Preview - Have I Got News for You

One of the big questions in the comedy world at the moment is whether we are experiencing a new satire boom?

While HIGNFY has lost a good deal of its bite, this new series will be intriguing. Will hitherto regular Ken Livingstone be invited on to burble about Hitler? Will any Labour MPs subject themselves to Corbyn-related derision? And, with impartiality more contested than ever, what will be the Brexit angle? Socialist luvvie Patrick Stewart chairs this opener, presumably to the bloviating chagrin of right-wing newspaper columnists everywhere.

Patrick Stewart to host HIGNFY

Former Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart has been confirmed as the host of the first episode of the new series of BBC One panel show stalwart Have I Got News for You.

Radio Times review

There's a trio of mutant superheroes in the studio as the stars of X-Men: Days of Future Past (Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender) take their place on Graham's sofa.

They've all been on the show before but, judging by an online Q&A with them, when they're together there's a lot of laughter, back-slapping and fooling around. Plus the occasional send-up of their rather theatrical co-stars, Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.

Bringing a little femininity to proceedings is Eurovision hopeful Molly, who performs Children of the Universe.

Graham Norton's sofa is blessed with acting heavyweights tonight. The titillating talk-show host is joined by Liam Neeson (whose new movie The Grey, about a plane crash, comes out at the end of this month) and Trekkie-turned-Shakespearean Patrick Stewart, who will be appearing in Bingo at the Young Vic. Light relief comes from curly-haired comedian Alan Davies, who has been touring Australia with his new stand-up show, with music provided by soppy balladeer Ed Sheeran.

The return of the standup show in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital, something you may need to bear in mind as you resentfully endure the comedy stylings of Chris Moyles. He's joined, however, by Sarah Millican, Dara O'Briain, Jack Dee, Lee Evans and Jonathan Ross. There are musical contributions from Dead Cat Bounce and those young scamps N-Dubz, as well as video appearances from Lady Gaga, Russell Brand, Whoopi Goldberg and Patrick Stewart. Rob Brydon also chips in.

James Corden 'no problem' with Patrick Stewart

James Corden has insisted that he has no problem with Patrick Stewart following their infamous bust-up at last year's Glamour Awards.

James Corden & Patrick Stewart: A very unedifying spat

Several hours after his very public spat with Star Trek legend Sir Patrick Stewart on the podium of the Glamour awards, James Corden was still brooding. Corden admitted to one friend that he was 'worried' about how the whole thing would be perceived.

James Corden and Sir Patrick Stewart clash on stage

Comedian James Corden and Sir Patrick Stewart became involved in a bizarre on-stage spat at the Glamour Awards on Tuesday.