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
  • 600 episodes (67 series)

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

Episode menu

Series 59, Episode 1

In the first of a new series - and for the first time, without a studio audience - Paul and Ian are joined by host Steph McGovern, and guest panellists journalist Helen Lewis and comedian Miles Jupp.

Notes

Paul and Helen won, 7 points to 4.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 3rd April 2020
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes
Recorded
  • Thursday 2nd April 2020, 19:00 at Riverside Studios (Coronavirus cancelled - no audience)

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 6th April 2020 11:15pm
45 minute version
BBC1
Monday 21st June 2021 11:15pm BBC1

Cast & crew

Cast
Ian Hislop Team Captain
Paul Merton Team Captain
Guest cast
Steph McGovern Host / Presenter
Miles Jupp Guest
Helen Lewis Guest
Writing team
Pete Sinclair Writer (Additional Material)
Colin Swash Writer (Additional Material)
Rob Colley Writer (Additional Material)
Ged Parsons Writer (Additional Material)
Dan Gaster Writer (Additional Material)
Kevin Day Writer (Additional Material)
Shaun Pye Writer (Additional Material)
James Farmer Writer (Additional Material)
Katie Storey Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Jo Bunting Series Producer
Mike Rayment Producer
Richard Wilson Executive Producer
Ruby Kuraishe Executive Producer
James Branch Editor
Jonathan Paul Green Production Designer
Mikki Rain Production Designer
George Webley (as Big George) Composer
Dave Whyte Graphics

Press

What happens when a joke is followed by silence

Now, I'm not the funniest person in the world. (Maybe the fourth, or fifth? I try to stay humble.) But when I started doing live comedy, I was even worse than I am now. Nothing teaches you how to generate a laugh--or makes you more keen to get one--than ending a sentence and being greeted with the howling sound of absolute silence.

Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 8th April 2020

Why it's great news that HIGNFY back

Paul and Ian are exactly what we need right now, says Emma Bullimore.

Emma Bullimore, Radio Times, 3rd April 2020

Have I Got News For You, review

Satire institution proves it can actually thrive on the current chaos.

Michael Hogan, The Telegraph, 3rd April 2020

Producers will build virtual set around Hislop & Merton

Ian Hislop and Paul Merton will be in their seats and the satire promises to be as sharp as ever, but movement restrictions and a ban on studio audiences means the team captains, host Steph McGovern and panellists Miles Jupp and Helen Lewis will trade topical quips from the safety of their front rooms, speaking to remotely-controlled cameras.

Adam Sherwin, i Newspaper, 1st April 2020

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