Talk:Mock the Week

Name

Who came up with the name of Mock The Week and its format? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 94.197.207.87 (talk) 14:15, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Captains

--Will2710 00:18, 4 February 2006 (UTC)I thought that Hugh Dennis was the other team captain, and Boyle was actually just a guest?

Originaly, Boyle was meant to be the team captain, but then Dennis came on board and rather took over - though actually, if you listen to how Dara O'Briain refers to the teams, he never identifies anyone as captains at all - if he's referring to a whole team, he'll say all three names, rather than X's team. --Bonalaw 15:48, 4 February 2006 (UTC)

Is it scripted?

Is this scripted , i seems like it is some times. It should be mentioned either way (Gnevin 21:17, 5 October 2006 (UTC))

I'm not sure, I often see edits in the what we'd like to see sections.

It is not scripted. However sometimes the guest makes jokes that are too controversial (such as Frankie Boyle's Diana comments) or they simple swear to much and there are edits that need to be made, also although the show may air for half an hour the recording is much much longer and so sometimes things are cut simply for time scene's we'd like to see due to its nature is probably the simplest to cut 203.59.89.175 (talk) 15:22, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

This is conjecture but I suppose they're given some chance to come up with the jokes before the show. 80.7.181.120 (talk) 19:08, 11 September 2008 (UTC)

As much of it is based on very recent events, the comedians appearing on the show probably watch and listen to the news a lot, and are thus able to know what many of the topics each week will be, along with thinking up good jokes for each episode before each show they appear on. I don't know which, if any, of the comics employ people to write some of their jokes, but it is clear that some of it is improvised. F W Nietzsche (talk) 23:25, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

My view is that some of the bits cannot possibly by so spontaenuously done as they appear to be. It may not be scripted but I suspect either the topics are given to the panellists beforehand to come up with jokes on or the awkward silences which would inevitably occur should the show be entirely spontaeuous are cut out of the actual broadcast. If you did a Mock the Week episode live, I don't think it would be nearly as slick and well-oiled as the recorded ones. Strathglen (talk) 14:11, 7 October 2009 (UTC)

In Frankie Boyles Podcast he mentions, in a sentance not unlike, "They usually give us the "Scenes We'd Like to See" topics a day before we film it. So it's not half as fake as it looks". The podcast can be found free on iTunes - --A Chain of Flowers (talk) 21:50, 13 October 2009 (UTC)

I had heard that they were given the "Scenes We'd like to see" topics the day before, this merely confirms it. As others have said above:

1. Recording a half-hour show takes a lot longer than half an hour! I used to regularly go to recordings (Have I Got News for You and others), and they typically lasted 1 to 1-1/2 hours to record. The same goes for radio shows - usually about an hour's recording for a half hour show. This allows for the cutting of anything not funny enough, or for swearing that would not be broadcast (generally, just the word cunt which is not allowed to be broadcast)
2. As the panel know that this is a current-affairs quiz, they read up on the news during the week - the same as the panel do on HIGNFY.

On most of these shows, you'll see that the panel have paper, so they can make notes on ideas they get as the show runs. They are generally given advance notice about *some* items on the show (on HIGNFY, it's the caption contest I think; on MtW, it's the topics for "SWLTS" - also, I'm guessing that Hugh (or Rory) see the footage for the bit where they do Prince Charles' voice (or whoever) - but with those two, they probably only have to see it once to have good ideas!).

Incidently, the main stand-up bit (the spinning-circle round) has general topics - and I would guess that the panellist have 2 or 3 subjects they have prepared for, and will slot on of those into the topic that arise! -- PhantomSteve (Contact Me, My Contribs) 22:08, 13 October 2009 (UTC)

Just a quick point, on the "Royal Commentary" game, it's actually a prerecorded playback done before the show airs live, and shown over the video screens --A Chain of Flowers (talk) 16:56, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

Frankie Boyle's podcast tells me that pretty much all of the topics are given to them beforehand. They get the topics for the general news chat, although they are largely predictable anyway and they also get Scenes We'd Like To See, Headliners and If This Is The Answer, What Is The Question. TomBeasley (talk) 14:31, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

Endless quotes

Do we really need all these quotes from the show? Although funny, it's not really encyclopaedic, and I'd be surprised if it were good Wikipedia practice. -- Boothman _/tɔːk/ 12:25, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

I've shortened down the list. ISD 15:23, 16 February 2007 (UTC)

Parsons

Is it not worth a mention Parsons was also a participant in the first two series' of Mock The Week? GiantSpider 18:40, 18 August 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Mocktheweek.JPG

Image:Mocktheweek.JPG is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 00:07, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

How is this proceeded by Whose Line Is It Anyway?

