Have I Got News For You

25 years of Have I Got News For You: A timeline

A quarter of a century ago this month, Maggie still ruled Britain, the Soviet Union still existed and a new topical panel show came to BBC Two. The host and team captains of Have I Got News For You were all in their earlier thirties and while not unknown were not exactly household names either.

Sandi Toksvig: BBC denied me host role because I'm a woman

Outgoing News Quiz presenter says her gender was the reason the corporation didn’t choose her for Have I Got News For You 25 years ago

Charles Kennedy saluted in Have I Got News For You

Guest host Jack Dee introduces vintage clips of the politician's best moments, including him out-quipping Jeremy Clarkson.

It's taken until series 49 for author and film-maker Jon Ronson to make his debut as a HIGNFY panellist, a belated opportunity for the soft-spoken documentarian to witness the satirical-surreal power struggle between captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton up close. With any luck, some poor soul will have been recently crucified in the court of public opinion after a social media blunder, allowing Ronson to share some of the wisdom he acquired while researching his latest bestseller, So You've Been Publicly Shamed.

How fabulous to have an episode of Have I Got News For You, filmed as election news was still coming in (Friday, BBC1). With all the demob feeling of "EastEnders go to Marbella", this had a real frisson of the improvised. There was a certain catharsis to be had hearing Ian Hislop officially voicing what everyone had been talking about all day: "Everyone said it was unpredictable. Because they'd got it wrong."

And the live quality really added something: "Can I just tell you something? It is the end of Farage." "Can we stop for a minute? Nick Clegg has resigned." Line of the night went to Romesh Ranganathan, on the failure of Mori and the like: "Farage has been banging on about not trusting the Poles for ages ..." And is there any reason why Jo Brand shouldn't be the permanent host?

The same privileged old guard, the unchanging rituals, the forced smiles and occasional moments of genuine delight: yes, the enduring satirical panel show and the general election were clearly made for each other. Still, in the runup to the election, the media has been filled with political behaviour even more ludicrous than usual, all of which should be fecund ground for Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. Jo Brand hosts tonight, while comedian Romesh Ranganathan and newsreader Jon Snow help uncover the truths behind the manifesto promises.

Have I Got Election News for You, review

Hours and hours of juicy election footage gives the HIGNFY panel a veritable smorgasbord of mocking material.

This is the episode in which Jeremy Clarkson was set to return fire on his erstwhile employers. It looks as if he's decided that discretion is the better part of valour, but with the election now only a fortnight away, whoever is invited along instead - it'll be Alexander Armstrong, won't it? [actually Stephen Mangan] - will have plenty to talk about. In JC's absence, Miles Jupp and Camilla Long will be picking up the slack alongside Merton and Hislop, who must have been hoping for some sort of Angus Deayton-style valedictory humiliation.

HIGNFY review: no mention of headline making Clarkson

Stephen Mangan proves an able stand-in for the host they wouldn't mention.