You’re probably here because you've seen a clip on YouTube of Alan Davies losing his mind over a blue whale or Bill Bailey explaining something incredibly obscure. That’s the magic of Quite Interesting. But finding where to watch QI can be a bit of a headache depending on which side of the Atlantic you’re sitting on. It's one of those shows that feels like it should be everywhere, yet the rights are a total patchwork of old BBC deals and regional streaming blackouts.
Honestly, it’s frustrating.
You want to see the "K" series or maybe go back to the early Stephen Fry days, but your favorite streaming service only has random episodes from 2014. I've spent way too much time digging through broadcast schedules and platform libraries to figure out exactly how to get your fix of general ignorance without jumping through too many hoops.
The BBC iPlayer Situation (And Why It’s King)
If you are in the UK, this is easy. BBC iPlayer is the gold standard for where to watch QI. It’s free, assuming you have a TV license, and they generally keep a massive backlog of both the standard episodes and the "XL" extended versions.
The XL versions are basically essential. You get an extra 15 to 20 minutes of banter that usually contains the funniest, most unhinged tangents that the editors couldn’t fit into the 30-minute broadcast slot. If you aren't watching the XL, you're missing out on about 40% of the show’s soul.
However, there’s a catch for people outside the British Isles. The BBC uses heavy geo-blocking. While many people use a VPN to access iPlayer, the BBC is getting much better at detecting and blocking those servers. It’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game. If you’re a purist, iPlayer is the only place where the metadata is actually correct—meaning you won't find episodes mislabeled or missing their original broadcast dates.
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BritBox is the Heavy Lifter for Americans
For those in the US, Canada, or Australia, BritBox is basically your best friend. It is a joint venture between the BBC and ITV, and they’ve made it the primary home for British panel shows overseas.
But here is a weird quirk: BritBox doesn't always have every single season from the beginning. Usually, they focus on the Sandi Toksvig era (Series N onwards), which started in 2016. If you’re looking for the classic Stephen Fry years, you might find the selection a bit spotty. It’s worth checking their "Recently Added" section because they tend to cycle through older series as licensing agreements shift.
You can subscribe to BritBox as a standalone app or as an "Add-on Channel" through Amazon Prime Video. Going through Amazon is often easier because the interface is more stable than the native BritBox app, which can be a bit buggy on older Smart TVs.
The Secret Gem: The Official QI YouTube Channel
Believe it or not, the official QI YouTube channel is one of the most reliable places to watch. They don't just post 2-minute clips; they often upload full episodes and themed compilations.
They’ve recently started a "Full Episodes" playlist. It's not the entire 20-year catalog, but it’s a lot. And the best part? It’s legal, high-quality, and usually available globally unless a specific local broadcaster has claimed the rights in your country.
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Why YouTube is actually better for casual fans:
- The comments section is a goldmine of people fact-checking the "facts" from 15 years ago (because, let's be honest, science changes).
- No subscription fee.
- The "Best Of" compilations are perfect for when you have a 10-minute break and just want to hear Gyles Brandreth tell a long-winded story about a Victorian poet.
What About Hulu and Netflix?
Don't bother.
Seriously. Netflix dropped most of its BBC content years ago to focus on originals. Hulu occasionally grabs a season or two of British imports, but they haven't held the rights to QI in a long time. If you see a Google search result saying it’s on Netflix, it’s probably outdated info from 2018 or referring to a specific international territory like Netflix UK, which even then usually redirects you to iPlayer.
Sky and Now TV in the UK
If you’re in the UK but don't want to use iPlayer, Dave (the TV channel owned by UKTV) airs repeats of QI constantly. You can watch these on the "U" streaming service (formerly UKTV Play). It’s free with ads.
The weird thing about watching on Dave or U is that they often air the episodes out of order. You might see a Series M episode followed by a Series B episode. For a show like QI, that doesn't really matter since it's not serialized, but it can be annoying if you’re trying to track the evolution of the set design or Alan Davies’ slowly graying hair.
Dealing with the "Series" vs "Season" Confusion
When you are searching for where to watch QI, remember that the British call them "Series" and they go by letters.
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- Series A (2003)
- Series B (2004)
- And so on...
By 2024, they reached Series V. If a streaming platform lists them as "Season 1, Season 2," they are just mapping the letters to numbers. Season 1 is A, Season 2 is B. Simple enough, but it can get confusing when a platform like BritBox starts their numbering from when they acquired the show rather than the actual start of the program. Always check the episode titles to see which letter they start with.
The Technical Hurdle: Frame Rates
This is a deep-cut nerd fact, but if you’re a cinephile, you’ll notice it. British TV is shot at 25 frames per second (PAL). American TV is 30 frames per second (NTSC). When some US streaming services host QI, they do a poor job of converting the frame rate, leading to a slight "judder" during camera pans.
If it looks weird to you, try switching to the official YouTube channel version. YouTube’s player handles the variable frame rates much better than some of the smaller streaming apps.
Actionable Steps to Get Started
If you want the best experience right now, do this:
- Check the Official YouTube Channel first. Search for "QI Full Episodes" and see if your region is supported. It’s the path of least resistance.
- Get a BritBox trial. If you’re in the US or Canada, sign up for the 7-day trial through Amazon Prime. It’s the fastest way to get high-def access to the Sandi Toksvig era.
- Look for the "XL" versions. If a platform offers both, always choose XL. The "Quite Interesting" part of the show is the facts, but the "Quite Interesting" part of the experience is the comedians riffing for an extra twenty minutes.
- Use "U" (UKTV Play) if you’re in the UK and want it for free. It has a massive archive that often includes episodes iPlayer has cycled out.
Watching QI isn't just about entertainment; it's about unlearning all the nonsense we were taught in school. Whether you're there for the klaxon or the genuine learning, these platforms are your best bet for 2026.