Groups providing tips about upcoming panel show (7)
I believe the answer is:
cliques
'groups' is the definition.
(a clique is a social group)
'tips about upcoming panel show' is the wordplay.
'tips' becomes 'clues'.
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'upcoming' shows that the letters should be reversed in order (in a down clue coming up is backwards).
'panel show' becomes 'QI' (BBC panel show).
'qi' reversed gives 'iq'.
'clues' going around 'iq' is 'CLIQUES'.
'providing' is the link.
(Other definitions for cliques that I've seen before include "Sets" , "Exclusive groups" .)