FAQ U
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
FAQ U is a television programme that was broadcast by Channel 4 in the United Kingdom in 2005.{{cite news |last=Young |first=Graham |date=2005-05-09 |title=TV Mail: Up to their old tricks |newspaper=Birmingham Evening Mail |page=19 |id={{ProQuest|322747171}} }} It was shown every weeknight, Monday to Friday, just after 11:00{{nbsp}}pm. It was presented by Justin Lee Collins in its first week, David Mitchell in the second and Karen Taylor in the third.{{cite news |last=Chapples |first=Natalie |date=2005-05-14 |title=Homegrown comedian gets TV presenting job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-west-evening-mail/172477158/ |newspaper=North-West Evening Mail |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=2025-05-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516052143/https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-west-evening-mail/172477158/ |archivedate=2025-05-16 }} 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".{{cite news |last=Courtauld |first=Charlie |date=2005-05-15 |title=A frequently asked question: why? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/172477236/ |newspaper=The Independent |via=Newspapers.com |page=18 |id={{ProQuest|336930189}} |accessdate=2025-05-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516052308/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent/172477236/ |archivedate=2025-05-16 }}
Mitchell received a nomination from the The British Comedy Awards at the end of 2005.{{cite news |date=2005-12-14 |title=What's On: Join Ross to reward Britain's funnyman... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-and-argus/172477020/ |newspaper=Telegraph & Argus |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=2025-05-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516051642/https://www.newspapers.com/article/telegraph-and-argus/172477020/ |archivedate=2025-05-16 }} The show was produced by the company Endemol.{{cite news |last=Deans |first=Jason |date=2005-07-29 |title=Channel 4 serves up sketch show with Spoons |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/29/broadcasting.channel4 |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=2025-05-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516053236/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/jul/29/broadcasting.channel4 |archivedate=2025-05-16 }} Each episode was filmed the day it is aired in front of a live audience.{{cite news |last=Bradley |first=Mike |date=2005-05-08 |title=FAQ U |newspaper=The Observer |page=73 |id={{ProQuest|250289870}} }} 400,000 people watched the show's premiere.{{cite news |last=Deans |first=Jason |date=2005-05-10 |title=The Farm hands Five 1m viewers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/may/10/overnights |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=2025-05-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516053329/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2005/may/10/overnights |archivedate=2025-05-16 }}
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."{{cite news |date=2005-05-24 |title=Kitchen bitchin' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancashire-telegraph/172477094/ |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=2025-05-16 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516051834/https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancashire-telegraph/172477094/ |archivedate=2025-05-16 }} 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". 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."{{cite news |last=Hyland |first=Ian |date=2005-05-15 |title=Ian Hyland: FAQ U |newspaper=Sunday Mirror |page=21 |id={{ProQuest|339635374}} }}
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."{{cite news |last=Diffley |first=Jamie |date=2005-05-14 |title=Just say no to burgers, Zammo |newspaper=Evening Chronicle |page=13 |id={{ProQuest|349866224}} }} Teddy Jamieson of The Herald agreed, calling it a "frankly dreadful" show that is an "uninspired offcut" of Have I Got News For You.{{cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Teddy |date=2005-06-25 |title=Comedian Frankie Boyle is all over television, but his ambitions go much further than cracking one-liners |newspaper=The Herald |page=7 |id={{ProQuest|332973526}} }}
References
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