 |
'QI' In The Press...Recent stories from our news team: It is perhaps a sign of the times that I have never seen my current favourite television show as a conventional TV broadcast, but that's also because it's impossible. QI (Quite Interesting) hasn't been shown on North American television, and might never be. Thank goodness for YouTube. Written by John Tebbutt. FFWD, 18th March 2010 QI: Quite interesting facts about water A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: the QI team examine all things watery. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 11th March 2010 How very British, how very self-deprecating, to name a TV series QI, meaning "quite interesting". It's a "comedy panel quiz show" hosted by the ubiquitous Stephen Fry which, in Britain, started out modestly on one of the BBC's smaller channels and has since moved to BBC One. Why Shorty Longbottom is really 'QI' General knowledge. It's up there with nature study tables and The Goon Show on the radio, the Assyrian coming down like a wolf on the fold, biking to school and the sum of the hypotenuse. Written by Linda Burgess. The Dominion Post, 8th March 2010 QI: quite interesting facts about skiing A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI goes skiing. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2010 Mistimed for Halloween, but well-timed as the thirteenth episode, QI continued its "G" series with a look at "Gothic". This was probably one of my favourite episodes in quite some time, not least because I'm saturnine enough to appreciate ghoulish trivia about gargoyles (they're actually water-spouts, the purely decorative ones are called "grotesques"), zombies (it would take about a month for one zombie to infect the entire world), novelty coffins (a modern tradition in Ghana, apparently), etc. Plus, great comedy does tend to bubble up from the darker corners of the human experience. To that end, misanthrope Jack Dee and the cynicism of Jimmy Carr were employed well, and Sue Perkins proved (where Sandy Toksvig and Jo Brand have failed to this year) that, yes, women on panel shows can be funny! Spooky. QI: Quite Interesting facts about lost languages A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI looks at lost languages. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 19th February 2010 Ah, QI. It's the televisual equivalent of punting down the Thames in a top hat and tails, isn't it? It's an afternoon spent leisurely playing croquet with Mater and Pater, drinking cups of Earl Grey and reading PG Wodehouse. It's everything this proud nation stands for isn't it? Well, yes it is. This is the nation of intellectual snobbery, extreme pedantry and Gyles Brandreth after all. Some episodes of QI are quite funny, others are quite interesting. The best episodes combine the two to become extremely entertaining, but I think "Gravity" will have to settle for quite interesting. Actually, make that very interesting. This was one of those episodes where the sheer wealth of astonishing trivia overshadowed the jokes because the guests were hanging on Stephen Fry's every word. Ordinarily, I'd grumble about them being paid to sit there as glorified members of the studio audience, but I actually don't blame them because I was similarly fascinated... This esoteric quiz continues to leave us feeling we've learned something new. Tonight Stephen Fry and Alan Davies welcome guest panellist Barry Humphries. Let us hope that Humphries will display the same acerbic wit as his alter ego, Dame Edna. QI: Quite interesting facts about St Valentine's Day A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI celebrates St Valentine. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 12th February 2010 QI: Quite interesting facts about musical instruments A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI plays instruments. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 5th February 2010 QI: Quite Interesting facts about China A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI goes to China. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 29th January 2010 Rob Brydon's love affair with knee-highs continues. The Welsh comedian, whose choice of long socks has become somewhat legendary thanks to a recent appearance on the BBC panel show QI, kindly flashed his hosiery at Pandora's request during the after-show drinks at Tuesday's South Bank Show Awards. "Ronnie Corbett introduced me to them," he explained, not at all sheepishly. Corbett, also present, confirms this account. Gents, take note. I missed Stephen Fry's explanation of what "gallimaufrey" means, but it's apparnetly "a motley assortment of things", which basically means this edition of QI wasn't constrained by a strict topic. It made me wonder: is QI's alphabetical adherence to topics in its best interest? I know it gives the show structure and order, but there must be times when the behind-the-scenes "elves" are tearing their hair out trying to think of compelling subjects/trivia with a vague connection to the year's particular letter. God help us when we get to "Q" or "X"... QI: Quite Interesting facts about Japan A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI goes to Japan. Written by Molly Oldfield and