The Big Fat Quiz of the Year

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year is an annual British television programme broadcast in the last or first week of the year on Channel 4. Essentially, the show is a comedy panel game in the style of a pub quiz. Three teams, of two celebrities each, are asked questions relating to the events of the year just gone by, which they write answers to on an electronic board in front of them. At the end of each round, they then display their answers, scoring a point for each correct one. The first edition was broadcast in December 2004. There has been another at the end of each year since, as well as a special edition in November 2007 for Channel 4's 25th anniversary celebrations and three special editions in September 2012, themed to celebrate Channel 4's three decades. Repeats can usually be found days later on Channel 4's sister-channel E4 and/or 4seven. Stand-up comedian Jimmy Carr has been the host and quizmaster of each edition to date. Channel 4 has made full episodes of The Big Fat Quiz of the Year available to view on 4oD.

Programme details

2004

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2004
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Rob Brydon Simon Pegg Jonathan Ross June Sarpong Liza Tarbuck David Walliams
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Anthony Caveney Jane Goldman
Running time	90 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	28 December 2004
Chronology
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2005

For the first Big Fat Quiz, the three teams of celebrities were:

• Cut to the Funk: Simon Pegg and Liza Tarbuck (41 points)
• BJ and The Bear: David Walliams and Rob Brydon (43 points)
• The Winners: June Sarpong and Jonathan Ross (winners with 49 points)

Louis Walsh, Nadia Almada and Dame Kelly Holmes all made live appearances to read out the questions for the months of April, June, and August respectively. Recorded questions from Bono and The Bear from Bo' Selecta! were shown too along with films of Richard and Judy discussing events.

2005

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2005
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Rob Brydon David Mitchell Sharon Osbourne Gordon Ramsay Jonathan Ross Denise van Outen
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Emily Dean Jane Goldman
Running time	120 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	26 December 2005
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2004
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2006

In 2005, Big Fat Quiz of the Year was shown on Boxing Day. The teams were:

• The A-List: Sharon Osbourne and Jonathan Ross (winners with 39 points)
• The Double Ds: Denise van Outen and David Mitchell (33 points)
• Can't Cook, Don't Need to 'Cos I'm Sat Next to Gordon Ramsay: Gordon Ramsay and Rob Brydon (30 points)

Guest questioners in the studio included Jordan & Peter Andre and David Tennant. There were also recorded questions by several celebrities including Richard and Judy, Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Kevin Pietersen. Mystery guests were Walter Wolfgang and a woman genuinely named Sue Doku.

2006

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2006
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Russell Brand Rob Brydon Cat Deeley Noel Fielding Jonathan Ross David Walliams
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Producer(s)	Emily Dean Jane Goldman
Running time	130 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	27 December 2006
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2005
Followed by	The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz

In 2006 the show was broadcast on 27 December. The three teams were:

• Raven Spawn/Rod's Progeny/The Goth Detectives: Russell Brand and Noel Fielding (winners with 39 points)
• Rob & Dave: Rob Brydon and David Walliams (37 points)
• The Conventionally Attractive Team: Jonathan Ross and Cat Deeley (38 points)

Guest questioners in the studio included Boy George, Myleene Klass & Matt Willis and Guy Goma (famous for incorrectly appearing as a guest on BBC News 24). Pre-recorded questions were asked by Ian McKellen, Lily Allen, Carol Vorderman, Courtney Love, Girls Aloud, and Sacha Baron Cohen (in his Borat guise).

Russell Brand and Noel Fielding spent much of the show giving deliberately wrong - and surreal - answers, leaving them trailing far behind the other two teams. This was until towards the end when Jimmy Carr bowed to the pressure of the studio audience, and gave them 22 points for answering one question correctly, which was the amount needed to bring them back into contention at the time and ensuring that they subsequently won the quiz. This led Walliams and Brydon, who came last as a result, to exaggerate their chagrin at the turn of events that had seen Brand and Fielding emerge on top.

During a discussion about the Bob Skeleton event at that year's Winter Olympics, the suggestion arose that a character with that name could be the star of Brand and Fielding's next show together. The pair subsequently became known as the Goth Detectives (opposed to their original name, which arose from a joke Jimmy Carr made about their supposed parentage), which was suggested for the show's title. Though it began as a joke, the pair eventually performed a Goth Detectives themed show for the Teenage Cancer Trust event at the Royal Albert Hall on 28 March 2007.

