Have I Got News For You

Victoria Coren Mitchell takes to the host's seat, with Carol Vorderman and Ignacio Lopez joining team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop as they delve into the news.

Victoria Coren Mitchell makes her 18th appearance in the guest host's chair.

Broadcasting legend Carol Vorderman also returns to the HIGNFY panel, after making a return to the show last series for the first time since 2006.

Joining Coren Mitchell and Vorderman as the week's final panellist is rising comedy star Ignacio Lopez, who makes his debut appearance on the show.

With a busy week of news to cover at the Tory party conference and the Prime Minister's decision to scrap HS2, the panels wasted no time getting stuck straight in.

Of particular interest to the panel was Liz Truss's return speech at the conference, which attracted a huge crowd where cabinet ministers had been struggling to fill auditoriums. And eyebrows were raised by Nigel Farage's attendance at the conference too, in his capacity as a journalist for GB News.

"They did go to Liz Truss's event, what was that called?" asked host Coren Mitchell.

"'I've Learnt Nothing'" joked Hislop.

"'Let's Make Britain Grow Again' it was called," Coren Mitchell clarified.

"'Let's Remove This Growth'. 'Has This Woman No Shame?'" laughed Hislop, suggesting alternative titles.

"The conference did last longer than her premiership," quipped Lopez.

"Why was Nigel Farage there?" asked Coren Mitchell.

"He's taken over the party," replied Hislop.

"Some people say he's going to be leader," Coren Mitchell pointed out.

"Leader of what?" Hislop replied.

"Of the Conservative Party, he'll come in as leader," Coren Mitchell responded.

"You're just trying to scare people late at night," Hislop joked.

"It's the charisma, it's the sort of froggy charisma of the man. And I tell you what, some Conservatives are delighted because of his electoral attributes. How did Gawain Towler, former UKIP aide, explain Farage's appeal? It's quite the turn of phrase," Coren Mitchell warned.

"Go on then, I'd love to hear it," Paul Merton confirmed.

"As I say, brace yourselves... he told the Politico website: 'Nigel Farage has this unerring ability to touch the clitoris of public opinion'" Coren Mitchell read out to the shocked laughter and stunned faces of the panel.

"Can we get five buckets?" joked Merton.

Elsewhere in the episode, the panels also dissected Prime Minister Sunak's announcement that the government would be scrapping HS2 plans, and spending the money instead on alternative transport schemes in the north.

"What was the big announcement that he had to make?" asked Coren Mitchell.

"That he's still Prime Minister? One year on..." laughed Hislop.

"Is it something to do with HS2, by any chance? They're following on their policy... stop the boats, and also the trains" quipped Lopez.

"I think it's quite a good decision. I mean, for years, we've been saying this is a colossal waste of money, it's staggering the mismanagement. It is a colossal failure in cost management, so I'm quite happy to scrap the lot..." said Hislop.

"What? The Conservative party?" joked Lopez.

"It does seem the Conservatives constantly leave a massive open goal and Keir Starmer is just kind of behind it, vaping and playing Wordle," laughed Coren Mitchell.

"But that's Labour's main policy: 'we're not Conservatives'," Hislop replied.