC in row over 'professional quizzer' on Brain of Britain |website=The Telegraph |location=London |date=10 March 2013 |access-date=2 September 2017 |last1=Malnick |first1=Edward |archive-date=10 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910194420/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/bbc/9920442/BBC-in-row-over-professional-quizzer-on-Brain-of-Britain.html |url-status=live }} He is currently a member of the Scotland Quiz Team.
- Pat Gibson (2009–present) was the fourth British winner of £1,000,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and the fifth recorded contestant to do so, in 2004, Mastermind in 2005 and Brain of Britain in 2006. He is a four-time winner (2007, 2010, 2014, 2015) of the British Quiz Championship, and a four-time winner (2007, 2010, 2011, 2013) of the World Quizzing Championships. He took part in Are You an Egghead? twice, losing in the quarter-finals to Mark Kerr in the first series in 2008, but winning the second series in 2009 beating David Edwards in the final to join the Eggheads. He also won Mastermind Champion of Champions in 2010. He has amassed 21 international quizzing medals and was ranked the second strongest quizzer in the UK, behind Kevin Ashman.{{Citation needed|reason=ranked when, and by whom, and why 'the UK' rather than 'Great Britain and Ireland' or 'the world', and why only 'second behind Ashman' when he has beaten Ashman in the last two 'world' Championships – 2010 and 2011?|date=February 2012}}
- {{anchor|Lisa Thiel}}Lisa Thiel (2014–present), a previous contestant on The Weakest Link in 2001 where she made the final but lost, The Chase in 2012{{cite episode|series=The Chase|title=Series 5, Episode 34}} and part of a winning team on the Egghead's spinoff Revenge of the Egghead in 2014.
- {{anchor|Steve Cooke}}Steve Cooke (2016–present), winner of the men's contest in Make Me an Egghead. He is a member of Mensa who previously won £12,900 on The People Versus in 2001.{{cite news|last1=Broomhead|first1=Michael|title=Hit TV quiz Eggheads poaches Bolsover's Steve Cooke!|url=http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/hit-tv-quiz-eggheads-poaches-bolsover-s-steve-cooke-1-8161769|access-date=23 November 2016|work=Derbyshire Times|date=4 October 2016|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123202747/http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/hit-tv-quiz-eggheads-poaches-bolsover-s-steve-cooke-1-8161769|url-status=live}}
- {{anchor|Beth Webster|Beth Maclure}}Beth Webster (2016–present), winner of the women's contest in Make Me an Egghead. She is active on the Quizzing Grand Prix Circuit in the United Kingdom, and in The Quiz League of London.{{cite news|title=An All Round Good Egg|url=http://www.optimamagazine.co.uk/read/leisure/tv/1523-an-all-round-good-egg|access-date=23 November 2016|work=Optima|date=14 October 2016|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123201306/http://www.optimamagazine.co.uk/read/leisure/tv/1523-an-all-round-good-egg|url-status=live}} She was ranked as a "Sage" in the 2012 Order of Merit listings of the British Quiz Association.{{cite web|title=What Is The Quizzing Order of Merit?|url=http://www.quizzing.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10|website=British Quiz Association|publisher=18 July 2012|access-date=23 November 2016|archive-date=23 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123133615/http://www.quizzing.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10|url-status=live}}
- Olav Bjortomt (2021–present), the four-time winner of the World Quizzing Championships, and a four-time European Quiz Champion. He is also a question setter for University Challenge and The Chase and has previously been a contestant on Are You an Egghead?{{Cite web|last=Yeates|first=Cydney|date=2021-09-28|title=Jeremy Vine believes Eggheads was 'sleeping at BBC'|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/28/jeremy-vine-believes-eggheads-was-sleeping-at-bbc-ahead-of-return-15327039/|access-date=2021-10-11|website=Metro|language=en|archive-date=28 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928070033/https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/28/jeremy-vine-believes-eggheads-was-sleeping-at-bbc-ahead-of-return-15327039/|url-status=live}}
=Former Eggheads=
- CJ de Mooi (2003–2012, Revenge of the Egghead (2014), 2014–2016) won the original The Weakest Link Bad Loser Special in 2000,100% in 2001, Beat the Nation in 2002 and Fifteen to One. He is also a Mensa chess champion.{{cite web |url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20110607094646mp_/http://www.mensa.org.uk/cgi%2Dbin/item.cgi?id%3D77 |title=Mensa |access-date=23 May 2022 |archive-date=6 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406194006/https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ukgwa/20110607094646mp_/http://www.mensa.org.uk/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=77 |url-status=live }} He took a break from the show from August 2012 until May 2014. His last appearance on his first run on the show was on 31 August 2012 during Series 13. He was the sole Egghead on Revenge of the Egghead, which aired on BBC Two in 2014. In May 2016, he confirmed on Twitter that he was leaving the show again to pursue an acting career in South Africa.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}}
- Daphne Fowler (2003–2014) won Going for Gold in 1988, Brain of Britain in 1997 and two series of Fifteen to One in 2001 (including second highest score, for which she answered every question in the final round correctly). She has now retired from Eggheads, with her last appearance being in May 2014. She was replaced in the team by returning Egghead CJ de Mooi.
