The Big Fat Quiz of the Year
Studio view of the Big Fat Quiz of the Year set at BBC Elstree Centre.
Presented by	Jimmy Carr
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of episodes	41(list of episodes)
Production
Producers	Anthony Cavenney (2004) Jane Goldman (2004–06) Emily Dean (2005–06) Juliet Redden (2016–2023)
Production locations	Television Centre, London (2004–12, 2017, 2023–) Elstree Studios (2013, 2019) The London Studios (2014–16) BBC Elstree Centre (2018)
Running time	90–130 minutes
Production company	Hotsauce TV
Original release
Network	Channel 4
Release	28 December 2004 (2004-12-28) – present

The Big Fat Quiz of the Year is an approximately annual British television programme broadcast in the last or first week of the year onChannel 4. The show is a comedypanel game in the style of apub quiz. Three teams of two celebrities, mostly comedians, are asked questions about the year gone by in various categories, writing answers on an electronic board in front of them. At the end of each round the answers are displayed and points awarded.

The first edition was broadcast in December 2004. There has been another at around the end of each year, as well as a special edition in November 2007 for Channel 4's 25th anniversary celebrations and three themed special editions in September 2012, to celebrate Channel 4's first three decades. A second set of 'decades' editions screened in September 2013 as well as a 10th-anniversary special in January 2015; and aBig Fat Quiz of Everything in January 2016, followed by a series of three episodes in August 2016. Repeats can usually be found days later on Channel 4's sister channelE4 and/or4seven. Stand-up comedianJimmy Carr has been the host and quizmaster of each edition to date. Channel 4 has made full episodes ofThe Big Fat Quiz of the Year available to view onAll 4.

The following have all appeared as one of the guest panelists on the show. This does not include Jimmy Carr, who has hosted all episodes to date, nor does it include anyone who made pre-recorded appearances.

The firstBig Fat Quiz was broadcast on 27 December 2004.Louis Walsh,Nadia Almada andDame Kelly Holmes all made live appearances to read out the answers for the months of March, June and August respectively. Recorded questions fromBono,Derren Brown and The Bear fromBo' Selecta! were shown too along with films ofRichard and Judy discussing events. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School inNeasden acted out news stories that happened throughout the year, such asRicky Gervais winningtwo Golden Globe Awards forThe Office and theMomart fire.

Guest questioners in the studio includedJordan &Peter Andre andDavid Tennant. There were also recorded questions by several celebrities includingRichard and Judy,Charlotte Church,Cameron Diaz,Toni Collette,Derren Brown andKevin Pietersen. The mystery guests wereWalter Wolfgang and a woman genuinely namedSue Doku. This year's quiz saw the debut ofJon Snow giving fake news stories based on song lyrics, with "I Predict A Riot" and "Crazy Chick". The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out the birth ofDavid andVictoria Beckham's third child andJacques Chirac insulting British food on the eve of theG8 Summit.

In 2006, the show was broadcast on 27 December. Guest questioners in the studio includedBoy George,Myleene Klass andMatt Willis. The mystery guest wasGuy Goma, famous for mistakenly appearing as a guest onBBC News 24. Pre-recorded questions were asked byLily Allen,Carol Vorderman,Courtney Love,Girls Aloud, andSacha Baron Cohen (in character asBorat). Channel 4 News reporterJon Snow returned to give fake news reports about songs of the year, reporting on "Patience" and "America". The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outThe Da Vinci Code plagiarism claim andparents rebelling against Jamie Oliver's school dinners campaign.Ian McKellen gave dramatized readings from the autobiographies ofJade Goody andKerry Katona.

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 theBob 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 theGoth 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 aGoth Detectives sketch for theTeenage Cancer Trust event at theRoyal Albert Hall on 28 March 2007.

The 2007 show aired on 30 December 2007. Guest questioners in the studio wereChristopher Biggins,Cerys Matthews andJohn Smeaton, a baggage handler atGlasgow Airport who helpedfoil a terrorist attack. Pre-recorded questions were asked byTake That,Gordon Ramsay andThom Yorke.Jon Snow returned with a faux news report on "Umbrella".John Hurt read out extracts from the autobiographies ofPeter Andre and50 Cent. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School returned to act outDavid Beckham's move toLA Galaxy and whena judge criticisedThe Jeremy Kyle Show. Paul Croft, the man who had a tattoo ofDumbledore done on his back beforeJ.K. Rowling announced that Dumbledore was gay, was the mystery guest.

