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 66, Episode 2

Have I Got News For You. Alexander Armstrong
Alexander Armstrong takes to the host's seat for a 40th time. Joining him is GB News political correspondent Olivia Utley and Miles Jupp.

Further details

On hosting for a record 40th time, Alexander Armstrong says: "I can't believe I've done 40 of these. You'd honestly have hoped I'd be better at it by now. I cross my fingers after every series that they'll have me back. And I still seem to be getting away with it. Have I learnt any tips over the 40 shows on how to control Ian and Paul? Um, no."

Following last week's Conservative party conference, this week saw Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party head to Liverpool for their own conference.

The Labour leader's speech got off to an unexpected start, with a protester storming the stage and covering him in glitter. With the 28-year-old protester later being linked to a group called 'People Demand Democracy', as the panel discussed, it wasn't immediately apparent what he had been protesting about.

"The most exciting moment was Keir Starmer getting 'glittered'. The protester - no one quite knows what he was actually protesting, as it was very long and complicated. He was still explaining it as he was being dragged past us," said GB News correspondent Olivia Utley, who had been present at the speech.

"I thought it was someone from 'Just Stop Strictly'," joked Hislop.

"I'm actually dressed up as Keir Starmer," quipped Utley, pointing to her glittery hairband and red top.

"Starmer wouldn't be wearing red!" laughed Hislop.

"What was the point of the glitter though? Was that to add a level of interest?" Merton asked.

"I mean, it made Starmer look great. Everyone around me was saying so," Utley replied.

"He had to take his jacket off. It looked slightly rehearsed. Suddenly it was 'Keir gets down to work'. Shirt sleeves, no jacket, not formal, not posh," pointed out Hislop.

"I think it was rehearsed, because he'd ironed his shirt sleeves. Who does that unless they're planning to take their jacket off!" joked Utley.

"Oh, you think this was choreographed?" asked host Armstrong.

"Yeah, I do! No, I don't really..." smiled Utley.

"Well, GB News.. they like a conspiracy theory!" joked Hislop.

Once Starmer had brushed the glitter off his shoulders, he continued with his party conference speech, repeating his pledge that Labour would build 1.5m new homes and making a big policy announcement to build a 'generation of Labour new towns'.

"What was Keir's big idea at the conference?" Armstrong asked.

"His big idea was to become Prime Minister," quipped Hislop.

"Yes, how is he backing that up?" asked Armstrong.

"Housing," Merton replied.

"Yes, where is he going to build these houses?" Armstrong queried.

"Beautiful places. Next to people who object to it," joked Miles Jupp.

"It's not on the green belt," Armstrong clarified.

"The brown belt? One of the belts..." laughed Jupp.

"Black belt?" Merton joked.

"No, it's the grey belt. It seems very Keir, doesn't it? Yes, Keir Starmer wants to recreate the heady atmosphere of the new towns - the sunlit uplands of Stevenage, Crawley, Milton Keynes... can we remember any of the other new towns?" asked Armstrong.

"Basildon, Bracknell. When I worked in the civil service I was in charge of the new towns scheme. So for the first time in the history of this programme I know what I'm talking about," quipped Merton, to laughter and applause from the audience.

"OK, so let's have four more," pushed Armstrong.

"Thank you for the round of applause, it makes me feel a lot better. It was a new and expanded town scheme. So Hastings was one of them as well...," replied Merton.

"Skelmersdale, Welwyn Garden City. And just one pointless answer and that was Newtown.... so well done if you got that!" joked Armstrong, reverting to his role as Pointless host.

Notes

Jon Richardson was originally billed to appear in this episode, but was replaced by Miles Jupp.

Paul and Miles won, 7 points to 6.

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 13th October 2023
Time
9pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes
Recorded
  • Thursday 12th October 2023, 19:10 at Riverside Studios

Repeats

Show past repeats

Date Time Channel
Monday 16th October 2023 10:40pm
45 minute version
BBC1
Monday 16th October 2023 11:10pm
45 minute version
BBC1 Wales
Tuesday 17th October 2023 12:25am
45 minute version
BBC1 Scot

Cast & crew

Cast
Ian Hislop Team Captain
Paul Merton Team Captain
Guest cast
Alexander Armstrong Host / Presenter
Miles Jupp Guest
Olivia Utley 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)
Katie Storey Writer (Additional Material)
Eleri Morgan Writer (Additional Material)
Keiron Nicholson Writer (Additional Material)
Production team
David Smith Director
Mike Rayment Series Producer
Jack Harris Producer
Richard Wilson Executive Producer
Katie Taylor Executive Producer
Jon Ellis Editor
Daniel Keevil Editor
Matt Roberts Editor
Dan Isitt Editor
Richard Potts 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

Videos

Labour's home building policy

The panel discuss Keir Starmer's party conference speech, in which he repeated his pledge that Labour would build 1.5m new homes.

Featuring: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton, Alexander Armstrong, Olivia Utley & Miles Jupp.

Kier Starmer and glitter

Keir Starmer's Labour Party headed to Liverpool for their conference. The Labour leader's speech got off to an unexpected start, with a protester storming the stage and covering him in glitter.

Featuring: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton, Alexander Armstrong, Olivia Utley & Miles Jupp.

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