7 Days is a New Zealand comedy game show focused on current events, hosted by Jeremy Corbett and created by thedownlowconcept. It has aired on Three since its premiere in 2009. Two teams, consisting of a team captain — until 2022, nearly always Paul Ego and Dai Henwood — and other comedians, answer questions about stories from the last week; since 2022, the team captains have changed each week. As of 2024[update], 7 Days has aired for 16 seasons, with a 17th planned for 2025.
Show format
At the start of each show, Jeremy Corbett announces a content warning, saying "the following show is for adults only and contains bad language that may offend some people". This is often followed by an opening joke based on an event in the past seven days. On some occasions, the content warning became the joke – including being said in a parody of Downfall (following several Auckland schoolboys saluting the Nazi flag), being missed out completely (while the Prime Minister was out of the country), and being texted while driving (two days before the ban on use of mobile phones while driving came into force). While the show is normally screened at 9:30pm and originally 10pm, the episode on 21 October 2011 was screened at the earlier time of 7:30pm and as a result was a PGR rated show. The opening segment mentioned the show was PGR and then replaced a few swear words with cleaner equivalents such as fudge. The show was moved to the earlier time to coincide with the screening of the 2011 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final.
After the title card, Corbett introduces the leaders of each team, normally Paul Ego for Team 1 and Dai Henwood for Team 2, although one episode featured an all-Australian team replacing Dai Henwood's team. After the leader of each team is introduced, the leader introduces the rest of their team. Regular team members include Ben Hurley, Josh Thomson, Steve Wrigley, Jeremy Elwood, Urzila Carlson, Jesse Griffin, Madeleine Sami, Michèle A'Court and Justine Smith. Special guest comedians appear on some episodes.
There are usually 5-7 games in each show, with "What's the Story" always being the first, and "Caption That" usually being last. After the teams guess the story, Corbett confirms the actual story before adding a joke of his own. In early episodes, Corbett also intervened if the joke made was in bad taste, or he became the butt of the joke, yelling "get out" and making the contestant pretend to leave.
Teams are allocated "points" at the end of the round based on numbers in the news. In earlier episodes, Corbett randomly allocated point to the teams based on their performance. The team winning the most rounds wins the episode, but this is not always the case.
An MVP was awarded in earlier episodes which was later removed. One of the panellists thanks NZ On Air to close the show.
Games
Charles Chauvel on 7 Days filming "Yes Minister" in July 2010.
Games played include:
What's the Story?
News footage with the sound removed or a photo, usually from 3 News but occasionally from ONE News, is shown while team members make humorous comments and then try and work out what the story is about.
Caption That
A caption contest: a news photograph is shown and the teams are required to invent their own (usually humorous) captions for it.
My Kid Could Draw That
A primary school child explains a picture they drew about a recent news story, and the teams must work out what it is before the kid tells them what it is.
Answers
Teams are given an answer related to a news event in the last 7 days and are required to work out what the question is, in the style of the American quiz Jeopardy!.[1]
History
A video clip of a New Zealand historical event is played, and a person shown in the clip is then brought into the studio together with three look-alikes. The teams are required to guess which one is the person in the video. This is based on a segment in the British pop music quiz Never Mind the Buzzcocks.[2] The segment was once played with when teams had to guess which one of the group of four was a Lawson quintuplet (New Zealand's only living set of quintuplets), not realising that the four people were four of the five quintuplets.
Community News
A newspaper headline is given, but with missing words, and the teams are required to work out the missing words. This is based on a round from the UK news quiz Have I Got News for You.[3]
Slice of Seven
A musician comes on to the show and sings a song about a news story and the teams have to try guess the story. The name of the segment references the 1986 Dave Dobbyn single "Slice of Heaven".
Yes Minister
A political figure (usually an MP, but mayors are also common) makes an appearance, and the teams ask them closed-ended questions which the guest must answer without saying "yes" or "no" (or saying or gesturing similar). The team who makes the "minister" say 'yes' or 'no' wins. The segment's concept originated in the "Yes-No Interlude" in the game show Take Your Pick,[4] and its name is a reference to the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister.
Quote Me
A photo of a person and an acronym of a quote that person said during the last 7 days are given to each team, and they must come up with the correct full quote. This is based on a round from Mock the Week.
