Series C DVD Review Congratulations on coming across this curious collection, containing as it does, a colossal cornucopia of crazy 'C' customs and curios.
QI – The C Series DVD contains the entire third series of the world's most intellectual, difficult and interesting panel game. Hosted by Stephen Fry, with Alan Davies acting as the sole permanent panellist, each series of QI (short for 'Quite Interesting', because the show believes that everything in the universe is just that) devotes itself to a different letter of the alphabet; all part of the show's 26-year-long commission. As a result, this third series DVD covers a range of topics beginning with 'C'.
The DVD of the series has had quite a journey to get to the shelves. The first series (Series A), was not released until fans demanded it via an internet petition. Series C has had to wait three years in order to be turned into this DVD collection. QI fans are now hoping their pester power will also help launch the series in the USA; they've setup another internet petition, which has so far attracted over 5,100 signatures (it's located here).
Series C was broadcast in 2005, and covered subjects such as cartography, cockneys, China, custard, Chelmsford, cheating, cuttlefish, catastrophes, clowns, constellations, chickens, cats, canines, the Crimean War and the original 'C'. It also featured things which many people know little about, such as cummingtonite, Wrong Way Corrigan, a carrot museum in Belgium, and Cleve Crudgington and his relationship with champagne corks.
This series also contains one of QI's most famous moments. In the third episode of the series (which guest starred Jimmy Carr, Sean Lock and Rory McGrath), McGrath was being what some might call 'too interesting'. He was constantly giving out an entire range of information, virtually washing away the opposition in the process. This lead Carr to claim that McGrath had 'pulled' Fry. Then, while Fry and McGrath were discussing the Latin names of birds, Lock got so bored with McGrath that he pretended to be sucked under the desk, claiming that there was a portal to the underworld underneath it. McGrath appears in two episodes in Series C, the only QI episodes he has appeared in to date.
 QI – The C Series DVD is, like everything to do with the show, quite interesting. The main menu opens up on a picturesque depiction of clouds, accompanied by a cuckoo clock. The two disc set is divided into a collection of six episodes, along with a set of extras.
The main extra is 'The Chat', which is combination of a photo gallery and commentary on each of the episodes from three members of the show's crew. These being John Lloyd, creator and producer of QI, and the show's 'Question Wranglers' (main researchers) John Mitchinson and Piers 'Flash' Fletcher. The commentary contains usual the usual interesting QI content: a mixture of extra information which failed to make the final cut and a series of retractions in which the QI team correct any information which they got wrong.
Alongside the chat, there is also cut scenes from the show; Chimes, which is a collection of the buzzers used in the series, and a range of other QI products in the Costermongers section. However, there is also a special extra. In the final episode of this series, Davies talks about a band he knew when he lived in Whitstable, who performed a song with the lyrics:
Peter Cushing lives in Whitstable
I have seen him on his bicycle
I have seen him buying vegetables
Peter Cushing lives in Whitstable
Well, one of the extras on the DVD is an animated music video featuring Davies, Fry, Bill Bailey, Phill Jupitus and Jo Brand performing this song, with Davies singing and Fry giving his impression of Vincent Price. You can watch this extra via our video clips page.
Other than these extras, there is also at least one Easter egg. There may be more, but we have only been able to find the one so far.
In conclusion, QI – The C Series is a charming, cute, caring, casual, cool, and several other positive emotions that do not begin with 'C', DVD release (although admittedly, the front cover looks a bit crap).
For all QI products, see our merchandise section. QI is made by TalkbackThames and Quite Interesting Ltd.
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