Have I Got News For You

Twice a year, in our best handwriting, we compose a message to whoever is playing the role of Father Christmas at the BBC production meeting comprising one single plea: Hire a permanent f***ing host for Have I Got News For You! Sadly, once again our entreaty has fallen on deaf ears, and we have yet another series where the quality will be as capricious as the moods of Nero, often determined by the standard of guest presenter.

After watching the first in the new series, I'm increasingly of the opinion that the guest presenter idea has run its course. I wish they'd settle on a permanent host. And no matter what anyone says, I still think it was better when Angus was in it.

Satire! It's great. Except for when it's not, obviously. Then it's rubbish. That Have I Got News For You manages consistently to avoid the potholes routinely occupied by its contemporaries (to wit: crudeness, the triumphs of ego over comedic esprit de corps, Jason Manford, etc) is testament not only to the chemistry between long-serving team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, but to wit so sublime it can turn a one-liner on Gordon Brown's incisors into a dazzling nugget of incontrovertible topical wisdom.

Returning as the show's guest host tonight is This Morning's astonishingly game/foolhardy Fern Britton. Place your bets now on how many seconds will elapse before Paul Merton mentions g*stric b*nds.

It's an amazing series 36 for this topical panel show and, obviously, going by an 'if it aint broke, don't fix it' philosophy, Messrs Hislop and Merton are back as the regular team captains.

The long-running satirical panel show returns for a new run with perennial team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton all present and correct. It never ceases to amaze that this show remains as fresh as ever after 18 years on air and always earns its keep in the schedules.

Review of the Brian Blessed episode

Whatever genius came up with the idea of letting Brian Blessed host an episode needs a hefty pat on the back and a firm handshake to boot. The man was pretty much single-handedly responsible for the funniest episode of the show in some time.

Now in its 18th year and 35th series, Have I Got News for You is without doubt the little Radio 4 parlour game that could. Its success is due partly to its topicality, but mostly to the genuine rivalry between team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton (Merton in particular hates to lose).

Off The Telly Review 2002

The high profile sacking of Angus Deayton from his role as host on Have I Got News For You has left the BBC with something of a problem. As with many shows, the topical news quiz worked because of a specific chemistry that had built up over many years between the presenters.

Have we got news for you - you're fired

One of the many news articles reporting that long-time HIGNFY host Angus Deayton has been sacked.

Deayton in the lion's den

BBC News reports from the back row of the HIGNFY studio audience that Angus Deayton received 'a mauling' from Ian Hislop and Paul Merton in now infamous episode.