News about Ian Hislop

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Are the £75 tours of Buckingham Palace's balcony room a dry run for when the Palace becomes a fully-fledged cash-cow?With Charles basing himself at Clarence House and in effect downgrading the Palace, couldn't he raise millions making it available to film crews and organisations for functions? If the Palace tills worked all year, the annual £12 million income from the summer openings could have quadrupled. I'm told the balcony was included in the original tour itinerary, with paying visitors photographed at the historic venue but it was later turned down.

I haven't worn anything in bed since I was about 16.' Being naked and having clean sheets around you is so luxurious and liberating.

The Aberdeen Bestiary, a medieval manuscript, depicts a fictional creature expelling acidic gas and faeces from its anus as a form of defense. The image has been rediscovered by satirist and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop in his quest to find Britain's oldest jokes for a new podcast. A deceptive knight robs a young cub from a mother tiger (bottom right) and a basilisk being struck (top right).

Naga Munchetty has been asked by fans to host Have I Got News For You as the permanent host of Have I Got News For You. The BBC Breakfast host, 48, appeared on Friday's special edition of the show, joined by panelists Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, and guest panellists Maisie Adam and Richard Osman. Fans were left hysterics as she made an X-rated quip and displayed her risqué humour as she hoped to benefit from her appearance on a post-watershed display.

Victoria Coren Mitchell, 51, (pictured left, right, and inset) and David Mitchell, 49, who have just had their second child, June Violet, who has just turned around, has been doing well. The pair, who revealed the pregnancy news last week by retaining the family's information private, pushed a blue buggy as they went for a stroll and ran some errands in London. Barbara, an eight-year-old girl, has already have an eight-year-old daughter.

Victoria, the mother of eight-year-old Barbara with comedian David, 49, kept her pregnancy a mystery until announcing the birth of her second child (announcement in The Times inset). Victoria speculated at her forthcoming maternity leave in recent weeks as she cryptically tweeted about moving a 'little sabbatical' away from her work as a TV presenter. Victoria has made few public and red carpet appearances in recent months, and she was last seen attending an event on June 21 (left). Victoria appeared on Have I Got News for You (right), just weeks before giving birth, but she managed to mask her pregnancy on air.

Zoom Rockman, 23, (left and right), said he was 'disappointed' by the front page's design, but also the London-based satirical journal's leadership, who said he did not respond when he told them about the alert he had received. The front of issue 1609 read: 'Warning: This may include some critique of the Israeli government, as well as the fact that killing everyone in Gaza as a result of Hamas atrocities may not be a long-term solution to the region's problems.' One of the responses was: "Hope both you and your extended family will meet Hamas in person very soon." Pictured are Mr Rockman's bottom (top) and the mocked-up cover he produced in response (top).

CRAIG BROWN: Last week, Private Eye magazine held a party on the River Thames, starting from Westminster Pier at 12.30 p.m., with fireworks starting from Westminster Pier immediately after. The atmosphere at Private Eye Parties was merry, as is always the case. As the editor, Ian Hislop, spoke to us, he told us that the only one who hadn't made it on time was cartoonist Tony Husband, because his train from Manchester had been postponed. Everyone groomed and chuckled at the same time: we groaned because Tony was so well liked and chuckled because the British sense of humor never fails to revolve around bad fortune. 'I Nearly Died Laughing,' is one of Tony's cartoon collections. A GP at his desk, dressed in a hazmat suit, explains to a bewildered man: 'OK, Mr Noble, your results have returned,' - it says.'

EXCLUSIVE: Close-up photos of the article appear in the four-part documentary, which was produced by Beckham's own firm and paints a flattering portrait of the former England captain. In the Daily Mirror, a front-page article titled MY SISTER DID HAVE A HELP WITH BECKS appeared the day after the scandal broke in April 2004. 'David Beckham and his personal assistant Rebecca Loos had an affair,' her brother said yesterday.' But Beckham, the first two lines of the headline, disappear, leaving only AFFAIR WITH BECKS.'

After he threatened to sue the BBC for not paying him, a TV actor's amusing interview has appeared on the trailer for the new series Have I Got News for You. Guy Goma, 54, from Brazzaville, Congo, made international news in 2006 after being led to a studio where a journalist was interviewed live on television.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Roger Law, the stalwart of Spitting Image, was furious with Ian Hislop while The Reunion's stalwart claimed that Law was the only one to profit from the satirical puppet show. 'If there's a silence after that on the broadcast version, it must be because I swore at him in response, and they've now cut that out!' According to Radio Times, law enforcement is outraged. 'If I was as rich as he accuses me of being, then I'd almost be as rich as him!'Could Roger be referring to the £20,000 the Private Eye editor supposedly trousers for every edition of the now jaded BBC's HIGNFY?