The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz

The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Richard Ayoade Alan Carr Jack Dee David Mitchell Frank Skinner Carol Vorderman
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	2 November 2007
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2006
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2007

A special edition of the show, aired to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Channel 4. The three teams were:

• The CarrDees / CarrJack: Alan Carr and Jack Dee (winners with 34 points)
• A&D: Carol Vorderman and Frank Skinner (30 points)
• The Speccy Nerdy Fucknuts: Richard Ayoade and David Mitchell (26 points)

This show aired on 2 November 2007. Carr and Dee emerged victorious at the climax, and so had to take part in a special challenge which replicated the finale of The Crystal Maze. The pair had to collect silver and gold pieces of paper being blown around in a glass dome.

Vic Reeves and Joanna Fisher, who was a member of 1980s Channel 4 programme Minipops both came into the studio to ask bonus questions. Jon Snow, Quentin Tarantino, Anna Friel, Ram John Holder, Derren Brown, Jo Frost, Jools Holland and others appeared on pre-recorded filmed questions.

2007

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2007
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Lily Allen Russell Brand Rob Brydon Noel Fielding David Mitchell Jonathan Ross
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	30 December 2007
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2008

The 2007 show aired on 30 December 2007. The teams were:

• The Goth Detectives: Russell Brand and Noel Fielding (17 points)
• The Shadow Cabinet: Rob Brydon and David Mitchell (winners with 38 points)
• Fulham: Jonathan Ross and Lily Allen (36 points)

Guest questioners in the studio were Christopher Biggins and Cerys Matthews. Pre-recorded questions were asked by Take That, Gordon Ramsay, Thom Yorke and Jon Snow. John Hurt read out extracts of the year's best selling autobiographies.

This was the first time that Rob Brydon had been on the winning team, despite having appeared on the panel every year since the first show in 2004. Also, it was the first time (and, as of the 2012 edition, the only time) that the previous year's winning team - the Goth Detectives - had both returned to defend their title.

2008

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2008
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	James Corden Sean Lock Davina McCall Michael McIntyre Dara Ó Briain Claudia Winkleman
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Running time	130 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	28 December 2008
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2007
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2009

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2008 aired on 28 December on Channel 4 at 9:00pm. The teams were as follows:

• Dara 'n' Dave: Dara Ó Briain and Davina McCall (winners with 36 points)
• Normal & Hooch/Chubb Lock: Sean Lock and James Corden (32 points)
• Michael McIntyre and Claudia Winkleman/Same Difference: Michael McIntyre and Claudia Winkleman (29 points)

Due to the furore caused by his and Russell Brand's infamous phone call to actor Andrew Sachs, which resulted in his three-month suspension from the BBC at the end of the year, this was the first occasion that Jonathan Ross did not appear. He also declined his customary executive producer credit. Despite Big Fat Quiz not being a BBC programme, Ross himself had thought it inappropriate to do any broadcasting work during the corporation's censure (the same reason that was given for his decision to temporarily concede hosting duties of the British Comedy Awards - broadcast on ITV - around the same time).

This was also the first year that Rob Brydon was absent, leaving host Jimmy Carr as the only regular fixture throughout the Big Fat Quiz of the Year's entire run to date (although neither Brydon nor Ross had been panellists for the special Channel 4 anniversary edition).

Guest appearances included Katy Perry, the Fonejacker, Jodie Kidd, Mark Foster, Christine Ohuruogu, James Degale, Alan Carr, Sarah Silverman, John Hurt and Sir Alan Sugar. Regulars Jon Snow and the children from Mitchell Brook Primary School also returned, although Sean Lock loudly denounced the acting, commenting; 'This is why we have rehearsals, so shit like this doesn't happen.'

2009

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2009
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Russell Brand Charlie Brooker Rob Brydon David Mitchell Jonathan Ross Claudia Winkleman
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Running time	125 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	1 January 2010
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2008
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2010

The 2009 show was recorded on 7 December and aired on 1 January 2010. The teams were:

• The Moral Minority/Jedward: Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand (28 points)
• The Newlyweds: Rob Brydon and Claudia Winkleman (29 points)
• Ignorance & Want/Dancing Queens: David Mitchell and Charlie Brooker (winners with 32 points)

Peter Andre appeared as a guest questioner and musical comedian Tim Minchin asked a question in song format about Google Street View. Newsreader Jon Snow again appeared to ask several questions about the year's music in the form of a faux news report and the children of Mitchell Brook Primary School also reprised their regular slot, acting out news stories. Other guest questioners included Sir David Attenborough, cricketer Stuart Broad, actor David Tennant and rapper 50 Cent.

Ross and Brand made a number of references to the Sachsgate scandal of 2008 which occurred last time they appeared together. There was also a discussion about changing Brooker and Mitchell's team name to The Curmudgeons after they refused to dance to the Lady Gaga song Poker Face.

