QI (short for Quite Interesting) is a BBC comedy panel game television show that began in 2003. It was created by John Lloyd, hosted by Stephen Fry and features permanent panellist Alan Davies.
QI is a 26-year-long project; each series covers topics that begin with a different letter of the alphabet; for example, the first series covered topics whose word began with "A". Thus it is referred to as "Series A" instead of "Series One".[1][2] QI was given a full series after BBC executives responded well to a nonbroadcast pilot,[3] and the first episode, "Adam", was premiered on BBC Two on 11 September 2003.[4] From the second to the fifth series, episodes were aired each week on BBC Two; the second and subsequent episodes were shown first on BBC Four in the time-slot after the previous episode's BBC Two broadcast. When the sixth series of QI began in 2008, the show moved to BBC One and the broadcasting of episodes on BBC Four was replaced in favour of an extended repeat broadcast on BBC Two the following day, titled QI XL. Including the pilot and compilations, 109 episodes of QI have been produced.[2][5] A ninth series, with 16 episodes, has been produced for 2011, bringing the total number of episodes to 125. Lloyd acted as the producer for the first five series. Piers Fletcher became producer as of Series F.[6]
Including Series I, 130 episodes of QI have been produced. However, in the official counting as used by the show's producers, the unbroadcast pilot and five compilation episodes are not official episodes. This brings the total down to 122.[7]
Series | Episodes | Original transmission | DVD release | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Pilot | 1 (unaired) | Unaired | 6 November 2006 | |
Series A | 12 | 11 September - 23 December 2003 | 6 November 2006 | |
Series B | 12 | 8 October - 26 December 2004 | 17 March 2008 | |
Series C | 12 | 30 September - 9 December 2005 | 1 September 2008 | |
Series D | 13 | 29 September - 15 December 2006 | N/A | |
Series E | 12 (+ 1 Clip Show) | 21 September - 14 December 2007 | N/A | |
Series F | 12 | 14 November 2008 - 20 March 2009 | N/A | |
Series G | 16 (+ 2 Clip Shows) | 26 November 2009 - 16 April 2010 | N/A | |
Series H | 16 (+ 2 Clip Shows) | 17 September 2010 - 2 May 2011 | N/A | |
Comic Relief Special | 1 | 6 March 2011 | N/A | |
Series I | 16 (+ 2 Clip Shows) | 9 September 2011 - ? | N/A |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (0) | "Pilot" | Bill Bailey Kit Hesketh-Harvey Eddie Izzard |
Bill Bailey | N/A [fn 1] |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (1) | "Adam" | Danny Baker Hugh Laurie John Sessions |
Danny Baker | 11 September 2003 |
2 (2) | "Astronomy" | Bill Bailey Rich Hall Jeremy Hardy |
Rich Hall and Jeremy Hardy | 18 September 2003 |
3 (3) | "Aquatic Animals" | Clive Anderson Bill Bailey Meera Syal |
Clive Anderson | 25 September 2003 |
4 (4) | "Atoms" | Jo Brand Howard Goodall Jeremy Hardy |
Jo Brand | 2 October 2003 |
5 (5) | "Advertising" | Gyles Brandreth Rob Brydon Rich Hall |
Gyles Brandreth | 9 October 2003 |
6 (6) | "Antidotes" | Danny Baker Jo Brand Howard Goodall |
Danny Baker | 16 October 2003 |
7 (7) | "Arthropods" | Jo Brand Jimmy Carr Jackie Clune |
Jackie Clune | 23 October 2003 |
8 (8) | "Albania" | Clive Anderson Sean Lock Linda Smith |
Clive Anderson | 30 October 2003 |
9 (9) | "Africa" | Jo Brand Dave Gorman Jeremy Hardy |
Dave Gorman | 6 November 2003 |
10 (10) | "Alan" | Rich Hall Julia Morris Peter Serafinowicz |
Alan Davies | 13 November 2003 |
