Damian Lewis

Ian McKellen: acting, accents, Damian Lewis & his voice

The Hobbit/ actor thinks he overacted for Vicious's live studio audience and sympathises with gay A-listers who won't come out.

You know the routine by now: let the children stay up a little late, don your red nose and get ready to donate, as television's finest entertainers prepare to make us chuckle for charity. It's the 25th anniversary of this kind-hearted TV telethon, and the roster of celebrities involved is not to be sniffed at.

Some familiar faces present the evening's festivities, including Dermot O'Leary, Michael McIntyre and Rob Brydon. Things kick off with Rowan Atkinson masquerading as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Jessie J shaving off her hair and One Direction performing their charity single One Way - let's hope David Cameron, who featured in the video, makes an appearance. Among the many other highlights is the cast of Call the Midwife cast performing a mini-episode featuring an unusual birth. Meanwhile, Homeland's Damian Lewis guest stars in a Vicar of Dibley special. Office fans will also be delighted to hear that David Brent returns to our screens, when Comic Relief switches over to BBC Two at 10.30pm. As ever, this is a full-on evening. There will be laughter, probably some tears, and hopefully a large sum raised at the end of it.

Damian Lewis proves HIGNFY guest host hit

Damian Lewis proved to be a hit with Have I Got News For You fans as the show celebrated 10 years of guest presenters.

Top 10 Have I Got News For You guest hosts

As Have I Got News For You celebrates ten years of guest hosts, we count down our top 10, from Alexander Armstrong and Damian Lewis to Jeremy Clarkson and Boris Johnson.

Emmy winner Damian Lewis, the English actor with the most successful American accent since Hugh Laurie in House, is on the Ross sofa. Lewis is in demand after the role that lifted him to stardom, terrorist-in-the-making Nicholas Brody in Homeland. Maybe he can be tempted to demonstrate some Gangnam Style with fellow guest, South Korean rapper Psy, whose much parodied tune and silly dance have swept the globe.

Emmy Award-winning Homeland star Damian Lewis presides over the topical comedy quiz show tonight as it celebrates the tenth anniversary of inviting in guest hosts - a 'temporary' solution to the abrupt departure of Angus Deayton which has turned into one of the show's major talking points. Joining teams Hislop and Merton are UKIP leader Nigel Farage and US actor Harry Shearer - the voice of The Simpsons' Principal Skinner.

It's ten years since Angus Deayton made his hurried departure from the HIGNFY host's chair, since when 84 different bottoms have perched there, including those of MasterChef's Gregg Wallace and John Torode, the only double act to share the job, two knights (Sir Bruce Forsyth and Sir Trevor McDonald), two OBEs (Joan Collins and Moira Stuart) and one intergalactic space traveller.

In this anniversary edition, Homeland's Damian Lewis takes the hot seat for the fifth time - obviously hoping to challenge Alexander Armstrong's record of 20 - and, judging by his earlier outings, he'll deliver the scripted lines with exquisite timing and charm. Tonight's guests are Harry Shearer and Nigel Farage.

Since it was uploaded to YouTube on July 15 this year, Psy's video for his K-pop dance tune Gangnam Style has been viewed more than 620 million times - making it the second most-watched YouTube video ever. It has spawned countless spoofs, including ones featuring members of the US Naval Academy, Eton College and the Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei - all performing the now-famous dance. Tonight, Jonathan Ross welcomes Psy himself, who will explain his popularity, before performing his Korean-language hit. Damian Lewis, one of the stars of Homeland, also guests.

Angus who? Tonight marks 10 years since the job of host was given over to a succession of guest presenters following the Deayton sacking. The vast majority of the temporary emcees have excelled in the hot seat, thanks largely to a sharp presenter's script and Paul Merton and Ian Hislop keeping the conversation fizzing. Tonight, Homeland actor Damian Lewis takes the chair for the fifth time as UKIP's Nigel Farage and The Simpsons' Harry Shearer join the panel.

Remember when the news quiz lost its host (Angus Somebody) and people said 
it wouldn't be the same without him? Well, that was ten years ago, and the idea (unintentional) of having a different guest presenter every week looks like genius. If they ever make the job permanent again then question-master, Homeland's Damian Lewis, would be a serious contender.