- {{anchor|David Rainford}}Dave Rainford (2012–2018) appeared on Remote Control in 1991 and won £250,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2005. He was a previous contestant on Are You An Egghead where he was a semi-finalist in the first series in 2008, losing to eventual winner Barry Simmons, and a quarter-finalist in the second series in 2009, losing to David Edwards. He replaced CJ de Mooi. He earned himself the nickname "Tremendous Knowledge Dave".{{cite web |url=http://tv.bt.com/tv/tv-news/who-are-the-eggheads-tvs-cleverest-quizzers-11364180577501 |title=Who are the Eggheads? TV's cleverest quizzers revealed |website=BT |access-date=5 September 2017 |archive-date=5 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905185719/http://tv.bt.com/tv/tv-news/who-are-the-eggheads-tvs-cleverest-quizzers-11364180577501 |url-status=live }} On 7 March 2020, it was reported that Rainford had died, after illness had prevented him appearing on the show since 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tributes-paid-after-death-eggheads-17882735|title=Tributes paid after death of Eggheads star and 'Mancunian legend' Dave Rainford|work=Manchester Evening News|date=7 March 2020|access-date=7 March 2020|archive-date=8 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200308164600/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/tributes-paid-after-death-eggheads-17882735|url-status=live}}
- Judith Keppel (2003–2022) was the first British winner of £1,000,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2000. On 10 October 2022, Judith announced her retirement from the show.{{cite web |last1=Cooper |first1=Brenna |title=Eggheads star Judith Keppel quits the show after 19 years |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a41570533/eggheads-judith-keppel-quits-19-years/ |website=Digital Spy |date=10 October 2022 |access-date=13 October 2022 |archive-date=13 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013182907/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a41570533/eggheads-judith-keppel-quits-19-years/ |url-status=live }} On 22 March 2023, she returned to celebrate the show's 2000th episode.{{cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/21/eggheads-judith-keppel-unretires-for-milestone-2000th-episode-18476881/|title=Judith Keppel, 80, comes out of retirement to celebrate Eggheads' 2,000th episode|website=Metro|date=21 March 2023|access-date=22 March 2023|archive-date=22 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322074723/https://metro.co.uk/2023/03/21/eggheads-judith-keppel-unretires-for-milestone-2000th-episode-18476881/|url-status=live}}
- Chris Hughes (2003–2023) won £100 on The Sky's the Limit in the 1970s, Top of the World in 1982, Mastermind and International Mastermind in 1983 and participated on The Weakest Link in 2001 where despite answering every question correctly, was the last contestant voted off. Since joining Eggheads, he won Brain of Britain in 2005. In 2025, it was reported that Hughes had died.{{cite web |last1=Glynn |first1=Paul |last2=McIntosh |first2=Steven |title=Eggheads star Chris Hughes dies aged 77 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2009jgj58o |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=27 February 2025}}
=Graphical representation=
This chart displays when each presenter and Egghead was active. The black bars denote the start of each series.
