Saturday, December 02, 2006

Widders Stars on Have I Got News For You

Did you see HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU last night, with Ann Widdecombe presenting? Ok, Ok, she's a friend of mine, but I thought she was absolutely brilliant at it. She displayed a sense of humour which maybe people hadn't seen before and was quite willing to send herself up. Indeed, Danny Baker, one of the guests, was so impressed, that at the end of the programme he got up and bowed in a "we are not worthy" style. I think she's guaranteed herself a repeat booking. If you didn't see it, watch the repeat, which goes out on Monday night at 10pm on BBC2.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I thought she was very good too. Definitely better than Ian Hislop who has been doing it for 15 years and a very good foil for Paul Merton. I still miss Angus though ...

Archbishop Cranmer said...

His Grace does not miss Angus in the slightest. One of this show's principal selling points has become the surprise chair(wo)man each week.

Ms Widdecombe was as excellent as one might expect from one so politically astute and spiritually savvy. Far from being a 'dinosaur of the right, her pulse beats for 'Middle England', and it does so with charisma and charm.

Anonymous said...

Has it really been going 15 years? Holy Cow, I am getting old.

kinglear said...

She was OK, as opposed to very good. If we can't have Angus, it has to be Boris or Andrew Armstrong.

Anonymous said...

She was very funny and was more than a match for the teams.

Paul Burgin said...

Ann Widdecombe is one of those Tories I have a soft spot for so I wanted to catch last night but missed it. Thanks for reminding me when it is repeated!

Anonymous said...

It's Alexander Armstrong and he's my outstanding candidate for permanent host.

The Leadership Blogger said...

Oh, you think she was sending HERSELF up?
Dear Me, I missed that.

Anonymous said...

Yes she was good. If only she had shown that side of her character sooner...

Anonymous said...

"Has it really been going 15 years? Holy Cow, I am getting old."

Seventeen I think. The first episode was I believe in 1989. It hit its peak in '94-'95.

Anonymous said...

It's actually repeated on Monday night 10.00pm

Philipa said...

I thought she was very good and the panel clearly enjoyed themselves too. I thought her voice was interesting.

Boris is of course the champion guest presenter - the blondes clearly have more fun!

Anonymous said...

She has gone up in my estimation now that she doesn't take herself quite as seriously. See, there may be a benefit to spending a 'weird week/end with Louis Theroux'.

Who next for HIGNFY - Eugene 'terrifying' Terre'blance ?

Anonymous said...

She was as good as William Hague, I'd vote for either to take the hot seat.

Anonymous said...

Is there any way those of us who don't live in Britain can see it?

Anonymous said...

Yes, I saw it too.

But I thought I detected some unusual deference from the ‘panel’…it was rather like watching four people meeting someone like Princess Anne, and having to be subservient, but jolly and agreeable.

Anne Widdecombe is my MP (and – I think - Ian Hislop’s) and I actually quite like her too, so perhaps all this got me into a sort of position where I said – oh sod it, its only a TV programme. Dumb down.

So is this what celeb quiz masters or mistresses want?

I’m not sure if it works well that way.

Anonymous said...

So so far the two best presenters are both Conservatives...
What with all the blogs, the TV shows etc, it's quite strange how the left seems unable to make a joke... ever

Wrinkled Weasel said...

She was in her element - very funny and engaging.

Mikey said...

I really disapprove of people bowing "we are not worthy" - it is ostentatious and drawing attention to oneself. "Oh look at me, aren't I being cool by demonstrating that I'm in the company of someone important?"

Ann was very good. The worst presenters have been Neil Kinnock and Gordon Ramsey. And we've got Boris again the week after next.

By the way, HIGNFY started in 1990 - the Conservative leadership crisis was a key feature of the first series.

neil craig said...

Blondes have more fun & she clearly has been since she became one. She not only did well but clearly impressed the panels.

I still think the best was Bruce Forsyth - much to the astonishement of sundry upmarket types.

Anonymous said...

I didn't like Angus, or Bruce Forsyth. Widdecombe was good.

verity - try asking on digitalspy