My Professional Opinion
A video clip is played with people with the same occupation (e.g. butchers, lifeguards etc.), sharing their opinion to a news story from the last 7 days but don't say what the story actually is. The teams must guess what they are talking about. After both teams have guessed another video clip is played with the people telling them "that was my professional opinion, on the (news story)". This game replaced a similar earlier game called Taxi Driver, in which a taxi driver talks about a story from the last seven days.
That's The Spirit
Used on the live show held at the SkyCity Casino in Auckland on 6 April 2011. Each team has to tell the audience about an interesting news story they have noticed in the last 7 days, an image of the article in a newspaper or webpage is shown to the audience. Formerly named Show and Tell.
In my opinion/To be honest/On the bright side/All I want for Christmas (used for the 2010 series finale)
A filler at the end of the show if running early, after the final scores have been added and the winner awarded. Team members form a humorous opinion on news stories of the week.
Guest who?
Introduced in season five, a person involved with a news story from the past week has their head covered with a black cloth, and the teams must ask closed-ended questions and the mystery guest will answer "yes" or "no". The teams will continue to ask yes-or-no questions until one team is able to work out who the guest is.
Yeah Nah
Introduced in season five, this game works very similar to a debate, where the host presents a statement and one team will be the agreeing team and one will be the disagreeing team. The teams will then give reasons as to why they agree or disagree. A winner is picked by the host at the end of the round.
AV Department
Introduced in season five, as a secondary school equivalent of 'My Kid Could Draw That'. A group of secondary school students must produce a short film based on a news story from the past 7 days, and the panellists are required to work out the story from the clip produced.
Like Sex
Introduced in season nine, each team has to describe how a thing is like sex.
Club Topicana
Introduced in season 14 - and similar to Mock the Week's "Scenes We'd Like to See" segment - it invites the panellists to tell a series of jokes by inhabiting a character in a certain situation dictated by Corbett based on a news story from the week.
Melanie Bracewell, Ben Hurley, Lana Walters, Guy Williams
17 September 2020 (2020-09-17)
TBA
6
"Thursday 24 September 2020"
Laura Daniel, Guy Montgomery, Justine Smith, Josh Thomson
25 September 2020 (2020-09-25)
TBA
7
"Thursday 1 October 2020"
Cori Gonzalez-Macuer, Ben Hurley, Madeleine Sami, Lana Walters
1 October 2020 (2020-10-01)
TBA
8
"Thursday 8 October 2020"
Melanie Bracewell, Urzila Carlson, Bryce Casey, Rhys Mathewson
8 October 2020 (2020-10-08)
TBA
9
"Election Special"
Urzila Carlson, Jeremy Elwood, Ben Hurley, Hayley Sproull
15 October 2020 (2020-10-15)
TBA
10
"Thursday 22 October 2020"
Urzila Carlson, Rhys Darby, Joseph Moore, Justine Smith
22 October 2020 (2020-10-22)
TBA
11
"Thursday 29 October 2020"
Melanie Bracewell (Guest Team 2 Leader) Jeremy Elwood, Ben Hurley, Chris Parker, Hayley Sproull
29 October 2020 (2020-10-29)
TBA
12
"Thursday 5 November 2020"
Michele A'Court, Urzila Carlson, Guy Montgomery, Nick Rado
5 November 2020 (2020-11-05)
Season 13 (2021)
Following the lockdown in Auckland, from episode 12 onwards there is Perspex sheeting between team leader and guest(s), and the studio audience is replaced with a virtual one. The segment "That's the Spirit" is sponsored by Woodstock Bourbon.
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Team 1 (Paul Ego)
Team 2 (Dai Henwood)
Original release date
TBA
1
"Thursday 8 April 2021"
Lana Walters, Josh Thomson
Joe Daymond, Michele A'Court
8 April 2021 (2021-04-08)
What's the Story; Guest Who? (with Robert Rakete); Slice of Seven (with Cassie Henderson); Answers; Caption That
TBA
2
"Thursday 15 April 2021"
Liv McKenzie, Rhys Mathewson
Madeleine Sami Laura Daniel, Ben Hurley
15 April 2021 (2021-04-15)
What's the Story; History; My Kid Could Draw That; That's the Spirit; Answers
Good News Battle; Answers; My Kid Could Draw That; Caption That
TBA
19
"Thursday 18 November 2021"
Bree Tomasel, Hayley Sproull
Joseph Moore, Guy Montgomery
18 November 2021 (2021-11-18)
Good News Battle; Answers; Slice of Seven (with Barnaby Weir); That's the Spirit; Caption This
TBA
20
"Thursday 25 November 2021"
David Correos, Urzila Carlson
Justine Smith, Jeremy Elwood
25 November 2021 (2021-11-25)
Answers; Good News Battle; Slice of Seven (with Summer Thieves); Caption That
Season 14 (2022)
With this season, the show moved to an earlier 7:30pm timeslot and a new hour-long broadcast; saw a new logo, redesigned set, and reworked theme song; and team leaders (in bold) became rotated week-to-week.[10] Teams began receiving point totals at the end of each show. Each episode features a caption contest sponsored by Frank Energy.
