Qi is an excellent panel show, originally aired in the UK on BBC2. Hosted by Stephen Fry, the show features such luminaries as Jo Brand, Rich Hall, Bill Bailey, Eddie Izzard, Meera Syal, Graeme Garden and regular foil Alan Davies.
The format of the show entails Stephen asking the panel questions which appear to be obvious, but with answers that may be surprising to both audience and guests. The subjects cover every field of general knowledge and are loosely based each week under a general heading. Series one is on subjects beginning with the letter ‘a’ while the fourth series, currently airing in the UK, has progressed to subjects beginning with ‘d’, the idea being that the show goes for twenty six years and covers each letter of the alphabet. Points are awarded more for interesting answers that take artistic licence than for correct ones, and points are taken away if the obvious (and usually incorrect) answers are given.
There are twelve half hour episodes in the first series, plus this double DVD includes the pilot episode, some outtakes/extended bits, and a sort of comedy by the producers. The commentary is available for selection during episodes if you choose the bonus option and you get short chats about the show over a still of a fascinating fact.
In all, this DVD contains over six and a half hours of entertaining and educational chat about every subject under the sun (why humans don’t have bones in their penises; who really invented the steam engine; the meanings of words; why you shouldn’t hug an anteater). This is the perfect show to have on after Christmas lunch or on a rainy day when you need cheering up. The DVD is coded Region 2 & 4 so no problem playing in Australia, the shows are anamorphic (1.78:1) and there are subtitles. “Qi – Series One” is available from Amazon