John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 22nd January 2010 QI: quite interesting facts about words A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI has a word. Written by Molly Oldfield & John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 18th January 2010 The "G"-series topic this week was "Germany", with guests Jo Brand, Rob Brydon and Sean Lock joining regulars Alan Davies and "QImaster" Stephen Fry. The juice of QI isn't as succulent as it once was, but you're always guaranteed some eyebrow-raising trivia and a few good moments of comedy banter. I'm frankly bemused Jo Brand still gets work (because she's like a comedy blackhole to me), and this episode wasn't helped by weaker than usual turns from Brydon and Lock. It's so rare to see two women sitting next to each other on a comedy panel show that even Sandi Toksvig seemed surprised. On QI last week Toksvig and team-mate Ronni Ancona had a witty old time sparring with Jack Dee and Alan Davies - even if the episode was called Girls and Boys and had questions all about girls and, er, boys. The show was funny, as QI usually is. Which is just the point. Women can perform brilliantly on panel shows, so why don't they appear more often? The usual one lass, three lads format is as tired patronising and boring as the older male/younger woman newsreading cliche. It's time for change. Emily Booth, Broadcast, 15th January 2010 As part of its current "G" series, QI explored the sexes in a "Girls & Boys"-themed edition, by dividing the four players into male and female duos (Alan Davies and Jack Dee vs. Ronni Ancona and Sandi Toksvig). QI: Our Quite Interesting Quiz of the Decade You've seen Stephen Fry torment Alan Davies on the popular TV show, QI. Now it's your turn to test friends this Boxing Day with our 100 QI questions. Written by John Mitchinson, Justin Pollard, Molly Oldfield and Andy Murray. Daily Telegraph, 26th December 2009 QI: quite interesting facts about wine A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI enjoys a glass of wine. Written by John Mitchinson and Molly Oldfield. Daily Telegraph, 17th December 2009 Competition: The QI Annual 2010 A chance to win one of 10 copies of the new 2010 QI Annual. Written by Mat Coward. 15th December 2009 Last Thursday's edition of QI was interesting for the guest-appearance of US comedian/actor John Hodgman, a regular on The Daily Show and "PC" in the original "Mac Vs PC" commercials. Hodgman's a big fan of the show, and was recently filmed extolling the virtues of QI during a public appearance where rallied support for a campaign to get BBC America to broadcast it (article). Clearly someone at QI noticed Hodgman's support and he was here rewarded with an appearance on the gameshow itself. I'm sure he enjoyed himself, but it made for an awkward half-hour... Karl Marx once downed a pint in all 18 pubs between Oxford Street and the Hampstead Road; as an infant, Oliver Cromwell was abducted by a monkey; Catherine de Medici invented the fork, and Genghis Khan pioneered zero-tolerance policing. Such is the fibre of this collection - from the producers of the BBC2 show - of 68 breezy, witty mini-biographies of great, good and simply odd lives, from Epicurus to Tallulah Bankhead. It's a much wordier, longer book than previous QI spin-offs, though the irreverent, lively tone should inspire the recipient to ask for full-length lives of some of the fascinating subjects covered (Faber £16.99). QI: Review of Series G, Episode 1 QI is the cockroach of the television world. Not because it is a pestilent interloper disseminating disease and effluvia throughout the world. It's because that it seems impervious to the world surrounding it. Stephen Fry and four of his witty acolytes could be confined to a bunker while a nuclear holocaust unfolds outside, while they cheerily debate the merits of giving honey to a bee to keep it alive or savour the fantasy of sinking the entire French Navy. The Custard TV, 2nd December 2009 BBC Trust rejects complaint over Brand's Thatcher gag A complaint about a gag by comedian Jo Brand in which she claimed "Lady Thatcher" sounded like a hair removal device has been rejected by the BBC Trust. The body also decided not to uphold complaints about Brand's comments about incontinence which she made in the same edition of BBC1's QI earlier this year, which one viewer claimed were ageist and sexist. Evening Standard, 1st December 2009 QI, the intellectual and more sensitive alternative to Mock the Week, is still going strong in its seventh series. Written by Hannah McCarthy. The Yorker, 1st December 2009 No doubt I am committing some sort of critic's breach of conduct, but I have discovered my new favorite television show, and it isn't even on television. At least not here. "QI," a comedy quiz show hosted by the redoubtable Stephen Fry (one of three or four living people who can accurately be described as redoubtable) is in its seventh season in Britain. As of yet, Americans must content themselves with watching broken bits via YouTube, though there were recent reports that Fry may be moving to Los Angeles, and one can only hope he'll bring "QI" with him, if only in reruns. Written by Mary McNamara. Los Angeles Times, 28th November 2009 QI returns from its holidays to make a