British Comedy Guide
Have I Got News For You. Image shows left to right: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton. Credit: Matt Crockett
Have I Got News For You

Have I Got News For You

  • TV panel show
  • BBC One / BBC Two
  • 1990 - 2024
  • 610 episodes (68 series)

Long-running topical panel game with a strong political slant, featuring team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton. Also features Angus Deayton.

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Great scenes

The Rt. Hon. Tub of Lard MP

After Roy Hattersly had failed to appear on the show for the third time in a row, it was decided that rather than find a last-minute replacement for the MP again, his replacement would be a tub of lard.

Deayton explained at the start that the tub of lard was chosen as it was liable to give much the same performance and featured many of the same qualities as the missing MP.

The episode was made deliberately difficult for the tub's partner, Paul, as the answers to the Missing Words round were all in foreign languages. Despite Paul not knowing any foreign languages, the tub of lard and Paul still won the episode.

Hattersly eventually did appear in the following series (episode 6.2)

This scene, featuring Angus Deayton, Ian Hislop, Paul Merton and Tony Slattery is from Series 5, Episode 8.

Ian Hislop vs Paula Yates

When Ian made fun out of Paula Yates and her breast enlargement operation, a battle of words was fought between the two, with Yates referring to Ian as the sperm of the Devil.

Ian retorted by saying: Even your insults emanate from the genitals.

This scene, featuring Angus Deayton, Ian Hislop, Gordon Kennedy, Paul Merton and Paula Yates is from Series 10, Episode 1.

The Angus Show

In the episode following Angus' week in the tabloids, the host became the subject of just about every joke. Ian brought along a copy of the News of the World which had first printed the personal stories about him. Paul went a step further and had the front page printed on the T-shirt.

This scene, featuring Angus Deayton, Dave Gorman, Ian Hislop, Ken Livingstone and Paul Merton is from Series 24, Episode 2.

Play Your Iraqi Cards Right

When Bruce Forsyth became host, the panellists played a game based on his game show Play Your Cards Right. Ian admitted that he had never seen the show, and later claimed that it was one of the most tasteless items ever shown on the BBC, seeing as it was broadcast in the middle of the Iraq War. It could have been worse - the writers wanted to call it "Play Your Kurds Right".

This scene, featuring Marcus Brigstocke, Bruce Forsyth, Ian Hislop, Natasha Kaplinsky and Paul Merton is from Series 25, Episode 8.

Boris Johnson

Just about everything involving Boris Johnson is a scene to remember. As guest host, the MP didn't have a clue what was going on and made many mistakes.

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