this post was submitted on 31 Aug 2026
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This is obviously just a marketing stunt, but...

Cat food brand WHISKAS® has launched a campaign challenging Channel 4 to update the name of its popular comedy show

Cat food manufacturer WHISKAS® has called on Channel 4 to rename its flagship comedy programme, 8 Out of 10 Cats. The show took its inspiration from the brand's legendary advertising slogan from its 1970s campaign which claimed "8 out of 10 cats" favoured the well-known feline food.

However, a new NielsonIQ survey of 300 cat owners shows the famous catchphrase needs updating, as nine out of 10 moggies now prefer its latest recipe.

Fronted by Jimmy Carr, 8 Out of 10 Cats ran from 2005 to 2021 and centred around statistics, surveys and opinion polls

Apparently they want them to rename a show that finished five years ago.

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[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

no wonder i stopped seeing random new clips on youtube

why’d it stop?

[–] i_am_not_a_robot@feddit.uk 0 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I believe Jimmy Carr and maybe the team captains quit the show. I was under the impression at the time it was going to continue with different people, but clearly that never happened.

Edit: Looks like maybe that was back in 2016 and it did continue for a bit: https://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2016/10/12/25976/8_out_of_10_cats_to_return_with_new_captains

[–] BananaTrifleViolin@lemmy.world 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It became "8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown" which is still going.

Its cheaper and easier to make a show where the contestants play simple word games and banter, than make a show with current affair questions and researchers. The comedians just turn up and do their stuff, wirhout any researchers or question writers needed. There are still comedy writers of course, as the show does have sketches and bits throughout.

But the games really pad out the show, although personally i find ir a bit tedious to watch. The countdown version runs for an hour while the original ran for 30 mins.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 0 points 1 day ago

yeah but they were doing both at the same time weren't they?

As you said 8 out of 10 cats had at least some relevance to the news whereas countdown is obviously focused on numbers/letters

they're completely different shows :( damn