You’re back the 13th season! What is it about this hugely popular show that brings people back year after year, week after week?
I think the secret is that we all genuinely look forward to catching up with each other every Monday night. There’s a real party vibe in the studio when we are recording – and I think that comes across on screen.

When you look back at the past 12 seasons, what are the moments that really stand out to you? A joke that pushed the boundaries, a guest quiz master who didn’t quite get memo?
I think one of our most memorable seasons was in 2020 when the COVID pandemic hit and we were forced to do the series remotely. I was alone in the studio and each of our contestants was beaming in on-line from their lounge rooms. It was like the most unwieldy office Zoom-meeting you’ve ever been part of. But we somehow made it work!

Can you give us an insight into the process of how the team find the clips and create the questions each week?
We have about 4-5 researchers who between them watch a lot of TV news. Some are in charge of logging TV breakfast shows, others do the evening bulletins. We had one person who was solely in charge of watching Sky News – but they are currently on stress leave.

What is the criteria when selecting new comedians to be a contestant on the show? And how often do you like to introduce new talent?
We often find that people who do (or have done) radio make great contestants. Ed Kavalee is a perfect example. We definitely like introducing new talent and each year our producers attend just about every show at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in the hope of spotting potential performers.

How much do you personally pay attention to the news each week…and do you ever get caught out by the questions yourself?
I watch a lot of news during the season but, like everyone, you have to be a little selective. There’s just so much happening and it all happens so fast. What’s interesting is how quickly a really “big” story can disappear, pushed aside by the latest headlines.

You have had enormous success with your musical, Bloom. How long did that take to bring to life from when you first thought of the idea? What does that process look like?
I spent several years writing Bloom before it had its premiere in 2023 with the Melbourne Theatre Company. It’s just about to finish up its run with Sydney Theatre Company this month.