Mitchell and Brooker were the eventual winners and were asked by Jimmy Carr after their victory if they wanted to do a dance. Despite pressure from the audience, they kept up their premise of not dancing.

2010

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2010
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Richard Ayoade Alan Carr Noel Fielding Ruth Jones Michael McIntyre Jonathan Ross
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	3 January 2011 (2011-01-03)
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2009
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2011

The 2010 show was recorded on 13 December and aired on 3 January 2011. The teams were:

• Wagner: Jonathan Ross and Ruth Jones (winners with 28 points)
• Posh & Specs/ Chatty and Fatty : Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr (25 points)
• The Electric Moccasins: Richard Ayoade and Noel Fielding (12 points)

Guest questions were provided by Nicole Scherzinger, Jack Black, Simon Pegg, Russell Brand, Seth Rogen, the cast of Misfits and Will Ferrell. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made their annual appearance acting out news stories, which included the Stig scandal and the Icelandic volcano eruption, as did Jon Snow with his fake news reports of popular songs. Lola, the cat put in a wheelie bin in August by Mary Bale appeared as a Mystery Guest. Louie Spence posed a question in the form of a dance routine representing the story of the trapped Chilean miners.

2011

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2011
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Miranda Hart Eddie Izzard David Mitchell Jamie Oliver Jonathan Ross David Walliams
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	27 December 2011 (2011-12-27)
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2010
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the '80s

The 2011 show was recorded on 14 December and aired on 27 December 2011. The teams for this year were:

• Nexus-6: David Mitchell and Eddie Izzard (winners with 28 points)
• Les Be Friends: David Walliams and Miranda Hart (4 points)
• The Lisping Ninnies: Jonathan Ross and Jamie Oliver (26 points)

Guest questions were provided by Cee Lo Green, Michael Sheen, Tulisa, Lee Evans, Muppet drummer Animal, Rastamouse, Downton Abbey star Jim Carter, Lenny Kravitz, and Professor Brian Cox. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made their annual appearance acting out news stories, which included the arrival of a cat at 10 Downing Street and Cheryl Cole's firing from The X Factor, as did Jon Snow with his fake news reports of popular songs (Rebecca Black's "Friday" and Jessie J's "Price Tag"). "Supergran" Ann Timson, who was seen in a February 2011 viral video fending off four burglars with just her handbag, appeared as a Mystery Guest. The Only Way Is Essex cast members Lydia Rose Bright, Lauren Goodger, and Kirk Norcross appeared to present a question about the show.

The Big Fat Quizzes of the Decades

In 2012, three Big Fat Quizzes were recorded as part of Channel 4's 30th anniversary celebrations, each representing one of the past decades. The shows were recorded on 30 August, 12 September and 19 September.

The Big Fat Quiz of the '80s

The Big Fat Quiz of the '80s
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Adam Buxton Micky Flanagan Jason Manford Stephen Mangan Jonathan Ross Carol Vorderman
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	16 September 2012
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2011
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s

The show was recorded on 12 September 2012 and aired on 16 September 2012. The teams, which did not take team names for this special, were:

• Jason Manford and Stephen Mangan (joint winners with 29 points)
• Jonathan Ross and Adam Buxton (joint winners with 29 points)
• Micky Flanagan and Carol Vorderman (28 points)

In-studio guest questions were provided by Kriss Akabusi and Samantha Fox, who presented the final bonus question. Recorded guest questions were provided by Su Pollard, Michael Fish, Clare Grogan, Roland Rat, Nik Kershaw, The Proclaimers, Anne Charleston, Charles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography of The Krankies), and Sonia. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out Live Aid. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was original Newsround anchor John Craven, reporting on "Thriller". Bunty Bailey, the actress who played the female love interest in a-ha's "Take On Me", appeared as a Mystery Guest. The four winners were "presented" a Sinclair C5 by Samantha Fox.

The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s

The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Alan Davies Phill Jupitus Dara Ó Briain Denise van Outen Jack Whitehall Claudia Winkleman
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	23 September 2012
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the '80s
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the '00s

The show was recorded on 19 September 2012 and aired on 23 September 2012. The teams, which did not take team names for this special, were:

• Phill Jupitus and Alan Davies (winners with 42 points)
• Dara Ó Briain and Claudia Winkleman (31 points)
• Jack Whitehall and Denise van Outen (28 points)

The in-studio final bonus questions were provided (after a fashion) by Mr Blobby. Recorded guest questions were provided by Zig and Zag, Chesney Hawkes, B*Witched members Lindsay Armaou and Keavy Lynch, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Vic and Bob (Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer), Linford Christie, and Charles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography of Melanie Brown). The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out the launch and repair of the Hubble Space Telescope. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was former BBC Nine O'Clock News presenter Michael Buerk, reporting on "I'm Too Sexy". John Simmit and Nikky Smedley, the portrayers of Teletubbies Dipsy and Laa-Laa (respectively), appeared as Mystery Guests.

