Have I Got News For You

[Hexx]

Balding was an unfunny as ever, but it was a great episode.

I like Balding, but she's just not good at this sort of thing. I did laugh at "Speaking of idealogical lunatics Ken, what...."

Corking episode in general though.

[merman]

Having watched the extended version, I say well done to the programme for not shying away from the Saville issue. And I totally agree with what Ian Hislop said.

[womblingfree]

Had to turn off this weeks HIGNFY because Hislop's self-righteous smugness actually had me rooting for a former Telegraph owner, Tory and convicted fraudster. I presume Hislop's a Lib Dem to have managed to make an obnoxious, right-wing ideologue look half-decent.

[boomeh]

Dang I see what you mean.Not even 10 minutes in and the show nearly hit a break wall thanks to all that.

[Hexx]

Yeah - Hislop's overplayed that and came across as a Schoolyard bully.

[boomeh]

Conrad Blacks full interview with Paxman is pretty awesome actually

[Hexx]

I thought Black actually came out if it very well - which given the history was surprising. Just the over-attacking made him the sympathic victim.

[KRP]

I actually thought Alexander Armstrong was harsher than Hislop.

[womblingfree]

Victoria Coren managed to save a couple of awkwardly embarrassing moments and was rewarded by being patronised by Hislop doing an impression of a Victorian moral crusader. He was obviously rattled by the audience actually finding Conrad Black's responses quite funny.

[boomeh]

yeah I agree actually. Armstrong came off as a bullys subordinate more than anything. He knew he was in a safe environment with Hislop already laying into him so heavily and the audience apparently laughing along with it, so felt like he could safely give Black a quick kicking during almost every question.

Victoria Coren and Paul Merton rescued it though

edit

aye womblingfree

edit

anyone who wants to see properly funny jibes at people on the show, the episode where Angus Deaton shows up after his face has been on the front of every tabloid newspaper still holds up incredibly well.

[Roboplegic Wrongcock]

I thought Hislop and Black enjoyed the back and forth tbh.

[merman]

Victoria was brilliant.

[Dandy_Sephy]

I thought Hislop and Black enjoyed the back and forth tbh.

Generally I find that if Hislop has it in for someone it's because they've brought it on themselves and it's a real test of a guests character. Either they fight back and come off well or they make a fool of themselves trying to match him, thus sealing their own fate. In Black's case, he was pretty stuck up at the top of the show but came alive after Hislop started laying into him. By the end of the show it was a entertaining duel.

I do wonder why people who don't like Hislop's very attacking nature would watch the show, it's his job not only on the show but during his day job to show up politicians and other people of debatable repute. It's a bit like criticising Merton for making non-sensical surrealist jokes, it's been his job for the last 20 years.

note: I've not seen the extended.

In other news, Roger Moore is hosting next month.

[mirodo]

Victoria was brilliant.

She always is.

[Dandy_Sephy]

Harry Shearer is a panelist tonight

[Dandy_Sephy]

new series tonight

[Yiggy]

Very good.

Though I am in love with Richard Osman so I'm biased.

[Elseb]

Tonight's episode has been dreadful, Robert Lindsay isn't a very good host.

[layten]

Clarkson back on the BBC. Osman making a complete tool of himself.

[pulsemyne]

Wow the ending got cut to ribbons. Wonder what was said.

[JPickford]

Clarkson back on the BBC. Osman making a complete tool of himself.

Good description. Osman goot a few good jokes in but he totally fucked up most of them.

[Mentazm]

Hislops deflection was much more interesting than clarkson v Osman.