List of Have I Got News for You episodes

Have I Got News for You (HIGNFY) is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. Episodes were originally aired on BBC Two between 28 September 1990 and 2 June 2000, before being aired on BBC One since 20 October 2000. Two exclusive-to-video editions, three Comic Relief crossovers with fellow BBC panel shows and a 60-minute live webcast version, also for Comic Relief, have aired. The list also includes the compilation episodes produced for the programme – those made between 1995 and 2001, and from 2010 onwards.

All episodes include details on the guest panellists who featured on each team – captained by Ian Hislop and Paul Merton (unless otherwise noted) – the scores achieved, and, since the third episode of Series 24 after the dismissal of its former host Angus Deayton, the guest host that presented the programme.

Episode list

The following lists the episodes of HIGNFY per series, including guest panellists for each team, scores, and, since the third episode of the 24th series, the host for that corresponding episode. The coloured backgrounds denote the result of each of the shows: – indicates Ian's team won – indicates Paul's team won – indicates the game ended in a draw

Series 1 (1990) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores01x0128 September 1990Sandi ToksvigKate Saunders25–2101x025 October 1990Jan RavensMartin Young23–2501x0312 October 1990Tony SlatteryRobert Harris23–2501x0419 October 1990Arthur SmithGill Pyrah24–2601x0526 October 1990Dillie KeaneSimon Hoggart22–2001x062 November 1990Rory McGrathKen Livingstone MP22–2401x079 November 1990Clive AndersonRussell Davies19–2101x0816 November 1990Germaine GreerTony Banks MP18–21

Series 2 (1991) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores02x014 October 1991Sandi ToksvigDavid ThomasThe scores were not stated at the end of this episode02x0211 October 1991Tony SlatteryAlan Coren21–2502x0318 October 1991Rory McGrathTony Banks MP25–1802x0425 October 1991John WellsRobert Harris16–1802x051 November 1991Nick HancockClare Short MP20–1802x068 November 1991Stephen FrostMichael White12–2202x0715 November 1991Craig FergusonTrevor McDonald11–1402x0822 November 1991Richard IngramsRichard Littlejohn13–1902x0929 November 1991Jan RavensMartin Young14–1502x106 December 1991Kevin DayEdwina Currie MP23–1702x1124 December 1991Christmas specialHarry EnfieldClive Anderson26–31

1992 General Election Special (1992) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScoresSp.9 April 1992Election specialRory BremnerAlan Coren20–22

Series 3 (1992) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores03x0124 April 1992John WellsTony Slattery15–2303x021 May 1992Donna McPhailJoan Bakewell20–1803x038 May 1992Jan RavensCharles Kennedy MP21–1903x0415 May 1992Harry EnfieldJohn Diamond16–2303x0522 May 1992Rory McGrathKen Livingstone MP11–1703x0629 May 1992Danny BakerSteve Steen16–2103x075 June 1992Anne RobinsonGriff Rhys Jones17–1903x0812 June 1992Stephen FrostStephanie Calman14–1803x0919 June 1992John SessionsTrevor McDonald18–2303x1026 June 1992Norman WillisCecil Parkinson12–17

Series 4 (1992) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores04x0116 October 1992John SessionsGriff Rhys Jones17–1604x0223 October 1992The game finished as a tie at 16–16, so the caption competition was used as a tie-breaker, where Paul earned the biggest laugh. This is the only time points have ever been awarded for this section.David BaddielCharles Kennedy MP16–1704x0330 October 1992Danny BakerAnnabel Giles13–1104x046 November 1992Frank SkinnerJerry Hayes MP13–1804x0513 November 1992Rory BremnerKen Livingstone MP17–1304x0620 November 1992Sandi ToksvigNick Hancock18–1604x0727 November 1992Chris TarrantMeera Syal16–1804x084 December 1992Jo BrandNeil Kinnock MP18–1504x0911 December 1992Peter CookDouglas Adams11–1704x1018 December 1992Stephen FryFrank Skinner12–18

Have I Got A Question of Sport for You (1993) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScoresSp.12 March 1993Special programme for Comic Relief, combining elements of Have I Got News for You with another popular panel show, A Question of Sport.Frank BrunoBill Beaumont9–11

