Just done a bit of number-crunching on these shows. The gender balance (and their tendency to book non-comedian women) truly sucks.

Disclaimer: I did this quickly.

Across thirty-one shows, the BFQotY franchise has booked seventy-one different panellists.

M/F gender balance: 44: 27.

Guests who made repeat appearances (M/F): 23: 14.

So 52% of male guests did the show more than once. 51% of women did the same. Which is not too bad BUT...

...Women recur far less frequently.

Most booked male guest: Jonathan Ross (who is the series Executive Producer). EIGHTEEN appearances. Definitely a person working in comedy albeit not as a stand up.

Most booked female guest: Claudia Winkleman. NINE appearances. Not a comedian.

PLUS four men (including Ross) have appeared more times than Claudia.

And no other woman, comedian or otherwise, comes close to her total. Next highest recurring female guests, with three shows each, are Sarah Millican, Mel Giedroyc, and Katherine Ryan.

Of the 27 women booked, 13 do not primarily work in comedy (ie they are predominantly known for stand up, writing comedy, or starring in comedy shows).

The same applies to maybe only 4 of the 44 men booked.

No shade on the people booked though. They offer good entertainment value, hence why they get hired. But come on, are we SURE we can't try giving panel show jobs to women who work in comedy?