John Lloyd: Creating QI brought me out of depression

John Lloyd, producer of such TV classics as Spitting Image and Blackadder, talks to Lesley Garner about how depression compelled him to contemplate life's big questions - and incidentally create QI.

Faber and Faber to publish 'Meaning of Liff' follow-up

Faber and Faber is set to publish a follow-up to Douglas Adams and John Lloyd's classic The Meaning of Liff, which has been in print since it was first released 30 years ago.

This deliciously funny series returns with chief curator John Lloyd (producer of Not the Nine O'Clock News, Spitting Image and QI), ably assisted by Jimmy Carr. The duo ask guests including Al Murray to donate objects of curiosity, with laugh-out-loud comedic effect guaranteed.

Ever thought the 'Devised by' credit at the end of QI seems a bit overblown for a digressive Q&A panel show? Well, ITV1's slack-jawed version of basically the same set-up, hosted by - and you'll like this - Paddy McGuinness, is here to prove that John Lloyd and co must be doing something to earn their money. McGuinness is joined by team captains Rufus Hound and Rhys 'Conchords' Darby, alongside Louis Walsh, a model and two miscellaneous comedians for an eternal 'What Happens Next?' roundelay of low-end YouTubia and silly foreign types. A child falls down, a woman accidentally farts on live TV, an African chap squirts water out of his nose all over Paddy, while the international flavour, laddish vibe, salty banter and shiny floor are suggestive of a pub quiz on an oil rig.'Ding-dang-do I?!' No.

Audio: John Lloyd - Creator of QI

Thursday nights ABC1, that's the time to be glued to your television or set your PVR to record.

QI -with Stephen Fry and Alan Davies - is a perennial favourite and so popular here in Australia that the world's first live interpretation of the show is coming to Australia this month.

John Lloyd is the creator and producer of QI.

Mary-Lou caught up with him at home in England.

Professor of Ignorance and owner of The Museum of Curiosity John Lloyd (perhaps better known as the producer of Blackadder and QI) returns with a new curator, Dave Gorman, to help extract descriptions of bequests from prospective benefactors. This episode's objects are donated by atheist theologian Francesca Stavrakopoulou, mathematician Alex Bellos and comedian Jimmy Carr. These highly intelligent guests are happy to sink to unimaginable depths of taste in both their conversation and their choices, but it makes for truly wicked comedy - especially when one guest bequeaths God!

John Lloyd slams BBC bosses for ruining comedy

The man behind QI and Spitting Image has claimed that BBC bureacracy and creating programmes 'by committee' is making comedy 'bland'.

The 'BBC policy police' make TV bland, says John Lloyd

The QI producer thinks it's time to lighten up before the watershed - do you agree? John Lloyd write.

John Lloyd: Using PC is like going back to horse & cart

Comedy writer and TV producer John Lloyd is a lifelong fan of all things Mac and of a 15-year-old Porsche 911.

Audio: An interview with John Lloyd

In this episode, I chat with the legendary producer behind Not The Nine O'Clock News, Blackadder, Spitting Image and the creator of QI, John Lloyd, about awards, curiosity, creativity, and more...