Alexander Armstrong makes a record 40th appearance as the guest of Have I Got News For You this evening (Friday, October 13). On the milestone, Armstrong said:
“I can’t believe I’ve done 40 of these. You’d honestly have hoped I’d be better at it by now. I cross my fingers after every series that they’ll have me back. And I still seem to be getting away with it. Have I learnt any tips over the 40 shows on how to control Ian and Paul? Um, No.”
Joining team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton on the panels are GB News political correspondent Olivia Utley, and comedian Miles Jupp, who is making his first Tv appearance since announcing that he had a brain seizure in 2021 and neurosurgery.
Have I Got News For You returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer tonight at 9pm,
Following last week’s Conservative party conference, this week saw Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party head to Liverpool for their own conference.
The Labour leader’s speech got off to an unexpected start, with a protester storming the stage and covering him in glitter. With the 28-year-old protester later being linked to a group called ‘People Demand Democracy’, as the panel discussed, it wasn’t immediately apparent what he had been protesting about.
“The most exciting moment was Keir Starmer getting ‘glittered’. The protester – no one quite knows what he was actually protesting, as it was very long and complicated. He was still explaining it as he was being dragged past us,” said GB News correspondent Olivia Utley, who had been present at the speech.
“I thought it was someone from ‘Just Stop Strictly’,” joked Ian Hislop.
“I’m actually dressed up as Keir Starmer,” quipped Utley, pointing to her glittery hairband and red top.
“Starmer wouldn’t be wearing red!” laughed Hislop.
“What was the point of the glitter though? Was that to add a level of interest?” Paul Merton asked.
“I mean, it made Starmer look great. Everyone around me was saying so,” Utley replied.
“He had to take his jacket off. It looked slightly rehearsed. Suddenly it was ‘Keir gets down to work’. Shirt sleeves, no jacket, not formal, not posh,” pointed out Hislop.
“I think it was rehearsed, because he’d ironed his shirt sleeves. Who does that unless they’re planning to take their jacket off!” joked Utley.
“Oh, you think this was choreographed?” asked host Armstrong.
“Yeah, I do! No, I don’t really…” smiled Utley.
“Well, GB News.. they like a conspiracy theory!” joked Hislop.
Once Starmer had brushed the glitter off his shoulders, he continued with his party conference speech, repeating his pledge that Labour would build 1.5m new homes and making a big policy announcement to build a ‘generation of Labour new towns’.
“What was Keir’s big idea at the conference?” Armstrong asked.
“His big idea was to become Prime Minister,” quipped Hislop.
“Yes, how is he backing that up?” asked Armstrong.
“Housing,” Merton replied.
“Yes, where is he going to build these houses?” Armstrong queried.
“Beautiful places. Next to people who object to it,” joked Miles Jupp.
“It’s not on the green belt,” Armstrong clarified.
“The brown belt? One of the belts…” laughed Jupp.
“Black belt?” Merton joked.
“No, it’s the grey belt. It seems very Keir, doesn’t it? Yes, Keir Starmer wants to recreate the heady atmosphere of the new towns – the sunlit uplands of Stevenage, Crawley, Milton Keynes… can we remember any of the other new towns?” asked Armstrong.
“Basildon, Bracknell. When I worked in the civil service I was in charge of the new towns scheme. So for the first time in the history of this programme I know what I’m talking about,” quipped Merton, to laughter and applause from the audience.
“OK, so let’s have four more,” pushed Armstrong.
“Thank you for the round of applause, it makes me feel a lot better. It was a new and expanded town scheme. So Hastings was one of them as well…,” replied Merton.
“Skelmersdale, Welwyn Garden City. And just one pointless answer and that was Newtown…. so well done if you got that!” joked Armstrong, reverting to his role as Pointless host.
Pictures: Hat Trick Productions
