Have I Got News for You
A BBC One Original
Have I Got News for You is a sharp fast moving take on weekly headlines. The show turns recent news into a playground for jokes, not a serious briefing. With Paul Merton and Ian Hislop as team captains, two panels chase points and punch lines as stories from the past week are teased, twisted, and... Read more
Where to Watch "Have I Got News for You"
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Streaming availability last verified: January 17, 2026
About Have I Got News for You
Have I Got News for You is a sharp fast moving take on weekly headlines. The show turns recent news into a playground for jokes, not a serious briefing. With Paul Merton and Ian Hislop as team captains, two panels chase points and punch lines as stories from the past week are teased, twisted, and lampooned. The format blends trivia with off the cuff banter, letting the jokes land even when the details blur. It favors timing and attitude over perfect recall, delivering a lively back and forth that skewers politics, media spin, and public fuss without losing its sense of fun. The show thrives on the clash of styles between dry wit and bold misdirection, keeping viewers engaged.
Premiering in 1990, Have I Got News for You is directed by Paul Wheeler. The show takes weekly current events as its source and pairs rotating panels with two team captains, creating a fast paced and repeatedly topical comedy platform.
Awards: The provided data does not list major nominations or wins for the show. While Have I Got News for You is widely recognized as a staple of British satire, this description relies on the available information rather than a record of accolades.
Cultural Impact: The program helped shape political panel comedy by fusing news puns with a game show vibe. Its brisk banter and willingness to mock every side of the political spectrum echoed in later shows and discussions about how comedy can handle serious public debate. Its influence endures in formats.
Reception & Themes: Critics have generally welcomed the show's irreverent tone and quick exchanges. Here the main themes are satire of politicians and the media, the rush of headlines, and the balance between clever jokes and real world context in a format that stays entertaining yet pointed for audiences today.
Details
- Release Date
- September 28, 1990
- Episode Length
- 30m
- Rating
- NR
- User Ratings
- 77 votes
- Type
- TV Series
- Seasons
- 70
- Episodes
- 636
- Network
- BBC One, BBC Two
- Status
- Returning Series
- Genres
- Comedy, News
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Studio
- Hat Trick Productions +1 more
- External Links
- View on IMDB
Cast
Paul Merton
Self - Team Captain
Ian Hislop
Self - Team Captain
Director: Paul Wheeler
Created by: Lary Budd, Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Paul Dunphy
Seasons (70 seasons, 636 episodes)
Series 1
8 episodes - 1990
Series 2
11 episodes - 1991
Series 3
10 episodes - 1992
Series 4
10 episodes - 1992
Series 5
8 episodes - 1993
Series 6
9 episodes - 1993
Series 7
8 episodes - 1994
Series 8
9 episodes - 1994
Series 9
8 episodes - 1995
Series 10
9 episodes - 1995
Series 11
8 episodes - 1996
Series 12
10 episodes - 1996
Series 13
8 episodes - 1997
Series 14
9 episodes - 1997
Series 15
8 episodes - 1998
Series 16
9 episodes - 1998
Series 17
8 episodes - 1999
Series 18
9 episodes - 1999
Series 19
8 episodes - 2000
Series 20
9 episodes - 2000
Series 21
8 episodes - 2001
Series 22
10 episodes - 2001
Series 23
8 episodes - 2002
Series 24
9 episodes - 2002
Series 25
8 episodes - 2003
Series 26
9 episodes - 2003
Series 27
8 episodes - 2004
Series 28
9 episodes - 2004
Series 29
8 episodes - 2005
Series 30
9 episodes - 2005
Series 31
8 episodes - 2006
Series 32
9 episodes - 2006
Series 33
8 episodes - 2007
Series 34
9 episodes - 2007
Series 35
8 episodes - 2008
Series 36
10 episodes - 2008
Series 37
8 episodes - 2009
Series 38
9 episodes - 2009
Series 39
9 episodes - 2010
Series 40
10 episodes - 2010
Series 41
9 episodes - 2011
Series 42
10 episodes - 2011
Series 43
9 episodes - 2012
Series 44
10 episodes - 2012
Series 45
9 episodes - 2013
Series 46
10 episodes - 2013
Series 47
9 episodes - 2014
Series 48
10 episodes - 2014
Series 49
9 episodes - 2015
Series 50
11 episodes - 2015
Series 51
9 episodes - 2016
Series 52
10 episodes - 2016
Series 53
9 episodes - 2017
Series 54
10 episodes - 2017
Series 55
9 episodes - 2018
Series 56
10 episodes - 2018
Series 57
9 episodes - 2019
Series 58
10 episodes - 2019
Season 59
9 episodes - 2020
Season 60
10 episodes - 2020
Season 61
9 episodes - 2021
Series 62
10 episodes - 2021
Series 63
9 episodes - 2022
Series 64
7 episodes - 2022
Series 65
10 episodes - 2023
Series 66
10 episodes - 2023
Series 67
10 episodes - 2024
Series 68
10 episodes - 2024
Series 69
10 episodes - 2025
Series 70
10 episodes - 2025
