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Have I got News for You

D

Darth_Yoda

Fleet Captain
Fleet Captain
Well seeing as it is not on tonight as Children in Need is on. I wanted to know what people think of this show.

It's pretty unbelivable that the first series was broadcast in 1990, and its now in its 36th series!!! I love both Ian Hislop and Paul Merton (Hislop being the only one to appear in every single episode).

What are your favourite moments?
Mine include
The Hislop vs Paula Yates episode.
Hislop and Clive Anderson destroying Piers Morgan
Introducing us to the awesomeness that is Boris Johnson
Angus Deyton getting his comeuppance and him leaving the show.

After Deyton leaving/firing the show now has guest presenters. It can be hit and miss. There have been great ones; Boris always is a riot, the Brian Blessed episode was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, Tom Baker was being his usuall self! But there have been some boring ones like Fern Britton and Kirsty Young whenever she hosts. Do you think they should find a permanent host or carry on with guests?
 
Its one of my all time favourite shows, been watching it for years and hopefully theres several more to come. I love the Angus leaving episode and Paul is a complete hoot though Ian has his fair share of moments too.

Some of my favourite guests are...

* Reginald D.Hunter
* Andy Hamilton
* Boris Johnson
* Dara O Briain

BBC has HIGNY till 2009 (2 more Series) until the end of its current run but I expect BBC to renew it.
 
I've only seen one episode (one of the more recent Jeremy Clarkson ones), so I'm not really qualified to say much about it.

I am very surprised there hasn't been a U.S. version though--the format seems like it would lend itself to American TV quite well.
 
I fully agree the Kirsty Young ones seem to not have the same standard as other shows. Jack Dee is another guest presenter I haven't really enjoyed.

Favourite presenters are definitely Boris Johnson and Brian Blessed. Some sick part of me wants to say Anne Widdicombe too... It was so cringeworthy it was good :p

Reginald D Hunter, Andy Hamilton, Clive Anderson and Dr Phil Hammond are probably my favourite guests. I like Peter Serafinowicz on there too, but he seems to stay suspiciously quiet when he's appeared.

I think the show's actually benefitted from not having a permanent presenter, so I'd like to see it continue with that format. There have been some very hit and miss episodes, but I kinda use Alexander Armstrong as the standard, and decide if the present is better or worse in comparison.

Ian Hislop makes the show for me - I feel Paul Merton can sometimes get a bit moody if he's not getting all the laughs. Hopefully they'll both keep with the show for a few more years yet though as they're a brilliant team when they get together, like when they ganged up on Angus Deayton.

I actually watch Have I Got A Bit More News For You instead now as you get the deleted scenes/easter egg extras with it. It's a bit easier than watching the Friday night show then having to watch it all again for an extra two or three minutes.

Not sure what I'm gonna watch tonight in its place (I feel kinda bad for saying that, but Children In Need just doesn't grab my attention the same).

I hope they give a US version a go too, it'd be good to get a satirical viewpoint from across the pond ;) We've got Jon Stewart, but it's not enough! I want more!
 
Sheep said:
I've only seen one episode (one of the more recent Jeremy Clarkson ones), so I'm not really qualified to say much about it.

I am very surprised there hasn't been a U.S. version though--the format seems like it would lend itself to American TV quite well.
Click to expand...

Am not sure the American audience would find it interesting enough since its a topical quiz.
 
The Roy Hattersley - tub of lard episode was good from the mid 90's.

And of course Brian Blessed :lol: Is there anyone else in the world who can get a huge laugh just from saying fuck?

And his reaction to Alan Duncan telling Blessed he was gay is legendary.
 
NX_01 Mark said:
Sheep said:
I've only seen one episode (one of the more recent Jeremy Clarkson ones), so I'm not really qualified to say much about it.

I am very surprised there hasn't been a U.S. version though--the format seems like it would lend itself to American TV quite well.
Click to expand...

Am not sure the American audience would find it interesting enough since its a topical quiz.
Click to expand...

It probably wouldn't work on network TV, but I would think a short run season (e.g., 13 episodes) would be a great pairing with something like the Daily Show or the Colbert Report. Or if CNN wants to continue trying to get mainstream programming (like that dreadful D.L. Hughley abomination), this would be a great format for them.
 
I still watch it from time to time, but I think I preferred it more in the old days. It was pretty much compulsive viewing back then. I really loved Angus Deyton's delivery, for one thing. My favourite episode was the Jeffery Archer installment. God, that was a classic.
 
