QI – Series 1
By John Sheridan, Blockbuster.co.uk

“Women can do everything else except for opening jars… when they learn that… we’re finished as a species”

Stephen Fry presents “QI – Series 1”, QI standing for “Quite Interesting”, a game show format like no other. Players are not awarded points for right answers but instead, rewarded for bringing up interesting facts. Alan Davies and a variety of UK and American comedians guess / answer questions and keep the show moving. It’s entertaining stuff that will quietly educate you at the same time.

“90% of the Earth’s oxygen comes from Algae…trees use more oxygen than they actually give out.”

Presenting QI is quite possibly the most perfect role for Stephen Fry; one of the few presenters that are credible enough to ask very detailed questions to discover what his Panel of Four know. As this is Stephen Fry, he doesn’t just add the questions but also adds interesting anecdotes and witty facts along the way.

“Queen Victoria smoked when she was in the Highlands to keep the midges away”

The Panel of Four on the show always consists of the hilarious Alan Davies, who loses, pretty much all the time. Davies is joined by top UK and US comedians including Bill Bailey, Hugh Laurie and Jo Brand. Each of them offer up their own suggestions / guesses for the answers and helps to keep the format fresh, interesting and amusing for each episode.

QI is billed as the world’s most impossible quiz and indeed it is. Even if the contestant is able to answer a question correctly, Fry is just as likely to deduct points as add them if they answer in a boring or obvious way. Series 1 establishes the format and proves to all that it is a worthy successor to Have I Got News For You, but for the mainstream. Each and every episode reveals a truly interesting fact that the general public may not be aware, for instance – were you aware that the Earth has two moons? We didn’t….

QI Series 1 is now available to rent online. For a different type of stimulating entertainment, add this to your list now.