Top 10 Panel Show Comedians

Paul Merton’s only really known for appearing on one panel show, but he’s been in almost every episode since that show started. He joined “Have I Got News For You” in 1990 as an original team captain and has featured ever since, apart from a short break which he credits as ultimately improving the show. Paul’s also one of very few people to have appeared in all three positions on the show: as a team captain, guest panelist and host.

Next, an Irish comic who’s probably best-known for causing all kinds of chaos on “Mock the Week”. In fact, Ed Byrne has appeared more than any other guest panellist on the topical news quiz, and his run in the series shows no signs of slowing down. Ed’s actually good friends with the “Mock the Week” host, Dara O’Briain - a fact which has fuelled many a funny story or witty one-liner - with their comedy styles creating a brilliant blend for the show.

Before becoming a hugely successful stand-up comedian and anchoring his own TV projects, Russell Howard was a shoo-in for various panel shows - especially “Mock the Week”. He joined the BBC quiz as a permanent panellist in series four and stayed until series nine, alongside the similarly ever-present Andy Parsons. Although Russell’s rarely seen on panel shows nowadays, his unique brand of humour and playful presentation style has won him a dedicated following of fans.

Although he’s another who hasn’t graced an especially wide range of shows, Alan Davies has more panel show episodes under his belt than most other comedians - thanks to “QI”. He has appeared on every episode of the ‘Quite Interesting’ series since it began in 2003, and is the only permanent fixture on the show. He may not win very often, he always gets the dodgiest buzzer sound and he’s usually the one to set off the klaxon, but “QI” just wouldn’t be the same without him.

As a regular on “Have I Got News for You” and “QI” especially, Jo Brand has been one of the leading female comics throughout the ‘90s, noughties and 2010’s. Famous for her specific style of self-deprecating comedy and her unwavering deadpan delivery, she says it like it is - and she’s usually right. And, having worked through a time when panel shows were often criticised for their lack of female comedians, she stands as a pioneering entertainer.

Hugh’s a regular guest across several shows - but he’s easily best known as a long-standing team captain on “Mock the Week”. As a permanent panellist since the show started in 2005, he’s rattled through hundreds of ‘scenes we’d like to see’ and he’s overseen more spins on the ‘wheel of news’ than any other comedian. Of course, Hugh’s also famous for playing the Dad in “Outnumbered”, away from his ongoing panel show stardom.

Poor Jon is usually the butt of all the jokes, but he plays the affable underdog better than anyone else. Richardson was a team captain on “8 Out of 10 Cats” from 2011 to 2015, and he’s also captained on the ultra-successful spin-off, “8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown” - consistently proving his considerable worth at the words and numbers quiz. Jon’s awkward character may invite many a jibe from fellow contestants, but this guy really knows how to roll with the punches.

Yes, he is well-known for his hosting skills, but before and as well as presenting the likes of “8 Out of 10 Cats” and “Big Fat Quiz of the Year”, Jimmy Carr’s a regular panellist on the circuit. Bringing trademark dark humour, brilliant one liners and his instantly recognisable laugh to the sets of “Buzzcocks”, “QI” and others, any line-up that features Carr always seems just that little bit better. It’s no wonder he has scored presenting gigs - he’s that good.

As a team captain on “Would I Lie To You?” opposite Lee Mack, who very nearly made this list in his own right, David Mitchell’s a panel show veteran. A staple of the truth-tracing show since it started in 2007, he also is - or has been - a regular on “Mock the Week,” “QI,” and “The Big Fat Quiz of the Year”. It’s Mitchell’s tendency to lose his temper which sets him apart from everyone else, and his impassioned rants are truly something to behold.

A true legend of the British comedy panel show, Sean Lock has become almost synonymous with the format. He’s a familiar face on many shows, but none more so than “8 Out of 10 Cats”, where he was an original team captain for ten years. Lock has also put in some inspired performances on “Cats Does Countdown”, “Big Fat Quiz” and “QI”, and he’s another comic well known for harbouring some heated opinions. When this man’s in full flow, there’s simply no stopping him.