The first programme was broadcast in the North and Northern Ireland Home Service of the BBC at 22:15 on 9 April 1947 and came from the "singing room" at the Broadoak Hotel, Ashton-under-Lyne.

The programme typically comes from a village hall or other public venue somewhere in Britain, or occasionally further afield, such as in the Republic of Ireland or northern France.

GQT often records at special locations throughout the UK, including on a moving train, the peak of Snowdon,[3] from inside the Tower of London[4] and in December 2016 from the state dining room at 10 Downing Street.

The event includes seminars and talks given by the panel, a chance to receive first hand advice from a panellist inside the GQT Potting Shed, plus two programme recordings.

Past participants have included John Cushnie, Dr Stefan Buczacki, David Burges, Fred Downham, Professor Alan Gemmell, Walter Gilmore, Jill Hicking, Clay Jones, Nigel Colborn, Daphne Ledward, Fred Loads, Bridget Moody, Martin Fish, David Jones, Sue Phillipps, Geoffrey Smith,[13] Sid Robertson, and Bill Sowerbutts.

Past chairmen were Bob Stead, Franklin Engelmann, Michael Barratt, Steve Race, Ken Ford, Les Cottington, Clay Jones, and Stefan Buczacki.