Have I Got News For You

BBC newsreader and Mastermind presenter Clive Myrie is the host - his third time. Joining him are deputy political editor of The Spectator, Katy Balls and HIGNFY regular Jo Brand.

Another eventful week in Liz Truss's premiership came to a head on Thursday, with the prime minister resigning after just 44 days in number 10. The panel got stuck straight in.

"This is just the unbelievable news that Liz Truss was Prime Minister. And now she's gone. In fact, her whole career was one enormous u-turn... she walked into Downing Street and she walked straight out again," said Ian Hislop.

"She didn't drag it out..." Katy Balls commented.

"No, no... they dragged her out," replied Hislop.

"The Tory party are now looking for their third leader this year. But they seem to keep doing shorter times per go..." said Balls.

"It sounds like whoever wins next week and becomes Prime Minister, the victory speech will be something along the lines of, 'I'm really pleased to have become Prime Minister of this country and that's why I'm tendering my resignation'" joked Paul Merton.

"Did you notice though that when she was giving her resignation speech, she was sort of weirdly smiling? I thought, 'ah, she's got Christmas Strictly'" laughed Jo Brand.

"I was watching when she resigned and the pound actually recovered during her resignation speech. If internationally the markets prefer no prime minister to you, then it's the end of the game, isn't it? Let's have no-one!" said Hislop.

"Suella Braverman resigned on Wednesday in a letter to the Prime Minister. Although given Liz Truss's precarious position, Braverman did address it, 'To whom it may concern'..." joked Clive Myrie, continuing, "After the fracking vote, there were reports that one Tory MP was roughed up outside the division lobbies. I imagine he ended up with his 'eyes' to the right and his 'nose' to the left..."

With Sir Graham Brady, Chairman of the 1922 Committee, announcing that a replacement for Liz Truss will be found within the next week, conversation soon turned to some of the names being touted for the position, with Boris Johnson getting the support of a number of MPs already.

"Ian, is it time for Boris to make a miraculous return?" asked Myrie.

"No, of course it isn't. You imagine the Tory party will have learnt its lesson," replied Hislop.

"Boris needs 100 MPs to back him..." Myrie responded.

"You're not seriously going to propose him to come back... that seems to me almost... mad enough for them to do it..." said Hislop.

Later in the episode attention turned to a series of protests made this week by climate activists Just Stop Oil, with one particular incident taking place at the National Gallery.

"What did the protestors do in an art gallery?" asked Myrie.

"They threw some tomato soup at Van Gogh's Sunflowers," replied Merton.

"Apparently they regretted it in 'Heinz'-sight," joked Brand.

"As part of a protest at the government's approach to fossil fuel policy, two Just Stop Oil protestors threw tomato soup over Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers painting. Absolutely shocking - have you seen how much soup costs these days?" quipped Myrie, continuing, "Afterwards they glued themselves to the gallery wall, before being removed by specialists, who came armed with anti-adhesive and some croutons."