Sandi Toksvig is at the helm for two final series of the satirical radio panel game

After nine years, 28 series and over 220 episodes in the hot seat, Sandi Toksvig stepped down from The News Quiz at the end of Series 87. These two superlative series are her last hurrah - and our last chance to enjoy her unique blend of wit, warmth and intelligence, as she leads the panel in a whimsical review of the headlines.

Jeremy Hardy and Susan Calman both take a turn in the chair, but for 12 of these 14 episodes, Sandi is at the helm as they take a wry look at the news in all its larger-than-life glory. Topics on the agenda include the threat of a 'Grexit', the re-internment of Richard III, MPs' salaries the dangers of skinny jeans, head transplants, French food waste and middle-class bees...

Slogging it out to come up with the funniest jokes on these disparate subjects are players including Craig Ainsley, Elis James, Samira Ahmed, Fred MacAulay, Romesh Ranganathan, Susan Calman, BJ Novak, Sara Pascoe, Phill Jupitus and Helen Zaltzman. Reading out the amusing misprints, typos and innuendos sent in by listeners are Corrie Corfield, Kathy Clugston, Susan Rae, Neil Sleat, Zeb Soanes and Diana Speed.

Production credits
Chaired by Sandi Toksvig
Series 86, Episode 5 chaired by Jeremy Hardy
Series 86, Episode 7 chaired by Susan Calman

Chair's script written by Jack Bernhardt, James Bugg, Lucy Clarke, Max Davis, Jon Hunter, Gabby Hutchinson Crouch, James Kettle, Simon Littlefield, Tom Neenan, John-Luke Roberts and Andy Wolton

With additional material by Ed Amsden, Liam Byrne, Sarah Campbell, Tom Coles, Ben Harris, Daniel Hooper, Jenny Laville, Robin Morgan, Keiron Nicholson and Matilda Wnek

Produced by Richard Morris and Lyndsay Fenner

A BBC Studios Production

Series 86 featuring: Craig Ainsley, Samira Ahmed, Susan Calman, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Elis James, Phill Jupitus, Sam Leith, Camilla Long, Fred MacAulay, Andrew Maxwell, Bob Mills, BJ Novak, Sara Pascoe, Romesh Ranganathan, Hugo Rifkind, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh

Series 87 featuring: Samira Ahmed, Susan Calman, Rebecca Front, Andy Hamilton, Jeremy Hardy, Elis James, Miles Jupp, Phill Jupitus, Fred MacAulay, Bob Mills, Justin Moorhouse, Lucy Porter, Hugo Rifkind, Mark Steel, Holly Walsh, Francis Wheen, Helen Zaltzman

News items read by Corrie Corfield, Kathy Clugston, Susan Rae, Neil Sleat, Zeb Soanes and Diana Speed

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 20 February-3 April 2015 (Series 86), 15 May-26 June 2015 (Series 85)

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.