"Have I Got News for You" (1990) TV series 1990-????

Director:

Ben Fuller

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Game-Show

Plot:

Hilarious, totally-irreverent, near-slanderous political quiz show, based mainly on news stories from the last week or so...

Plot Keywords:

Quiz Show | Satire | Based On Radio Show | Non Fiction

Awards:

11 wins & 34 nominations

Cast

Ian Hislop	...	Himself - Team Captain (318 episodes, 1990-2009)
Paul Merton	...	Himself - Team Captain / ... (310 episodes, 1990-2009)
Angus Deayton	...	Himself - Host (198 episodes, 1990-2002)

Also Known As:

HIGNFY (UK) (short title)
Have I Got 1992 for You (UK) (rerun title)
Have I Got Old News for You (UK) (rerun title)
Have I Got a Little Bit More News for You (UK) (rerun title (longer version))
Have I Got the 90s for You (UK) (rerun title)

Runtime:

29 min (290 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

The London Studios, Upper Ground, South Bank, London, England, UK

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Paul Merton was absent for the eleventh series because he felt that the show had gotten into a bit of a rut and hoped things would get shaken up. The tactic succeeded, and the show has since been much more popular as a result. He also appeared in the first episode of that series as Ian Hislop's guest. He returned for the following series.

Quotes:

Angus Deayton: And did you chat with the Queen Mother?
Paul Merton: We talked about you.
Angus Deayton: No, you didn't.
Paul Merton: Yes, we did.
Angus Deayton: What did she say about me?
Paul Merton: I've never heard such language in all my life.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The South Bank Show: Humphrey Lyttelton (#30.16)" (2007)

The very best of the UK panel shows

Hosted by Angus Deayton, two teams (Captains Hislop and Merson and one guest each) pick through the weeks news in a quiz format. Rounds include odd one out, working out a story from news footage, missing words round etc. Winning is not as important as making good jokes.

This is the original panel show that sparked off copies on other subjects, music (never mind the buzzcocks) sport (they think it's all over) TV (It's only TV but I like it) etc. However it's a very British style of comedy - relying on sharp wits and cynical, satirical views on news stories. Deayton provides the scripted lines, Hislop provides the cruel satirical wit and Merson provides the off the wall style humour. All three are very different but work together very well making for a constant stream of jokes that appeal to different senses of humour.

The chemistry is so good that the guests don't really matter. Some are very good and match the sharp wits joke for joke. However others are clearly out of their depth and are not able to keep up with the joking, rather just try to answer the questions straight. Many are on so that they can be the butt of jokes - politicians are the main group that walk a tightrope by appearing on the show. However the guests are not that important - indeed Merson's team mates have included an Elton John impersonator and a tub of lard (after guests dropped out at the last moment), yet the show was as funny as ever.

Overall very Private Eye Editor Hislop's sharp, cynical humour mixed with Merson's surreal brand of comedy held together in a quiz format makes for a very funny show that feels as fresh as it did all those years ago.