Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hislop: Have I Got News for Trump
Show’s stars on 30yrs of top moments.. and dream host
HAVE I Got News For You is 30 this autumn and team captain Ian Hislop hopes Donald Trump will soon be a former US President with time on his hands to appear as a guest host.
The Private Eye editor, who has been on the show from the start, said: “I would like Ex-president Donald Trump to be guest host of the show next series. I have an awful feeling this may not happen.”
Both Hislop, 60, and his opponent Paul Merton, 63, picked the episode highlighting Dominic Cummings’ lockdown trip to Barnard Castle as a favourite.
Hislop said: “We were all locked down obeying the Government rules, but Dominic Cummings was not.
“It was a real test for the programme, but obviously not an eye test of the type that requires you to drive to Barnard Castle with your son in the back of the car to see if you hit any pedestrians or bollards.” Merton agreed: “I really game shows, including Play Your Cards enjoyed the last episode of last series, Right and the Generation Game. which was the week that Dominic Merton said: “He brought so much fun Cummings gave himself an eye test.” to the set and made it so unlike any
The comedy panel game, which is other episode for its light entertainment back for its 60th series on October 2, is values. I find it funny that the show I returning to the studio after the last run liked the most is probably the one Ian was pieced together from the socially hates the most.” distanced panellists’ living rooms. His favourite guests were Spike
Angus Deayton hosted the show at its Milligan in 1995 and Peter Cook who launch on BBC2 in 1990, leaving in 2002, appeared twice, in 1992 and 1993. amid a sex and drugs scandal. He said: “Both of them were heroes of
In all its 524 episodes, p there have been mine growing up. Peter Cook la laughing 115 15 guest hosts, and for foor at something I said was a Mer erton t o n o one n e of h his i s moment I won’t forget.” favourites vourites was Bruce Hislop’s high highlights Fo orsyth, r s y t h , when w h e n he h e included J e r e my hosted osted for the first Clarkson making maki him time me in 2003, bleed by throwing thro a throwing rowing in biro at his face. references ferences Then there th was to o his the “m “morning own wn afte after the election” show, when a floor manager made numerous appearances to tell them which party leaders had resigned as they were recording.
Another favourite was Canadian actor William Shatner appearing as host, despite having “no idea who any of us were and no knowledge of British current affairs at all” and declaring that Ilfracombe was “laced with prostitutes”.
Although Merton took a break in 1996 and Hislop has appeared in ever y episode, Merton has thrashed Hislop in the number of series won – notching up 44 victories compared to his rival’s 5.
Hislop admitted: “I can’t believe we have been going for 30 years. That’s half my life. When we made the pilot 30 years ago my late mother came to see it and I asked her what she thought of it. Her verdict was, ‘Never mind dear’.”