fresh assault on our ignorance, and with something of a dream team: Dara O'Briain, Rob Brydon and David Mitchell - with Alan Davies in his usual right-handman role and Stephen Fry asking the obscure questions as our twinkling schoolmaster of a host. Preview DVDs were unavailable but QI is always a garden of comic delights - more so than ever tonight as Fry tests his pupils' horticultural knowledge. David Butcher, The Radio Times, 26th November 2009 QI gets arrested by the police A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI gets arrested. Written by John Mitchinson and Molly Oldfield. Daily Telegraph, 26th November 2009 Did you know that Stephen Fry is on Twitter? Someone should report it. Anyhow, QI is his best work for about 10 years and shows no sign of tailing off just yet. He's joined by the person who will play him in the The Adventures Of Junior Fry, David Mitchell, Dara O'Briariaiaiaiaaiaaiaiain, reliable Rob Brydon and Alan 'Bloody' Davies. Perfect if watched through a red wine haze after a big meal. QI Book of the Dead - exclusive extracts QI author John Mitchinson introduces exclusive extracts from a new book from the brains behind the TV show - 'dead good' according to Stephen Fry. Written by John Mitchinson. Daily Telegraph, 24th November 2009 How long is a piece of string? Alan Davies leaves behind his role in the TV quiz show QI to explore the world of quantum mechanics for the BBC science programme Horizon. BBC, 17th November 2009 QI to face-off against The Bill BBC1 is to pitch panel show QI against ITV1 police drama The Bill when the Stephen Fry-fronted show returns for its seventh series next month. Written by Robin Parker. Broadcast, 28th October 2009 John Lloyd, producer of Not the Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder and currently QI, takes The Word magazine's invitation to list Five Lessons I've Learnt as an opportunity for a curmudgeonly polemic. Today's programme makers, he argues, pick ideas apart instead of using intuition, and say: "If people want crap, let's give them crap." "When we [Lloyd's generation] made programmes, the idea was to make them as unlike anything else that was around at the time. Now it's got to be exactly the same as something that's already successful." All very cogent, although some wonder how Lloyd evinced his lifelong quest for original shows by following the brainy TV panel game QI with the brainy radio panel game The Museum of Curiosity. Alan Davies fears will be axed because the BBC have been slow in commissioning a seventh series. Chortle.co.uk, 20th October 2009 You need to watch QI. I don't know if you know it at all, it's been around for a while in England. Stephen Fry's the host, Alan Davies is the permanent guest star and there's a rotating panel of famous people whose qualification for being on is they're amusing. Or Quite Interesting, which is what QI stands for. It's really just people talking shit. Tonight they're Rob Brydon, Andy Hamilton and Charlie Higson. I only really know Rob Brydon, and I love him. He's in Gavin & Stacey at the moment, it was on UKTV last night, he plays Bryn, Stacey's uncle. The topics on QI are letters from the alphabet, we're up to the Fs at this point, a fair way into the series. But it's a loose half hour. Tonight includes James Bond's job, Mick Jagger's walk, Bert Ward's post-Batman and Robin career in porn, and flags. Quite a lot about flags - extremely entertaining and mindless, just what you need during stressful times of (insert source of personal worry here). Even the buzzers are good - Andy Hamilton's is the Captain Pugwash music. Quaintly instructive: the QI literary quiz Just what were the 39 steps? Whose bonkbuster allegedly made the earth move? And which celebrity author had a job that paid a pitcher of wine a day? Perk up your grey matter with an exclusive QI literary quiz. Written by John Lloyd and John Mitchinson. The Times, 3rd October 2009 Nerd on your gift list? Give a Gömböc! We buy pet rocks, snuggies, and shrinky-dinks; mathematicians have Klein bottles, Mobius strips, and the ultimate mathematical novelty item, the Gömböc. Gömb means "sphere" in Hungarian, but the Gömböc is an extraordinary shape all its own (and is apparently pronounced "goemboets"). As QI host Stephen Fry demonstrates in the video above, no matter how you set it down, the Gömböc will wobble and rock itself right side up. And, unlike the common Weeble, the amazing Gömböc isn't weighted. It rights itself thanks to its unusual geometry. Written by scappuccino. Physicis Central, 23rd September 2009 A Blissful, Timeless Exploration Of Human 'Ignorance' The 18th century poet Thomas Gray is responsible for the often quoted phrase, "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." President Thomas Jefferson embellished that quotation with one of his own when he said, "If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?" - a line that British comedy writers John Lloyd and John Mitchinson co-opted for the title of their new anthology of quotations. Lloyd and Mitchinson talk with Liane Hansen about their third book together, titled If Ignorance Is Bliss ... Why Aren't There More Happy People?. It follows The Book of General Ignorance and The Book of Animal Ignorance. Written by Liane