11 (11) | "Arts" | Bill Bailey Richard E. Grant Linda Smith |
Richard E. Grant | 20 November 2003 |
12 (12) | "Advent (Christmas Special)" | Phill Jupitus Sean Lock John Sessions |
John Sessions | 23 December 2003 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (13) | "Blue" | Bill Bailey Jo Brand Sean Lock |
Sean Lock | 8 October 2004 [fn 2] |
2 (14) | "Birds" | Jo Brand Rich Hall Phil Kay |
Rich Hall | 8 October 2004 |
3 (15) | "Bombs" | Clive Anderson Rich Hall Phill Jupitus |
Phill Jupitus | 15 October 2004 |
4 (16) | "Bible" | Jeremy Clarkson Barry Cryer Jeremy Hardy |
Jeremy Clarkson | 22 October 2004 |
5 (17) | "Bears" | Bill Bailey Jo Brand Jimmy Carr |
Jimmy Carr | 29 October 2004 |
6 (18) | "Beavers" | Bill Bailey Sean Lock Anneka Rice |
Anneka Rice | 5 November 2004 |
7 (19) | "Biscuits" | Rich Hall Dara Ó Briain Arthur Smith |
Dara Ó Briain | 12 November 2004 |
8 (20) | "Bees" | Jo Brand Rich Hall Fred MacAulay |
Rich Hall | 19 November 2004 |
9 (21) | "Bats" | Rich Hall Josie Lawrence John Sessions |
Rich Hall and Josie Lawrence | 26 November 2004 |
10 (22) | "Bills" | Clive Anderson Phil Kay John Sessions |
Clive Anderson | 3 December 2004 |
11 (23) | "Beats" | Mark Gatiss Sean Lock Linda Smith |
Linda Smith | 10 December 2004 |
12 (24) | "Birth (Christmas Special)"[fn 3] | Rich Hall Phill Jupitus Mark Steel |
Rich Hall | 17 December 2004 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (25) | "Campanology" | Bill Bailey Rob Brydon Rich Hall |
Rich Hall | 30 September 2005 [fn 2] |
2 (26) | "Cummingtonite" | Andy Hamilton Doon Mackichan Arthur Smith |
Andy Hamilton | 30 September 2005 |
3 (27) | "Common Knowledge" | Jimmy Carr Sean Lock Rory McGrath |
Rory McGrath | 7 October 2005 |
4 (28) | "Cheating" | Alexander Armstrong Jeremy Clarkson John Sessions |
Alexander Armstrong | 14 October 2005 |
5 (29) | "Cat's Eyes" | Jo Brand Rich Hall Sean Lock |
Sean Lock | 21 October 2005 |
6 (30) | "Cockneys" | Bill Bailey Phill Jupitus Rory McGrath |
Bill Bailey | 28 October 2005 |
7 (31) | "Constellations" | Jeremy Clarkson Rich Hall Sean Lock |
Jeremy Clarkson | 4 November 2005 |
8 (32) | "Corby" | Bill Bailey Phill Jupitus David Mitchell |
David Mitchell | 11 November 2005 |
9 (33) | "Creatures" | Helen Atkinson-Wood Bill Bailey Andy Hamilton |
Helen Atkinson-Wood | 18 November 2005 |
10 (34) | "Cleve Crudgington" | Clive Anderson John Sessions Mark Steel |
Mark Steel | 25 November 2005 |
11 (35) | "Carnival" | Clive Anderson Jo Brand Phill Jupitus |
Clive Anderson | 2 December 2005 |
12 (36) | "Combustion" | Bill Bailey Phill Jupitus Dara Ó Briain |
Bill Bailey | 9 December 2005 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (37) | "Danger" | Jo Brand Jimmy Carr Sean Lock |
Jo Brand | 29 September 2006 [fn 2] |
2 (38) | "Discoveries" | Clive Anderson Vic Reeves Arthur Smith |
Vic Reeves | 29 September 2006 |
3 (39) | "Dogs" | Jeremy Clarkson Neil Mullarkey Liza Tarbuck |
Neil Mullarkey | 6 October 2006 |
4 (40) | "Dictionaries" | Ronni Ancona Rory Bremner Phill Jupitus |
Ronni Ancona | 13 October 2006 |
5 (41) | "Death (Hallowe'en Special)" | Clive Anderson Sean Lock Andy Parsons |
The Audience | 20 October 2006 |
6 (42) | "Drinks" | Jimmy Carr Phill Jupitus John Sessions |
Alan Davies | 27 October 2006 |
7 (43) | "Differences" | Jo Brand Julian Clary Dara Ó Briain |
Dara Ó Briain | 3 November 2006 |
8 (44) | "Descendants (Children in Need Special)" | Rich Hall Phill Jupitus Jonathan Ross |
Jonathan Ross | 10 November 2006 |
