Have I Got News For You, also referred to as HIGNFY by journalists and people fond of unpronounceable acronyms, has been on TV such a long time that just about everyone has been on it - from Bruce Forsythe to Eddie Izzard to Salman Rushdie.

You, the very person reading these words, have probably been on it. In fact, it's such a mainstay of telly that it's easy to forget how sharp and subversive it can still be.

It's seen Paul Merton repeatedly describe the new Pope as having the "eyes of a killer", Will Self accuse guest host Neil Kinnock of political hypocrisy, and Robert Kilroy-Silk relentlessly challenged on his views on Muslims.

But perhaps the greatest guest of all was a tub of lard (by which we literally mean a container filled with animal fat) which bravely stood in for Roy Hattersley. Apparently, the tub of lard was "imbued with much the same qualities and liable to give a similar performance" as the former deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Comments (2)

zkkyby

October 28, 2008
12:59 a.m.

I love Have I got news for you... It really is witty banter at it's best. Paul Merton is the wittiest man in Britain, so it's very fitting you show it Dave. Don't ever let it end!

Peter1995

October 27, 2008
2:31 p.m.

paul merton is mint!!!
You must be logged in to post comments