Main News Stories About '8 Out Of 10 Cats':

• 8 Out Of 10 Cats to take on Countdown (16/11/11)
• Jason Manford quits 8 Out Of 10 Cats (03/05/11)

Now that BBC2's Never Mind The Buzzcocks is looking well past its best and Channel 4's 8 Out Of 10 Cats is rapidly running out of lives, the 10pm Monday slot is fast becoming an elephants' graveyard for once mighty TV panel shows. And I still don't understand the logic of C4's dim young things moving a quiz about the biggest news stories of the week from its traditional Friday night slot to the beginning of the week. Unless they want it killed off, of course.

Ian Hyland, The Daily Mail, 1st December 2012

Season 14 of the shouty 8 Out Of 10 Cats, which in the panel show stakes sits somewhere between the enjoyable Would I Lie To You and the creaky Mock the Week. Jimmy Carr - still in the quizmaster's seat - has a newly installed target on his back marked "tax avoider", and team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson will likely be the ones taking aim. Nothing in the way of info about this opening episode, but even money says that an Olympian will be present.

Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian, 8th October 2012

This panel show went out with a delightful bang two weeks ago with an episode that saw host Jimmy Carr face a sustained but affectionate ribbing over his tax dodging. He's the only one who'll be relieved the show is now into compilation mode - this second collection of clips of the best of the recent 13th series, minus the guest chaff, remind us how many laughs the show's regulars routinely deliver.

Vicki Power, The Daily Telegraph, 5th July 2012

Jimmy Carr's tax row sees Channel 4 ratings soar

Viewing figures for Jimmy Carr's Channel 4 show 8 Out of 10 Cats received a boost on Friday following the furore over his tax affairs.

BBC News, 24th June 2012

Jimmy Carr mocked on '8 out of 10 Cats' over his taxes

Jimmy Carr was roundly mocked over his involvement in a tax avoidance scheme on this week's 8 out of 10 Cats.

Written by Christian Tobin. Digital Spy, 22nd June 2012

There's been plenty of reverential regal programming celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Now it's time for a more sardonic spin on the landmark event, with this special edition of the popular comedy panel show. Wisecracking Jimmy Carr hosts as two celebrity teams, captained by comedians Sean Lock and Jon Richardson, give their satirical take on the royal weekend, while dissecting monarchy-related opinion polls, surveys and statistics.

Michael Hogan, The Daily Telegraph, 8th June 2012

Host Jimmy Carr and regular team captains Jon Richardson and Sean Lock present the latest edition of the 13th series of this irreverent comedy panel show based on statistics and opinion polls. Tonight the guests trying to predict the public's responses to the topical issues of the moment are television presenter Tess Daley, newsreader Krishnan Guru-Murthy, and comedians Micky Flanagan and Hari Kondabolu.

Andrew Marszal, The Daily Telegraph, 31st May 2012

Jimmy Carr is truly a workaholic: not only is he currently touring his latest stand-up show, he's also popping up on Alan Carr's Chatty Man at 10pm and is back hosting another round of the noisy panel show that makes fun of polls, surveys and stats.

Sharon Lougher, Metro, 27th April 2012

The wisecracking news poll-based panel show returns for what seems like a gazillionth series (its 13th, in fact). Now that it's firmly entrenched as Have I Got News for You for the under-30s, there's no need to tinker with the formula: essentially, roll the cameras and let deadpan host Jimmy Carr tee-up team captains Sean Lock and Jon Richardson to dryly riff on the week's nonsense news. Then cobble together the gags, which are as potent as ever.

The Daily Telegraph, 26th April 2012

Channel 4 must be struggling for shows to fill their once-feted Friday night slot, as 8 Out Of 10 Cats, which finished its 11th series a mere month ago, is already back for another outing. Jon Richardson, now firmly ensconced in the role of "team captain who is not as funny as Sean Lock", is joined by comedian Holly Walsh, while Lock, whose quick, absurdist turns of phrase are forever the strongest element of this tired format, gets some help on the one-liner front from Richard Ayoade.

Gwilym Mumford, The Guardian, 23rd September 2011

Many a panel show flags in middle age, but this one remains in rude health as it returns for a 12th series of comedy based on statistics and polls. Our rudimentary survey shows the most laughs come from the quips of host Jimmy Carr, who's as sharp as his tailored suits, and team captain Sean Lock, who veers between irreverent rants on life and taking pot shots at the guests. Braving his ridicule tonight are IT Crowd actor Richard Ayoade and boxer Amir Khan.