9 (45) | "Doves" | Andy Hamilton David Mitchell John Sessions |
Alan Davies | 17 November 2006 |
10 (46) | "Divination"[fn 4] | Graeme Garden Phill Jupitus Johnny Vaughan |
Graeme Garden | 24 November 2006 |
11 (47) | "Denial and Deprivation" | Roger McGough Vic Reeves Mark Steel |
Roger McGough and Vic Reeves | 1 December 2006 |
12 (48) | "Domesticity" | Jo Brand Phill Jupitus Jessica Stevenson |
Jessica Stevenson | 8 December 2006 |
13 (49) | "December (Christmas Special)" | Jo Brand Rich Hall Dara Ó Briain |
Dara Ó Briain | 15 December 2006 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (50) | "Engineering" | Bill Bailey Rob Brydon Jimmy Carr |
Rob Brydon | 21 September 2007 [fn 2] |
2 (51) | "Electricity" | Jo Brand Rich Hall Sean Lock |
Jo Brand | 21 September 2007 |
3 (52) | "Eating" | Jimmy Carr Phill Jupitus Johnny Vegas |
Alan Davies | 28 September 2007 |
4 (53) | "Exploration" | Bill Bailey Rich Hall Sean Lock |
Rich Hall | 5 October 2007 |
5 (54) | "Europe" | Phill Jupitus David Mitchell Dara Ó Briain |
Phill Jupitus | 12 October 2007 |
6 (55) | "Everything, Etc." | Clive Anderson Jeremy Clarkson Vic Reeves |
Vic Reeves | 19 October 2007 |
7 (56) | "Espionage" | Clive Anderson Jo Brand Vic Reeves |
Clive Anderson and Vic Reeves | 26 October 2007 |
8 (57) | "Eyes and Ears" | Jimmy Carr Phill Jupitus David Mitchell |
Alan Davies | 2 November 2007 |
9 (58) | "Entertainment (Children in Need Special)" | Bill Bailey Jo Brand Jeremy Clarkson |
Jeremy Clarkson | 9 November 2007 |
10 (59) | "England" | Charlie Higson Phill Jupitus Sean Lock |
The Audience | 16 November 2007 |
11 (60) | "Endings" | Jimmy Carr Doon Mackichan Dara Ó Briain |
Jimmy Carr and Dara Ó Briain | 23 November 2007 |
12 (61) | "Empire (Christmas Special)" | Bill Bailey Jo Brand Sean Lock |
Alan Davies | 7 December 2007 |
13 | "Elephants (Compilation Show)" | N/A [fn 5] | N/A | 14 December 2007 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (62) | "Families (Children in Need Special)" | Ronni Ancona David Mitchell Sir Terry Wogan |
Ronni Ancona | 14 November 2008 |
2 (63) | "Fire and Freezing (Christmas Special)" | Clive Anderson Rob Brydon Dom Joly |
Clive Anderson | 22 December 2008 |
3 (64) | "Flotsam and Jetsam" | Rob Brydon Andy Hamilton Charlie Higson |
Charlie Higson | 9 January 2009 10 January 2009 (XL edition) |
4 (65) | "Fight or Flight" | Pam Ayres Sean Lock Johnny Vegas |
Pam Ayres | 16 January 2009 17 January 2009 (XL edition) |
5 (66) | "France" | Jo Brand Hugh Dennis Phill Jupitus |
Hugh Dennis | 23 January 2009 24 January 2009 (XL edition) |
6 (67) | "Fakes and Frauds" | Marcus Brigstocke Jimmy Carr Sean Lock |
Sean Lock | 30 January 2009 31 January 2009 (XL edition) |
7 (68) | "Fingers and Fumbs" | Jo Brand Phill Jupitus Dara Ó Briain |
Phill Jupitus | 6 February 2009 7 February 2009 (XL edition) |
8 (69) | "Fashion" | Clive Anderson Rich Hall Reginald D. Hunter |
Rich Hall | 13 February 2009 14 February 2009 (XL edition) |
9 (70) | "The Future" | Rob Brydon Sean Lock Ben Miller |
Ben Miller | 20 February 2009 21 February 2009 (XL edition) |
10 (71) | "Flora and Fauna" | Jo Brand Jimmy Carr John Sergeant |
The Audience | 27 February 2009 28 February 2009 (XL edition) |
11 (72) | "Films and Fame" | David Mitchell John Sessions Emma Thompson |
Alan Davies | 6 March 2009 7 March 2009 (XL edition) |
12 (73) | "Food" | Jimmy Carr Rich Hall David Mitchell |
David Mitchell | 20 March 2009 [fn 6] 21 March 2009 (XL edition) |