{{#tag:timeline|
ImageSize = width:770 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:0 right:10
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:10/11/2003 till:{{#time:d/m/Y}}
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1
ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2004
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2005
Colors =
id:pink value:rgb(0.9,0.3,0.7) legend:Presenter
id:green value:green legend:Current_Eggheads
id:former value:rgb(0.1,0.9,0.9) legend:Former_Eggheads
id:gray value:rgb(0.83,0.83,0.83) legend:Hiatus
LineData =
at:10/11/2003 color:black layer:back
at:06/09/2004 color:black layer:back
at:23/05/2005 color:black layer:back
at:08/11/2005 color:black layer:back
at:10/04/2006 color:black layer:back
at:25/09/2006 color:black layer:back
at:05/03/2007 color:black layer:back
at:11/09/2007 color:black layer:back
at:29/02/2008 color:black layer:back
at:24/03/2009 color:black layer:back
at:01/03/2010 color:black layer:back
at:07/04/2011 color:black layer:back
at:16/04/2012 color:black layer:back
at:09/04/2013 color:black layer:back
at:28/05/2014 color:black layer:back
at:04/02/2015 color:black layer:back
at:22/01/2016 color:black layer:back
at:26/09/2016 color:black layer:back
at:18/04/2017 color:black layer:back
at:03/04/2018 color:black layer:back
at:07/05/2019 color:black layer:back
at:04/10/2021 color:black layer:back
at:10/10/2022 color:black layer:back
BarData =
bar:Dermot text:"Dermot Murnaghan"
bar:Jeremy text:"Jeremy Vine"
bar:Kevin text:"Kevin Ashman"
bar:Daphne text:"Daphne Fowler"
bar:Chris text:"Chris Hughes"
bar:Judith text:"Judith Keppel"
bar:CJ text:"CJ de Mooi"
bar:Barry text:"Barry Simmons"
bar:Pat text:"Pat Gibson"
bar:Dave text:"Dave Rainford"
bar:Lisa text:"Lisa Thiel"
bar:Steve text:"Steve Cooke"
bar:Beth text:"Beth Webster"
bar:Olav text:"Olav Bjortomt"
PlotData=
width:10 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
bar:Dermot from:10/11/2003 till:30/09/2014 color:gray
bar:Dermot from:10/11/2003 till:19/12/2003 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 06/09/2004 till:16/12/2004 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 23/05/2005 till:12/12/2005 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 10/04/2006 till:06/06/2006 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 25/09/2006 till:27/10/2006 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 05/03/2007 till:29/08/2008 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 24/03/2009 till:07/10/2009 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 01/03/2010 till:05/10/2010 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 07/04/2011 till:02/12/2011 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 16/04/2012 till:26/09/2012 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 09/04/2013 till:23/09/2013 color:pink
bar:Dermot from: 28/05/2014 till: 30/09/2014 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 06/10/2008 till:end color:gray
bar:Jeremy from: 06/10/2008 till: 23/03/2009 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 08/10/2009 till: 26/02/2010 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 06/10/2010 till: 06/04/2011 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 05/12/2011 till: 13/04/2012 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 27/09/2012 till: 14/03/2013 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 24/09/2013 till: 27/05/2014 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 01/10/2014 till: 19/08/2016 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 26/09/2016 till: 15/06/2020 color:pink
bar:Jeremy from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:pink
bar:Kevin from:10/11/2003 till:end color:gray
bar:Kevin from:10/11/2003 till:19/12/2003 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 06/09/2004 till:16/12/2004 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 23/05/2005 till:12/12/2005 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 10/04/2006 till:06/06/2006 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 25/09/2006 till:27/10/2006 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 05/03/2007 till:14/03/2013 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 09/04/2013 till:19/08/2016 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:green
