8 Out of 10 Cats(stylised as8 out of 10 CATS) is a British comedypanel showthat aired from 3 June 2005 to 17 January 2021. It was first broadcast onChannel 4from 2005 to 2015, thenMore4from 2016 to 2017, and finallyE4from 2017 to 2021. The show was hosted byJimmy Carrand featured regular team captainsSean Lock,Dave Spikey,Jason Manford,Jon Richardson,Rob Beckett,Aisling BeaandKatherine Ryan.[1]
| 8 Out of 10 Cats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Comedypanel game |
| Presented by | Jimmy Carr |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | John Pohlhammer |
| Theme music composer | Mat Osman |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No.of series | 22 |
| No.of episodes | 232(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Production locations |
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| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Running time | 23–28 minutes |
| Production company | Zeppotron |
| Original release | |
| Network | Channel 4 |
| Release | 3 June 2005– 29 December 2015 |
| Network | More4 |
| Release | 8 November 2016– 1 February 2017 |
| Network | E4 |
| Release | 16 May 2017– 17 January 2021 |
| Related | |
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The show was based on statistics and opinion polls and draws on polls produced by a variety of organisations and new polls commissioned for the programme, carried out byThe Harris Poll[citation needed].The title was derived from a well-known advertising tagline forWhiskascat food, which claimed that "8 out of 10 cats prefer Whiskas"[2](which later evolved into "8 out of 10 owners who expressed a preference said their cats prefer it" ).
New and past episodes air across theChannel 4network of channels, including More4 andE4 Extra,and past episodes are also repeated onU&DaveandComedy Central.
Overview
editThe show is hosted by comedianJimmy Carrand features two teams consisting of a regular team captain and two celebrity guests each.Sean Lockappeared as a team captain from series 1 to 18. He was replaced byRob Beckettat the beginning of series 19.[3]The opposing captain was originallyDave Spikey,who left after series 4 and was replaced byJason Manford.[4]Manford departed following series 10 and was replaced byJon Richardsonfor series 11 to 18.[5]From series 19 to 20, the opposing captain wasAisling Bea.[3]In series 21, the opposing team had a rotating guest captain.[6]However,Katherine Ryanjoined as the opposing team captain in series 22.[1]
The original format was filmed the day before broadcast with a live studio audience atBBC Television Centre.The captains are joined by two celebrities and occasionally a guest captain would substitute. Often, topical celebrities appear on the show, for exampleRuth Badgerfollowing her appearance onThe Apprentice.
The format was changed for the move from Channel 4 onto More4 and E4. Shows are now recorded consecutively, and no longer cover topical issues. The two team captains were replaced, but Carr still hosts.
A full series was not broadcast in 2015, although two Christmas Specials were filmed and aired on 24 and 30 December 2015. No episodes were broadcast during 2018. The 22nd and final season started on 7 January 2020 and ended on 17 January 2021.
Current rounds
editThe current rounds featured on8 Out of 10 Catsare:[7]
- "What Are You Talking About?" – The polling organisation asked the public what they were talking about during the week. The teams have to try to guess the top three.
- "Pick of the Polls" – The teams are given four pictures to pick from and are given a poll based on that picture.
- "Believe It or Not" – The teams are given a statistic and try to guess whether it is true or false.
- "And the Winner Is..." – The teams are given a question from a poll and then try to guess what came on top of that poll.
- "The Poll with a Hole" – each team is given a statistic, but it is missing one piece of salient information. The teams have to guess what that piece of information is.
Until series 8, there were four rounds during the game. It has since been reduced to three. The points often do not add up correctly, as the show has to be edited to fit its 26-minute slot. From series 9, there is a longer version of the show called8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut,broadcast a few days later.
Former rounds
editThese rounds only featured in series 1 and theBig Brotherspecial shows:[7]
- "Face Off" – The teams have to guess who from a list of famous people came top with respect to a particular topic.
- "Word Association" – The teams view a clip illustrating a word and have to guess the top three things which people thought of when they heard that word.
- "What's the Poll?" – The teams are given five famous people, picture by picture, and they have to guess which poll they appeared on.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
editSince 2012, crossover episodes between8 Out of 10 CatsandCountdownhave aired. The show follows the format ofCountdown,but is hosted by Jimmy Carr.Jon Richardsonis the only permanent contestant followingSean Lock's death in 2021.
