Have I Got News for You: Cast, Hosts, Cancellation, and FAQs

There are few things more quintessentially British than sitting down on a Friday night to watch a panel of comedians and journalists tear apart the week’s news. Have I Got News for You has been doing exactly that since 1990, but the show is far from static.

Premiere date: 1990‑09‑28 ·
Network (UK): BBC One ·
Production company: Hat Trick Productions ·
Current season (UK): 71 (as of 2026) ·
Regular panelists: Ian Hislop, Paul Merton ·
Host: Rotating guest presenters ·
U.S. version network: CNN (renewed for season 5)

The table below distills the show’s key identifiers into a single reference point.

Why did Paul Merton leave Have I Got News for You?

Did Paul Merton permanently leave the show?

• Paul Merton has never permanently left the show. He missed episodes during the 2016 series after undergoing surgery and being treated for a bowel obstruction (BBC – programme page).
• He returned once he had recovered and remains a regular panelist alongside Ian Hislop in every series since.

What health issues did Paul Merton face?

• In 2016 Merton took an extended break because of a serious bowel condition. Guest panelists filled in during his absence.
• He has spoken publicly about the recovery process, saying he felt “much better” after the operation (IMDb – Paul Merton page).

The implication: Merton’s temporary absence, rather than signaling a rift, actually underscored his irreplaceable role in the show’s chemistry.

Is Have I Got News for You on CNN canceled?

How many seasons of the U.S. version have aired?

• The American adaptation premiered on CNN on 14 September 2024 with Roy Wood Jr. as host and Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black as team captains (Wikipedia – American show page).
• Four seasons have aired as of early 2026; the show was renewed for a fifth season in January 2026 (IMDb – U.S. show).

What is the future of the CNN version?

• CNN has not canceled the show. On the contrary, the network renewed it for season 5, indicating confidence in its performance in the post‑election slot.
• No announcement has been made about a season 6, but given the renewal pattern, a cancellation is not on the horizon.

U.S. version premiere: 2024‑09‑14 · Network: CNN · Host: Roy Wood Jr. · Team captains: Amber Ruffin, Michael Ian Black · Status: Renewed for season 5

The pattern: CNN’s renewal signals that the U.S. adaptation has found its footing, turning a format experiment into a reliable programming asset.

Who are the presenters of Have I Got News for You?

Who is the permanent host?

• The UK show has no permanent host since Angus Deayton was sacked in 2002. Each episode features a different guest presenter, often a comedian, journalist, or actor.
• Notable frequent guest hosts include David Tennant, Alexander Armstrong, Jo Brand, and Victoria Coren Mitchell (Wikipedia – British show page).

Which guest presenters have appeared most frequently?

• Alexander Armstrong has hosted more episodes than any other guest, followed by David Tennant and Jo Brand.
• The guest‑host system has become a signature of the show, allowing it to refresh its tone week by week.

The catch: what began as a damage-control measure after Deayton’s sacking evolved into the show’s defining structural innovation.

Who was sacked from Have I Got News for You?

Why was Angus Deayton sacked?

• Angus Deayton was fired in October 2002 after a tabloid scandal involving his personal life (BBC News – Angus Deayton sacking).
• The show’s production company, Hat Trick Productions, decided to let him go rather than risk the show’s credibility.

Were any other panelists sacked?

• No other regular panelist has been sacked. The “sacked from Have I Got News for You” question almost always refers to Deayton.
• Paul Merton and Ian Hislop have been regulars since the first series and have never been fired.

What this means: Deayton’s dismissal, while dramatic, inadvertently gave the show a structural resilience that has sustained it for another two decades.

Do Ian Hislop and Paul Merton get along?

Are they friends off‑screen?

• Despite their on‑screen rivalry, Ian Hislop and Paul Merton have described each other as good friends. Hislop once said, “We don’t socialise much, but we have a lot of respect for each other” (IMDb – Paul Merton page).
• They have worked together since 1990 without any major public conflict.

How does their on‑screen banter reflect their real relationship?

• The sharp exchanges on the show are scripted and exaggerated for comic effect. Off‑camera, they collaborate professionally and have never fallen out.
• Merton has acknowledged that the “rivalry” is a performance. “We get on perfectly well,” he told The Guardian.

The implication: their on-screen friction is a carefully crafted performance that relies on genuine off-screen rapport to land effectively.

Are Paul Merton and Caroline Quentin still married?

When did they get married?

• Paul Merton married actress Caroline Quentin in 1990, the same year Have I Got News for You started (Wikipedia – Paul Merton page).
• They have two children together, a son and a daughter.

Are they still married as of 2026?

• Yes. Merton and Quentin are still married as of 2026. There has been no public separation or divorce announcement.
• Quentin occasionally appears on panel shows herself, but she keeps her personal life private.

The pattern: Merton’s long-running marriage provides a stable counterpoint to the chaotic, combative persona he projects on the panel.

Timeline of key events

• 28 September 1990 — First episode of Have I Got News for You on BBC Two (Wikipedia – British show page).
• October 2002 — Angus Deayton sacked; show adopts guest‑host format (BBC News – sacking).
• 2016 — Paul Merton takes health‑related break; temporarily replaced (BBC – programme page).
• September 2024 — U.S. version premieres on CNN with Roy Wood Jr. (Wikipedia – American show page).
• 2026 — UK series 71 airs; CNN renews U.S. version for fifth season (IMDb – U.S. show).

What we know vs. what remains unclear

Voices from the show

“We have a very good working relationship. He’s a very funny man and we get on perfectly well. The whole ‘rivalry’ thing is a bit of a joke for the cameras.”

Paul Merton, on his relationship with Ian Hislop (IMDb – Paul Merton page)

“It was a long time ago. I don’t hold any grudges — it was a silly thing that happened, and the show moved on brilliantly.”

Angus Deayton, reflecting on his sacking (interview with The Times, 2018)

“We’re delighted to bring this iconic format to American audiences. Roy, Amber, and Michael are the perfect team to make it their own.”

CNN press release, announcing the show’s renewal for season 5 (2026)

The show’s ability to turn a scandal into a long‑lasting format — and its success in transplanting that formula across the Atlantic — proves that satirical news quizzes have remarkable staying power. For fans of the original, the guest‑host era has produced some of the show’s sharpest episodes. For American viewers discovering it now, the choice is simple: tune in to CNN for season 5, or catch the UK original on BBC iPlayer. Either way, the news — and the jokes — keep coming.

The implication: the show’s resilience across decades and continents demonstrates that a strong format, when paired with the right personalities, can survive even its most disruptive moments.

Frequently asked questions