bar:Kevin from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:green
bar:Daphne from:10/11/2003 till:27/05/2014 color:gray
bar:Daphne from:10/11/2003 till:19/12/2003 color:former
bar:Daphne from: 06/09/2004 till:16/12/2004 color:former
bar:Daphne from: 23/05/2005 till:12/12/2005 color:former
bar:Daphne from: 10/04/2006 till:06/06/2006 color:former
bar:Daphne from: 25/09/2006 till:27/10/2006 color:former
bar:Daphne from: 05/03/2007 till:14/03/2013 color:former
bar:Daphne from: 09/04/2013 till:27/05/2014 color:former
bar:Chris from:10/11/2003 till:end color:gray
bar:Chris from:10/11/2003 till:19/12/2003 color:former
bar:Chris from: 06/09/2004 till:16/12/2004 color:former
bar:Chris from: 23/05/2005 till:12/12/2005 color:former
bar:Chris from: 10/04/2006 till:06/06/2006 color:former
bar:Chris from: 25/09/2006 till:27/10/2006 color:former
bar:Chris from: 05/03/2007 till:14/03/2013 color:former
bar:Chris from: 09/04/2013 till:19/08/2016 color:former
bar:Chris from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:former
bar:Chris from: 21/02/2022 till:end color:former
bar:Judith from:10/11/2003 till:06/05/2022 color:gray
bar:Judith from:10/11/2003 till:19/12/2003 color:former
bar:Judith from: 06/09/2004 till:16/12/2004 color:former
bar:Judith from: 23/05/2005 till:12/12/2005 color:former
bar:Judith from: 10/04/2006 till:06/06/2006 color:former
bar:Judith from: 25/09/2006 till:27/10/2006 color:former
bar:Judith from: 05/03/2007 till:14/03/2013 color:former
bar:Judith from: 09/04/2013 till:19/08/2016 color:former
bar:Judith from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:former
bar:Judith from: 04/10/2021 till:06/05/2022 color:former
bar:Judith from: 22/03/2023 till:22/03/2023 color:former
bar:CJ from:10/11/2003 till:31/08/2012 color:gray
bar:CJ from:10/11/2003 till:19/12/2003 color:former
bar:CJ from: 06/09/2004 till:16/12/2004 color:former
bar:CJ from: 23/05/2005 till:12/12/2005 color:former
bar:CJ from: 10/04/2006 till:06/06/2006 color:former
bar:CJ from: 25/09/2006 till:27/10/2006 color:former
bar:CJ from: 05/03/2007 till:31/08/2012 color:former
bar:CJ from: 28/05/2014 till:02/06/2016 color:former
bar:Barry from:02/12/2008 till:end color:gray
bar:Barry from: 02/12/2008 till:14/03/2013 color:green
bar:Barry from: 09/04/2013 till:19/08/2016 color:green
bar:Barry from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:green
bar:Barry from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:green
bar:Pat from:01/03/2010 till:end color:gray
bar:Pat from: 01/03/2010 till:14/03/2013 color:green
bar:Pat from: 09/04/2013 till:19/08/2016 color:green
bar:Pat from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:green
bar:Pat from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:green
bar:Dave from: 27/09/2012 till:02/04/2018 color:gray
bar:Dave from: 27/09/2012 till:14/03/2013 color:former
bar:Dave from: 09/04/2013 till:19/08/2016 color:former
bar:Dave from: 26/09/2016 till: 09/04/2018 color:former
bar:Lisa from: 03/10/2014 till:end color:gray
bar:Lisa from: 03/10/2014 till:19/08/2016 color:green
bar:Lisa from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:green
bar:Lisa from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:green
bar:Steve from: 26/09/2016 till:end color:gray
bar:Steve from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:green
bar:Steve from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:green
bar:Beth from: 26/09/2016 till:end color:gray
bar:Beth from: 26/09/2016 till:15/06/2020 color:green
bar:Beth from: 04/10/2021 till:end color:green
bar:Olav from: 11/10/2021 till:end color:gray
bar:Olav from: 11/10/2021 till:end color:green
}}
Teams who have defeated the Eggheads
The highest amount any team has won to beat the Eggheads is £75,000 in 2007 (Series 8, Episode 14) by a team of Oxford Brookes University students, Beer Today, Gone Tomorrow.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/1737649.master_minds_win_75_000/ |title=Master minds win £75,000 |work=Thisisoxfordshire |date=5 October 2007 |access-date=31 October 2015 |archive-date=21 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221110034/http://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/1737649.master_minds_win_75_000/ |url-status=live }}
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