This was the first time thatRob 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 2018 edition, the only time) that the previous year's winning team – the Goth Detectives – had both returned to try to defend their title.

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

Due to the furore caused by his and Russell Brand'sinfamous phone call to actorAndrew Sachs, which resulted in his three-month suspension from theBBC at the end of the year, this was the first occasion thatJonathan Ross did not appear. He also declined his customary executive producer credit. DespiteBig 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 theBritish Comedy Awards – broadcast onITV – around the same time).

This was also the first year thatRob Brydon was absent, leaving hostJimmy Carr as the only regular fixture throughout theBig 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).

In-studio guest questions came fromStrictly Come Dancing contestantsJodie Kidd andMark Foster, and2008 OlympicsTeam GB gold medalistsChristine Ohuruogu andJames DeGale. Pre-recorded guest questions came fromKaty Perry, theFonejacker,Alan Carr,Sarah Silverman andSir Alan Sugar.Jon Snow gave news reports on "That's Not My Name" and "I Kissed A Girl".John Hurt read from the autobiographies ofLes Dennis andChristopher Biggins. The children from Mitchell Brook Primary School also returned acting out the divorce ofPaul McCartney andHeather Mills andJay-Z headliningthat year's Glastonbury Festival.

The 2009 show was recorded on 7 December and aired on 1 January 2010.^[3]

Peter Andre appeared in-studio as a guest questioner. NewsreaderJon Snow again appeared with news reports on "Poker Face" and "Bonkers" and the children of Mitchell Brook Primary School also reprised their regular slot, acting out theParliament expenses scandal andKanye West invading the stage at theMTV Video Music Awards. Pre-recorded guest questions came fromTim Minchin (asking a question in song aboutGoogle Street View),Sir David Attenborough,Stuart Broad,David Tennant and50 Cent. Swansea cagefighters Daniel Lerwell and James Lilley, who successfully fended off a homophobic attack in a nightclub when they were dressed in drag for a stag night, were the mystery guests.

Ross and Brand made a number of references to theSachsgate scandal of 2008 which occurred last time they appeared together. There was also a discussion about changing Brooker and Mitchell's team name toThe Curmudgeons after they refused to dance to theLady 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.

The 2010 show was recorded on 13 December and aired on 3 January 2011.^[4]

Guest questions were provided byNicole Scherzinger,Jack Black,Simon Pegg,Russell Brand,Seth Rogen, the cast ofMisfits andWill Ferrell. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made their annual appearance acting out news stories, which includedThe Stig scandal and theIcelandic volcano eruption, as didJon Snow with his fake news report ofLady Gaga andBeyoncé's "Telephone". 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 trappedChilean miners.

Ross and Jones' team name "Wagner" was in reference to Wagner Fiuza-Carillho, known mononymously as Wagner, who had appeared inseries 7 ofThe X Factor that year and had progressed to the quarter final as part of the Over 28s category mentored by Louis Walsh.

The 2011 show was recorded on 14 December and aired on 27 December 2011.^[5]

Guest questions were provided byCee Lo Green,Michael Sheen,Tulisa,Lee Evans,Muppet drummerAnimal,Rastamouse,Downton Abbey starJim Carter,Lenny Kravitz, and ProfessorBrian Cox. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out the arrival ofLarry the Cat at10 Downing Street andCheryl Cole's firing fromThe X Factor, andJon Snow gave his news reports onRebecca Black's "Friday" andJessie 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 membersLydia Rose Bright,Lauren Goodger, andKirk Norcross appeared to present a question about the show.

Hart and Walliams hold the record for first team to not reach double digits and the lowest score of any team in the show's run.

David Mitchell and Eddie Izzard were that year's winners.

The 2012 edition aired on 30 December 2012. The teams did not take team names.^[6] The in-studio final bonus questions were provided byTeam GB andParalympics GB athletesNicola Adams,Natasha Baker,Sophie Christiansen,Hannah Cockroft,Helen Glover,Ed McKeever,Etienne Stott, andPeter Wilson.The Great British Bake Off finalists Brendan Lynch,James Morton, andJohn Whaite provided a live guest question. Recorded guest questions were provided byPSY,Gerard Butler,Usain Bolt,Jessica Ennis,Felix Baumgartner,Kylie Minogue,Cheryl Cole,Simon Callow,Jenson Button,Tom Daley,Warwick Davis, andCharles Dance (doing a dramatic reading fromFifty Shades of Grey). The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School once again made an appearance acting out theDiamond Jubilee Concert. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was Jon Snow, reporting on "Call Me Maybe". The mystery guest wasGary Connery, the stunt-double for the Queen, who skydived out of a helicopter during the2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

During the show, Whitehall and Corden had pizza delivered and ate it with red wine.

