QI | Who Was Britain's First Prime Minister?

[@PanzerMold]

"This show favors people who know stuff." ~Sean Lock

[@dollsvx]

Jon Jon stfu

[@annalieff-saxby568]

@@tubester6772 tee hee

[@glowstoneunknown]

@@dollsvx no u

[@keithf_]

I have a love-hate relationship with this QI episode. Sean Lock was legendary on this show. On the other hand, Rory McGrath was smugness personified.

[@redrob6026]

Well done to Rory on getting the answer after naming every other prime minister in existence.

[@JohnSmith-rr3jt]

That and the fact that he asked to see all the questions before he agree to go on the show so he could look smart lol.

[@christophermcdougall8811]

@@JohnSmith-rr3jt Any and all guests on the show are given on request some of the topics that will be in the show so that the comedian won't have nothing to say at all in the taping. It was not Rory that was the person who asked for every question and studied every answer - that was John Sessions. This was confirmed as Dara O'Briain stated that the person who did research every question has died. It was John Sessions not Rory. Rory is just a very smart person who would have been given the topics if requested, however he is knowledgeable and the stuff he talked about he actually knew a lot about. I'm thinking of the ornithology sections on the previous show (i.e. the cormorant episode) where he has stated previously that he and Bill Odie both spitballed making a TV show on the topic. So in short yes Rory has character flaws but he is actually as smart as he seems. Everyone in the QI team agree upon this.

[@Observ45er]

Just now realized that the prime minister can only be divided by himself and one...!

[@bipolarminddroppings]

@@tubester6772 ur making the assumption that the original commenter is British, which on the internet is a pretty bad assumption. In literally the rest of the English speaking world realised is spelled with a z, its dumb but its its still "correct"

[@TheIrishloon]

@@bipolarminddroppings However, in all of the English-speaking world, “its its” doesn’t pass muster. 😂

[@litterpicker1431]

I would have thought that the Prime Minister could be divided by an axe. More research is required.

[@Observ45er]

@@litterpicker1431 Sean Lock just passed away a few days ago... Aug 2021

[@Chuckf66]

@@bipolarminddroppings "literally"? Not for Australia & New Zealand. We realise that it's realise.

[@sporelover511]

You can tell this is an old episode because they aren't terrified of the klaxon yet.

[@danielgalef994]

Um, actually Disraeli used the title in official capacity when he signed the Treaty of Berlin in 1878 as "First Lord of the Treasury and Prime Minister of her Britannic Majesty."

[@MosesDeLaRoses]

Wouldn't be the first time that QI was completely wrong about something. They once claimed that World War II ended in 1990

[@olefredrikskjegstad5972]

He signed a document you say, thus calling himself that. But was it his official title? That’s the point here

[@sirpsychosussy]

Found Rory's alt, everyone!

[@skylined5534]

​@@MosesDeLaRoses Got a link for that?

[@MosesDeLaRoses]

@@skylined5534 kzbin.info/www/bejne/faWVkmOAqZuEiqMsi=3Kc3eahlsEVgAapZ

[@Kowasi]

If someone had come out immediately with "Henry Campbell Bannerman", I bet Mr. Fry would then have said, "Ah yes, but who was the first de facto prime minister?", and it would have gone on for ages...

[@Qarth56]

Surely that would be Walpole who they immediately guessed?

[@Kowasi]

@@Qarth56 Yessiree... I dunno, I just got the impression the he was being deliberately difficult here, but I watched clips later where it was possible for contestants to get questions right first time.

[@litterpicker1431]

If someone had come out immediately with "Henry Campbell Bannerman", it would have been Rory McGrath, and everybody would have known immediately that he was cheating.

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

@@litterpicker1431 he was right here wasn't he, about Walpole, and not a cheat.

[@grahamnancledra7036]

Which is why I can't stand Stephen Fry. He's such a show off.

[@adambois570]

If I was on that panel (not that there's any reason I would have been), after that second klaxxon, I'd have shouted directly to the wall, "Lord Palmerston!" I'm curious as to whether the klaxxon would've blared again with "PITT THE ELDER."

[@flaneur5560]

Jimmy Carr's face at 1:06 "Why did I have to sit next to this cheating know-it-all twat?:"

[@flaghippo2978]

Me watching this video: *Don't say walpole. Don't say walpole.*

[@roderickfemm8799]

And yet Anthony Trollope, who wrote in and of the 19th Century, in the Palliser novels often referred to this position as "Prime Minister," and not as an insult. I think the elves need to have another look.

[@cynicat74]

It wasn't an official title. Much like how the Pope isn't actually called the Pope.

[@johnfry1011]

Was also thinking of Conan-Doyle and the Sherlock Holmes, The Second Stain published in 1904 mentions the Prime Minister (was the only one I checked)

[@AdamBechtol]

"Pitt the Elder, was a tree wasn't he?" - Best joke :)

[@johnlong8082]

“He was one of triplets as well”, says Mcgraff pointing at the 3 images of this man. Classic humour, I nearly pissed my pants.

[@dunneincrewgear]

McGraff?

[@acciid]

You're mostly alone. Most people think McGrath is a knob.

[@johnlong8082]

@@acciid Lol, it was my attempt at irony. I was taking the piss.

