Have I Got News For You tonight
Friday, 8 November 2013
Tonight, I’m on Have I Got News For You again… The host is lovely Alexander Armstrong; I’ll be on Ian’s team, and Paul’s team-mate is Godfrey Bloom, the MEP who was chucked out of UKIP after a controversial week where he made a comment about “sluts” at a women’s meeting and hit a man from Channel Four news over the head with the UKIP magazine.
If you can read that last sentence without laughing, you’re a better person than I am. I felt sorry for Mr Bloom when he was thrown out, because the “sluts” thing seemed harmless to me. Some women at the meeting said they didn’t clean behind their fridges; he said “It’s a room full of sluts”, and they all laughed. Whether it was a genuine mistake because Bloom DOESN’T KNOW that “slut” has changed its meaning over the last few years, or whether (as seems more likely to me) it was a joke on the double meaning, I don’t think people should be thrown out of political parties for that sort of thing. If the only problem in the world was off-colour jokes, we’d be in clover.
Having said that, other comments he’s made in the past have been a bit dodgy, and I suppose you can’t go round hitting people with magazines. You’ll find out if you think he’s charming or ghastly (or an interesting combination of both) if you watch tonight’s show. Also, at the recording Paul and Ian were on great form and A. Armstrong is always a brilliant host of that show, so… I hope you enjoy it if you see it.
BBC One, 9pm.
Comments
Jan at 9:42 pm on November 8th, 2013
Excellent - the power of not saying anything but the look says all. Particularly liked your challenge ‘why shouldn’t he have an Irish name’.
And you & Ian won!
K at 12:31 am on November 9th, 2013
Excellent episode!
Thought you did a brilliant job of being appropriately confrontational and hilarious simultaneously. Was surprised that Godfrey Bloom so rarely tried to stand up for himself. I can’t decide whether he was resigned to being a whipping boy for the episode or he really has nothing of substance to say.
Also, I was amused throughout that Godfrey Bloom seemed to have a subtle UKIP handkerchief in his pocket. (So subtle it was probably unintentional.)
Anyway, pleased to see you back on the panel shows, loved both the witty comments and scathing/exasperated looks. I think you were the perfect contender to take on Mr Bloom.
Howard Smith at 12:04 pm on November 9th, 2013
Nicely judged performance !
KonradO at 1:54 pm on November 9th, 2013
Great to see you on HIGNFY last night, and challenging Godfrey Bloom on the photo of him with his face in a stripper’s chest, and his comments about women in pantries. I liked how you asked Mr Bloom whether his reference to women being good at finding the mustard in the pantry was an euphemism. It was inevitable that Mr Bloom would say something daft about his interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy, and I’m glad you challenged him on his ridiculous comment.
David at 8:50 pm on November 11th, 2013
You nailed Godfrey Bloom. A national treasure in the making (you not Godfrey!)
Stu at 11:20 pm on November 11th, 2013
There needed to be more of you giggling over girth…Mr Bloom has made me feel guilty about looking forward to getting old and being inappropriate. Oh well, back to the planning board…
Craig at 11:41 pm on November 11th, 2013
If looks could kill, Godfrey would have died a thousand deaths! Im sure if you spoke your mind you would have been backed up by the panelists but well played! Really enjoyed the episode! Had to wiki you after didnt know u were married to David :) would love to be a fly on the wall at dinner lol new show maybe? Take care x
John Cocker at 3:58 pm on November 12th, 2013
I saw the extended edition on Monday 11th and (as has already been mentioned) your facial expressions are an entertaining addition to your vocal contributions. Your withering look of disapproval is worthy of the sternest school teacher. Just one final word (hope I’ve got this right)...girth!
Bertiethetoupee at 1:27 am on November 13th, 2013
Thought you were great. Godfrey was strangely charming in a blundering sort of way - I don’t think there’s anything sinister about him, he just seems like he’s from a different century. It was very amusing to see you question him in that ‘I really don’t understand how you are like that in this day and age’ sort of way. Lots of people can’t resist the temptation to burn their bra and fling it at him (metaphorically speaking) and that gets you nowhere. Really well-judged, hope you had fun!
Rosamund at 9:06 am on November 13th, 2013
Your comment on the advent of true equality was a gem. I’m just off to get my cardi…
O'Hara at 10:02 am on November 13th, 2013
you were brilliant, BRILLIANT! your comment on hot pants and burkas was so cool I want the T Shirt. Also, got the feeling that Hislop doesn’t like Brand?
Anna at 12:09 am on November 19th, 2013
Vic, I’ve liked your dry humour in the past, but don’t think you were particularly “good” this week. Godfrey was put on as a very easy target but he did well for an old duffer with no media training. Think most people commenting on this blog already know they like you & don’t like Bloom, so are seeing what they want to see. Your “withering looks” were pretty easy & boring. You actually never “nailed him”. In fact, he parried your attack very cleverly with his “welsh accent” response. And finally it’s not exactly shocking to find photos from a stag night 30 yrs ago with a stripper - unfortunately it used to be pretty much the norm & is probably still very common, however much we all dislike the idea. So the panel getting all sniffy & sanctimonious with him for that isn’t very cutting-edge.