QI

Quite Interesting, often shortened to 'QI', is a British quiz and comedy panel show first broadcast in 2003. Currently, it is aired on BBC Two and endless repeats are shown on UKTV channel 'Dave'. The show can often be found on catch-up through BBC iPlayer and UKTV Play and through some streaming services such as BritBox.

Broadcast
QI has done a fair bit of channel hopping in its time. During it's early years from 2003 to 2008, episodes of QI were broadcast on BBC Four with a repeat on BBC Two a week later. In 2009 it moved to BBC One, with extended 'QI XL' episodes being aired on BBC Two a day or two later. In 2011, the show moved to BBC Two for both normal and extended episodes, but HD broadcasts stayed on BBC HD until 2013 before being shown on BBC Two HD.

Series A to F were recorded in standard definition (SD) and from Series G, the show has been broadcast in both SD and 1080i high definition (HD).

Format
Each episode features Alan Davies and three other guest panellist, referred to as "Bantermeisters" in the credits, and a host who will ask them questions. From Series A to Series M, Stephen Fry hosted and from Series N, Sandi Toksvig has taken the role of host. The host asks the panellists questions which are, for the most part, near impossible to answer correctly as the answers the panellists give are usually incorrect and stem from misconceptions. After a few wrong answers or, more unlikely, the correct answer is given, the host will explain the answer with help from images on the screens behind the panellists.

The show frequently goes into tangents, that is the panellists and sometimes the host begin discussing a topic that no longer relates to the original question. Tangents are usually funny anecdotes or jokes told by one or more of the panellists.

Scores
Nobody fully understands QI's scoring system other than 'Lumina', the scoring company that created it. We know that an incorrect or obvious answer is considered a 'Forfeit', which often results in minus 10 points. Points are apparently awarded for correct or interesting answers but the amount of points varies - there is no set amount. The subject of the scoring system was once raised by Bill Bailey, who claimed he could play his 'Nobody Knows' bonus for it and he received three points.

Given the panellists frequently give incorrect answers, a lot of episodes see negatives scores, even for the winner.

General Ignorance
The show always finishes with 'general ignorance', a round that usually includes random general knowledge questions that people think they know but actually have a completely different answer. It is usually during general ignorance that the panellists, especially Alan, lose the most points from Forfeit answers.