Let's celebrate the brilliant Have I Got News For You

[SayNoToReform]

Can we just take a moment to celebrate how brilliant HIGNFY still is?

I’ve been watching it for years and it remains one of the few programmes that actually makes me laugh out loud while also being properly sharp about what’s going on in the world.

Friday's one with Katherine Ryan had me in stitches.

But there's predictable right-wing rage online about the show every single week, because it's not afraid to mock Reform / Restore / Tory voters for being thick.

The same crowd who used to bang on about “free speech” and “you can’t joke about anything anymore” suddenly lose their minds the moment the jokes are aimed at the Tories, Reform, dodgy billionaires, or the latest culture war nonsense. The hypocrisy is hilarious.

When it was lampooning Blair or Brown they didn’t seem to mind so much, but now it’s “biased lefty propaganda” apparently.

Sorry, but holding politicians to account, especially the ones actually in power or trying to get it, is literally the point of satire. Ian Hislop is still as good as ever at skewering the lies and incompetence, and Paul Merton’s surreal tangents are comedy gold. The guest hosts and panellists are usually excellent too (yes, even when they’re not right-wing).

It feels like a proper British institution that hasn’t sold out to the lowest common denominator or turned into yet another culture war shouting match. In an era of endless online propaganda and unfunny “own the libs” YouTube channels, HIGNFY is a reminder that you can be clever, funny, and actually say something at the same time.

Anyone else still a fan, or am I the only lefty left who thinks it’s held up brilliantly?

Are you new to MN? There are many similar threads including one just last week. Many people, myself included think it is well past its prime.

It is funny, no doubt. But I think they played a big part in allowing Boris Johnson to develop his "lovable buffoon" image and helped him become delectable. Also helped Nigel Farage seem "mainstream" and legitimate to an extent.

I totally agree OP, it remains excellent and a must watch for me. Yes it’s left-leaning, but they will go at anyone. Sheila Hancock was brilliant the other week and I thought Jo Coburn was really good on Friday.

To the person implying they had a part in Johnson becoming PM - this is ridiculous - no one could have possibly predicted that when he made his first appearance.

Agree. I love elements of HIGNFY but I remember saying years ago that I thought BJ was an incredibly dangerous person to give a platform to, NF too

I don’t think I’ve watched it since Angus Deayton presented it.

I dont think it was deliberate, but as another poster said, they gave him (and others Tbf) a platform which he took full advantage of.

Its a particularly good series this time

My STBXH stopped watching it because they took the piss out of Jeremy Corbyn. It wasn't allowed to be on in the house as it was proof of the ' Right Wing biased BBC' and we only had one telly so I've gotten out of the habit of watching it. So they may be Left leaning but they are equal opportunity pisstakers. The Hard Left are just as humourless.

Same.
haven't found it funny since he left.

I like it.

I think it’s quite subjective. Last week we had a thread saying it was outdated and boring but I found that episode very funny. This week I didn’t enjoy it so much. Not because of the target of the jokes, just didn’t hit my funny bone. But I think it’s important that we have platforms like this to hold all public figures to account. I read Private Eye too for the same reason.

It’s completely ignored the glaring women’s issue of our time, as has Hislop’s Private Eye.

One of the few programmes that makes me laugh out loud. I love Paul Merton though.

He is extremely witty!

I've noticed a few cautious mentions, but agree they could be a lot more robust

Exactly that. And I couldn't understand the people who liked him, it was obvious to me how dangerous it was to have someone like that in politics.

We always watch it

i watched the first half about Murrell and Sturgeon which was excellent but i had to go to bed and missed the rest
i do like to watch it when i can

Mock the week was funnier.

I don't respect the avoidance of the trans issue. Particularly IH.

Calling people thick because they have a different political position is lazy and reductive and just not funny.

Treatment of Angus Deayton was horrible - there was no loyalty or kindness there to 'one of their own'.

People who vote Reform / Restore / Tory tend to be thick so it's only right that a satirical show mocks them?

I disagree and I'm not a Reform (or Tory) voter. Politics is awful right now - there doesn't seem to be any integrity or honesty. Politicians from all parties seem to be on the take/dodging the financial and legal obligations that they impose on the electorate. People are voting for what they perceive to be the least worst or are just crying out for change. It's a cry for help, born out of desperation at the state of our current leaders. To say these people are just thick, is a massive over simplication. Maybe that's to be expected from a poster on MN, but I'd assume a satirical current affairs show would be aiming for something more impressive.

@TinyRebel "It’s completely ignored the glaring women’s issue of our time, as has Hislop’s Private Eye."

Agreed. Hislop is a smug, misogynistic relic anyway. Merton's almost certainly as bad, just less obvious.

@Aiming4Optimistic "Treatment of Angus Deayton was horrible - there was no loyalty or kindness there to 'one of their own'."

Angus Deayton fell foul of the "old boys club" that he was very much a firm fixture of. He didn't show any kindness to Paul Yates during the gratuitous morality roasting she was subjected to from the rest of the "boys". And he displayed very little kindness when he had a threesome with a call girl and a 12 month affair whilst his wife was pregnant.

Agree. It has got funnier again recently as well.

I did think Friday's episode was very good. They were focussed on the SNP as well which was a change and kept it fresh

Not a fan

Not after they treated Jefemy Corbyn as the anti christ.