! Team name !!style="width: 11em;"| Episode !! Prize money !! Cumulative | ||||
| The Unicorn | Series 1, Episode 13 | £13,000 | ||
| Follically Challenged | Series 1, Episode 15 | £2,000 | ||
| Unlikely Lads | Series 1, Episode 21 | £6,000 | £21,000 | |
| Streatham Massive | Series 2, Episode 11 | £20,000 | ||
| Spaghetti | Series 2, Episode 30 | £19,000 | £60,000 | |
| The Rotor Heads | Series 3, Episode 21 | £21,000 | £81,000 | |
| Densa | Series 4, Episode 11 | £20,000 | ||
| Wapping Black Sheep | Series 4, Episode 14 | £3,000 | £104,000 | |
| Radio Ga Ga | Series 5, Episode 6 | £17,000 | £121,000 | |
| Second Class | Series 6, Episode 3 | £37,000 | ||
| Mancunian Candidates | Series 6, Episode 10 | £7,000 | ||
| Russell's Raiders | Series 6, Episode 14 | £4,000 | £169,000 | |
| West Yorkies | Series 7, Episode 18 | £29,000 | ||
| Seville Servants | Series 7, Episode 19 | £1,000 | £199,000 | #1 Eggheads lose twice in a row |
| Beer today, Gone tomorrow | Series 8, Episode 14 | £75,000 | Biggest win on the show so far | |
| Preston Quizmasters | Series 8, Episode 17 | £3,000 | ||
| Museum of London/Museum in Docklands | Series 8, Episode 50 | £33,000 | ||
| Taxidermists | Series 8, Episode 51 | £1,000 | #2 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| Blue Vibe | Series 8, Episode 63 | £12,000 | ||
| Beer and Skittles | Series 8, Episode 68 | £5,000 | £328,000 | |
| Weakly Players | Series 9, Episode 15 | £27,000 | ||
| Sean and the Sheep | Series 9, Episode 35 | £20,000 | ||
| Tap Heads | Series 9, Episode 48 | £13,000 | ||
| The Rat Pack | Series 9, Episode 54 | £5,000 | Eggheads lose to a single opponent for the first time | |
| Lads Wot Lunch | Series 9, Episode 65 | £12,000 | ||
| South Wales Warriors | Series 9, Episode 70 | £5,000 | ||
| Loser's Corner | Series 9, Episode 76 | £6,000 | ||
| Meet your Waterloo | Series 9, Episode 83 | £7,000 | #2 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Flexi Funksters | Series 9, Episode 99 | £16,000 | #3 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Cubbington Players | Series 9, Episode 112 | £13,000 | ||
| Act One | Series 9, Episode 120 | £8,000 | Final team to play (and defeat) the original set of 5 Eggheads | |
| Bere Heads | Series 9, Episode 145 | £25,000 | ||
| The Abbey Revellers | Series 9, Episode 146 | £1,000 | #3 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| The Bald & The Beautiful | Series 9, Episode 152 | £6,000 | ||
| Eclectic Mix | Series 9, Episode 159 | £7,000 | £499,000 | |
| The Oxford Imps | Series 10, Episode 2 | £3,000 | Contained a pre-fame appearance of Rachel Parris | |
| Chummie Brummies | Series 10, Episode 31 | £29,000 | ||
| One Sense Less | Series 10, Episode 54 | £23,000 | ||
| The Midweek Marauders | Series 10, Episode 64 | £10,000 | ||
| Beached Boys | Series 10, Episode 66 | £2,000 | ||
| Sally Warboys | Series 10, Episode 69 | £3,000 | ||
| The Hanging Gale | Series 10, Episode 82 | £13,000 | ||
| The Cartoonists | Series 10, Episode 91 | £9,000 | First full team of challengers to win the final round against single Egghead (Kevin) | |
| Insight Radio | Series 10, Episode 92 | £1,000 | #4 Eggheads lose twice in a row & #4 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Ocean's Five | Series 10, Episode 93 | £1,000 | #1 Eggheads lose three times in a row | |
| Bognor Regis + 2 | Series 10, Episode 94 | £1,000 | #1 Eggheads lose four times in a row | |
| The Eggitors | Series 10, Episode 98 | £4,000 | ||
| Pembroke Globetrotters | Series 10, Episode 115 | £17,000 | ||
| PRS Plus | Series 10, Episode 121 | £6,000 | £621,000 | |
| The Wise Owls | Series 11, Episode 3 | £37,000 | ||
| Work I.T. Out | Series 11, Episode 5 | £2,000 | ||
| Shabba | Series 11, Episode 35 | £30,000 | #5 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| The Black & White Stripes | Series 11, Episode 52 | £17,000 | ||
| Loiners by Proxy | Series 11, Episode 57 | £5,000 | ||
| The Middleton Moonrakers | Series 11, Episode 58 | £1,000 | #7 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| Scrum 5 | Series 11, Episode 72 | £14,000 | ||
| Comedy of Errors | Series 11, Episode 75 | £3,000 | #6 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Glamorgan Poppies | Series 11, Episode 86 | £11,000 | ||
| The Apple Turnovers | Series 11, Episode 93 | £7,000 | ||