The 2013 edition was recorded on 10 December and aired on 26 December 2013.^[7] The teams did not take team names.

Danny Dyer appeared in the studio to provide a live guest question. Pre-recorded guest questions were provided byRussell Brand,Anchorman 2 starsSteve Carell,Will Ferrell, andPaul Rudd;Olly Murs,Christine Ohuruogu,Louis Walsh,Richard Osman,The Great Gonzo (promotingMuppets Most Wanted),Harry Hill, andSophie Ellis-Bextor,Educating Yorkshire teachers Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Burton,The Great British Bake Offseries 4 runner-upRuby Tandoh,Rizzle Kicks, and astronautChris Hadfield. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School returned to act outEdward Snowden'sspy leaks.Jon Snow reported on "Wrecking Ball" andCharles Dance read from the autobiography ofLauren Goodger. The mystery guest wasNatalie Holt,^[8] who threw eggs at Simon Cowell on the final ofBritain's Got Talent.

The show was dedicated to comedy agent and producerAddison Cresswell, who died on 22 December 2013.

Jonathan Ross brought most of a turkey, a loaf of bread and champagne. He ended up making sandwiches for the others.

The 2014 edition was recorded on 1 December and aired on 26 December 2014.^[9]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromMichael Palin,Tom Daley, the cast ofThe Inbetweeners,Game of Thrones actressNatalie Dormer,Lily Allen,Rio Ferdinand,Pixie Lott andStatus Quo membersFrancis Rossi andRick Parfitt. Paralympic gold medallistsKelly Gallagher andCharlotte Evans provided the in-studio guest question.Charles Dance read from the autobiography ofJoey Essex. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theBernie Ecclestone trial.Jon Snow gave his news report about "All About That Bass". The mystery guest was Dean Farley, the jogger who ran intoDavid Cameron.^[10]

Mel B's performance received notable negative attention on social media and in the press as having brought down the show by being perceived as sour and humorless.^[11]

The 2015 edition was recorded on 14 December 2015^[12] and aired on 26 December 2015. The teams did not take names.^[13]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromQuentin Tarantino,Rita Ora,Simon Pegg,Will Ferrell andMark Wahlberg,Josh Groban,Olly Murs,Katie Price andHeston Blumenthal.The Great British Bake Off winner,Nadiya Hussain, provided the in-studio guest question. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outJeremy Clarkson's dismissal fromTop Gear.Jon Snow reported onDrake's "Hotline Bling".Charles Dance read fromList of the Lost, the debut novel byMorrissey. The mystery guest was Cecilia Bleasdale, who took a photo of ablack and blue dress which appeared white and gold to some people on the photo, leading to the dress becoming an internet meme. Davies and Ayoade's early answer "Bad Dong" becomes a running joke throughout the episode.

One of the running gags is the panelists deciding to make an alliance against Jimmy by helping Richard & Greg with getting their answers deliberately wrong. Rob even goes so far as becoming the host of the program for two minutes however the alliance breaks down after a debate about The Dress.

The 2016 edition was recorded on 5 December 2016 and aired on 26 December 2016.^[14] The teams did not take names.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromProfessor Green,Bryan Cranston andJames Franco,The Vamps,Sadiq Khan,Ryan Tedder andZach Filkins fromOneRepublic,Miranda Hart,Gemma Chan,Michelle Keegan andRick Astley. In-studio guest questions were provided byMark-Francis Vandelli fromMade in Chelsea andPamela Anderson. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outTraingate.Jon Snow reported onJustin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling".Charles Dance read fromRylan's autobiography. The mystery guest was Zac Alsop, who posed as a fencer and blagged his way on to one ofTeam GB's2016 Olympics victory parade floats in Manchester.

A running gag on the episode was formed when, as Romesh discussed a new programme featuring his mother, Jimmy asked what Romesh's father thought of the programme, not realising that he had died, leading to the other contestants repeatedly chiding Carr about not checking beforehand. There was also a running "gag" with Mel Giedroyc's obsession with theCrossrail project currently going on in and around London.

