FAQ U
FAQ U is a television programme that was broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom in 2005.[1] It was shown every weeknight, Monday to Friday, just after 11:00 pm. It was presented by Justin Lee Collins in its first week, David Mitchell in the second and Karen Taylor in the third.[2] It included four comedian guests and an audience. The presenter put "frequently asked questions" to the guests and they answered them in a humorous way. The show's title was frequently pronounced by the presenter as "Fak You".[3]
Mitchell received a nomination from The British Comedy Awards at the end of 2005.[4] The show was produced by the company Endemol.[5] Each episode was filmed the day it is aired in front of a live audience.[6] 400,000 people watched the show's premiere.[7]
Guests
Guests included:
- Matt Blaize
- Elizabeth Bower
- Frankie Boyle
- Ruth Bratt
- Alan Carr
- Paul Foot
- Cherry Green
- Iain Lee
- Alex Lovell
- Henning Wehn
- Alex Zane
Reception
The Lancashire Telegraph criticised the show, writing, "Panel of irreverent comedians discuss the day's news. More like irrelevant comedians — this is dire."[8] Charlie Courtauld of The Independent penned a negative review of FAQ, saying that it "takes an untalented host, Justin Lee Collins, and provides him with a ghastly car-crash of a jokey script".[3] In a positive review, the Sunday Mirror's Ian Hyland wrote, "the host Justin Lee Collins has more in common with Jethro than simply having a silly beard and being from the West Country. He's as funny as him as well."[9]
The Evening Chronicle television critic Jamie Diffley criticized FAQ U, stating, "The idea is to get 'top comedians' to talk on topical subjects. A bit like Have I Got News For You without the actual quiz show bit. Or the laughs."[10] Teddy Jamieson of The Herald agreed, calling it a "frankly dreadful" show that is an "uninspired offcut" of Have I Got News For You.[11]
References
- ^ Young, Graham (9 May 2005). "TV Mail: Up to their old tricks". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 19. ProQuest 322747171.
- ^ Chapples, Natalie (14 May 2005). "Homegrown comedian gets TV presenting job". North-West Evening Mail. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b Courtauld, Charlie (15 May 2005). "A frequently asked question: why?". The Independent. p. 18. ProQuest 336930189. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "What's On: Join Ross to reward Britain's funnyman..." Telegraph & Argus. 14 December 2005. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Deans, Jason (29 July 2005). "Channel 4 serves up sketch show with Spoons". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ Bradley, Mike (8 May 2005). "FAQ U". The Observer. p. 73. ProQuest 250289870.
- ^ Deans, Jason (10 May 2005). "The Farm hands Five 1m viewers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025.
- ^ "Kitchen bitchin'". Lancashire Telegraph. 24 May 2005. Archived from the original on 16 May 2025. Retrieved 16 May 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Hyland, Ian (15 May 2005). "Ian Hyland: FAQ U". Sunday Mirror. p. 21. ProQuest 339635374.
- ^ Diffley, Jamie (14 May 2005). "Just say no to burgers, Zammo". Evening Chronicle. p. 13. ProQuest 349866224.
- ^ Jamieson, Teddy (25 June 2005). "Comedian Frankie Boyle is all over television, but his ambitions go much further than cracking one-liners". The Herald. p. 7. ProQuest 332973526.