When she stepped out of Have I Got News with Ian Hislop and Steph McGovern, Carol Vorderman smuggered her hourglass figure in a chic ensemble. In a dramatic skin-tight denim jumpsuit that accentuated her jaw-dropping figure, the TV host, 62, looked ageless. As the pair appeared to be unable to contain a chuckle, the media actress seemed to be having the time of her life when she was caught leaning out arm in arm with Private Eye editor Ian.

Peter Usborne, the children's book publisher, who was behind the 'Usborne Book of' series of books (books from the series pictured right), died at the age of 85, according to his publishing company. Mr Usborne, who was characterized as a 'genius' with a 'child-like energy and curiosity,' was also the first managing director of Private Eye when the satirical journal was established in 1961. Billy And The Mini Monsters, Puzzle Adventure, and Farmyard Tales Poppy And Sam book series were all among his titles, before he started his own business.

Despite the country's appalling human rights record, the former Manchester United defender turned pundit, a Labour activist, has been accused of hypocrisy after signing a deal with BeIN Sports, a Qatari state broadcaster. The backlash erupted when he ranted last night as millions of British football fans watched the World Cup final last night, with ITV chastised for failing to act and now advising not to use him again. Neville entranted in an extraordinary debate, claiming that the conditions for striking nurses and railway workers in the UK were similar to those facing Qatar's huge foreign labour force. He also stated that British ministers were'demonizing' public sector employees. He refused to back down today, despite a tweet a day earlier today about 'cold-heart Tories' putting lives in jeopardy' by failing to do a strike agreement with NHS workers. He even threatened one critic of alcoholic beverages. One viewer called him 'the full definition of champagne socialism,' and warned him that he might'never wash off... all the sweet qatar gold'. Mr Neville sent a series of emojis, one of which sent sarcastic kisses.

On Friday, Gary Neville posted a video in which he confessed to being 'nervous,' ahead of his first appearance presenting Have I Got News For You. The former footballer, 47, confessed to filming the video in a 'uncomfortable moment' before joining Paul Merton and Ian Hislop on air in his first position as guest stars. He confessed to his'stress' because of not being a professional presenter and having a team of 'intelligent, astute, and experienced' broadcasters alongside him.

Rupa Huq, a Labour MP, has cancelled out of a scheduled appearance on Have I Got News For You after being banned from her party for describing Kwasi Kwarteng as 'black'. On October 7, Miss Huq, the sister of former Blue Peter host Konnie, was scheduled to be a panelist on the BBC 1 news comedy show. She was due to join team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton, as well as comedian Ivo Graham and guest host Victoria Coren Mitchell. But program creators Hat Trick Productions announced: "Rupa Huq MP has decided not to appear" and "Rupa Huq MP has refused to appear."

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: Amid the onslaught of obscenity as Have I Got News For You? The studio audience erupted last Friday as compere Jack Dee alliteratively referred to leaving PM Boris Johnson as a "spectual ****." That word was unbroadcastable not long ago. Aren't the boys on HIGNFY edgy to say it now? Just take a look at their self-satisfied smirks. In fact, team captain Ian Hislop wore the same smug expression during an episode in 2007, and the audience erupted as he used other offensive terms.

After Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were exposed to a slew of personal attacks on primetime television, the BBC is being scrutinized more closely about anti-Tory bias. As it dedicated Friday night's episode to Mr Johnson, comedy show Have I Got News For You was accused of broadcasting a slew of "spiteful and crass insults." Host Jack Dee referred to the departing Prime Minister as a 'cosmic ****,' a moment that was met with a slew of laughter in the studio. Mr Johnson may have taken cocaine, according to panelists. When he meets MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) committee on Tuesday, BBC Director-General Tim Davie is likely to be grilled about the slurs and other allegations of impartiality. In attacking Ms Truss and Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, the satirical program was also accused of "blatant sexism." Dee said Downing Street is "believed to be getting quotes for padded wallpaper," while Ms Dorries was mocked as "Lady Barking."

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: With Paul Merton and Ian Hislop clearing their throats to mock Boris in this week's first episode of the 64th series of Have I Got News For You, could this be the last outing for the jaded BBC satirical news show? Having been kicked out of Mock This Week, Beeb cost-cutting bean counters see a chance to save millions of dollars from ditching HIGNFY after 32 years.

EPHRAIM HARDCASTLE: Honours are dished out by Prime Ministers after they leave office. Often, the list isn't complete when they departed No. 10. 'So Boris must be tempted to scroll through his list before he resigns as Prime Minister,' says Honours' website. 'This will prevent his replacement as Prime Minister removing some of his tastier choices'