Have I Got News For You

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.

11 memorable guest publications on HIGNFY missing words

Including Potato Storage International, Lighthouse Digest and Beverage Dynamic.

Ian Hislop has big showdown with John Prescott

That was a bit of a tense Have I Got News For You wasn't it? Presented by Victoria Coren Mitchell, episode two of the latest series saw Ian Hislop come to verbal blows with John Prescott.

'We'll have Clarkson back on HIGNFY when he's ready'

Executive producer Richard Wilson on why he would like to book Jeremy Paxman as a guest host on Have I Got News For You - and not marking 25 years of the show.

Have I Got News for You returns to 4.57 million on BBC1

Have I Got News for You returned to 4.57 million viewers on BBC One. Hosted by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, the first episode of the 49th series earned a 21.5% audience share at 9pm. It was the evening's highest-rated show outside of soaps.