The News Quiz

The News Quiz Emerges

Here's News Quiz producer Sam Bryant reading the papers in preparation for this week's writers meeting (see last week's blog). Exciting, huh?

The News Quiz Benefit

This week's News Quiz lineup consists of Andy Hamilton, Miles Jupp, Sue Perkins and Jeremy Hardy. But as we had a picture of most of them last week, instead here's Sandi with one of our excellent script writers - Simon Littlefield.

Britain's Next Top News Quiz

Tonight's News Quiz on Radio 4 sees the esteemed panel of Francis Wheen and Jeremy Hardy slogging it out against Sue Perkins and Andy Hamilton to win points from Sandi Toksvig by answering questions about topical events. Who will win? We literally don't know*. (*We literally do. The show was recorded on Thursday night. We're just not telling.)

You never know, it might get witty this time. The venerable topical comment panel show returns for another season. Sandi Toksvig chairs, Jeremy Hardy, Sue Perkins and brilliant Andy Hamilton are among the guests. But is the nation in the mood for comedians taking pot shots? I doubt it. These are hard times and likely to get harder. That's why the gloriously spiky surrealism of Jon Holmes's Listen Against in this slot on Tuesdays is such a tonic. If News Quiz wants to be more than a habit it had better shape up. Radio 4's new Controller is listening.

The News Quiz returns - clipping pictures

Pictures of a couple of the cuttings sent in by listeners.

Scooping The News Quiz

It's back to normal for The News Quiz team this week. Not because there's anything particularly normal about the week's news agenda.

Radio waves: Election fever

Sandi Toksvig will continue to present Radio 4's News Quiz despite being a former Liberal Democrat party activist.

The News Quiz has now reached series 70. At first one dragged oneself into earshot expecting the worst. Would Sandi Toksvig have decided finally to give up all pretence of being the convenor of a popular comedy panel game and do the whole thing herself?

And yet, blow me down with my prejudices, series 70 has so far been something of a cracker, the last couple of weeks in particular. First, they've injected new blood into the panellists - the rapidly rising posh type Miles Jupp a fortnight ago, the drily observant Scottish stand-up Susan Calman last week. Jupp in particular took the show over, beating Toksvig into a corner with an unstoppable stream of hilarity and never letting her out of it. Then, last week, a bottle of Buckfast Tonic Wine was brought out, knocked back, and the programme dissolved into giggling and slurring of words. Artificial stimulants - this is the way to go, one feels.

Now I'm not usually a fan of radio but that's mainly the fault of Jo Whiley and Scott Mills, but I do enjoy The News Quiz. Not only because Celebrity Lesbian Sandi Toksvig is the chair, but also because Celebrity Lesbian Sue Perkins is a regular panellist.

The News Quiz never fails to have me laughing, which is the main reason that I can't listen to it in public, I don't want to develop a reputation. It is the wittier version of Have I Got News For You, and yes there is a certain overlap of topics, but The News Quiz (usually) has five brilliant wits on, whereas HIGNFY has to make do with two, a guest chair and Ian Hislop. And very rarely does it have Celebrity Lesbians, so it just doesn't stand a chance.

BBC must end its smug comedy consensus

Writer Martin Kelner has accused the BBC of subscribing to a 'smug' comedy consensus. He gives The News Quiz as an example.