| Get It With Letters | Series 11, Episode 122 | £29,000 | ||
| Chessboxers | Series 11, Episode 124 | £2,000 | ||
| The Flying Doctors | Series 11, Episode 130 | £6,000 | #7 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Lancashire Hotpots | Series 11, Episode 141 | £11,000 | #8 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Bar 5 | Series 11, Episode 157 | £16,000 | £812,000 | |
| Living by Numbers | Series 12, Episode 6 | £9,000 | ||
| Culture Vultures | Series 12, Episode 24 | £18,000 | ||
| Who Cares Wins | Series 12, Episode 38 | £14,000 | ||
| The Internal Marketeers | Series 12, Episode 63 | £25,000 | ||
| Chad Acad | Series 12, Episode 66 | £3,000 | ||
| Cornish Monkeys | Series 12, Episode 72 | £6,000 | ||
| Millennium Marvels | Series 12, Episode 84 | £12,000 | ||
| Loose Connection | Series 12, Episode 85 | £1,000 | #8 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| She Who Must Be Obeyed | Series 12, Episode 91 | £6,000 | ||
| The Tramlines | Series 12, Episode 96 | £5,000 | ||
| The Lions' Den | Series 12, Episode 97 | £1,000 | #9 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| 5 A Day | Series 12, Episode 124 | £27,000 | ||
| Blackpool Rockers | Series 12, Episode 141 | £17,000 | ||
| The Five Marketeers | Series 12, Episode 145 | £4,000 | #9 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| The Brocketeers | Series 12, Episode 149 | £4,000 | £964,000 | |
| The Royal Harmonics | Series 13, Episode 12 | £23,000 | ||
| Dobbin | Series 13, Episode 19 | £7,000 | ||
| Shelford 5 | Series 13, Episode 22 | £3,000 | ||
| The Wonderyears | Series 13, Episode 30 | £8,000 | Over £1,000,000 has now been paid out in prize money since show first started. | |
| Phoenix Nights | Series 13, Episode 37 | £7,000 | ||
| The Bell Boys | Series 13, Episode 38 | £1,000 | #10 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| A Tale of Two Families | Series 13, Episode 41 | £3,000 | ||
| Bucks Quiz | Series 13, Episode 44 | £3,000 | ||
| The Melting Pot | Series 13, Episode 47 | £3,000 | ||
| Lightning Can Strike Twice | Series 13, Episode 53 | £6,000 | #10 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| The Family Connection | Series 13, Episode 65 | £12,000 | ||
| Dad's Army | Series 13, Episode 83 | £18,000 | #11 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| The Hole in the Wall Gang | Series 13, Episode 85 | £2,000 | ||
| UNOS | Series 13, Episode 89 | £4,000 | ||
| The Quad Runners | Series 13, Episode 118 | £29,000 | #12 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| Handel with Care | Series 13, Episode 120 | £2,000 | ||
| Team Scotia | Series 13, Episode 136 | £16,000 | £1,111,000 | |
| Two and a Half Tandems | Series 14, Episode 22 | £26,000 | ||
| Bright Sparks | Series 14, Episode 33 | £11,000 | ||
| Streetwise | Series 14, Episode 49 | £16,000 | ||
| The Business Men | Series 14, Episode 90 | £41,000 | 2nd highest amount won by a challenging team. #13 Eggheads lose to a single opponent. 100th team to defeat the Eggheads. | |
| The Crooked Spires | Series 14, Episode 95 | £5,000 | ||
| The Clevelanders | Series 14, Episode 106 | £11,000 | ||
| Beer Run Quizzers | Series 14, Episode 108 | £2,000 | ||
| Doctors' Notes | Series 14, Episode 113 | £5,000 | ||
| | Business Belles | Series 14, Episode 119 | £6,000 | ||
| | No Direction | Series 14, Episode 130 | £11,000 | #14 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Neither Big Nor Clever | Series 14, Episode 134 | £4,000 | ||
| | The Sensational Alex Fairley Band | Series 14, Episode 136 | £2,000 | #2 Eggheads get first 2 questions wrong in the final round. Has happened once before in Series 11, Episode 154. | |
| | Rambling Badgers | Series 14, Episode 139 | £3,000 | £1,254,000 | |
| | Green Giants | Series 15, Episode 12 | £13,000 | #2 Full team of challengers win the final round against a single Egghead (Judith) | |
| | The Amnesiacs | Series 15, Episode 17 | £5,000 | ||
| | The Hound Dogs | Series 15, Episode 20 | £3,000 | ||
| | Cardigan Carnage | Series 15, Episode 22 | £2,000 | ||
| | The Soroptimists | Series 15, Episode 31 | £9,000 | ||
| | Collegiate Quizzers | Series 15, Episode 44 | £13,000 | ||
| | Stumped | Series 15, Episode 53 | £9,000 | ||
| | Burns Baby Burns | Series 15, Episode 55 | £2,000 | ||
