Never Mind the Buzzcocks is the quiz show where musicians try to be funny and comedians try to be musical. Two teams of celebrities answer questions about pop music, guess songs after hearing their teammates sing the intros, and try to find the former popstar hidden in a lineup of look-alikes.

Guests on the show are frequently the targets for pointed jokes about their careers or public personas. Both longtime hosts Mark Lamarr and Simon Amstell fostered an atmosphere of playful hostility (although Amstell was criticized for taking this too far). Now that the show has moved to a format with a new guest host every week, much of the mocking comes in the form of the host's jokes at his own expense.

Phill Jupitus has been a team captain since the show's inception, with Sean Hughes, Bill Bailey, and current captain Noel Fielding playing the part of his rival.