As above Gnevin (talk) 10:58, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

It was created by the same people. ISD (talk) 11:03, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

And how does that mean it was proceeded by Whose Line Is It Anyway, this seems like WP:OR to me Gnevin (talk) 21:10, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Will this air in the USA?

Ok, I need to know if this will air in the US, if it doesn't I can get DVDs [when they come out] from my cousin in the UK. 172.163.111.22 (talk) 02:53, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

As of 2020 (at least) episodes are streamed via BritBox. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 162.196.161.203 (talk) 17:20, 3 January 2021 (UTC)

Season 6?

Does anyone know when (or if) season 6 will air? 203.59.89.175 (talk) 15:30, 26 April 2008 (UTC)

Now. Nemesis646 (talk) 15:30, 25 July 2008 (UTC)

a while ago Wookney (talk) 13:47, 13 December 2020 (UTC)

Cleanup

I just finished an EXTREEEME cleanup of this page. Let's keep it this way. Smurfy 14:52, 26 July 2008 (UTC)

Mock the Week on Wikiquote

The wikiquote article on mock the week has vanished. Does anyone know where it's gone? 86.137.11.52 (talk) 19:36, 13 August 2008 (UTC)

It was deleted because there was only one sentence, which explained the show. Steel Talon (Interrogation room) 22:33, 14 August 2008 (UTC)

But there was plenty of quotes on there including every single "Scenes we'd like to see" over all 6 series 86.137.11.52 (talk) 11:36, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Yes, all of which was Copyright Violation. A vote was held, and while most people wanted it kept, most were also new users or unregistered users, one of whom was myself admittedly, but nobody was able to overcome the Copy Vio issue. I do have a copy of the page before deletion saved as a word document, but that's for my personal enjoyment and I doubt I'll be able to legally upload it to anywhere. Caissa's DeathAngel (talk) 21:37, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

Does this Copyright Violation affect all BBC shows on wikiquote? I see that the Have I Got News For You wikiquote page is down as well, while the QI page is still up. - Dorkules (talk) 17:46, 10 March 2009 (UTC)

Recurring jokes

I've commented out the Recurring jokes section because I don't believe it's at all needed for a general understanding of the show. That sort of thing is fan-site stuff. Should we delete it? Smurfy 21:19, 12 September 2008 (UTC)

I say no, and have put it back in. Other articles have sections like this, why should this one be any different? 194.83.233.25 (talk) 09:18, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

Can you give an example of another article with this section? Smurfy 17:45, 19 September 2008 (UTC)

I would agree, keep the reoccurring jokes. They often form a large part of the enjoyment of the show. They are common in long running series and periodicals. I would refer to "the esteemed" organ Private Eye, and of course Have I got News For You. Private Eye has a separate page related to reoccurring jokes, and HIGNFN has them in the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.42.186.58 (talk) 20:30, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, but we have to keep it as 'recurring jokes'. That doesn't mean we put in things like the fact that Gena Yashere has mentioned 'Peckham' twice. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 80.65.247.163 (talk) 23:40, 22 September 2008 (UTC)

I agree that the recurring jokes section, in it's current form, is highly unencyclopedia. It should either be deleted, or edited down and written in prose. Million_Moments (talk) 17:12, 12 October 2008 (UTC)

I've removed this section. It's un-encyclopaedic trivia, over-sized, uncited and all original research. Excellent material for a fansite, but entirely unsuited to Wikipedia. Feel free to re-add cited mentions of recurring material. --Escape Orbit ^(Talk) 21:58, 13 July 2009 (UTC)

Annoying, since that was my favourite bit of the article. - Cassius335

I think somethings in reoccuring jokes should be mentioned for instants Frankie Boyles' "Kerry Katona" and Hugh Dennis' Shawoddywoddy jokes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 78.105.206.251 (talk) 02:59, 24 July 2009 (UTC)

Complaints / controversy

Shouldn't the article mention the attention that some of the jokes have received? An example is the joke Frankie Boyle made this year about the Queen's vagina, which was mentioned the day after by Emily Maitlis in an interview she conducted on Newsnight. F W Nietzsche (talk) 23:33, 28 December 2008 (UTC)

It wasn't actually a new joke, it was said in a repeat on Dave and has been called by Dara "a poor attempt to keep up the momentum of the Brand/Ross Controversy", which it was. The joke was shown in, if my memory serves me right, a series in 2007 --A Chain of Flowers (talk) 21:10, 5 March 2009 (UTC)

Punny title?