# | Title- | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (74) | "Gardens" | Rob Brydon David Mitchell Dara Ó Briain |
David Mitchell and Dara Ó Briain | 26 November 2009 20 March 2010 (XL edition) [fn 7] |
2 (75) | "Ganimals"[fn 8] | Bill Bailey John Hodgman Sean Lock Sandi Toksvig |
John Hodgman | 3 December 2009 12 October 2010 (XL edition) [fn 9] |
3 (76) | "Games" | Phill Jupitus Sean Lock Liza Tarbuck |
Liza Tarbuck | 10 December 2009 19 October 2010 (XL edition) [fn 9] |
4 (77) | "Geography" | Jo Brand Rob Brydon Jimmy Carr |
Alan Davies | 17 December 2009 23 December 2009 (XL edition) |
5 (78) | "Groovy (Christmas Special)" | Bill Bailey Lee Mack David Tennant |
Alan Davies [fn 10] | 24 December 2009 29 December 2009 (XL edition) |
6 (79) | "Genius" | David Mitchell Graham Norton Dara Ó Briain |
Alan Davies [fn 11] | 1 January 2010 2 January 2010 (XL edition) |
7 (80) | "Girls and Boys" | Ronni Ancona Jack Dee Sandi Toksvig |
The Girls [fn 12] | 8 January 2010 9 January 2010 (XL edition) |
8 (81) | "Germany" | Jo Brand Rob Brydon Sean Lock |
Jo Brand | 15 January 2010 16 January 2010 (XL edition) |
9 (82) | "Gallimaufrey" | Hugh Dennis Andy Hamilton Phill Jupitus |
Hugh Dennis | 22 January 2010 23 January 2010 (XL edition) |
10 (83) | "Greats" | Jo Brand Sean Lock David Mitchell |
David Mitchell [fn 13] | 29 January 2010 30 January 2010 (XL edition) |
11 (84) | "Gifts" | Clive Anderson Jimmy Carr Jan Ravens |
Jan Ravens | 5 February 2010 6 February 2010 (XL edition) |
12 (85) | "Gravity" | Bill Bailey Rich Hall Barry Humphries |
Alan Davies and Rich Hall | 12 February 2010 13 February 2010 (XL edition) |
13 (86) | "Gothic" | Jimmy Carr Jack Dee Sue Perkins |
Alan Davies and Jack Dee | 19 February 2010 20 February 2010 (XL edition) |
14 (87) | "Greeks" | Clive Anderson Rich Hall Phill Jupitus |
Clive Anderson (QI) / The Audience (QI XL) [fn 14] |
5 March 2010 6 March 2010 (XL edition) |
15 (88) | "Green" | Bill Bailey Danny Baker Jeremy Clarkson |
Bill Bailey | 26 March 2010 22 February 2011 (XL edition) [fn 9] |
16 (89) | "Geometry" | Rob Brydon David Mitchell Johnny Vegas |
Alan Davies | 2 April 2010 22 February 2011 (XL edition) [fn 9] |
17 | "QI VG: Series G Compilation Show 1" | N/A [fn 15] | N/A | 5 April 2010 |
18 | "QI VG: Series G Compilation Show 2" | N/A [fn 16] | N/A | 16 April 2010 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (90) | "Hodge Podge" | Jack Dee Phill Jupitus Ross Noble |
Jack Dee | 17 September 2010 18 September 2010 (XL edition) |
2 (91) | "Hanatomy" | Bill Bailey Gyles Brandreth Sue Perkins |
Gyles Brandreth and Sue Perkins | 24 September 2010 25 September 2010 (XL edition) |
3 (92) | "Hoaxes" | Danny Baker Sean Lock David Mitchell |
Sean Lock | 1 October 2010 2 October 2010 (XL edition) |
4 (93) | "Humans" | Jo Brand Jimmy Carr Jack Dee |
Jo Brand | 8 October 2010 9 October 2010 (XL edition) |
5 (94) | "Hanimals" | Sean Lock Ross Noble Ruby Wax |
Ross Noble | 15 October 2010 16 October 2010 (XL edition) |
6 (95) | "Happiness" | Rich Hall Andy Hamilton Phill Jupitus |
Phill Jupitus | 22 October 2010 23 October 2010 (XL edition) |
7 (96) | "Horrible (Halloween Special)" | Chris Addison Sean Lock Dara Ó Briain |
Dara Ó Briain | 29 October 2010 20 November 2010 (XL edition) |
8 (97) | "Hypothetical" | John Lloyd Sandi Toksvig Johnny Vegas |
Sandi Toksvig | 5 November 2010 22 January 2011 (XL edition) |
9 (98) | "House and Home" | Bill Bailey Danny Baker Eddie Izzard |
Bill Bailey | 12 November 2010 29 January 2011 (XL edition) |
10 (99) | "Health and Safety" | Jeremy Clarkson David Mitchell Ross Noble |