Vicki Power, The Daily Telegraph, 22nd September 2011

Amir Khan & Richard Ayoade on 12th 8 Out of 10 Cats

Popular comedy panel show 8 Out Of 10 Cats returns to Channel 4 Friday 23rd September for 11 brand new shows including the 100th episode of the series.

Written by Lisa McGarry. Unreality TV, 7th September 2011

The comedy panel show is in rude health, there's no doubt about it. Friday night's are when BBC1's genre stalwart Have I Got News For You airs, and now it's joined by three rivals-two of which are new to the airwaves. First there's old-hand 8 Out Of 10 Cats, which is fuelled by statistics and opinion polls compiled about the week's news and gossip. There's been no significant changes to the show's format since it began, although team captain Jason Manford's now been replaced by comedian Jon Richardson.

The show itself can be one of the funniest panel shows around, on a good day. While many contemporaries have to balance jokes with a serious satirical agenda, Cats is as trivial as the lists it uses as its source of information. Headed by three comedians who are presently active on the circuit, it's more obviously an excuse to deliver jokes and amusing observations about topics the nation's chattering about. There isn't much in the way of thought-provoking insights and incisive satire, just pub-level joshing and quips with a topical theme. Team captain Sean Lock's found himself the ideal format for his brand of comedy, too-as I don't care for his stand-up but he seems to thrive in this panel show environment. Having some enforced structure and banter with guests appears to give him a boost.

In many ways Cats reminds me of Mock The Week in its approach to skewering the week's news, but there's a much more pleasant atmosphere to it. Mock often feels like six comedians scrambling to outdo each other in a competitive environment, but those involved with Cats are more gracious to their fellow panelists. Plus, in allowing non-comedian guests (here, cage-fighting fame-whore Alex Reid and Countdown's mouthwatering Rachel Riley), it's more fun seeing them poke fun at people who are in the room-as Mock often feels quite cowardly.

Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 20th June 2011

This now long-running Channel 4 panel game has seen some changes over the years. In this series, Jon Richardson has replaced Jason Manford as team captain; the opening round, "What Are You Talking About?", also now only covers the top three most talked about things in Britain as opposed to the original five. The other major change is that the total scores are no longer mentioned, with host Jimmy Carr now simply saying who's won, rather like Mock the Week.

The one major problem I have with 8 Out of 10 Cats is that almost every time there is always one guest who you'd rather not have on the programme. I went through the panel before the show began thinking to myself: "Russell Kane - established, award winning comic and deserves to be on. Josh Widdicombe - a relatively unknown comic who can use this appearance as his big break. Rachel Riley - well, as someone who regularly co-presents Countdown she has experience of quiz formats. Alex Reid - oh, damn!"

However, having said that, I did enjoy the fact that Reid didn't take himself too seriously, taking part in some pretty self-deprecating humour. However, the guest comics, as to be expected, did perform better; Kane's story about a woman he accidentally offended on a train was a particular highlight.

Ian Wolf, Giggle Beats, 20th June 2011

Stay away from the new series of the dependably funny comedy panel show if you only watch it for team captain Jason Manford, because he's gone. In his seat is former 6 Music presenter and comedian Jon Richardson. The neurotic comic is one of the finest on the circuit. Still, it's only recently that he's made big enough waves to bag slots on Live at the Apollo, plus various guest spots on quiz shows. Richardson will almost definitely jell with host Jimmy Carr and fellow captain Sean Lock. But even if he doesn't, you'll eat up his cynical observations and snigger at his obsessive-compulsive tendencies. And the fact that he lives in Swindon.

Ruth Margolis, Radio Times, 17th June 2011

Funny or easy-to-mock guests booked to provide tonight's festive repartee and laughs include dour comedian Jack Dee, Lorraine Kelly and camp sweetheart Christopher Biggins. Irritatingly, at the time RT went to press, the episode hadn't been filmed, so we can only speculate - wildly - as to its contents. It's Christmas-themed, so expect host Jimmy Carr and contestants to have dressed for the occasion: sparkly antlers; nylon beards; necklaces made of mince pies - that kind of thing. And if Biggins isn't wearing a pantomime dame outfit and lashings of rouge then I'm going home.

