It seems unlikely that the ultimate question to the ultimate answer to life, the universe and everything is: "How many series of Have I Got News for You have there been?" But this week saw the start of the 42nd series.

Jo Brand hosted the first episode back, with Victoria Coren alongside Ian Hislop and Graham Linehan with Paul Merton. When I learnt about the line-up my immediate reaction was, "Thank God!" It's something of a rarity for HIGNFY to have a line-up consisting of people who are all essentially humorists. No politicians, no journalists, just people who are paid to be funny for a living. That is who we want. It's generally one of the advantages that Mock the Week has over HIGNFY, in that all the people on MTW are nearly always comics.

Everyone on this week's show had their moments, whether it's Coren on her hatred of cat lovers, Linehan's in-depth knowledge of Twitter, or Merton suggesting confusion between Michael Winner smoking a cigar and a picture of a seagull doing a poo. What a wonderfully awful image.

However, the best bit was that this episode was the first in a while which didn't make any lazy jokes about Eric Pickles being fat. It won't last...

Back for its umpty-seventh series, Have I Got News For You is firmly established as the televisual equivalent of Private Eye. The two share not only the dominant presence of Ian Hislop, but an engaging balance of bitter satire and affable cosiness. Though the humour in both is essentially angry, it's also reliable and predictable, an exercise in applying the same jokes repeatedly to differing news events. Paul Merton returns as the opposition captain.

It's the big daddy, the elder statesman of satire shows. As Panorama is to current events, Have I Got News for You is to taking the mickey out of them.

Other shows (Mock the Week, say) may be faster-paced and more densely packed with gags but this is the satire show of record, the point on a Friday night where politicians and celebrities are enjoyably cut down to size and media storms dispatched with a curl of Ian Hislop's lip or a surreal quip from Paul Merton.

For the first of this new ten-part run - their 42nd - Jo Brand is tonight's guest host.

As much a part of the British autumn as football and conkers, the 42nd series of the topical quiz show begins with Jo Brand asking the questions, and Ian Hislop and Paul Merton - along with guests Victoria Coren and Graham Linehan - answering them. After a year in which the tabloid newspaper industry has taken a battering, and politicians continue to wade in sleaze, they will not lack for material.

Video: Ian Hislop on his favourite Private Eye covers

Taking time off from disputing apostrophes in this week's magazine, guest editor Ian Hislop sat down with us for a bit of nostalgia.

He talked us through his favourite Private Eye covers ever, as the magazine celebrates its 50th birthday.

Ian Hislop: satirist in chief

He's been called the most influential voice in British politics, the Dalai Lama of satire, a fogey, a moralist, a troublemaker and a cynic. Meet Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye.

Making sense of Private Eye's messy archives

Even editor Ian Hislop was surprised by some of the material found for a new history of the publication.

Ian Hislop's Grand Theft Auto review

Have I Got News For You veteran Ian Hislop this week finally got his hands on computer game Grand Theft Auto for the first time. His verdict? "Execrable" - but that's not to say the encounter won't raise a titter.

Radio review: I've Never Seen Star Wars

The format of this show is perfect for Ian Hislop's reputation for dodging much that's modern or wildly popular. Take jeans for example - he's never worn them.

MediaGuardian 100 2011: 97. Ian Hislop

The Private Eye editor has challenged privacy injunctions, led the way on important stories - and has also managed to boost sales.