British Comedy Guide
British Comedy Guide
QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig. Copyright: TalkbackThames
QI

QI

  • TV panel show
  • BBC Two / BBC One / BBC Four
  • 2003 - 2025
  • 324 episodes (22 series)

Panel game that contains lots of difficult questions and a large amount of quite interesting facts. Stars Sandi Toksvig, Stephen Fry and Alan Davies.

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All series

QI. Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Pilot (2002)

A pilot episode of QI was produced to test out the show.

QI. Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series A (2003)

The first series of QI, which was based around the letter 'A', made its debut on BBC Two in September 2003. The series answered "an avalanche of As", with the panellists being asked about Adams, Alans, Andersons, aquatic animals, astronomy and the antidotes of QI's patron saint - Pliny the Elder.

QI Titles. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series B (2004)

Following the success of the first series, QI came back in October 2004 for its 'B' series. The episodes got the panellists to bone up on 'B' byways, beetles, birds, bees, beavers, bombs, blue and boiling points.

QI Titles. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series C (2005)

The crazy canyons of the land of 'C' were what it was all about in the third series. First broadcast in 2005, these episodes contain conundrums on cartography, campanology, cockneys, clowns, China, chickens, Chelmsford and custard.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Phill Jupitus, Jimmy Carr. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series D (2006)

The 2006 series invited viewers to delight in the delicious 'D' diner and intake a delivery of drink, dogs, danger, death, differences, denial and deprivation. This fourth series also featured QI's first Halloween and Children in Need specials.

QI. Vic Reeves. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series E (2007)

The fifth series aimed to exterminate the end of 'E' ignorance; engaging with electricity, eating, England, Europe, empires, entertainment and elephants in the process. All the episodes in this series had an 'Elephant in the Room' bonus. Panellists could score 10 points if they spot a reference to an elephant in any of the questions. Series E also saw the introduction of the 'QI Quickie' - originally meant to be a vodcast, each one contains some unbroadcast material.

QI. Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series F (2008 - 2009)

Here is our guide to Series F of QI, the first series of the show to be broadcast on BBC One. It was also the first series to be given a longer 45 minute extended repeat, titled QI XL.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series G (2009 - 2010)

The seventh series of QI was the first to be extended to 16 episodes long. It covered everything interesting beginning with 'G' - including geography, geometry, genius and Germany. This was the first series to have some episodes broadcast transmitted before the 9pm watershed, and also the first series to feature an episode with more than three guests.

QI Logo. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series H (2010 - 2011)

Our guide to the eighth series. The show hovers over "H" subjects, including happiness, holidays, history, hoaxes, horses and humanity. This series saw QI broadcast its hundredth episode and the show's inventor, John Lloyd, guest on the panel for the first time.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series I (2011 - 2012)

The ninth series includes everything interesting beginning with 'I', including idleness, illness, insects, inventions, intelligence and injustice. This series of QI saw the series return to its original home on BBC Two.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Jo Brand, Stephen Fry, Liza Tarbuck, Sue Perkins. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series J (2012 - 2013)

QI goes into jubilant double figures (numerically speaking) with its tenth series, jesting over subjects starting with 'J'... such as jungles, jeopardy, journalism, jobs, justice and journeys. This 16-part series features 13 panellists making their debuts, including two from the southern hemisphere who have never appeared on British TV before. This series also includes the first episode in which all three guests are women.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Stephen Fry. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series L (2014 - 2015)

Each episode includes a 'Spend A Penny' bonus, awarded if the guests can spot when a question is related to a lavatory-based theme.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Sheila Hancock, Jimmy Carr. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series M (2015 - 2016)

The 13th series of the show, recorded in Spring 2015, sees the programme reach the half way mark in its plan to cover the whole alphabet, and Stephen leaving as host.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series N (2016 - 2017)

New series, new letter, new host. Sandi Toksvig now navigates QI as it looks at everything interesting beginning with "N".

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series O (2017 - 2018)

OMG! Sandi, Alan, and others are opening up to options and opinions beginning with "O".

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig. Copyright: TalkbackThames

Series P (2018 - 2019)

Pleasing picks of peculiar knowledge as Sandi and Alan get pedantic over the letter "P".

QI. Image shows from L to R: Sandi Toksvig, Alan Davies

Series R (2020 - 2021)

Right. Time to get real with everything interesting starting with "R". Risky however, as the coronavirus pandemic struck half-way through the series recording, and some episodes were recorded without an audience.

QI. Image shows from L to R: Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig

Series S (2021 - 2022)

Sandi and Alan return to the studio for Series S - but not the studio audience. As covid-19 is still around, the audience are at home watching virtually on their sofas, settees and seats, as the panel cover the silly, the spooky and the sensational.

List all episodes

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