Hansen. NPR, 23rd August 2009 Alan Davies on QI, being attacked and that tramp With QI and Jonathan Creek, Alan Davies established himself as comedy's good-natured boy next door. But, as he publishes a memoir of his teenage years, he reveals a rebellious young man at odds with life in Eighties Essex. Written by Hugo Rifkind. The Times, 22nd August 2009 Executive producer John Lloyd explains BBC's QI refusal John Hodgman's public lambasting of the BBC for not bringing QI to America didn't explain the network's reason for their decision, other than Dumb Ol' America is so dumb (how dumb are we?) that when we go to a sperm bank, we ask the teller for a BLANK. Thankfully, Hodgman isn't the only man coming to the U.S.A.'s defense. John Lloyd, the show's executive producer, feels the same way so much so that he was willing to interrupt his vacation in Turkey to chat with me about it. Written by Danny Gallagher. TV Squad, 11th August 2009 Hodgman anger over BBC America and QI Full article title: "Hodgman activates rage gland against BBC America for not picking up QI". American comedian John Hodgman has expressed his anger at BBC America for not broadcasting QI. Written by Danny Gallagher. TV Squad, 8th August 2009 The Final Word: For some, even 15 minutes would be too An article about the release of the third QI book, Advanced Banter, being published in the United States. The American version is entitled If Ignorance Is Bliss, Why Aren't There More Happy People? Written by Craig Wilson. USA Today, 15th July 2009 Quizmaster Stephen Fry is joined by two of his best buddies in this week's QI. It's a real luvvie fest, thanks to the presence of John Sessions, who's appeared on the show several times before, and first-timer Emma Thompson. She and Fry go way back, of course. They met at Cambridge, and were members of the famous Footlights troupe, which also included Tony Slattery and Hugh Laurie. They've appeared on screen together in such projects as Alfresco and Peter's Friends. The Northern Echo, 6th March 2009 Stephen Fry challenges Sunday Mail readers to prove him wrong over show claim What do you get if you cross Stephen Fry with a mystery Scots conman? A free VIP trip to London for one lucky Sunday Mail reader and a friend. That is what the QI presenter is offering if you can prove him wrong about a so-called Glasgow con-artist featured on his show. Sunday Mail, 15th February 2009 BBC faces fresh criticism over offensive remarks about Baroness Thatcher The BBC is facing fresh criticism after two comedians made offensive remarks about Baroness Thatcher on a prime time quiz show. In Friday night's episode of QI, Jo Brand, who was caught up in the Carol Thatcher "golliwog" controversy, and Phill Jupitus both made comments which have led to complaints being lodged and further anger from viewers. Written by Laura Roberts and Richard Edwards. Daily Telegraph, 9th February 2009 TV quiz host Stephen Fry duped by story of fictional Scots conman Telly know-all Stephen Fry has been embarrassingly duped by the story of a mythical Scots conman. The quiz show host told viewers of QI about the life of the supposed master criminal called Arthur Furguson. Written by Raymond Hainey. Sunday Mail, 8th February 2009 Friday nights just don't seem the same without Stephen Fry. If you're shattered after a tough week, there's nothing better than sitting down to an episode of QI. In fact, it's almost worth staying in for. Almost. Even the Beeb agree - they've bumped it over to BBC1 which clearly means "QI is more popular than University Challenge." Sian Meades, TV Scoop, 16th January 2009 Stephen Fry hosts another round of the quite interesting panel show. If you'd like to play along at home, here's how. One player flicks open an encyclopedia and asks a question on the first topic they see (a dictionary or Jilly Cooper novel works as a substitute). Then, one player makes witty remarks, while the other player wears a mophead and says little of relevance. What's On TV, 16th January 2009 TV Dinners: How to make ... QI 1. Hurrah! Could life get any more yummy or fluffy, it's QI, lathers Stephen Fry - the show that will be nibbling the nipples of knowledge, fondling the buttocks of braininess, and cerebrally satiating itself on the G-spot of good humour. Written by Jim Shelley. The Guardian, 16th January 2009 Stephen Fry's comedy-quiz QI has become so popular that it's transferred from BBC2 to BBC1 (a la Have I Got News For You), but otherwise it's business as usual for the comedians given schoolboy roles, with Fry as the indubitable headmaster and Alan Davies the class dunce. Tradition dictates that, as the sixth series, the trivia revolves around the letter 'F'. Of course, things aren't particularly strict, and conversations veer off into random, surreal tangents. The only disappointing thing with QI is a tendency to make smutty, schoolboy jokes usually involving sexual innuendo. There's nothing wrong with such comedy, but QI is guilty of spending far too long giggling at crudities, when the real gems of the show are to be found elsewhere. I'm still unconvinced about QI coming to BBC1, it seems like one channel transfer too far. Still, it's a great show and let's hope that doesn't change. Mark Wright, The Stage, 9th January 2009 