The 2017 edition was recorded atTelevision Centre on 6 December 2017 and aired on 26 December 2017.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromKurupt FM,Vince Vaughn,Nadiya Hussain,Clare Balding,Ed Balls andThe Script. The in-studio guest question was asked byGreat British Bake Off contestantLiam Charles. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out thesilencing of Big Ben during its renovation.Jon Snow reported onTaylor Swift's "Look What You Made Me Do".Charles Dance read from the autobiography ofGeordie Shore starCharlotte Crosby. The mystery guest was Liam Smyth, the student whose date got stuck between two windows trying to throw her poo out after it failed to flush. Helping Jimmy with the final question were some real penguins and an animatronic polar bear.

The 2018 edition was recorded atBBC Elstree Studios on 5 December 2018^[15] and aired on 26 December 2018.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromSimon Callow,George Ezra,Alex Jones,Jonas Blue,Joe Sugg,Sheridan Smith,Emma Willis andGeorgia Toffolo. In-studio guest questions were asked byLove Island finalists Megan &Wes,Great British Bake Off finalistKim-Joy Hewlett and Lord Mayor of SheffieldMagid Magid. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theEngland football team's progress in the World Cup for a related question.Jon Snow reported on George Ezra's "Shotgun".Charles Dance read from the new novel byThe Only Way Is Essex'sGemma Collins. The mystery guest was Leo Murray, creator of theTrump Baby blimp.

Assisting Jimmy with the final question were theStan Lee-createdMarvel charactersThor,Black Widow,Spider-Man,Black Panther and theHulk for the teams to guess their aliases. The Hulk then proceeded to rip up the trophy and throw it at the winners before knocking down the wall at the back of the set.

The 2019 edition was recorded atElstree Studios on 9 December 2019 and aired on 26 December 2019.^[16]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromLuke Evans,Naomi Ackie,Louis Walsh,Luke Goss,Adam Lambert andDina Asher-Smith. An in-studio guest question was asked byRuPaul's Drag Race UK finalistBaga Chipz and winnerThe Vivienne. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theattempted proroguing of Parliament for a related question.Jon Snow reported onLizzo's "Juice".Charles Dance read from the biography ofDani Dyer. The mystery guest was Jaden Ashman, the teenager who came second in aFortnite tournament and won £900,000. The Big Fat Question was asked byStrictly Come Dancing contestantMike Bushell.

The 2020 edition aired on 26 December 2020.

No celebrity guests appeared in studio to ask questions due to the ongoingCOVID-19 pandemic. Pre-recorded questions came fromJoe Wicks,Bob Odenkirk,Carole Baskin,Laura Whitmore,Craig David,Keith Lemon,KSI,Chris Kamara,Nicola Coughlan, andLadBaby. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theDominic Cummings scandal for a related question.Jon Snow reported onJawsh 685 andJason Derulo's "Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)".Charles Dance read fromThe Meaning of Mariah Carey. The mystery guest was Billy McLean, whose jokeWhatsApp voice memo started a false rumour that the British government was planning to combat hunger during lockdown by making a lasagne the size ofWembley Stadium.

The final question was a round named "Trump or Gump" in which the teams had to guess if quotes were said byUS PresidentDonald Trump or another notable figure. London wax museumMadame Tussauds lent its figure of Trump as a prop for the round.

The 2021 edition aired on 26 December 2021.

Pre-recorded questions came fromDr. Catherine Green (one of theUniversity of Oxford team responsible for developing theOxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine),Robert Peston,Clara Amfo,Ellie Simmonds,Andi Oliver,Briony May Williams, andDownton Abbey: A New Era'sElizabeth McGovern andLaura Carmichael. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out the2021 Suez Canal obstruction.Charles Dance read from the autobiography ofAlison Hammond.Jackie Weaver of the viral video of a Handforth Parish Council meeting appeared in the studio to ask a question. The mystery guest was Adam Taylor, the owner of the Aberdeen nightclub whereMichael Gove was filmed dancing.

The final question was the normal Big Fat Question, but with a time limit set using the Young-hee doll fromSquid Game, with any teams failing to finish writing each answer before the doll's head turns back round being docked five points.

The 2022 edition aired on 26 December 2022.

