Really weird one.:S I never minded Sandi as a guest, but I really doubt I could take her as the host.:S
I agree! Although I think Sandi is a very likeable and intelligent person, I don't think she's got what it takes to be a great panel show host. At least she wasn't very good as a host on "What The Dickens?".
I know it's good for the image of the show to have an intellectual (or at least smart) host, but (s)he also needs to be able to maintain the mood and dynamics of the show, and of course must be comfortable in dealing with the auto-cue, cards and an ear piece.
Just take a look at the many guest hosts of shows like HIGNFY or Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Some of them are usually very funny, smart and enjoyable as guests but fail as hosts, while some otherwise less exciting people handle the situation remarkably well.
E.g. I think David Mitchell is very much the same as Sandi, I really love him as a guest at panel shows but as a host of his two own shows he didn't excite me at all.
Dara Ó Briain is a good host (but I wouldn't want to miss him on "Mock the Week"), Frank Skinner is a pretty good host who IMHO might have been a better choice than Sandi. Mark Lamarr is great (I'd really like to see him again) and I really love Martin Clunes whenever he hosts HIGNFY, I think he might be a good replacement for Stephen (he doesn't only have the required technical skills, he's also polite, funny, sometimes also bit cheeky/naughty and isn't too attention grabbing, plus he's got a quite nice voice too). Jack Dee and Stephen Mangan aren't that bad as hosts either (but I'm not sure how they would fit QI).
Some people suggested Michael Palin and Terry Jones, I could definitely see them as hosts and think they might be brilliant but if you want them to do the whole missing seasons N-Z they might be a bit too old.
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