Episodes broadcast in May 2022 averaged over 180,000 viewers,[11] an improvement from below 160,000 viewers for the series premiere in February.[12] Ratings then declined below 170,000,[13] before increasing steadily to over 200,000 viewers for the series finale.[14]
No. overall
No. in season
Title
Team 1
Team 2
Original release date
Score
371
1
"Thursday 17 February 2022"
Laura Daniel Melanie Bracewell, Urzila Carlson
Guy Montgomery Joseph Moore, Hayley Sproull
17 February 2022 (2022-02-17)
4–3
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Erica Stanford); Good News Battle; Where is the Lie; Guest Who (with Phil Goff); Home Movies; Quiztory Never Repeats; Club Topicana
372
2
"Thursday 24 February 2022"
Melanie Bracewell Angella Dravid, Ben Hurley
Rhys Mathewson David Correos, Urzila Carlson
24 February 2022 (2022-02-24)
5–4
Newsmakers; Quiztory Never Repeats; Slice of Seven (with Jamie McDell); Where is the Lie; Club Topicana; Good News Battle; Beat the Ding; Yes Minister (with David Seymour)
373
3
"Thursday 3 March 2022"
Chris Parker Joseph Moore, Melanie Bracewell
Urzila Carlson Liv McKenzie, Ray O'Leary
3 March 2022 (2022-03-03)
5–4
Newsmakers; Guest Who (with Efeso Collins); Home Movies; Where is the Lie; Club Topicana; Good News Battle; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
374
4
"Thursday 10 March 2022"
Paul Ego Lana Walters, Ben Hurley
Laura Daniel Brynley Stent, Ben Boyce
10 March 2022 (2022-03-10)
6–5
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Simon Watts); My Audience Could Draw That; Where is the Lie; Club Topicana; Good News Battle; Beat the Ding
375
5
"Thursday 17 March 2022"
Josh Thomson Livi Reihana, Pax Assati
Justine Smith Lana Walters, Ray O'Leary
17 March 2022 (2022-03-17)
4–5
Newsmakers; Guest Who (with Susan Sherwen); History; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding; Answers; Club Topicana
376
6
"Thursday 24 March 2022"
Paul Ego Angella Dravid, Laura Daniel
James Roque Guy Montgomery, Josh Thomson
24 March 2022 (2022-03-24)
3–4
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Good News Battle; Club Topicana; Where is the Lie; Yes Minister (with Golriz Ghahraman); Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
377
7
"Thursday 31 March 2022"
Rhys Mathewson Lana Walters, Justine Smith
Ben Hurley Michelle A'Court, Paul Douglas
31 March 2022 (2022-03-31)
5–2
Newsmakers; Slice of Seven (with Valkyrie); Club Topicana; Where is the Lie; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
378
8
"Thursday 7 April 2022"
Dai Henwood Angella Dravid, Tom Sainsbury
Laura Daniel Abby Howells, Joseph Moore
7 April 2022 (2022-04-07)
5–6
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Shane Reti); Club Topicana; My Kid Could Draw That; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
379
9
"Thursday 14 April 2022"
Hayley Sproull Rhiannon McCall, Jeremy Elwood
Paul Ego Ray O'Leary, Pax Assadi
14 April 2022 (2022-04-14)
6–4
Newsmakers; Guest Who; My Audience Could Draw That; Club Topicana; Where is the Lie; Good News Battle; Beat the Ding
Team New Zealand: Josh Thomson Brynley Stent, Justine Smith
Team Australia: Alex Ward Harley Breen, Heath Franklin
28 April 2022 (2022-04-28)
3–4
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Carmel Sepuloni); Club Topicana; Slice of Seven (with Will Martin); Good News Battle; Beat the Ding
382
12
