Have I Got News For You: Iconic Satire Show Thrives Across Two Continents

Britain’s Long-Running Satirical Institution

Have I Got News for You (HIGNFY) is a British television panel show, produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC, which premiered on 28 September 1990. The programme has become a cornerstone of British satirical comedy, with 625 episodes aired across 70 series as of 7 November 2025. It focuses on two teams, one captained by Ian Hislop and one by Paul Merton, plus a guest panellist on each answering questions on various news stories on the week prior to an episode’s broadcast.

This style of presentation had a profound impact on panel shows in British TV comedy, making it one of the genre’s key standard-bearers. The show originally featured Angus Deayton as host until 2002, after which it adopted a rotating guest host format that has become one of its defining characteristics.

American Expansion Brings Fresh Perspective

In a significant development for the franchise, the show premiered on September 14, 2024, on CNN and aired around the time of the 2024 United States elections. The American version of the long-running UK comedy series is hosted by Roy Wood Jr. along with team captains Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black. Unlike its British counterpart, the US version features a permanent host rather than rotating guests.

The show received mixed reception but improved the network’s ratings for its slot and was recommissioned for a second series, which began airing on February 15, 2025. Produced by Hat Trick Productions for CNN Originals, the second season of Have I Got News for You premieres Saturday, February 15 at 9pm ET/PT on CNN.

Continuing Success and Cultural Impact

The British version continues to thrive in its 70th series, maintaining its traditional format whilst adapting to contemporary politics. The BBC has commissioned two series each year, the number of episodes being divided between the Spring series, broadcast from April to June, and the Autumn series, shown from October to December. Recent episodes have featured prominent hosts including Hannah Fry, Martin Clunes, and Katherine Ryan, demonstrating the show’s ability to attract diverse talent.

The programme’s influence extends beyond entertainment. It’s been suggested by a number of commentators that Boris Johnson’s popular appearances on the show may well have helped him go on to become Mayor of London, and then later PM. This underscores how Have I Got News For You has become more than just a comedy programme—it’s a cultural touchstone that shapes public discourse about politics and current affairs in both the UK and now the United States.