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 65, Episode 10

Have I Got News For You. Clive Myrie
Clive Myrie takes to the host's chair, whilst Munya Chawawa and Helen Lewis join Ian and Paul to discuss the week's news stories.

Further details

It has been an incredibly busy week of news surrounding world leaders, with Donald Trump's arrest over his handling of classified national security documents, Nicola Sturgeon's arrest by police investigating allegations of financial misconduct within the SNP, and the passing of Italy's controversial former PM Silvio Berlusconi.

But the big political story dominating headlines this week was Boris Johnson's resignation as an MP, and the subsequent release of the covid inquiry findings that he deliberately misled Parliament over lockdown parties.

"This round should be 'Reasons To Be Cheerful'," quipped Ian Hislop, continuing, "Yes, it's been a terrific day. The sun is out, and so is he. The Privileges Committee have found that Boris Johnson did deliberately lie. He lied at the time to the Commons, he lied about lying later, he lied about whether he lied about the lying, he lied at every point and he ended up calling the Committee liars. He got into a terrific tantrum, had a go at everyone and said it was a 'witch hunt' - which it isn't if you are a witch. He says everyone has behaved incredibly badly, except himself. But he's gone, he's gone!"

"...but he's here tonight!" joked Paul Merton, pointing out to the studio wings.

"There was a brilliant tweet from one of his supporters Sir James Duddridge, saying 'What do people want? Do they want him put in the stocks? Do they want people pelting him with rotten eggs?' You thought 'why ask a question you already know the answer to'" laughed Helen Lewis, continuing, "He would have got a 90 day suspension from the Commons, although they might now take away his free pass to the Parliamentary Estate, which you are normally entitled to as an MP. So he won't be able to get reduced price canteen food... that's how we do it in Britain!"

"90 days was increased from 20 wasn't it, because of the way he had attacked the committee once he'd got advanced copy of it last week," Merton pointed out.

"Yeah, he went into full 'Trump' mode. I was surprised his supporters weren't wearing antlers and outside the House of Commons, storming it with AK47s," joked Hislop.

"At least with 90 days, he can have one day of quality time per child," quipped Munya Chawawa.

The panel also discussed the former PM's resignation honours list, which has caused a stir this week, with Ian Hislop arguing that it should be declared null and void following the release of the covid inquiry findings.

"The only people who are defending Boris are the people who he gave an honour three days ago. There is a case I think for suggesting that the political honours that he gave out should all be nulled," argued Hislop.

"There's a coterie of weirdness about him isn't there. People like Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries, Michael Fabricant. It's like the human version of 'The Muppets'," joked Merton.

"Everything Johnson touches turns to sh*t really. The honours system is the last of them. Normally, we go through the honours list looking for people who are dodgy. This year we went through looking for anyone who wasn't. I mean, the people he gave honours to... there was a bloke called 'Party Marty'... I wonder what he was in charge of?" Hislop replied.

"My favourite of all the honours is the one for the parliamentary hairdresser, the one who did Boris's hair. She got an MBE! Imagine what she could have got if she'd been any good!" joked Lewis.

"What has proved controversial about the honour awarded to Charlotte Owen?" asked host Myrie.

"She's 29 years-old. So six years ago she was an intern, now she's going to make our laws for the next half century," pointed out Lewis.

"She's the youngest peer ever appointed," Hislop agreed.

"No one knows why she has got this honour. She's only 29 and she has served less than two years in the policy unit at Number 10," Myrie stated.

"Did she do the least damage of anyone there?" joked Hislop.

Notes

Paul and Helen won, 6 points to 4.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 16th June 2023
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes
Recorded
  • Thursday 15th June 2023, 19:10 at Riverside Studios

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 19th June 2023 10:40pm
45 minute version
BBC1
Monday 19th June 2023 11:40pm
45 minute version
BBC1 Scot
Tuesday 20th June 2023 12:10am
45 minute version
BBC1 Wales
Sunday 10th March 2024 9:00pm
60 minute version
Dave
Monday 11th March 2024 2:25am
50 minute version
Dave

Cast & crew

Cast
Ian Hislop Team Captain
Paul Merton Team Captain
Guest cast
Clive Myrie Host / Presenter
Helen Lewis Guest
Munya Chawawa Guest
Writing team
Colin Swash Writer (Additional Material)
Ged Parsons Writer (Additional Material)
Dan Gaster Writer (Additional Material)
Kevin Day Writer (Additional Material)
Shaun Pye Writer (Additional Material)
Christine Rose Writer (Additional Material)
Katie Storey Writer (Additional Material)
Laura Claxton Writer (Additional Material)
Eleri Morgan Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
Martin Lord Director
Jo Bunting Series Producer
Jack Harris Producer
Richard Wilson Executive Producer
Suzanne McManus Executive Producer
Jon Ellis Editor
Daniel Keevil Editor
Matt Roberts Editor
Graham Barker Editor
Kirsty Robertson Editor
Jonathan Paul Green Production Designer
Mikki Rain Production Designer
Karen Jackson Costume Designer
Peter Raby Lighting Designer
George Webley (as Big George) Composer
Phil Hewson Graphics
David Ward Graphics

Press

Clive Myrie pulled from BBC News At Ten over Boris Johnson jokes

Clive Myrie was pulled from the BBC's News At Ten last Friday over fears of an anti-Tory bias because an episode of Have I Got News For You featuring him as the host was being shown that evening.

Alex Farber, The Times, 22nd June 2023

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