SO many funny memories..


The Tub of Lard episode, culminating in Paul Merton receiving his Missing Words round featuring foreign language headlines. :lol:
Hislop vs. Yates: hilarious, yet in hindsight somewhat sad...
Every appearance of BoJo the Clown :guffaw:
The episode where Hislop and Charlie Brooker answered every question correctly, while Merton and Ross Noble scored zero... :wtf:
BRIAN BLESSED! :D
And of course the legendary Angus and the Prostitute episode, with such gems (courtesy of WikiQuote) as:
Ian Hislop: I wanted the question about the Roman transvestite. Did anyone read that? It was just under all the stories about Angus, but it was rather good.
Paul Merton: Remind me.
Ian Hislop: They found the remains of a Roman transvestite who lived happily in England. He belonged to the cult of this woman called Cybele and all her followers used to go out into the streets and if they'd been unfaithful they would cut off their own testicles as a symbol of repentance.
Angus Deayton: Thank God we live in enlightened times.
Paul Merton: Has anyone got a pair of nail scissors?
Click to expand...
 
I know somebody who was a guest in the early days.
Great show. If you like it you should read Private Eye magazine.
 
I only saw a handful of episodes but loved the show right from the start. Absolutely hilarious.
I only ever saw the episodes with Angus Deayton. I thought it was a real shame that he left, because I thought he was excellent. I first saw him on KYTV (always loved this scene btw :D).

Why did he actually leave?
 
Justtoyourleft said:
I only ever saw the episodes with Angus Deayton. I thought it was a real shame that he left, because I thought he was excellent. I first saw him on KYTV (always loved this scene btw :D).

Why did he actually leave?
Click to expand...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2006614.stm
(see also the links therein)

Basically, Deayton was caught with a prostitute, and the show ridiculed him for it, initially in a mocking and self-referential way. However, the ridicule became too much of a dominant topic on the show (particularly on a later episode where the not exactly saintly Christine Hamilton [*hackspit*] took great delight in reminding him of his shame), and eventually it was decided he was to leave.
 
Zion Ravescene said:
Justtoyourleft said:
I only ever saw the episodes with Angus Deayton. I thought it was a real shame that he left, because I thought he was excellent. I first saw him on KYTV (always loved this scene btw :D).

Why did he actually leave?
Click to expand...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2006614.stm
(see also the links therein)

Basically, Deayton was caught with a prostitute, and the show ridiculed him for it, initially in a mocking and self-referential way. However, the ridicule became too much of a dominant topic on the show (particularly on a later episode where the not exactly saintly Christine Hamilton [*hackspit*] took great delight in reminding him of his shame), and eventually it was decided he was to leave.
Click to expand...

Oh wow. That's pretty cruel, isn't it? I mean I don't want to defend what he did but couldn't his colleagues have eased up a little on the matter?
 
^It was only over the course of a few weeks, like the last half of the series, if I remember rightly.
Angus is now presenting "Would I Lie To You" which works quite well.

I love HIGNFY, I just watched a repeat of one of the ones Boris presented, on Dave. That's probably one of the few things I miss off Sky is watching the decade old repeats.
Then again I pretty much love all the BBCs comedy panel shows.
 
Justtoyourleft said:
Zion Ravescene said:
Justtoyourleft said:
I only ever saw the episodes with Angus Deayton. I thought it was a real shame that he left, because I thought he was excellent. I first saw him on KYTV (always loved this scene btw :D).

Why did he actually leave?
Click to expand...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2006614.stm
(see also the links therein)

Basically, Deayton was caught with a prostitute, and the show ridiculed him for it, initially in a mocking and self-referential way. However, the ridicule became too much of a dominant topic on the show (particularly on a later episode where the not exactly saintly Christine Hamilton [*hackspit*] took great delight in reminding him of his shame), and eventually it was decided he was to leave.
Click to expand...

Oh wow. That's pretty cruel, isn't it? I mean I don't want to defend what he did but couldn't his colleagues have eased up a little on the matter?
Click to expand...
Ian Hislop's feeling on the matter was that Angus had "become the news" and when this happens, it becomes distracting to balance during the running of the show. Angus had also become an insultingly easy target for the guests' witty (or not) barbs and especially for Paul Merton, and generally the atmosphere post-Angusgate was somewhat awkward. When this happens, there's only really one way out..
 
I only started watching last year, but I do like it. I still remember the host from last season who basically shouted everything he said. :)
 
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