Other specials
editOn 4 January 2013, a special episode ofDeal or No Dealfeaturing Carr as host along with Richardson and Lock aired during another Channel 4 "mash-up night". The story behind it was thatNoel Edmondshad been driven to leave whenDerren Brownwas playing and was getting all the boxes from lowest to highest, ensuring that the "dream finish" is in play. Edmonds ran away with Brown's £250,000 box, saying that he "spent it all on [his] shirt". The backstage personnel took out a hammer and smashed theBreak glass for Jimmy Carrbox, which produced a horn, which was used to call Carr to the set.
Joe Wilkinsonguest starred as the Banker's assistant. The guests wereNicola Adams,Rob Beckett,Gemma Collins,Mia Cross, Corinne Davies,Susie Dent,Matt Forde,John Fothergill,Stephen Frost,Nick Helm,Elis James,Dave Johns,Tony Law,Alice Levine,Mark Olver,Rachel Riley,John Robins,Katherine Ryan,Nong Skett,Andy SmartandHolly Walsh.
Podcasts
editA series of podcasts have also been released oniTunes,with material directly from the show, for several episodes. Each podcast is typically the "What Are You Talking About" round from that episode.
Cast
edit| Role | Series | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | |
| Presenter | Jimmy Carr | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Team captains | Sean Lock | Rob Beckett | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dave Spikey | Jason Manford | Jon Richardson | Aisling Bea | Guests | Katherine Ryan | |||||||||||||||||
Episodes
edit| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
| 1 | 11 | 3 June 2005 | 12 August 2005 | Channel 4 | |
| 2 | 7 | 10 February 2006 | 24 March 2006 | ||
| 3 | 9 | 26 May 2006 | 18 August 2006 | ||
| 4 | 9 | 20 October 2006 | 15 December 2006 | ||
| 5 | 7 | 15 June 2007 | 30 August 2007 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 13 June 2008 | 18 July 2008 | ||
| 7 | 15 | 4 September 2008 | 26 December 2008 | ||
| 8 | 8 | 5 June 2009 | 24 July 2009 | ||
| 9 | 8 | 8 January 2010 | 21 August 2010 | ||
| 10 | 8 | 11 June 2010 | 23 December 2010 | ||
| Special | 5 March 2011 | ||||
| 11 | 11 | 17 June 2011 | 26 August 2011 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 23 September 2011 | 23 December 2011 | ||
| Special | 23 March 2012 | ||||
| 13 | 11 | 27 April 2012 | 6 July 2012 | ||
| 14 | 12 | 8 October 2012 | 24 December 2012 | ||
| 15 | 12 | 18 January 2013 | 9 September 2013 | ||
| 16 | 11 | 4 October 2013 | 29 December 2013 | ||
| 17 | 11 | 17 February 2014 | 20 August 2014 | ||
| 18 | 12 | 6 October 2014 | 23 December 2014 | ||
| Specials | 2 | 24 December 2015 | 29 December 2015 | ||
| 19 | 12 | 8 November 2016 | 1 February 2017 | More4 | |
| 20 | 12 | 16 May 2017 | 1 August 2017 | E4 | |
| 21 | 12 | 24 March 2019 | 6 January 2020 | ||
| 22 | 12 | 7 January 2020 | 17 January 2021 | ||
DVD
edit8 Out of 10 Cats: Claws Outis a ninety-minute collection of highlights from the first few series featuring deleted scenes considered too offensive to be aired. It was released on 20 November 2006.
References
edit- ^ab"KATHERINE RYAN CONFIRMED AS TEAM CAPTAIN ON E4'S 8 OUT OF 10 CATS".channel4.Retrieved23 August2022.
- ^"8 OUT OF 10 CATS PREFER WHISKAS United Kingdom Trademark Information".Trademark Elite.Retrieved1 June2024.
- ^abBaillie, Katie (12 October 2016)."8 Out of 10 Catsis coming back and there are two new team captains ".Metro.DMG Media.
- ^"8 Out of 10 Cats – Production Details".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved12 December2010.
- ^"sro audiences".sroaudiences.
- ^"8 Out Of 10 Cats returns to E4".British Comedy Guide. 7 March 2019.Retrieved8 March2019.
- ^ab"About 8 Out of 10 Cats".British Comedy Guide.Retrieved12 December2010.