Have I Got News For You

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.

Deayton 'feels a fool' over reports

BBC News reports that over the weekend Angus Deayton has been caught up in a tabloid scandal and that the star was now dreading having to record an episode of HIGNFY on Thursday.

Off The Telly Review 1999

To the best of my knowledge, no one talks about Have I Got News For You anymore. Tonight the 18th series drew to a respectable close. There is a consistency to the programme that has remained throughout its 10 year run.