Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Climbing out of ZZZZ; around FL200; we noticed rhythmics jolts in the aircraft and saw the Number 1 engine surging with a high EGT. After addressing the problem with the immediate action items followed by the QRH checklist; we no longer had control over the engine and decided to return to ZZZZ. FO in the right seat was PF; CA in left seat; PM; managed the situation; ran immediate action items and set-up the return; FOs in the observer seats ran QRH; obtained weather and performance; contacted Operations and company. CRM and task distribution worked exactly as they should. Due to the still unusually high EGT; we shut the engine down in our descent. We landed normally.
B747-400 First Officer reported noticing 'rhythmic jolts' during climbout followed by a Number 1 Engine surge and high EGT.  Flight decided to return to the departure airport and shut down the engine during the approach.