Have I Got News For You launches in America with US version for CNN
- CNN is to air an American version of Have I Got News For You
- UK production company Hat Trick Productions will oversee the series, which will air on the news channel on Saturday nights in the autumn
- Executive producer Jimmy Mulville says: "To bring Have I Got News For You to such an iconic network as CNN is a great honour"
It's been confirmed that CNN is to make an American version of Have I Got News For You.
The long-running topical panel show, which launched on the BBC in September 1990, is currently in its 67th series in the UK. The current run, which is airing on Friday nights, will take the show's episode count up to 600.
CNN announced at a New York industry event that it has ordered a "limited series" for its CNN Originals strand. The episodes will air on Saturday nights on the news channel, from the autumn. This run will link in with the build-up to the forthcoming presidential election, which is set to take place in November.
The details of the host and team captains has not yet been revealed, however UK captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop will not be appearing.
The new version will be made by Hat Trick Productions, the company that created the British version. The company has previously piloted a version in 2009 for NBC and another in 2012 for TBS, but neither were picked up for series.
Executive producer Jimmy Mulville says: "To bring Have I Got News For You to such an iconic network as CNN is a great honour and career highlight for us all at Hat Trick. I just hope there will be something interesting going on in the fall [autumn] for us to talk about!"
Amy Entelis from the network adds: "We have been looking for innovative ways to explore new formats and expand the boundaries of CNN programming. The series is the standard bearer of the genre and ripe for its American reincarnation as we revitalise Saturday nights on CNN.
As BCG reported on in February, Hat Trick Productions are also working on Have I Got Sport For You, a spin-off version of the show for BBC One.
8th August update: Roy Wood Jr to host
Stand-up comedian Roy Wood Jr, who is best known for his correspondent appearances on The Daily Show, has been announced as the host.
He says: "For far too long immigrants have been coming to America and taking black jobs, kudos to CNN and the immigrants at Hat Trick Productions for bringing a Black job to the States. It is an honour to be a part of such a hallowed British institution to help make sense of the American institutions of chaos, name calling, disinformation, reality television and the 8-hour news cycle."
The first episode will premiere on Saturday 14th September at 9pm ET on CNN.