Stephen Fry hosts as the Quite Interesting panel show returns for a new series. What's On TV, 9th January 2009 Yep, that's right, this is the latest example of a BBC2 show becoming so popular it's been promoted to BBC1. Although if you're the BBC2 big cheese who's suddenly lost one of the jewels in your scheduling crown, I guess you won't consider it a positive thing - just another case of the bullies from BBC1 nicking one of your most successful shows. Even if you're not a regular QI watcher (what's wrong with you? It's fantastic!) it's always a good idea to tune in at this time of the year, just in case one of the subjects covered might help you with a Trivial Pursuit question. It's the law at Christmas that all families must play board games. A little piece of history tonight as one of Auntie's most ardently admired panel games, QI, makes the journey from BBC2 to BBC1 for its latest series. The Netherlands is to get its own version of QI. Public broadcaster VARA has bought the rights to remake the Stephen Fry panel show, with Dutch author Arthur Japin as host. Comedian Thomas van Luyn will be the only regular guest, as Alan Davies is in the BBC version. Chortle.co.uk, 19th December 2008 QI is attempting to become the first panel show to create a TV spin-off. As the programme moves to BBC One next year, producers Talkback Thames have been commissioned to make a pilot of a sister quiz for BBC Two. Provisionally titled The QI Test, the show is expected to fill a daytime slot and will feature members of the public rather than comedy panellists. Stephen Fry will not be hosting the show - although no presenter has yet been named. Chortle.co.uk, 3rd October 2008 The world's most seemingly impossible quiz QI, which has had five hugely successful years on BBC Two, will move to BBC One from the New Year when it returns for its sixth series. BBC Press Office, 2nd October 2008 QI creator on the meaning of strife Everything 'fell apart' for John Lloyd, the TV producer, when he had a midlife crisis. Out of it came a new vision of life and the TV show QI. Written by Andrew Billen. The Times, 23rd September 2008 Stephen Fry's QI to move to BBC1 BBC2's Stephen Fry-hosted comedy panel show QI is set to move to BBC1 for its new series. The show, which sees panellists such as Alan Davies competing to provide the most interesting answer to obscure trivia questions, is one of BBC2's most watched programmes, hitting 4.8 million viewers in November - the channel's third highest rating of 2007. Discussions are currently taking place within the BBC about the move, which is expected to be given the green light soon. "It is only natural when a show becomes so popular to look at taking it to a wider audience but nothing is confirmed yet," a BBC spokeswoman said. Written by Leigh Holmwood. The Guardian, 20th August 2008 The QI equation for an enriched IQ In the QI edition of The Idler, Lloyd and Mitchinson present a five-point manifesto for educational reform. The points are: One: play not work. Two: follow the chain of curiosity. Three: you decide. Four: no theory without practice. Five: you never leave. Read the article for further explanation. Written by Tom Hodgkinson. The Sunday Times, 11th May 2008 Rhys is very good at Trivial Pursuit and pub quizzes. Who else could we ask to review QI for us? Written by Rhys Lewis. Den of Geek, 28th March 2008 ...QI is a teeth-clenching example of TV mistaking shallow cleverness for intelligence. Everything you think you know is wrong A book review of The Book of General Ignorance. "Imagine Jeopardy with Stephen Colbert as host, with Steve Martin and Ellen DeGeneres as guests, working off a game board loaded with unanswerable questions." Written by Liesl Schillinger. The New York Times, 2nd September 2007 Sneer at trivia, and you sneer at my soul Flick through most of the 500 channels available on television today and you will see that rule writ large. A huge majority of the programmes available are dreary, talent-free and insulting. But alight on something that treats trivia as it should be treated, with care and respect, and it becomes a real joy. Take the recent series QI, utterly pointless and utterly irresistible. As might be expected, since it was presented by Stephen Fry, a man whose learning cannot be gainsaid, but who has the intelligence and range to observe popular culture with the critical eye it deserves. As he proves, it is possible to be a trivia elitist. Written by Jim White. Daily Telegraph, 23rd February 2004 Any ad-libbed, improvised show requires a special skill from the players, and in a professional sense they are living dangerously. There was an occasion in Just a Minute when the subject was snapshots. Kenneth Williams was unhappy about one of my decisions, which went against him on this subject, and he began to harass me. Peter Jones and Derek Nimmo joined in, which added to the pressure. In an effort to bring them to order, I said: "I'm sorry Kenneth, you were deviating from snapshots, you were well away from snapshots. It is with Peter, snopshots, er snipshots, er snopshits . . . snop . . . snaps." The audience roared with laughter. I added: "I'm not going to repeat the subject. I think you know it . . . and I think I may have finished my career in radio." |