[@acciid]

@@johnlong8082 Ah, good stuff. Hard to get this across on a KZbin comment.

[@johnlong8082]

@@acciid Can’t stand the man.

[@therealmrfishpaste]

Lol...Sean Lock is actually right... Disraeli was the first person of whom the title Prime Minister was formally used....

[@Delinae]

Not being from Great Britain, I assumed there would have been a head minister when there were kings and this was a trick question.

[@lightchipster]

Yeah your not wrong really, like the office of Lord Chancellor was like a proto prime minister with various functions of government delegated to him. Especially after the Glorious Revolution when Parliament begun to exert more control and the monarch became more symbolic.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

We still have monarchs... we had Parliament long before we removed power from the monarch, though. so you were making a decent assumption.

[@johnleake5657]

What rot Stephen does say at times! Sure, the title Prime Minister doubtless was first bestowed officially in 1905, but prior to that Prine Minister was not a term of invective, or, at leadt, not beyond the eighteenth century. Trollope, I seem to recall, uses the term neutrally, not least in his novel _The_ _Prime_ _Minister_ while Disraeli uses it without animus in Synil. Indeed, Baghot says the following in _The_ _English_ _Constitution_ :- "But now the real power is not in the Sovereign, it is in the Prime Minister and in the Cabinet-that is, in the hands of a committee appointed by Parliament, and of the chairman of that committee. "

[@StephenDHenderson]

Does this sound like it's slowed down a bit?

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

A few do. It's annoying!

[@JohnSmithPlaysGames]

Haha I was just wondering why Stephens voice was so deep in this episode before I read your comment

[@TheHutchy01]

I'd rather use the title "First Lord of the Treasury" just because I'd sound like an invention of CS Lewis or JRR Tolkien.

[@charlespeterwatson9051]

There is no specific date for when the office of prime minister first appeared. Official recognition was made in 1905. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prime_ministers_of_the_United_Kingdom

[@linebrunelle1004]

that's. what. they. said. phew weee American much?

[@brentbeacham9691]

Why does the end fade out while information is still being shared?

[@thegeneralissimo470]

Walpole, it was Walpole

[@nomnomnom55555]

De facto, but not actual.

[@austing5951]

It's always Walpole...

[@anttibjorklund1869]

+nomnomnomey I see the joke went over your head ;)

[@kevinschultz6091]

Why let facts get in the way of a good Walpole?

[@Rert]

Why let a little misuse of official titles get in the way of a good crusade.

[@Thediamondduck11]

0:22 Pitt the Elder was a tree wasn't it?

[@JScarper]

Dear lord it's Rory "Wanker" McGrath, ugh.

[@leod-sigefast]

Last Resort that is not right. Wanker is believed to be from Scots-English. A corruption of to wack, a wacker. Your etymology does not work. Words don't generally spout new first letters.

[@muskatDR]

Was it Pitt the toddler?

[@cynicat74]

It was Pitt the glint in the milk man's eye, actually

[@TarzansMom]

Sean!

[@malis61]

Looks a bit like Bill Bailey

[@andrewdobson813]

De Facto is the crucial phrase. Their formal titles don't matter. That makes it Walpole.

[@danielburger1775]

But if Walpole had tried behaving like Tony Blair, his head would of ended up on a spike.

[@t.c.thompson2359]

I’m American and I don’t know who those people are. Wah!

[@darthmarticusLFC]

Why the fuck does alan bring up Aethelred haha

[@charliekane135]

McGrath always looked like an alky

[@sjrescapades2256]

HCB became PM in 1906 after the election in january that year also your being rather picky it is the exact same office just called something different, a rose by any other name........

[@zapkvr]

In Australia we still dont have a Prime Minister. Constitutionally the position doesnt exist

[@michaelheeheejackson7255]

well i think you do

[@zapkvr]

Jeremy Clarkson correction. You dont "think" at all. Ive read the Constitution, have you?

[@potpan6393]

Kevin Russell don't tell Malcom Turnbell that. 😅😅

[@zapkvr]

Pot Pan Pretty sure he knows this. He is a lawyer after all.

[@wongawonga1000]

The Constitution provides for the Governor-General, acting on behalf of the crown, to appoint ministers as he/she sees fit. It doesn't specify what Ministers should be appointed. Like all other ministers, the Prime Minister receives a commission from the Governor-General which provides the authority by which he/she can conduct his business. When the Prime Minister resigns from office, he/she returns the commission to the Governor-General. The Governor-General receives a commission from the Queen.

[@Huntego]

i can finally be first to comment

[@Allyosaugh]

but you can't be first prime minister

[@Wylde_Kyle]

I know celebrations have probably died down by now but congratulations!

[@Huntego]

Wylde Kyle thanks

[@thinkngskeptic]

I wouldn't call campaigning for old age pensions fighting for the poor. It's not like it only came out of his pocket. It's more of a political move to gain favor with certain sectors of the population.

[@ericforsyth]

With that logic, most progress ever made wasn’t achieved courtesy of ”fighting for” whoever benefitted from it.

[@thinkngskeptic]

​@@ericforsyth Only if you assume that government redistribution can be progress instead of a violation of individual rights

[@beeble2003]

@@SereneJudo Or, in other words, "What have the Romans ever done for us?"

[@dannykuhrt9144]

this is just wrong haha