The WORST episodes of Have I Got News for You

Every episode of Have I Got News for You ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Have I Got News for You!

Based on the week's news, Have I Got News For You is fronted by guest hosts and features two regular team captains, Paul Merton and Ian Hislop. Each week the show invites two guests to cast a jaundiced eye over the week's news, resulting in a fast flow of anarchic, spontaneous and hugely entertaining wit and humour. Guests typically represent the world of politics, comedy, show-business and journalism, and are often themselves particularly newsworthy participants. The final touches of Have I Got News For You are put together only hours before recording, allowing guests to comment on the late-breaking news stories of the day.

Last Updated: 3/29/2024Network: BBC OneStatus: Continuing
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Jimmy Savile, Diane Abbott
star
4.75
4 votes

#1 - Jimmy Savile, Diane Abbott

Season 17 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/28/1999

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Omid Djalili, Clement Freud
star
5.38
32 votes

#2 - Omid Djalili, Clement Freud

Season 22 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/30/2001

Lee Mack, Ross Noble, Victoria Derbyshire
star
5.42
31 votes

#3 - Lee Mack, Ross Noble, Victoria Derbyshire

Season 42 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/28/2011

Popular news quiz with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Lee Mack and guest panellists Victoria Derbyshire and Ross Noble.

Directors: Lissa Evans
Martin Clunes, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Chris Addison
star
5.53
34 votes

#4 - Martin Clunes, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Chris Addison

Season 39 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/13/2010

Martin Clunes chairs Chris Addison, Julia Hartley-Brewer, Paul Merton and Ian Hislop.

Christmas Special - Daniel Radcliffe, Sara Cox, Andy Hamilton
star
5.62
34 votes

#5 - Christmas Special - Daniel Radcliffe, Sara Cox, Andy Hamilton

Season 44 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/21/2012

Popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Daniel Radcliffe and guest panellists Sara Cox and Andy Hamilton.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Bruce Forsyth, Laura Solon, Ross Noble
star
5.62
34 votes

#6 - Bruce Forsyth, Laura Solon, Ross Noble

Season 39 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/27/2010

Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are joined by Bruce Forsyth, Ross Noble and Laura Solon.

William Shatner, Charlie Brooker, Andy Hamilton
star
5.85
67 votes

#7 - William Shatner, Charlie Brooker, Andy Hamilton

Season 43 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/25/2012

Popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host William Shatner and guest panellists Charlie Brooker and Andy Hamilton.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Miranda Hart, Mark Steel, Andrew Neil
star
6.19
31 votes

#8 - Miranda Hart, Mark Steel, Andrew Neil

Season 38 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/30/2009

The popular news quiz with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Miranda Hart and guest panellists Mark Steel and Andrew Neil.

Directors: John L. Spencer
Jack Dee, Marcus Brigstocke, Rebecca Front
star
6.20
30 votes

#9 - Jack Dee, Marcus Brigstocke, Rebecca Front

Season 38 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/13/2009

The popular news quiz with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jack Dee and guest panellists Marcus Brigstocke and Rebecca Front.

Bill Bailey, Armando Iannucci, Adam Buxton
star
6.20
30 votes

#10 - Bill Bailey, Armando Iannucci, Adam Buxton

Season 33 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/4/2007

Comedy quiz show that grills contestants on the week's news, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, host Bill Bailey and panellists Armando Iannucci and and Adam Buxton.

Roger Moore, Marcus Brigstocke, Rachel Johnson
star
6.29
34 votes

#11 - Roger Moore, Marcus Brigstocke, Rachel Johnson

Season 44 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/23/2012

Popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Sir Roger Moore and guest panellists Marcus Brigstocke and Rachel Johnson.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Eamonn Holmes, Armando Iannucci, Robert Peston
star
6.31
32 votes

#12 - Eamonn Holmes, Armando Iannucci, Robert Peston

Season 39 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/20/2010

With guest host Eamonn Holmes and guest panellists Armando Iannucci and Robert Peston.

