About QI

The activities of Quite Interesting Ltd are organised around a central concept or set of attitudes - those of curiosity, discovery and humour. These, we believe, are what make us human and they should therefore be nurtured.

The QI television series

If you've heard of QI, the chances are that you've heard of the BBC2 comedy panel quiz of the same name, hosted by Stephen Fry. Unlike any other quiz show you will have failed to avoid catching, QI's questions are impossible to answer, but at least the guest panel of top-shelf comedians can laugh at themselves (and the universe in general) while trying.

QI has broadcast five complete series on BBC2, is currently researching its sixth (all things 'F'), and is rapidly rising to be the top comedy slot on television. At its core, it enshrines the original view of Lord Reith that the BBC should 'educate, inform and entertain', all three of which duties are carried out to the great enjoyment of panel and audience alike.

The series is also broadcast on BBC4 (where it is breaking records) one episode ahead of the terrestrial broadcast, and repeats are shown regularly on Dave.

The QI building

After a year spent restoring the building to its original Georgian roots, QI Oxford opened its doors in Autumn 2004. On the ground floor, a small bookshop stuffed with only the most interesting current titles and arranged thematically so that a novel might end up next to a work of popular science or a reference book. Behind the bookshop, a bar selling quite interesting drinks and food all day and evening.

Upstairs a Club with Club rooms, a dining room and a library where members could relax, work, talk, eat and drink from morning into the small hours... And, on the top floor, the researchersÕ base for the TV show and the hub of the QI Club events programme, created in turn by Rachael Kerr, Alice Barnsdale and Victoria de Wolfe.

In March 2007 we passed on the baton to the aptly named Curious Group, who own the delicious contemporary country hotel, Cowley Manor, near Cheltenham and LÕHotel in Paris. They have in turn taken on the building next door, no.17 Turl Street, and are in the process of building works which will add a separate membersÕ Bar, meetings rooms and a dedicated events room to the existing Club facilities - now called The Corner Club.

The People Behind QI

QI was created by long-established comedy producer John Lloyd and publishing impresario John Mitchinson, when they both realised that more needed to be done to address the lack of interestingness in the world. Or rather the general lack of awareness that everything is interesting if looked at in the right way. Read on for more details.

Contact details

Please use the information below to contact QI:

• QI general enquiries: Sarah Lloyd (sarah [at] qi [dot] com)
• QI Quibbles: elves [at] qi [dot] com
• QI website: Please email the webmaster [at] qi [dot] com.