The News Quiz - Definition and Overview

The News Quiz is a topical comedy quiz broadcast on British radio BBC Radio 4. It was first broadcast in 1977 with Barry Norman as chairman, subsequently it was chaired by Barry Took (until 1995) and has been hosted since then by Simon Hoggart. Originally Private Eye editor Richard Ingrams and Punch editor Alan Coren acted as team captains.

Each week, four panellists appear on the show. They are usually either comedians or journalists, and sometimes politicians.

It later spawned the television programme Have I Got News For You.

Current and former regular panellists

• Ian Hislop - Former
• Simon Hoggart - Former; now chairman (see below)
• Frances Wheen - Current
• Jeremy Hardy - Current
• Linda Smith - Current
• Alan Coren - Current
• Richard Ingrams - Former
• Andy Hamilton - Current
• Barry Took - Former

Current and former chairmen

• Barry Norman
• Barry Took
• Simon Hoggart

Guest panellists

Includes panellists that have appeared on several occasions over many years, and those who have only appeared once.

• Peter Cook
• Barry Cryer
• Rebecca Front
• Fred McCauley
• Krishnan Guru-Murthy
• Armando Iannucci
• Susan Jeffreys
• Boris Johnson
• Charles Kennedy
• Mark Lawson
• Norman Lovett
• Willie Rushton
• Mark Steel
• Moira Stewart
• Sandi Toksvig

BBC Newsreaders

Newsquiz also features considerable comedic input from regular BBC newsreaders (or "Hacks-neutral", as Alan Coren famously refers to them). Notable among the regulars are:

• Charlotte Green
• Brian Perkins
• Corrie Caufield
• Peter Donaldson

External links

• Official site (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/comedy/newsquiz.shtml)
• h2g2-News Quiz (http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A493670)