Series 5 (1993) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores05x0116 April 1993Jonathan RossPeter Cook11–1305x0223 April 1993Chris EvansFiona Armstrong15–1705x0330 April 1993Frank SkinnerRichard Littlejohn17–1505x047 May 1993Caroline QuentinBaz Bamigboye16–1705x0514 May 1993Meera SyalAmanda Platell17–2105x0621 May 1993Mark ThomasDavid Steel MP18–2005x0728 May 1993Alan CorenJohn Simpson18–1105x084 June 1993Tony Slattery"The Rt. Hon. Tub of Lard MP"The tub of lard was a stand-in for Roy Hattersley, who had pulled out of a recording at the last minute for the third time. Angus explained that Hattersley and the lard were "imbued with many of the same qualities". This marks the first occasion that the panel consisted of fewer than five people.16–20

Series 6 (1993) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores06x0129 October 1993"Margaret Thatcher special", focusing on her period as Prime Minister and broadcast as part of a night of programming themed around her. Agreed by both Ian and Paul to be the show's 'worst' episode, due to the two guests doing nothing but "spit poison at each other".Derek HattonEdwina Currie MP18–1206x025 November 1993Tony HawksRoy Hattersley MP13–2106x0312 November 1993Alexei SayleGerald Kaufman MP13–1706x0419 November 1993Jo BrandFrank Bough16–2006x0526 November 1993Jimmy TarbuckVitali Vitaliev20–1406x063 December 1993Kathy BurkeMartin Young17–1906x0710 December 1993Maria McErlaneJon Snow13–2106x0817 December 1993Maureen LipmanLesley Abdela17–1906x0924 December 1993In a typical example of the occasional 'end of season japes', Ian and Paul swapped seats – and dress senses – for this episode.Griff Rhys JonesBob Geldof10–23

Series 7 (1994) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores07x0122 April 1994Jonathan RossEddie Izzard15–2107x0229 April 1994Kathy LetteCaroline Quentin21–1407x036 May 1994Bob MonkhouseFrancis Wheen13–2407x0413 May 1994Jack DeeTony Hawks17–1607x0520 May 1994Hugh DennisJohn Stalker19–1707x0627 May 1994Maureen LipmanSir Rhodes Boyson MP15–1607x073 June 1994It was during this episode that Ian was suffering from appendicitis.Mariella FrostrupNeil Kinnock MP16–1807x0810 June 1994Donna McPhailSalman Rushdie9–14

Series 8 (1994) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores08x0128 October 1994Martin ClunesJames Pickles14–1508x024 November 1994Arthur SmithRichard Coles13–1408x0311 November 1994Lee HurstAndrew Morton12–1108x0418 November 1994Nick HancockDavid Icke19–1208x0525 November 1994Helen Atkinson-WoodSir Teddy Taylor MP17–2508x062 December 1994Hattie HayridgeGlenda Jackson MP13–1408x079 December 1994Jack DochertyMoray Hunter13–1508x0816 December 1994Hugh DennisMichael Buerk12–1308x0923 December 1994Alexei SayleKelvin MacKenzie13–11

Series 9 (1995) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores09x0121 April 1995Diane Abbott MPJulian Clary14–1709x0228 April 1995Eddie IzzardMichael Winner10–1409x035 May 1995John FortuneJohn Bird15–1609x0412 May 1995Steve WrightAlan Cumming8–1809x0519 May 1995Fred MacAulayGermaine Greer14–1209x0626 May 1995Frank SkinnerRaoul Heertje17–1009x072 June 1995Tim RiceTerry Major-Ball13–1409x089 June 1995Spike MilliganAndrew Neil11–13

Have I Got Unbroadcastable News for You (1995) EpisodeRelease dateIan's teamPaul's teamScoresVideo30 October 1995Included a special guest appearance by Germaine Greer in the Odd One Out round, and extra features including a video diary from The Rt. Hon. Tub of Lard MP.Richard WilsonEddie Izzard29–26

Series 10 (1995) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores10x0127 October 1995Gordon KennedyPaula Yates12–1310x023 November 1995Bob MillsAlex Salmond MP12–1110x0310 November 1995Melvyn BraggMike Yarwood13–810x0417 November 1995Alan CorenTerry Christian11–710x0524 November 1995Neil MorrisseyTeresa Gorman MP8–1310x061 December 1995Alan DaviesKen Livingstone MP11–1410x078 December 1995Craig CharlesP. J. O'Rourke13–510x0815 December 1995Lee HurstMark Little (and Colin the ParrotColin was a sulphur-crested cockatoo that had supposedly been trained to squawk out various heckles at Angus, but his only contribution was a brief "Hello" towards the end. Paul Merton later said that gimmicks like this contributed to his decision to take the following series off.)10–1110x0923 December 19951995 highlights