"Thursday 5 May 2022"
Chris Parker Abby Howells, Lana Walters
Paul Ego Angella Dravid, Guy Montgomery
5 May 2022 (2022-05-05)
5–4
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Slice of Seven (with Anthonie Tonnon); Club Topicana; Where is the Lie; Beat the Ding;
383
13
"Thursday 12 May 2022"
Dai Henwood Justine Smith, Ray O'Leary
Eli Matthewson Angella Dravid, Rhys Mathewson
12 May 2022 (2022-05-12)
4–5
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Christopher Luxon); Club Topicana; Where is the Lie; Answers; My Audience Could Draw That; Beat the Ding
384
14
"Thursday 19 May 2022"
Hayley Sproull Alice Snedden, Joseph Moore
Ben Hurley Donna Brookbank, Josh Thomson
19 May 2022 (2022-05-19)
6–4
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Club Topicana; Good News Battle; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
385
15
"Thursday 26 May 2022"
Laura Daniel Brynley Stent, Ben Boyce
Dai Henwood Lana Walters, Heath Franklin
26 May 2022 (2022-05-26)
2–4
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Cameron Luxton and Jan Tinetti); Slice of Seven (with Riiki Reid); Where is the Lie; Club Topicana; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
386
16
"Thursday 2 June 2022"
Rhys Nicholson Alice Snedden, Guy Williams
Guy Montgomery Becky Umbers, Chris Parker
2 June 2022 (2022-06-02)
6–4
Newsmakers; History; My Kid Could Draw That; Where is the Lie; Club Topicana; Good News Battle; Beat the Ding
387
17
"Thursday 9 June 2022"
Rhys Mathewson Angella Dravid, Joseph Moore
Mel Buttle Bree Tomasel, Ben Hurley
9 June 2022 (2022-06-09)
5–6
Newsmakers; History; Slice of Seven (with Anita Clark and Samuel Flynn Scott); Club Topicana; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
388
18
"Thursday 16 June 2022"
Alex Ward Laura Daniel, Hayley Sproull
Paul Ego Chris Parker, Josh Thomson
16 June 2022 (2022-06-16)
4–3
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Club Topicana; My Audience Could Draw That; Good News Battle; Beat the Ding
389
19
"Thursday 23 June 2022"
Dai Henwood Lana Walters, Harley Breen
Madeleine Sami Angella Dravid, Ben Hurley
23 June 2022 (2022-06-23)
3–6
Newsmakers; History; Club Topicana; My Kid Could Draw That; Quiztory Never Repeats; Beat the Ding
390
20
"Thursday 30 June 2022"
Guy Montgomery Madeleine Sami, Tom Sainsbury
Laura Daniel Ray O'Leary, Joseph Moore
30 June 2022 (2022-06-30)
6–3
Newsmakers; History; Slice of Seven (with Lost Tribe); Club Topicana; Answers; Beat the Ding
TBA
21
"Best of 7 Days 2022"
N/A
N/A
7 July 2022 (2022-07-07)
N/A
Season 15 (2023)
The series launched to 141,800 viewers.[15] During this season, Dole sponsored the Club Topicana segment.
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Tāmati Coffey); Club Topicana; Slice of Seven (with Summer Thieves); Good News Battle; Beat the Ding
410
20
"Thursday 24 August 2023"
Mel Bracewell Ray O'Leary, Hayley Sproull
Josh Thomson Madeleine Sami, Chris Parker
24 August 2023 (2023-08-24)
7–2
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Ben Bell); Club Topicana; History; Slice of Seven (with Balu Brigada); Beat the Ding
TBA
21
"Thursday 31 August 2023" "Best of 7 Days 2023"
N/A
N/A
31 August 2023 (2023-08-31)
N/A
Season 16 (2024)
Season16 premiered on 4April 2024. Frank Energy sponsored this season's "Fill in the Frank" caption contest, and Dole again sponsored the Club Topicana segment.