Ruth Margolis, Radio Times, 23rd December 2010

This irreverent panel show makes merry tonight with a seasonal special in which host Jimmy Carr asks contestants to guess the results of holiday-themed surveys. If you like your Christmas cheer with a large helping of sarcasm and a dollop of misanthropy, you'll like this. Reliably funny team captains Sean Lock and Jason Manford are joined by guest panellists Jack Dee, Christopher Biggins and Lorraine Kelly.

Vicki Power, The Daily Telegraph, 23rd December 2010

Panel Beaters

8 Out Of 10 Cats is back with a new series but the faces will be familiar to anyone who's watched a panel show recently, as our rundown of comedy repeat offenders shows.

Sky.com, 17th September 2010

After the high of last week's hilarious opener, I thought this episode was very flat overall. None of Sean Lock's flights-of-fancy left the ground, Jason Manford seemed to struggle for material, and the choice of guests wasn't very good. I'm not a fan of young standup Jack Whitehall, and while I find Josie Long strangely beguiling (it's her grinning, just-rolled-out-of-bed cuteness), she wasn't very funny here.

Peter Jones from Dragons' Den was subdued to begin with, but he warmed up in the second part -- and in doing so gave comedy ammo to the others about his millionaire lifestyle anecdotes. Fay Ripley wasn't a total loss because she got involved, but this episode was definitely slack and its content has already melted from my memory. You know it's a weak episode when a clip from the US version of Wife Swap (an irritating fat kid being denied junk food by his "swapped" mom) proved to be the highlight.

Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 16th January 2010

8 Out Of 10 Cats is rapidly becoming the best panel show around, isn't it? I think a big part of that is how everyone seems to genuinely enjoy the experience. Half the guests on Have I Got News For You look scared out of their wits, or spend their time walking on eggshells, while Mock The Week has always been very competitive and male-dominated, with guests often left to flounder amidst the regulars...

There's just a more pleasant atmosphere on 8 Out Of 10 Cats nowadays, and I really respond to that. Team captains Jason Manford and Sean Lock openly laugh at each other's jokes, Jimmy Carr appears to have toned down his cattiness, and this episode's non-comedians (EastEnders' Charlie Clements, presenter Claudia Winkleman, popstar Jamelia) didn't embarass themselves.

In fact, it appears that producers everywhere have realized Jamelia's TV gold with her ill-informed opinions and, well, good-natured stupidity. Can you believe she home-schools her kids?! She was better value than Iranian comedienne Shappi Khorsandi in this first episode, too. Shappi fell into the trap of mostly sitting on the sidelines and smiling at everyone else's gags, unless that was just very unfortunate editing. Also, am I alone in finding Sean Lock absolutely hi-larious on this show? The strange thing is, I find Lock's standup rather dull and tedious.

Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 9th January 2010

Cats are supposed to have nine lives and if that really is the case, time could be running out for the smuggest man on the telly - because Jimmy Carr's comedy panel show is nine series' old today. Well, technically it will be nine whole series old in six weeks' time, at the end of the latest run. But that would ruin the intro to this preview!

As usual, each show sees the teams - captained by Sean Lock and Jason Manford - guessing what the British public thinks about the week's most talked-about subjects. And as usual, being correct will come second to who can give the funniest answers.

Jane Simon, The Mirror, 8th January 2010

Sean Lock Interview

He's written for Lee Evans, Bill Bailey and Mark Lamaar. He's a regular panellist on survey-based 8 Out Of 10 Cats, as well as the intellectually stimulating QI. But even he admits to being as thick as a brick.

Written by Tommy Holgate. The Sun, 8th January 2010

The topical panel show returns for a new series. Host Jimmy Carr, who delivers his pre-scripted waspish remarks with perfect timing, is joined by team captains Sean Lock and Jason Manford, with pop singer Jamelia and the perennial quiz show guest Claudia Winkleman.

Toby Clements, The Telegraph, 8th January 2010

Channel 4 show 8 Out Of 10 Cats is set to be produced on almost half of its 2009 budget when it returns next year (2010).

Broadcast, 3rd December 2009

Interview: Jimmy Carr

With his latest DVD now on sale, and as he continues to tour the country, Jimmy Carr spares some time for Den Of Geek...

Written by Simon Brew. Den Of Geek, 16th November 2009