The 99p Challenge
The 99p Challenge is a spoof panel game originally broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The show is presented by Sue Perkins and features a selection of regular panelists such as Armando Iannucci and regular writers Kevin Cecil, Andy Riley, Jon Holmes and Tony Roche. Panelists are given silly tasks by Perkins (in a manner not dissimilar to those given on I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue by Humphrey Lyttelton) and are awarded pence for being funny. The player with the most money at the end of the show is given the chance to win 99p. It has been shown in some episodes that the gamble is compulsory, even if the winner has amassed a fortune of more than 99p in the game.
| Other names | King Stupid (1998) |
|---|---|
| Genre | Spoof panel game |
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Syndicates | BBC Radio 4 Extra |
| Starring | Sue Perkins |
| Written by | |
| Produced by | David Tyler |
| Original release | 22 September 1998 – 29 September 2004 |
| No. of series | 5 |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Opening theme | Excerpt from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin |
| Ending theme | "99 Luftballons" by Nena |
| Website | www |
This is the second version of the panel game that was previously transmitted by BBC Radio 4 in 1998 as King Stupid. It was then hosted by William Vandyck and featured much the same line-up of comedians and satirists. The contestants were awarded points instead of pence.
Transmission dates and cast list
| Episode | Broadcast | Guests |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Series 1998 King Stupid | ||
| 1. 1-1 | 1998-09-22 | Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Dave Green |
| 2. 1-2 | 1998-09-29 | Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Dave Green |
| 3. 1-3 | 1998-10-06 | Peter Baynham, Morwenna Banks, Tom Binns, Dave Green |
| 4. 1-4 | 1998-10-13 | Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Dave Green |
| 5. 1-5 | 1998-10-20 | Peter Baynham, Morwenna Banks, Dave Green, Tom Binns |
| 6. 1-6 | 1998-10-27 | Peter Baynham, Sue Perkins, Simon Pegg, Dave Green |
| 2nd Series 2000 The 99p Challenge | ||
| 7. 2-1 | 2000-06-22 | Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Armando Iannucci, Jack Docherty |
| 8. 2-2 | 2000-06-29 | Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Richard Herring, David Quantick |
| 9. 2-3 | 2000-07-06 | Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Tom Binns, David Schneider |
| 10. 2-4 | 2000-07-13 | Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Richard Herring, Mel Giedroyc |
| 11. 2-5 | 2000-07-20 | Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Tom Binns, David Schneider |
| 12. 2-6 | 2000-07-27 | Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Armando Iannucci, Jack Docherty |
| 3rd Series 2001 | ||
| 13. 3-1 | 2001-07-19 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Bill Bailey, Peter Serafinowicz |
| 14. 3-2 | 2001-07-26 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, David Quantick |
| 15. 3-3 | 2001-08-02 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Ben Moor |
| 16. 3-4 | 2001-08-09 | Peter Serafinowicz, Tom Binns, Nick Frost, Marcus Brigstocke |
| 17. 3-5 | 2001-08-16 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Peter Baynham |
| 18. 3-6 | 2001-08-23 | Peter Serafinowicz, Tom Binns, Nick Frost, Ben Moor |
| 4th Series 2003 | ||
| 19. 4-1 | 2003-02-04 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, David Quantick, Bill Bailey |
| 20. 4-2 | 2003-02-11 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Peter Serafinowicz, Marcus Brigstocke |
| 21. 4-3 | 2003-02-18 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Peter Serafinowicz, Jon Holmes |
| 22. 4-4 | 2003-02-25 | Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Marcus Brigstocke, Nick Frost |
| 23. 4-5 | 2003-03-04 | Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Jack Docherty, Sean Lock |
| 24. 4-6 | 2003-03-11 | Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Marcus Brigstocke, Jon Holmes |
| 5th Series 2004 | ||
| 25. 5-1 | 2004-08-25 | Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Jon Holmes |
| 26. 5-2 | 2004-09-01 | Armando Iannucci, Peter Serafinowicz, Miranda Hart, Rob Rouse |
| 27. 5-3 | 2004-09-08 | Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Dan Antopolski |
| 28. 5-4 | 2004-09-15 | Armando Iannucci, Rob Rouse, Jon Holmes, Marcus Brigstocke |
| 29. 5-5 | 2004-09-22 | Armando Iannucci, Nick Frost, Marcus Brigstocke, Miranda Hart |
| 30. 5-6 | 2004-09-29 | Armando Iannucci, Nick Frost, Rob Rouse, Peter Serafinowicz |
Series of the show continue to be repeated on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
Theme Tune
The show's theme is an excerpt from Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor. The show ends with Nena's "99 Luftballons". After the panellists are introduced, a brief snippet of Carl Orff's O Fortuna from Carmina Burana is played.
External links