Newsmakers; Guest Who (with David Lomas); Fill in the Frank; Slice of Seven (with Mark Williams); My Audience Could Draw That; Club Topicana; Beat the Ding
Live special filmed on 1May at SkyCity Auckland. Newsmakers, Yes Minister (with Chris Hipkins), Fill in the Frank, Club Topicana, Guest Who (with Mea Motu), Slice of Seven (with Julia Deans and Milan Borich), Beat the Ding
416
6
"Thursday 9 May 2024"
Paul Ego Becky Umbers, Laura Daniel
Josh Thomson Kirsty Webeck, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer
9 May 2024 (2024-05-09)
5–3
Newsmakers; Guest Who (with Ria Hall); Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; Slice of Seven (with Ha the Unclear); My Kid Could Draw That; Beat the Ding
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Susan Devoy); Fill in the Frank; Slice of Seven (with Georgia Lines); Club Topicana; Guest Who; Beat the Ding
422
12
"Thursday 20 June 2024"
Laura Daniel Bridget Davies, Joseph Moore
Josh Thomson Mel Buttle, Tony Lyall
20 June 2024 (2024-06-20)
4–2
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Fill in the Frank; Slice of Seven; Club Topicana; History (with Mark Inglis); Beat the Ding
423
13
"Thursday 27 June 2024"
Melanie Bracewell Jack Ansett, Frankie McNair
Dai Henwood Lana Walters, Cori Gonzalez-Macuer
27 June 2024 (2024-06-27)
4–6
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Ashley Bloomfield); Fill in the Frank; Guest Who (with Paul Henry); Club Topicana; My Kid Could Draw That; Beat the Ding
424
14
"Thursday 4 July 2024"
Chris Parker Abby Howells, Laura Daniel
Eli Matthewson Bailey Poching, Joseph Moore
4 July 2024 (2024-07-04)
7–4
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; Slice of Seven (with Park Rd); Yes Minister (with Nigel Avery); Beat the Ding
425
15
"Thursday 11 July 2024"
Melanie Bracewell Ray O'Leary, Rhys Mathewson
Ben Hurley Madeleine Sami, Laura Daniel
11 July 2024 (2024-07-11)
1–6
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Cameron Brewer); Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; Slice of Seven (with Reiki Ruawai); Guest Who; Beat the Ding
426
16
"Thursday 18 July 2024"
Paul Ego Brynley Stent, Tony Lyall
Josh Thomson Angella Dravid, Guy Williams
18 July 2024 (2024-07-18)
6–5
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Fill in the Frank; Slice of Seven (with Amy Shark); Club Topicana; Yes Minister (with Katie Nimon); Beat the Ding
Newsmakers; Guest Who (with Levi Townley, FIM Motocross Junior World Championship 85cc winner); Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; History; My Audience Could Draw That; Beat the Ding
428
18
"Thursday 1 August 2024"
Josh Thomson Liv McKenzie, Guy Montgomery
Dai Henwood Donna Brookbanks, Madeleine Sami
1 August 2024 (2024-08-01)
4–5
Newsmakers; Guest Who; Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; History (with Wayne Gould); My Kid Could Draw That; Beat the Ding
429
19
"Thursday 8 August 2024"
Chris Parker Jack Ansett, Hayley Sproull
Rhys Mathewson Michèle A'Court, Eli Matthewson
8 August 2024 (2024-08-08)
5–4
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Patrick Gower); Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; Guest Who (with Katie Trigg, 2024 Lexus Song Quest winner); Slice of Seven (with Flaxxies); Beat the Ding
430
20
"Thursday 15 August 2024"
Hayley Sproull Lana Walters, Ben Hurley
Dai Henwood Justine Smith, Jeremy Elwood
15 August 2024 (2024-08-15)
5–4
Newsmakers; Yes Minister (with Tim Costley); Fill in the Frank; Club Topicana; Slice of Seven (with Valley Kids); Guest Who (with Abe Gray); Beat the Ding
Specials
Occasionally a special edition of 7 Days screens, breaking out of the show's traditional format. Examples of such specials are:
No.
Title
Original release date
2
"7 Days New Zealand vs Australia"
8 October 2010 (2010-10-08)
A competition between a team of New Zealanders and Australians.
In addition, there are several "road" episodes where the show has been taken outside the Auckland studio to other centres on New Zealand, including Christchurch (2011 and 2012) and Queenstown (2012). Nearly all of these episodes feature the game 'Yes Minister' with the local mayor or another local figure (the Wizard of New Zealand appeared in the 2012 Christchurch episode) as the "minister".[citation needed]