The Big Fat Quiz of the '00s

The Big Fat Quiz of the '00s
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Richard Ayoade Kevin Bridges Alan Carr Noel Fielding Sarah Millican David Mitchell
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	30 September 2012
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s
Followed by	The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2012

The show was recorded on 30 August 2012 and aired on 30 September 2012. The teams were:

• Big Gay Al and His Big Scottish Pal: Kevin Bridges and Alan Carr (20 points)
• Team Three: Sarah Millican and David Mitchell (winners with 24 points)
• The Indoor Kites/Hot Shame: Richard Ayoade and Noel Fielding (14 points)

The in-studio final bonus questions were provided by the Cheeky Girls. Dragons' Den dragon Duncan Bannatyne provided a live guest question. Recorded guest questions were provided by Gregg Wallace, Nick Bateman, Peter Andre, two members of McFly, Gareth Gates, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, and Charles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography of Katie Price). The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out the cheating scandal on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was Channel 4 News presenter and Big Fat Quiz regular Jon Snow, reporting on "It Wasn't Me". Howard Davies-Carr and his two sons Harry and Charlie, stars of the popular viral video Charlie Bit My Finger appeared as Mystery Guests. Big Brother voiceover announcer Marcus Bentley read the final scores.

2012

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2012
Format	Panel game
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Starring	Richard Ayoade James Corden Russell Howard Gabby Logan Jonathan Ross Jack Whitehall
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
Production
Running time	125 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	Channel 4
Original airing	30 December 2012 (2012-12-30)
Chronology
Preceded by	The Big Fat Quiz of the '00s

The 2012 edition aired on 30 December 2012. The teams, which did not take team names, were:

• Jack Whitehall and James Corden (9 points)
• Russell Howard and Jonathan Ross (30 points)
• Richard Ayoade and Gabby Logan (winners with 45 points)

The in-studio final bonus questions were provided by Team GB and Paralympics GB athletes Nicola Adams, Natasha Baker, Sophie Christiansen, Hannah Cockroft, Helen Glover, Ed McKeever, Etienne Stott, and Peter Wilson. The Great British Bake Off finalists Brendan Lynch, James Morton, and John Whaite provided a live guest question. Recorded guest questions were provided by PSY, Gerard Butler, Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis, Felix Baumgartner, Kylie Minogue, Cheryl Cole, Simon Callow, Jenson Button, Tom Daley, Warwick Davis, and Charles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from Fifty Shades of Grey). The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School once again made an appearance acting out the Diamond Jubilee Concert. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was Jon Snow, reporting on "Call Me Maybe". The Mystery Guest was Gary Connery, the stunt-double for the Queen, who skydived out of a helicopter during the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

Appearances

Name	Appearances	Wins
Jimmy Carr (host)	13	N/A
Jonathan Ross	9	4
David Mitchell	6	4
Rob Brydon	5	1
Richard Ayoade	4	1
Noel Fielding	4	1
Russell Brand	3	1
Alan Carr	3	1
David Walliams	3	0
Claudia Winkleman	3	0
James Corden	2	0
Michael McIntyre	2	0
Dara Ó Briain	2	1
Denise van Outen	2	0
Carol Vorderman	2	0
Jack Whitehall	2	0
Lily Allen	1	0
Kevin Bridges	1	0
Charlie Brooker	1	1
Adam Buxton	1	1
Alan Davies	1	1
Jack Dee	1	1
Cat Deeley	1	0
Micky Flanagan	1	0
Miranda Hart	1	0
Russell Howard	1	0
Eddie Izzard	1	1
Ruth Jones	1	1
Phill Jupitus	1	1
Sean Lock	1	0
Gabby Logan	1	1
Jason Manford	1	1
Stephen Mangan	1	1
Davina McCall	1	1
Sarah Millican	1	1
Jamie Oliver	1	0
Sharon Osbourne	1	1
Simon Pegg	1	0
Gordon Ramsay	1	0
June Sarpong	1	1
Frank Skinner	1	0
Liza Tarbuck	1	0

External links

• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year at channel4.com
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year at the British Comedy Guide
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2004) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2005) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2006) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz (2007) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2007) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2008) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year (2009) at the Internet Movie Database