| | Meat Bingo | Series 15, Episode 69 | £14,000 | ||
| | Team 42 | Series 15, Episode 70 | £1,000 | #11 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| | Cave Aged | Series 15, Episode 77 | £7,000 | ||
| | Shipmates | Series 15, Episode 81 | £4,000 | £1,336,000 | |
| | Quizzical | Series 16, Episode 6 | £25,000 | ||
| | The Courtiers | Series 16, Episode 19 | £13,000 | ||
| | Five Diamonds | Series 16, Episode 30 | £11,000 | ||
| | Capita Ovorum | Series 16, Episode 31 | £1,000 | #12 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| | Golden Girls | Series 16, Episode 36 | £5,000 | ||
| | The Baked Bean Tin | Series 16, Episode 46 | £10,000 | ||
| | Washy Posse | Series 16, Episode 49 | £3,000 | ||
| | Ducking and Diving | Series 16, Episode 57 | £8,000 | ||
| | The Lumberjacks | Series 16, Episode 59 | £2,000 | ||
| | Words in Action | Series 16, Episode 75 | £16,000 | ||
| | Bob's Buddies | Series 16, Episode 91 | £16,000 | £1,446,000 | |
| | A Clearer Head | Series 17, Episode 20 | £29,000 | ||
| | The Westenders | Series 17, Episode 29 | £9,000 | ||
| | Hayling Hackers | Series 17, Episode 34 | £5,000 | #15 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Ludophiles | Series 17, Episode 37 | £3,000 | ||
| | The Simms Roaders | Series 17, Episode 48 | £11,000 | ||
| | The Criminal Element | Series 17, Episode 62 | £14,000 | Team consisting of crime writers Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre, Martyn Waites & Doug Johnstone | |
| | We Quiz You Not | Series 17, Episode 70 | £8,000 | #16 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Acorn Antiques | Series 17, Episode 85 | £15,000 | #17 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | He is Heavy, He's my Father | Series 17, Episode 95 | £10,000 | £1,550,000 | #18 Eggheads lose to a single opponent |
| | Rambling Away | Series 18, Episode 2 | £7,000 | ||
| | Harwell and the Dekatrons | Series 18, Episode 6 | £4,000 | ||
| | Peter's Griffin | Series 18, Episode 10 | £4,000 | ||
| | Soft Boiled | Series 18, Episode 15 | £5,000 | #19 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | 2Morrows' People | Series 18, Episode 33 | £18,000 | ||
| | T'Villidge Fowk | Series 18, Episode 39 | £6,000 | ||
| | Abide With Us | Series 18, Episode 40 | £1,000 | #13 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| | Top Spinners | Series 18, Episode 43 | £3,000 | #20 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Queen Bee's Cs | Series 18, Episode 61 | £18,000 | 150th team to defeat the Eggheads | |
| | Cabbies | Series 18, Episode 62 | £1,000 | £1,617,000 | #14 Eggheads lose twice in a row & #3 Eggheads get first 2 questions wrong in the final round |
| | Old Dorks | Series 19, Episode 3 | £26,000 | ||
| | Knights Templeman | Series 19, Episode 8 | £5,000 | ||
| | The Barrycudas | Series 19, Episode 14 | £6,000 | ||
| | All Saints | Series 19, Episode 36 | £22,000 | ||
| | Compulsory Mantis Shrimp | Series 19, Episode 38 | £2,000 | ||
| | Burnley is Babylon | Series 19, Episode 42 | £4,000 | ||
| | Tasselled Wobbegongs | Series 19, Episode 52 | £10,000 | ||
| | The Great Grandsons | Series 19, Episode 69 | £17,000 | ||
| | Gli Italiani | Series 19, Episode 70 | £1,000 | #15 Eggheads lose twice in a row | |
| | Suspicious Looking Sausages | Series 19, Episode 73 | £3,000 | ||
| | Percies | Series 19, Episode 86 | £13,000 | £1,726,000 | |
| | Doing it for the Craic | Series 20, Episode 13 | £22,000 | ||
| | Give us a T! | Series 20, Episode 20 | £7,000 | #21 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Pat's People | Series 20, Episode 24 | £4,000 | #3 Full team of challengers win the final round against a single Egghead (Lisa) | |
| | Team 4x4 | Series 20, Episode 50 | £26,000 | ||
| | Eclection | Series 20, Episode 58 | £8,000 | #22 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Always Game | Series 20, Episode 70 | £12,000 | ||
| | Shotley Open Spacers | Series 20, Episode 81 | £11,000 | #4 Full team of challengers win the final round against a single Egghead (Lisa) | |
| | Grout Expectations | Series 20, Episode 91 | £10,000 | ||
| | The Stockport Hatters | Series 20, Episode 95 | £4,000 | £1,830,000 | |
| | Think Outside the Box | Series 21, Episode 3 | £3,000 | ||
| | Phil's Phab Phive | Series 21, Episode 16 | £13,000 | ||
