Balderdash & Piffle Episode Guide

1 :01x01 - The P Words

First aired: Jan/02/2006
Guest star: John Simpson (Himself), Peter Gilliver (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself)

The opening dip into the dictionary focuses on the letter P. Clarissa Dickson Wright considers metaphorical uses of the word pig, Adam Hart-Davis discovers why things go pear-shaped and Mark Ravenhill examines the secret form of gay slang known as polari.

2 :01x02 - The M Words

First aired: Jan/09/2006
Guest star: Peter Gilliver (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself), John Simpson (Himself)

Victoria Coren examines words and phrases beginning with M, attempting to discover the origins of `the full Monty'. Historian Bettany Hughes discovers how `man' predates the English language, while journalist Ian Hislop wrestles with the worst excesses of management speak. Local radio DJ Mike Eliot endeavours to find out where `mackem' - the slang term for the residents of his native Sunderland - originated.

3 :01x03 - The N Words

First aired: Jan/16/2006
Guest star: John Simpson (Himself), Peter Gilliver (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself)

Journalist and author Victoria Coren investigates the origins of words and phrases beginning with N, turning her attentions to `nit nurse'. Jonathan Keates discovers the 20 meanings of `nice', and argues that the scorn heaped on it by generations of English teachers is undeserved. Daniela Nardini delves into her Italian heritage to find out what the number 99 has to do with ice cream, while Giles Milton learns how `nutmeg' entered footballing terminology.

4 :01x04 - The S Words

First aired: Jan/23/2006
Guest star: Peter Gilliver (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself), John Simpson (Himself)

Victoria Coren examines the origins of words and phrases beginning with S, exploring the history of `something for the weekend'. Rory McGrath ponders soccer and its accompanying lexicon, while Lynne Truss considers set - which has the longest entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. Benjamin Zephaniah travels to Jamaica to discover where the word ska came from. Plus, the stories behind slogan, snazzy and smart-casual.

5 :01x05 - The C Words

First aired: Jan/30/2006
Guest star: John Simpson (Himself), Peter Gilliver (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself)

Victoria Coren investigates words beginning with C, turning her attention to `codswallop'. Jerry Hall investigates how `cocktail' was first coined, while Courtney Pine travels to New York in search of the origins of `cool'. Germaine Greer explores the history of a more controversial C-word, and reassesses her efforts in the 1970s to reclaim it for everyday usage.

6 :01x06 - The B Words

First aired: Feb/06/2006
Guest star: Peter Gilliver (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself), John Simpson (Himself)

The history of words and phrases beginning with B. Victoria Coren examines `bingo lingo', investigating the identities of the original `two fat ladies'. Liza Tarbuck goes `back to square one', while journalist Tazeen Ahmad discovers `balti' actually comes from Birmingham, and historian Felipe Fernandez-Armesto tracks down the first scientist ever to be labelled a `boffin'.

7 :01x07 - The Results Show

First aired: Apr/16/2006
Guest star: John Simpson (Himself), Tania Styles (Herself), Peter Gilliver (Himself)

Victoria Coren hosts an update on some of the definitions that the Oxford English Dictionary has changed following responses by viewers, including the history of `cool' and the first time someone was said to be `made-up' when happy.

8 :02x01 - One Sandwich Short Of A Picnic

First aired: May/11/2007

Jo Brand looks at how some words for former medical diagnoses are now used as some of the worst insults in the English language.

9 :02x02 - Who Were They?

First aired: May/18/2007

The show looks at how certain people's names from history have now become well known phrases for certain things.

10 :02x03 - Euphemisms - The Lace Curtain Of Language

First aired: May/25/2007

This week the series looks at eupherisms for death, sex and war.

11 :02x04 - Jack The Lad

First aired: Jun/01/2007

The series takes a look at how the phrase Jack The Lad became common use in the United Kingdom.

12 :02x05 - X Rated

First aired: Jun/15/2007

Victoria Coren and Roland Rivlon take a look at how the sexual words in the dictionary first came about.

13 :02x06 - Put Downs And Insults

First aired: Jun/22/2007

Victoria Coren looks at how words that are used for insults first came about and explores their origins.

14 :02x07 - Who Were They?

First aired: Jun/29/2007

This week the show looks at how people's names have become associated with phrases. The phrase sweet FA is also explored.

15 :02x08 - Fashionistas

First aired: Jul/06/2007

Victoria takes a look at words associated with fashion.