Pre-recorded questions came fromKrishnan Guru-Murthy,Luke Evans, theSugababes,Ellie Goulding,Kate Hudson,Layton Williams,Sigrid, andJamie Oliver. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theWagatha Christie court case for a related question.Millie Bright appeared in the studio to ask a question.Subwoolfer also appeared in the studio in relation to a question.Charles Dance read an extract from the autobiography ofRylan Clark. The mystery guest was Jerry Dyer, the creator and narrator of theYouTube channelBig Jet TV, whose livestream of planes attempting to land atHeathrow Airport duringStorm Eunice went viral.

The Big Fat Question was a three part question asked byJohannes Radebe, who was dressed as aUS Air Force pilot and 'parachuted' into the studio in honour ofTop Gun: Maverick being theyear's highest grossing film.

The 2023 edition aired on 26 December 2023.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromSelf Esteem,Anyone but You starsSydney Sweeney &Glen Powell,Robbie Williams,The Vivienne,Big Brother presentersAJ Odudu &Will Best,Micah Richards andSophia Di Martino. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out thecoronation of King Charles for a related question.Charles Dance read an extract fromSpare, the memoir ofPrince Harry.Krishnan Guru-Murthy appeared in the studio to ask a question. The mystery guests wereHobbycraft Wimbledon employees Andrew, Jacqui, Annie and Sharon, whoseTikTok video ofKylie Minogue's hit "Padam Padam" went viral, earning praise from Kylie herself.

The Big Question was asked by notedLove Island andLove Island Games contestants Megan Barton-Hanson and Toby Aromolaran, entering the studio in a pink open top car dressed as Barbie and Ken in tribute toBarbie beingthe highest grossing film of 2023.

The 2024 edition aired on 27 December 2024.^[17]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromChiwetel Ejiofor &Leo Woodall,Aidan Turner &Danny Dyer,David Jonsson,Richard Curtis,Nella Rose,Dame Sarah Storey andLove Is Blind contestants Jasmine and Bobby. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theOasis reunion for a related question. Charles Dance read an extract from"Lightning Can Strike Twice", the memoir ofTommy Fury.Peggy the dog andThe Traitors contestant Diane Carson both appeared in the studio. The mystery guests were Lisa Rowlands and her friend Lisa, who appeared in a viral video climbing through a window after being locked out of the house.

The final Big Fat Questions were asked byGladiators Diamond, Electro and Phantom.

A special edition of the show, celebrating Channel 4's 25th anniversary, was broadcast on 2 November 2007.

Pre recorded questions come fromAnna Friel,Jonathan Ross,Quentin Tarantino,Ricky Gervais,Jools Holland,Ram John Holder,Derren Brown, andJo Frost. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary school acted out classic Channel 4 programmesThe Word andTFI Friday.Jon Snow read out a fake news report onThe Snowman. An in-studio question came fromVic Reeves. The mystery guest was Joanna Fisher, who was a member of 1980s Channel 4 programmeMinipops. Carr and Dee emerged victorious at the climax, and so had to take part in a special challenge which replicated the finale ofThe Crystal Maze. The pair had to collect silver and gold pieces of paper being blown around in a glass dome.

The secondBig Fat Anniversary Quiz was recorded on 29 September 2014 and aired on 2 January 2015, to mark the tenth anniversary of the series.^[9]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromIan McKellen,Paul Hollywood andMary Berry,Chico,Gregg Wallace,Ellie Simmonds,Peter Andre andAbbey Clancy.Louie Spence provided the in-studio guest question in the form of an interpretive dance about the2013 horse meat scandal.Charles Dance read from the autobiography ofJay-Z. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out the launch of theLarge Hadron Collider in 2008.Jon Snow gave his news report about "Sex on Fire". The mystery guest wasJon Morter, who started the Facebook campaign to makeRage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" theChristmas number 1 in 2009. ADalek also appeared in the studio to ask the final bonus question, and to "exterminate" Carr at the end of the quiz. Brand and Fielding referenced their previous name as the "Goth Detectives" several times. They got many of their correct answers from an ongoing text conversation with members of the live studio audience. The ruse was discovered when Carr took Brand's phone, called one of the numbers, and an audience member answered. Chico also appeared via text, responding to Jack Whitehall.

The Big Fat Quiz of Everything is a spin-off series to the annual. These quizzes ask questions based on various subjects including history, geography, films, television, music, science, technology, art, literature, sports and games.