David Mitchell | 26 November 2010 27 November 2010 (XL edition) |
11 (100) | "Highs and Lows" | Rob Brydon Fred MacAulay Sandi Toksvig |
Fred MacAulay | 3 December 2010 4 December 2010 (XL edition) |
12 (101) | "Horses & Hunting" | Clare Balding Jimmy Carr Dara Ó Briain |
Clare Balding | 10 December 2010 11 December 2010 (XL edition) |
13 (102) | "Holidays" | Bill Bailey Rob Brydon Rich Hall |
Rob Brydon | 17 December 2010 18 December 2010 (XL edition) |
14 (103) | "Hocus Pocus (Christmas Special)" | Lee Mack Graham Norton Daniel Radcliffe |
Daniel Radcliffe | 24 December 2010 29 December 2010 (XL edition) |
15 (104) | "Hypnosis, Hallucinations & Hysteria" | Ronni Ancona Phill Jupitus Robert Webb |
Phill Jupitus | 7 January 2011 8 January 2011 (XL edition) |
16 (105) | "History" | Rob Brydon David Mitchell Sandi Toksvig |
Rob Brydon | 14 January 2011 15 January 2011 (XL edition) |
17 | "QI VG: Series H Compilation Show 1" | N/A [fn 17] | N/A | 25 April 2011 |
18 | "QI VG: Series H Compilation Show 2" | N/A [fn 18] | N/A | 2 May 2011 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | "Comic Relief special"[fn 19] | Jo Brand Sue Perkins Russell Tovey David Walliams |
David Walliams | 6 March 2011 |
# | Title | Guests | Winner(s) | Original airdate |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 (106) | "I-Spy" | Jimmy Carr Lee Mack Sandi Toksvig |
Sandi Toksvig | 9 September 2011 10 September 2011 (XL edition) |
2 (107) | "International" | Bill Bailey Jack Dee David Mitchell |
Bill Bailey | 16 September 2011 17 September 2011 (XL edition) |
3 (108) | "Imbroglio" | John Bishop Sean Lock Frank Skinner |
John Bishop and Frank Skinner | 23 September 2011 24 September 2011 (XL edition) |
4 (109) | "Indecision" | Jimmy Carr Rich Hall Phill Jupitus |
Phill Jupitus | 30 September 2011 1 October 2011 (XL edition) |
5 (110) | "Invertebrates" | Jimmy Carr Sarah Millican Johnny Vegas |
Johnny Vegas | 7 October 2011 8 October 2011 (XL edition) |
6 (111) | "Inventive" | Bill Bailey Nina Conti [fn 20] Sean Lock |
Nina Conti | 14 October 2011 15 October 2011 (XL edition) |
7 (112) | "Incomprehensible" | Prof. Brian Cox Ross Noble Sue Perkins |
Prof. Brian Cox | 21 October 2011 22 October 2011 (XL edition) |
8 (113) | "Inequality" | Clive Anderson Sandi Toksvig Henning Wehn |
Not stated [fn 21] | 28 October 2011 29 October 2011 (XL edition) |
9 (114) | "Illness" | Jo Brand Ben Goldacre Andy Hamilton |
Andy Hamilton | 4 November 2011 5 November 2011 (XL edition) |
10 (115) | "Inland Revenue" | Al Murray Dara Ó Briain Sandi Toksvig |
Sandi Toksvig | 11 November 2011 12 November 2011 (XL edition) |
11 (116) | "Infantile" | Ronni Ancona Dave Gorman Lee Mack |
Dave Gorman | 29 December 2011 [fn 22] 19 November 2011 (XL edition) |
12 (117) | "Illumination" | Chris Addison Jack Dee Rich Hall |
Rich Hall | 25 November 2011 26 November 2011 (XL edition) |
13 (118) | "Intelligence" | Jo Brand Phill Jupitus David Mitchell |
ASIMO [fn 23] | 2 December 2011 3 December 2011 (XL edition) |
14 (119) | "Idleness" | Jeremy Clarkson Ross Noble Dara Ó Briain |
Alan Davies | [fn 24] |
15 (120) | "Ice (Christmas Special)" | Brian Blessed Sean Lock Ross Noble |
Alan Davies | 29 December 2011 30 December 2011 (XL edition) |
16 | "QI VG: Series I Compilation Show 1" | N/A | N/A | 16 December 2011 |
17 | "QI VG: Series I Compilation Show 2" | N/A | N/A | 23 December 2011 |
18 (121) | "The Immortal Bard" | Bill Bailey David Mitchell Sue Perkins |
2012 [fn 25] |