QI

Stephen Fry's comedy-quiz QI has become so popular that it's transferred from BBC2 to BBC1 (a la Have I Got News For You), but otherwise it's business as usual for the comedians given schoolboy roles, with Fry as the indubitable headmaster and Alan Davies the class dunce. Tradition dictates that, as the sixth series, the trivia revolves around the letter 'F'. Of course, things aren't particularly strict, and conversations veer off into random, surreal tangents. The only disappointing thing with QI is a tendency to make smutty, schoolboy jokes usually involving sexual innuendo. There's nothing wrong with such comedy, but QI is guilty of spending far too long giggling at crudities, when the real gems of the show are to be found elsewhere.

Yep, that's right, this is the latest example of a BBC2 show becoming so popular it's been promoted to BBC1. Although if you're the BBC2 big cheese who's suddenly lost one of the jewels in your scheduling crown, I guess you won't consider it a positive thing - just another case of the bullies from BBC1 nicking one of your most successful shows.

Stephen Fry hosts as the Quite Interesting panel show returns for a new series.

Laughter's said to be the best medicine - although if that's the case, why do doctors bother with those drugs? But chortling certainly does help the brain garage store juicy facts. Countless folk have chortled at Stephen ribbing Alan's ineptitude and still been able to fire out some impressive trivia down The Stoat and Radish. Sparkling smarty-pants comedy.

I'm still unconvinced about QI coming to BBC1, it seems like one channel transfer too far. Still, it's a great show and let's hope that doesn't change.

A little piece of history tonight as one of Auntie's most ardently admired panel games, QI, makes the journey from BBC2 to BBC1 for its latest series.

It's not the most obviously conformist of comedies: a blend of the scintillating and the silly, an echo of Radio 4 on TV, hosted with avuncular omniscience by Stephen Fry, who puts panellists to the test with questions so arcane that points are awarded only for the most outlandish or 'quite interesting' answers (with suitably massive deductions for the incorrect or predictable).

Wit, that rarest of commodities, is the show's stock in trade and it is a marvel to behold how much is distilled on a regular basis by panellists drawn from a broad cross-section of contemporary comedy talent.

Even if you're not a regular QI watcher (what's wrong with you? It's fantastic!) it's always a good idea to tune in at this time of the year, just in case one of the subjects covered might help you with a Trivial Pursuit question. It's the law at Christmas that all families must play board games.

QI goes Dutch

The Netherlands is to get its own version of QI. Public broadcaster VARA has bought the rights to remake the Stephen Fry panel show, with Dutch author Arthur Japin as host. Comedian Thomas van Luyn will be the only regular guest, as Alan Davies is in the BBC version.

QI plans daytime spin-off

QI is attempting to become the first panel show to create a TV spin-off.

As the programme moves to BBC One next year, producers Talkback Thames have been commissioned to make a pilot of a sister quiz for BBC Two.

Provisionally titled The QI Test, the show is expected to fill a daytime slot and will feature members of the public rather than comedy panellists.

Stephen Fry will not be hosting the show - although no presenter has yet been named.

QI moves to BBC One

The world's most seemingly impossible quiz QI, which has had five hugely successful years on BBC Two, will move to BBC One from the New Year when it returns for its sixth series.

Everything 'fell apart' for John Lloyd, the TV producer, when he had a midlife crisis. Out of it came a new vision of life and the TV show QI.