The first special was recorded in October 2015^[18] and aired on 5 January 2016.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromLittle Mix,Gareth Malone,Paul Whitehouse,Joey Essex,Jessica Ennis-Hill,Dom andSteph Parker fromGogglebox,Kevin McCloud,Darcey Bussell andAlesha Dixon.Chris Kamara provided the in-studio guest question. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outThe Great Fire of London.Jon Snow reported onQueen's "Bohemian Rhapsody".

A three-part series ofThe Big Fat Quiz of Everything was recorded in June and July 2016 atThe London Studios.

The first episode aired on 15 August 2016.^[19]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromBuzz Aldrin,Deborah Meaden fromDragons' Den,Joey Essex,Rylan Clark,Warwick Davis andDavid Haye. The in-studio guest questions were asked byFirst Datesmaitre d'Fred Sirieix (who proceeded to open a large bottle of champagne and serve it to the contestants and the studio audience) andStrictly Come Dancing pairKevin andKaren Clifton, who performed a series of dances in a minute for the contestants to guess. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theWatergate scandal.Jon Snow reported on theVillage People's "YMCA".

The second episode aired on 22 August 2016.^[20]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromJodie Kidd,Dr. Christian Jessen,Joey Essex,Ronan Keating,Jerry Springer andEddie "The Eagle" Edwards. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theWars of the Roses.Jon Snow reported onThe B-52's "Love Shack". The Mariachis appeared to play TV themes in amariachi style for the final question.

The third episode aired on 28 August 2016.^[21]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromJess Glynne,Made in Chelsea'sJamie Laing,Ricky Wilson,Ray Mears andJoey Essex. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outHenry VIII'sdissolution of the monasteries.Jon Snow reported onSir Mix-a-Lot's "Baby Got Back". Two sloths appeared in the studio for a question about theseven deadly sins, and three male nude models replicated famous historical statues for the final question.

The second New Year special was recorded in October 2016 and aired on Friday 6 January 2017.^[22]

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromJoe Wicks,Nick Hewer,Joey Essex,Laura andJason Kenny,Derren Brown,Ollie Locke fromMade in Chelsea andDarcey Bussell.Jonnie Peacock provided the in-studio guest question in the form of sporting celebrations. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outthe Napster lawsuits.Jon Snow reported onThe Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men".Charles Dance readconfusing movie reviews from Amazon customers. TheLondon Philharmonic Choir appeared to sing popularhip-hop andrap tunes in a choral style for the final question.

The third New Year special was recorded on 11 December 2017 atTelevision Centre^[23] and aired on Friday 12 January 2018.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromLuke Evans,Ore Oduba,Dynamo,Christian Slater,Judy Murray andReverend Kate Bottley. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted outGarry Kasparov's defeat to Deep Blue.Jon Snow reported onBilly Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart".Charles Dance read confusing online film reviews. The mystery guests were John Cornelius, Robbie Humphries and Anthony Eden, who all playedThe Milkybar Kid as children. The Big Fat Question featured severalfootball team mascots for the teams to identify.

The fourth New Year special was recorded atBBC Elstree Studios on 21 November 2018^[24] and aired on 4 January 2019.^[25] The teams did not take team names.

Pre-recorded guest questions came fromBrendan O'Carroll,Stacey Solomon,Eric Idle,Asim Chaudhry (in character as Chabuddy G fromPeople Just Do Nothing),Basil Brush,Clara Amfo andBoyzone. The in-studio guest questions were provided byThis Morning'sDr. Ranj who asked the teams to identify different muscles and bones in the body, andFirst Dates barman Merlin Griffiths who asked the teams to identify the cocktails he was mixing. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theconstruction of the Channel Tunnel.Charles Dance read terrible online film reviews.Jon Snow reported on "Milkshake" byKelis. The mystery guests were Alex and Sue Tatham, the firstBlind Date wedding couple. Doppelgangers ofTom Hanks,Will Smith,Robert Downey Jr.,Emma Watson,Dwayne Johnson andJulia Roberts appeared for the Big Fat Question for the teams to put in order of highest-grossing film stars.

