History Series / HaveIGotNewsForYou

** A potential example depending upon the outcome of the 2020 US Presidential Election, when, in a 1990 episode, Angus jokes about Joe Biden's then-failed Presidential bid "and what happened next was his [Biden's] career came to nothing, nobody voted for him and he never achieved high office".

** Ian demonstrating unexpected knowledge about a piece of popular culture, usually to Paul's bewilderment. This joke has been used so often that the whole notion of Ian being out-of-touch is almost a show-specific DeadUnicornTrope. In the age of internet memes and viral videos, the characterisation is arguably more fitting of Meron than Hislop. Being the editor the editor of a topical magazine, Hislop necessarily keeps on too of social media trends, whereas Merton is an avowed technophobe. A good example is in a 2011 segment discussing the “Jesus Christ in Richmond Park” video. Hislop was well-aware of the video and understood its popularity, whereas Merton hadn’t heard of it was baffled at how grainy footage of a man chasing after his labrador could be such a hit. Still the notion of Hislop being the out-of-touch one persists.

* ItIsPronouncedTropay: When the Dutch comedian Raoul Heertje was on the show, he pointed out that the name of the politician Angus was talking about should be pronounced 'Naples' rather than 'Nipples'.
-->'''Angus:''' I'm sorry? \\
'''Raoul Heertje:''' "Naples". It's not funny, but it is accurate. \\
'''Angus:''' Yes, ruins the next nine jokes.

** The fact that Paul almost always wins and Ian loses[[note]]Ian has won just 5 out of 59 series - his victories were series 11 in 1996, which was the series Paul was absent; series 13 in 1997; series 25 in 2003; series 47 in 2014; and series 49 in 2015[[/note]]. This was more prevalent in the early series, but if Ian is leading the series or even manages to win it, it will always be mentioned.

** Ian demonstrating unexpected knowledge about a piece of popular culture, usually to Paul's bewilderment. This joke has been used so often that the whole notion of Ian being out-of-touch is almost a show-specific DeadUnicornTrope. In the age of internet memes and viral videos, the characterisation is arguably more fitting of Meron than Hislop. Being the editor the editor of a topical magazine, Hislop necessarily keeps on too of social media trends, whereas Merton is an avowed technophobe. A good example is in a 2011 segment discussing the “Jesus Christ in Richmond Park” video. Hislop was well-aware of the video and understood its popularity, whereas Merton was baffled at how graint footage of a man chasing after his labrador could be such a hit. Still, the idea of of Hislop being the out-of-touch one persists.

** Ian demonstrating unexpected knowledge about a piece of popular culture, usually to Paul's bewilderment. This joke has been used so often that the whole notion of Ian being out-of-touch is almost a show-specific DeadUnicornTrope.

The show began with Angus Deayton as host, but he was [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor fired]] after being caught taking cocaine... twice. With a lady who was definitely not his partner at the time, who later turned out to be a [[HoneyTrap prostitute in disguise,]] who was working for the papers. AndThatsTerrible. On the episode after this came to light, Hislop brought out the paper and liberally quoted from the article; Merton went one better and wore a T-shirt with the front page of the newspaper printed on it. Beginning with the third episode of the following series, the show began using [[GuestHost guest presenters.]]

** And everyone against Jeffrey Archer.

** MP UsefulNotes/BorisJohnson, made slightly terrifying by the fact that he was a Conservative spokesman and the former Mayor of London.[[note]]And now, incredibly, Prime Minister. [[/note]]
** With Boris Johnson now moving in higher circles and hence too busy to appear on the show, the mantle seems to have passed over to former MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is basically an even posher, more old-fashioned, and more right-wing Boris clone. The fact that not only is Rees-Mogg now an MP again and Leader of the House of Commons, but Boris Johnson is Prime Minister, does not make any of this reassuring.

A commemorative documentary entitled ''[[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qq61 Have I Got 30 Years for You]]'' was released last Christmas Eve 2020]], in celebration of the program's 30th anniversary and thriving in the midst of the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic, as well as acknowledging contentious aspects of the program's history (such as the end of Deayton's tenure and the rise of UsefulNotes/BorisJohnson).

