The News Quiz 2023: The Complete Series 110, 111 and 112

I went in skeptical, expecting yet another rehash of political jokes dressed in satire’s ill-fitting armor. Instead, I got my mind blown by the sheer velocity of Zaltzman’s commentary and the panelists’ ability to spin headlines into gold. Zaltzman’s narration is a masterclass in tonal control—his delivery shifts from weary journalist to manic game show host in a single breath, mirroring the absurdity of the news itself. The production is crisp, with audience laughter and applause punctuating the jokes like exclamation marks, but the real stars are the guests: Nish Kumar’s razor-sharp observations, John Kearns’ unexpected vulnerability, and Aisling Bea’s ability to steal scenes with a single arched eyebrow. That said, the show’s reliance on UK-centric humor might leave some listeners adrift in the references, and the rapid-fire delivery occasionally blurs the cleverest punchlines. Still, these are minor quibbles against the sheer joy of hearing people gleefully dismantle the news we’re all too exhausted to critique. By the final episode, I found myself looking forward to waking up and checking the headlines—not just to rage, but to prepare my next round of satire.