The fifth special aired on 7 January 2021.^[26]

Pre-recorded questions came from Paloma Faith, Billy Ocean, Ralph Macchio, Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Clare Balding, Tim Minchin, andRoman Kemp. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out the theft and recovery of the 1966 World Cup for a related question. Jon Snow reported on Radiohead's "Creep". Charles Dance reads book reviews from Jane Eyre,Twilight, andMoby Dick. The special guest was Barbadian British voice-over actorRedd Pepper, who offered to read Taglines from four famous movies. The mystery guest was Jessica Smith, the Sun Baby in Teletubbies.The final question was a round in which The London Street Band played 4 different longest number one tracks from 70s-00s, and the teams had to guess the songs in their respective decades.

The sixth special aired on 3 April 2022.

Pre-recorded questions came fromKatie Piper,Daniel Mays,Gemma Whelan,Annie Mac,Kye Whyte,Paul Hollywood andHannah Cockroft. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School acted out theCottingley Fairy hoax.Charles Dance read bad online reviews ofThe Lord of the Rings,Fifty Shades of Grey andAnimal Farm.Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper appeared in the studio to ask a question about animals. The mystery guests wereBen Cooke,Mark Higgins and Bobby Hanton, who were all stunt doubles forDaniel Craig in variousJames Bond films. The Big Fat Question involved lookalikes ofElton John,Diana Ross,Ed Sheeran,Stormzy andLady Gaga, with the teams having to place them in order of most weeks spent at number one in theUK Singles Chart.

The seventh special aired on 2 January 2025.^[27]

In 2012, threeBig 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.^[28]

The show was recorded on 12 September 2012 and aired on 16 September 2012.^[29] The teams did not take team names for this special.

In-studio guest questions were provided byKriss Akabusi andSamantha Fox, who presented the final bonus question. Recorded guest questions were provided bySu Pollard,Michael Fish,Clare Grogan,Roland Rat,Nik Kershaw,The Proclaimers,Anne Charleston,Charles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography ofThe Krankies), andSonia. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting outLive Aid. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was originalNewsround anchorJohn Craven, reporting on "Thriller".Bunty Bailey, the actress who played the female love interest ina-ha's "Take On Me", appeared as a mystery guest. The four winners were "presented" aSinclair C5 bySamantha Fox.

The show was recorded on 19 September 2012 and aired on 23 September 2012.^[30] The teams did not take team names for this special.

The in-studio final bonus questions were provided (after a fashion) byMr Blobby. Recorded guest questions were provided byZig and Zag,Chesney Hawkes,B*Witched membersLindsay Armaou andKeavy Lynch,Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen,Vic and Bob (Vic Reeves andBob Mortimer),Linford Christie, andCharles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography ofMelanie Brown). The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out the launch and repair of theHubble Space Telescope. Providing the song lyric as news story segment was formerBBC Nine O'Clock News presenterMichael Buerk, reporting on "I'm Too Sexy". John Simmit and Nikky Smedley, the portrayers ofTeletubbies Dipsy and Laa-Laa (respectively), appeared as mystery guests.

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

The in-studio final bonus questions were provided by theCheeky Girls.Dragons' Den dragonDuncan Bannatyne provided a live guest question. Recorded guest questions were provided byGregg Wallace,Nick Bateman,Peter Andre, half ofMcFly,Gareth Gates,Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, andCharles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography ofKatie Price). The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out the cheating scandal onWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Providing the song lyric as news story segment wasChannel 4 News presenter andBig Fat Quiz regularJon Snow, reporting on "It Wasn't Me". Howard Davies-Carr and his two sons Harry and Charlie, stars of the popular viral videoCharlie Bit My Finger appeared as mystery guests.Big Brother voiceover announcerMarcus Bentley read the final scores.

Due to the success of the decades specials in 2012, Channel 4 commissioned two additional specials to air in the autumn of 2013.

The show aired on 22 September 2013. The teams did not take team names for this special.

Anneka Rice provided a live guest question. The mystery guest was Stelios Havatzios, the 1980sAthena Baby in theL'Enfant poster. Recorded guest questions were provided byToyah Willcox,Kim Wilde,Jim Bowen,Bob Carolgees,Carol Decker,Trevor and Simon (Going Live!),Tony Robinson,Gordon Burns andCharles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography ofChas & Dave's Chas). The children of Goldsmith Community Hall made an appearance acting outOperation Deepscan. Providing the song lyric as news story segment wasJohn Craven, reporting on "Total Eclipse of the Heart".

The show aired on 29 September 2013. The teams did not take team names for this special.

