Ep 1. At Christmas

Would I Lie To You? is a comedy panel show in which two teams - each consisting of two celebrity guests and a regular team captain - take turns trying to figure out which of the opposing team's stories is true and which are outright lies.

In season 9, episode 1, titled "At Christmas," host Rob Brydon welcomes veteran team captains David Mitchell and Lee Mack, as well as celebrity guests Marcus Brigstocke, Gabby Logan, Jordan Stephens, and Chris McCausland. As the teams settle in for a festive holiday edition of the show, the panelists share a range of stories and experiences - some hilarious, some outrageous, and some that might be too good to be true.

As always, the show features a variety of games and challenges aimed at testing the panelists' ability to bluff and detect lies. In one round, dubbed "Home Truths," each panelist shares a snippet from their own personal history - but one of them is lying through their teeth. It's up to the opposing team to ask probing questions and guess which story is the fake, earning points for each correct answer. In another round, called "This Is My..." each panelist claims to own a bizarre and obscure item - but only one of them is telling the truth.

Throughout the episode, the panelists spin amusing tales about everything from awkward Christmas parties to disastrous secret Santa presents. But the real joy of the show is watching the rapid-fire banter and razor-sharp wit of the panelists as they try to outsmart each other. The chemistry between regulars Mitchell and Mack is especially electric, as they frequently trade jabs and quips at each other's expense.

One of the highlights of the episode is a special holiday twist on the show's traditional "Quickfire Lies" segment, in which the panelists take turns reading out a series of humorous statements - some of which are true, and some of which are not. In this version, the statements are all related to Christmas, and the panelists have to buzz in and assert whether they think each statement is a lie or the truth. With plenty of festive-themed tall tales to choose from, the round is a riotous celebration of holiday humor.

As the episode draws to a close, the teams face off in a final showdown in which they have to convince the opposing team that their bizarre and outlandish story is the truth. With all of the panelists bringing their A-game, the result is a hilarious and unpredictable finale that will have viewers guessing until the very end.

Overall, "At Christmas" is a fun, frothy, and entertaining episode of Would I Lie To You? that showcases the show's trademark blend of humor, wit, and irreverence. With engaging panelists, clever games, and plenty of laughs, it's the perfect way to get into the festive spirit.