Have I Got News For You

William Shatner sorry for Ilfracombe prostitution joke

Star Trek actor William Shatner has apologised to a Devon town for saying on Have I Got News For You that it was "laced with prostitution".

Growly Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street director of communications and strategy, diarist, Burnley supporter and ebullient Tweeter, chairs for the first time. So expect lots of needling from Ian Hislop, who'll doubtless have something to say about Campbell's appearances before the Leveson Inquiry (he's the first of tonight's Leveson alumni; Steve Coogan turns up on Graham Norton).

But the big question is will Campbell have the skill to rein in guest panellist, big, loud hirsute Ross Noble, who tends to overwhelm any panel show he's on if he's not kept in order? Returning to the show is Lord Sugar's flint-eyed right-hand man, and Countdown host, Nick Hewer.

Cornish joke on Have I Got News For You sparks MP anger

An MP has complained to the BBC and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over a joke about the Cornish on Have I Got News For You.

Now this is going to be quite a night: William Shatner, yes, William Shatner, Captain Kirk himself, will be in the host's chair tonight, which has the potential to be both hilarious and acutely painful because what on earth will Shatner make of it all?

Still, he seems like a game kind of fella who has a good ear for comedy (witness his performances in 3rd Rock from the Sun and, memorably, his award-winning turn as lawyer Denny Crane in Boston Legal). And he's come up with a good quote to mark his appearance: "The English sense of humour is different from the American sense of humour. Luckily, I'm Canadian."

A slightly unexpected face in the HIGNFY studio this week, with the gleefully eccentric William Shatner guest-hosting the seemingly indefatigable current affairs quiz. Hopefully, Shatner's brash persona will provide a nice counterpoint to Hislop and Merton's snarky sparring. Equally, things could go catastrophically wrong. Either way, Shatner's star presence at least adds the slightest hint of risk to a series that has long been accused of playing it safe.

Lambeth councillor gagged over Jo Brand Streatham row

A Town Centre manager has been reprimanded for defending Streatham in south London, after comedian Jo Brand called it a "----hole".

Nancy Dell'Olio criticises the BBC's 'sexist' HIGNFY

Nancy Dell'Olio has labelled the atmosphere of the BBC television programme Have I Got News For You as 'sexist'.

William Shatner to host Have I Got News For You

Star Trek icon William Shatner will take the Have I Got News For You host's chair for the very first time on Friday 25th May.

We're hoping for fireworks tonight as Jeremy Clarkson takes the ­driver's seat once again.

After the fun that Private Eye had at Clarkson's expense over the injunction he imposed against his ex-wife, editor Ian Hislop will have been gleefully sharpening up his ad libs in readiness.

Clarkson can give as good as he gets, of course, and if they can get through the entire show without lawyers or paramedics having to be helicoptered in then frankly, it will be a bit of a disappointment.

Into this already heady mix Nancy Dell'Olio, who lumbered so ­entertainingly through her stint on Strictly Come Dancing, is thrown in for good measure.

This woman's shield of ­self-confidence is so strong the panel should be warned that any taunts they hurl at her are likely to bounce straight off and poke them in the eye.

Jeremy Clarkson is in the host's chair once again, always a gleeful prospect for anyone who enjoys watching him being needled by Ian Hislop. Remember when Clarkson threw his pen at Hislop, who'd had the temerity to cast doubt on Clarkson's authorship of his newspaper columns?

Their exchanges should be even more spicy, considering Private Eye's pursuit of Clarkson after he imposed a super-injunction on his ex-wife (a legal stricture Clarkson himself broke late last year).

Surely everyone will have some sport with guest Nancy Dell'Olio, a woman who has turned preening self-obsession into a profession.