Series 11 (1996) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamGuest teamScores11x0119 April 1996Paul MertonEddie Izzard and Charles Kennedy MP13–711x0226 April 1996Dermot MorganEddie Izzard and Janet Street-Porter8–1011x033 May 1996Alan Davies13–1511x0410 May 1996Claire RaynerMartin Clunes and Neil Morrissey8–711x0517 May 1996Fred MacAulayEddie Izzard and Max Clifford15–1111x0624 May 1996Felix DexterClive Anderson and Piers Morgan11–1011x0731 May 1996Rich HallAlan Davies and Rupert Allason MP5–1311x087 June 1996Richard WilsonJohn Bird and John Fortune17–10

Series 12 (1996) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores12x014 October 1996Greg ProopsKen Livingstone MP13–1812x0211 October 1996 Rhona CameronPeter Stringfellow8–1112x0318 October 1996Mark LittleNigel Lawson9–1012x0425 October 1996Maureen LipmanTony Parsons9–1112x051 November 1996Gordon KennedyElvis Costello14–1712x068 November 1996Tony HawksVincent Hanna15–1312x0715 November 1996Mark HurstFrancis Wheen6–1912x0822 November 1996Jack DochertyAustin Mitchell MP15–812x0929 November 1996Alan DaviesJennifer Paterson15–1012x1020 December 19961996 highlights

Series 13 (1997) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores13x0118 April 1997Fred MacAulaySwampy16–1113x0225 April 1997Hugh DennisWill Self12–1113x031 May 1997Richard WilsonNick Ross13–1213x049 May 1997Maureen LipmanNeil and Christine HamiltonOriginally, only Christine had been due to appear, but she requested an extra seat be reserved for husband Neil (only a week after Martin Bell had famously ousted him from Parliament in that year's general election). This marked the first occasion where the panel has consisted of more than five people.14–1313x0516 May 1997Jack DochertyGreg Dyke12–1013x0623 May 1997Sue PerkinsEve Pollard9–1513x0730 May 1997Martin ClunesMichael Parkinson10–1113x086 June 1997Dominic HollandGermaine Greer8–13

Series 14 (1997) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores14x0124 October 1997Bob MonkhouseKen Livingstone MP9–1314x0231 October 1997Max BoyceAlex Salmond MP15–1614x037 November 1997Dermot MorganFrancis Wheen7–1214x0414 November 1997Graeme GardenKirsty Young12–1114x0521 November 1997Arabella WeirTony Livesey6–1314x0628 November 1997Hattie HayridgeWarren Mitchell11–1314x075 December 1997Jeff GreenBrian Sewell16–914x0812 December 1997Alan DaviesMatthew Parris20–2114x0919 December 19971997 highlights

The Official Pirate Video (1997) EpisodeRelease dateIan's teamPaul's teamScoresVideo3 November 1997The end of this episode featured a walk-on guest appearance by Mr. Bramley, where he was "awarded" to the losers.Martin ClunesNeil Morrissey12–21

Series 15 (1998) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScores15x0117 April 1998Patrick KieltyStephen Bayley6–1215x0224 April 1998Janet Street-PorterBoris Johnson13–1215x031 May 1998Will SelfJohn Humphrys10–1715x048 May 1998Phil HammondPatrick Moore8–1315x0515 May 1998Jonathan KingJohn Sergeant11–1015x0622 May 1998Germaine GreerChris Donald11–1515x0729 May 1998Antony Worrall ThompsonOona King MP10–1615x085 June 1998Danny BakerRichard Wilson10–14

Series 16 (1998) EpisodeAir dateIan's teamPaul's teamScoresViewing figures16x0123 October 1998John SimpsonMagnus Magnusson8–136.54m16x0230 October 1998Ian McCaskillMichael Mansfield7–135.97m16x036 November 1998Jackie MasonMichael Crick13–106.9m16x0413 November 1998Alan TitchmarshStephen Bayley10–146.73m16x0520 November 1998Loyd GrossmanBob Marshall-Andrews MP8–96.57m16x0627 November 1998Linda SmithGavin Esler12–156.49m16x074 December 1998Charles Kennedy MPGeorge Melly10–116.46m16x0811 December 1998Tom BakerMuriel Gray10–66.24m16x0918 December 19981998 highlights5.27m