One of the most high-profile and storied British panel shows has to be QI: Quite Interesting. Running since 2003, the show has been a comedy-and-information forum for comedians for years — perhaps the biggest platform for permanent panellist Alan Davies’ comedy career. Beyond Alan, many others have made notable advancements in their careers from appearances on the show: Bill Bailey, Sean Lock, Jo Brand, Jimmy Carr, David Mitchell and Phill Jupitus are just some of the most well-known regular guests.
However, what about some of the Quite Interesting Comedians you likely know but don’t remember appearing on the show…
Tim Minchin
A recognised name across the world, the Australian comedian is likely best known for his musical anthems that question aspects of religion with mocking yet logical lyricism. Tim is a very methodical and talented musician, showing his skill on the piano and proving he is much more than just a comedy punchline — he’s a genuine maestro.
Minchin would occasionally pop up on British panel shows such as Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 Out of 10 Cats.
As for QI, Tim appeared on the eighth episode of the K series, titled Keys. Not only did the comedic pianist appear, but so did fellow piano-playing comedy mind Bill Bailey. The episode covered pianos, typewriters and lockmakers, among other related topics.
His exact score wasn’t revealed, but we know he finished third — behind winner Bill Bailey and runner-up Isy Suttie — and ahead of Alan Davies. This makes him one of those Quite Interesting Comedians who only appeared once but left a memorable impression.
Greg Davies
Although you might not notice it at first, Greg Davies has become one of the most prolific TV stars of modern British comedy. Taskmaster, Cuckoo, Man Down, The Cleaner, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, The Inbetweeners, Would I Lie to You?, Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Mock the Week and Have I Got News for You are just some of his TV credits since 2010.
Greg has made only one QI appearance, in the M series episode Marriage and Mating (2015). He impressed in his sole outing, managing to keep up with the regulars despite the unfamiliar setting, and finished second behind Jo Brand — a strong debut for one of the taller Quite Interesting Comedians in the show’s history.
John Bishop
Stand-up comedian John Bishop isn’t someone most people recognise as a quiz show regular. Despite this, he appeared in the third episode of the I series, Imbroglio, alongside Sean Lock and Frank Skinner.
After a show involving mobile phone signals, banjoleles and double entendres, the Liverpudlian Bishop walked away as joint winner with Frank Skinner, both on 4 points — giving him a 100% win record on QI, as he hasn’t returned since.
As of 2016, that 4-point total ranked as the 39th highest on the QI Scoreboard, putting him firmly among the rarer Quite Interesting Comedians who have a perfect win rate.
Andy Parsons
Andy Parsons will likely go down as a comedian whose career is synonymous with a single panel show: Mock the Week. His one-off QI appearance is therefore a bit of an oddity.
At the time, Parsons had only recently begun appearing on the Dara Ó Briain–hosted show and had not yet become a permanent panellist. He would go on to remain a fixture there from 2005 to 2015.
Parsons appeared on the episode Death, losing out to the audience. However, he still finished ahead of Alan Davies, Sean Lock and Clive Anderson — proving even some of the most recognisable faces in British comedy can be Quite Interesting Comedians in an unexpected setting.
Henning Wehn
Star of the QI episode Inequality (the eighth of the I series), Henning Wehn might not be a household name, but he’s beloved by those who know him.
Born in West Germany, Henning overcame the language barrier to make it in British comedy. He has appeared on 8 Out of 10 Cats, Have I Got News for You and Would I Lie to You? among others.
On QI, he shared the panel with Alan Davies, Sandi Toksvig and Clive Anderson. He memorably triggered the klaxon for referencing something he admitted he didn’t know.
In the XL edition, he was announced as finishing with “minus sechzig” — that’s –60 — making it one of the lowest scores among single-time participants.
Barry Cryer
A true representative of the old guard of comedy, Barry Cryer’s career spanned over 60 years. In later years, he often appeared on TV as a talking head in documentaries and retrospectives about significant comics and shows.
As a writer, comedian and actor, Cryer penned material for some of the biggest names in 20th-century British comedy, including Dave Allen, Tommy Cooper, Bruce Forsyth, Spike Milligan, David Frost, Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett.
Cryer’s sole QI appearance was in the fourth episode of the B series, Bible. He tied last with Alan Davies, with Jeremy Clarkson winning the instalment.
Ed Byrne
Ed Byrne holds the distinction of being the only comedian on this list to have appeared during Sandi Toksvig’s tenure as host.
The Irish-born Byrne rose to fame in the 1990s, most memorably for his routine about Alanis Morissette’s hit single Ironic. A nominee for the 1998 Perrier Award, he even made a pre-fame appearance on Father Ted.
More recently, Byrne has been a regular (though not permanent) member of the Mock the Week line-up, and has popped up on Would I Lie to You?, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Have I Got News for You.
Byrne appeared in the P series episode Pathological alongside Sandi, Alan, Rhod Gilbert and Sindhu Vee. The most memorable moment may have been Ed and Alan shooting water pistols. Ed won the episode.
Dom Joly
Dom Joly’s single QI appearance came in 2008’s Christmas special, Fire and Freezing.
Best known for his hidden-camera series Trigger Happy TV, Joly was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and has claimed to have attended school alongside Osama Bin Laden — a claim also made by Private Eye editor Ian Hislop.
On QI, Joly lost to winner Clive Anderson, with Alan Davies, Stephen Fry and Rob Brydon also appearing.
Greg Proops
An improvisational comic best known for Whose Line Is It Anyway? in both the UK and US, Greg Proops also voiced Bob the Builder from 2005 to 2009.
Proops’ only QI appearance was in the J series episode Jungles (2012). Topics included hydrophobic sand, semaphore-using frogs and sperm-distributing spiders. He came third on the night, with Reginald D. Hunter taking the win.
Adam Hills
Better known in the UK than in his native Australia, Adam Hills is the host of Channel 4’s The Last Leg. He’s also appeared on Mock the Week and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, as well as working on various sporting broadcasts — including Olympic and Paralympic coverage.
Hills’ only QI appearance came in the L series episode Lying. He won the episode against Jack Whitehall and Sara Pascoe, making it a strong showing in his sole outing on the show and cementing his place among notable Quite Interesting Comedians.