The 99p Challenge

Last updated

The 99p Challenge
Other namesKing Stupid (1998)
GenreSpoof panel game
Running time30 mins
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home station BBC Radio 4
Syndicates BBC Radio 4 Extra
Starring Sue Perkins
Written by
Produced by David Tyler
Original release22 September 1998 (1998-09-22) 
29 September 2004 (2004-09-29)
No. of series5
No. of episodes30
Audio format Stereo
Opening themeExcerpt from Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin
Ending theme"99 Luftballons" by Nena
Website www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00p3708

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.

Contents

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

EpisodeBroadcastGuests
1st Series 1998 King Stupid
1. 1-11998-09-22 Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Dave Green
2. 1-21998-09-29Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Dave Green
3. 1-31998-10-06Peter Baynham, Morwenna Banks, Tom Binns, Dave Green
4. 1-41998-10-13Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Sue Perkins, Dave Green
5. 1-51998-10-20Peter Baynham, Morwenna Banks, Dave Green, Tom Binns
6. 1-61998-10-27Peter Baynham, Sue Perkins, Simon Pegg, Dave Green
2nd Series 2000 The 99p Challenge
7. 2-12000-06-22Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Armando Iannucci, Jack Docherty
8. 2-22000-06-29Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Richard Herring, David Quantick
9. 2-32000-07-06Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Tom Binns, David Schneider
10. 2-42000-07-13Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Richard Herring, Mel Giedroyc
11. 2-52000-07-20Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Tom Binns, David Schneider
12. 2-62000-07-27Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, Armando Iannucci, Jack Docherty
3rd Series 2001
13. 3-12001-07-19Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Bill Bailey, Peter Serafinowicz
14. 3-22001-07-26Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Peter Baynham, David Quantick
15. 3-32001-08-02Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Ben Moor
16. 3-42001-08-09Peter Serafinowicz, Tom Binns, Nick Frost, Marcus Brigstocke
17. 3-52001-08-16Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Peter Baynham
18. 3-62001-08-23Peter Serafinowicz, Tom Binns, Nick Frost, Ben Moor
4th Series 2003
19. 4-12003-02-04Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, David Quantick, Bill Bailey
20. 4-22003-02-11Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Peter Serafinowicz, Marcus Brigstocke
21. 4-32003-02-18Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Peter Serafinowicz, Jon Holmes
22. 4-42003-02-25Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Marcus Brigstocke, Nick Frost
23. 4-52003-03-04Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Jack Docherty, Sean Lock
24. 4-62003-03-11Armando Iannucci, Simon Pegg, Marcus Brigstocke, Jon Holmes
5th Series 2004
25. 5-12004-08-25Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Jon Holmes
26. 5-22004-09-01Armando Iannucci, Peter Serafinowicz, Miranda Hart, Rob Rouse
27. 5-32004-09-08Armando Iannucci, Peter Baynham, Simon Pegg, Dan Antopolski
28. 5-42004-09-15Armando Iannucci, Rob Rouse, Jon Holmes, Marcus Brigstocke
29. 5-52004-09-22Armando Iannucci, Nick Frost, Marcus Brigstocke, Miranda Hart
30. 5-62004-09-29Armando 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.

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