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Quizzes

A Games and Leisure podcast

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About the show

Intelligent and challenging quiz games on BBC Radio 4. Featuring Round Britain Quiz, Counterpoint and Brain of Britain with Quizmasters including Paul Gambaccini, Kirsty Lang and Russell Davies.

Newest episodes

Semi-final 4, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are Penguins, the Outer Hebrides, Roger Casement, and the Glasgow Subway. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Semi-final 3, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlights rounds are Diplomacy, Dua Lipa, Neapolitan cookery and the Aztecs. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4

Semi-final 2, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlights rounds are Virago Press, hieroglyphics, Lee Miller and giraffes. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

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All episodes

Semi-final 4, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are Penguins, the Outer Hebrides, Roger Casement, and the Glasgow Subway. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Semi-final 3, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlights rounds are Diplomacy, Dua Lipa, Neapolitan cookery and the Aztecs. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4

Semi-final 2, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlights rounds are Virago Press, hieroglyphics, Lee Miller and giraffes. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Semi-final 1, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become 'Brain of Britain 2026'. Spotlights rounds are: Fighting video games, Billy Wilder films, Nuremberg Trials and Emmy Noether. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 12, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become 'Brain of Britain 2026'. Spotlights rounds are: Organelles, Japanese horror films, Formula 1 and British pipe organs. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 11, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlights rounds are FIFA World Cups, celebrity make-up brands, Friday Night Dinner and 1930s crime fiction. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4

Heat 10, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become 'Brain of Britain 2026'. Spotlights rounds are: popes, Lili Boulanger, Julia Donaldson books, and the Paris Opera Ballet. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 9, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become 'Brain of Britain 2026'. Spotlights rounds are: Nordic heavy metal, 'Macbeth', Ultimate and James Clerk Maxwell. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 8, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become 'Brain of Britain 2026'. Spotlights rounds are: Warhammer 40,000, crochet, 'Guernica', and sea shanties. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 7, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlights rounds are: the Shardlake novels, the Moon landings, crows and salads. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 6, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are Angela Merkel, the Inca Empire, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and mustard. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 5, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are WWE wrestling, the Lionesses, guinea pigs and the Gospel of St Luke. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 4, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are the Cold War, the films of Baz Luhrmann, New York buildings and gemstones. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 3, 2026

27 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are Apollo 13, the Russian Far East, Catherine of Aragon and Sophie Germain. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 2, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become the 'Brain of Britain 2026’. Spotlights rounds are: 'A Song of Ice and Fire', County cricket, Kathleen Lonsdale and Scottish chart acts. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People production for BBC Radio 4.

Heat 1, 2026

28 min

Russell Davies chairs the nationwide general knowledge quiz that has been entertaining and challenging audiences since 1953. Four competitors test their wits against a vast array of questions, covering everything from Ariana Grande to Ariadne, and from baryons to baritones, seeking to become the Brain of Britain 2026. Spotlight rounds are: René Magritte, Ru Paul's Drag Race, 21st century literature and monsters of Greek myth. Presenter: Russell Davies Voiceover: Jess Lambert Casting Producer: Sunil Mistry Assistant Producer: Ami Gill Production Coordinator: Kate Scarbrough Series Producer: David Bodycombe Executive Producers: Justin Scroggie and Jago Lee A TellTale Industries/Format People co-production for BBC Radio 4.

Around the World in 80 Ways: 2. Africa

28 min

Hosted by Simon Reeve, Around the World in 80 Ways is a geography quiz where two teams race across the world, travelling from country to country with knowledge as their passport. Host: Simon Reeve Questions by Paddy Duffy Sound by Jerry Peal Programme Coordinator: Jodie Charman Producer: Carl Cooper BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Around the World in 80 Ways: 1. Europe

28 min

Hosted by Simon Reeve, Around the World in 80 Ways is a geography quiz where two teams race across the world, travelling from country to country with knowledge as their passport. Host: Simon Reeve Questions by Paddy Duffy Sound by Jerry Peal Programme Coordinator: Jodie Charman Producer: Carl Cooper BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

Your Number's Up: 2. How many satanists in Bungay, Suffolk?

