Graham Linehan

It seems unlikely that the ultimate question to the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything is: "How many series of Have I Got News for You have there been?" But this week saw the start of the 42nd series.

Jo Brand hosted the first episode back, with Victoria Coren alongside Ian Hislop and Graham Linehan with Paul Merton. When I learnt about the line-up my immediate reaction was, "Thank God!" It's something of a rarity for HIGNFY to have a line-up consisting of people who are all essentially humorists. No politicians, no journalists, just people who are paid to be funny for a living. That is who we want. It's generally one of the advantages that Mock the Week has over HIGNFY, in that all the people on MTW are nearly always comics.

Everyone on this week's show had their moments, whether it's Coren on her hatred of cat lovers, Linehan's in-depth knowledge of Twitter, or Merton suggesting confusion between Michael Winner smoking a cigar and a picture of a seagull doing a poo. What a wonderfully awful image.

However, the best bit was that this episode was the first in a while which didn't make any lazy jokes about Eric Pickles being fat. It won't last...

As much a part of the British autumn as football and conkers, the 42nd series of the topical quiz show begins with Jo Brand asking the questions, and Ian Hislop and Paul Merton - along with guests Victoria Coren and Graham Linehan - answering them. After a year in which the tabloid newspaper industry has taken a battering, and politicians continue to wade in sleaze, they will not lack for material.

Graham Linehan: 'Twitter put TV back in the crowd'

Graham Linehan, the creator of hit comedies The IT Crowd, Father Ted and Black Books, has said that microblogging website Twitter has "put television back in the crowd".

Interview: Graham Linehan

Graham Linehan on comedy writing, politics and Twitter.

The Saturday interview: Graham Linehan

This week Graham Linehan found himself at the centre of a 'heated row' on Radio 4's Today programme. And he didn't like it. Not one little bit.

Graham Linehan puts Ladykillers on stage

Classic film comedy The Ladykillers is to be brought to the stage in an adaptation by Father Ted and The IT Crowd creator Graham Linehan.

Video: Ladykillers 'homage' takes to the stage

Classic film comedy The Ladykillers is to be brought to the stage in an adaptation by Father Ted and The IT Crowd creator Graham Linehan.

One of the stars, Peter Capaldi, told BBC Breakfast it pays homage to the 1955 film but he says Linehan's re-worked script is a more edgier take on the original production.

Linehan said the action would be kept within the house and there was room within the play to have more fun with the characters.

The Ladykillers will run at the Liverpool Playhouse from 3-19 November, transferring to the Gielgud Theatre in London one week later.

Graham Linehan's TV heroes

Weird, unpleasant, vulgar and discordant it may be, but Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! featuring US comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim provokes uncontrollable laughter.

Bin Laden and The IT Crowd: Anatomy of a Twitter hoax

Rumours that circulated on Twitter that there was evidence that Osama Bin Laden was a fan of The IT Crowd sitcom were an elaborate new media hoax. Here comedian Graham Linehan explains how he organised the ruse.