Which comics are making their QI debuts?

X series line-up announced

Angela Barnes, Bella Hull, Stevie Martin, Blank Peng, Daniel Sloss and Ian Smith will all be making their QI debut on the upcoming X series.

Other newcomers include Dead Ringers impressionist, Lewis MacLeod, drag star LaVoix, zoologist Lucy Cooke, and explorer, paleoanthropologist and occasional stand-up Ella Al-Shamahi.

The show returns to BBC Two and iPlayer at 9pm on November 3, with a 45-minute XL edition, followed by a 30-minute edit later in the week.

The programme's elves have the challenge of coming up with enough material based on words starting with X to fill 12 episodes (plus two compilations).

Series producer Piers Fletcher said: ‘If you’ve ever wondered what a xerotic xanthocarp might be, then this is the show for you. (It’s a dried banana, but don’t let that put you off.)’

Sandi Toksvig returns to host with Alan Davies as a series regular.

The other comedians taking part are: Maisie Adam, Eshaan Akbar, Tom Allen, Cally Beaton, Catherine Bohart, Melanie Bracewell, Jo Brand, Gyles Brandreth, Alex Brooker, Desiree Burch, Susan Calman, Daliso Chaponda, Roisin Conaty, Fatiha El-Ghorri, Rhod Gilbert, Howard Goodall, Sheila Hancock, Bella Hull, Elis James, Rosie Jones, Nish KumarJoe Lycett, Zoe Lyons, Jamali Maddix, Chris McCausland, Ross Noble, Sara Pascoe, Lucy Porter, Kiri Pritchard-McLean, Lou Sanders, Laura Smyth, Holly Walsh, Phil Wang.