The Penguin Podcast is back! Listen Now
The Personality Test

The Personality Test

The complete BBC Radio 4 comedy quiz series

Summary

The comedy panel game where all the questions are about the guest host

Welcome to The Personality Test, the panel show in which a brand new host takes the chair for every episode to present a quiz entirely themed around themselves. Each gets to run the show by their own rules, devising topics and queries based on their life, whims, fancies and past glories. Among the showbiz celebrities in the hot seat are Gyles Brandreth, Jennie Bond, Antony Worrall Thompson, Esther Rantzen, Janet Street-Porter and Edwina Currie, while the rounds include Love It Or Hate It, True or False, That Special Day and Life's a Pitch.

Is John Sergeant a fan of Julia Roberts? Would Greg Dyke give Radio 4 just a minute, or leave it on a desert island? And does Claire Rayner have a penchant for jelly babies? Having spent a week swotting up on their host, the contestants must tackle these questions and more, as they do their best to amuse, entertain, charm, flatter - and occasionally, flirt outrageously - in a bid to chalk up the points and win the game. Battling it out are regular panellists and comedy heavyweights Alan Carr, Sue Perkins, Robert Ince, Lucy Porter, Will Smith and Carrie Quinlan.

Intriguing and challenging, riotous and revealing, this unique panel show shines a fascinating spotlight on the interests and enthusiasms of your favourite personalities - and keeps you laughing along the way.

Production credits
Written by Richard Turner, Simon Littlefield and Kieron Quirke
Devised and produced by Aled Evans

Series 1 presented by: John Sergeant, Greg Dyke, Gyles Brandreth and Jennie Bond
With Sue Perkins, Alan Carr, Lucy Porter, Will Smith, Robin Ince and Natalie Haynes

Series 2 presented by: Roy Hattersley, Rick Wakeman, Adam Hart-Davis, Antony Worrall Thompson, Claire Rayner and Esther Rantzen
With Sue Perkins, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Mark Dolan and Will Smith

Series 3 presented by: Janet Street-Porter, Lorraine Kelly, Andrew Neill, Edwina Currie, Toyah Willcox and Eve Pollard
With Sue Perkins, Will Smith, Nick Doody, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Carrie Quinlan and Dan Tetsell

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 July-2 August 2006 (Series 1), 7 December 2006-11 January 2007 (Series 2), 5 July-9 August 2007 (Series 3)

© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

About the authors

John Sergeant

John Sergeant is a TV and radio journalist, and formerly the BBC's chief political correspondent. He remains a TV regular on shows such as The One Show, Have I Got News for You and Qi. He was the star of Strictly Come Dancing 2008, repeatedly finishing bottom of the score board, but top of the public vote.
Learn More

Greg Dyke

Learn More

Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth is a writer, performer, former MP and Government Whip, now Chancellor of the University of Chester and probably best known these days as a reporter on BBC1's The One Show and as a regular on Radio 4's Just a Minute. On TV he has featured on Have I Got News For You, QI, Room 101, Countdown, and This is Your Life. As a journalist he writes for the Telegraph and Daily Mail and is a columnist for The Oldie. The founder of the National Scrabble Championships, his books about words and language include four best-sellers, The Joy of Lex, Word Play, Have You Eaten Grandma? and Dancing by the Light of the Moon.
Learn More

Jennie Bond

Learn More

Roy Hattersley

Learn More

Adam Hart-Davis

Learn More

Antony Worrall-Thompson

Learn More

Esther Rantzen

Over a career spanning five decades, Dame Esther Rantzen has appeared in more than 2,000 television broadcasts. In her regular contributions to political and news programmes, including The One Show, she especially advocates protecting vulnerable people and growing old ungracefully. She is also a reality TV favourite with appearances on Strictly Come Dancing, First Dates and I'm a Celebrity. As a journalist, she writes for the Daily Mail, the Guardian, the Telegraph and The Times.

Dame Esther was awarded a DBE in 2015 for her services to children and older people, through her pioneering work as founder of Childline and The Silver Line. This is her sixth book.
Learn More

Janet Street-Porter

Learn More

Lorraine Kelly

Lorraine Kelly, OBE is a Scottish television presenter, journalist and author. She has been on our TV screens for thirty-five years and is best known as a presenter for TV-am, GMTV and, of course, her own show, Lorraine. In addition to her television work, Lorraine continues to write weekly columns for The Sun and writes travel pieces for magazines and newspapers.

She is a keen marathon runner and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for breast cancer charities and hospices. She is a patron of Help for Heroes and was awarded an OBE for services to charity and the armed forces in 2012.

Lorraine lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband Steve and dog Angus. She is an avid Dundee United supporter.
Learn More

Edwina Currie

Learn More

Alan Carr

Learn More

Sue Perkins

Learn More

Lucy Porter

Learn More

Robin Ince

Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more