I don't know why but in my head QI is the poor relation of Would I Lie to You? and Have I Got New For You. Or maybe a more appropriate description is that QI is the older, brainier, sibling, even though chronologically Have I Got News is actually the oldest.

Anyway, enough of that, this panel show is consistently funny as well as enlightening. When Stephen Fry quit the quizmaster's chair the doommongers suggested it might fizzle out, but it is still going strong with Sandi Toksvig at the helm.

And it certainly attracts top notch talent. Alan Davies remains the stalwart panellist and this week he is joined by Richard Osman, who somehow found the time to chip in between making his own panel shows and writing best-selling books.

Then there is David Mitchell, who somehow found the time to chip in between making his own panel shows (and not writing as many best-selling books as you might think – there is another author also called David Mitchell, which has been known to cause much hilarity in the Mitchell household).

And finally there is Zoe Lyons who only has one regular quiz show to her name - the daytime show Lightning  in which six brave contestants compete across six rounds testing their general knowledge, quick thinking and speedy reactions while the ruthless spotlight patrols the studio.

The contestants’ motivation in each round is simple: stay out of the light and you’ll be alright. The contestant who manages to make the endgame in a show plays for the chance to win up to £3,000

Depending on when this edition was filmed Lyons may or may not be wearing her 'TV wig'. She suffered from alopecia and has been honest and open about her recent hair loss.

QI, Thursday, October 21, 10pm, BBC One.

Picture: BBC