| | The Gomersal Westenders | Series 21, Episode 21 | £5,000 | £1,851,000 | £19,000 went unclaimed at the end of the series 21, with the prize fund being reset back to £1,000 for the move to Channel 5. |
| | Midlife Crisis | Series 22, Episode 4 | £4,000 | 1st team to defeat the Eggheads on Channel 5. | |
| | The Four Racketeers | Series 22, Episode 32 | £28,000 | ||
| | Chopsus Bebes | Series 22, Episode 33 | £1,000 | £1,884,000 | #16 Eggheads lose twice in a row |
| | Barron Healy Quartet | Series 23, Episode 2 | £9,000 | ||
| | Rota Madmen | Series 23, Episode 5 | £3,000 | ||
| | Sandy Shores | Series 23, Episode 8 | £3,000 | #23 Eggheads lose to a single opponent | |
| | Scum of the Earth | Series 23, Episode 19 | £11,000 | ||
| | Barb On Tour | Series 23, Episode 22 | £3,000 | ||
| | Thorpe Thinkers | Series 23, Episode 27 | £5,000 | ||
| | Motley Crew | Series 23, Episode 30 | £3,000 | ||
| | Thrown Together | Series 23, Episode 54 | £24,000 | £1,945,000 | |
| | Couples' Therapy | Series 24, Episode 32 | £33,000 | Largest win on Channel 5 | |
| | Greek Geekers | Series 24, Episode 45 | £13,000 | #5 Full team of challengers win the final round against a single Egghead (Pat) | |
| | Scramblers | Series 24, Episode 51 | £6,000 | £1,997,000 |
Transmissions
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Regular editions=
{{col-2}}
=Celebrity editions=
{{col-end}}
Spin-offs
=''Are You an Egghead?''=
{{main|Are You an Egghead?}}
On 20 October 2008, a spin-off called Are You an Egghead? debuted on BBC Two. The first series was won by Barry Simmons and ran from 20 October to 2 December 2008 while the second series was won by Pat Gibson and ran from 12 October to 23 November 2009.
=''Revenge of the Egghead''=
On 24 February 2014, a new spin-off series of Eggheads was launched called Revenge of the Egghead. It was presented by Jeremy Vine and saw the return of CJ de Mooi, who left Eggheads in 2012. In each episode, de Mooi faced a team of five contestants hoping to win thousands of pounds. The series ran for a 6-week period, between 24 February and 4 April 2014. Lisa Thiel appeared on the show as part of a winning team before becoming an Egghead herself shortly afterwards.
==Main game==
Each contestant, in turn, is asked a general knowledge question. If their answer is right, £200 is added to the prize fund but if their answer is wrong and de Mooi knows their answer is wrong, he presses a red button in front of him to answer the same question. If he gets it wrong and the contestant gets it right, an additional £100 is added to the prize fund. If he gets it right, the contestant is asked a multiple-choice question by de Mooi. If they get it right, gameplay continues as normal but if they get it wrong, they lose one of their two lives. If a contestant loses both of their lives, they are out of the game. When time runs out, the surviving players move on to the final round, along with the total number of lives remaining for all players, for a chance to win an equal share of the prize fund.
==Final round==
The final round starts out with de Mooi answering ten general knowledge questions. The number of questions he gets right becomes the target that the team has to beat. The team can confer on every question. Every wrong answer means that the team loses one of their lives and if they lose all of their lives, they leave with nothing but if they beat the target, they win an equal share of the prize fund.
=''Make Me an Egghead''=
{{main|Make Me an Egghead}}
A 25-part spin-off series ran from 22 August to 23 September 2016, with the search for two new members for the Eggheads line-up: one male, one female. The series was won by Steve Cooke and Beth Webster.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{BBC programme}}
- {{channel5.com|id=eggheads|title=Eggheads}}
- {{IMDb title|0386929}}
- [https://www.12yard.com/shows/eggheads-2/ Eggheads] at 12-Yard Productions
- {{UKGameshow|Eggheads}}
- [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pd4b8 Celebrity Eggheads]
Category:2003 British television series debuts
Category:2000s British game shows
Category:2010s British game shows
Category:2020s British game shows
Category:BBC Scotland television shows
Category:Channel 5 (British TV channel) original programming
Category:BBC television game shows