It seems like the title "Mock the Week" is some sort of pun. Does it rhyme with something? Possibly just "mock the weak"? 76.105.176.44 (talk) 01:54, 18 May 2011 (UTC)

It possibly relates to the former radio show Stop the Week. -- Dr Greg  talk  19:09, 3 July 2011 (UTC)

Nice use of satire there 76.105.176.44.--EchetusXe 09:23, 28 October 2011 (UTC)

Nish Kumar

Nish Kumar appeared on the programme in June 2016 and should be added to the list of guests.Vorbee (talk) 21:24, 12 June 2016 (UTC)

Mock The Week - Recent Rewrite

Please read this first; only revert the article's latest changes if there is a general consensus for it:

I would like to inform all that I recently rewrote most of the article - primarily the lead, the info on the panellists and the info on the rounds - with the aim being to improve the article. This is what was done:

• Lead - Merged the first two paragraphs together; stated that the show has had a variety of different comedian performers and that Dara Ó Briain and comedian Hugh Dennis have appeared in all episodes since the show's debut; deletion of the info about the number of viewers attracted in 2007 (thats something that could be kept for a "Reception" section to this article).
• Panel - Renamed to Format and containing info on the show's format and the studio set-up; Info from Panel placed into a new subsection entitled Permanent Panellists (name may need work), to detail the performers who came into the show on a regular permanent basis, from when they first began to when they departed; Guest Appearances made a subsection of Format and renamed as Guest Panellists; Dara Ó Briain removed from table in this section - he is the host and this table is simply stating the series time for each member who worked as a permanent panellist.
• Rounds - Wikilinks made to info in this section; info set out to not name people but state that performers are put into this game, and host judges them, in this sense - the host of the show may change in the future, and any performers who are often involved in a game are named as such in the info.

I also recently redid the article, List of Mock the Week episodes, to not include info on wins by teams, as the scoring system does not show points and the host usually picks out the winner. Such information had no notable relevance in the article, and so the coloured backgrounds and the section "Scores" were removed, while the photos in this article were moved to here.

GUtt01 (talk) 16:06, 19 August 2016 (UTC)

Mock the Week - List of Mock the Week episodes: Scores and Winners information

I would like to propose a discussion on the information in the article, List of Mock the Week episodes, in regards to Wins and Scores. My belief is that the information should not be included there; in my personal opinion, I don't think it has anything to warrant notability at all, as the show is not a serious competition and most of the rounds don't focus on news articles on the week before its broadcast/filming, because they involve stand-up on certain topics and improve games. My proposal is simply to comment on what to do with the information and draw some consensus on this (after I let personal feelings get the better of me). The following options should be considered in this discussion:

• Should the information be deleted, and if so, why should it be the case in your own words?
• Should the information be merged into the main article here, and if so, why? If it is merged into this article, should it be all the information or some of it?
• Should the information remain where it is? If so, why?

Please comment to this Talk subject below here please. Thank you. GUtt01 (talk) 19:10, 19 August 2016 (UTC)

Right, well for starters the information itself shouldn't be merged here because the article would be too long to navigate comfortably. It certainly shouldn't be deleted per the guidance at WP:TVEP. The Scores section at the end of the article I'm easy wherever it ends up, whether here, there or the bin but the wins I would argue in favour of keeping for no reason other than it makes the article look prettier and thus easier to navigate. (Oh, and GUtt01, if you want to get this in front of a wider audience, stick an WP:RFC notice at the top of this section.--Launchballer 19:35, 19 August 2016 (UTC)

Taken suggestion and added in that RFC. Also, I'm not proposing a merger of the article; just the information.GUtt01 (talk) 19:48, 19 August 2016 (UTC)

Ah, well it turns out I can't read. Corrected.--Launchballer 19:54, 19 August 2016 (UTC)

Summoned by bot. What if we simply made the table collapsable? Seems like a simple fix. Readers who are interested can just expand the table to read the scores. Meatsgains (talk) 00:15, 6 September 2016 (UTC)

Falling Ratings

Ratings should be covered. — Preceding unsigned comment added by DaraOBrien (talk • contribs) 04:47, 2 April 2018 (UTC)

End Date

Two more episodes are due to air, presumably best-of episodes. The article has already been changed to say the show ended on Thursday, should it be left like this until the extra episodes air or removed until the run is completed. 2A00:23C7:DE9A:DB01:1224:C5EB:1A86:5931 (talk) 00:16, 22 October 2022 (UTC)

Compilation episodes are part of the show’s run, so I think the date should be removed until these episodes have aired and the text should clarify that 21 October was the last episode in the normal format. January (talk) 11:21, 22 October 2022 (UTC)

Tense change

The first sentence of the article reads "Mock the Week is a topical satirical celebrity panel show." As it had its last ever episode in October 2022, should "is" be changed to "was"? Rollo August (talk) 20:01, 28 October 2022 (UTC)