The Museum of Curiosity

Not to be confused with The Museum of Everything.

The Museum of Curiosity
Other namesThe Professor of Curiosity (unbroadcast pilot)
Genretalk show
Running time30 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
Starring
Created by
Produced by
Original release20 February 2008 (2008-02-20) –
date
No. of series15
No. of episodes100 + 1 unbroadcast pilot
Opening theme
  • Bill Bailey (Series 1)
  • House of Strange (Series 2 onwards)
Ending theme
  • Bill Bailey (Series 1)
  • House of Strange (Series 2 onwards)
WebsiteBBC Homepage

The Museum of Curiosity is a comedy talk show on BBC Radio 4 that was first broadcast on 20 February 2008.[1] It is hosted by John Lloyd (Professor of Ignorance at the University of Buckingham, and later at Solent University). He acts as the head of the (fictional) titular museum, while a panel of three guests – typically a comedian, an author and an academic – each donate to the museum an 'object' that fascinates them. The radio medium ensures that the suggested exhibits can be absolutely anything, limited only by the guests' imaginations.

Each series has had a different co-host, under the title of curator of the museum. Bill Bailey acted as co-host of the programme in the first series,[2] before leaving the show after deciding to "retire" from panel games.[3] Sean Lock, Jon Richardson, Dave Gorman, Jimmy Carr, Humphrey Ker, Phill Jupitus, Sarah Millican, Noel Fielding, Jo Brand, Romesh Ranganathan, Sally Phillips, Lee Mack, Bridget Christie, Alice Levine, Holly Walsh and Anna Ptaszynski have all assumed the role for a series. Gorman also stood in for Richardson for one episode of the third series, after Richardson was stranded due to the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull. Ker also functioned as a stand-in, this time for Jimmy Carr, when Carr was unable to attend one episode in series 5.

The programme has often been compared to the television panel game QI. Both were co-created by Lloyd, several of the Museum's 'curators' and comic guests have appeared regularly on QI, and the QI Elves (QI's research team, who provide hosts Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig with live information as required during the programme) provide the research. As a result, some critics consider the radio show to be a spin-off of the TV programme,[2][4] and some have further ventured that The Museum of Curiosity is not as good as its forerunner.[5] Most reviews of The Museum of Curiosity, however, are positive.[6][7]

  1. ^ Lavalie, John (30 March 2008). "The Museum of Curiosity". epguides.com. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
  2. ^ a b "Curious commission: R4 to make QI spin-off". Chortle.co.uk. 11 December 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  3. ^ Maxwell, Dominic (11 November 2008). "Bill Bailey: I don't mock the weak". The Times. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  4. ^ Lezard, Nicholas (24 February 2008). "The Museum of Curiosity, Radio 4: Try pitching this to the boss". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 18 June 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  5. ^ Sawyer, Miranda (24 February 2008). "Whatever the Doctor does is fine by me". The Observer. Retrieved 27 February 2008.
  6. ^ Campling, Chris (20 February 2008). "Backstage at the Brits; The Museum of Curiosity – Radio Choice". The Times. Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
  7. ^ Chisholm, Kate (5 March 2008). "An English malady". The Spectator. Retrieved 5 March 2008.