Inside No. 9
- TV comedy drama
- BBC Two
- 2014 - 2024
- 55 episodes (9 series)
Dark comedy anthology series from Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Each episode focuses on the goings-on around something to do with the number 9.
- Returns on Wednesday 8th May on BBC2 at 10pm with Series 9, Episode 1
Streaming rank this week: 302
Episode menu
Series 3, Episode 3 - The Riddle Of The Sphinx
Further details
Nina thinks Professor Squires has all the answers when, actually, neither has a clue what the future holds. They commence a battle of wits to solve a crossword puzzle and reveal the guardian of their fate. Dr Jacob Tyler joins the unravelling of the cryptic clues... but will they solve the riddle of the Sphinx?
Notes
The crossword that this story was based around was published in The Guardian the morning of the show. Story
Broadcast details
- Date
- Tuesday 28th February 2017
- Time
- 10pm
- Channel
- BBC Two
- Length
- 30 minutes
Repeats
Show past repeats
| Date | Time | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 29th October 2018 | 3:00am | Gold |
| Monday 29th October 2018 | 11:00pm | Gold |
| Thursday 11th April 2019 | 11:20pm | Gold |
| Friday 12th April 2019 | 10:40pm | Gold |
| Thursday 16th May 2019 | 11:15pm | Gold |
| Friday 17th May 2019 | 1:55am | Gold |
| Sunday 25th August 2019 | 2:00am | Gold |
| Monday 26th August 2019 | 12:55am | Gold |
| Sunday 21st June 2020 | 1:00am | Gold |
| Sunday 21st June 2020 | 3:25am | Gold |
| Sunday 6th September 2020 | 10:40pm | Gold |
| Monday 7th September 2020 | 1:40am | Gold |
| Saturday 9th July 2022 | 11:20pm | Gold |
| Sunday 10th July 2022 | 2:50am | Gold |
| Saturday 8th April 2023 | 12:15am | Gold |
| Sunday 9th April 2023 | 3:15am | Gold |
Cast & crew
| Alexandra Roach | Nina |
| Steve Pemberton | Professor Squires |
| Reece Shearsmith | Dr Jacob Tyler |
| Reece Shearsmith | Writer |
| Steve Pemberton | Writer |
| Guillem Morales | Director |
| Adam Tandy | Producer |
| Jon Plowman | Executive Producer |
| Steve Pemberton | Associate Producer |
| Reece Shearsmith | Associate Producer |
| Joe Randall-Cutler | Editor |
| Simon Rogers | Production Designer |
| Tracey Gillham | Casting Director |
| Yves Barre | Costume Designer |
| John Sorapure | Director of Photography |
| Helen Speyer | Make-up Designer |
| Christian Henson | Composer |
| Matthew Scrivener | 1st Assistant Director |
Press
Forget the cry-laugh: Inside No 9's creators perfected the vomit-laugh with an emetic twist in the season three episode The Riddle of the Sphinx. Pemberton's Cambridge don, after some already-nasty japes where a colleague (Shearsmith) forces him to eat flesh cut from the buttock of a just-murdered student (Alexandra Roach), is told that he is, in fact, her father. He's chewing his dead daughter's arse! Steve, Reece, get help. No, wait: finish season four. Then get help.
Jack Seale, The Guardian, 8th August 2017The Riddle of the Sphinx review
The episode is proof, if any were needed, that Shearsmith & Pemberton possess two of the most extraordinary imaginations of any writers working in television today.
Dodo's Words, 6th March 2017Inside No. 9 series 3 episode 3 review
Inside No. 9 series 3 pays homage to Sleuth in a delightfully nasty, slippery story themed around cryptic crosswords...
Louisa Mellor, Den Of Geek, 1st March 2017Inside No. 9 Season 3 Episode 3 review
Some hardcore fans may well demand something more tricksy, more gimmicky - indeed, less traditional. But there are still many pleasures to be had here, if you follow the clues.
Andrew Allen, Cult Box, 1st March 2017Inside No. 9 - 'The Riddle of the Sphinx' review
A young woman asks a favour of a cryptic crossword setter, beginning a chain of unexpected turns...
Dan Owen, Dan's Media Digest, 1st March 2017A brilliant episode of Inside No. 9. Not just because it was a creepy, twisting tale of revenge, based on the riddle of the Sphinx. But because it was also based on, and starred, yesterday's Guardian cryptic crossword (which, of course, you will have completed before watching). Steve Pemberton, who writes and stars alongside Reece Shearsmith, also set the crossword. Hence the answer to 12 across: mystery guest! Genius.
Sam Wollaston, The Guardian, 1st March 2017How the Guardian's cryptic crossword appeared on IN9
Today's cryptic was from a new setter ... and the BBC's horror comedy series might provide some clues to their identity.
Alan Connor, The Guardian, 28th February 2017Inside No. 9 review: a devious and outrageous puzzle
Clever, compelling and very, very dark, Inside No. 9's latest standalone story defined 'unpredictable'.
Mark Butler, i Newspaper, 28th February 2017