Diane Youdale (the one-timeGladiator Jet) provided a live guest question. The mystery guest was Todd Watkins, who gained fame for kissing a 77-year-old woman on aThe Word segment called "The Hopefuls". Recorded guest questions were provided byMr. Motivator,Goldie,Andi Peters,Tony Mortimer,Melinda Messenger,Daniela Nardini,Sally Gunnell,The Shamen'sMr. C, the members ofHanson and Charles Dance (doing a dramatic reading from the autobiography ofVanilla Ice). The children of Goldsmith Community Hall made an appearance acting out the cloning ofDolly the sheep played by Hannah MacDonald. Providing the song lyric as news story segment wasMartyn Lewis, reporting on "Livin' la Vida Loca". In the penultimate round, Carr announced that he had hired thegunge tank fromNoel's House Party and the losers would be gunged, however Ross convinced Carr himself to go in it and was gunged by Jet.

The show aired on 2 January 2020.

Jimmy was joined byPikachu for a live question themed onPokémon. The mystery guests were two actors and a dog who had appeared in variousJohn Lewis Christmas adverts during the decade. Recorded guest questions were provided byJourdan Dunn,Scarlett Moffatt,Bear Grylls,Sophia the Robot,Peter Crouch,Oti Mabuse andMcFly. Jon Snow provided the song lyric as news story segment, reporting on "Get Lucky". Charles Dance gave readings of online reviews of films. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out the rescue of theChilean miners. The final question was asked byCharlotte Crosby, dressed asMiley Cyrus in theWrecking Ball video.

The show was recorded on 28 November 2022 and aired on 14 May 2023.^[31]

Recorded guest questions were provided byStephen Fry,Joe Marler,Kelly Holmes,Tim Peake,Kadeena Cox andDavid Haye.Will Joseph,Alex Cuthbert, andDillon Lewis appeared in-studio wearing iconic outfits of sportspersons that the teams needed to identify. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School made an appearance acting out the infamous "hair-dryer treatment" done byManchester United managerAlex Ferguson toDavid Beckham after losing toArsenal at the2002-03 FA Cup's fifth round. Charles Dance read an extract from the autobiography ofAndre Agassi. Fiona Walker, the tennis girl from the 1980's Athena poster, appeared as a mystery guest.Shaun Wallace, one of the chasers fromThe Chase, made an appearance as Joel's temporary substitute after he suffered a hand cramp.

The Big Fat Question was a three part question performed in the style of rap byJohn Barnes about sportspersons who had involved in sporting scandals.

The show was recorded on 20 November 2023 and aired on 23 August 2024.^[32][33]

Recorded guest questions come fromNadiya Hussain,Allison Hammond andDermont O’Leary,Natalie Cassidy,Richard Cadell (withSooty, Sweep, and Soo),Mr. Blobby,The Vivienne,Stephen Fry, andAinsley Harriott. The children of Mitchell Brook Primary School appear, but instead of acting out a television scene or moment, they discuss aboutMr. Bean,Only Fools and Horses, andGladiators. The mystery guests wereJon Briggs,Marcus Bentley, andIndia Fisher, who each do voiceovers forThe Weakest Link,Big Brother, andMasterChef (respectively).Charles Dance re-enact quotes fromCome Dine with Me,Love Island, andCelebrity Big Brother.Honey G,The Cheeky Girls, andChico Slimani appear in aMasked Singer-style bonus round, respectively wearing masks ofthe yellow Power Ranger, theSquid Game soldiers, and aCyberman fromDoctor Who.

The Big Fat Question was in the style ofCatchphrase, with questions about famous television catchphrases accompanied by animated clips of Jimmy Carr with the show’s mascot Mr. Chips.

• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year onChannel 4
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year atBritish Comedy Guide
• The Big Fat Quiz of the Year atIMDb:2004,2005,2006,2007,2008,2010

• The Big Fat Anniversary Quiz (2007) atIMDb

• 2004 British television series debuts
• 2010s British television series
• 2020s British television series
• 2000s British game shows
• 2010s British game shows
• 2020s British game shows
• Annual television shows
• British panel games
• Channel 4 comedy
• Channel 4 panel games
• British English-language television shows
• New Year's television specials
• Television shows shot at BBC Elstree Centre
• Television shows shot at Elstree Film Studios

• Accuracy disputes from March 2022
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from December 2019
• EngvarB from December 2019
• IMDb title ID different from Wikidata