The show was hosted by Jimmy Carr and featured regular team captains Sean Lock, Dave Spikey, Jason Manford, Jon Richardson, Rob Beckett, Aisling Bea and Katherine Ryan.

[3] The opposing captain was originally Dave Spikey, who left after series 4 and was replaced by Jason Manford.

[1] The original format was filmed the day before broadcast with a live studio audience at BBC Television Centre.

A full series was not broadcast in 2015, although two Christmas Specials were filmed and aired on 24 and 30 December 2015.

From series 9, there is a longer version of the show called 8 Out of 10 Cats Uncut, broadcast a few days later.

These rounds only featured in series 1 and the Big Brother special shows:[7] Since 2012, crossover episodes between 8 Out of 10 Cats and Countdown have aired.

The guests were Nicola Adams, Rob Beckett, Gemma Collins, Mia Cross, Corinne Davies, Susie Dent, Matt Forde, John Fothergill, Stephen Frost, Nick Helm, Elis James, Dave Johns, Tony Law, Alice Levine, Mark Olver, Rachel Riley, John Robins, Katherine Ryan, Nong Skett, Andy Smart and Holly Walsh.

8 Out of 10 Cats: Claws Out is a ninety-minute collection of highlights from the first few series featuring deleted scenes considered too offensive to be aired.