27 min

A brand-new, number-crunching comedy quiz for Radio 4 hosted by comedian and YouTuber Max Fosh. In the Every Answer Counts round, players must solve general knowledge equations such as multiplying the pH of pure water by the number of PHs in Philadelphia. In Bestimate Guesstimate, quizzers must calculate the value of a solid gold Max Fosh and how long it would take for Dolly Parton to sing Islands in the Stream on every island of the Philippines. And in the fast-paced Facts & Figures round - where extraordinary facts provide frankly useless clues to a series of tricky equations – they must work out the world record for the number of bees in a human mouth… or 763 divided by 7. Presenter: Max Fosh Writers: Benjamin Sutton, James Trickey and James Rawson Line Producer: Natascha McQueen Assistant Producer: James Rawson Producer: Benjamin Sutton Executive Producers: Simon Urwin and Kitty Walshe A QITV production for BBC Radio 4

Your Number's Up. 1. How many Yorkshire puddings in Yorkshire?

27 min

A brand-new, number-crunching comedy quiz for Radio 4 hosted by presenter, comedian and YouTuber Max Fosh. In the Every Answer Counts round, players must solve general knowledge equations such as adding the number of US Supreme Court justices to the number of Strictly Come Dancing judges. In Bestimate Guesstimate, players must calculate how many eggs Nigella Lawson would need to make a Yorkshire pudding for everyone in Yorkshire, and how much it would cost Lou Bega to send a Valentine’s card to all of the women named in Mambo No. 5. In Twenty-One – the quizzing equivalent of blackjack – players must try and build a winning hand using countries and the number of times they have won the Eurovision Song Contest. Presenter: Max Fosh Writers: Benjamin Sutton, James Trickey and James Rawson Line Producer: Natascha McQueen Assistant Producer: James Rawson Producer: Benjamin Sutton Executive Producers: Simon Urwin and Kitty Walshe A QITV production for BBC Radio 4

Déjà News. Episode 2

28 min

Lucy Porter hosts a brand new quiz as contestants are questioned on a century of news archive which tests their knowledge of the sound of stories from the last 100 years. Presenter: Lucy Porter Team One – Ian Musgrave and James Musgrave Team Two – Jason Hill and Harriet Anderson Writers: Ali Panting and Laura Grimshaw Researcher: Hannah Ratcliffe Production Co-Ordinator: Molly Punshon Consultants: Paul Bajoria and Lizzie Foster Producers: Jon Holmes and Laura Grimshaw An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

Déjà News. Episode 1

28 min

Lucy Porter hosts a brand new quiz as contestants are questioned on a century of news archive which tests their knowledge of the sound of stories from the last 100 years. Presenter: Lucy Porter Team One - Phil Donaldson and Adrian Field Team Two - Ann Higgs and Ian Guest Writers: Ali Panting and Laura Grimshaw Researcher: Hannah Ratcliffe Production Co-Ordinator: Molly Punshon Consultants: Paul Bajoria and Lizzie Foster Producers: Jon Holmes and Laura Grimshaw An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

Bookmarks Ep2. Science Fiction & Literary Love Triangles

28 min

A brand-new quiz about books hosted by Clare Balding. In this episode, teams are tested in a game of nerves in the Long List round to name as many Charles Dickens novels as possible. In Plot Points – where the answers to five literary questions are all clues to a different well-known book – players must work out which 19th-century classic links a Margaret Atwood post-apocalyptic novel with the Lemony Snicket series, and which 21st century crime bestseller connects a racy British novelist with an Egyptian poet. Finally, in the show’s climax, it’s fingers on buzzers for the fast-paced Anagrams round, which features books with colours in the title and celebrity memoirs. Presenter: Clare Balding Question Writers: Naomi Lock & the QI Elves Line Producer: Natascha McQueen Assistant Producer: James Rawson Producer: Lyndsay Fenner Executive Producers: Simon Urwin and Kitty Walshe A QITV production for BBC Radio 4

Bookmarks Ep1. Murder Mysteries & Regency Romances

28 min

A brand-new quiz about books hosted by Clare Balding. In this episode, teams are tested in a game of nerves in the Long List round as they try and name as many of the 60+ Stephen King novels as possible. In Plot Points – where the answers to five literary questions are all clues to a different well-known book – players must work out which 1960s classic links a Daphne Du Maurier novel with a Booker Prize winner, and which 21st century global bestseller connects a William Blake poem with the American queen of caustic wisecracks. Finally, in the show’s climax, it’s fingers on buzzers for the fast-paced Anagrams round, which features well-known literary horses and celebrated food writers. Presenter: Clare Balding Question Writers: Naomi Lock & the QI Elves Line Producer: Natascha McQueen Assistant Producer: James Rawson Producer: Lyndsay Fenner Executive Producers: Simon Urwin and Kitty Walshe A QITV production for BBC Radio 4

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