Shropshire Star

Ian Hislop ‘occasionally worries’ about sack from Have I Got News For You

The Private Eye editor said he does not worry about critics of the BBC show who think they are ‘Momentum-inspired, lefty lunatics’.

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Ian Hislop and Paul Merton

Have I Got News For You star Ian Hislop has said he occasionally worries about being sacked from the hit BBC comedy programme.

Hislop, the editor of satirical magazine Private Eye, has been a captain on the panel show with comedian Paul Merton for nearly 30 years.

The programme has over the years courted controversy and the BBC is currently facing scrutiny over equal pay, diversity, free TV licences for the over-75s and competition from streaming services.

Media reports have recently linked former Daily Telegraph editor Lord Moore with the job of BBC chairman. He has since ruled himself out.

Private Eye book launch
Ian Hislop has edited Private Eye magazine for more than 30 years (Peter J Jordan/PA)

The Government is also reported to be supporting ex-Daily Mail editor and vocal BBC critic Paul Dacre to become chairman of broadcast regulator Ofcom.

“I occasionally worry about being sacked,” Hislop said.

“There was a previous director-general John Birt and there was a point where Peter Mandelson was involved in both a sort of mortgage scandal and he was outed by Matthew Parris as gay.