Kathy Burke, Ken Livingstone, Joe Wilkinson
star
6.34
35 votes

#13 - Kathy Burke, Ken Livingstone, Joe Wilkinson

Season 43 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/18/2012

Kathy Burke guest-hosts the satirical current affairs quiz, with regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton joined by Ken Livingstone and Joe Wilkinson to poke fun at the weeks news.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Jo Brand, Humphrey Ker, Graham Linehan
star
6.41
39 votes

#14 - Jo Brand, Humphrey Ker, Graham Linehan

Season 43 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/20/2012

Popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jo Brand and guest panellists Humphrey Ker and Graham Linehan.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Alexander Armstrong, Nadine Dorries, Reginald D. Hunter
star
6.41
34 votes

#15 - Alexander Armstrong, Nadine Dorries, Reginald D. Hunter

Season 43 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/11/2012

Popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Alexander Armstrong and guest panellists Nadine Dorries MP and Reginald D Hunter.

Directors: Lissa Evans
Jeremy Clarkson, Nancy Dell'Olio, Kevin Bridges
star
6.49
37 votes

#16 - Jeremy Clarkson, Nancy Dell'Olio, Kevin Bridges

Season 43 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/4/2012

Popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jeremy Clarkson and guest panellists including Nancy Dell'Olio and Kevin Bridges.

Directors: Lissa Evans
Alastair Campbell, Nick Hewer, Ross Noble
star
6.56
36 votes

#17 - Alastair Campbell, Nick Hewer, Ross Noble

Season 43 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/1/2012

Alastair Campbell, best known for working with Tony Blair between 1997 and 2003, makes his much anticipated debut as guest host. Alan Sugar's right-hand man Nick Hewer and funnyman Ross Noble are the guest panellists.

Directors: Lissa Evans
Charles Kennedy, Jan Ravens
star
6.75
4 votes

#18 - Charles Kennedy, Jan Ravens

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/8/1992

Angus Deayton hosts the news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop and guest panellists Charles Kennedy and Jan Ravens.

Ronni Ancona, Stewart Lee, Andy Hamilton
star
6.83
6 votes

#19 - Ronni Ancona, Stewart Lee, Andy Hamilton

Season 32 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/24/2006

Comedy quiz show that grills celebrity contestants on the week's news, with captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, panellists Stewart Lee and Andy Hamilton and host Ronni Ancona.

Kirsty Young, Max Keiser, Tony Law
star
6.86
51 votes

#20 - Kirsty Young, Max Keiser, Tony Law

Season 46 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/1/2013

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Kirsty Young and guest panellists Max Keiser and Tony Law.

Directors: Lissa Evans
Sandi Toksvig, Kate Saunders
star
6.92
26 votes

#21 - Sandi Toksvig, Kate Saunders

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/1990

Angus Deayton hosts the news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop and guest panellists Sandi Toksvig and Kate Saunders.

Richard Osman, Dan Snow, Mark Steel
star
6.93
78 votes

#22 - Richard Osman, Dan Snow, Mark Steel

Season 46 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/11/2013

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Richard Osman and guest panellists Dan Snow and Mark Steel.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Jo Brand, Kevin Bridges, Jacob Rees-Mogg
star
6.94
52 votes

#23 - Jo Brand, Kevin Bridges, Jacob Rees-Mogg

Season 47 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/16/2014

The popular news quiz, with team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop, guest host Jo Brand and guest panellists Kevin Bridges and Jacob Rees-Mogg MP.

Directors: Paul Wheeler
Stephen Mangan, Zoe Lyons, Rev. Richard Coles
star
6.97
30 votes

#24 - Stephen Mangan, Zoe Lyons, Rev. Richard Coles

Season 59 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/10/2020

Team captains Paul Merton and Ian Hislop are joined by guest host Stephen Mangan and panellists Zoe Lyons and the Rev. Richard Coles.

Jeremy Clarkson, Mo Mowlam, Michael Grade
star
7.00
6 votes

#25 - Jeremy Clarkson, Mo Mowlam, Michael Grade

Season 24 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/20/2002