sings a song relating to it, Longworth or Greenall often do stories about dumb criminals (frequently American), and Perkins covers something sexual. Sometimes there will be a "Bad Week Update", where a story previously featured returns, because either the same thing has happened again or a new aspect to the story has surfaced. In every section, Van Man illustrates each story with his sound effects. Originally he also chose the winner of each section; now it is done by a topical "guest announcer" (impersonated). After the three finalists are chosen, the audience take their electronic keypads (also fictional) and vote for the winner of "The Worst Week of the Week Award, Awarded Weekly, on a Week-By-Week Basis". The prize changes from week to week, depending on the theme of the show. The series has had several New Year specials, entitled It's Been A Bad Year, awarding (as it was put in one episode) "The Worst New Year of the New Year Award, Awarded New Yearly, on a First Week-by-First Week Basis". Further, the last show of the current year has a different award, "The Worst Week of the Year Award, Awarded Yearly on a Year-By-Year Basis" Series First series 11 February 1999 18 February 1999 25 February 1999 4 March 1999 11 March 1999 18 March 1999 Second series 29 July 1999 5 August 1999 12 August 1999 19 August 1999 26 August 1999 4 September 1999 Third series 17 February 2000 24 February 2000 2 March 2000 9 March 2000 16 March 2000 23 March 2000 30 March 2000 6 April 2000 Fourth series 23 November 2000 30 November 2000 7 December 2000 14 December 2000 21 December 2000 28 December 2000 4 January 2001 11 January 2001 Fifth series 17 November 2001 22 November 2001 29 November 2001 6 December 2001 13 December 2001 20 December 2001 27 December 2001 Sixth series 20 June 2002 27 June 2002 4 July 2002 11 July 2002 18 July 2002 25 July 2002 1 August 2002 Seventh series 31 October 2002 7 November 2002 16 November 2002 21 November 2002 28 November 2002 5 December 2002 12 December 2002 19 December 2002 26 December 2002 2 January 2003 Eighth series 15 May 2003 22 May 2003 29 May 2003 5 June 2003 12 June 2003 19 June 2003 26 June 2003 3 July 2003 10 July 2003 17 July 2003 Ninth