Ep 10. Inland Revenue

The show Qi is a British comedy panel game show hosted by comedian and television presenter Sandi Toksvig. In this particular episode of season 10, named Inland Revenue, Sandi is joined by panelists Phill Jupitus, Josh Widdicombe, Elis James, and Alan Davies.

The show revolves around obscure facts and trivia, and in this episode, Sandi and her panelists explore the topic of tax, specifically the UK's Inland Revenue department. They begin by discussing some of the strangest taxes in history, such as the Window Tax and the Hat Tax, both of which seemed to be attempts to regulate the fashion habits of the people.

The panelists are tasked with answering some challenging questions related to taxes, such as what is the origin of the term 'taxi', which turns out to be related to the horse-drawn carriages that were used as public transportation in London in the early 1900s. They also discuss some of the more unusual taxes that exist today, such as the tax on sugary drinks in the UK, and whether such taxes are effective in reducing obesity.

In addition to discussing taxes, the panelists also explore various forms of currency, from the early days of bartering to the invention of paper money and electronic currency such as Bitcoin. They discuss the origins of the phrase 'one for the money, two for the show', which turns out to have originated from a bizarre tax system of selling tickets to public executions.

As always, the panelists are given some absurd questions to answer, such as whether or not it is possible to tax flatulence, and why the UK government has not yet implemented a tax on self-checkout machines.

Throughout the show, Sandi keeps the conversation lively and humorous, and the panelists offer insightful and hilarious commentary on the topics at hand. They also share some interesting personal anecdotes, such as a story from Phill about his experience being audited by the Inland Revenue department, and Alan's confession that he still does his taxes using a calculator and pencil.

As the episode comes to a close, the panelists engage in a rousing game of 'General Ignorance', where they attempt to answer a series of questions that might seem obvious but turn out to be quite tricky. Sandi keeps score, and the winner is declared at the end of the game.

Overall, this episode of Qi offers a comedic and informative exploration of taxes and money, filled with fun and interesting facts and anecdotes. The panelists offer a unique perspective on the topic, offering up amusing stories and banter that keep the conversation engaging and entertaining. Fans of obscure trivia and hilarious panel shows will no doubt enjoy this episode of Qi.