QI

QI: quite interesting facts about mythical creatures

A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI visits a mythical menagerie.

The provenance of this episode is quite as interesting as anything Stephen Fry has on his cue cards. It was pulled from the schedules last December after Jeremy Clarkson, one of its guest panellists, made his much-derided comments about public sector strike action. The furore surrounding Clarkson has died down enough to show the episode (and to allow him to guest-host tonight's Have I Got News For You), and he joins Alan Davies, Ross Noble and Dara O'Briain to answer questions about idleness.

Video: Studio Tinto offers his interpretation of the QI titles

Mr Tinto (Studio to his friends?) has reinterpreted the title sequence to one of his favourite programmes, QI, because, in his words, "I have never liked the opening credits: they just don't do the programme justice in my opinion.

Top 10 times they got it wrong on QI

Finding out Stephen Fry has uttered a statement which isn't entirely true is a bit like discovering that not only is Santa not real but that, in fact, he was based on the man who gave The Twang a record deal. It's our sad duty to report that even QI, the receptacle of all things wise and witty, sometimes goes a bit wonky.

QI: Quite interesting facts about baths

A quietly intriguing column from the brains behind QI, the BBC quiz show. This week: QI has a bath.

Ancestor tester

Not every QI question has to have a definitive answer - in fact it is a fundamental QI tenet that we know so little about *everything* that it is almost impossible to say *anything* with any certainty. Should a subject come to light without an accepted viewpoint then we won't shy away from it - rather we'll attempt to start a discussion.

Wrapped up in colourful scarves, Stephen Fry and company are in particularly jovial mood tonight for this festive edition of the esoteric quiz. Answering questions on such subjects as ice and prawns, Ross Noble, Sean Lock, Brian Blessed and Alan Davies prove hilarious company as they reel off a number of anecdotes. For the comedian's quick wits, though, the most amusing moment comes from Lock falling off his chair.

Stephen Fry and his contestants don colourful scarves for a festive edition of the highbrow quiz show that loves a bit of low humour. Brian Blessed gets into the spirit on the subject of ice with some windy anecdotes about the Yeti and his love of husky dogs.

Sean Lock and Ross Noble are the quick wits riffing on Icelandic banking and prawns, while host Fry adopts his stern headmaster persona whenever his "class" seem to be having too much fun.

Like many teachers in the old-fashioned mould, though, he finds his own enjoyment peeking at the sight of one of his boys being humiliated... tonight, it's Lock falling off a chair.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - QI style

If you adhere to the QI principle that everything in the Universe is interesting if looked at closely enough, for long enough, or from the right angle, you'll go far in the world.