** Creator/JoanCollins' episode featured a spoof of the ''Series/{{Dynasty}}'' opening sequence (using the shots of the team captains from the first ever episode)

* DreamSequence: Once, in a bizarre fantasy of Merton's, featuring Merton and Hislop skipping through a field. The footage was later reused in a ''Series/{{Dynasty}}'' parody when Creator/JoanCollins was the guest host.

''Have I Got News For You'' (or [=HIGNFY=] for short) is a satirical PanelShow focusing on politics and general news that has been running since the end of the UsefulNotes/MargaretThatcher era, with two series per year. The two team captains are Ian Hislop (editor of satirical magazine ''Magazine/PrivateEye'') and comedian Paul Merton; each team has a single guest contestant. As well as comedians, journalists and TV personalities, even politicians have appeared on the show as guests.

The show began with Angus Deayton as host, but he was [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor fired]] after being caught taking cocaine... twice. [[YourCheatingHeart With a lady who was definitely not his partner at the time,]] who later turned out to be a [[HoneyTrap prostitute in disguise,]] who was working for the papers. AndThatsTerrible. On the episode after this came to light, Hislop brought out the paper and liberally quoted from the article; Merton went one better and wore a T-shirt with the front page of the newspaper printed on it. Beginning with the third episode of the following series, the show began using [[GuestHost guest presenters.]]

* YourCheatingHeart: Years before Angus's scandal, it was a RunningGag that he was sleeping with Paul's then-wife, Caroline Quentin. Paul seemed to veer between playing along and finding it DudeNotFunny.
-->''[on a story about a footballer named Paul Merson being caught up in a cocaine scandal, and being confused in the tabloids with "TV's own Paul Merton"]''\\
'''Paul:''' There was a story going around that it was me for a while. My wife got phoned up last week in the middle of the night...\\
'''Ian:''' I'm sorry. I am so sorry.\\
'''Angus:''' No, no, don't apologize, it wasn't a problem.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hignfy2_9673.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350: [[ItMakesSenseInContext It's the opposing captains, on the same team!]][[note]]This had actually happened once before, when Merton took a series off and was replaced by guest captains, but appeared on the first episode as Ian's guest.[[/note]] ]]

* SuspiciouslySpecificDenial: With regards to Piers Morgan's appearance at the Leveson inquiry

* In one episode, Paul swears on several occasions during a clip, prompting the other panelists to do the same, except for Gemma Armstrong, the [[OnlySaneMan only sane woman.]]

* BrilliantButLazy: Paul is usually a {[Cloudcuckoolander}}, but ocassionally he will give an incredibly well fleshed out correct answer (and even the incorrect ones are sometimes logical). On a more trivial note, he displayed his knowledge of pop knowledge when correcting the show's claim that Creator/BobHolness was the first actor to play JamesBond by mentioning Barry Nelson, who had appeared in television adaptation of Casino Royale.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: It has been noted that UsefulNotes/BorisJohnson's appearances on the show burgeoned his public profile and popularity, resulting in his unlikely rise to power as Mayor of London in 2008, then Foreign Secretary in 2016 and often cited candidate for Prime Minister. Hislop and Merton feel somewhat responsible.

** The fact that Paul almost always wins and Ian loses[[note]]Ian has won just 5 out of 52 series - his victories were series 11 in 1996, which was the series Paul was absent; series 13 in 1997; series 25 in 2003; series 47 in 2014; and series 49 in 2015[[/note]]. This was more prevalent in the early series, but if Ian is leading the series or even manages to win it, it will always be mentioned.

* ContinuityEditing: Parodied by Paul in one episode, where he was interviewed ''Clive Anderson Talks Back'' (on Channel 4), broadcast directly after ''Have I Got News For You'' (on BBC2). Paul took care to wear the same outfit to both recordings, and asked if he could leave ''HIGNFY'' promptly in order to get to Channel 4 in time.