# QI (2003)

> A British comedy quiz where panellists are rewarded for surprisingly interesting facts rather than correct answers.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1465

## Facts

- Seasons: 23
- Episodes: 369
- Episode runtime: 29 min
- Status: Returning Series
- Genres: comedy, reality
- Created by: John Lloyd
- Network: BBC One, BBC Four, BBC Two
- Cast: Stephen Fry, Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig, Barry Cryer, Anneka Rice, Mark Gatiss, Doon Mackichan, Helen Atkinson-Wood
- TMDB rating: 8.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0380136/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: mild
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: none
- Tone: witty, erudite, playful, irreverent, warm

## What critics say

Audiences broadly acclaim QI as a witty, consistently entertaining quiz that rewards curiosity and rewards unusual knowledge.

## Synopsis

QI (2003-present) is a British comedy panel quiz created by John Lloyd for BBC One, BBC Four and BBC Two. Stephen Fry hosts with Alan Davies as the regular panellist, while Sandi Toksvig has presided over many episodes as well. Rather than rewarding correct answers, the show awards points for facts that are quite interesting, so contestants chase surprising, obscure trivia and spar with one another in a stream of tangents. Each half-hour episode builds around a loose theme of astonishing knowledge, with guests and regulars trading quips, digressions and deflations as the scoring twists under them. The format has run for twenty three seasons, and its episodes are self contained, so viewers can dip in at any point. Fans of Have I Got News for You, Would I Lie to You? and 8 Out of 10 Cats will find the same mix of wit, erudition and playful competition. The tone is warm, clever and gently silly, resting on delight in obscure facts rather than on any single winner or loser.

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